The ballroom descended into chaos as the beast crashed through the enormous glass windows, sending shards raining down on the crowd of nobles. Guests screamed and scattered, their lavish gowns and tailored suits flowing like ripples of panic through the hall. The creature that had broken in was unlike anything Cassandra had ever seen—a hulking, twisted mass of muscle and bone, its body covered in matted fur. Its eyes glowed an unnatural, sickly green, and its maw dripped with saliva as it let out a low, guttural growl.
Cassandra's heart pounded in her chest, her instincts immediately kicking in. She scanned the crowd for Rainne, her breath coming in short, frantic bursts as she pushed through panicked nobles, all of them fleeing toward the exits. Where was she?
The beast let out another terrifying roar, its huge claws swiping at anyone who got too close. Several people had already fallen, their blood staining the pristine marble floor. The air was thick with fear and confusion, the once-elegant ballroom now a scene of carnage.
"Rainne!" Cassandra shouted, her voice barely audible over the chaos. She shoved past a fleeing nobleman, her eyes darting through the sea of terrified faces, searching for her partner. Where was she?
The beast rampaged through the hall, its movements swift and violent despite its size. It leaped onto a banquet table, smashing plates and glasses, scattering food in every direction. Cassandra caught a glimpse of its claws—razor-sharp and dripping with blood. Her stomach churned, but she forced herself to stay focused.
Suddenly, through the smoke of the shattered chandeliers and the flickering flames of toppled candles, Cassandra saw her. Rainne—dangling in the beast's grasp, limp and pale, her body hanging lifelessly as the creature held her by the waist, its claws wrapped tightly around her midsection.
"Rainne!" Cassandra's voice broke with desperation as she sprinted toward them, her mind racing. She had to get to her, had to save her. But the beast was enormous, and with Rainne held in its claws, one wrong move could mean her death.
Rainne's blonde hair was matted with blood, her green eyes half-closed and vacant, her once-vibrant face drained of color. She looked barely alive, her body swaying as the beast roared again, its glowing green eyes scanning the room as if searching for its next victim.
Cassandra's heart twisted painfully in her chest. This couldn't be happening. Not Rainne. Not like this.
She gripped the dagger at her side, her knuckles white, and began to close the distance between her and the creature, keeping low to avoid its sweeping claws. Her mind raced with every possible move—she needed to be fast, precise. If she didn't do this right, Rainne wouldn't survive.
The beast reared back, lifting Rainne higher, its monstrous head turning toward the crowd, as if preparing to make an example of her. There was no more time to think. Cassandra had to act. And it had to be fast.
Cassandra leaped onto the overturned table, positioning herself directly in the creature's path. She locked eyes with the beast, her body tense, her muscles coiled like a spring ready to strike.
"Hey!" she shouted, her voice filled with a dangerous edge. "Over here!"
The creature's glowing eyes snapped to her, its attention shifting. It snarled, its massive frame turning toward Cassandra, but it didn't release Rainne. The grip around Rainne's body tightened, and Cassandra saw her partner wince in pain, a faint groan escaping her lips.
Cassandra's breath hitched. Rainne was still alive.
She had to be smart—one strike, one precise move, and she could save her. But the creature was towering over her now, and its claws were only inches from Rainne's fragile body.
With a fluid motion, Cassandra threw her dagger—not at the creature's chest or its head, but at its wrist. The dagger flew through the air, the blade spinning, before sinking deep into the beast's forearm.
The creature howled in pain, its grip faltering for a split second—just long enough for Cassandra to act. She darted forward, reaching up and grabbing Rainne by the shoulders, pulling her free from the creature's claws. They both tumbled to the floor, Cassandra shielding Rainne's body with her own as they hit the marble.
Rainne gasped, her eyes fluttering open, though she was still weak and dazed. "Cass…?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"I've got you," Cassandra whispered, her heart hammering in her chest. "I've got you."
The beast roared again, furious now, its injured arm dripping with blood. It swung wildly, crashing through the ballroom, but Cassandra didn't wait to see what it would do next. She wrapped her arms around Rainne and dragged her toward the nearest cover—an overturned table near the back of the room. Cassandra heard an owl screech and watched as it swooped down to the beast and started pecking at it's eyes.
Rainne's breathing was shallow, her body limp, but she was conscious– barely. That was enough for now.
"We need to move," Cassandra said, her voice low and urgent. "Can you walk?"
Rainne blinked, her green eyes trying to focus. "I… think so."
The beast let out another earth-shattering roar, and Cassandra glanced over the edge of the table. Guards had arrived, their weapons drawn, but they seemed hesitant to approach the creature. It swiped at them, knocking one aside like a ragdoll.
Cassandra clenched her teeth. They needed to get out of here, now.
"I'll help you," she said, pulling Rainne to her feet. "Stay close."
Rainne nodded weakly, leaning heavily on Cassandra as they started to move. The beast was distracted, thrashing against the guards, giving them the precious moments they needed to escape. They wove through the wreckage of the ballroom, the once-beautiful space now a battlefield.
By the time they reached the doors leading to the courtyard, Cassandra could feel Rainne's strength failing again. She tightened her grip on her partner, fear gnawing at her as she saw the deep gashes on Rainne's torso where the beast's claws had cut into her.
"We'll get you to a healer," Cassandra whispered fiercely. "Just hold on."
Rainne's eyes fluttered, her breathing shallow. "Don't… leave me… please Cass, please."
"Never," Cassandra vowed.
With one last glance at the destruction behind them, Cassandra led Rainne into the night, her mind already racing with the grim reality—they had faced a beast tonight. But there would be more, and this was only the beginning.