A Terrifying Creature

She hissed. Her irises bled to ruby. Slamming her hands against the sides of the coach she screeched.

Cracking her neck, she looked at him. Last warning.

The coach rocked. Long brown wings snapped out from her body, one shattering the narrow coach window.

The driver lunged off his seat. Hitting the ground and desperately crawling through the dirt to get as far from it as possible. Vanishing down the drive yelling in horror.

Sebastian was unmoved by the woman's violent fury.

"Out!" The valkyrie shrieked in his mind.

To any mortal, the sight of the Valkyrie with red eyes and brown wings spanning the coach, would've been an intimidating sight.

Shredding her slippers, her feet became taloned claws embedding in the coach seat. She emanated predatory hunger.

Cocking his head, he studied her new visage, fearless.

That really should've been her first hint. He mused. Toying with the book in his hands.

Her skin was as pale as when she'd been beautiful. However, hair pins clattered to the floor and her mane went coarse and black as a Dread's shroud. Her changing body tearing the lavender gown.

She now crouched before him in naked glory, claws sinking into the edge of the leather cushion. A softer shade of the brown tinging her wings climbed the sides of her hips and along the ridge of her ribcage.

Blood red eyes burned. As wide and unblinking as that of a baby bird...yet far more terrifying. She screamed threats into his mind though no voice filled the coach. She breathed quickly. Her vibrating body rattling the coach with barely contained energy.

When he didn't break her stare, she compressed her lips and relaxed her shoulders, letting her head fall back.

Sebastian eyed her. Fury emanated from her. Nearly tangible.

He caught her upper arm, but her hand now equipped with claws, raked his forearm.

Cutting deep and leaving three jagged marks which seared with venom.

Ignoring the pain, he watched her. Unflappable.

***

Sebastian's comrades, Raese Whiting and Captain Black emerged from the ball to stare openmouthed at the horrifying creature peering red-eyed from the coach.

Raese swirled his hand. The long staff topped in glowing green, materialized in his fist. He spun it once before slamming it to the ground which shortened its length by half. Turning it into a quarterstaff. His weapon of choice.

His and the Captain's eyes went to Bast, questioningly.

Angling to be in their view near the broken window, he gave them a long look, lips tight. Warning them that he had the situation in hand. Despite the apparent chaos.

Deragan turned, jerking his head for them to return indoors. Trusting Sebastian.

Raese crooked his wrist again and the staff vanished in a billow of green flakes.

They straightened their overcoats and stepped back through the doorway as Chavias emerged.

Catching him by the arm, Deragan turned him murmuring words Elsabet couldn't hear but from their body language, he likely told them to go back inside.

Chavias twisted and glimpsed the red-eyed creature atop the shattered coach.

"Bloody Hell!" He muttered over his shoulder as Deragan and Raese drug him back in. Intent on keeping anyone else from coming out and witnessing the sight unfolding.

Leaning over, Bast collected something from the floorboards before stepping from the coach. Giving the women his back, he ignored the bony wing protruding from the window near his head. He'd cracked the door and squeezed through the slight space.

She hissed warningly. Then her gaze fell to where the pendant should've been on the floorboards.

He took it. She realized instantly.

***

Glancing over his shoulder, Bast watched the coach rattle from the furious shaking of the creature within. In moments, the boards splintered and shattered, projecting wooden fragments as it exploded. Bursting from the chaos, her red eyes burned in the dark.

She landed barefoot on the remnants of the coach roof. Clawed feet gripping the splintering wood with a crunch. Ruby eyes glittering in the dark. She held out her hand for the pendant. A superior lift to her chin as she glared down her nose at him.

He'd given her a bored look, jaw ticking. His shrug made it clear he'd no intention of handing it over.

She shot into the air. A dark blur cutting the sky before plummeting in a calculated dive.

He'd stared at her, consideringly. Knowing that returning indoors would only draw her back inside to cause a bigger scene.

So, he'd made no move as she drew near enough wind hissed over her wings like sails slapping. The energy of her fury clenched his stomach, forcing his muscles tight. Instinctively ready to fight, he felt no inkling of fear.

She caught him in a taloned grip. Lifting his limp body. Her grip slipped so she tossed him like a dog with prey. Catching him by his arms in a better grip. What remained of his shirt rent as her claws embedded in his flesh.

Ouch. Bast winced.

Gritting his teeth, he willed his body not to react. Don't change.