Bestia-Graziosa

 Chapter 5: Bestia-Graziosa

We walked endlessly for hours, through the thick forest.

"I can't do this anymore." I collapsed onto a fallen log. "I need a break."

Alexander became frigid.

"Is there any..." I began.

"Shh" he said, trying to watch all directions at once.

"What is it?"

"I hear something.  It's getting closer.  And coming from that direction." he pointed East.

I listened. "I don't hear anything."

"We have to go." he said urgently.

"What is coming?"

"I don't know.  But whatever it is, it's up to no good."

Suddenly there was a loud noise coming from my right.  I grabbed my ears because it was so loud.

"COME ON STELLA! IT'S RIGHT THERE! WE HAVE TO GO NOW!" Alexander shouted.

We began to run. I've never ran so fast in my life.  And just when we thought it was gone, the noise pierced our ears again.

We continued to run until Alexander came to a sudden stop.  Unable to stop myself soon enough, I kept going forward until I almost flew over the edge of a huge gorge.  Alexander grabbed my shirt and pulled me back to safety.

"Thanks."

"What would you do without me?" he muttered.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"It's that thing again!" he said as he looked over the edge of the gorge.

"What are we gonna do?"

"It's too far for me to jump.  Especially with you on my back."

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHWWWWWWWPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"It's getting closer!" I screamed.

"Hop on my back! We're climbing down this thing!"

I peered over the gorge. "But it's so far down."

"Do you want to meet whatever that is?!"

"No!'

"Then get on!" he said as I climbed on.

Alexander walked to the edge of the gorge, turned around, and began to climb down.

Each step was treacherous.  Death seemed inevitable because if he didn't move fast enough, then the monster would get us.  But if he moved too fast, he could lose his footing and we would plummet to our deaths.

Step by step, we climbed down the wall of the gorge.  Pieces of rock crumbled under his feet. 

He put his foot down on another small ledge.  A chunk fell.  And we almost fell with it.

The descent took forever.  But when we finally reached the bottom, I got off of Alexander's back.

GGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I looked up towards the top of the cliff.  Where we once stood, was a huge beast.  The beast had large, sunken in eyes with no pupils.  They were just white.  It's hands were massive. Probably able to crush anything.  The beast probably weighed about 780 pounds and it was covered in silvery hair.

"It's Bestia-Graziosa." Alex said as he looked at the monster.

"What is that?"

"In English, her name means Graceful Beast.  A thousand years ago, when Temora and Alazainia were first founded, the settlers would tell stories of an ape-like monster that would protect the lands of Temora in which she roamed."

I leaned against the rock wall. "How do you know that's her? I thought you said that Bestia-Whatever, was just a story?"

"She was.  But all fairy tales told in Alazainia, no matter how often, always become true. That's why the telling of new fables was banned in 1836, after the stupid goblins were created."

My jaw dropped. "So nobody is allowed to tell stories?"

"Oh, we can tell stories.  But only about the creatures that already exist."

"Oh."

"Come on lets at least walk and talk.  We still have a long journey ahead of us." he said as he started to walk.

"So, when were vampires first...told about?" I asked and began to follow him.

"When Vladd Dracul existed.  Stories were told in your world and spread to ours, that he was a child of the night.  He would feast on blood and get burned by sunlight.  Basically all the traditional vampire stuff."

"Then how come you're not just a pile of ashes right now?" I said as I looked at the sun and then him.

"We had to adapt.  Almost all vampires now can go out in the sunlight.  They don't get appalled by garlic, or stakes, or crosses.  In fact, some even go to Church! They're probably worried about their souls and what would happen to them if they ever got burned by fire."

"What do you think about your soul?"

He looked back at me. "I have been trained to not believe anything about my soul."

"Trained? By whom?"

"My master."

"Who is your master?" That jerk.  How could teach someone to not have an opinion about what is theirs?!

"You will meet him."

"Good." I said harshly. "I'm thirsty."

Alexander laughed. "Imagine how I feel! I didn't have a chance to go hunting, since you picked last night to say the incantation!"

"I'm sorry."

"It's OK.  There's a lake up ahead.  Which means that there will be water for you, and animals drinking the water for me!"

I grinned even though it was kind of sad for whatever animal he was going to feed off of. "I hope we get there soon.  This sun is really hot!"

Alexander stopped, grabbed me by the waist, and tossed me onto his back once more.  He took off, running faster than we were before.  And within minutes, there was a beautiful little lake surrounded by tall palm trees. 

Alex set me back down on my feet and I ran to the lake.  I cupped my hands and used them to take large gulps of water.  The water was good.  It was very cold and refreshing.

Alex cursed.

I turned and looked at his pale face. "What's wrong?"

He gestured around the area. "Look what's not here."

My eyes scanned the lake.  There were the palm trees and hundred of other trees, shrubs, and flowers.  But not an animal in sight. 

"My thirst wouldn't be that bad, if I didn't run that last bit!" he said, distraught.

"What are you gonna do?"

"Guess I'm just gonna have to wait."

"Couldn't you drink some water" I suggested.

"If it was that easy, I would have already done it!" his tone changed all of a sudden. "And since when hav you ever heard of a vampire drinking water?!"

"Well sooorrry!"

"Just get your stupid human drink so that we can get out of here!"

Don't open your big fat mouth, Stella!

And I didn't.  I just sat there and drank my water peacefully.  Well almost peacefully.  I couldn't help but think of the jerk behind me.  And I know I shouldn't be upsetting a vampire, but he didn't have to be such an a*s!

"Stella look." Alex pointed out over the horizon.  He mood was suddenly back to calmness.

The sun was beginning to set.  The sky was filled with reds and oranges and yellows.  It was absolutely gorgeous.

"Well, we can't continue on anymore.  Looks like we're camping out here for the night." Alex concluded.

I heard him speak, but I was too entranced by the beauty of the sunset.  It was a once in a lifetime kind of sunset, that would remain in my memory forever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reviews

[Alyssa]

Wow that graceful beast sounds huge and creepy! I wonder if Alexander is really tempted to drink Stella's blood..? He seems to be able to control himself really well if he does :)
Haha stella is funny, offering him water. And the whole climbing down the cliff part i could picture so well! With the little rocks falling under his feet. Great job once again ;)

Alyssa

[Short.Nerd]

How could teach someone to not have an opinion

That sentence doesn't make sense up there.

Good job (

[RunsWithCats]

I really think this is a great story so far! I love the uniqueness of your characters and of their individual stories! Great job so far! -God Bless and have a great Christmas XD