Those who lagged behind were pushed aside as the beasts marched them through the snow.
They were enormous in size and presence, towering over the humans. They each stood about seven feet tall and had shoulders nearly as wide as doorframes.
Eliora felt small each time one went by next to her.
"Move," A soldier yelled and shoved a man so hard that he fell to his knees.
Eliora recoiled immediately, taking a step back. "Stay small... stay out of their way," she muttered to herself.
She made sure to wear her scarf tightly around her face, keeping her head down.
Ahead, a beast pulled a young woman, causing her to scream. "Please...I'm moving!"
"Not quick enough," he snarled.
Eliora's heart pounded. An elderly man next to her whispered shakingly, "My bones will crack if they hit me again."
"Just... don't speak and they will ignore you." She whispered back.
They trudged through the frost until midnight before the palace came into view; sharp black spires rising to the sky.
Volkar, the beast King's palace was haunting and gothic. It was obviously not built for comfort, but to remind the world who ruled it. Yet, for some reason, Eliora thought it was beautiful.
One of the humans gasped. "Is that… the King's home?"
A beast snorted at him. "Try to keep your awe to yourself, human. You look stupid."
Eliora tugged her scarf tighter as a cold wind hit her face. "Why is it colder here?" she murmured.
The older man answered, "Because the King's magic chills the whole mountain."
Another human replied, her voice trembling, "Eldfrost is always cold… but this is worse."
Eliora gave a small nod. The air was so cold that it could burn. She rubbed her arms under her cloak,
Then she felt that odd tug in her chest once more, making her falter a step.
The older man took hold of her elbow. "Are you okay? Be careful there."
"I'm alright," she muttered. "Just...ehm...lightheaded."
He spoke more softly. "Did you feel it as well? I tell you, this place is strange."
Eliora didn't respond, knowing in her heart that they didn't feel the same thing.
With a loud groan, the gates opened, and they were driven inside by the beasts.
One yelled, "Hurry up. Before the full moon, the King wants you sorted."
They felt a wave of dread. Everybody was aware of the stories about the King's health during full moons.
Someone muttered, "Sorted? For what?"
Another whispered pitifully, "Servant positions. We'll most likely be assigned by dawn."
They were led down a long corridor lit with icy blue flames. A woman ahead of Eliora whimpered, "I don't want to serve a beast. I heard one of them tore his last servant in half."
A soldier who overheard her snorted, "Then don't disappoint whoever gets you."
He shoved her through a doorway.
Another human cried, "Please...we'll behave...just don't hurt us."
"Hurt you?" the soldier repeated with a laugh. "If we wanted to hurt you, you'd already be dead."
Eliora swallowed hard.
The beasts began forcing them into separate waiting rooms.
"You'll stay here until your assignments," the captain snarled. "No wandering. No crying. No questions."
Eliora whispered, "Saints help us."
As she entered the tiny space she had been shoved into, her hands trembled.
"Do you think your family survived the fire?" A voice asked.
"I don't know. I don't know anything anymore." Another replied.
She heard two people whispering in the hallway before the door closed.
Eliora felt her chest clench painfully. "Mama... Papa... please be alive," she muttered to herself as she leaned her back against the chilly wall.
She felt a deep, unsettling throb in her chest once more, as though someone in the palace had heard her.
.
.
Even before the moon had fully risen, Zarek was already shaking, his breathing irregular, and his claws digging into his skin.
He was standing in his room, holding onto a marble pillar so tightly that it cracked.
"Not now," he growled to himself. His voice was not entirely his own.
A scent drifted through the window. The same one that had haunted him throughout the night.
It was smelled soft and delicious yet, unfamiliar.
Zarek's breath hitched. "Impossible."
"Your Majesty?" Commander Aldric called from the door. "I bring word from Ravehaven. The soldiers have gathered their villagers."
Zarek didn't answer.
Aldric frowned and opened the door. When he entered, he froze. "By the saints."
The King's eyes were already red. His fangs had extended and the veins in his neck had darkened.
"Aldric." He rasped. "Go."
Aldric walked closer instead. "Your Majesty, the full moon is close."
Zarek's head snapped towards him, a low growl vibrating the walls.
Aldric staggered back. "Guards!" He shouted down the hall, "Bring me men. NOW! THE KING IS SLIPPING!"
Boots echoed from outside and six soldiers rushed in. "Commander?!"
"Hold him!" Aldric ordered.
They closed in on the King, but his beast surged, a loud snarl ripping from deep within him. Immediately, one of the soldiers dropped dead where he stood.
The torchlight shook crazily on the stone.
"Stand back!" Aldric yelled. "He's not responding ."
Then there was a flurry of quicker steps and Maelina stormed in with four seers at her heels, their faces tight with worry.
"What happened?" she blurted, her eyes widening immediately she saw the King.
Aldric was barely holding it together. "Whatever is the reason, it's not the full moon. This started too early."
Zarek growled, "Leave… all of you."
Maelina didn't budge. "Your Majesty, listen ..."
He lunged at her, but two soldiers yanked her out of reach, just as Zarek's claws ripped through the empty air where she'd been.
"He's gone," one of the seers muttered. "The beast's taken over."
Maelina cut in, "Not completely. If it had, this palace would be in shambles."
She lifted her hands and faint violet shapes formed around them. "Get ready."
Power hit Zarek like a shockwave. His body lurched, then stilled... but just for a heartbeat. Then he let out a roar that blasted one seer straight off her feet.
Someone else started coughing so hard blood spattered her sleeve.
Maelina's eyes went wide. "He's fighting all of us? That can't be right. He shouldn't be this far gone before the full moon's even up."
Aldric's jaw clenched. "We have to try to bind him."
"No one can get near him like this!" a seer yelled.
Maelina sucked in a breath. "I'll try to weaken him."
"Maelina, don't!" Aldric shot back.