Authors: Ashley Hunter
Chapter 14
It was ten at night by the time they made it back to the main building, and Elle was incredibly glad to see Priya and Alliana again—even if they weren’t all that enthused with seeing her. Still Alliana expressed some appreciation that they didn’t die, so that was that.
Priya, on the other hand, had glared at her viciously the moment they had approached and the strange hostility from the woman did not go unnoticed by Malik either.
Malik had pulled away from Elle, approaching the petite woman with soothing phrases spoken in rapid Arabic. That entire time, Priya kept a hard stare over Elle, as if she were trying to kill her with a single gaze and Elle honestly felt her stomach waver at the hard attention.
To her relief, Priya broke away from the conversation with Malik, fixing him a look of shame before she disappeared into the illustrious building.
“Is everything alright?”
Elle murmured as they made their way inside.
“Its fine,” Malik replied just as quietly.
“I’ll explain later.”
Yet there was something in his voice that made Elle feel more than concerned. She kept her thoughts to herself, because that was not the time nor the place.
Soon, Elle was being escorted down toward a car, just an hour after they had arrived. Malik followed her to the doors where he spoke in swift Arabic to the men of his guard.
He looked back at her one more time.
“These men will take you home, Miss Roberts. If you encounter any issues, please be sure to call us. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”
I’ll talk to you tomorrow.
Elle nodded, allowing herself to trust Malik’s promise before disappearing behind sleek metal doors and the growl of expensive engines.
Just minutes later, Elle was at her apartment, exhausted beyond belief but glad that her Uncle was already asleep. It was almost 11:30 at night by the time Elle managed to collapse into her bed, her eyes flitting shut moments later.
Chapter 15
A strange buzzing woke her not long after Elle drifted off. Grogginess turned her limbs to jelly and when she managed to pull herself up and reach for the source of the buzzing—it was the phone Priya had purchased for her—Elle was surprised to find Malik’s name on the surface.
Rubbing sleep out of her eyes, Elle pressed the green ‘answer’ button on the touchscreen before lifting the phone to her ear.
“Hello?”
“Elle, it’s me.” She heard and felt her heart jump to her throat. Of course it would be him. Still it was strange for him to call, even stranger to call at this hour.
“Malik, is everything alright?”
“It’s fine.” He replied shortly, and it was then that Elle noticed that his voice was lacking his usual emotion. He sounded flat… strange.
“Come outside.”
“Wait—what? Where are you?” She whispered, already shifting off her mattress.
“Just come outside.” He said and then she heard a couple of beeps signifying the call had ended.
Frowning, Elle stood up and grabbed a nearby bathrobe, placing her phone inside the pocket just in case she needed to call her Uncle.
She wobbled her way toward the door, feeling her body already protest loudly to every movement—specifically between her legs. When she reached the door, she felt a strange chill begin from her spine to the rest of her body.
The feeling to hide nearly choked her for a moment and she could only stare at the door ahead of her in surprise. Shaking her head, Elle reached for the door and opened it.
Malik was standing just outside her door and Elle gasped in surprise. His body was dressed in a black cotton shirt and jeans, looking nothing like the mogul she had worked for several weeks now.
He stared at her with a simple appraisal, glancing at her body before meeting her gaze head on.
“Malik, what’s going on?” Elle whispered, taking a step outside and closing the door behind her.
There was a chill in the air and it made her wrap her arms around her body.
“Come with me,” he said instead, reaching a palm toward her.
“Hold on, can you at least answer the question?” She asked, feeling so strangely distrustful of him.
Her eyes trailed over his face, he didn’t look any different… except his eyes stared at her without any of the warmth he had given her before.
“I’ll answer your questions later, but you have to come with me. Now.”
He took a step closer, no longer waiting for her to take his hand. When he grabbed her, his grip was tight and cold, Elle nearly wrenched herself away from him.
“What’s the matter with you?” She asked, feeling panic begin to spread through her chilled skin.
Malik gave her a forceful tug, urging her down the stairs of the apartment without another word.
“Malik, what is it, you’re starting to freak me out.”
He remained silent even after they reached the ground floor. When they approached his car, Elle felt a continuous tug of worry when she noticed the vehicle looked like any other, nothing like his expensive station wagons or mercedes benz.
He opened the passenger door before nearly shoving her in and Elle let out a small yelp when he slammed the door shut. She had no idea what was going on… and frankly it was starting to scare her.
When he slid into the driver’s seat, he wasted no time pulling the car out of park and slamming his foot into the gas. The car jolted forward, throwing Elle hard against her seat.
Frightened, Elle stayed quiet, sending panicked glances to the silent man now driving them away. Elle finally decided to try to speak to him again, maybe get some kind of response.
“…Zayn?”
“Do not call me that,” Malik snapped bitingly.
“You will
never
call me that.”
Alarmed and frightened, Elle became mute, sitting half-frozen in her seat. She had no idea what was going on or what was happening… something wasn’t right.
Reaching into her pocket, Elle dragged her fingers toward the ‘silent’ trigger in her phone.
Once she was sure it would make no noise, Elle shifted her body against the chair away from Malik.
“What are you doing?” He asked abruptly and Elle stiffened.
“I’m…I’m tired.” She lied shakily.
“I’m sure you’ll explain when I wake up.”
This seemed to satisfy him because he didn’t ask any more questions. Elle carefully pulled her phone out, and lowered the backlight down to a faint dimness. She hoped he didn’t notice and waited a long moment in case he did.
When there was nothing but the faint growl of the engine between them, Elle pressed in her passcode with her thumb, swiftly searching for her contacts before finding Alliana’s number.
If he wouldn’t give her answers, maybe the woman will.
The Sheikh is taking me somewhere. I don’t know where. What’s going on?
She didn’t wait long for a response.
Where are you?
Elle glanced out the window, noticing how they were now turning into the highway.
I think he’s taking me north… we just got on the highway.
Suddenly she got another message, this time it was from Priya.
What car are you in?
This confused Elle, but she glanced around, her eyes finding the make of the care in the little symbol on the dashboard.
It’s a Ford. I think.
Minutes later, Elle received another message.
Don’t do anything stupid.
What the hell did that mean?
Wracking her brain and feeling abandoned, Elle just sat back, hoping for answers sooner rather than later.
Chapter 16
“Wake up.” She heard, and Elle was suddenly being pulled out from her seat.
Blinking away spots, the smell of pine and earth surrounded her, and when she put her feet outside she felt cold earth between her toes.
It was practically pitch dark if not for the lights of the car. Elle groaned softly, her body protesting the hard movements from Malik’s manhandling.
“Wha…? Where are we? Malik?”
Elle murmured but wasn’t answered before she was being lead away from the car and toward a dark structure up ahead. She didn’t remember falling asleep. What’s worse was how terribly cold it was.
Before long, Elle was shivering hard in Malik’s grip. He led her toward the structure and after her feet stumbled over one of the wooden planks of the stairs did she realize they were in a cabin.
“What is this place, Malik?” Elle asked, feeling sleep disappear once her body realized this wasn’t a regular place.
“Why are we here?”
“Silence.” He ordered swiftly just as he opened the door and shoved her inside.
Elle let out a cry, falling to her knees. The door slid shut hard and Elle was surrounded by darkness. Shaking and frightened, Elle tried to gather her bearings, searching frantically for something to grip on.
A flare of light to her right made her gasp and recoil. When she looked she noticed that a strong fire began to burn within a fireplace, and just feet away stood Malik’s towering figure.
“Take off your clothes.”
He ordered coldly, his eyes dragging down over her figure with intent. Elle was taken aback.
“What?”
She gasped, unsure that she heard him right.
“Your clothes, woman. Take them off.”
He insisted.
Elle pushed herself up to her feet, arms tightening around her chest as she stared at him in fear.
“Why—what are you doing? Please, just talk to me.”
“I have no reason to say anything to you, and you have no right to address me in that way.” He hissed, taking an advancing step toward her.
Elle took a step back, fear choking her chest.
“I am the Sheikh, and when I order you to remove your clothes, you will obey me.”
“What’s the matter with you? Why are you behaving like this?”
Malik took another step toward her, his hand shooting out to grab her around her robe. Elle let out a scream when he yanked her toward the fireplace, tripping her over the rug.
Her back collided roughly with the ground, forcing her breath out of her chest. Malik loomed over her and through the color of the flames she could see the intent burn like lust in his eyes.
“You speak to me like I am supposed to care, silly woman.”
Tears burned in her eyes as she tried to push him away.
“Zayn, stop, please! Please.”
Something slapped against her cheek, forcing her head in the other direction. Pain exploded through her head, made white stars shoot around her vision as her world tipped.
She could feel his hands yanking at the fabric of her bathrobe, and she tried weakly to push him off.
“I thought I told you to never call me that.” He snarled against her neck, and she could feel his mouth on her skin, biting and sucking roughly without holding back.
A sharp groan of pain escaped her throat, her hand began to reach for something—anything—to get him off.
To her immense relief, she found the slim handle of an iron poker, and without another thought Elle swung it hard against Malik’s head. It collided roughly, and he broke away with a shout.
She was on her feet just a moment later, swinging the poker wildly at this man even as she tried to hold back sobs of fear and torment.
“Stay away from me!”
“You stupid bitch!” Malik snarled, lunging for her.
Elle swung the poker again, the tip slashing against Malik’s cheek and ripping a dark wound down his face. He let out another shout, sounding wild in his anger.
“I will show you what happens when you disobey me!”
Suddenly, his body doubled over, and Elle gasped. Muscles rippled and expanded, his body becoming large and immense. The change made Elle stare in horror, watching in shock as the man—now beast—writhed, face elongating into a snout with fangs and long tongue. Elle let out a high pitched scream when the creature faced her with violent eyes.
“You will
never
escape!”
It spoke, rough and animalistic and Elle felt her body backpedal for her life.
“
Malik, no!!
” Elle shrieked.
“ELLE!!”
The door behind her slammed open. Elle whirled around, eyes wide when she saw a far too familiar face.
Malik stood at the doorway, gasping and staring at her with wild concern. Mind spinning, Elle nearly collapsed.
Malik…? What?
“Elle, get away from him!” Malik shouted, rushing further inside the cabin toward her. Elle lifted her hands, not wanting him to approach her.
Instead, Elle darted toward the farthest wall, wanting to avoid both this beast and the man whose face she had believed had transformed.
The beast let out a low rumble, like a laugh before shifting down to its four paws.
A bear…
Elle thought vacantly as she stared in shock, body shaking in fright.
“Well, now, it’s been a while, brother.”
The beast spoke, deep guttural sounds that made each word grating to her ears.
Malik stood before the Bear, holding his ground and glaring hatefully into the beast’s eyes.
“Kamal,” Malik spat.
“How dare you attempt to take Elle from me?”
“An eye for an eye, is that not what we’ve learned?”
The bear replied, taking several long strides around the cabin, never breaking the stare down with the man.
Elle watched the exchange with growing confusion, unsure how to handle this chain of events.
“You’ve taken everything I ever wanted. Now I take the woman you now desire. Is that not fair?”
“No one’s taken anything from anyone,” Malik replied icily.
“As the eldest, the inheritance is rightfully mine.”
“LIAR!”
The bear roared. Elle slapped her hands to her ears, sinking against the wall to avoid being seen.
“
You told me you never wanted the empire! You promised me that I would be the one to take your place as heir!”
Malik was unperturbed.
“Things change, Kamal. I stopped running away years ago. It’s time you end this idiot crusade of yours and return home.”
“And then what?”
The Bear let out another laugh, vicious and awful.
“To await banishment? We both know father has been searching for an excuse to rid himself of his youngest son. Too much of an embarrassment to the empire, too much of a burden.”
Malik’s expression changed to a pained look, “You know that is not true. Father loves you, Kamal.”
“Hilarious to hear that from the favorite!”
The animal roared.
“Never has he been able to tell us apart, until now! But now that I have my chance, I can get rid of you and gain everything you have. Luck is on my side tonight, brother.”
And suddenly, the bear lunged toward Malik, pouncing with such force that they both tumbled out and through the door. The wood splintered hard from the collision.
Elle let out another shriek, watching wildly as man and bear began to wrestle.
Running outside, she watched as the bear tried to bite down on Malik’s neck. Instead, the dark-skinned man threw an arm up, gritting his teeth when his brother’s jaws clamped down over the flesh of his arm. Blood exploded from the wounds, dripping over Malik’s face and staining his clothes.
Elle gasped, throwing a hand to her mouth as she watched the fight proceed. Malik lifted his legs before kicking hard at the bear’s stomach, throwing the beast over his head.
The bear rolled, claws swiping hard in the direction of the man, managing to slash at Malik’s chest.
Four long stripes over his chest burst with crimson and in the darkness of night, Elle could see him double over for a moment, grasping to the wounds.
“Zayn!” Elle shouted.
“Stay back!” He snapped back, throwing his wounded arm in her direction.
And then his body was suddenly writhing as well. “
Priya! Take her away!”
Without warning, a small petite figure darted in front of Elle, making the woman yelp in surprise.
Priya’s eyes were wild with focus, grabbing around Elle’s wrists before pulling her.
“Look at me,
gori
. Are you wounded?”
Elle couldn’t reply, her eyes jumping back to Malik’s figure, unable to tear her attention away as Malik’s body expanded not unlike she had seen the other Malik’s body do. A loud roar escaped Malik’s throat, filling the air with its resonance.
“
Gori!
” Priya exclaimed, yanking at Elle’s face to look at her. “Stop looking and come with me. We need to get you away from him.”
“But—Malik… What—” Elle stammered, but Priya didn’t give her a chance to protest, pulling the woman with her with surprising force.
Still, Elle turned her head to try to see, her eyes wide as she beheld the two beasts collide with thunderous power.
Claws swiped left and right, and in the scramble, Elle could no longer tell who her Malik was and who was the imposter.
Priya yanked her away from the battle towards Malik’s Mercedes Benz, stopping short when one of the bears let out a particular high roar. Turning her head in the direction of the battle, the woman gave a sound of distress before turning toward Elle.
“You get in the car and you drive away, do you understand me? Get out of here and you don’t come back.”
“Priya—what is happening?” Elle asked gripping to the woman’s hands tightly.
“What is he—who was that other man?”
“Just
go
,
gori!
” Priya snapped before tearing herself away and rushing toward the sounds of the battle.
The last thing Elle saw of the woman was her body shift as well before disappearing into the woods. But Elle couldn’t just leave. She just couldn’t.
Another roar burned through the air and Elle felt her stomach fall.
Zayn…
Running back toward where Priya had disappeared, Elle tried to focus on the task at hand, but her body was shaking so hard and stumbling over tree roots nearly made Elle collapse against the earth.
But she pushed onward; she needed to know that Malik was alright.
The firelight from within the cabin was the only thing that cast a light over the area, shining over three bears as they roared and attacked each other. Elle paused to watch, the cold air stinging against her throat.
One of the larger bears was rearing, pushing its weight over its hind legs before slamming down over the earth. The other two bears pulled away from the attack, and Elle noticed one of them—a smaller built bear—dart to the side and lunge toward the bear’s head, jaws snapping hard against its neck.
The third bear was pouncing once more, slashing its claws at the other bears chest. The first bear let out a snarl, slapping its immense paw against the smaller bear and shoving it away.
The smaller bear bounced off the earth before turning to its feet, snarling viciously through a parted maw.
The two large bears faced off, rising to their hind legs and shoving at each other, enraged roars echoing through the woods and making Elle brace herself against the nearest tree.
She had no idea what to think, no idea what to do, until one of the bears slammed into the other, forcing the animal on its back. Its jaw was instantly on the other’s neck, aiming to kill. The smallest bear tackled the big bear away, and the two spun and tumbled over the earth.
The other bear turned, letting out pained grunts, one of its legs was bleeding, dragging dark trails of crimson. Elle remembered how Malik had been biting in that same arm, and gasped when she saw the bear stumble.
The small bear must be Priya.
Finally gathering her bearings, Elle tried to figure out what to do, but she could only sit back and watch as the bears battled it out.
It seemed to go on for forever until the smaller bear was suddenly thrown against a tree. A sharp whine escaped through its throat and the sound revived the bear that Elle knew to be her Malik.
It whirled and attacked the opposing beast that towered over Priya’s still body. Elle felt a gasp lodge in her throat.
Priya… no…!
Hurrying, Elle ran around the zone of battle, hoping to reach the small bear. When she arrived, Priya’s body had already shifted back to its familiar petite and very human form.
Haggard breaths escaped the woman’s body and Elle was happy at least to note she was still alive, but wounded. Gingerly, Elle grabbed the woman’s body, pulling her from the battle with some effort. Priya may have been small, but she wasn’t very light. Falling to her knees, Elle pulled the woman close against her chest, her eyes jumping toward the battle.