Swan Obsession

"The Great Animal..." Derek exclaimed, and through her blurred vision, Odette witnessed the most terrifying sight she had ever seen. Memories edged their way into her mind, and she suddenly realized that the creature she saw before her was the great beast that seized her from her father's carriage so long ago and took her to this dark and frightening place. Yet, in spite of her fear, her body refused to respond. All she felt was weakness and cold. Unable to do anything else, she let her eyelids close and took a ragged breath.


The Beastly creature let out another horrible cry before flapping it's wings. Lifting itself off the ground with surprising speed, it extended it's razor sharp claws, more than ready to pluck Derek's eyes from his idiotic face. Instinctively, Derek scrambled backwards, and managed to stand, pulling his sword from his scabbard. He cursed at it's unfamiliar weight; it was not his usual sword but a ceremonial one, encrusted with jewels, that he wore to the ball. Still, he had been taught sword play since he was ten, and he expertly held his sword in front of him with both hands, feet planted firmly on the ground. There was a look of grim determination in his eyes. It was his own life he was fighting for, after all.

As Rothbart's monstrous form catapulted towards Derek, the massive wings blocked out the faint glimmer of stars above. Confidently, Derek swung his sword, but the beast backed away, wings beating at a frantic speed so that Derek drew no blood. It was charging back at him within a heartbeat, shining black claws lunging forth, and Derek held up his sword horizontally to block. Grasping it's leathery talons around the sharp blade, the creature push forward, and Derek's limbs trembled at the effort it took to hold the beast at bay. He could feel his boots being dragged backwards against the soil, but he dug his feet into the ground, trying to hold his place. Using all his strength to keep the razor sharp claws from tearing out his throat, Derek was not prepared when the beast's shaggy head darted towards him, baring glittering white teeth that snapped dangerously close to his nose. He arched his back as far back as he could, recoiling at the creature's hot breath, and finally losing his balance, he fell onto his back. The monster lost it's grip on Derek's sword, it's talons crimson with it's own blood, and Derek swung his sword forward from a defensive to an offensive position.

The beast backed off, the rush of it's wings causing Derek's hair to fly back, and it swooped from side to side, hoping to catch Derek off guard. In a risky maneuver, it lunged for Derek's unguarded legs, and gripped at his ankle, drawing blood. Derek thrust his sword at the monster, but it was already lifting him upwards, so that he soon dangled upside down, flailing helplessly. Wildly swinging, Derek attempted to reach for a branch of a nearby tree, but to no avail. Furiously, he used his momentum and took a desperate slash at the creature. A deep red gash appeared, and it screeched angrily, releasing him from it's grip.

Head first, he fell, watching with horror as the trees and rocks below came every closer. He squeezed his eyes shut, not wanting to witness his own horrific death, when he felt the whoosh of the beast as it swept down, and bit deeply into his thigh with it's teeth. Derek cried out, having never experienced such pain in his life, and he could hear the blade-sharp teeth as they dug into flesh, and then bone. The beast's grip tight on his femur, it swung Derek with all it's strength, slamming him into a tree, and he could hear his ribs cracking. Still Derek kept a tight grip on his sword, and despite the mind numbing pain, he attempted a swing at the creature. It struck the creature's wing, and it's flight wavered.

Derek was starting to feel light headed from blood loss. Still held upside down, the oozing liquid from his thigh dripped down his body, soaking his skin and tunic. The bleeding was so profuse, he had to shake his head to keep blood from dripping into his eyes. He could feel his life fading away, and he was almost relieved, desperate to be free of the pain he was experiencing. It was just too bad that he lost the chance to take advantage of Odette's beautiful body.