BEASTLY INFERNO

Prologue Prologue - 1800s The year was 1823, and Victoria paced the room with apprehension. Her father’s voice, though not entirely clear, drifted through the walls, and she had a sinking feeling they were discussing her betrothal to Lord Raven. Sweat beaded on her forehead, and butterflies flitted nervously in her stomach. She knew what was coming, yet the anticipation gnawed at her every step, heavy with the weight of a future already decided. The flickering candlelight in the room cast long shadows on the walls, as if the very air was thick with the unspoken pressure of tradition. It felt as if the house itself was holding its breath, waiting for what would come next. Suddenly, a movement from behind startled her, and she let out a soft scream that immediately died down when she saw that it was her lover, Felix. “Felix!” Her eyes widened in relief. “What in heaven’s name are you doing here?” He pulled her into his arms, pressing his lips to hers in a bruising kiss. “To see my love,” he murmured, his voice low and full of longing. Just as he was about to kiss her again, she stopped him. “You must stop this,” she said breathlessly, pulling away slightly. “My father is in the other room talking to my future husband, and we are to be engaged today.” Her eyes were wide with fear, though she tried her best to remain composed. Felix’s expression darkened, his anger barely contained. “Blazes, why? If you were mine, you would never be without hunger or my love.” Tears welled in Victoria’s eyes as she spoke, her voice a fragile whisper. “I know, my dear Felix, but it can never be. I am a blue-stocking lady, and you are but a farmer.” She barely suppressed a sob. He shook her gently, almost frantically. “Let us run away, right now.” Victoria wanted to agree. She longed to escape with him, to leave everything behind, but she could not bring herself to be so selfish. Her father’s status, his honor, were everything to her. “I am so sorry, Felix, but I cannot leave my papa. If I ran with you, where would we go? I love you more than life itself, but I cannot and will not break my father’s heart. I do hope you forgive me.” She hugged him tightly, the weight of their situation pressing down on both of them. After a moment, Felix returned the embrace, but he was shaking with frustration. They broke apart, and Felix leaned in to kiss her again, his hands tangling in her hair, the pins falling to the floor like raindrops. He lifted her and carried her to the bed, their passion flaring. But soon, his urgency became too much. He stood and removed his belt in a frantic motion, his heat escaping in a desperate rush. He lifted her gown, and she gasped as he thrust into her welcoming heat. She moaned in response, feeling the weight of him as their bodies moved together. She tried her best to stay silent, her body shuddering with the cry of his name. Felix groaned, releasing his tension within her. Her eyes flew open, and in a moment of clarity, she pushed him away. “I told you not to do this again, Felix! You could make me heavy with child.” She rushed to a rag, cleaning herself hurriedly. As she wiped, she pulled her hair back into a bun, straightened her bodice, and reapplied her makeup. She turned to Felix, who had done the same. “I hope to get you heavy with child,” he muttered, a playful grin crossing his lips. Victoria shot him a deep frown. “You can be a real dingbat sometimes.” A knock sounded at the door, and they both stiffened. “Miss Victoria, it is time.” She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. “I will be right out.” She heard the maid’s retreating footsteps and sighed deeply. “I will love you forever and a day, Felix.” Without waiting for a response, she opened the door and stepped out to face her potential future. The garden was filled with guests seated and waiting, and Victoria forced a smile as she entered. Her father’s face brightened when he saw her. “Ah! There you are, my flower. May I introduce Sir Raven?” Victoria curtsied and replied, “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, my Lord.” As Lord Raven stood, she couldn’t help but notice his striking beauty. He was scarily handsome, with a hint of mischief in his eyes. He reached for her hand, intending to kiss it, but stopped short. He turned to her father. “You said your daughter is untouched?” Victoria’s heart raced, and her fear became evident on her face. “Aye, my daughter is untouched. She has been groomed from birth for you,” her father said proudly. Lord Raven smiled at him. “Then tell me, why does she smell of a male and spent passion?” Before she could react, Lord Raven’s grip tightened on her throat, lifting her from the ground. She gasped for air, but nothing came out. Her eyes widened in horror as she saw Raven’s face transform. His eyes were now a deep ruby red, and his fangs gleamed in the sunlight. “Monster! What in blazes are you?” she gasped, struggling in his grasp. “VICTORIA!” A voice rang out, and she looked to see Felix standing there. “You are the one who deflowered my bride and got her heavy with child!” His words stung, and Victoria’s gaze instinctively turned to her stomach. “No,” she whispered, trying to rise but unable to. “I love her, and I want to marry her,” Felix declared, his eyes filled with passion. Lord Raven’s eyes blazed with fury, and before anyone could blink, he moved toward Felix with devilish speed and grabbed him by the throat. “Goop! Insolent boy! You will regret the day those words left your lips.” Victoria stood and faced Raven. “Please! I beg you, do not kill him. I am the one who dishonored you, so please forgive me.” Her father, who had been in a state of shock, suddenly found his voice. “Guards! Arrest this monster!” But as the guards rushed forward, Raven only smiled. “Fools,” he muttered, and with a gust of wind, all the guards collapsed, leaving only Victoria, Felix, and her father standing. Felix growled, shaking violently. His body began to change. His screams turned into howls, and hair began to sprout from his skin. Victoria gasped in shock. Lord Raven chuckled in delight. “What a surprise, this lad is a werewolf. Which means you are carrying a werewolf spawn.” He turned to Felix. “Go on, finish it,” he ordered, before Felix collapsed, unable to complete his transformation. Turning to Lord Clifford, Raven spoke coldly. “Lord Clifford, you and your daughter have soiled my honor and destroyed everything. I curse you to be stripped of your title and downgraded to a commoner.” Her father collapsed at his words. As Raven turned his gaze back to Victoria, he moved with incredible speed, grabbing her roughly and sinking his fangs into her neck. She screamed in pain, her entire body feeling as though it were burning from the inside out. After what felt like an eternity, Raven pulled away, leaving her to collapse onto the ground. “Do not worry,” he said darkly. “You will live a human life, but your son—” He chuckled lowly, “Your son will grow up immortal. But you must take caution, for what he is, is far more beastly than you could ever fathom.” With those words, Lord Raven left, disappearing into the shadows. Victoria slowly brought her hand to her neck, wincing in pain. She placed her hands on her stomach, still in disbelief that she was pregnant. “Victoria?” Felix’s voice called out softly. He stumbled toward her, his form now back to normal. He embraced her, and she clung to him. “Why did you not tell me?” she asked softly. Felix looked down guiltily. “I am so sorry. I didn’t want to lose you, and that is why I didn’t say anything about it,” he confessed, his eyes filled with regret. He looked at her neck in horror. “He bit you!” Victoria nodded. “He told me I would have a human life and that I would be fine, but I’m scared for our child, Felix.” Felix held her tightly, whispering that everything would be all right. Turning to her father, Victoria shook him gently. “Father?” But there was no response. “Father, please wake up,” she begged, growing more frantic when he didn’t move. “Felix, do something!” she cried. Felix attempted to rouse her father, but to no avail. Lord Clifford was cold to the touch, his body stiff and lifeless. “I’m sorry, Victoria, but he’s gone.” Victoria shook her head, disbelief written across her face. She held her father’s lifeless body in her arms. “No, father. Papa, I am so sorry I’ve betrayed you. Please forgive me for soiling your honor. I chose my selfish needs over your choice, and now I’ll never get the chance to apologize. I’m so sorry, papa, so sorry.” Felix held her as she cried, her body trembling with the weight of her grief, until exhaustion overtook her and she collapsed. He carried her out of the castle, toward a new future—one that held both the pain of the past and the uncertain hope of the future. One Year Later Victoria moved slowly toward the laundry room, her steps careful and measured. A full year had passed since the events that changed her life forever. A year since the terrible revelation of the dark forces that controlled her fate. The year since the man she loved and the man she was promised to collided in ways that she could never have imagined. She had tried her best to forget, to move on from the pain, but the fear of the child she carried still lingered in her heart. The curse of Lord Raven’s bite weighed heavily on her every thought, and the uncertainty of what their son would become gnawed at her like a hunger she couldn’t quell. What if their child grew up like Raven? What if he was cursed to carry the weight of immortality and the beastly nature that came with it? These thoughts were her constant companions. Though Victoria had never imagined that life could be so uncertain, there was a quiet peace in the humble home she now shared with Felix. The days were often filled with moments of simple joy—laughter at the breakfast table, quiet walks in the fields, and endless love shared between them. But every now and then, her thoughts would drift back to the past, and the questions would return. It was early morning, and the sun had just begun to peek through the window, casting golden beams across the room. As she rounded the corner, she heard the soft rustling of footsteps behind her. Felix appeared, his face illuminated with a tender smile. “Good morning, love,” he said gently, stepping toward her. His hands reached for her waist, his fingers warm against the coolness of her skin. He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, as he always did in the mornings. “How is my wife and baby doing?” he asked, his voice a soothing balm to her troubled heart. Victoria laughed softly, her hand instinctively moving to her swollen belly, which had grown considerably over the past several months. “We’re both doing well,” she replied, her voice tinged with a mix of exhaustion and joy. She leaned into him, the familiar comfort of his presence settling her nerves. Felix brushed a lock of hair away from her face, his eyes filled with adoration. “I’m so glad. You’ve been so strong through all of this, Victoria. I don’t think I could have managed without you.” Victoria smiled softly. “We’re in this together, Felix. And we will be until the end.” He helped her sit down at the small wooden table they had by the window, a quiet gesture of care. “Sit, and I’ll bring you breakfast. You need to rest more, you know.” Victoria nodded, grateful for his attention. As she settled into the chair, she tried to focus on the peace of the moment, but suddenly, a sharp twinge of pain seized her stomach. She winced, her hand flying to her abdomen. “Victoria?” Felix’s voice was instantly concerned, his eyes scanning her face. “What’s wrong? You’re pale.” “I—I don’t know.” She stood abruptly, feeling another wave of discomfort crash through her. Her breath quickened as she tried to steady herself. “Felix, something’s happening.” Felix’s eyes widened in realization, and he rushed to her side. “Is it—?” Before he could finish the sentence, water began to run down her legs. Victoria froze, her heart hammering in her chest. Her breath hitched as the reality of what was happening set in. “The baby is coming,” she whispered, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and excitement. Felix didn’t hesitate. His expression shifted into one of determination, and without another word, he scooped her up into his arms, holding her gently but firmly against his chest. “Don’t worry, love. I’m here, and I’m not leaving you.” She clung to him, her face pale with fear, but Felix’s calm demeanor steadied her. He moved with a quiet urgency, guiding her to the bed. The room around them seemed to fade away as Felix quickly prepared the space for what was about to happen. His hands were sure, his movements practiced as he had readied himself to help deliver their child. Victoria, still shaken by the unexpectedness of it all, lay down on the bed. Her heart raced, and for a moment, her breath caught in her chest as another contraction hit, harder this time. She gripped the sheets tightly, her body tensing with the intensity of the pain. “Felix, I can’t—” she gasped, tears springing to her eyes. “It’s too much!” Felix knelt beside her, his hand brushing her hair back from her face. “You’re doing wonderfully, Victoria. Just breathe. Focus on me.” He stroked her hand gently, his voice a soothing, steady presence. “You’re strong. You’re so strong, my love.” Victoria squeezed his hand, nodding through her tears. The pain was almost unbearable, but her love for Felix and the child they had created gave her the strength to keep going. The memory of Lord Raven’s curse, the fear of what might come with the child, still lingered in the back of her mind, but in this moment, it faded into the background. All that mattered now was the life that she and Felix had created together. “Okay, love,” Felix said softly, his voice full of encouragement. “One more push, just one more. I know you can do it.” With a final, earth-shattering effort, Victoria pushed, her body trembling with the exertion. She cried out in pain, but as she did, she heard the sweetest sound—the first cry of their newborn son. Felix’s face lit up with awe and relief as he held their baby in his arms for the first time. “It’s a boy,” Felix whispered, his voice filled with emotion. He kissed Victoria’s hand, his eyes shining with tears of joy. “He’s perfect, Victoria.” Victoria’s heart swelled with love as she gazed down at the tiny, squirming bundle in Felix’s arms. She could hardly believe it—after all the fear, all the uncertainty, their son was finally here. He was alive. He was theirs. She reached out weakly to take him into her arms, feeling the warmth of his tiny body against hers. “He has your eyes,” Felix said with a loving smile, gazing down at their son with a look of adoration that mirrored Victoria’s own. Victoria looked down at their son, tears of relief and joy streaming down her face. “He’s perfect, Felix. And look, he’s normal. He wasn’t affected by the bite.” Felix smiled with relief, his voice thick with emotion. “Aye, my dear, he’s perfect. He’s ours, and nothing can take that away from us.” They both fell silent, lost in the overwhelming love they felt for their son. They gazed out the window, where the moon had begun to rise. It was a full moon, but tonight, there was something strange about it. The moon had taken on a deep red hue, casting an eerie glow over the landscape. Victoria’s brow furrowed slightly as she noticed the moon’s strange tint. Felix, too, seemed to notice the unusual color, his expression momentarily darkening. “Strange,” he murmured, his voice low. “The moon…it’s not like this usually.” Victoria shivered, unsure of what the red moon might mean. “It’s just the light, I’m sure.” Felix didn’t respond, his gaze lingering on the moon for a moment longer before he turned his attention back to her. “Let’s not worry about that right now. We have more important things to focus on.” Victoria smiled, feeling the weight of the moment settle over her. She looked down at their son once again, the joy in her heart overwhelming her. “You’re right,” she whispered. “We have him. And that’s all that matters.” They lay together, their son nestled between them, their hearts intertwined with the promise of their love and the future they would build together. But even as they whispered sweet nothings to their son, and even as Felix held Victoria close, a sense of unease lingered in the air, carried on the strange red glow of the moon. Victoria and Felix’s story was coming to an end. It was the beginning of their son’s life, and with it, a future yet unknown.