All Chapters of Beauty Behind The Shadow: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Helia was a slayer. She came from a long line of slayers in her family, but presently she was the only one in the trade. Her father had grown too old and had been injured too many times by the profession to continue so she had taken up the mantle. Though her mother had not been pleased with her choice of vocation, due to its dangerous, wandering nature, her father had supported her decision and even seemed prideful that she'd followed in his footsteps.Helia was the eldest daughter in a family with no sons. She had thick, long, wavy red hair that flashed like copper penny in the sun and striking blue eyes to compliment. Standing at five-foot eleven, she was tall for her gender with a fit, muscled body; a must in her profession of killing monsters. She had a classic beauty in her features but did nothing to flaunt it. Makeup and other frivolities were unknown to her. Women in the position of slayer were unheard of, but Helia had a killer's edge and huntress's instinct that would've imp

Later that day...Helia gripped the hilt of the sword at her belt as she crept closer to the massive cave entrance. She had followed the directions of the people of Rumstead and found the broken topped mountain which was supposed to be the place where the Gray Shadow lived. From under her bone and metal helmet, her red hair spilled over her eyes which she had to flick away. She couldn't afford to be distracted by something as trivial as hair in her eyes...not when there was a giant residing in the cave before her. She crept closer, feet quietly crunching the rocks before the crevasse. Her shield braced in front of her.She looked up at the entrance to the cave which was very tall indeed...well over fifty feet if she had to guess. Already she was second-guessing her assumptions that the people of Rumstead had exaggerated his size if the crevasse was any indicator. However, she'd hunted trolls that weren't nearly as big as giants and they lived it caves with exceedingly tall entrances.

Quite suddenly he raised her up higher and tipped his head back. His mouth opened; lips pulled back to expose white teeth with notably sharp canines. Helia recoiled violently as he lowered her down. His hot breath washed over her with a deep menacing rasp as the dark cave of a throat seemed to gape wider in anticipation of her.Helia's fear peaked and she cried out suddenly, "The king of Rumstead!"The giant paused, his mouth slowly closed beneath her and his breath ruffled her hair, "Hmm. Rumstead. Most of you slayers are sent from there. Though...it's been awhile since the last ones." he smiled at her, "They weren't as fun as you...they tried to run."He suddenly jerked his hand up and let go of her feet in a toss. Helia couldn't help but scream as she plummeted to the unforgiving ground. But, in the blink of an eye she was slammed into and enveloped by his massive hand; snatching her out of the air and righting her in the same motion. Helia cried out with pain as she heard a pop in

Twillow looked away, seeming uncomfortable, "Do you... hunt fae?"+Helia's blue eyes directed at her seriously, "Well considering I've never seen one until I met you...no. And if even if I did, you don't go around killing or eating people so there's no one hiring to have you killed. I'm no poacher.""But...if someone hired you...would you?""After today, definitely not." The redhead smiled honestly at the winged fae.The smile was returned in kind.Quite, abruptly the ground shook several times. Just as Helia gripped her sword and turned she was swept off her feet. Her butt hit something soft but firm and in an instant she was hoisted into the air at breakneck speed. Her ribs shot pain through her and the sudden vertigo made her roll back helplessly in the palm of Kendrick's massive hand. He didn't seem happy.His golden-brown eyes narrowed at her and her half-drawn sword, "Yeah...draw that sword and see what happens."Helia could feel the bundles of thick tendons flex inside the palm

It was the afternoon and luckily it was warm, so Twillow set out to find food. She finally found a blueberry bush at the edge of a clearing and began eating the sweet offerings. Suddenly, a twig snapped and just before she could turn, something sharp pierced her shoulder muscle. She cried in pain, falling to her butt and scooting backward, eyes wild. Stuck in her shoulder was a sharp looking object no bigger than a twig. The end sported a bright red feather. It almost resembled a tiny arrow. Fearfully she tugged the piercing object from her shoulder and threw it away. But in seconds it felt like her senses were stuck in sap; slow and sticky. She tried to fly but she couldn't get her wings to flutter in sync so she merely buzzed along the ground like a wounded dragonfly. Finally, she felt her muscles go limp and she collapsed, unable to move or tap into her magic.She could still see and hear, but whatever that dart was had rendered her muscles immobile. As she laid on the ground, thre