It's the Beast... it's the Beast... a monster...

Robert laughed softly,

his voice teasing.

"You know what I want. You always did."

Lillian stood by her desk, both hands behind her back.

Her shoulders tense, her cheek turned ever so slightly toward him.

"Hm... I don't know," she said playfully.

"Why don't you tell me?"

Her eyes blinked softly, a smile curling on her lips.

Robert stepped closer.

"Alright, Lillian... how about I just show you."

He reached for the tie around his collar, loosening it.

Then stepped in even closer, pressing her back against the desk.

She leaned away, but he followed her.

placing both hands on either side, caging her in.

Until she sat fully on the desk.

"This is what I want," Robert whispered.

His breath brushed her lips. His voice was low.

Her hands rested on his chest, unsure whether to push... or pull him closer.

"Well..." Lillian whispered, eyes closing.

Then.

A gust of shadow swept through the room.

The light vanished.

Darkness.

Robert's face began to shift.

Black smoke curled around him.

His skin swallowed by shadow.

And then a voice.

Hissing in his ear. One only he could hear.

"There you are, Malvier."

Lillian gasped softly,

but before she could move,

Robert's arms slid around her waist.

He pulled her against him gently but firmly.

Her back pressed to his chest.

She couldn't see his face.

Only feel his breath warm, shaky against her ear.

Behind her...

his face twisted.

Smoke curling. Beast-like.

His eyes glowed faintly.

The voice continued

"You're not going to win this easy."

"Damn it... Nemorak," Robert snarled under his breath.

"You'll pay for this."

A flash of flame lit up his face.

The shadows faded.

His breath steadied.

His usual smirk returned.

Lillian opened her eyes, blinking.

"What just happened...?"

Robert stayed behind her,

brushing his fingers through her hair.

"I don't want to lose you, Lillian..."

She frowned.

"Why do you say that?"

"Because I think..." he whispered,

"I'm slowly falling in love with you."

Lillian giggled.

"You always have.

That's why you asked me out."

She turned to him, playful.

"Wha are the murders in this town finally getting to you?"

Robert blinked.

Then forced a laugh.

"Yeah... yeah. Let's not talk about that.

I should go back now."

He walked toward the window.

"Don't," Lillian said softly, sharply.

"It's dangerous out there.

Stay here till morning."

Robert turned.

"Then you must keep this a secret."

She nodded.

"Come here. I'll tell you a story."

He pulled her onto her bed.

"Sit." He gently pushed her down.

Wandering to her desk,

he picked up The Secret of the Beast.

"Shall I read this?" he asked, eyes locking on hers.

She adjusted her pillows, curling in comfortably.

"Only if there's a season two."

He chuckled softly.

"You'll have to wait.

I've already written it but it's locked in my house."

"Then as of now, my lady..."

He opened the book, voice soft.

"Close your eyes.

And listen to my voice."

They sat together.

Robert read aloud.

Her head rested on his shoulder.

Until her eyes grew too heavy.

Her breathing slowed.

She drifted off.

He gently laid her down.

"Good night, my lady."

But then.

his body twitched.

His shadow flickered visible in the candlelight.

His chest tightened, as if something were being ripped open...

or growing.

He halted his breath.

Tried to suppress the pain.

"What is going on...?

What am I feeling right now...?"

His vision blurred.

until he fainted beside her.

And behind the curtains...

a dark shape lingered in the window.

"Are you growing a heart now, Malvier?"

Meanwhile...

In a jail cell deep beneath the town

Reana sat on the floor.

Her hair messy. Her eyes blank.

She rocked a pillow in her arms,

as if it were still breathing.

"My baby...

They killed my baby..."

Sheriff Wesley stood quietly outside the bars. Watching.

"Reana..." he called gently.

But she didn't respond.

Her lips just repeated the same broken words.

"My baby... give me back my baby..."

Across the cell, the doctor forced medicine into her food tray.

The sheriff sighed.

"Well... looks like we'll need to find the clue ourselves.

Or blame it on some disease.

something that makes people go mad.

Makes 'em kill without knowing why."

The doctor looked at him, sharply.

"How can we, Sheriff?

We both know...

Someone or something did this."

"Her baby's body was completely ripped apart."

The sheriff rubbed his temples.

"I know. I know..."

But before he could finish

Reana's voice rose. A whisper. A murmur.

"It's the Beast... it's the Beast... a monster..."

Wesley froze. He leaned in.

"What did you say?!"

Reana didn't look at him.

Her eyes were far away.

But her lips kept moving.

"It's the Beast... it's the Beast... a monster..."

"Reana!"

"Did you see it?!"

She just rocked the pillow again.

Whispering the same words.

"It's the Beast... it's the Beast... a monster..."

The sheriff pulled back slowly.

He sighed.

"Damn it... she's broken."

He turned to the doctor.

"And what about Mr. Smith?"

The doctor adjusted his glasses.

"About that...

After examining the body

I discovered he didn't die this morning."

The sheriff blinked.

"What?!"

"He died last night.

Someone or something

dragged him out of bed,

carried him to the center of town,

and hung him on the pole."

Wesley's face turned pale.

"...So it is a murderer."