***
The setting sun left the sky pink and as Elizabeth and Henry held each other on her back porch, she wished she could freeze time. They’d spent only an hour at a darkened, empty Jean’s—just enough time to eat dessert while sunk on the floor, hiding behind the counter, and then leave, back here to say goodbye. The goodbye felt heavy and somber, as though the next morning didn’t await them, and she held to him more tightly.
That was when the tremor moved through his body. She removed her head from him at the same time he exhaled sharply, and in a matter of a second, his skin had become hot and moist. She felt it through his clothing, burning. His exhalations were short and shallow and through his mouth, and she could tell he tried to hide the pain. “It’s time,” he said, breathless.
She pulled his face close, her brow creased. Maybe if she wished it hard enough, she could take the pain from him by pure will.
“I’m all right,” he assured, and began unbuttoning his shirt. After she helped him, he ripped it off. He buckled over slightly, groaning even more slightly, but he visibly shook. He kissed her, and it was passionate, almost aggressive. She held to his face, not bothering to wipe the tears from hers.
When he released her and turned, she called him back. “Stay until you’re transformed?”
His chest heaved as he watched her with hesitant eyes.
Taking his face again, she pulled it close. “Please,” she whispered.
He barely nodded, his body jolting again, and this time he grunted, closing his eyes tightly. He walked down the steps and removed his pants, letting them fall to the ground, and in the unusual light that could neither be called sunlight nor moonlight, he stood with his backside toward her, his naked silhouette beautiful and strangely fitting for this place.
He groaned again, buckling over, and began trembling so violently that even though she was safe on the porch, she took a step backward. He became a giant form of pure energy, heat radiating from his skin.
Then it happened, before she could even feel the distress of how intensely it must hurt him: beginning at the back of his neck, a tremor rolled down his spine, bringing with it the appearance of flesh torn in half, and where that tremor rolled, it left the exterior of the beast in its place. As though that form was hidden inside Henry’s skin, the monster ripped through it in its escape, leaving none of Henry behind. At the same time the rolling change moved throughout him, he at least tripled in size, the massive towering form of the beast now standing in place of the man he used to be—and the whole thing happened within a second, too quickly for her to analyze how it was even physically possible. The man, who was large in stature by human definition, now seemed small.
Henry, now the creature meant to scare mortals away, huffed into the air, giving his form a furious shake, then turned to her. She ran down the steps, taking hold of his muzzle when he lowered it.
Don’t cry.
He straightened then, both of them sensing it. Aglaé or Diableron—or whichever form she was in—was somewhere near. Henry had no time to force Elizabeth inside, however, because instantly came the murmur of voices and the sound of footsteps on the street. Lots of footsteps. Henry spotted what she heard, for his eyes were directed behind her, his ears perked and listening.
She turned toward the many lights: the whole town, coming to her house. Coming to find her. Twisting back to Henry, she pushed him. “Get out of here,” she demanded in a whisper.
Hesitation.
“I’ll find out what’s going on. You have to leave.”
He looked down on her. I won’t be far. Go inside when they leave. And with the twitch of his tail he was gone, the trees rustling in his wake.
“Elizabeth?”
She turned at Taggart’s voice, but it sounded angrier than usual, even riled and distressed. He approached with nearly every Hemlock resident she knew at his rear. They appeared as an angry mob, but in place of torches, they held flashlights and lanterns, and in place of pitchforks were Taggart, Holman, and Eustace’s guns.
Guns. This was an angry mob.
“What is it, Sheriff? What’s wrong?” Regina was here, too, along with Brian, Nicole, Old Ray, Doc Ortiz, and even Bill Thurman. Who wasn’t here?
“What’s wrong is Sheppy’s been murdered, Beth.”
Air left Elizabeth’s chest with a gust, and in the instant time stood still, her mouth fell open.
“Brutally ripped to shreds. Regina found him on the edge of the forest by the diner an hour ago.” His Adam’s apple bounced. “Not much of him left. And we all know there’s only one thing that coulda done it.” Elizabeth’s eyes shot to Regina and while Regina’s jaw was compressed and her chin high, moisture pooled in her eyes. She put her hand on her hip, and Elizabeth got the sense it was an announcement that she was no longer on her side. Eustace cocked his shotgun, his Betsy, and his stance was just as defiant. Everyone had that look on them, even Nicole who stood next to an angry, drunk-looking Brian.
“Sheriff,” Elizabeth began, raising her hands. Tears pooled in her own eyes and she found it hard to conjure words as she imagined Sheppy with his red backpack and green Chucks. She prayed he hadn’t felt too much pain. Or fear. Had the only truly innocent soul in Hemlock Veils been tortured before Aglaé took his life? She thought of Regina and how it must have felt to find him—wondered how much of him was left—and her heart swelled an agonizing throb. “I’m…I’m so sorry about Sheppy. But…let’s not jump to any conclu—”
“Enough!” Taggart shouted. His eyes were wet, too. He took a few short, shallow breaths. “Enough,” he said more softly. “It’s been decided. None of us are resting until we bring the monster to the ground. Now, I’m only going to give you one chance, Beth. Are you with us or against us?”
Elizabeth stood tall. “One chance? Or what? Are you going to lock me up if I’m against you, Sheriff?”
He gave Brian a single nod and Brian took Elizabeth by the arms. Before she could fight him off or even wonder what was happening, Taggart pulled out the two silver bracelets she once thought she would wear at Mr. Vanderzee’s demand. He glared down at her as he handcuffed her, intentionally making them tight, and his eyes said he blamed her for everything. Rightfully so.
“No,” he finally answered. “We’re going to use you as bait.”
Chapter 26
“You’re not thinking clearly,” Elizabeth said. She struggled in Taggart and Brian’s arms as they both towed her along, since Brian couldn’t manage her on his own. They went deeper into the forest, and her churning gut left her worrying some of their lives might end like Sheppy’s had. “Please,” she begged. “You don’t know what you’re dealing with out here. You need to be inside, where it’s safe.”
“And what is it exactly that we’re dealing with?” Taggart asked, breath labored. “We know now, Beth. We know about your bond with it.”
Elizabeth paused in her struggle long enough to glance at Regina, who looked down. She couldn’t blame her for telling them. No one wanted another death, and really, other than Elizabeth, no one had any reason not to suspect the beast. “What do you plan to do, Sheriff?” she asked. “Torture me until he comes to my rescue?”
With an abrupt halt, Taggart yanked her roughly in his direction. She could almost feel the edges of his mustache brush against her nose. “I gave you a chance, Beth. You think I want to do this?” In mad desperation, his eyes flitted back and forth to each of hers. No, this was the last thing he wanted.