Chapter 6

Griiq

A chill wind whipped through the open window, but wrapped in Harlow's arms, I barely noticed the cold. Her skin was warm against mine, her breath soft on my neck. I traced my fingers along the curve of her spine, marveling at the smoothness of her skin.

"I'm scared," I whispered, my voice rough with emotion. "Scared of losing you."

Harlow lifted her head, her hazel eyes meeting mine. "You won't lose me, Griiq. I'm not going anywhere."

I shook my head. "It's not that. It's just...with you poking around Grimsby, trying to figure out who's behind the attacks... I'm terrified something will happen to you."

She cupped my face in her hands, her thumb brushing over my cheekbone. "I'll be careful. I promise. But I have to do this. I have to clear your name."

"I know." I turned my head, pressing a kiss to her palm. "But I need you to come back to me. I...I couldn't bear it if something happened to you because of me."

"Nothing is going to happen to me." Harlow's voice was fierce, determined. "We're going to figure this out together. You and me. And when we do, the entire village will see the truth. They'll see the man I see. The man I..."

She faltered, her eyes searching mine. I held my breath, hardly daring to hope.

"The monster I love," she finished softly, a brilliant smile stretching across her beautiful face.

My heart stuttered in my chest. "Harlow..."

"I love you, Griiq Caind." She smiled, radiant and beautiful. "Monster and all."

I crushed my mouth to hers, pouring all the love and gratitude and fear I felt into the kiss. She loved me. Despite everything, despite what I was, she loved me.

And I loved her. More than anything in this world or any other.

I just prayed that love would be enough to keep her safe.

??

I paced the castle halls, my mind consumed with worry for Harlow. She had set off for Grimsby hours ago, determined to uncover the truth behind the attacks that had terrorized the village and cast suspicion upon me. I knew she was capable, but the thought of her facing danger alone made my stomach churn.

Unable to bear the waiting any longer, I slipped out of the castle and into the woods. I kept to the shadows, my dark skin and hair blending into the foliage. I followed a trail that wound through the trees, my keen senses alert for any sign of trouble.

As I walked, I noticed claw marks gouged into the bark of several trees. They were deep and vicious, far too large to belong to any ordinary animal. My unease grew as I pressed on the trail leading me to the outskirts of Grimsby.

I passed by several homes, their windows dark and shuttered. In the yards, the remains of maimed pets and livestock lay, their bodies torn and bloody. My stomach turned, but I forced myself to look closer. In the surrounding forest, I found patches of blood, the grass and leaves stained crimson.

I marked down the locations of the attacks in my mind, piecing together a pattern. Whatever creature was responsible, it seemed to target specific homes. But why? And how had it evaded detection for so long?

As the sun set, I turned back towards the castle. Harlow would be returning soon, and I needed to share what I had discovered. Together, we would stop this creature and clear my name.

But even as I walked, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that clung to me like a second skin. Something about this felt wrong, like there was more to the story than either of us realized. I just hoped that Harlow's investigation in Grimsby had yielded some answers.

Because if it hadn't, I feared we were running out of time.

I paced the grand foyer, my mind churning with the revelations from my foray into the woods. The sound of the heavy wooden door creaking open made me spin around. Harlow stepped inside, her auburn hair windswept and her cheeks flushed from the cold.

"Griiq," she breathed, hurrying towards me. "I found out more about the attacks."

She pulled a notepad from her satchel, flipping through the pages. "I spoke with some of the townspeople. They gave me the names of those who were attacked, along with locations and dates."

I took the notepad from her, scanning the list. As I read, a frown pulled at my lips. "These attacks...they're happening all around the community. Not just near the castle."

Harlow nodded, her brow furrowed. "And there's more. The people I talked to described the attacker as a monster. One that looks like you, but doesn't speak."

A chill ran down my spine. "Like me?"

"Yes. They said it has the same dark skin and horns. That's why they assumed it was you."

I shook my head, trying to make sense of it all. "But that's not possible. Grendels aren't meat eaters. We don't feast on bloody carcasses."

Harlow's eyes widened. "So you think it's something else entirely? Not a Grendel at all?"

"It has to be." I paced again, my mind racing. "But what could it be? And why is it targeting these specific people?"

Harlow laid a hand on my arm, stopping me in my tracks. "We'll figure it out, Griiq."

I looked down at her, a rush of gratitude and love flowed from my heart. "I know we will. But we need to be careful. If this creature is as vicious as the townspeople say..."

"I'm not afraid," Harlow said fiercely. "I won't let anything happen to you. Or to anyone else in Grimsby."

I pulled her into my arms, holding her close. "I won't let anything happen to you either. I promise."

We stood there for a long moment, drawing strength from each other's embrace. I knew that the road ahead would be dangerous. Even with a monster that wore my face.

??

I sat at the large wooden table in the castle's library, a map of Grimsby spread out before me. Harlow leaned over my shoulder, her brow furrowed in concentration as she studied the locations of the attacks.

"Based on the pattern, it seems like the creature is targeting homes on the outskirts of the village," I said, tracing my finger along the map. "If we can predict where it might strike next, we can set up surveillance and catch it in the act."

Harlow nodded, her hazel eyes bright with determination. "We'll need cameras. And motion sensors. Anything that can help us track its movements."

"I can go into town and purchase the equipment," I said, rising from my chair. "You stay here and keep working on the map."

But Harlow shook her head, her hand coming to rest on my arm. "No, Griiq. I want you to come with me."

I hesitated, uncertainty twisting in my gut. "Are you sure that's a good idea? The people of Grimsby, they're afraid of me. They think I'm a monster."

"Then we'll show them they're wrong." Harlow's voice was fierce, her grip on my arm tightening. "I won't let them continue to believe these lies about you. You're not a monster, Griiq. You're a good man."

I swallowed hard, emotion rising in my throat. "Alright. We'll go together."

We rode into Grimsby in my Hummer. As we made our way towards the general store, I felt the weight of curious stares and fearful whispers.

"It's him," I heard someone mutter. "The monster from the castle."

"What's he doing here?" another voice hissed. "Shouldn't he be locked up?"

I kept my head down, my shoulders hunched as if to make myself smaller. But Harlow walked tall beside me, her head held high and her hand firmly clasped in mine.

Inside the store, the shopkeeper eyed me warily as we gathered the supplies we needed. But Harlow greeted him with a warm smile, engaging him in friendly conversation as she paid for our purchases.

As we stepped back out onto the street, a small group of children playing nearby stopped to stare at me. I braced myself for their fear, for the inevitable cries of monster.

Harlow knelt down beside them, her voice gentle as she introduced me. "This is my friend Griiq," she said. "He's not a monster. He's here to help keep Grimsby safe."

The children looked at me with wide, curious eyes. And then, to my surprise, they smiled. "Hi Griiq," a little girl said shyly. "I like your horns."

A lump rose in my throat, and I managed a small smile in return. "Thank you," I whispered. "I like your pigtails."

We drove back to the castle with the equipment stored safely in the back. A glimmer of hope surfaced. Maybe we could prove that I wasn't the monster they believed me to be.