by R. L. Weeks
‘Yes, it is,’ he admitted. He drew closer to it and reached out, then ‘Ouch!’ she had batted away his hand.
‘You don’t want it,’ she said and winked. ‘Trust me.’
He cleared his throat and faced her. ‘Why did you bring me up here?’
‘And here come the ‘whys’?’
He ground his teeth. ‘Tell me what you know, Witch, or I will remove your head from your shoulders!’ He grabbed his sword and pointed it at her.
She laughed and touched the end. It turned to pure gold and heated up until it dropped. The end broke off. ‘What have you done?’
She waggled her finger. ‘Now, now. Don’t make threats then.’
He huffed. ‘You owe me a sword.’
‘You could buy hundreds of swords with the gold from that sword, now,’ she said simply and stood by the wall. ‘Why are you here, Edward?’
‘You know my name, you probably know why I’m here, so why ask?’
She shrugged. ‘It’s more fun this way.’
‘That’s my line.’ He looked around. ‘I need magic.’
‘Ah,’ she stepped forward and took the amulet from around her neck, dangling it in front of him. ‘So you’re after this?’
He could feel the magic beating through it. Eternal magic. He reached out for it but she pulled it back. ‘With great power comes great responsibility.’
‘Yeah, yeah,’ he said dismissively. ‘Give it to me.’
She seemed to consider it but then placed it back around her neck. ‘It’s my burden, not yours.’
‘I will gladly relieve you of your burden,’ he said.
‘The only way you could get your hands on all of this,’ she said sweetly, ‘is by kissing me. I wouldn’t recommend it. You don’t want any of this. Consider this a warning. Do not try to either.’ With a daring, mischievous grin she turned and left the room, leaving Edward staring longingly at the rose.
He turned away and headed down the stairs. When he reached the bottom, the staircase creaked and rose back up to the ceiling. He growled and headed to the room. He would get that kiss; no woman could get resist him!
PLAYING WITH FATE
Edward walked back into the ballroom and noticed the scurry of maids, chattering, hurrying to ready the table ready for dinner. They were short, most around five-foot tall, all carrying silver platters of food, some covered, some not, and silver goblets. The Enchantress walked in dressed in blue and smiled at Edward. He strutted over to the table, not caring to look at the maids. He looked at her with his best smoulder. ‘So,’ he said silkily, ‘may I join you for dinner, um… what’s your name by the way? I forgot to ask.’
She grinned. ‘Felicity.’
‘Beautiful,’ he replied and took the seat next to her. ‘Big table yet no guests?’
She looked down at her plate and sighed. ‘Never any guests, but I do have my maids.’
‘You let them eat with you?’ he couldn’t hide the look of disgust on his face.
‘Of course,’ she said and looked over at the doorway. ‘However, they are eating separately tonight.’
His forehead creased. ‘Because of me?’
She smiled widely. ‘You’re my first guest in a long time, well, the first I have let in.’
He raised both eyebrows and bit his lip while grinning. ‘Thought I was special enough to let in then?’
‘Something like that,’ she said, sounding bored.
He gulped at the delicious wine and bit into a crab cake. ‘Compliments to the cooks,’ he said and continued to stuff his face.
She looked at him sideways and played with her food with a fork, moving the shrimps and other seafood around her plate. ‘Do you have any children? A wife?’
‘No,’ he replied smoothly, ‘hard to believe, isn’t it?’
She scoffed and pretended to just choke a little on her wine. ‘Truly hard to believe.’ Thanks to his ego, he didn’t detect the sarcasm lacing her words.
‘You look beautiful tonight,’ he said and wiped his mouth with the gold embroidered napkin before dumping it down on the empty plate. ‘Would you like to dance?’
She looked around at the ballroom and clicked her fingers. Music boomed throughout the room, classical, and elegant.
She took his hand and followed him to the centre of the room. He wrapped his hand around her waist and twirled her around.
To anyone else they would like two beautiful swans, carefree, maybe even in love. But to them, they were in a dangerous waltz. He wanted to use her, to take her power, and she was having trouble pretending to like him. They finished the waltz but the music continued to play. They danced more and Felicity took a deep breath and looked at Edward with flirtatious eyes. She sunk down on his arm as the final dance ended. She bit her lip and he took the opportunity. Leaning in towards her lips he could feel the magic calling to him. He pressed his lips against hers and then, everything changed.
***
Edward blinked his eyes open and looked around at the old ballroom. Felicity stood over him, laughing. ‘I knew you were the type of man who if told not to do something, would want it even more, and I was right.’
She dropped the amulet onto his stomach. ‘You’re a spoiled, snobby, selfish man, and now your ugly personality shows on the outside. Thank you, though,’ she smiled, ‘for taking the curse from me.’
He furrowed his brows. ‘You’re… ugly,’ he said, disgusted that he had kissed the haggard woman that now stood in front of him.
She laughed harder. ‘I looked how I am on the inside when I was cursed, now I am back to the way I looked before the curse. I may be ugly, but I have nothing on you.’ She laughed more. ‘I showed you the rose, hoping you would want it. It’s the power of this castle. Hundreds of cursed hearts live here, mad, dangerous, and now you’re their master. You can never leave here unless you can find someone to kiss you.’
Edward sat up and his head was throbbing. One minute he was kissing and the next he was waking up. He felt more powerful than he had ever felt, yet horribly different. He recognised the same tingly feeling that he had when he was a frog; when he was cursed.
He jumped up and looked down at his body. His arms and stomach were covered in thick, long scars. His fingernails were tinged yellow. He turned and ran to the table, grasping for a silver goblet.
He gasped when he saw the strange man reflected at him. His handsome features were barely noticeable under the wrinkled, scarred skin. His eyes, once a handsome warm brown, were now the colour of grey slush. His nose was longer and more pointed, like a beak. Dark circles and crow’s feet made his beady eyes look even smaller. His hair, his beautiful hair looked like grey bristle.
‘What have you done to me?’
‘You did this to yourself,’ she stated and walked away. As she left the man who had helped him find his way to the castle walked in.
‘You…’ the man started, squinting. ‘You almost look like him, yet you look so… ugly.’
‘I’m a beast,’ Edward cried.
The man raised an eyebrow. ‘Yet, I am not?’
Edward shrugged. ‘I have been cursed,’ he admitted, feeling sick.
‘Our promise… we share the same fate. I was pulled toward the castle less than a half hour ago. I tried to stay in the town, but I couldn’t. I see now, however, that thankfully we do not share the same fate.’
Edward looked at his hands, following each putrid crease. ‘I guess you’re a nicer person than I am.’
The man looked at the door. ‘I should leave,’ he said. ‘I, uh, hope it all works out.’ He left the castle door, but returned less than fifteen minutes later, looking pale. ‘I cannot leave the grounds.’
‘Same fate,’ Edward smirked. ‘Guess you’re stuck here too.’
The man gasped. ‘I must leave.’
Edward growled and turned. ‘As do I, but I cannot!’
‘Well,’ the man said, looking around. ‘How do we break the curse?’
Edward pressed his lips
together. ‘I must be kissed.’
The man’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Only a kiss?’
‘From a woman… before you get any ideas.’ Edward sat on one the chairs and lowered his head.
His eyed widened. ‘I know that,’ he blushed. ‘I meant… well, it’s not hard to find a woman.’
Edward laughed patronisingly. ‘Because plenty of women go this deep into the forest.’
‘Best make sure you’re ready for when one does,’ the man said, looking solemn. ‘I’m not being stuck here!’
‘I never asked, but what is your name?’ Edward asked.
‘Caleb.’
Edward sighed. ‘Well, seeing as neither of us can leave, you will help me.’
Caleb nodded. ‘Guess I have no choice.’
‘Neither of us do,’ Edward said snidely. ‘We just need to find a woman who is willing to kiss a man as beastly as me.’
LOST
Belle’s father smiled as she waved goodbye to him. ‘I’m going to the library. James is coming with me,’ Belle said sweetly. James looked up at him with warm brown eyes, just like hers. She looked more like her mother than her sisters did. They held that against her, though. In fact, they held a lot against her. They hated that she was happier than them, that she settled into their new life better than they did, and that Belle was of course, extremely beautiful.
Griselda looked over at her and smirked. ‘No wonder you can’t find another husband with your nose always stuck in a book.’
Thomas scowled. ‘Enough. Be nice to your sister,’ he scorned then looked up at Belle. ‘Of course, take your time.’ He watched her and James leave and sighed. It had been two years since her husband died. Belle was only sixteen when she had James, and he now he was fourteen, which made Thomas feel older than he was.
He knew Belle was beautiful enough to find another husband, yet she didn’t seem to care much about marriage anymore. He turned and looked at his youngest, Griselda. Since the man in the Inn, Edward, had broken his promise and disappeared without a trace, his hope at finding Griselda a husband was growing harder by the day.
Griselda may not be striking, but she was beautiful. All his daughters were in his eyes. However, all except Belle had such spiteful tempers, which was the ugliest thing of all.
Thomas checked his pocket watch. Only five hours until he had to leave for Milborn. Having lost all three of his ships, Thomas was anxious more than ever about the fate of his daughters. So, finding out earlier that morning that one of his ships had made it back with the shipment still intact had brightened all their spirits. All except Belle’s. She was happy that the family were close again. After losing her husband, she had moved back in with her father and younger sisters. For most of her life, she had lived in a grand mansion, where her spoilt sisters took everything for granted and would be out spending Father’s hard earned money.
Now they were in their small house, Belle was happy that the family were back together again with the promise of a closer family.
That evening, Thomas’s bags were packed for his trip to Milborn, and Belle and James had made it back just in time. ‘Be safe, Papa.’ Belle said and hugged him tightly.
Griselda ran in from the kitchen, handing him a list. ‘Everything I want is on this list. Pearl necklaces, dresses, lace, and perfume,’ she said and gave him a short hug. ‘I will never find a husband while dressed like a peasant.’ She looked down at her cloth dress and frowned.
‘No matter, you came through for us Father. Don’t let me down.’ With that, she walked away.
The twins, Diana and Demira, who were just one year older than Griselda, handed their father a similar list. ‘Finally, we can go back to our old lives,’ Diana said.
Demira chirped in. ‘I want silk, for my dresses.’
He nodded and smiled. ‘Of course, darlings.’ He turned to Belle. ‘What do you want my dear Belle?’
The twins ground their teeth and mumbled, ‘all he cares about is her,’ as they left the room.
Belle pretended not to hear them and looked out onto the garden. ‘A rose,’ she said and smiled warmly. ‘It was Mother’s favourite flower and we don’t have any here.’
Thomas nodded and smiled back. ‘You can have a whole garden of roses once we move back into our old home.’
Belle’s smile faltered. ‘Where we won’t spend any time together? You will be working all the time and my sisters will be out every night, like before, trying to find husbands and attending elaborate parties.’
Thomas took Belle’s hands. ‘We will make it work. This will be good, for all of us.’ He turned to James. ‘What would you like, James?’
James pressed his lips together. ‘A sword.’
‘What?’ Belle barked. ‘What would you need a sword for?’
James bit his lip. ‘I’ve always wanted to be a knight. I want to learn how to sword fight.’
Belle sighed. ‘Fine, get him a sword. But he will only be using it under my watchful eye!’ Thomas hugged them both before walking out the door and rode off on his horse and cart.
***
Thomas slammed his hand down on Charles’s shoulder and laughed. They hugged and looked at the glorious, wooden ship that had somehow made it through the storm. ‘Glad we got her back.’
Charles’s smile faltered as he turned and looked up at Thomas dismally. ‘I called you here because I thought it was only fair, but…’
‘Yes?’ Thomas said, feeling uneasy.
‘Your debts,’ Charles admitted. ‘They’ve taken the cargo to pay off the debts from the other two ships that sunk. I’m so sorry Thomas.’
Thomas ground his teeth then sighed. ‘It’s not your fault. Thanks for telling me. At least we still have the ship.’
Charles pressed his lips together and looked down at the road. ‘I’m afraid that’s been seized too.’
‘No,’ Thomas shouted so loudly that a few passers-by turned and looked at them. ‘They cannot! Who can I talk too? This is a travesty, this is…’
‘Life,’ Charles said. ‘I managed to get this before they took everything.’ He handed Thomas a ruby. ‘It fell from one of the chests when they carried them away.’
Thomas took it and rolled it around in his palm. ‘This isn’t enough.’
‘It’s all I could get.’
Thomas nodded. ‘I need a drink.’
‘Inn?’
They headed to an Inn and drank until darkness fell over the small town. Thomas staggered outside and looked around, furious. ‘They’ve taken my cart!’ he screamed.
‘I… I don’t know what to suggest,’ Charles admitted, saddened by his friend’s bad luck.
‘Belle, James, my family. I must get home, but how can I face them empty handed,’ Thomas lowered his head and sighed.
‘You still have that ruby,’ Charles offered.
Thomas growled. ‘Yes, and now I must use that to get home,’ he grumbled. ‘Thanks again Charles, I must go.’
Thomas walked off with his head hung low and headed to the stables. There, he saw a stable boy and offered him the ruby in exchange for a stallion. The stable boy got his masters and they agreed to sell Thomas their black stallion.
The fur around the bottom of its legs hung down to its hooves, and his mane was raven black and glorious. The horse was strong, strong enough to take his weight. Perhaps he could sell it once home, he wondered and jumped on its back. He headed for the road that led out of town but stumbled into a forest covered in a sheet of snow. Looking around the icy paradise, the trees seemed to merge into one.
He continued, looking for a way out of the forest, but as he headed forwards, he ended up venturing further into the depths.
The horse neighed as it reached a steep drop. He and the horse tumbled down, leaving Thomas shivering at the bottom, dusted with snow. He looked sadly at his steed which clearly had a broken leg. ‘I don’t even have a gun to end your misery,’ Thomas admitted and looked around. His legs felt like jelly and the cold seeped through his
clothes. He knelt on all fours and tried to get up. He wished for warmth, for food, when a wall or thorns appeared. They quickly sunk back into the ground showing off a beautifully, haunting castle.
THE ROSE
Thomas’s hair froze around the top of his ears. Shivers slithered down his spine as he crawled through the frostbitten meadow. He reached an old fountain which stood in front of mirrored steps leading up to a solid door. He pushed himself to stand up, but his knees felt weak. He held onto the side of the steps and pulled himself up to the door. He reached the door and looked up at the spikes, then ran his hand over the doorknocker which was in the face of a snarling beast.
Thomas did a mental check as to where he had seen that beast before. A memory fogged in his mind, he remembered, just, on one of his travels. A curse, one that shows the inner beauty, or ugliness. The beast was the symbol for that. He hesitated and turned around, looking out at meadow and then the endless sea of trees and gulped. It was the castle of death.
The knock was louder than he expected, creating an echo inside. The door creaked open. Thomas was confronted by a long corridor, walled by symmetrical archways leading into dark rooms. He looked down at the marble floor which was cracked and littered with dead leaves and small stones.
He slowly made his way up the corridor, glancing behind him every minute. Paranoia set in. Question crossed his mind. Who was here?
How did that door open on its own? Finally, he reached the door. His leg was dodgy so it was painful to walk. His kneecaps felt as if they were grinding together.
He bit the inside of his cheek until it bled. He breathed a sigh of relief as he pushed open the heavy door and was presented with a long table filled with delicious food. ‘Hello?’ Thomas called out, waiting for a reply. The ballroom was huge. At the back were three staircases and a balcony which reached around the room. The walls were hung with portraits of royalty, none that he had ever heard of, though. The walls were cracked and all the corners were covered with spider webs. The ceiling was decorated with beautiful 17th century art, yet it was dull, not preserved at all.
