Against the Grain

A/N: I never thought this story would come this far. It started as just the first chapter, but I’ve recently had inspiration to continue it even beyond my loose plans. Anyhow, I worked very hard on this chapter! And proofread it carefully. I know it too FOREVER, and for that I apologize, but I had to lay out a basic plot and plan what I wanted to happen next. Plus the holidays are a hectic time IRL, lol. In any case, enjoy. Hopefully the next chapters will not take as long.

A word to Nacht Kind: I really appreciate you taking the time to give me those suggestions! :D I have formulated a plan for the rest of this story, so I suppose you’ll just have to wait and see what happens. I hope you’ll be pleasantly surprised!!

And without further adieu, on with the story!

-:- The Chase -:-

Leather clad feet slapped against the cool tile, her heavy braid bouncing off her back. Her breath wheezed, burning in and out. Leaden legs pumped with all the power housed in sleek muscles, but still the Beast was gaining. The cold terror that clung to the creature like shadows was the only thing to keep her going. Her hand jerked out, snagging a column, to propel her around the corner, and the young daughter of the Maharaja dared not let her pace lag.

An ill luck had found her in the halls near the treasure vault, when the goat-headed demon had punched through the wall. Three arrows it had taken without so much as a wince, before she’d darted round a corner, cursing her luck. Fleet as she was, she had great difficulty keeping ahead of the charcoal mottled monstrosity. Its meaty legs capable of strides long enough to keep it thundering at her heels. Its speed was only outmatched by its stamina. Her only hope was to lose it, and soon.

The Dahaka grew impatient as it chased this gnat. It had only to retrieve the dagger to work the hourglass. Lumbering on, the monstrosity barreled down the hallway, one clawed hand darting out and catching a corner to assist his turn. Even so, the beast crashed into the opposite wall with a displeased snort. Its nostrils flared in anger, the demon pushed itself to the limits of its speed. Gargantuan muscles coiled and flexed, propelling him ever onward. Marble chipped beneath massive feet, and the palace rumbled as it passed.

Farah darted through the door way into the treasure vault, her stomach rolling at the brief glimpse of the guardsmen the Dahaka had ripped apart. Pain lanced across her side, and the princess skittered hard into the wall, coming to a dizzied rest on the floor. Her brief stillness was time enough for one meaty claw to coil around her leg, and drag her toward its feral owner. Yet the Dahaka was impatient. Even faced with the opportunity to slake its lust, it hesitated. The dagger lay before it, at the top of a statue set into the wall. It might easily climb that wall, pluck the dagger from its place, and return to its quest for the prince unhindered. Yes, that would be for the best.

Discarding Farah with barely dismissive force, the beast persisted, crashing up the stairs and leaping from hand to hand to reach its prize. The dagger glimmered and winked at the beast, as if the tiny weapon knew what beast it flirted with.

Farah palmed her heady head, careful as though to hard a touch would burst it like an overripe melon. Shakily she found her feet, and stared in ever-increasing horror as the beast propelled itself upward toward the dagger, and the secrets it held. Quickly knocking arrow to bow—and three at that—the young princess took aim and fired.

The Dahaka howled in pain and loss as the dagger skittered from its perch and tumbled off the platform. Spinning, it clinked and rebounded off of solid rock before it bounced to rest on the ground. Tanned fingers snatched it up sharply, and the princess ran, the bellowing monstrosity leaping mindless into the air in pursuit. The floor shuddered and Farah nearly lost her balance when the Dahaka landed. The guardian, however, only surged into motion. Farah worked tired legs with new and frantic speed. She knew not why the Dahaka wanted the dagger, but the weapon was far too powerful to lose. No beast such as this should be granted it. No one should.

Her heart quickened, beating like desperate fluttering of a moths wings. She could hear the beasts weighted strides behind her, even feel the fetid breath whoosh out of its lungs on the back of her neck. Helplessly she turned to glance behind, only in time to see its grasping claw reach out for her. She threw herself violently to the side, lashing out with the dagger.

A low rumble sounded from deep in the beasts belly as the blade scratched harmless across the beasts pitch black hide.

It lunged to grab her, but Farah scrambled up, ducking between the beast’s massive legs, and ran, darting down a hallway. Cumbersomely the beast whirled, charging round the corner, even as it had already lost sight of the woman. It howled at the sight of the long empty hallway, with doors and bisecting hallways offering the princess escape with the beast’s prize.

Just then a low tremor shook the building and horns rang in the distance. Farah gasped as the sounds of attack greeted her ears, and the beast charged forward in the moment of opportunity. She had barely returned her mind to her situation when meaty claws snatched her up in one hand, and wrenched the dagger from her fingers in the other. The time demon snarled in rage, pulling the writhing prince close to his flaring snout and glaring murder through coal black eyes. In terror, the woman jerked and wriggled as the Dahaka coiled its fingers closed, intent on crushing her. The pressure fast became too much, and at last with a pinched cry the woman collapsed into the darkness of unconsciousness.

The beast, angered and impatient as it had become, through the princess over its shoulder as it lumbered off down the empty halls. Her skinny body would not be satisfying, but perhaps he might use her against the Prince? Curiously it wondered what it might be like to have a willing partner to take its pleasure from, or at least one that did his part to help the beast along.

Rumbling its amusement at the idea, the Dahaka stalked off, mindless of the sounds of way that had come to the Maharajah’s palace. The beast only thought was for the pleasure that was in store for it.

A/N: Yeah, I know. No sex. I’m sorry. Just wait patiently for the next one. I promiss that one will have loads of kinky sex.