In the Arms of the Beast (Kings of Hell MC 5)

Laurent let out a scream.

Knight moved like a cobra, his hands exploding with light so bright it made Laurent shield his eyes. He reached into the well, and the glow of his sigils revealed a slender hand grabbing his. Theodore sank the rusty knife into Knight’s arm, but he didn’t flinch and pulled on the shimmering fingers.

Beast hauled Laurent away from the scene, hiding him in his arms, but Laurent looked on, unable to blink at the sight of another ghost emerging from the well in a long dress, from before Laurent’s own time. She was translucent like blue-tinted cellophane, with a bright ball of light hovering where her heart would have been. Only when Laurent took in the whole figure, he saw the ghost had just one hand.

She stepped into Knight, and his mouth let out an ungodly screech. “You will burn for what you did to me!”

It was Theodore’s wife. Laurent knew it from the ferocious nature of the scream she unleashed, reaching for the other ghost with Knight’s hands. But once Knight clenched his fingers on Elliot’s shoulders, the female face materialized over Knight’s, and she dashed forward, biting into Elliot’s cheek. No blood appeared, but Theodore screamed as if he were dying.

The female ghost yanked her head back pulling Theodore’s translucent form beyond the borders of Elliot’s body. Illuminated by the glow of Knight’s fists, Theodore appeared to Laurent for the first time. He was a middle-aged man in animal skins, but his features blurred when Knight grabbed the ghost’s neck and pulled, tearing Theodore in his entirety out of his lover.

Elliot collapsed with a cry of pain, but Beast wouldn’t let Laurent approach him, so they watched on at Knight’s vicious fight with the icy blue glow.

Against the brightness of the ghost’s soul, Knight’s hands were like a dusty bronze, but it was clear which substance was made of tougher stock, when cracks ran all over Theodore, revealing to Laurent just how large the man had been. The trapper’s nose fell off, leaving behind ragged bone, but in his final moment, Theodore locked his gaze with Laurent’s and spoke.

“This is a mistake. Your children will pay the price.”

Before Laurent could have answered, the ghost was burned glass, then dust, and then what was left of him dispersed into the air. Knight moved on hands and knees, his skin ashen against the red of the blood seeping from the fresh wound as he approached Elliot.

The other ghost must have left Knight’s body because a blue fog lifted off Knight’s shoulders like hot vapor out of a pot.

“It’s swelling. Oh, my God! I think it’s broken,” Elliot cried, shuddering around the hand he kept cradled to his chest.

Laurent didn’t fight Beast anymore, too shocked by the threat whispered by Theodore in his final moment. Had he really brought a child into a world that would soon turn into hell on Earth?

The warmth of Beast’s arms wasn’t quite enough to put Laurent at ease, but it made him feel safe despite the cut on his neck seeping blood to the collar of his T-shirt.

“Are you okay? Is the egg fine?” Beast whispered, withdrawing to look between their bodies, at the glistening shell peeking out of the backpack Laurent opened to check for cracks.

Laurent nodded, picking it up and assessing the red surface. How did pregnant women do anything? Their soft bodies couldn’t provide adequate cushioning for a growing child, and anything could happen to them at all times. He couldn’t stop shaking but managed to steady his hands enough to deposit Marcel back into the blanket nest.

“Everything is fine. I’m fine. We need to help Knight, he’s been stabbed.”

Knight pulled the knife out of his arm with a hiss and threw it into the well. “I’m fine. But Elliot… did you have to twist his hand? What the fuck, Beast?” he asked and pulled a ghostly pale Elliot into his arms, completely ignoring the blood rolling down his uncovered arm.

Beast snarled, hugging Laurent more tightly. “Sorry that I didn’t pay more attention to his delicate joints when he was about to murder you!”

“It’s not my fault!” Elliot whined, and Knight pulled him close.

“I know, babe, I know. I’ll take you to the hospital.”

Laurent swallowed. “I’m… I’m so sorry it has come to this. I had no idea the ghost would get so volatile.”

“None of us did.” Knight helped Elliot up, completely focused on him despite his own wound. On shaky legs, Elliot was doing his best to avoid looking at his twisted hand as the two of them made their way back to the ravine, leaving Laurent alone with Beast and Marcel.

The birds were back to their singing, but the clearing didn’t feel nearly as serene as it had before the encounter.

“You sure you’re okay?” Beast asked, petting Laurent’s shoulder. He pushed Laurent’s jaw up to have a look at his neck.