Beast heard a thud behind him.

Duval was kneeling on the floor and shaking.

“Master… Master…I…” Duval stammered incomprehensibly. Beast's heart was conflicted between leaving after the woman and comforting his young attendant.

Thunder shook the castle walls and rain intensified. She had run out without any protection. Duval's voice brought him out of his mind.

“Master… I didn’t know... I couldn’t do it…I couldn’t save them.” Duval gave off a sob. “I couldn’t save anyone but her.”

Beast understood it better than anyone.

He knelt on the ground beside the boy he raised for the past twelve years. He took sixteen summers old boy's face in his large hands and met his forehead with his own.

“She misunderstands. You have saved her life, boy. You have committed no wrong.  You have saved a life.” He kept his voice soft and soothing.

"Master..."

He patted Duval on the cheek. “Weather is terrible. I am going after the woman.”

“Master. I have performed terrible magic on her... I switched her remembering..." Another sob. "I... I added false recollections in her...Lady Milah believes she slept in her bed and woke here. I asked Keziah to perform the spell on her..." Duval was in hysterics.

Beast lifted off his hood so the young man can look into his own eyes. Beast's unusual features and curse marks forged uncanny contrast against his too-pale complexion. He wanted the boy to look him in the eye and comprehend the harshness of the dilemma.

“Duval! I am going after her first. You have been keeping so much from me. I will be needing your explanation but first, her safety matters.”

Duval nodded.

Beast got up and pulled his hood up. “Hold yourself for a moment, my boy. I will be back in a moment.” He rushed out in the rain.

Dark clouds and heavy rain muddied his vision. Whatever marks Milah had left in the mud had washed away. The scent of rain and constant thunder made it hard to sniff out her radiant aura. This weather was established as a protection against his inherent sorcery.

He cursed himself for not going after her soon. He cursed himself for not being aware of her awaken state. He wanted Duval to tell him what occurred when he had encountered Milah for the first time.

Duval in his usual mischief had told him that he loves that woman and intend to marry her. He accepted without any difficulty and hoped that his servant starts a true family in his castle oppositely than his forefathers sired their descendants. It would be a joy to raise Duval's children in his home, he had thought. He had always given his servant freehand but none ever thought of starting a family besides serving him.

He later learned that Duval intended Beast to start a family with Milah, the idea he opposed violently. With a curse like him, he would never put anyone through the pain he bears nor he will allow any mortal to be compensated for the wrong he committed ages ago.

Beast hurried ahead. He hoped to find her soon as possible. He marveled at how fast she moved in the weather like that. He called her. He tried to use his enchantments but he was magically vulnerable against these elements.

He looked up at the sky and shouted for Ancient One. He begged for the spirit's help.

"CAW!"
Raven flew in circles above his head.

"My friend, find the woman, please. I beg off of you." raven screeched once more and flew towards the woods. Beast followed swiftly.

Beast and Bird both moved in the gushing gales and heavy rain.

Raven's feather drenched to her skin. They kept going on.

“Hurry, hurry.” Beast kept saying.

“Patronize me not, half-human. I am doing my best to locate her.” Raven spoke in a feminine voice.

“You can speak Common?” Beast was amazed. She had never talked to him.

"I rather not talk to you, half-human. But you lost the child Sorbus adores. And I adore Sorbus. He is my home." Raven closed her feathers and perched on his shoulder.

"Sorbus?" Beast had heard that name for the first time.

"What do you call The One Tree then? That's his name!" Raven said.

"The Ancient One." He mumbled.

"Yes, him." Raven tilted her head towards a dark figure on the ground. They both moved in silence.

"She is ahead." Raven sensed her first.

Beast ran towards Milah. She was trembling like an autumn leaf. His clothes muddied, her hair matted due to rain.

Beast recited his enchantments and a barrier erected above them keeping them safe from rain. It took all of his energy to merely incarnate a simple spell.

"Woman, is there no sanity left in you? Look at the weather!" He was worried.

"Stay away, monster." Her voice was meek. She shivers in her voice brought him an ache. He questioned himself for being so fearful for her.

He tried to reach out to her.

"Hurry, Half-human. I am freezing!" Raven declared.

He tried to touch her shoulder. He wanted to ease the cold. He was sure he could manage one more spell to warm her up. 'I need a moment to gather the power, I can do it,' he told himself.

"Don't you dare touch me, Beast!" Her words wounded him deeply. The hatred and loathing he was hearing knew no bounds.

"Let's go back, Milah." He spoke to her gently. "There no murder committed by us. We never touched your family nor harmed them in any way. Duval saved you amongst the others."

"Lies! Lies! Lies!" Milah shouted as she shook off his fragile attempt to comfort her. "Nothing but lies!"

"I would never lie to you, woman. I have no reason to."

Milah looked up at him. His face was still covered under his cloak but his words felt sincere.

"It's freezing here, so let's go back. I will answer every question, I will tell you every detail. You can ask me anything to your heart's content. Let's just head back." This time she let him get closer.

"I will not go back today, Beast. Not till I make peace with myself. Not till I get an audience with The Ancient One. Not till he answers me first."

Beast gathered his strength for a spell. He mumbled his enchantments as he touched her arms softly. Her hair, dress dried magically. He went behind her shed off his giant cloak and wrapped her in it. Instant warmth engulfed her.

Milah never realized that Beast stood just a step behind her. His face was exposed to her. All elements that made him non-human laid naked before her. She never turned around.

"I will wait for your return," Beast said as he leaves her with Raven.