Chapter 1

”yeah dad," "I know we won’t go far," Those were the last words I spoke to my Dad, before we parted. My friend Arianna and I have planned this trip for weeks now, we're going to the woods behind my house. Most "kids our age" as my dad likes to put it, would rather spend the day at a park, rather than venturing into tick infested woods where their hair, makeup, and shoes would get ruined. But me and Arianna? I like being outdoors, and Arianna likes to be in the fresh air but doesn't always have the strongest back bone. Somehow I managed to get her aboard my plan to enter and explore the woods. Me and Arianna have been exploring for an hour now, I feel kind of bad for practically dragging her along so she can catch up with the quick pace I’ve set to get out further than Dad wants us to, without getting caught. I know she doesn’t mind, if I insisted that I slow down, she wouldn’t let me, it’s the fact that she doesn’t want me to start having to slow down at everything to let her catch up. (Except for math class, that’s where she beats me. She brags a bit about it, and I let her, because it seems to be the only thing keeping her from crediting me as perfect.)

"Oomph" comes a sound behind me, and I turn around to see that she’s fallen. I look a bit further, and see a tree root half surfaced from the soil."Are you okay?"I ask because, she still hasn’t gotten up, and I wonder if she landed on something hard and painful, or if she’s staying still so a nearby spider doesn't decide to bite her. I dismiss this theory as she gradually gets up

 "Whoa!" Arianna exclaims, "... what is that?".I hear her, and see the look on her face, and thinks she just saw a deer, or something, she’s not really an outdoorsmen, she just hates air pollution, hence why I said she likes fresh air. I decide I won't turn around because I may scare whatever magnificent creature of the forest is there, I’m not being sarcastic, I really love animals, the ones out in the wild, in their true home: majestic and beautiful. knowing a peace and ease I think I’ll  never know...

"Belle!", Arianna says , snapping me out of my thoughts."Did your dad mention anyone...... living in these woods?"

 That gets my attention, If only for its absurdity."What?" I ask, I finally turn around, what I see is not a deer, but magnificent just the same. "That was not there before." I whisper, I don't think she hears me though, and she heads toward the fortress, or rather what looks like a massive castle. It consists of different styles of architecture, gothic, Victorian, there are even gargoyles who oddly enough, appear to be looking this way and... "Did one of those gargoyles move?!" But no. They're still in the same place they were after I blink.

Arianna's looking at me like I’m a scared child, making me rethink what I saw. Maybe I am acting silly, but I could have sworn I saw the stone creatures move. 

Get Out! You’ll soon regret you ever came across this place if you do not leave now! A voice rings in my ears, telling us we must not stay.

 I look up to call my friend and leave the property, but she’s gone. The voice said there was a gate, I search for it, and that’s when I see Arianna opening the gate. "Nooo!" I scream. I run over to her to get the gate closed but she's inside now. Who knows what atrocities live beyond the towering wall, I press on however, never one to leave anyone behind, especially when it’s my friend. I don't abandon people, no matter the circumstance, so opening the gate, I slip inside..

Its dark, but then I realize I was holding my breath. With my eyes closes, bracing myself for what must be on the other side. I almost laugh at myself. Green all around, but I can only make out the colors right now , the bright, sunlight blinding me. Sunlight! In the middle of a deep and dense forest, light shines through, when it had been apparent that this property was dim. "What is this place?" I wonder viewing all the beautiful flowers and the singing of the birds in place of the crunch of twigs and underbrush under our feet. Then I see Arianna and I remember the warning.

"Arianna!"I yell in a whispering tone, "We have to go, we can't be here!" “Belle! Isn’t this place great?!" then she sees the worry on my face, "wait... You want to leave?" She looks at me surprised. "I thought you loved the outdoors. I mean, I know this isn't out there in the wild," she gestures to the gate, "but it's beautiful!"

She doesn't hear me, but she stops nonetheless as a nearby flower bed catches her attention. She laughs giddily and runs over, leaving me alone and I sink to the ground.  Depart and I will not follow, carry on and turn from the gate, and you’ll meet a horrible fate. Even though it's probably too late, because not only are we on his private property, and my friend’s eaten his exotic fruits, I try and stand, to try and get Arianna away from the flowering bushes and vines.

"Arianna, can we go now?", "Please?" For I thought she would just ignore me, but she answers. “In a second." She says as she looks to me. "I just want one of these roses,” she tells me, she looks away and leans down, analyzes the flowers. Cupping one delicate blossom with her hands and......

 

She plucks it.

As swift as lighting reaches the earth, a thick hooded figure appears in behind Arianna, I cannot see his face, his face is turned from me, but Arianna does, she turns around and faces it, shock, horror and fear are displayed on her face. What is it that she sees? who is it that she sees, that could so frighten her?

"You entered without my consent, the gate was locked! But I still took pity on you and I gave you a chance to leave, not once but twice! you then terrorize my garden and still I let you live! Then you take that which I hold dearest to my heart, my beloved roses!" A deep voice snarls. In the torrent of his words, he makes being angry an understatement. "What is most precious to me! How would you like it if I just barged into your home, even though it was locked, and then put holes in the foundations of it?!!!!!!!!!" He lets loose a growl no human should be able to utter. "For that is the true extent of your deed, you have brought unrest to my home." Arianna is petrified now; it wouldn’t surprise me if she was too scared to breathe. I try to speak, to say something, to get her out of there. But I’m stuck, my tongue is heavy, and my legs feel like stone. Then again I guess stone can move around here, the gargoyles did, at least I think so.  Arianna finally gets the courage to speak, despite her fear, and the anger coming off this stranger in waves. "Wa-wa.. what are you going to do to me? "I will not kill you," he says, and Arianna lets relief wash over her face. "...that’s too good for you anyway," he finishes, as though he feels her relief, and wants to fill her to the brim with fear. "you entered my home, and you would not leave" "Since I see death too kind, you'll stay here, in my dungeon with little light, "and you will never see beauty again, since you have taken such a toll on my garden and what I acclaim as being beautiful ." He condemns her.

A shocked Arianna whimpers and says “..but....but... what about my family?" Reaching for an appeal. "They’ll wonder what happened to me!" She tries, "They'll come and cause further disruption to your garden"  I'm afraid, they'll never find this place."

Whatever holds of me has passed. The hooded figure is speaking again. "I Warned you to go, I warned you to let this place be," "But you didn't heed my warning, did you?!" I can no longer breathe, I draw myself up in a stand, legs shaking uncontrollably. why did I hear and not her? What makes her impervious, that only one would receive the warning? I look up from the ground. He only expected one of us to come. He looks up, as if he senses my thoughts.

“But....I didn't get a warning!" Arianna is crying now, I know I must act, but what can I do, he seems intent on punishment. "Yes you did! You're the only-" He shouts.

"She's telling the truth!" Interrupt and all of a sudden he's standing to his full height, or I assume he does because he's gotten taller in a matter of seconds. "She didn't get a warning! " I say, taking a deep breath. "I did, I tried to tell her, but she was already out of earshot." None of this is her fault, it's mine. I just didn't try hard enough-" I barely finish before he starts shouting again, pulling Arianna by the arm, into a stand, closing the space of trees between himself and I.

"Enough!" He says, coming to a halt, standing tall and proud a few feet away, hood covering his face now, making me wonder what he's hiding. “She plucked the rose, not you! She must be punished for her selfish action and carelessness" He stops to point to her. '"She will pay for the damage she has caused." He releases her arm, and she slowly seats herself, her legs shaking too mcuh to hold her up. He continues. "For although nothing will ever replace my roses' beauty, so I cannot forgive and thus my choice of retribution." He turns his back to me. "I must be off lady, return from whence you came, my quarrel is not with you."

I look at the flower Arianna picked, it was indeed a rose. I still can't imagine how something seemingly insignificant could cause such unrest. “You’re right" I say, trying to swallow my resentment toward his uncalled for cruelty, at his ability to just dismiss me as if it were a mall matter of unimportance instead of the fate of another. He turns at this, but it’s clear he tries to hide his face in the hood of his cloak again, drawing my attention to the posed question of why he's hiding his face, since Arianna has already seen it. "What?" he says, barely audible, I look to Arianna, whose looking at me sadly like I betrayed her, but I haven't "I said you're right, nothing can replace your roses," I gesture toward the flower, and then to my friend, "but she can be replaced."

 I look to him in time to see interest and confusion flash across his face. What are you implying?" He asks me.

 

"Please, Let me take her place." I exclaim as I take a step forward. "What?!" he yells, but then he thinks on it and in a softer tone he says "You would come with me willingly, even knowing what lies ahead for you?" 

"Yes" I'm looking into his eyes, the only feature I can see under his hooded face. “I will willingly stay here, for the rest of my life." I say, disbelieving that I'm actually saying these words, but meaning every word of it. I take another step forward. “I will never run, or leave," I just know I’ll regret this, but I need to get her out of here. “as long as you let Arianna go.” I finish.

"You'll take the place of my roses?" He asks. "Yes. Isn’t that why you wanted to keep her here?" He doesn't answer. Instead he turns to face Arianna and grabs her by the arm, "You may leave." "Bye Arianna." I call out to her.

  "And don’t come back!” my warden growls, pushing her away and toward the gate. I don't know if it’s because it’s too late or the events that occurred here, but the garden has lost its light, its beauty has dimmed and can no longer inspire awe within me, and coincidently the birds have stopped singing as well.

My imprisoner circles around me, hands behind his back. "You will refrain from any attempted contact with the inhabitants behind this gate, and you will not disobey me." He starts. "You may however, ask for anything material to pardoning yourself from my presence." He finally stops in front of me. "This place is to be your home, I hope that you understand I have no ill will toward you...?" I do not answer, surely this is only a facade, either way, I am escaping the first chance I get. "Come" he says, walking to my side. I stay glued to the spot. “This way" he repeats, a little deeper this time. I sigh and follow him to his medieval home. Am I to live in a dank dungeon for all my life? Yes, I must not let his words just now fool me. That's what I agreed to, I said that I would take Arianna's place; I just hope I made the right choice. I think I must have, he’s massive, and because of his height I know that it’s because of muscle, not fat, he's quick, he has telekinesis, and I have no idea what else. I can only imagine what would become of me if I were to break my promise, when all Arianna did was pluck a rose, when he has a garden full of them. He looks back to me, his eyes warn against my rebellion. "I'm coming" I say in reply. I turn to him, and walk along side him and into the confinement of my new "home", but I have no intention of staying.

Who would believe?

 

 I ran. I just ran, and left my friend behind. "What kind of a person am I?!" I ask when I do come to a halt. I search for an answer, but I receive none, I didn't really expect one because I know my limbs moved with almost a mind of their own. My voice echoes in the forest, and I sink to the ground, my thoughts registering my loss. The silence that ensues afterward is painful.  "I should have stood up for her!" Then I remember, Belle tried to warn me, that I caused all of this mess when I trespassed. I feel cowardly, guilty for what happened. "I have to go back!" "she put her life on the line for me... and I just let her." and I thought she was going to leave me, when we've been friends for years. I turn around ready to fume at the beast and demand he let her go. Well maybe not fume, but ...and maybe not demand but politely ask..." Jeez I am such a coward! I turn around and I look for the beast's home, "It's not there anymore!" I see the root I tripped over, but I don't see it."Oh!"I whine. poor belle I have to help her, but who would believe me if I told them?

 

 "I'll believe you." says a voice from behind. 

Of the mind of the beast

 

"Come along" i say. And she hurries to catch up with my stride. Her willingness she claimed to have, doesn't apply to her listening to me. She stops at times, hesitates at others, looking around, at her feet. But never at me. She eyes the gargoyles and seems be wary of them. As if they're alive. They are alive, but she shouldn't know that, should not even suspect such a thing as that. The gargoyles are my watchers, they ensure that no intruder gets nor stays too close to my castle. For centuries they have been successful and efficient in their task. Until today. It seems nothing has gone right to day.

 I let her come here, knew she would be with her friend. I wanted them to come, or at least, i wanted the one currently in my presence to come. When I didn't see her, (some of the trees hid her from my view) and because I could only use telekinesis on one of them, I thought only her friend, err, Arianna was it, came. I realized I was wrong when she spoke and told me about receiving the warning and not that other one. However, I didn't say anything, nor did I show myself in the hopes that Arianna would lose interest in my garden, which proved to be  an impossible feat. I did not think that she would eat my fruit, and pluck my roses. When my prisoner, no! I refuse to call her that. when my Rose, offered to stay and take the place of her friend, I was stunned. I only wanted her to come because I wanted to try and get someone to fall in love with me. Again. Again as in I've tried to find someone. Someone who won't run away or faint from fear at the sight of me. All the other girls ran, but not my Rose. Not yet. She hasn't seen my face yet, and I don't want her to. I want this curse upon me broken! I want to be my former self again, to be a dragon again. But she can't know... why would you free a beast, only to turn them into a bigger and stronger one? And if she knew about the curse she'd sympathize, if she knew falling in love with me would transform me into a dragon? She'd faint dead away. No! She must not find out. I must speak with the lead Gargoyle and have her on a tight watch. I could use the mirror, after all, that is how I found out anyone would be coming into the forest, but I only need to know that she does not enter the west wing, or interrupt or eavesdrop important meetings I have every now and then.

We ascend another flight of stairs, and my Rose glances at the statues nearby.

I Must ensure that she can't see anything. If she knew, she wouldn't have agreed to stay, she would run. She can't know about the gargoyles and the statues, the garden, and especially not me. I look at her again over my shoulder. My Rose... with her rich brown curls, and blue eyes, that seem to have a depth to them. If I could get lost in anyone's eyes, it'd be hers. She must feel my gaze, because she meets my eyes. No one. Not even grown men... No one has ever dared to meet my eyes. And after all I put her through!

......She's the one. I think with unwavering certainty. I can't help but feel overjoyed. She's the one! I'm free, Finally free! I'm surprised that I did not voice this, but relieved just the same because she's beside me now.

"Isn't the dungeon typically underground?" She says, rendering me momentarily taken by surprise at the sound of her voice. I thought she would rather climb the stairs in silence than converse with me. "Oh, yes of course." I stumble with my words trying to think of the best way to start our first real conversation "I just thought you would be more comfortable in a room of your own." her face goes blank. Who knows what she's thinking! So I take a guess "Instead of sharing a room with rats, you will be looked after as my guest." She makes no comment that she'd be alone either way, or even think that anyone is down there. Truthfully, I don't think I've ever used that space. No, now I remember why it was built, for spies, it hasn't been sealed off, yet, because I'm waiting for someone, and when I find him, he will pay! I know he will return, , I've waited all too long to get my hands on him and break his neck. I growl at the thought,  startling her in the process. I look to her again, to see if I can salvage any conversation. I smile to show that it was not aimed at her, something I haven't done in a long time, although,  this was only an attempt on my part, having forgotten my hood obscures my face. She was unable to see it,  meaning the smile was a waste effort. Considering if she saw my pearly whites, she'd probably faint. In a sense, my hood also saved me. If she only knew about me...

 

My mind races back to the garden only a few moments ago. The look on her friend's face. The fear, she couldn't even look away. She was so consumed by horror to move away, to do anything really, except breathe. I refuse to imagine my Rose reacting in the same manner, just sitting there, terrified, trembling, and looking me in the eye the whole while. I'd never forgive myself. I can't keep living like this! I want to scream out in my frustration, but I hold it in, and sigh instead. I mustn't scare her. with luck she thought my other outburst was a grumble and not the beginnings of a roar, she'd think me a monster......... just like before, oh my dear Jane. No, I refuse to give name to such hypocrites. she made her choice, she was no more caring than the rest in the end, she ran for the hills like the others. For all she spoke of love, that appearances meant nothing. She only cared that I was a nobleman, that she would live in high society if she dealt with the superstitious and slightly given to exaggerating, man. She never cared. I can still see her beautiful face, ruined by the look of fear that I am forced to see among so many others, more than that, I see her true colors mixed in with her distress.     

"Did you build this place help build it,  or uh....have it built?" A voice snaps me out of my thoughts. "or did you have it in the family?" She tries to talk to me. Wait, She's talking to me! Weak as I think this attempt  is, I couldn't be more grateful for it. I try and recall what her initial question was, finding it I answer, "I had help building it, as for my family...I don't really have any." She looks like she's going to say something, but her silence says she thought better of it. Good, she'd be crossing a boundary had she pried. I don't wish to think about what transpired all those centuries ago.

Not including our climb up the staircase, the silence returns and with it, awkwardness. I wish she would say something more, I dislike this tense stillness in the air. "I hope you like it here" I say, genuinely meaning it. She looks at me puzzled, but I'm no longer facing her. I don't know how she interpreted all that I've said, but I've conveyed my meaning as clearly as I was able. She looks at me like I'm a mystery, or a riddle she's trying to solve. Fine by me, as long as she doesn't uncover what I've tried all too hard to veil from prying eyes. She can't know of my past, she cannot know of the curse she'll run. it is then that I realize, she promised. I'm beaming from underneath  my hood now, because there are few people who'd ignore arrangements made on their behalf and even fewer that would go against their word. 

I take the path of the stairs that goes to the left, Rose following behind. Another long walk ensues, as I navigate through the labyrinth of hallways. I bring us to a stop in front of a small doorway decorated with intricate patterns. This is the room I've chosen for her, I tell her. She walks in, and I am pleased to hear that she cannot withhold her gasp of touched surprise. I have given the utmost attention to her room design, I am both heartened by her appreciation and hurt by her surprise. What, if anything, had she expected? I watch her observe it for a while, seeing her opinion reflected in her eyes.

I hoped to make this place her home, but fear I may not be able. I have ruined so much of her life and in less than a day, but a man can dream can't he? In an attempt to make her feel at home, I tried to find out what interested her. Two bookshelves are in her bed chamber (bed room), another room, her own personal library. Whenever she wishes to read something, the book will come to her, from my own shelves and other libraries in the house, with a limit of course, on anything I can't let her read, or are potentially dangerous, such as my journals. I don't have to worry about that myself because I collect all knowledge, whether I use the knowledge or not, very useful when deflecting dark spells. Just not the one that matters. I could have deflected this curse, I wouldn't be stooping so low as to imprison someone for picking a rose, and then trying to get them to fall for me. A mirror also hangs from the wall and catches my attention momentarily, Paintings of mountains and forests, and hills, even of the ocean. maybe not the best idea, since they may cause her to feel nostalgia over the places she can no longer roam, except maybe the mountain... and the forest, being from a city of steel. 

 I take her delicate hand in my gloved one, and kiss it. "My dear Rose." I address  her and  I take my leave. She lifts her head, "Is that what I am to be called, Rose?" She says in a defiant manner. Her sudden change in mood has me surprised, but the surprise turns into anger at her tone. "Why the objection?" I retort. "If I do not know your name..." I pause but she offers no answer. she said that just to test me! " and if you refuse to give me your name," I say angrily. "Then yes, it is". 

"My Rose" I say her name like an accusation now. "You're to fill the void that your Friend " I add as much venom to my words as possible, and I can't help but smile when she winces at my words. like being struck with an arrow isn't it? I continue "created by plucking my roses, and you will not speak to me in that tone, suggesting I am inferior to you!" I grab her by the wrist, open the door and push her inside. I have boiled over and have no tolerance for her at this moment. In my anger I do not think of the consequence."You are to join me for dinner tonight." I tell her.  "Well then expect my absence. I'm never stepping out of this doorway again!" she screams. "If you do not arrive in an orderly and timely matter," I say, "Then I will climb up these steps and tear the door off its hinges!" I threaten. She looks like she's been slapped, but I don't care at this time. My anger blinds me. I slam the door and grumble about my stupidity to think that she was the one. That I went through all that trouble and for what?!

 

 "Cobble Stone!" I call, Not too long afterwards the lead gargoyle is at my side. "Yes?" He answers "You called?" He says. "What does she know? What has she seen?!" I demand. Cobbles sighs, that's when I know something's gone awry (if nothing else had) and that she has seen something. "What has she seen?" I ask again. "A relation of mine, Sand Stone, moved." 

"What?" I growl through my teeth. "I'm afraid as they saw the castle, my niece was stretching, she was preparing to switch duty, she was off a little in timing, Sir." says the old, but strong gargoyle. "And we both know that she knows that you're trying to hide your face" Cobbles says as I growl again, reminding me it was not only his mistake that caused a disruption.

 "You can't keep her in the dark" he says. "She's observant, that one." He states. I let loose a deafening roar. "She'll run Cobble Stone!" I in turn remind him. "They always do..." I tell him. "He grumbles, "Won't she run if she ends up freeing you?" Cobbles counters. "No!" I say more to convince myself than him. "Not this one, not this time, she'll never know." I explain. "I'll make certain of it." I insist. "If she does however, it's of little consequence, she's not even the one," I say barely above a whisper, but Cobbles, my old friend, hears me anyway. "You don't believe that." He says. "If you did you  wouldn't take such careful measurements to ensure success, all the others you'd go on right ahead and tell them in three days' time." Cobbles informs me. "Who's to say I won't this time?" I ask.

 "Isn't it obvious to you?" Cobbles asks me. "You're willing to wait much longer to tell her." repeats Cobbles "I will not tell her, you're right., but you are fool to suggest that I do." I tell him, ready for this conversation to end. "Tell her" Cobbles demands. The ancient gargoyle stays still for a moment, then says "Tonight, she will meet you for dinner, and she will ask you to show her your face," He predicts. "Let her see" he says, " you'll regret not telling her earlier if you post-pone the inevitable."

"The inevitable that she will faint out of terror?"I remark, "or do you insist that she will grow accustomed to my hideous appearance if I reveal myself to her tonight?" I finish. Cobbles just nods his head, and that is the only answer I will get from him.

So much for wisdom when you are powerless in the face of the inevitable I suppose, or maybe it's just learning to flow alongside it.

 

This awkwardness of ours or can this only be a dream?

 

"Where is she I growl, but she's already here, i see her as i turn around. I hope she hasn't heard me.

 

I don't know what possessed me, when I obliged to his wishes. I wanted to stay in the room he's provided, and never leave, and yet, I felt compelled to cross the threshold. Funny how some things work out.  

As i walk down the hall, his back is to me I do not wish to be here, however I fend\ hold off my revulsion with every step I draw nearer to him. I try to descend quietly, but all of a sudden he whirls around angrily. His face is still hidden beneath hooded cloak. When he spots me, he stops growling, instead straightening and clasping his hands behind his back. Some gentleman for all the graciousness he's shown Arianna. still, there's something about his bearing that that speaks of calm patience, manners even.

 I hesitate half way down the steps, and meet his gaze. But what do i see in those eyes? Is it hope, longing? No. How can that be? He is a beast who, If I may add, took my life away from me. I know it was my choice, but i wasn't going to leave Arianna to rot here when I'm the one whose taken multiple self defense classes. Come to think about it, \although I'm not even sure this place is real, after all, how can a castle exist in the depths of a forest unnoticed?

 My quarters are exactly and eerily a more impressive version of my own, if that doesn't denote the dream theory, nothing does. Back to the matter at hand, what does he want? He obviously has different intentions in mind for me, than he had for Arianna. And what does he know about me that he would know what I would like? I realize I'm still standing on the staircase, and that my eyes are still gazing into his. Seeing my pause he takes a step forward, ready to pounce the moment I consider a retreat. I head down the stairs again, looking at my feet, but this does not stop the burning sense of his eyes following me with every step I take, nor the tightness and butterflies I feel, I'd like to blame the corset, but unfortunately It is my own nerves and unnamed fears.

 

I'm not sure she came down for the sake of curiosity, so much as felt she couldn't decline the invitation. I am sorry for this, but I would do it again in an instant, my nerves and longing so strong with her presence so close, I feel I would burst. On top of that, She looked into my eyes! She's been doing that a lot lately, but now i am sure, she is the one. I watch her as she gracefully descends the stair. Like a gazelle in the forest. Naturally. She is wearing a long dress, with {low sleeves) and her hair is down. The dress was made in a time period when having one's hair up (for women) was proper and lady like, so it looks odd. But I don't really care, she came didn't she? And just as I suspected, she wears it remarkably well. The rich green of her dress setting off her eyes and high cheek bones.

 

I have reached the end of the staircase, but now I have no choice but to walk to him. His stance is infuriatingly patient, I regret attending dinner with him. I continue my advance, coming to a stop a few feet off from him.  Please don't step any closer. I plead silently, I know he can see it in my eyes, but he closes the distance between us regardless. He again reaches out for my hand, only this time it's shaking. He stops, and upon reading my expression, and the discomfort there, he slides his hand from mine, stepping away and putting distance between us again. The gratitude in my eyes does not go unnoticed, he nods his head and walks with me to the set table in the next room.

 Upon reaching the dining room, one can clearly see the table is set with a wide variety of food. He's arranged a feast, but there's only two of us... The table is long and narrow, the medieval style where the lady and host, and master of the house and host,  sit at the opposite ends of the table. I am glad, both to know this without instruction, and the convenience of the placement. This means I do not need to sit beside him. I walk toward the seat, but he leaps in front of me. Oh so he'll be in charge of when I sit?, but I'm wrong, he pulls out the chair for me like a gentlemen for a lady, and as I seat myself he pushes it into place. He does not leave however,  he stands beside me, arm resting on the back of the chair, I try to dismiss how near he is to me, but I cannot, as much as I can't move away without him noticing and risking offending him. "I have already eaten dinner my dear Rose, but do you mind if I stay while you eat yours?" He asks me. Then why is there such much food out?! " No Beast, I do not mind if you sit with me." I reply. This is your home after all." I add. He looks hurt. "This is your home now, you may do what you wish, as long as you do not leave." I know there is something more bothering him, for he does not leave my side, but stay with his hand barely touching my shoulder.

" Am I to be called Beast?" He asks finally,  "I cannot think of why you would call me that in particular" he finishes sounding pained. "I'm sorry, but I don't believe you gave me your name..." I reply. He thinks on this. "You may call me beast for now, it is as you perceive me after all." "all right." I say, but really I'm trying to think of some way to identify him when I do escape and bring the police in for an investigation. To be honest, I don't even know why I chose to refer to him as that in particular, but I know it fits, and that he is inded cruel. I think he waits for my name, but I do not offer it.  He nods in acknowledgement, and then sits down at the head of the table and there he sits, watching me closely.

I finish my meal, eating but little of it, all too aware of Beast's watching eyes. He rises from his chair, leaving me to follow in suit. " I am sorry about your friend, "He tells the floor, seemingly ashamed of himself, so much so that the intensity in his eyes when he speaks next surprises me. " - and for what you've left behind." his apology genuine if his eyes and tone are to be believed. I start thinking about earlier. "My friend, Adriana," I stall. "Yes " he prompts reluctantly, both of us knowing where I'm headed with my question. " She was afraid of you." I venture. "Of course she was I was yelling at her" he replies shortly. I know that he too is stalling the inevitable, it seems like all we can do is beat around the bush if the other doesn't ask directly, doesn't risk setting off the other.

                             

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Tag der Veröffentlichung: 01.06.2014

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