The Falcon Ridge Series Book 4: Art of a Girl

(Chapter song ‘Bad Dream' by Ruelle)

BASTIAN

“Bastian, wait!”

I stop, look at the ceiling and bite my top lip as I listen to her 5 inch stilettos tap on my marble floor. I was enjoying the sight of her in a black business skirt and white silk sleeveless blouse until she insulted my character. Now, I want to throw her out on her ass, but I need this damn room done.

She carefully runs around to my front and I look down at her with a stone face.

“I…am… terribly sorry. Please… I didn’t mean…” She pleads.

“Oh, you meant it.” I give her an annoyed smile.

She stands before me with her lips pressed together and fiddles her fingers. Her eyes drop to the floor.

I lean down to her ear. “The fact that you’re still here, says a lot about my self-centeredness. I know you need this job more than I need your talent.” She rolls her eyes to me and slightly nod. “I do my homework. So before you go biting the hand that’s feeding you right now, I’d watch that tongue.”

I stand up and she follows my irritated stare. “I’m willing to overlook this…mistake. Gossip about me again and I’ll make you regret it.” I walk past her and head to the common room.

I spin around. “Oh…and Sammy?”

She turns and meets my eyes.

“If you actually believe you deserve all that stuff you said in there. Nice. Caring. Gentle.” I give her a smart ass smile. “Think again.” I lick my back teeth as I stare her down. We'll see who's ego is hurt more.

I watch her get offended, turn and walk back to the ballroom. I hear the door to the ballroom slam and I lower my eyes to the floor, twisting my lips. I didn’t need to say it. It just came out. But I’m not going to apologize for striking back. She stood in my face. She can’t blame me if she gets bit.

“Hey. What was that about?”

I raise my eyes to Anton who motions to the hall.

“Nothing. Just making sure we're both on the same page. What’s up?” I shake off the whole exchange and cross my arms.

“The prison called. You had a meeting with Dr. Rennet?” He furrows his brows.

I pull out my phone and check the time. “Shit.” I rub my forehead. “I forgot. Damn it.”

“Apparently, he’s been waiting in your office for the last 30 minutes.” He arches a brow.

I pull out my keys. “Call the prison and tell them there was an emergency and I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Sure thing.”

As I rush out the door, I can’t believe I forgot this meeting. I’m usually not one to forget things, though this doctor is not on my list of priorities.

I’m getting distracted. I can’t let this woman get to me and ruin my performance. Even though I don’t like Rennet, he’s required for my record.

Damn it!

****

SAMMY

I angrily flip through my books. I shouldn’t care what he thinks. It’s ridiculous. He doesn’t know me to say something like that. One thing’s for certain, he’s not what I’m looking for, so his opinions mean nothing.

So why am I so upset about it?

Just forget it Sammy. Just do your job and who cares what the idiot has to say.

And I did just that. I worked and tried not to think about it. But the more I tried not to think about it, the more I did. During that whole freaking time, I couldn’t get Bastian off my brain.

After a few hours, I ended up slumped on the table and propped the side of my head up by my fist as I made design notes and modified measurements. The whole thing had me stewing so hard, I didn’t notice my eyes get heavy. It has never happened before, but I ended up falling asleep at work!

What happened after that, scared the crap out of me.

****

Somewhere in the room a loud, electrical pop rang through the ballroom causing me to wake up and yelp. I jumped out of my skin and my heart was racing a mile a minute as the room becomes suddenly dark and the security lights in the ballroom came on.

I calm my breathing and my heart. “A breaker must of popped.” I mumble as I walk to the ballroom door and open it. I scrub the sleep out of my eye as I maneuver my way down the black hallway into the black foyer.

I really can’t believe I fell asleep. What’s wrong with me.

“ANTON! NIGEL!” I walk into the common room and not seeing anyone, I turn back out. “Bastian.” I say in a mocking tone and roll my eyes.

Is no one really here?

I stop and look outside. It’s dark. Have I been here that long? Confused, I walk back down the hall to the ballroom. I shut the door behind me and decide to stay here rather then wander around a dark house. Someone will turn the power on soon. In the meantime…

I set up my phone and turn on the flashlight, so I can work.

Just before I sit down, something catches my eye in the large windows to the outside forest.

I turn to the window and see a shape run past it.

Curious, I leave the table and walk to the window. The parking lot is black, the moon is shining, but not giving off much light. The trees are all dark and black. I step to a tall arch window and place my fingertips on it.

I look all around the property outside and was about to leave when I see a black shape run through the trees. Definitely an animal of some kind.

I watch the trunks closely and tilt my head. I feel it in my fingertips before I hear it.

I let out a gasp as I rip my hands away from the glass and back up. I raise my chin and swallow when the growl gets louder.

I continue to back up until I hit the edge of the edge of the table. My hands grab the edge as my eyes fixate on the trees.

‘Princess…’

I start to shake as soon as I heard the word come from the forest. “No…go away.” I whimper.

‘Why? I need you.’

“Leave me alone.” My eyes start to tear.

‘I can’t. I have to take you home.’

Tears fall down my cheeks. “Please…leave me…” I’m shaking so bad the table shakes, too, in my hands. “You’re not real.” I choke.

‘I’m very real and I found you.’

The voice practically sings around me as terror fills my mind.

‘You have a duty to your kingdom. The prince needs you. I…need you.’

Just then my worst nightmare walks out of the woods. I shake my head and sob as I watch two black paws exit the trunks and step into the light.

The two red glowing eyes find mine and the black wolf stops in the grass and licks its lips.

“GO AWAY!!!” I lean to it and scream through flowing tears.

He lowers his head and his eyes glow more.

‘NO! YOU'VE BEEN HIDING TOO LONG! YOUR KINGDOM NEEDS YOU!! I NEED YOU!’

“I DON'T FUCKING NEED YOU!!!”

‘YES, YOU DO!!’

Everything slows as he lunges to the glass with a massive growl. I scream and cover my face as the window implodes and glass shards fly all around me.

‘SERVE YOUR KING!!’

My terrified eyes see the open jaws and sharp teeth of the beast and I let out a blood curdling scream as the flash of a white cross hits my mind before his jaws close around me.

****

I wake with a start and look around in hectic confusion. I look around and the lights are on. I whip my head to the window. It’s daylight and the windows intact.

My phone is also ringing off the table.

I collect myself and wipe my face. My cheeks are wet. I was crying.

I pick up the phone and look around the room. The ballroom door is still closed and I breathe a sigh of relief that no one caught me sleeping.

I clear my throat and try to put the dream away with the others. I answer the phone. “Hello?” I answer quietly.

“Sammy? Are you ok? I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for over an hour.” Dylan responds.

I scrunch my brow and look at my phone. It’s 6 pm. I put the phone back to my ear. “Uh…yeah. I’m fine. I just got…buried in my work.” I glance at the window and look away.

“Ok. I just worried. Lisa told me what happened. You don’t need me to take this thing over do you?”

I straighten myself up. “No. Nope. I’m good. I…uh…It was my fault. I shouldn’t have talked like that. I apologized and it’s all good.” I pack things up and try not to think about the dream.

“Sammy…don’t lie to me.”

I chuckle. “I’m not lying, Dylan. I can handle a little bit stress. It’s going to take a lot more than Bastian being mean to set me off. Please. Stop worrying.”

“Ok. See you soon?”

“Yep. I’m leaving now.”

“Ok. Mom has a casserole.”

“Sounds yummy. I’m famished.” I smile.

I hang up and my lips fall. I take one more look to the woods and grab my bag. I put my phone in it and throw it over my shoulder.

I exit the ballroom as quick as I can, leaving the door open and the whole horrid experience there.

I won’t let this start again. I won’t.

I'll kill myself first.

****

BASTIAN

I’ve been at work a total of 20 minutes and I already have a massive headache. It’s not just Sammy this time, though she’s been on my mind since I left.

I keep tossing around the idea of apologizing to her for what I said, then I end up talking myself out of it. I don’t want to let her think she got to me because she didn’t. I don’t care about what she thinks of me. Why would I? I know what I said is right. Just because she wants something, doesn’t mean she deserves it. She doesn’t have that kind of pull. I can afford that mindset and I do get what I want when I want it.

I could even have her if I really wanted. Which I don’t. Who wants a mouthy woman?

Nope. I just need to focus on work even though I want to walk out of it right now.

I look at my phone. It’s 6:45 pm.

I should be at home, but instead, I’m looking at the stiff seated across from me in front of my desk. He’s rambling on about his magic rehabilitation program that’s going to miraculously cure the crazy Dragons in the prison.

I’m leaning in my chair. My elbow is on the arm with my fingertips on my temple and I’m completely ignoring his shit. I’m here in presence, not for any kind of cooperation in this asinine idea.

He pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “Alpha. I can see in your face, that you don’t take this seriously.”

“I do. I just don’t give a shit, Doctor.” I mutter with an uncaring look on my face.

Rennet sits up. “Look. This is the best thing for these people. They don’t deserve this. Torrent forced them to fight for him.”

I lean forward and fold my arms on my desk. “Bullshit.”

“You don’t believe that they could be forced to fight?” Rennet arches his brow.

“No. I don’t.” I sit back and rest my hands on my chest.

“Why’s that, Alpha?” He sits back and crosses his leg.

I get up and walk around my desk. “You don’t brutally murder over 2000 people under duress, doctor. No one forced these people to do anything.” I lean on the front of my desk in front of Rennet.

“You’re assuming everyone here participated in the murders, Alpha. My reports will find those who had little participation and those who are suffering because of it.” He adjusted his glasses again.

I cross my arms. “I don’t care what your little reports say, doctor. They’re all just as sick as their sick fuck of a leader. As far as I’m concerned, they can rot in here until they die and join Torrent in hell where they belong.” I push off my desk and walk back to my chair.

Rennet stands and buttons his jacket. “You’re making a big mistake, Alpha. Keeping innocent people locked up will just turn them into criminals.”

I open some files. “I told you before, doctor. If you think the people in here are innocent, you need a shrink just as bad as they do.”

I stand and grab my jacket. I slip it on and button it. “Come on. I’ll show you to your office.”

We walk down the halls of the Prison offices. I come to a door not far from the back where the prison is. I unlock the door, open it and turn on the light.

The doctor walks by me and immediately gets settled.

“If there’s anything you need, just call my secretary.” I say, watching him open his briefcase.

“Actually, Alpha. I would like to get started right away.” He pulls out a list and hands it to me. “I need access to these prisoners.”

I grab his paper and read it. Two names stuck right out. “No. No fucking way. Anyone else, but these two.” I shove the paper back at him.

The doctor folds his arms. “Cole Karver and Cain Brindle are the foundation for my profile. I’ll need them to compare the innocent against.”

I lean to him. “Find another way. You aren’t getting a second with Karver or Brindle.”

He crosses his arms. “What are you afraid of, Alpha?”

“Me? Nothing.” I scoff.

He leans on the edge of his desk. “It sounds like you are. I wonder if this has anything to do with Karver escaping. I hope…you don’t think…I would try to break them out.” He chuckles.

“What if I did?” I stuff my hands in my pockets.

“Well, I’d say you were projecting your fear of failure onto me and looking for an excuse to railroad my project. I can elevate your fear. My record speaks for itself. I’ve worked within the walls of countless prisons across the country and not once have I performed…The Great Escape.” He smirks and bounces his brows.

“Don’t psychoanalyze me. You’re not getting access. That’s final.” I scowl.

“If you wish.” He pushes up his glasses and walks around his desk.

I give him a curious look. “Why do you wear those things?” I motion to his glasses.

“These?” He takes them off and shrugs. “They make me look smart.” He smiles.

I cross my arms. “They’re fake.”

He puts them back on. “No.” He laughs. “It was a joke. I’m blind as a bat.”

“You’re a shifter.” I raise a brow.

He leans on his desk. “Shifters aren’t free from defect, Alpha Cole.” He raises his brow. “In fact, I believe the number is…28 percent of shifters are born with some sort of defect. It’s not that they don’t exist, Alpha. No… Far from it. It’s just some defects…are easier to spot.” His lips fell and gave me a stone look.

“I understand.” I say quietly. “Have a good night.”

“You, too.” He waves as I close the door.

As I walk down the hall, I shake my pounding head. I can’t wait to get home.