A/N: The continuation of "The Beast", enjoy!
all mistakes are my own & I do not own glee or any of it's characters.

The night poured over the town streets and homes, leaving a veil of shadows. All that could be heard was the wisp of the wind through the brittle leaves and crickets chirping a midnight lullaby.

Rachel looked out the window searching for a soul passing through the streets, luckily at this hour, most of the townsfolk were spent on their hard days work, snoring loudly in their beds. Rachel drew the curtains shut and made her way to the basement, prepared to serve her mistress with whatever she needed. Rachel grabbed the key to unlock both the cage and the shackles from Mr. Lopez's cabinet in the kitchen, proceeding down the creaky, dimly lit stairs.

There sitting in the corner wallowing in her sorrows was Santana, the beastly creature looking as miserable as the room she sat in. Rachel made a mental note to try and make the basement more comfortable and homey for her, considering she'll never be able to leave this place.

"Good evening Ms. Lopez." Rachel greeted tentatively.

"Nothing is good about it." Santana mumbled quietly.

"Sure there is miss, why tonight is the eve you are permitted to venture to the dark forest."

"So I may join the other monsters that lurk there?" Santana asked bitterly, looking up at Rachel.

Rachel hesitated a moment, looking at Santana's eyes and saw the hurt and sadness behind them. Feeling pity on her mistress Rachel decided not to respond but rather step forward and unlock the cage. Santana watched as the door to the cage swung open on the rusted hinges, producing a high pitched squeak, but didn't bother to move.

"I would imagine you would like those shackles removed miss?" Rachel asked, but Santana remained staring at the open cage.

Rachel took a slow step inside the cage and could feel how depressing it was inside. Santana remained still, not moving her paws for Rachel to unlock the shackles. Rachel raised her eyebrows expectedly in hopes of Santana understanding.

"Miss, if I may, can you stretch your arms out?" Rachel asked politely.

Santana glared at Rachel for a moment, holding her gaze steadily before launching herself at Rachel, grabbing her by the shoulders and holding her off the ground against the metal bars, snarling and hissing.

"Do you think just because I am this beast you are superior? That you have some sort of dominance over me?" Santana growled, bearing her fierce teeth at Rachel.

"Miss, I d-do not w-wish to upset you." Rachel stuttered in fear.

"Then do not command me to do anything! Do you understand?!" Santana roared in Rachel's face before dropping her carelessly to the ground.

Rachel began to feel tears prick at the corners of her eyes and she tried with difficulty to get the hiccups erupting in her chest to settle. Rachel sniffled a few times before reaching for the key that dropped from her hands.

"How may I serve you miss?" Rachel asked meekly.

"Unlock these chains now." Santana demanded, stepping forward and towering over her small servant.

"As you wish." Rachel complied without looking at Santana.

Once Rachel finished, she stepped back looking at the floor, avoiding eye contact and awaiting further orders. She wished Santana would have seen she was only trying to help her, not humiliate her. In time maybe Santana will come to realize this.

"Was there anyone present outside?" Santana asked stepping out of her cramped cage.

"No miss, no one."

"Good, I'll be back in a few hours. Maybe I'll get lucky and have a hunter put me out of my misery." Santana sneered.

Rachel followed her mistress to the bottom of the stairs and saw that Santana came to an abrupt, stop looking at the narrow staircase leading to the kitchen and the back door.

"Is everything alright miss?" Rachel asked, also worried about the fact she may not fit.

"Fine. Leave me alone." Santana grunted taking a deep breath and inching up sideways.

Rachel couldn't help but chuckle a bit at how silly it looked to be going up the stairs sideways, but she understood why it was necessary to do so. Santana's large frame was incapable of moving with grace as it once did. Her clunky body moved awkwardly up each stair, careful not to bump into the walls. Rachel was careful to keep quiet. If her mistress knew she was laughing at her, Santana wouldn't hesitate to lash out again.

By the time Santana reached the top of the stairwell the door frame leading to the kitchen was a foot too short, resulting in Santana ducking heavily in order to pass through. However, she was caught in the middle of the door way, Santana growled deeply and rolled her eyes before pushing her way through, breaking off some of the wood work.

"I'll take care of it miss." Rachel said sidestepping the debris scattered across the floor.

"Good." Santana said quietly, looking rather embarrassed. "Come open the back door for me." Santana snapped.

"Yes miss. Enjoy your first eve out, I hope it will be relaxing. I know you were promised this outing two months ago, but your parents wanted to make sure it was appropriately timed to let you roam. Of course once the dust had settled about your kidnapping."

"Actually, what you mean to say is, my parents wanted to make sure I never existed. The town has already forgotten who I am. The talk of my disappearance had ceased shortly after the town meeting. I can hear what they say about me from my hell hole."

"Miss, I-"

"Don't. Just clean up the mess." Santana interrupted, leaving out the back into the chilled night.

Santana stood on her back porch step, staring out into the night. She scanned the rural fields leading to the dark forest, watching as the wheat swayed gently in the cool breeze of night. She felt exposed being out of the house, she felt like a foreigner in her own town. She wrapped her cloak around her body tightly, feeling more self-conscious, even with no one around to see her.

She was curious to explore the streets one last time, knowing no one would be walking around this hour. She knew better however, if her parents were to ever find out, they would kill her. Her parents, her mother and father, Santana thought shaking her head disappointedly. Her blood boiled with anger over what they had done. The parents that were supposed to love her unconditionally tossed her aside without any hesitation in order to protect their name.

Santana fell to her knees, broken and feeling incredibly alone more now than ever, she roared loudly, not caring how close to the town she was. Her bellowed cry echoed through the town. She hated to cry, deeming it weak, but she couldn't stop the tears flowing freely down her furry face. She just let it happen, not caring to wipe them away, she was by herself. She will continue to be in her own company for the rest of her existence.

"What was that?" someone hollered to a neighbor shaken.

Santana's ears perked up and realized she had woken a few of the neighbors, she looked around frantic to see the house candles being lit while people began to venture out of their homes, squinting into the night to find the source of the sound.

Santana struggled to stand and tripped over her own cloak, falling into the mud. She swore under her breath before scrambling into an awkward run. Her legs didn't function the same anymore and felt unnatural. She reluctantly bent over and ran on all fours, finding it to be graceful and swift.

Santana ran hard on all fours for only a few minutes, just long enough to reach the end of the fields and look back towards the town. She rose to her legs and stood tall over the wheat fields, carefully seeing the townspeople had gathered in a small group with torches and candles. With a pain in her chest, she turned away from the society she was once a part of and continued to run towards the dark forest, unsure of what to find.

Santana listened as her paws pounded heavily against the soft earth. She felt the wind breeze through her fur, chilling her to the bones. It was a fairly nice evening, the transitioning into the fall season. The sweet summer scent was gone and replaced with the crisp air that surrounds the changing of the leaves and collection of dew lingering in the mornings.

Santana slowed her pace as she approached a small lake lying in the center of the forest. It was a serene and peaceful lake with a lone pair of ducks treading the water. Santana stared in awe at the beauty of the lake and the forest surrounding it. The lake held a special uniqueness to it, something Santana could not describe nor express. It held a strong draw to her though, something maybe she could have for herself after being robbed of her past life.

She hesitantly walked forward to the lakes edge, wanting to rinse the mud off that she had fallen in earlier. She kneeled down on the shoreline and paused abruptly, startled by the reflection of herself. She examined the hideous face staring wildly at her. How the heavy eyebrows were scrunched in confusion, the fangs that poked out from the parted lips, and the warm eyes filled heated with anger and self-loathe. The same face that once bore beauty no other woman could hold.

Santana continued to look at her reflection sadly, wishing she could be normal again. She could feel her emotions bubbling in her chest, a mixture of concentrated negativity to the point she couldn't stand the growing unease in her stomach. Angrily Santana slapped the water trying to rid of her image, thrashing in the water and roaring in the stillness of the night. In return she heard the echoes of her pained cry reverberate off the lakes rippled waters. She stood waist high in the water right where she began on the lakes shore, staring at an image of herself feeling utterly hopeless.

Panting, she realized this is who she will be for the rest of her life and should accept her fate of being a monster. A creature doomed to be forever alone, finding solace in the forest each night, if permitted.

"Hello? Is someone there?"

Santana froze, shocked to hear a distant voice coming from the edge of the forest. Surely no fool would be dumb enough to walk this hour of the night in the dark forest? Listening, she could hear some rustling coming from her right. Santana's heart plummeted fearing she may have been seen and scampered out of the water into the shadows within the foliage of the forest.

"Hello? Anyone?" The voice called out closer.

Santana held her breath, sincerely nervous that if someone did see her, her chances of returning to the forest are slim if this said person blabbed to the town of a monster lurking in the woods.

Santana heard footsteps passing through the thickets of the forest coming closer to the lake. Santana crouched lower and watched as a young woman stepped out from the bushes.

"Ow, I hate when that happens." The young woman said, pulling her hair from a tree branch.

Santana was perplexed as to why such a young woman was by herself in the dark forest with no protection. It was dangerous during the day and even worse at night. This girl must be lost or dim-witted. Not even the bravest of men venture to hunt in the night.

"Hello?" The young woman called again, cupping her hands around her mouth.

"Huh, well that's odd. I swore I heard something out here. So where were we." The woman spoke to herself pulling out a book and a candle lit lamp, unravelling a blanket she carried with her.

Santana simply observed the woman, watching as she settled comfortably with her blanket and her book, reading silently and enjoying the serenity of the lake, similar to Santana. The girl must not have been much older than Santana. Her hair was the color of a beautiful blonde mane, braided elegantly over her shoulder. Her shoulders were strong and held good posture. Her features were soft and feminine, and her eyes. Santana knew staring was improper but she stared hard at the crystalline blue that skimmed over the rustic pages as a stray hair sprang free of from her braid and she gently tucked it behind her ear whilst turning the page. Santana swam lost in the ocean eyes, mystified at such an incredible beauty. Santana felt compelled to ask for her name, to know who she was as a person.

Santana quickly realized these thoughts were foolish and ridiculous, scolding herself for being so childish. She was not in a position to neither make friends nor ever have company. And yet Santana held an inkling of hope that just maybe the young woman sitting across from her, silently reading her book, could become something as precious as the lake, something to call her own. But it would never be true Santana thought depressingly.

"'She walks in beauty, like the night, of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that's best of dark and bright, meet in her aspect and her eyes: thus mellowed to that tender light, which heaven to gaudy day denies." The woman spoke unexpectedly, causing Santana to flinch.

"Since you've been gone, I've grown fond of poetry. Lord Byron writes beautifully. It is elegant and simple, but takes time to understand. I am not sure what it is, but it makes me ponder if there are other people like me mother, someone else who may not fit into this provincial life. Someone who may speak of me or I speak of them with true passionate love and kinship." The woman spoke, looking up towards the sky.

"I think, just sometimes, I cannot be alone and I'll find another. Then we can both read to you and to each other. It wouldn't be such a lonely place anymore."

Santana's heart felt heaving listening to the intimate conversation the woman was having, speaking clearly to her mother spiritually. She knew a few friends that lost their parents and would find moments of solitude to talk to the deceased. Santana didn't want to intrude on the woman's private moments, but didn't feel it would be acceptable to leave a young woman like her alone in the wilderness.

"I remember when you told me how you and father met, the sweetest encounter. How he saw you in the town square every day reading. Day after day he would ask for your hand, he knew instantly you were his true love. But you told him no each time. He would show up day after day with gifts. Flowers, dresses, jewelry, but you would never be persuaded, not until he brought you a book of poetry. You said you wouldn't marry a man that couldn't read true love and understood what it meant." She chuckled, smiling fondly. Her smile faded slowly though as she stroked the cover of the book, droplets of tears dancing down her rosy cheeks.

"It's been hard the last year without you. Dad is consumed with making inventions that don't work and has isolated himself, leaving me to do most of the market shopping and farm work. He seems to have lost his spark in life, I can tell he is miserable. And I try to make him happy by making the meals you made, but it's not the same."

Santana looked down in shame, such a personal moment should be respected, and yet with each passing moment the woman's emotions became more raw, more real and it was curious to Santana to see someone so open with themselves. She admired the woman's strength, but would never say such a thing aloud.

She hunched lower and crept forward in order to view the woman closer, her curiosity becoming untamable. Carefully pulling some foliage out of the way to look past the thicket of branches, she accidentally stepped on a small twig, creating just enough sound for the woman to pause mid-sentence and search her surroundings.

The woman scanned around her, looking towards Santana's direction ever so slightly, but rather than stare at the desolate forest she pulled her knees to her chest and shivered next to her lamp, opening her book where she had left off and returned to her literary world. Santana yearned to sit next to the woman and shield her from the brisk wind, it wouldn't be difficult, the young woman was much smaller than her. But again she knew it wasn't logical to expose herself in such a manner. She would probably frighten the poor girl.

All these passing thoughts about this girl were shocking Santana, never before had she taken a keen interest in another person, even remotely. It was unsettling and left Santana feeling uncomfortable with these emotions.

Santana released a large yawn and stretched. She was a little weary from her first night out in the forest, but satisfied nonetheless with the fresh air and freedom. She decided on closing her eyes only for a short moment, checking on the young woman one last time. She felt confident that the young woman would not be wandering around, but instead complacently reading her book by the lake shore. So with that reassurance, Santana huddled close to a tree trunk, leaning against it and closed her heavy lids, getting one glimpse left of the beauty peacefully reading.

Santana awoke from her short rest feeling a bit dazed and confused, forgetting she was in the middle of the forest. She looked up at the sky and saw it was becoming brighter, with morning breaking over the horizon. Santana loved watching the sun rise, relaxed she continued to watch the flaming red erupt in the sky. She realized then that she needed to be home by this point. Panicked she scrambled to run, but not before checking to see if the young woman was there by the lake side.

It appeared she had long gone, leaving no evidence she were ever there. But Santana had little time to think about her and her safety as she was preoccupied with getting home on time, and before daylight could reveal her.

Santana ran back to the town fiercely, swiftly moving among the thickets and branches of the forest. Santana was thankful for her new form and its ability to be powerful and fast. When she reached the end of the forest and the beginning of the fields, she took a tentative look around to see if anyone had risen yet for morning chores, poking her head above the wheat that stood tall. With no one around, Santana made a bee line for her back porch step, rushing through the wheat fields, destroying some of the crops.

Santana was only a few hundred feet from her house when she came to the clearing between the fields and her house. There was no cover for her to take and she was a nervous wreck about being seen, trying to come up with a way to get across undetected. But the longer she waited the more daylight was approaching, dawn had already risen, it was only a matter of time before the fall sun shine down.

She took a deep breath before launching herself to the back porch, not daring to look around to see if anyone was around, remaining concentrated on her house. She reached the final steps and crawled up them quickly and slamming the door shut behind her, rushing to the stairs leading to her cage. Going too quickly down the stairs she tripped and tumbled the rest of the way down and landing face first at the foot of her cage.

She groaned in pain and rubbed her head before hearing an odd tapping sound. She looked up at what was creating the tapping sound and sitting in a chair with a pair of shackles was her father looking rather displeased and angry. Rachel stood next to him with a massive bruise spreading across her cheek.

"Father I can explain." Santana tried to stand, but her father kicked her back down.

"Don't bother. I listened to our servant after she pleaded to let you have one thing, and you abuse it like everything else in your life. I don't care what you do down here, but you are no longer my daughter." He seethed to his daughter slapping the shackles around her wrists and tying them up to the cage.

"Rachel was lucky to get only a strike across her cheek, but the next time you disobey me or this family. I will make sure you get released to the forest and be hunted down." Her father threatened marching upstairs and slamming the door shut.

Santana remain motionless absorbing what her father just said. She thought things couldn't get any worse, and yet they did. She glanced over at Rachel who was busying herself with heating a pot of water over a fire in the corner.

"Rachel, what is my father talking about?"

"He has disowned you mistress, and he fears more for his reputation than your well-being. If you are seen coming into his house, they will accuse him of evil forces for sheltering a beast." Rachel responded timidly.

"But, I am his daughter. Only daughter." Santana began to cry again.

"He does not see that anymore. But let's get you cleaned up." Rachel said walking over to Santana with a wash cloth and brush.

"How was your first night ma'am?" Rachel asked brushing through Santana's fur.

"It was fine. When may I go again?" Santana asked eagerly.

"Not for some time I believe, since you did not arrive until after dawn. "

"But I need to be out there." Santana whined.

"I will see what I can mistress." Rachel said finishing cleaning the pine needles and wheat out of Santana's fur.

Rachel began to walk away, but not before unlocking Santana from her shackles, allowing Santana to freely roam around the basement.

"Rachel?"

"Yes mistress." Rachel stopped looking Santana.

"Can you bring me two blankets, it will be getting cold down here. " Santana asked politely.

Rachel was about to ask if Santana was feeling alright, shocked by the lack of bite in her command.

"As you wish."

Santana walked to the fire and sat down in front of it, thinking the next time she ventures out to the forest, she'll leave a surprise for a certain somebody.

A/N: I like hearing your thoughts :) Thanks for reading!