章 8: Monster

Megan could feel Gabriel's hand resting against the small of her back as they climbed the stairs to the second floor. When they reached the top Megan looked along the hall seeing the crystal wall sconces that lit up the cream-colored walls with white trim. The hallway was elegant but more masculine than pretty. There were a few paintings hung in ornate frames. Some of landscapes and others of Edwardian type figures.

The main thing Megan noticed was that it wasn't unpleasant as she had imagined it would be. Like the living room downstairs, she felt comfortable in this hall. There were at least a dozen doors.

To the left there were four doors before the hall ended in a set of double doors. To the right there were half a dozen doors before the hall opened into a cream and white sitting room with white overstuffed furniture and a small dining table. There was a small faux candlelight chandelier overhead.

Gabriel stepped to the left urging her ahead of him with gentle pressure. Megan was too busy looking around to resist his urging anyway. They stopped outside the double doors which Gabriel pulled wide and Megan stepped forward curious to see the room. The walls were a deep midnight blue but with enough spaces of white walls and white trim to not be too dark.

There was occasional gold painted accents on embossed flower leaves and carved trim pieces but nothing too overdone. There was a large balcony that was lit up dimly behind multi-pane glass doors. Heavy white gauzy curtains hung ready to shut out the lights. A small desk and overstuffed chair with ottoman were positioned on one side of the balcony doors. On the other side a bookshelf was half hidden by a chaise lounge.

Near the closet door a vanity with a comfortable looking chair was arranged. A bathroom door took up the other space on the wall by the vanity. The center piece of the room was a king size four poster canopy bed hung with gauzy white drapes with deep blue black-out drapes. The bedding was a mixture of white, blue, and gold with many pillows. The room was lovely. It shocked Megan slightly how much she liked it.

Gabriel closed the door behind them reminding Megan that she was not alone. She walked over and sat on the plush bench that was positioned at the end of the bed, feeling tired. Gabriel walked into the closet and grabbed a stack of clothes left out by one of the shadowlings. It was clearly intended to be Megan's nightclothes for after her shower. He checked the bathroom and a new set of all the toiletries she would need were sitting on the counter.

Gabriel stopped beside Megan. "Here are some clothes. There are toiletries for you in the bathroom. Please get changed. Shower if you wish."

"I am not wearing the clothes of some woman you murdered." Megan hissed.

"Megan, these are new ones that I bought today. They still have the tags on them. Please get ready for bed." Gabriel urged softly, holding out the clothes.

Megan stared at the man for a moment before snatching the clothes and walking into the bathroom. One minute he was forceful and the next he was soft and gentle. She was beginning to develop emotional whiplash. Megan preferred the forceful man that had dragged her to her wedding. She could easily hate that bastard.

Megan found a new toothbrush and toothpaste on the counter along with her brands of deodorant, body wash, shampoo and conditioner, shaving cream, razors, and perfume, and a full bag of her preferred makeup products. They were all new and unopened. How did he do this? It wasn't logical that he had provided her with all her personal things as if she had made a detailed list, but here they were. Megan was unsettled by this unexpected development.

Megan did need to shower and change so she pulled the dress off, undid her intricate hairstyle, and climbed into the shower. After getting cleaned, she dried and then got dressed. She was wearing a comfortable pair of stretchy underwear and a racer back tank-top nightgown that ended mid-thigh that was a soft gray color. She had two of these nightgowns at what had been her home.

Megan entered the bedroom to find a freshly showered Gabriel in black silk pajama pants and nothing else lying on the bed. She staggered to a halt as it occurred to her that this was his bedroom. She hadn't thought about where he would sleep until now. Did he expect her to sleep next to him? Did Gabriel expect something more?

It was technically their wedding night. What if he wanted a real one. Megan couldn't do that. Was Gabriel going to force her? Her panic was mounting as she stared at the man the bed twenty feet away. What did he expect from her? Megan's breathing started to ratchet up as her panic flared.

Gabriel climbed off the bed and walked toward her quickly. "I said sleep, Megan. Calm yourself. I won't force you like that; I swear."

Megan took a shaky deep breath. "Where do I sleep?" she finally asked.

"You will sleep next to me. I am your husband. I think I can demand that much." Gabriel told her his tone neutral.

Megan considered her options. She could fight him on this but felt sure she would lose. What if her rejection pushed him to demand more? Feeling she had no other choice she walked toward the bed on the opposite side of where he had been lying when she came out of the bathroom. Pulling the covers back she climbed in and lay down in a tight line right on the edge of the bed.

Megan heard Gabriel chuckle lightly as he walked around the bed and climbed into it behind her. There was some rustling and movement that made her nervous then an arm wrapped around her waist and hauled her backward into a warm body. Megan was appalled as she found herself pressed against him. Megan could feel Gabriel's breath as it fanned against her cheek.

Megan heard a soft groan as his face pressed against her shoulder in her hair and she suddenly had to see his face. She looked over her shoulder and when she saw Gabriel's face, she screamed. Megan bolted from the bed and took off running. Not bothering with her state of undress or even shoes, she bolted from the room.

Megan had to get away. Gabriel was a monster. When she had looked back at him his eyes had been pitch black, even the whites of his eyes had been black. His teeth had been sharp like razor blades with small points on the top of each one. She knew she was some sort of sacrifice for the beast that had been in bed with her. She heard cursing behind her as she ran as fast as she could down the hall.

Megan took the stairs as fast as she could with her hand sliding along the banister. When she reached the foyer, she didn't pause and flung open the front door and hurtled outside. Megan heard the monster call for Afton behind her. Only now did she realize it would have been better to run with her shoes but since she only had her heels barefoot might be better. It didn't matter, damaged feet would be better than being eaten alive.

What the hell was he? It was obvious now that Gabriel was no ordinary man, but Megan didn't understand how that could be. Monsters didn't exist, right? No rational person believed in supernatural horror stories. Megan felt like the walls of reality were melting around her.

Running across the paved drive, Megan darted into the woods hoping to hide from him until she could reach another house and call for help. It was a dark night but there was just enough moonlight to see a little if she didn't go too deeply into the woods. Megan's feet were starting to hurt as she stumbled across the forest floor and hit her feet on roots and other debris.

Megan was trying to keep sight of the road and run as fast as she could away from Gabriel North's estate. She knew she didn't have a lot of time to escape before he tracked her down. She had just stumbled over a tree root and was looking down when she slammed into something hard and cold. Looking up she realized Afton had caught her.

"No!" Megan cried trying to wrench away. She might as well be trying to escape iron and how did he get in front of her?

"Be calm, Mrs. North. You are in no danger." Afton told her soothingly.

"But... I saw... He... Gabriel's a monster." Megan whimpered still trying to escape. She felt his presence right before he reached them.

Gabriel picked Megan up in his arms and started walking back to the estate with Afton following along. Megan whimpered pitifully.

He knew what she had seen. Gabriel had just pulled Megan to him, and her scent enveloped him. He had groaned, burying his face in her hair as the claim pulled at his self-control.

Gabriel had been trying to fight off the claim when she had looked back at him. He knew his eyes had been black and he could feel how sharp his teeth had gotten. Megan must be terrified. She had good reason to think he was a monster with what she saw but it was not like he could just let her run away. For better or worse, Megan was his wife, and he was becoming more certain by the minute that this time was for real.

Tonight had to have been like one horror show after another for his bride. First, she is sold into marriage with a suspected murderer by her previously loving father. Then she must live in the house of horrors and finally her husband sprouts sharp pointed teeth and pitch-black eyes. No wonder she likened the situation to a horror movie.

They walked back into the house a few minutes later. Megan had gone quiet except for the occasional sniffle.

"Thank you, Afton." Gabriel told his friend as he started for the stairs.

"Of course, I will be near in case you need further assistance." Afton told his friend.

Gabriel sighed, "I hope that won't be necessary."