Chapter 7 THE KEEPERS

Knock knock

Who's there?

The boogeyman.

What do you want, boogeyman?

Your soul.

The nursery rhyme keeps bouncing around and around in my head as I stare in horror at Beast boy. His eyes have turned from a glowing purple to an ugly shade of red. Something writhes underneath his costume. My attention is blindsided when something protrudes from the top of his head.

My bottom lip falls open as two long large black horns, - the size of a man's fist - appears. You know the feeling you get when you're watching a horror movie. It's horrifying, but you just can't seem to look away. I'm experiencing that same feeling and I gotta tell you, it's terrifying.

To say I can't move is putting it lightly. A lethargy like I've never experienced, grips my whole body. I open my mouth to say something but nothing comes out. What can I say? Hey, Beast boy, why are you turning into an actual beast?

I watch in rising horror as his body begins to change.

His slim physique enlarges and his costume tears to accommodate his engorged body. Right before my eyes, Beast boy metarmophoses into an actual beast. If I'm not feeling so detached from my body, I will have definitely fainted.

The final change locks into place when his hands and feet grow larger, making a snapping noise as claws appear and bones break and rearrange. His eyes, which are now pitch black, latch onto me with a predatory look that makes my body shake and sets shivers down my spine.

He opens his maw and lets loose a roar, spraying me with spittle and snapping me out of my inertia. As I open my mouth to scream, a hand wraps around my mouth and another around my mid riff.

"Don't scream, don't struggle, just come with me." A voice whispers in my ear as I'm carried out against a hard chest.

Tears cloud my eyes as confusion and fear make my heart beat a large tambourine in my chest. The inertia is back, worse this time around. I slump against the person holding me and close my eyes. My mind screams at me to do something, but another part of me tells me I'm being saved.

I feel the strong heartbeat of my captor, or savior, against my back and after a short while, I open my eyes to see we're outside. The wind slaps me in the face releasing me from my stupor and I begin to struggle.

Whoever has me in his hold doesn't let me down, but continues to walk. I fling my hand backwards, hitting my captor in the face. This earns a grunt but doesn't guarantee my release. If anything, the hold on me tightens to the point of it being uncomfortable.

It's not until we're well away from the house that I'm gently put down on the ground. I come face to face with. . . "Kurt? What are you doing here?"

Kurt looks bruised. There's an angry red and purple mark on the side of his jaw. I did that. It's all my fault. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

He passes a hand through his short blonde curls as his lips curl in a smile. I'll give it to him. He's cute, but still nowhere close to Roman's smoldering hotness. Roman is the definition of ice cream weather hot. The kind where you'd lick every drop. Kurt shakes his head, the smile sitting pretty on his face. "Don't sweat it Layla, but you need to. . ."

"Don't. touch. her!"

A voice cuts across to us and we both look to see where it's coming from.

The object of my dreams stands a few feet from us staring daggers at Kurt. Even from this distance, I can feel the pull he has on me. I don't know what it is about Roman that gets me weak in the knees. I watch as he stalks forward, eyes still locked on Kurt. He stops directly in front of him and looks down at where Kurt's hand is holding mine.

As if I've been caught doing something wrong, I fling his hand off from mine and jump back like I've just been caught with my hand in the cookie jar. Roman seems a bit satisfied but then he turns his cold gaze on Kurt, who backs away from him.

"Dude, you told me to get her out of there." Kurt has two hands in the air in supplication.

"True, but that doesn't mean you had to carry her," Roman says through gritted teeth.

"I had to. Did you see that thing? It would have ripped her apart." Kurt replies with a pleading tone.

There's something I'm missing. Why is Roman mad at Kurt if he sent him? Secondly, how did he know where I was? Most importantly, why is he so bent on Kurt not touching me? It's not like I want Kurt to touch me either but. . .

"That thing in there. . ." Kurt jerks his head in the direction we just came from. "Knows her scent and will definitely be looking for her now. It's dangerous and we need to get her out of here."

As if he just heard his words, Beast Boy let's out a roar and screams echo from the house. I move close to Roman who says something which I don't quite catch because I'm suddenly too busy drinking him up. He's dressed casually in all black. The jeans hugs his muscular rear and the t-shirt does literally nothing to hide his build. He's ripped. I close my eyes, forgetting my initial trauma, instead, savoring the sight before me.

I open them just in time to see him looking at me. His eyes, lingering, searching, scorching me with the intensity in their stormy depths. Something in them shifts and I know the moment it becomes sexual, the moment his gaze drifts, unashamed and unhindered.

It tracks a line down my frame, along every curve, and in this moment, I feel naked even though I'm not. His eyes cut back up to mine, the heat in his eyes smouldering me as warmth engulfs my whole body. We stare at each other, not saying a word but at the same time, saying so much.

"Layla." His voice, coated in dulcet tones, sets a flurry of mammoth butterflies lose in my stomach. "Kurt's right. You've gotta go. It's not safe here."

Wait. What?

He must see the confused look on my face because pity laces his gaze as he comes close to me. "The keepers are on their way. They've been trying to catch the Grimrod for awhile now."

"Who?" Deep confusion settles inside my mind at his words. Keepers? Grimrods? What on earth is he talking about?

"Right!" He slaps his palm against his forehead and looks back at Kurt. "She doesn't know. Layla. . . " He comes so close to me, such that we're breathing in the same air. "You've really gotta go because there's going to be a clean up pretty soon. There's a taxi already waiting out front for you. When all this is over, I'll come find you. I promise."

He leans in close, so close, I think he's going to kiss me. At the last second he shakes his head and moves back, taking the warmth with him. He turns and nods to Kurt who advances towards me.

It suddenly dawns on me that I don't know where Alicia is. "Alicia. She's still inside." I say breathlessly.

"I'll find her. Don't worry." Roman is already walking away and I can't help the jealousy that tears through me. He's going to look for Alicia while I'm stuck with Kurt. . . again.

What does he have with Alicia? Why the fuck do I even care? Boys are stupid.

Stupid or not, it doesn't stop the tears that sting my eyes and threaten to fall but I blink them away. There's silence as Kurt leads me away. I'm stronger than this. Instead of allowing my emotions get the better of me, I turn to Kurt. "What's a Grimrod?"

He's quiet, which makes me believe he's not going to answer me but some seconds pass and he begins to speak. "What you saw back there. . . that's a Grimrod. They are shapeshifters but dangerous. They take up the body of humans and look for victims to maim and kill." He stops and looks at me with a grave expression. "I don't know what it is you did that got him so ticked off because they usually lure their victims into the woods first before pouncing on them."

I roll my eyes. "Gee, thanks for making me feel a whole lot better."

He let's out a laugh. "Don't worry. You're safe now."

We walk up the path that leads away from the house and stop right in front of a taxi. I note with surprise, it's the same person driving it who brought Alicia and I here. Before I step inside, I turn to Kurt. "Tell me something. Why was Roman mad at you for carrying me?"

Instead of replying me, Kurt busies himself by pulling out some cash from his pocket and handing it over to the cab guy. I know he's avoiding answering my question. Feeling defeated, I open the door and climb inside. Just as the cab begins to move, Kurt taps on it, making it stop. "I know you're confused right now about a lot of things. Just let Roman do his thing and he'll come find you and give you all the answers you need to know. I promise."

I nod. So many promises being made. Will any be kept? As the taxi begins to move once again, a tear slides down my cheek.

Luckily, Kurt doesn't see it.