Beauty and the Damned

38 | The Beast Saves the Prince

Ariadne was already moving before she could even think. If those were assassins, they are going to do something bad. She doesn't even know what she could do against a group of assassins. It's not like she has a growl that could make anyone weak. She has never used her beastly strength to harm others. She has avoided it for as long she can.

It wasn't hard to balance on the windowsill. Somehow, she could feel where to step and where not to. The moment she found the right leverage to haul herself, she eyed where she could go to get to Leo's chamber.

She found herself climbing the walls. Ariadne marveled at her sharp claws that actually pierced through rocks as she climbs. When she reached the top, she hid from the guards who were gossiping and blowing smoke.

Lazyheads. They didn't even know a group of assassins are on their way to their Prince's chamber.

With surprising stealth and more heightened senses, she was able to hide from the guards' line of vision. She ran swiftly towards Leo's chamber and when she was near enough, she halted. Ariadne listened to her surroundings. Her senses are more heightened than ever probably because of adrenaline. Her eyes were alert as she searched the vicinity for any signs of trouble. But as she listened further, she could hear them near her. Which means they are near the Prince's chamber.

If they are going to kill Leo, she couldn't let them. Leo can't die. Not now. Not when he has a lot to explain.

She prowled silently, listening carefully as to what the assassins are doing. She could hear them whispering something but she couldn't make the words out. 

Ariadne jumped towards the side, landing soundlessly on the grounds of the spire. It was then that she spotted the assassins on Leo's balcony. They are indeed coming for Leo. For whatever reason, she doesn't know but one thing is for sure: they don't mean good.

When they managed to open the window, Ariadne let out a low growl. One of them must have heard her that the assassin was looking around. Thankfully, she blended nicely in the dark.

Two assassins stood outside the window to guard and the other three went inside. Panic started to build up inside her and before she could even reconsider her actions, she leaped from the spire to Leo's chamber's balcony. Her scream came out as a growl that surprised the two assassins on guard.

Perhaps they were too surprised by the sudden appearance of a beast that they weren't able to get their weapons immediately. The moment she landed, she did not waste one second and bit the arm of one assassin. She tasted blood in her mouth but she didn't care.

She might not have the fighting skills like them but she has sharp fangs and claws and her recklessness to fight against them. The assassin forgot they're supposed to be undetected when he screamed in pain as her fangs dug deeper into his skin until she could feel his bones. With a whirl of her head, she tossed the assassin to the ground. He fell with a thud. Unfortunately, the chamber isn't that high from the ground.

Ariadne then looked at the other assassin who seems to have recovered from the shock and is now holding his weapons against her. She heard a thud inside the chamber and she saw Leo on his feet. A dagger is in his hand and he is facing three assassins. They were supposed to be fighting but they all stopped and looked at her, eyes wide.

"Don't stop!" said the woman in front of her. Ariadne was surprised when the woman was instantly gone in front of her but thanks to her heightened sense of hearing she heard the assassin behind her. Before the assassin could stab her with her dagger, Ariadne pounced back, eyeing the assassin in front of her. The assassin looked fierce. She looked like she won't give up easily.

Huge pain in the ass, she thought.

The fighting inside the chamber continued and as much as she wants to check on how Leo was faring, she couldn't. Not when there is an equally lethal assassin in front of her, ready to kill her if she gives her a chance.

She heard herself growling and she couldn't see an ounce of fear in the assassin's eyes making her wonder what kind of evil she has faced before.

The assassin was getting quicker each passing minute. One moment she was quite far from her and the next moment, the assassin was already within arm's reach. She jumped back, avoiding the assassin's dagger with a hair's breadth.

Ariadne could tell the assassin is pissed but she is pissed too. She could hear the grunts and the clang of metal against metal as Leo continued to fight against three other assassins.

Her growl was getting louder and for a short moment, she saw something in the assassin's eyes. She wasn't able to identify what it was as it was gone as soon as it came.

The assassin attacked again but this time, she could read her moves quite easily. When the assassin tried to attack her on her weak side, she dodged and with her fangs, she bit the assassin's arm. The assassin grunted in pain and Ariadne removed her jaw away from her arm. She growled again. Hoping that the assassin would understand that she doesn't have any intentions of hurting anyone tonight but she will bury her fangs wherever it belongs if she needs to.

She could feel something inside her. A certain kind of rush. Something that needs to be freed. Ariadne could feel her heart thundering against her chest. She doesn't even have the faintest idea of what is happening with her body. It was the first time she has gone out of the chamber as a beast. She was afraid to go out for she might hurt Delilah unconsciously. Even as she has learned to control it, she still couldn't trust herself with going out.

However, tonight is different. Her life is at risk. Her questions remain unanswered by Leo which is why she couldn't let him die.

With a swift pounce, she leaped towards the assassin and they wrestled on the ground. The woman was stronger than she looks but Ariadne's a beast and beasts are stronger than humans. She used all her strength to pin the assassin down the ground. When she managed to do so, she growled as loud as she can on the assassin's face. The assassin's eyes went wide as she stared at her in horror.

Just when she thought she had it under control, she saw the assassin's hand move underneath. She heard the metal scraping against the floor before the assassin brandished the knife on her. But Ariadne moved quicker and tackled the assassin. The assassin lost balance and fell to the bushes below too. She looked at them, groaning with their broken bones.

She staggered back. Something inside her is still stirring as if triggering some animalistic behavior she has kept locked away ever since she was made into a beast. Ariadne faced the fight going on inside. Leo's white shirt is now stained with blood. Some belonged to him while some belonged to the enemies. Surprisingly, she couldn't see anything broken inside the chamber. Then she saw how they were fighting and she understood why.

The three assassins moved with fluid grace and stealth that they weren't even making a sound on the floor. She didn't know it was possible for beasts to shiver but she did. She shivered as she watched Lep fighting against three assassins altogether. Ariadne couldn't help but marvel at how Leo fought them with equal strength and speed.

When one of the assassins hit Leo's gut that caused the latter to stagger backward, she heard herself growling causing the others to whirl in her direction.

Her footsteps were light too. Like a predator eyeing its prey. But the assassins saw her moving forward that one of them stood before her as if stopping her from getting to Leo.

Whoever you are, you are not stopping me. Nobody stops Ariadne of Vale.

She pounced, quicker than she ever did before but the assassin was quick too and avoided her claw. Ariadne growled. She could hear the other two assassins fighting Leo. She has to end this as soonest as possible. So she leaped and attacked the assassin. The assassin brandished his dagger in front of her and she avoided it by a few centimeters.

Ariadne is not someone who has ever fought anyone. She would just order her guards to do the job for her. Tonight is different. She is not some human who lacks the skills to kill someone. She is a beast. She is a lot stronger than these assassins.

With that thought in mind, she used her senses and everything in her beastly form to watch her opponent. They are circling, eyes not leaving one another. She looked at her movements and searched for an opening. But the assassin is well trained and is not giving her any weak spots.

She whimpered when the assassin managed to cur through her arm. It wasn't deep but it stings. Ariadne growled in rage as she realized how it would leave a mark on her human skin. Everyone inside the chamber looked at her as she continued to growl.

Thinking she was distracted, the assassin ran towards her, the knife in his hand. When he was about to stab the knife into her body, she whirled and opened her mouth. It was too late for the assassin to move away. The assassin grunted in pain as her fangs sank deep against his arms.

She ran towards the veranda while the assassin was writhing on her fangs. With a twist, she threw the assassin out of the balcony. But the assassin did not fell down the ground without gashing another wound on her arm. She let out a low growl because of the pain but she ignored it. 

The two remaining assassins stopped attacking the Prince and looked at her. Realizing their small chance of winning, they ran towards the veranda. She was about to run after them when Leo spoke.

"Halt," he said and she halted immediately. Something ib his voice is commanding enough that made her stop.

"Who are you?" He asked. She did not dare face him. She heard footsteps coming close to her and she whirled and let out a low snarl.

She looked at Leo who has a dagger in one hand while his other hand was reached out as if to calm her down. She is calm. The only thing that would make her panic as of the moment is him finding out that it's her.

Ariadne growled when he stepped closer. He immediately halted, sensing her disapproval. She stepped back and he made another step forward. When he did, his face was immediately illuminated by the moonlight.

It was fear at first. It was fear in his eyes. And then sympathy. Then understanding. Her heart hammered inside her chest as she stared at his eyes.

"Can I come close?" he asked. Ariadne doesn't know if she should let him come close but she found herself letting out a huff. Leo took it as a yes and moved forward. For some reason, she couldn't step back. 

"Why are you here?" he asked in his most gentle voice. He looked up and met her eyes.

"Why did you save me?"

Beast or not, she couldn't say anything. Because deep down inside her, she knew she didn't save him because he still has to answer her questions. She knew she still has other reasons as to why she saved him.

"Thank you," Leo mumbled and dropped his dagger on the floor.

Ariadne took a step back and looked at Leo's face one more time before she ran towards the balcony and climbed the castle back to where she came from.

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