Once Upon a Hallow’s Eve

by Nicole Coverdale

  “You should really be careful how you treat your furniture,” the armoire said, bouncing forward, the doors attached to her flinging open. Clothes flung out covering the man’s eyes, and she lunged forward, knocking him to the ground. “We have a thirst for vengeance!”

  Josslyn watched them fend off the men, giving Tyler a little bit of a breather, and she spun on her heel. She raced up the steps, racing toward the east wing. She turned the corner, swinging the door open, and racing down another set of stairs.

  “Josslyn!”

  The candlestick and clock peered out of the cell, from where they were standing on top of the footstool. “You came back!”

  “Of course I came back!” Josslyn cried, racing toward the cell. She slid to a stop, wrapping her hands around the cell bars and staring inside the cell, panting. “But damn, I messed up!”

  “No you didn’t!” Chip cried, bouncing up and down. “You did exactly what you were supposed to do! You brought him here! Gaston! He’s Brandon!”

  “I know. I figured that one out right away. But how did you know? You said you didn’t know where he was!”

  “We may have lied a tiny bit.”

  “Bastards.”

  “Get over it, Josslyn! We have to get them together!” Mrs. Potts shouted. “It’s the only way to break the curse!”

  “And to save their daughter!”

  “But we need to get out of here first!”

  “Yes, but where are the keys?” Josslyn turned, glancing around the room behind her. “There are no keys in here!”

  “Maybe there’s another way to open it?”

  “I think there actually is,” Josslyn said, pulling two bobby pins from her hair. “Mom always did say that my stealing days would come in handy one day.” She laughed, bending the pin and inserting it into the lock. She inserted the other and turned her wrist, gritting her teeth as she tried to picture the lock. “Come on, Josslyn. Come on.” A moment later a click sounded. “Got it!”

  “You’re a woman of many surprises, Josslyn,” Clocksworth said, staring up at her as he scampered through the door. “Come on! We have a romance to reignite!”

  “Wait! I need to go get something!” Josslyn cried. “I’ll meet you down there. Just don’t let anyone kill him!”

  “Over my dead body!” Lumière cried. “Come on, let’s go!”

  They raced out of the dungeon, and Josslyn turned, racing in the opposite direction. She raced up the steps and threw the door open. Peering into the little girl’s room. “I’m trying, Sophia,” she whispered, softly, her heart breaking as the little girl lay there, unmoving. “I’m trying to put your family back together.” She exited the room and hurried up the stairs. Racing into the room, and eyeing the rose sitting on the table.

  “One petal left,” she whispered, lifting the container, and racing out of the room. “Let’s hope there’s a little bit of humanity left inside of him.” She raced down the stairs, running into the grand hall.

  Fire flew through the air. Screams sounded. She ducked as a man went airborne. “Damn. This furniture really kicks ass!” she cried, staring around the room. “Where’s Tyler?”

  The furniture stopped, glancing around. “We don’t know!”

  “Crap!”

  Josslyn glanced down at the rose, watching as the last petal started to fall off. “No!”

  Darkness hovered outside. Lightning streaked across the sky, and a loud howl sounded.

  “Tyler!”

  She raced out the door, lifting her head to stare up at Tyler as he dragged Gaston up the steps. “Tyler, no!” She raced after him, gripping the railing for support. “Tyler, don’t do this!”

  “Stay out of this, Josslyn!” Tyler snapped, grabbing Gaston, and tossing him against the wall. “This is my fight!”

  “It’s not just your fight, Tyler. It’s mine too,” Josslyn said, lifting the rose in her hand. “Because if I don’t fix this, I’m stuck here, Tyler. I’ll never see my sisters again. Please, let me help you, Tyler. You’re not a bad person. You’re good! And I know there’s still good inside of you. You just need to believe in yourself.”

  “Why should he believe in himself?” Gaston asked, rising from where he was lying on the ground, and jumping to his feet. He raced toward the beast, ducking, missing his large paw. “He’s a monster!”

  “He’s right. I am.”

  “No! You’re not! You’re a man. A good man, and someone I fell in love with!” Josslyn cried, for the first time admitting to herself just what had happened with Tyler. “But even though I love you, you were never mine, Tyler. Your heart belongs to Brandon. But in order to be with him, you have to believe in yourself! You have to believe that there’s still good inside of you!”

  “I—” Tyler suddenly let out a loud shout of pain. “Josslyn!”

  “Gaston! No!” Josslyn screamed, the rose falling from her hand as Gaston lunged forward. The sword plunged through Tyler’s chest, and she lunged forward. “Tyler!” She fell to the ground, cradling his large body in her arms. She bit back a sob, tears rolling down her cheeks, as she stroked his big head. “What did you do?” she asked, glancing over at Gaston as he stood over them. “Why did you do this? You love him!”

  “I what?” Gaston stared down at Tyler. “Lady, are you mad? I could never love him!”

  “But you do!” Josslyn cried. “He sacrificed everything to find you, Brandon! Even after the evil witch put a curse on you. Are you really going to lose the love of your life, because a damned witch decided it wasn’t okay for you two to be together? Are you really going to let your daughter lose her father?”

  “Her father?” Brandon stared down at her, his eyes widening. “Are you saying…”

  “That she’s both of yours? Yes,” Josslyn said. “But she’ll never wake up from that curse if Tyler dies. Come here!” She gestured him forward. “Look at him. Look into his eyes. He’s not a beast, Brandon. He’s a person. A good person, who wants his family back together.”

  Brandon knelt next to her, touching a hand to Tyler’s prone body, glancing at Josslyn. “There’s really a man in there?”

  “There is.”

  “What do I do?”

  “Kiss him!”

  “But I don’t…”

  “Dammitt, Brandon! Just do it! He’s dying!”

  “Okay. Okay.” Brandon drew in a deep breath, and leaned down, brushing his lips against Tyler’s.

  Sunlight seeped in through the darkness hovering around them and Josslyn raised her head, watching as rain pelted down from the skies. She laughed, turning as Tyler turned from wolf to man.

  “Oh my God! Tyler!” Brandon lunged forward, pulling Tyler into his arms. “I am so sorry!” he cried.

  “You remember me?” Tyler gasped out.

  “I remember everything.”

  “Thank God!” Josslyn fell back against the railing, cradling the rose in her hands, watching as the petals fell back in place. “Now, that’s a lovely sight,” she whispered, glancing around her as the darkness faded away from the castle. “I can’t believe I did it!”

  “You were quite convincing,” Brandon said, smiling, as he pulled Tyler to his feet. “And it’s nice to finally meet you, Josslyn. Tyler’s told me so much about you.”

  “He has?”

  Brandon smiled. “Don’t worry. I won’t hold it against you for sleeping with my man.”

  Josslyn laughed, blushing. “Much appreciated. Come on! Let’s go inside!”

  They hurried down the steps and walked into the castle. Inside, people were hugging one another, laughing, crying.

  “Josslyn!”

  A small, plump man with brown hair ran towards her. He wrapped her in a tight hug. “You did it!”

  “Wh-who are you?” Josslyn gasped.

  “That would be Clocksworth,” a tall, thin man with white hair said as he walked towards her. “And I am Lumière.” He bowed to her. “And over there,” he pointed across the room where a young woman with blonde hair
and her blonde-haired son were crying. “That’s Mrs. Potts and Chip.”

  “I can’t believe this,” Josslyn whispered. “Everything’s back to normal.”

  “Well, not everything,” Brandon said, gripping Tyler’s hand tightly. “Let’s go get Sophia.”

  “Papa!”

  The shout sounded, and they turned as a young, dark-haired girl raced down the stairs. She raced across the room, flinging herself into her father’s arms. “Papa!”

  “Sophia!”

  “Looks like both curses were broken,” Josslyn whispered, wiping a tear, as the three hugged. “It’s a miracle.”

  “Not a miracle. The way it’s supposed to be,” Mrs. Potts said. “Which means, it’s about time for you to go home.”

  Just as she said the words, the caste shook. Josslyn gasped, grabbing a hold of Clocksworth. The world opening up below her and sucking her into oblivion.

  “Let me go!”

  Julie gasped, struggling against the chains holding her in place. She winced, her wrists rubbing raw, and she glanced below her at the eels circling her feet. “I thought we killed one of you.”

  “You really think I only have two eels?” Ursula asked, laughing from where she was standing near her cauldron. “Oh, my dear, dear girl. What foolishness! They’re my babies! I have more of them then I know what to do with!”

  “They look more like menaces than anything,” Julie muttered.

  “Nonsense!” Ursula snapped, swinging toward her. She pointed the trident, a bolt of electricity zinging from the prongs. It hit the ropes holding the gate up, and Julie screamed. She hit the water with a splash, and the eels wrapped their long bodies around the metal. Electricity jolting through the metal.

  “Ouch!” she screamed, her entire body shouting in pain. Then she laughed. She raised her head, staring across the room at Ursula. “So what? This is your plan? To torture me to death? You’ll have to do better than a little shock, Sea witch!”

  “You’re spunky,” Ursula said, eying her as she tossed something into the cauldron. “She didn’t tell me about that.”

  “You keep saying, she. Who the hell are you talking about?”

  “Well, Marlena, of course,” Ursula said. “The witch who sent you here.”

  “So that’s her name. Are you two… friends?”

  “You could say that,” Ursula said, tossing something into the cauldron and watching it boil. “Why am I telling you this? Eels!” She slung the trident forward once more. “Fry her!”

  The eels wrapped their bodies around the gate again, and Julie gasped. Her teeth chattered, as electricity shook her body. “Ursula! When I get out of here, I’m going to kill you!”

  “We’ll see you try, my dear,” Ursula said, laughing as she turned back to the cauldron.

  “Pst! Julie!”

  The voice sounded from behind her, and Julie jerked around. Her eyes widening when she saw Flounder peeking out from behind the rock. “Flounder!”

  “Shh!” Flounder narrowed his eyes on her. “Be quiet! She’ll hear you!”

  Julie glanced over at Ursula. “She’s busy right now, making some sort of potion. What are you doing here?”

  “Well, I couldn’t let her kill you, now, could I?” Flounder asked, swimming forward. He wrapped his small fins around the rope, tugging. A moment later he let out a breath of frustration, shaking his head. “It’s no use. They’re too tight!”

  “I think I have an idea,” Julie said. “Think you can swim very fast, Flounder?”

  “Of course I can. Why?”

  “Just watch.” She let out a whistle. “Hey, Ursula! What are you making over there?”

  “A potion that will get rid of all the pathetic, happy, joyous sea life living in these waters,” Ursula said, turning her head toward her, her eyes landing on Flounder. “You! I thought my eels killed you!”

  “He was too fast for us,” one of the eels said.

  “We lost him.”

  “And you lied to me?” Ursula shouted, raising the trident. “Do I have to do all the dirty work around here, myself?”

  “Julie! What are you doing?” Flounder asked. “She’s going to kill me!” He started to swim away.

  “No Flounder! Wait!” Julie watched Ursula point the trident. “I need you to jump out of the water.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Just do it!”

  Flounder eyed her but jumped out of the water. Lightning spewed from the tongs of the trident, zinging forward. It missed Flounder, and hit the rope tied around Julies left arm.

  “Oh! I get it!” Flounder cried. “Hey, Evil Sea Queen! Over here!” He wagged his little fins, sticking his tongue out at her. Bouncing out of the water.

  “Why you little…” Ursula pointed the trident.

  Flounder scurried out of the way, and the lightning bolt hit the rope holding Julie’s other arm.

  “Yes!” Julie ripped her hand free, quickly untying her feet. “Come on, Flounder! Let’s go!”

  “Not so fast!”

  Ursula pointed the trident at her, another burst of electricity shot from the tongs, and flames lit up around Julie.

  “Ahh! Julie! I don’t like this!” Flounder cried, staring at the flames around them. “She’s going to kill us!”

  “Flounder, would you just trust me?” Julie asked, sighing. “You said her power comes from her cauldron, right?”

  “No, I said her trident! But yes, her power does come from her cauldron too. Why?”

  “Well I’m a witch. So I’m guessing, if I can tap into its power I can absorb it, right?”

  “Maybe. But she has the trident. She’ll fry us both before we even get there!”

  “What if we split up?”

  “Split up? Are you crazy! The eels…” Flounder glanced behind him, watching as the eels circled them and he sighed. “I really, really hope you know what you’re doing, Julie.” He dove down into the water. “Hey, eels! I’m over here!”

  “Ooh… the fishy wants to play, does he?” one of the eels asked, laughing. “Hey guys! Let’s get us a fish!”

  “Oh Ursula…” Flounder bounced out of the water. “I’m over here now.”

  “Why you little…” Ursula lifted the trident.

  “No! Ursula! Over here!” Julie shouted.

  Ursula swung toward her. “You!” She lifted the trident. Then glanced from her to Flounder. She let out a yell, and swung the trident around, electricity flinging from the prongs.

  “Flounder! Now!”

  They split, and the trident fried the eels.

  “You idiots! You tricked me!”

  “Yes. We did,” Julie said, laughing. “What did you expect, Ursula? I am a good witch after all.”

  “Yes. You are,” Ursula said, narrowing her eyes. “But you’ll never defeat me.” One of her tentacles whipped out, grabbing Flounder. “At least not before I kill everyone in this sea.” She tightened her grip.

  “Flounder!” Julie screamed, diving forward and King Triton blocked her path.

  “Triton! What are you doing?” Julie cried, trying to swim past him. “She’s going to kill him!”

  “She rules the seas now, Julie. There’s nothing we can do.”

  “I don’t believe that!” Julie cried. “She’s just using you! Don’t let her take anything else away from you. Not after she killed your daughter!”

  “Ariel.” The king blinked. “Ariel.”

  “Yes! Ariel. Come on, Triton! You need to let me past. I need to get to the cauldron. If I can tap into its powers, I can put everything back the way it’s supposed to be!” She glanced across the room, staring at Ursula. She grinned, glancing down at Flounder and squeezed. His body turning to dust. “No! Flounder!”

  “Guess there’s no one else for you to save,” Ursula said, swimming forward. She wrapped one of her tentacles around Triton, pulling him forward. “After all, once I marry the King, nothing will be what it once was.”

  “I’ll never let you marry him!” Julie cried.
She ducked, missing the tentacle that flung her way. She wrapped her hand around two of the other tentacles, tying them in a knot.

  “What?”

  “Give me that!” Julie grabbed the trident out of Ursula’s hand, grinning at her shocked expression. “Weren’t expecting that, were you Ursula?”

  “I must say. No, I was not,” Ursula said, her tentacles untying from the knot. “But not to worry. That trident isn’t yours. It’s mine!” She struck her hand forward, the trident sliding from Julie’s hand.

  “No!” Julie wrapped both hands around the trident. “I won’t let you have it!”

  “It’s mine! This sea is mine! The king is mine!”

  “Nothing here is yours,” Julie said. “But if you really want the trident, here.” She let go of the trident. Ursula laughed, wrapping her hand around the trident. Lightning circled around her, and she aimed the trident toward Julie.

  Now Julie! Now’s your chance. Go!

  She ducked, missing the lightning, and dove forward. She wrapped her hands around the cauldron.

  “No!”

  She heard Ursula yell. The lightning spewed toward her, and a dome formed above her, protecting her. She raised her head, watching as the lightning bounced off, feeling the power wash through her. She lifted her hand, staring at the fireball lying in her palm. “Man, have I missed you!” she cried, turning, and flinging the fireball toward Ursula.

  “Ahh!”

  Ursula screamed, staring down at the fire scorching her chest, then at Julie. “You may have won this time, witch, but I promise you. This is not the end!” And she disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

  “Actually, it is,” Julie said, raising her head as the world turned. She gasped, grabbing a hold of the cauldron. Her stomach turned, and she blinked, staring at the castle. “Whoa…”

  “Hello, Julie,” Eric smiled, walking toward her, wearing a white suit with gold trimmings. “It’s nice to see you again.” He bowed, extending a hand. “Come with me. I want to show you something.”

  Julie frowned, glancing down at her feet. “Wait. What happened? I have feet again? Where’d my fin go? And…” She glanced behind her, where King Triton was peering out from the water. “The king! He’s okay?”