Chapter 19: James and the Beast

Chapter 19: James and the Beast

James, who finds Liam’s lair. He raises his crossbow and takes aim. Liam looks up at him, then looks back down in sadness again. James releases the arrow and it strikes him in the shoulder.

He screams in pain and stands. James rushes him and they fly out the window onto the balcony, where it has begun to rain.

"Ha ha ha ha ha!" he laughed.

James corners Liam on the edge of the roof. He simply sits there in despair.

"Get up! Get up! What's the matter, Liam?" he yelled. "Too kind and gentle to fight back?"

Liam looks down ignoring him. James walks into the foreground and breaks off a piece of the roof. He is about to smash it on his head when Daylenne's voice drifts up. She is on the bridge and is yelling to James, telling him to stop.

"No!" Daylenne screamed.

Liam heard her voice and giving him new life. "Daylenne." He cried.

"James, don't!" she cried.

James swings down at him, but he catches the weapon in his hand. Liam rises up and roars in his face. They proceed through a fight on the rooftop. Finally, Liam takes a hiding place among the gargoyles in the darkness.

Meanwhile, Daylenne enters the castle on the ground.

"Let's go, Harry!" she exclaimed.

"Come on out and fight! Were you in love with her, Liam." James replied. "Did you honestly think she'd want you when she had someone like me?"

Liam has been provoked enough. He emerges and they fight again.

"It's over, Liam! Daylenne is mine!" James yelled.

This time, however, Liam picks up James by the neck and holds him out over the edge of the roof. He pleads with him.

"Put me down. Put me down. Please, don't hurt me!" James cried. "I'll do anything! Anything!

Liam's anger slowly melts off his face, and the look of compassion returns.  He pulls his back onto the roof.

"Get out!" Liam growled.

He shoves James to the ground. Above, Daylenne comes out on a balcony.

"Liam!" she called.

"Daylenne!" he cried.

Liam begins to climb the tower until he reaches the balcony. He hangs over the side.

"Daylenne? You came back!" Liam gasped.

They stare passionately at each other, but the moment is interrupted when James sneaks up and stabs him in the back. Liam roars in pain, and he pulls the knife out and swings back for another shot.

Liam starts to fall, knocking James off his balance. Daylenne reaches forward and pulls him back, while he falls off never to be seen again. She helps the injured Liam up onto the balcony, where he lies down on the floor.

The objects come rushing out, but stay out of sight.

"You came back." He repeated.

"Of course I came back. I couldn't let them..." Daylenne responded. "Oh this is all my fault. If only I'd gotten here sooner."

"Maybe it's better this way." Liam replied.

"Don't talk like that. You'll be all right." She begged. "We're together now.  Everything's going to be fine. You'll see."

"At least I got to see you one... last...time." he gasped.

Daylenne pulls Liam's paw up to her cheek. He holds it there for a second, then drops it. His head falls back, and his eyes close. She drops the paw and puts her hands to her mouth. Daylenne can't believe this has happened.

She cried. "No, no! Please! Please! Please don't leave me!" Daylenne exclaimed. "I love you!"

Back to the objects, who watch the last petal fall off the rose. They all look down at the floor, and Louis puts his arm around Jennifer.

It's so short the next chapter is shorter.