One Beatrix Hill: Finale (special preview)

Josie followed along behind her, keeping close and even clinging to the white dress. Once in the hallway, Bess looked this way and that, even holding up one of her floppy ears to hear better. She stepped out, walking slowly at first.

“We’re a hall over, so it should allow us a little extra time,” Bess whispered. “Once we reach the ballroom, it’ll be easy to evade them in the maze.”

Josie glanced over her shoulder, back down the hallway from whence they came. She felt relieved to see nothing, but that’s when she heard something.

Bess grabbed her hand tight. “This is when we run!” Like the flash, the two darted down the hallway, followed by the clamoring and grunting of the knights behind them. Josie only saw blurs of the hallway around them, flashes of artwork, brief images of doors. At one point, Bess stopped. “Keep running!” She shouted to Josie. “I’ll catch up.” She then wrenched art from the wall, chucking it into the hallway to create a hindrance. She toppled over a statue with some effort then continued running behind Josie.

Josie could see large French doors ahead that lead into the ballroom and, behind her, she heard Bess shout. She kept running ahead at full speed until the doors opened. She tried to stop but, on the slick floors, she couldn’t. She fell, sliding through the open doors on her rear where she was stopped by a pair of boots. She looked up and her jaw dropped.

“The cat!” She whispered.

Standing above her was the black cat wearing an all white suit. He sneered down at her, lip curled and a sharp gold tooth showing.

“Josie!” Bess gasped.

The black cat looked up. “My bride,” he said. “What on earth are you doing here? You should be getting ready for the nuptials.”

“The black cat is the wizard?” Josie whispered under her breath.

Bess stiffened her jaw and walked forward. “Give me the girl, Padubast.”

The cat grinned and grabbed Josie by the scruff of her neck. “No.” He picked Josie up off the ground. “What even is this?” He shook Josie around. “I expected so much more from some daring escape. Not some tiny child.”

“Stop it!” Josie reached up, pinching and pulling at the fur on his hand. “Let me go!” She kicked out her leg while twisting and, with the swinging of his hand, she was able to strike at the very apex of his legs.

Padubast yowled, dropping Josie and doubling over. Bess hurriedly ran over, scooping Josie up off the ground and racing off behind Padubast to the doors leading out to the garden.

“Good shot!” Bess cheered.

Padubast snarled, grabbing at Bess’s dress. His claws sunk in and tugged her backwards, nearly toppling her over. “Get back here!” The guards who had been chasing them finally made it into the room. Padubast chuckled, knowing he finally had her. “Where are you going, Elizabeth? What does that child even offer you?” He grinned as one of the knights came forward. What’s for you out there anyways?”

The knight kicked his hand away. “Me, for one!”

“Pearly!” Josie cheered.

Pearly took off the helmet and chucked it down into Padubast’s face. “Remember me, old friend?”

“What? I thought I got rid of you!” Padubast snarled.

Pearly laughed and shook his head. “Oh, you certainly tried, and you very nearly succeeded. But you didn’t count on one thing!”

Padubast picked himself up, standing face to face with Pearly. He sneered at him, readying his claws to strike. “And what would that be?”

A confident smirk crosses Pearly’s lips and he tilts his head to the side. He takes his hat back out and pops it onto his head. “A fine lady will always rescue me.” He quickly evades of swing of Padubast’s claws and comes to stand before Bess and Josie. “You girls make a run for it, I will hold him off as long as I can.”