Once Upon a Twist by Michelle Smart, Aimee Duffy

unable to marry and form a united course of action.
    She heard footsteps, heavy footsteps that drew nearer with every one of her shallow breaths.
    And still she stood rooted.
    Her adjusting eyes could only see the vague outline of the creature running towards her, coming through the kitchen and into the dining room. Her ears heard every thud of foot, every grunt and every clatter of flying furniture. 
    “Ella!”
    James’s shout from behind slammed through her and she raised the sword just as the creature pounced.
    The sword cut through the creature’s belly, stopping it in its tracks. It was close enough for her to smell its fetid breath and the stench from its putrid armpits as it waved its arms about, clawing at her and missing by inches.
    Wildly she tried to pull the sword out but this weapon had none of the purity of the heel of her glass slipper. It stayed put, deep inside the creature’s torso.
    Holding the shaft with both clammy hands, she fought to keep her grip and fought to keep her gurgling panic at bay. Her heart was pumping hard, her head filled with rushing blood that swooshed and drowned all other noises.
    Her grip was loosening, her arms screaming with pain. This creature was too strong. She couldn’t hold on for much longer…
    “Ella, get down!” No sooner were the words shouted when a hard, warm body knocked her onto the floor, forcing her to relinquish her hold on the sword.
    She landed in a heap and was immediately covered by James’s powerful body. At least she assumed it was James. She had no proof other than every single one of her functioning senses told her it was him enveloping her so securely.
    The drawing room filled with shouts and thuds, the sounds muffled until silence rang out.
    She felt the weight of James’s body lift off her. “It’s dead,” he said.
    Blinking, Ella allowed him to help her sit up. One of the soldiers had brought the lantern into the room. Lying only a couple of feet from her lay the prostrate torso of the decapitated creature. Its head had rolled under the rocking chair.
    Although she had known it could not be Ana – it was far too large to be her stepsister – the visual confirmation did nothing to quell her fears.
    Where was she? She must have made it home for the creature to have followed her.
    James must have read her mind. He stroked her damp hair. “Darling, we need to get you into the cellar now so my soldiers and I can look for Ana.”
    “You must be joking.”
    “No darling, we need to find her and either bring her to safety or…”
    “Kill her,” she finished flatly. “And I wasn’t on about that – when I said you must be joking, I meant about hiding me away in the cellar. I didn’t come all this way just so you could tuck me out of sight like a good little girl.”
    Ignoring the disconcerted expression on his handsome face, she got to her feet and stood over the felled creature. The sword was still sticking out of its belly. Ella took a sharp intake of breath before placing a foot on its chest for balance. She pulled the sword out in one big yank.
    “How did you know I’d gone?” she asked, taking the first opportunity she’d had to question him.
    “I remembered something you said about not staying in the cellar. I went back to check on you and my mother told me where you had gone.”
    “Then she must have told you she gave me her blessing. If your mother can understand why I had to leave then surely you can too?”
    He placed a hand on her arm. “Ella, be reasonable. We have already sacrificed a great deal to make you safe.”
    She closed her eyes knowing he was referring to Matthew. Poor, brave Matthew who had died trying to protect her and his Prince.
    “James, I appreciate what you have done for me.” And she did. Knowing his love for her was more than mere words induced the most wonderful feeling imaginable. But at that moment it meant nothing. It couldn’t. She wouldn’t allow it to. Not until all the danger had