Beauty of the Beast, Chapter One
Chapter one
Beauty Of The Beast
Part one
It had been two days since Sean had found Sterling on the trade road to Darmstadt in Germany. They were making good progress this far; they were but two days walk from their destination. The blood of the slaver that Sean had killed was still on his lips, like rust. He was reminiscing about an adventure he'd had about 18 months pervious, where he managed to infiltrate a heavily guarded castle in the Carpathian Mountains, and steal a large portion of the king's bounty. He smiled to himself, but stopped as a voice interrupted his daydream. "Excuse me, sir, but I would like to know how far we are from Darmstadt, we have been walking for hours. I'm tired, I'm hungry, and my feet are starting to hurt me.", Sterling said. Sean replied "You're right. We should rest. I know there is a cave nearby that we can sleep in. Beats sleeping in the open, and Darmstadt is two days walk from here. Sterling, you're still pale, perhaps you should stay here while I hunt, make sure our equipment is okay." With that, they walked for another twenty minutes before reaching the cave.
"I should be back before you wake up. It's important that you sleep, and build up your strength, and it's my promise that I'll have a juicy deer here for you. One thing I will ask of you is that you get a fire going, and warm the cave up. Here, take this." Sean took his heavy travelling cloak from within his pack, and gave it to the shivering Sterling, and draped it about his shoulders, closing the clasp, and making sure that Sterling was shielded from the cold. Sean departed, his words like a whiser on the wind," Goodbye". Sterling got up and had a look around the cave. It was rather small, as far as caves go, but it would do for tonight. He gathered bits of timber and dry moss to make a fire, and after a few frustrating minutes of cursing at the unlit fuels, he managed to ignite them. He sat, huddled in the cloak, and looking at the fire, getting lost in his own thoughts, the days leading up to his rescue replaying in his mind with a shocking realism. He recounted how the guards beat the shit out out of him, and raped him, humiliating him, making him do disgusting things for food. Sterling wept quietly into his hands, he didn't realise how much he owed to his captor. He laid down to sleep, tears still on his face, and sang to himself an old ballad that Sean had taught him, it was in Sean's native Gaelic language. The ballad told of the love between two people, and how it never faltered even when one found out that the other was keeping secrets., and how no matter what the love would last forever. He sang himself to sleep, the last four words of the ballad passing his lips, "Gra in mo chroi", which means "Love in my heart"
Outside, Sean was busy hunting, he had left his flintlock gun, and edged weapons back in the cave, so Sterling could protect himself in the event of someone unwelcome entering the cave. He had found a deer and was stalking it, bare foot, he didn't make a sound. The moon was out, it was a Hunter's moon, "How approiate", he thought to himself with a smile. He liked hunting, and the adrenaline buzz that it gave him. He thought for a second, and decided to take the hunt up a notch. He removed his frock coat and shirt, and hung them on a branch. A small gust of wind ran through the wood that he was hunting in, there was a sound of bones cracking, and popping, and a gentle moaning. The wind died, and standing where Sean had been was a maned werewolf. His fur was the same colour as the hair on Sean's head. Its had the same colbalt-blue eyes as Sean had. He still had on the britches he'd been wearing. He stalked with and intent look in his eyes, and followed from the shadows, never more than ten feet from the deer. When he sensed the moment was right, he launched himself at the deer, and grabbed its neck in his jaws, clamping down. The coppery taste of blood filled his mouth, as well as fragments of bone, and cerebro-spinal fluid. The deer was dead, a few spasmodic twitches here and there. Satisfied with the kill, he let a howl that shook the trees. He started back towards the cave, the dead deer hung over his shoulders.
Sterling woke with a start, beads of sweat on his face, his clothes soaked with sweat. He had been dreaming of those horrendous weeks spent in the company of the slavers. The memories were fresh in his mind, and he turned, and threw up. Not much came out, just some bile, and spittle. He got up, suddenly cold, and clutching the cloak about him, he went outside and urinated against a tree stump. He tought he saw something in the haze of the dawn, but decided that he didn't, and went back inside th cave. He had only sat down when Sean arrived, human, bloody, and half naked. "What happened to you, sir? Are you okay?", Sterling asked, shocked, and concerned. Sean dumped the dear on the floor, and stepped over it, placing a bloody hand on Sterling's shoulder. "I'm fine, thank you, and for the umpteenth time, call me Sean. See? I told you I'd get a big juicy deer. Oh shit, I left my clothes and boots out in the forest, I'll be back in a minute." True to his word, he was back inside a minute. Sean said "I need to go wash this blood off, I got a bit carried away when I was hunting. Heh, I guess I don't know my own strength. Care to join me?" They went to a nearby stream, and washed themselves, Sean shaving with a cut-throat razor, which he offered to Sterling, who declined.
Once they were cleaned, and groomed, they headed back to the cave, where they had left the venison cooking. They had stripped the carcass bare. Sean was honing a thigh bone into a sharpened implement, which he gave to Sterling. "Just in case you need it", Sean had said, as he gave it to him. They had skinned the deer, and were planning on using it, but they didn't know what for yet. They reached Darmstadt; a relatively large town about ten miles from Munich. Sean brought Sterling to an Inn. When he entered, he went to the desk, and said "Guten tag", and a woman, young, svelt and busty came out and hugged him. "Hello, Rebecca, how are you? I need a room for a few nights, big enough for me, my friend here, and our belongings." Rebecca replied with a thick accent "Room 13. It's so good to see you again, Sean." He motioned to Sterling, and the two went upstairs to room 13.
"Rebecca is an old friend of mine, we go back a few years. Now, I have to go and take care of a few things in town. Do not open this door, unless it is Rebecca, and you'll know if it is. Here, hold onto this while I'm gone, I hope you don't have to use it" Sean said as he passed his pistol to Sterling. While he was out, Sean picked up some provisions, and had the deer skin grafted onto a beautiful mohair cloak; it was a gift for Sterling. He also bought the man new clothes, as the ones he had were tatty and smelly. He bought some food for travelling, so he didn't have to hunt. He arrived back at his room at the inn, and opened the door to find the muzzle of a gun in his face. He said in a calming, soft voice "It's just me, Sterling, put the gun down. There now. I have something for you, my friend" he beckoned to a serf to bring the crudely wrapped packages in, and the serf placed them on the floor, backing out. Now, I want you to unwrap the smaller of the packages first." Sterling's eyes went wide, no one had ever shown him such generousity, he approached the packages cautiously, and tore the paper from the first package, only to reveal clothes the likes of which would only be seen on a wealthy nobleman. Sean smiled, and nodded, and motioned to the other package. He carefully opened the second package, revealing a heavy cloak, made of brown mohair, lined with fine, rust coloured linen, and with the deerskin sewn onto it, it made the wearer look quite the beast. "Do you like them, Sterling?", Sean asked, looking at him in a neutral way. Sterling's cheeks had tears on them, he spoke "Oh, Sean, no man or woman has ever shown me such generosity, I...I...can't explain how happy I am. Thank you." Sean smiled, pleased that Sterling was pleased. It was getting late, so Sean called down to the kitchen, and asked them to prepare some food for him and his companion.
Part two
It was late, perhaps the early hours of the morning. The sound of something moving made Sean's eyes snap open, but he himself didn't move. Something was moving in the darkness. He slowly turned his body, to try see what it was, his eyes locked on a lion, sitting in the corner, eating the last of the meat from the meal. A thought passed his mind "There aren't any lions in this part of the world, how the fuck did it get in my room? Where's Sterling?" Then, as if to answer Sean's thoughts, the lion leapt onto the bed, and stood over him, it's paws pinning his arms to the bed. The smell of meat on it's hot breath was exciting. The lion lowered its face to Sean's, and Sean feared the worst. But, to his shocked amazment, the lion licked his face with its rough, sand-papery tongue. He endured the almost painful licks, and the lions bad breath, and started petting it. This was no small beast, it was easily about nine feet long including the tail, and four feet high at the shoulders. Sean ran his hands through it's mane, played with it's ears, and rubbed its big paws. All the while this was happening, the lion lay there, purring, loving the attention. "Where did you come from, you lovely beast? You know, I've always had a thing for big cats. Oh I'm tired." Sean said as he absentmindedly stroked the lion. It rolled onto it's back, it's paws on its chest, it's head lolling back. Sean stoked it's neck, and chest, and then its belly. When he rubbed it's belly, one of the lions back legs twitched. "How cute", Sean thought. He was nothing but a big softie. He noticed the lion's maleness. It was just resting there, flaccid, but big, and inviting, a bit of pink visible at the tip. Sean looked at it. He thought about touching it, then about how the lion might react. He started rubbing lower and lower on the lions belly, getting closer to the goods. The back of his hand brushed against the sheath, and he felt its throbbing warmth. He gently took hold of it, and started working it like he would his own when he would masturbate. The lion went silent, and rigid, and really unnerved Sean, but it started purring again, and he relaxed, working it a bit faster, and illiciting a few groans and low growls from the lion. Sean though it would be a good idea to give oral sex to this beast. After all, he was an animal himself. He took the head of the musky penis into his mouth, and sucked it gently, running his tongue along the underside of the head, and on the shaft. The lion shuddered, and unsheathed its claws, Sean felt one clawed paw run up his back. The lion tensed, and Sean nearly choked on the seed that erupted into his mouth. He did all he could to swallow it down. Afterwards, he snuggled up to the lion, resting his head on it's chest. The lions slow heartbeat, and breathing lulled him to sleep very quickly.
Sean awoke the next morning, tired, and a bit groggy. He had this strange taste in his mouth, and suddenly, he looked at what he was lying on. Sterling. He felt himself flush with embarrassment, and tried to move off him without waking him up. He managed to, and went down to the kitchen for breakfast, bringing some back up for Sterling. Sterling was awake when Sean came back. Sean had nothing but his britches on. He had two distinguishing marks; the huge tattoo on his back, and the smaller one on his right arm. At first glance, the one on his back just looked like any old tribal tattoo. But, if one were to look at it in detail, he would see that it was a picture of a wolf howling at the moon. Sterling recognised it as the insignia of an ancient family of lycanthropes, called the Northwoods. His other tattoo was of a yin-yang with contrasting paw prints inside them. Legend has it, that the Northwods were a super power in the world at one stage. However, family feuds, hunters, and disease all but wiped them out. If Sterling's memory served him, a were-panther named Taidgh had infected him and had that same insignia. Meaning he was connected to this man before him. "Breakfast? There's bacon, quail and eggs. It's not great, but hey." Sean said, trying not to seem embarrassed, but he blushed when Sterling looked at him, and could not hold his companion's gaze. Sterling took the proffered food, and between bites, he said "Sean, did that tattoo on your back hurt? It's quite a handsome piece of work." He replied "I've had it so long now, I can hardly remember. I got this tattoo at a young age. A mark of entering manhood among my er....people. Sterling, do you remember anything from last night? I woke up and you weren't around. There was, however, a fucking huge lion in here. Any thoughts on that?" Sterling stopped eating, and with a faint smile, and a matter-of-fact tone of voice he looked at Sean and said "Yeah. It was me. The lion, that is. Thank you for what you did last night. No one has ever been so kind to me as you, in all aspects. I see you've had practice in doing what you did. I wished to penetrate you last night, but you finished me before I could." Sean replied, confused, and embarrassed "Erm, thanks...I think. I've had experience in this before."
Just then, a bandit burst in the door. He was young, perhaps about 17 or 18, red haired, and tall. He was wearing light armour, and was dressing in royal colours that Sterling didn't recognise. The bandit spoke, with an accent similar to Sean's "Good day, Mr. Kelly, how are you? My father does request that you grace him with your presence." Sean stood and spat "Well well, young James O Hara. How is that deceitful bastard of a father of yours? I have a message for him. Tell him that I'm sorry I can't make it, but I have more pressing things to attend to, and either way, I wouldn't give him the steam from my piss". This angered James, who drew his rapier. Sterling growled, and stepped forward, Sean told him to stay back. He walked over to James, who took a bad shot at Sean, slicing through the flesh and muscle on his chest, exposing bone. Sean growled, and grabbed and lifted the youth by his throat, and slammed him against the wall. Sean spoke in a low, and dangerous voice "That hurt, you little shit. I doubt your father realises that he's dealing with the most perwerful werewolf in Ireland. You can tell him that the next time I encounter you, or any of his other cronies, I'll kill you on a whim. And just to show you how serious I am, I'll do this." Sean ripped one of the young man's ears off. He screamed in agony, and scrambled for the door as he was dropped to the floor. Sean threw the ear out the window, and turned to Sterling, who was pale with shock.
"What? It's an old feud about land, and money. I paid my debts, but he wants more. I won't give him anything. Oh my, that stings." Sean said, as the wound began to close by itself. Sterling sat on the bed, and looked at Sean, and spoke. "You're a werewolf. One of the legendary Northwoods. I thought there were none of the Northwoods left. I was bitten by a lycanthrope. Do you knonw a man named Taidgh, tall, jet black hair? He infected me. But that's all water under the bridge now. Taidgh had that same tattoo as you. I just recognised it a moment ago.". Sean sat down. This was a bit much for him to take in this so soon after waking up.
"I knew Taidgh. He was killed about 8 months ago. Died of a blood infection. Somehow, some silver had made its way into his blood and he died. I think O Hara was behind it" He sighs "I'd been searching for you. I was the last of the Northwoods. When I rescued you, I was taking a big risk, I mean, I couldn't know for sure if you were the lycan I was looking for. But now that I've found you......I, it means that I'm no longer the last Northwood. Finding you, and knowing for definite that you are the beast I was told you were, it feels like finding a long lost brother. Together, you and I can bring the Northwoods back from the brink of oblivion."
They left the inn that day, deciding that it was better if they didn't hang around. Sterling looked really well in the cloak. Sean did something had never done with anyone before; he walked right next to Sterling, and slipped his hand into his companions hand, and walked, silent into the amber sunset.