Claire

  Claire

  By Lynda Behling

  Claire

  Copyright 2008, Lynda Behling Published by Amazon.com First Edition, 2008

  All characters in this book are fictional. Any resemblance to any persons living or dead is purely coincidental by the author. To Robin McKinley,

  For showing me that the jumbled mess in my brain can actually be turned into a rich and compelling story. And for inspiring me to realize the greatest dream in my life.

  Also to my family and friends,

  For dealing with me so patiently during the turmoil of writing this book, while I talked about nothing else during it's creation.

  Table of Contents

  Prologue Before the Beginning

  Chapter I The Junkyard

  Chapter II B.E.A.S.T

  Chapter III Mrs. Kennie

  Chapter IV Julius

  Chapter V Cantor Castle

  Chapter VI Second Date

  Chapter VII The Garden

  Chapter VIII Snowfall

  Chapter IX Good Bye

  Chapter X School Things

  Chapter XI Attachment

  Chapter XII The High Empress

  Chapter XIII Delilah

  Chapter XIV Shopping

  Chapter XV Halloween Chapter XVI Descent

  Chapter XVII Escape

  Chapter XVIII Planning

  Chapter XIV Waiting

  Chapter XV Answers

  Epilogue Nightmare

  Prologue – Before the Beginning He prowled through the wreckage. The smell of blood hung heavy over the landscape. He raised his nose to the air, taking it in. It wasn't a pleasant scent to him. He had smelled too much death recently.

  This town was just like all the others. Death lay everywhere. He had seen it in the forests in between the towns as well. But the towns were the worst. There were so many dead in such a small place.

  He wondered if he was the only one alive. He had hidden himself during the firestorm. Others had as well, but they were still all dead. After the firestorm, a wave of death had washed over the entire area for miles and miles. It had no scent, nor could it be seen or heard.

  And now he was the only one left.

  He ran swiftly through the streets. He was getting hungry. There were plenty of carcasses in the streets. He stopped to feed. He preferred to hunt down his meals. The chase thrilled

  him, his prey's terror made his heart race. But, it seemed unlikely

  now that he would find anything to hunt down again.

  He ripped through the chest with his strong black paws. He always ate the hearts out. It was the only part that

  could sustain him.

  After feeding, he cleaned his paws and his face before

  continuing on. He could not live off the dead much longer. The

  bodies were a few days old now, the hearts were rotting away. He

  had to find fresh prey, or he would stop moving.

  As he continued on, he saw more and more destruction to

  the surroundings. Buildings, cars, and streets were torn apart.

  Rubble and debris littered the ground. He found he had to climb

  more. He scrambled nimbly up a pile of stone and metal that had

  once been a building.

  When he reached the top, he paused, looking out over the

  horizon. He found himself at the edge of a massive crater. It was

  so huge he could not see to the other end of it. He looked down at

  the raw, uncovered earth. It was scorched black. This was where

  the firestorm had hit.

  His sharp orange eyes could see for miles on a clear day.

  He scanned the crater slowly. There was no movement, no life.

  No prey.

  It would take a few sunsets to run across it. In the time it

  took to go around it though, he would see the full moon twice.

  He didn't have that much time.

  He set off at a fast pace, down into the crater. His

  powerful legs stirred the ash, sending up a huge black cloud in his

  wake. It coated his sleek fur, turning it dull. He would have to

  find some clean water once he was on the other side. Ash was

  awful to clean with his tongue.

  He ran straight, guided by the sun as it made its path

  across the sky. When the moon rose, he was still running. He did

  not need sleep like other creatures did. And he never got tired,

  only hungry.

  He did feel pain though, and after the first day his paws

  started getting sore. He took a rest when the sun was at its peak.

  He enjoyed the warm sun on his fur immensely. He lay stretched

  out in the dirt and ash, licking the tender pads of his paws,

  grimacing at the taste of soot.

  That evening, he continued on. He discovered that the

  crater was much bigger than he thought. It would take twice as

  long to cross as he had estimated.

  By the end of the third night he was getting close to the

  center. He decided to push on until morning. He could sleep in

  the center of the crater under the morning sun. He didn't need it,

  but he liked sleep occasionally.

  His mind wandered during sleep, he imagined all kinds of

  things. Sometimes the things he imagined actually happened.

  But he wasn't sure if he was imagining things that would happen

  later, or if because he imagined them, he went out and did those

  things.

  Sunrise was approaching. The entire world was bathed in predawn light. He felt excitement building up inside of his chest.

  He had almost reached his goal.

  Up ahead, movement caught his eye. He paused,

  crouching low to the ground. His soot covered fur blended into

  the ash perfectly. He crawled forward swiftly, his eyes not

  moving from the white figure up ahead.

  His keen eyes began picking up details. It was a human

  creature, or something that looked close enough like it. He had

  never seen one so unnaturally white before. It was nude, which

  he found unusual. Human creatures tended to protect their soft

  bodies with coverings, since they lacked fur of their own. It was slim and curvy, with large teats and wide hips. A

  female then. She sat on the backs of her legs, her hands folded in

  front of her. Her face was turned up to the sky. Long blue fur fell

  down her back.

  It was unnatural to him how she just sat there, unmoving.

  His instincts told him it could be a ploy or trap of some kind. He

  was torn between caution and curiosity.

  After deliberating for a bit, he decided to move closer. He

  was a bit cocky about his own strength. There were very few

  things that could match him, and he had not found anything that

  could defeat him. And this soft creature didn't look in any way

  dangerous. Perhaps she was even good prey. Though at this

  point, he reflected, any prey was good prey.

  "You might as well come out." She said, still looking up

  at the sky. "I know you are there."

  His ears twitched forward. He didn't like her tone. She

  knew he was watching her, but she didn't sound frightened at all.

  Perhaps once she got a better look at him.

  He prowled up to her, baring his impressive fangs. He

  gave her a baleful look, growling low in his chest, challenging.

  She did not shriek, or run in terror. He would teach her to fear

  him.
It would be the last lesson she learned. He paused in front

  of her, crouching low, preparing to spring.

  Something sparkled, catching his eye. It had fallen into

  her lap. He narrowed his eyes. As he watched, another one fell.

  He looked up at her face.

  Shining tears were rolling down her cheeks. They

  collected at her chin and dropped down to her lap.

  He huffed, lying down heavily. The desire for the hunt

  had left him. He could not make her fear. She was broken. She

  had lost her hope. He looked at her and knew that she feared

  nothing, not even death.

  "They are all gone." She said hollowly. "They said that

  they loved me, but they all left me."

  He laid his head on his paws, looking up at her. He

  couldn't quite understand what she was saying, but he could hear

  the sadness in her tone.

  She looked down at the ground. Her fingers sifted through

  the ash and dirt. "Some of them prayed to God, before the end.

  But how could they pray to God, when I was the one beside

  them? I watched over them, and guided them. I loved them. She clenched her fingers in the dirt. Heavy, sparkling

  tears hit the back of her hand. "There is no one left for me." She was silent after that. She sat there all through the day.

  He sat there with her. Night fell and she had not moved. Neither

  had he. When night once again became day, she rose, walking

  slowly ahead. He rose as well, trailing after her.

  *** They looked down at the small town. There was movement among the buildings. She turned and looked down at him. "It seems there is some life here as well. Perhaps they will join the others."

  They had been traveling together for many days. They would search for life among the sea of death and decay. Those that still lived, she approached, offering comfort. She had begun gathering them together.

  They were entranced by her beauty, even after she had acquired coverings. She was warm, and gentle. She promised them better things, and so they followed her.

  They walked down to the town. The people here were looting the shops. He had seen the human creatures act this way before. Sometimes they fought amongst themselves. This looked like another one of those times.

  It was only a small group, so he walked right up to them. He growled deep and low, a warning.

  They stopped and looked at him. They took in his massive size, his huge black paws and his dangerous orange eyes. A few backed away in fear. He bared his teeth, pleased.

  "Despite appearances, he will not hurt you." His companion walked up. "We are here to help you." She said kindly.

  They looked at her in confusion. "Help?" One asked. "How can you help us?"

  "There are more people gathered. I have found them among the ruined towns. The cities are barren of all life, but there is still some left in the less populated areas. Like here." She gestured around. "You may come with me if you wish. We have food, and temporary shelter. We are searching for a permanent home."

  They stared at her. He knew how they felt. She was alluring. She spoke calmly and gently, like a mother. She was beautiful. These human creatures would follow her.

  They always did.

  *** “We have found our home." She said to him. She put a hand on his head, rubbing behind one large black ear. He purred deep in his chest, closing his eyes.

  She lifted her hand and he opened his eyes. She pointed at the mountain. "That is the best place. My city will be there."

  His sharp eyes scanned the mountain. It had one jagged spire, the rest was fairly smooth. There was a rich, green valley at the base. A large river ran beside it.

  She looked down at him. "You are not suited for living in one place as you are now. I wonder… Can you become domesticated?"

  He wanted to stay with her. He wanted to see her build her city. He had begun to grow weary of traveling. But she was right. This form was suited for a nomadic life.

  In the time he had known her, he had felt himself slowly changing. His mind had become sharper. He thought more, rather than relying on instinct. He could understand her words now, rather than just the meaning behind them.

  Flesh could no longer sustain him. He had found something more filling. He looked up at her. She was all he thought about now. She had become his entire world.

  He looked down at his massive black paws. He had chosen this form so long ago. It had been the one he was most comfortable in. Did he have the strength to change again; into something so different?

  But, he wanted to stay with her. He could try.

  Her eyes widened as he hunched down in sudden agony. He shed his sleek black fur that he loved the afternoon sun to warm. He changed his huge black paws to deft hands, though he kept those deadly claws. His back and hind legs were the hardest to change. He concentrated for several minutes, grunting in pain. His claws dug into the earth as he felt muscles straining and bones shifting.

  He pressed his face into the dirt; his heaving breaths sending up small clouds of it. That was changing as well. He could feel his muzzle shrinking in.

  After it was all over, he lay in the dirt, panting. He rolled his eyes up, to look at her.

  She had taken a step back. "I knew we were similar when I met you." She told him. "But I have never been able to change so drastically at one time. You are much stronger than I am." For the first time, she looked a little fearful.

  He braced his clawed hands against the ground, pushing himself to his knees. His eyes were on her, heavy lidded.

  Slowly, she walked over to him. She put her hands to the sides of his face, rubbing his smooth skin lightly.

  His eyes closed. He enjoyed this sensation. He brought his new arms up, wrapping them around her waist. He leaned his cheek against her chest. She was so soft. Did she have no muscles at all? He squeezed her tightly. He could happily drown in this softness.

  "You missed a few spots." She said teasingly. She rubbed his ear. It pulled back at her touch. He purred low in his chest. His long tail twitched lazily.

  She pulled back a little, turning his face up to hers. "You were the first one to find me." She said to him. "I thought I would never be found by anyone again. Plus, you are different from the humans, more like me. You will never age and die like they do." She caressed his cheek. "I want to keep you forever. I love you."

  Heat began coursing through his veins. He stared up at her, his lips parted. He was utterly captivated by her. She was so much more beautiful to him now. He desired her. She saw his eyes darken and took a step back, then another. Her own pale blue eyes were wide.

  He rose slowly to his feet. He was taller than her now. He smiled. He liked looking down at her for a change. He reached out and took her arm, drawing her close. He pressed that soft frame against his firm, muscular one. He bent his head down to hers.

  She put a hand to the back of his neck. Her lips parted, her eyes closed. She pressed her mouth against his and a flame ignited inside of him. He held her tightly, careful that his claws didn't scratch her delicate skin.

  That fire built up in his chest. He gave himself up freely to it, and to her, until both consumed him entirely.

  *** The city took ten years to build. She planned every part of it. Her mind was keen, and she retained a lot of information from the time before the firestorm. She gave knowledge to her people, technology. And they worshiped her.

  The city had no name. It was simply called the city. The last and only one.

  Still, she was not content. "There are so many people here now. Do they all love me?" She asked him. She looked at him with worried eyes.

  "Of course." He answered. "Everyone loves you."

  But she was filled with a doubt that he could not erase. "There are too many. I cannot reach them all at once."

  "I will reach them for you." He answered her. He had changed more and more around her
, inside and out. He was still large, still strong; he still retained his predatory nature. But his appearance was more like that of the human creatures. He was harder on the inside now. More like what she wanted him to be.

  "All those that do not love me, will betray me. Just like they did before." She said sadly.

  He bowed before her. "They shall not live to betray you." He said.

  *** The soldiers had made camp in the early dawn. They were set up at the base of a small hill that overlooked a tiny village below. They had spent the entire day observing the little village, and now night was falling. "How does it look?" The Captain asked the Scout.

  The Scout was lying at the top of the hill, looking down through a pair of high-powered binoculars. "I can't really tell. It looks fairly quiet, sir." He said, not taking his eyes away from the village.

  The Captain frowned. "Are there really any soldiers here?" He asked aloud.

  "That is not your concern." A voice said behind him. The

  Captain felt his hackles rise just from hearing that voice. "Your job is to make sure none of the enemy escapes the village."

  The Captain turned, regarding the man behind him. His skin was as black as coal, his eyes were blood-red. He was easily seven feet tall and built like a brick shithouse. His black hair fell over his face. He wore belted leather pants and heavy black boots. A crimson cloak covered his shoulders, going down to his feet.

  The Captain's eyes hardened. "Who will be carrying out the raid then?"

  The man pulled his thin lips back over sharp, white fangs. "Me." He reached one hand up, removing his cloak. He dropped it in the dirt. He wore no shirt, his large, black muscles stood out clearly. "You're assistance is no longer required." The man told him. "Please wait here."

  The Captain scowled. "You just said that our orders were to pick off the escapees." He reminded.

  "No one will escape." The dark man answered confidently. He walked down the hill and vanished into the night.

  The Captain joined the Scout up on the hill. He waiting tensely. But, it wasn't long before the screaming started.

  *** The village had put up little resistance. He smiled. They knew it was useless. They had betrayed his lady, and they knew that too. They knew their judgment was upon them and bowed before it.

  He murdered them indiscriminately. Man, woman, child. All were his enemies. Some tried fighting back, that's how the first house caught fire. But he was unconcerned. Fire could not stop him.