Status: This is somewhat of a "Beauty and the Beast" fan-fiction with different ideas, action, and characters.

Thorns of the Beast

Chapter 1

The rustle of my skirts and deep breathing made it difficult for me to hear the pursuing footsteps behind me, but my strength and determination pushed me forward through the dark streets. Uneven cobblestones caught the pointed edges of my dress shoes and continually attempted to throw off my balance, but I caught myself on the brick and wood walls of the buildings surrounding me as I fled.
I was stronger than my attacker had estimated. The quiet night air had been interrupted by the clatter of my shoes and those of the man chasing me. After rounding a corner onto a new street, I pressed myself against a cold stone wall and listened. Clothes hanging on lines above me flapped against one and other softly as the steps grew louder, and heavier. In hopes of remaining hidden, I held my breath and let small gasps escape when needed.
Suddenly the footsteps stopped. This caught me by surprise, and my curiosity overwhelmed me. I hesitated, and then thrust my head out into the open to see where the man had gone. Relief flushed the sweat and fear from my skin when I saw no sign of the man. I took a step forward and overlooked the damage done to my gown. The expensive pea green silk with floral print and white cotton material had been torn beyond repair and heavily coated with dust.
I cursed under my breath and began patting at the hem in hopes of removing some dirt.
“What a shame,” I straightened my back as my breath caught and the air temperature lowered, “I always did adore that dress on you.” The deeply accented voice made my skin crawl. My breath escaped my mouth is smoky gasps. The man began to step towards me, and I, trying not to let my fear show, stood stiff and prayed for myself over and over. He softly chuckled and I felt his icy pant from running on my exposed shoulder. He stood directly behind me and slowly slid one hand around the front of my bodice, and even through the thick parchment-like material I felt his cold skin radiate onto mine.
“Praying will not save you from destiny. You obviously did not learn from your parent’s fate,” He whispered into my ear. Sadness washed over me like a stormy waters over the sandy edges of an island. I kept my gaze at the ground and let my hands slowly turn to fists. My nails dug into my skin and a small whimper of pain escaped my tightened lips as I felt skin break.
“I do not seek to hurt you. I only want what every man wants,” He glided the back of his hand along my flat shoulders which sent a chill down my spine, “Do you know what it is I seek?” He inquired. Before he’d even asked the question, I had my answer lying dormant on my tongue.
“My uncle’s wealth,” I stated. Once again, he chuckled and drew in a breath before speaking.
“You are not a naïve girl, are you?” He asked into my ear. I shook my head and took a deep breath. He smelled of death and spices.
Without removing his hand from my stomach, he turned me and pinned me against the frozen brick of one of the buildings. My skin instantly rejected the cold and sent a new shock of cold through my back and legs. He snickered and moved his face closer to mine. His pale skin contrasted from his long brown hair and soul-piercing black eyes. If he were not my attacker, I would have the opinion that this man was actually quite handsome. He inhaled and a smile curved even more at the corners of his mouth. He slid both his hands up my arms and unfolded my fingers from my palms. Blood trickled down past my wrist and as instantly as I saw it, I caught it's sent.
The man lowered his face to the blood trail and looked up to me.
"You have such delicate skin. It seems if I were only to-" He paused and scratched his long, thick thumb nail along the edge of my arm and watched as the blood flowed profusely. For a moment it seemed as though he would back away, but my assumption was incorrect.
It seemed as if everything was happening in slow motion. Slowly his head backed away from me and he smiled; wider this time. In the moonlight, I was able to see the outline of sharp canine teeth just before he flung his head forward and thrust the sharp teeth into my arm. I wanted to scream in pain and surprise, but all my breath and soul seemed to vanish. Heat found its way from the tips of his teeth to every inch of my body. Small tears formed at the corners of my eyes and slipped down my cheeks. More and more blood gushed from my wound and pattered on the cobblestone; stainging it red.
A tightening grip in my stomach felt as if it exploded and sendt pain through my body in such a rush, my knees caved and I fell into his arms. His now bloody grin shined over me in the moonlight. I could literally feel the life being drained from me as he uttered the last words I thought I would ever hear.
"Oh, you have not even begun to feel pain, my dear." And before I could muster a rebuttal, he again sunk his teeth into me. Only this time, he bit down on my neck.
The air in my lungs began to escape and soon cold rods of pain pierced through my cheeks, eyes, and legs. The darkness of the night was cast out by a somewhat gloomier loneliness and I fell hard to the ground beneath the moon and stars.