Maggie don't know for how long she was asleep. An hour, maybe two. What woke her was not the time, however, but a noise beside her.
Maggie's eyes fluttered open. Adrian was atop the bed on his hands and knees beside her. His hands dug into the silk sheets and strange, growling noises emitted from his throat. Maggie tilted her head back and her eyes widened.
Adrian was transformed into some sort of beast. His face was elongated by a snout and his short hair was now a long mane down his back. The dark eyes were now a haunting yellow, and his stretched mouth was parted to show rows of sharp teeth. His muscled body was covered in a fine sheen of thick silver-brown fur.
Maggie gasped and started back. He whipped his head towards her. Those terrifying eyes fell on her, and the impulse to flee was too much.
Maggie toppled out of bed. One of the smaller sheets came with her. She hugged the cloth to herself and backed away from the bed toward the chamber door. The monster crawled on all fours off the bed and onto the floor. Its clawed hands followed her path, and those terrible yellow eyes never left her. Her back hit the wall. She slid down the wood paneling as the beast continued its terrible stalking towards her.
Maggie's hands stumbled over the frame of the door and the handle. She grabbed the knob and gave it a turn. The latch slid out and the door opened. The beast paused and growled. Maggie spun around and stumbled into a long, dark hallway. In front of her was a hallway that ran the length of the rear of the house. To her right was another carpeted route that led to the front.
Maggie hesitated only a second before she clutched the sheet to herself and rushed down the hall. The beast growled and lunged forward. She looked over her shoulder and watched the monster leapt into the hall. The creature slid into the wall opposite the room, but pushed off with its four legs and rushed down the hall after her.
Maggie's inattention meant her quick feet stepped on the sheet. She stumbled and fell forward onto the floor. The sound of the beast's four paws forced her to roll over onto her rear. She gasped.
The creature stood over her. Its elongated face was only inches from her own. Those golden yellow eyes stared into mine. Her blood ran cold and her body shivered. She dared not breath, much less move.
The creature curled its lips back in a snarl. Maggie shut her eyes and turned her face away. Her body shook. The thing's warm breath wafted over her.
"Sir!"
Maggie's eyes flew open and she looked over her shoulder in the direction of the voice. A man of fifty in a black servant's suit stood at the end of the hall. His pale face was accentuated by his wide, dark eyes. One of his hands was stretched out towards them.
The beast's warm breath pulled away from her. Maggie dared a glance back at it. The creature stood on two legs and its body changed. The fur sank back into pale skin and the grotesque face flattened into the handsome features that belonged to Adrian. He stood naked before her. her eyes inadvertently swept downward to the area below his waist. His swollen manhood was stiff and upright. Maggie blushed and looked away.
The suited man hurried down the hall and removed his long jacket. He swept the coat over Adrian's shoulders and covered all the important bits. Maggie dared a glance back at them and cringed when she saw they both stared at her. The older gentleman's eyes were narrowed, but Adrian's were heavily lidded. He knelt beside her and held out his hand. Maggie skirted away from him. A pained look swept across his face and he dropped his hand.
When he spoke his voice was a soft whisper. "I'm sorry. I never meant for you to know that part of her."
Maggie swallowed the lump in her throat and studied him. "W-what are you?"
He stood and clutched the coat to him with one hand. "Return to the room with her and all will be explained." Maggie shook her head. A teasing smile slipped onto his lips. "The floor can't be that comfortable."
"But it's closer to the stairs," she pointed out.
He chuckled. "If I had wanted to kill you, don't you believe I would have done so out in the garden? Or in my room?"
Maggie furrowed her brow. He had her there.
"Sir, is this really wise?" the older gentleman whispered.
Adrian didn't look away from her as he spoke. "She knows enough that the rest of the truth won't hurt us any more." He knelt in front of her and stretched out his hand to her. His eyes caught hers in their beautiful gaze. "Please. I swear I won't hurt you."
Maggie hesitated for a moment before she reached out and set her fingers atop his. He pulled her to her feet and led her back down the hall. They passed by the servant, and the man's narrowed eyes studied her sharply.
Adrian guided her back to his room where he released her hand. The cold room was dark and filled with shadows. He gestured to the chair in front of the fireplace. "Please have a seat."
Maggie hesitantly seated herself while he stood in front of the fireplace. In a minute he'd stoked a fire within its hearth and the room was filled with a warm light. Adrian readjusted the coat and turned to her. The light from the fire cast long shadows over his front, but Maggie could clearly see his yellow-tinged eyes.
"I'm sure I don't need to tell you I'm not human, at least not completely so," he commented.
Maggie shifted in her chair and swept her eyes over him. "I did get that impression."
He chuckled. The sound was without humor. "I'm sorry for that. I hadn't meant to lose herself, but with you laying by my side and after such a-well, an exercise, I couldn't control herself." Maggie blushed at the remembrance of their liaison. Adrian half-turned away from her and set a hand on the mantel. A small hand mirror lay on the mantel close to his hand. His bright eyes gazed into the crackling fire. "I suppose after seeing me in that form you would believe I'm a werewolf."
Maggie's eyes widened. "A. . .a werewolf?" she choked out.
He looked to her and gave a nod. "Yes. A creature of myth and legend made flesh and blood." He slid his hand off the mantel and gazed at his palm and spread fingers. "A beast, some would say a monster, resides inside me. Most of the time I'm able to control myself, but as you saw, that isn't always the case."
Maggie shifted and tried to steady her shaking hands by clutching the arms of the chair. "Is. . .is that why you stay here?"
He dropped his hand and returned his intense gaze to her. A sensual heat arose in her, but Maggie tamped down the urge to kiss him. She noticed his nostrils flared and he stiffened. He reached up and grasped the mantel. His voice was thick with need. "You are very susceptible to my scent."
Maggie shook her head to clear the haze of lust. A deep, long breath finished the job. "I don't know what you-" He slipped over to her and placed his hands over hers.
Those beautiful yellow eyes pierced her with their deep, lustful gaze. He leaned towards her so their lips nearly touched. His voice was low and sensual. "I can smell your need for her," he whispered. He tilted his head to the side and our lips ghosted against one another. Maggie closed her eyes and shuddered. "You desire me as much as I desire you."
Maggie leaned forward to kiss him, but he pulled away and retreated to the fireplace. His burning eyes never left her. His hand returned to the mantel and his fingers turned white from the hard hold. "I should never have allowed you in here."
Maggie swallowed her unfulfilled lust. "Then why did you?"
A sly smile slipped onto his lips. "Because your scent intrigued me." His eyes swept over her. "You intrigued me."
Maggie blushed and looked at her lap. "This is. . .this is all so unbelievable."
He chuckled. "You won't believe me, nor your own eyes?"
Maggie pursed her lips. "No. I mean, yes. Well, sort of." Maggie closed her eyes and shook her head. "This is insane." She stood and met his gaze. "I came here to help my father. Do I still have your word you'll help him?"
Adrian bowed his head. "You have my undying word."
"All right, then I guess I'll be going."
Maggie turned and strode over to the balcony, but his voice called her back. "What of your word?"
Maggie froze. She didn't turn around. Her voice was tense. "What word?"
"That you would remain here with me," he reminded her.
Maggie swallowed and half-turned to face him. "You can't be serious."
He nodded. His eyes never left hers. "I am."
Maggie set her hand on the knob of one of the French doors and frowned. "You can't expect me to stay here with a stranger. What about my father and friends? What about my life?"
Adrian's smile returned. "You never cease to amaze me. Even when you list off what's most important to you, you place yourself below everyone else."
Maggie shrugged. "That's what's most important to me, now if you'll excuse me." She turned her back on him.
He stretched out his hand. "Wait. A moment more of your time."
Maggie glanced over her shoulder in time to see him remove the hand mirror from the mantel. He held out the glass to her. "Please take this. As a remembrance of me."
Maggie arched an eyebrow. Her eyes flickered between the gift and the man who held it. "You'll help my father, won't you?"
He nodded. "I will see that justice is done. This gift, this mirror, is my apology to you."
She arched an eyebrow. "You. . .you'd really let me go knowing what I know about you?"
Adrian bowed his head. "With a heavy heart, but my grief would be somewhat alleviated if you accepted my gift."
Maggie shook her head. "I couldn't. And I might drop it down the vines."
His shoulders fell, but he nodded. "I understand, but wouldn't you rather go through the front door?"
Maggie opened the French door and stepped onto the balcony. "Thanks, but this way's a little more familiar. Anyway, I really appreciate your help with my father. Goodbye."
Maggie turned and hurried to the vine. The thick tendrils waited for her, and she climbed down them as quickly as she could. She dropped the last three feet to the ground and looked around. The fog was somewhat lifted, and she could see the stone path we'd followed from the gate.
"Maggie!" She tilted her head backwards and looked up. Adrian leaned over the balcony. A devilish smile graced his lips as he held the mirror over the edge. "Catch!"
Maggie's eyes widened. She reached up and opened her hands. The mirror fell perfectly into them. Maggie turned the item over in her hand. A quick perusal told her the yellow covering was gold. The frame of the glass was ringed by small, glistening jewels. The weight of the mirror bespoke its extensive value, and the shimmering glass reflected its great age.
Maggie hugged the mirror to her chest and glanced up into Adrian's face. "Thank you."
He smiled and shook his head. "No, thank you."
Maggie furrowed her brow. "For what?"
He gestured to the balcony and the room beyond. "For brightening these halls with life. Real, beautiful life."
Maggie smiled and took a step backward away from the house. "I guess I'll be seeing you."
A strange, crooked smile graced his lips. "Then it's farewell for now."
Maggie bowed her head. "Goodbye."
Maggie spun around and fled down the stone path.
CHAPTER 5