The Beast

by Lindsay Mead

  Aleksander sat back abruptly, his brows scrunched with a look of horror on his face. “Please, tell me, the church has denied every single request of that nature.”

  Belle gulped down the sinking feeling in her stomach. “Every one.”

  “Good.” He pushed off from his seat and walked over to the glass wall to stare out. It was an act Belle was beginning to recognize as something Aleksander did when his mind was troubled. Without turning, he said, “For once, I actually agree with the Catholic Church.”

  Chewing her lip, Belle fought the urge to ask, knowing it might upset the Prince, but in the end it just wasn’t in her nature to keep quiet. “Giving consent could mean that the scientists learned something valuable. A cure perhaps.”

  “A cure? You saw the norn, albeit through my memory, but tell me that does not convince you that this is beyond the control of man?” Glancing abruptly over his shoulder, his stern glare pinned her, preventing her from doing anything other than blink. “My people have suffered enough.” Sorrow swept into his eyes and he looked away. “I wish for them to rest in peace and I certainly don’t wish for those still living to be experimented on—even as evil as they may be now.”

  Belle fidgeted quietly behind Aleksander’s turned back. How could she say those things to him? Twice now, she failed to see the hellhounds the way he did, as his cursed people. She chose instead to see them as everyone else did, as the wild man-killing devils that were presented on the surface. She hurt Aleksander every time she did this and showed herself to be as cruel as Bishop Sauvage. Unable to bear it, Belle pushed herself up and started to walk away.

  She stopped unexpectedly and peered back to the Prince. “You must forgive me, your Royal Highness. For years, I’ve lived on the other side of this. We call ourselves Hunters, but we were the hunted ones. It’s hard, even with all I’ve learned, to see them through your eyes.”

  “I suppose that’s true for both of us.” He looked at her and she watched as his deep inhale raised his chest. “Is that all of it then? Nothing more I should know about the outside world?”

  “There are the raiders.” Belle bit her lip, not wanting to burden him further. Aleksander raised an eyebrow and waited for her to go on. “Every year a group comes along, usually some out-of-work mercenaries. They think your kingdom is ripe for the picking. They’re always arrogant, always certain that they’ll be the ones coming back with the crown jewels. And they always die.” Belle crossed her arms, half grinning as she remembered the last group. “Some raiders came through town recently and caused a bit of a dust up with my Hunters. I convinced them to at least wait until after my father left for Skjebne Port, so as not to endanger his journey any further. Since we haven’t seen them, I can only assume they went the way of all the others.”

  Aleksander leaned into his hip, a mischievous smile curving his lips. “Imagine their surprise if they had reached the castle and found it full of armed soldiers.”

  Picturing it, Belle giggled along with the Prince. She partially wished they really had been the first mercenaries to reach the castle.

  There was a knock on the bedroom door as Belle sat by the fire. She was reading yet another history book Aleksander had sent to her. So far, she’d found nothing that he hadn’t.

  “Oh look,” said Edvina as Laramie stepped through the door. “The Keeper of The Seals has decided to grace us with his presence.”

  “How very droll of you, madame.” He frowned at her.

  Belle chuckled. Laramie pretended that Edvina’s casual approach to decorum vexed him, but Belle suspected that it didn’t bother him as much as he put on. “We haven’t seen you for a couple days, monsieur. What brings you?”

  His attention turned to Belle and his demeanor actually seemed to brighten. The lines of his face tilted upward and his shoulders drew back ever so slightly. The small light in his eyes even danced. “His Royal Highness has extended your castle privileges.”

  Now it was Belle’s turn to brighten. She snapped her book shut and stuffed it behind her. “Really? To where?”

  He smiled, his lips pressing into a thin line, and eyed her coyly. “The library, mademoiselle.”

  Belle gasped and was out of her chair immediately. “The library? Truly?”

  Edvina leaned over her chair’s arm, the curve of her bosom squeezing dangerously at the rim of her dress. “Child, all you do is read. Are you really that excited to see more books?”

  “Oh, Edvina.” She was almost breathless with excitement. “You have no idea.”

  “No, I really don’t.” Edvina turned back to her needlework, mumbling something about how that much reading couldn’t possibly be good for the mind.

  “I’ll escort you.” Laramie held out his arm, encouraging Belle to come and she didn’t hesitate.

  The two guards that continually manned Belle’s room followed a few feet behind as they traversed the very long hall. This time they’re pace was more leisurely and Belle took her time admiring the fine details of the castle. The immense windows allowed plenty of daylight to illuminate everything perfectly, leaving little in shadow.

  “Laramie,” Belle said, pulling her eyes from a painting of warring angels. It reminded her of her Hunters. “When will I be permitted to go home?”

  “Do you wish to leave?” He glanced curiously at her.

  “Admittedly, not as much as one might think,” she said with a shrug. “I’d like to see my father, but I’m also learning a great deal here about the cursed. Some more research and we might find something to help us, maybe even reverse the curse.”

  “I’d imagine spending so much time with the Crowned Prince is quite enjoyable as well.” Laramie looked at her through the corner of his eyes, not hiding his smirk.

  Heat colored Belle’s cheeks and she smiled with embarrassment. “I do enjoy his company very much. I enjoy all of your company, of course.”

  “Of course.” He said nothing more, but irritatingly continued to smile.

  Though, if Belle were honest, she more than enjoyed spending time with Aleksander. As the week had gone by, she’d found a great deal of comfort in his presence and took pleasure in discussing their research together. However, after yesterday’s moon dream of the garden, Belle’s thoughts now strayed toward the unseemly. When she was supposed to be researching by the fire, she’d caught herself thinking about his soft smile and open blue eyes. A page later, it was his strong back and the next second had her imagining him with his hair loose and free around his shoulders.

  What was coming over her? She’d never thought of Gastone this way. Sure, she’d imagined being married to him; tried to envision what it would be like. But this was more like she’d lost control of her mind—she wanted to focus on reading, but it wanted to think of Aleksander.

  “So, you’re the one the castle has been buzzing about,” said a light, feminine voice.

  A beautiful, young woman stood just ten paces away. She was tall and thin, dressed in pink satin with white lace trim. Her soft, blond hair was swept up in a complex design that allowed for only a few free tendrils. She was flanked by two guards of her own; they watched Belle with wariness.

  Laramie stepped between the two women. “Your ladyship, allow me to introduce you to Mademoiselle Belle LeClair of Glace.” Belle gave her best curtsy, knowing this woman would see every mistake. When she finished, Laramie gestured to her ladyship. “Mademoiselle, this is Lady Liv Calland. Her father is one of the Five Lords of Vakre Fjell.”

  “I do say, you’re as pretty as the men have been saying,” Lady Liv said, allowing for no more formality.

  “Thank you,” Belle added quickly, not wanting to appear thrown. “You’re a vision as well.”

  The Lady waved the compliment away.

  “Yes, but you’re new.” She moved closer, ignoring the anxious guards. “Is it true that you kill the cursed?”

  Belle pursed her lips at that wording, but judging by the easy expression on Liv’s face she hadn’t meant anything by it. “
We call them hellhounds, but yes, I kill them to protect our town.”

  “Fascinating.” She lifted and dropped a shoulder. “My father won’t let me near weapons. Since my older brother will inherit the estate, my only concern is to be pretty enough to marry well.”

  Belle opened her mouth to reply, but a series of barks drew it shut. Her muscles tightened, her hand instinctively reaching for the revolvers that were not at her side, even as her mind recognized the barks as being that of average dogs. Still her heart quickened its pace and her gaze looked toward the sound.

  Down the hall, near the royal apartments, came a troupe of five energetic dogs. They bounded around a young servant boy, who was attempting to guide them down the hall. One of the black and white beauties saw Belle and Liv, barked happily, and raced toward them. His pack mates excitedly chased after.

  Belle crouched down as they approached. The lead dog shoved his face happily into her hands, panting as she scratched behind his ears. Two of the following dogs leapt up onto Laramie, nearly knocking him over. The servant boy rushed to pull the dogs off of him, apologizing profusely.

  “And who are these gentlemen?” Belle laughed, standing up after giving the dog one last scratch.

  “They are Prince Aleksander’s dogs.” Liv kept back, not interacting with the dogs jumping around her. “He raised them from infancy.”

  The servant boy shooed the dogs away, encouraging them to follow him down the stairs.

  “What breed are they?”

  “Siberian Huskies.” Laramie brushed white fur from his coat. “They were a gift from the Russian Emperor on the Prince’s eighteenth birthday. His Royal Highness used to love riding through the woods with them.”

  “Your Ladyship…” said one of Liv’s guards. He looked uneasy, his eyes glancing between her and Belle.

  Liv sighed.

  “Ever since you and the other outsider stumbled into our castle, my father has had guards posted at my side.” She raised a keen eyebrow at Belle. “As rumor has it, his Royal Highness enjoys your company very much; my father really should be quite comfortable with your presence by now.” Liv waited a breath for Belle to comment and shrugged her shoulder when she didn’t. “Alas, fathers will be fathers and I prefer to keep my disobedience to a minimum. Good day, mademoiselle.”

  Belle gave a quick, slightly wobbly curtsy. “Your Ladyship.”

  Liv walked past but stopped abruptly. “I do hope his Royal Highness loosens his chains on you soon. I think we would be fast friends.”

  With that, she winked and continued her stroll down the hall.

  “I can see you don’t really know what to make of that,” Laramie said, noticing the way Belle stared bewilderedly after the noblewoman.

  “I’m afraid I don’t. As a Hunter, I don’t have much female companionship.” She turned and they started once again toward the library. “The only nobles I know are the Count and Countess of Contefées, and their son.”

  “A bit out of your element with her then.” Laramie chuckled. “Lady Liv Calland is bored. At her age, she should be using her good looks and noble-born education to snag herself a good marriage. Instead she’s cooped up in this castle and the only decent match available to her is ruling over a cursed kingdom—and himself imprisoned. Like most occupants in this castle, I think she’s just eager for distraction.”

  “Prince Aleksander is her only decent match?” Belle didn’t like the icky feeling that idea placed in her stomach.

  “Actually, the Prince and Lady Liv would be a very good match.” Monsieur Petit nodded to himself at the idea. “It’s why her family came to court in the first place.”

  “They didn’t come because of the King’s death?” Belle raised her eyebrows, the unpleasantness in her stomach expanding. “Edvina said that’s why so many of the noble families escaped the curse.”

  “That is true. Only Lord Ostrem was not so fortunate, as he’d accompanied the queen into the villages the day it all happened.” Laramie tipped up a finger like he was discussing some bit of history. “House Calland, however, had arrived days prior so that Lady Liv and his Royal Highness could become better acquainted.”

  Swallowing hard, Belle’s eyes drifted to the floor.

  Noticing her silence, Laramie looked down her at from the corner of his eyes and added, “Prince Aleksander is the only one here not looking for distraction, unfortunately for House Calland.”

  After ascending many more stairs, passing several shut doors and bowing servants, they reached the entrance to the library. Two looming white doors with gold handles barred her entrance.

  “This is where I leave you,” Laramie said as her guards moved past to open the doors. “Stay as long you like. When you’re finished, your guards will walk you back to your room.”

  The doors swung open with immense gravity and Belle heard nothing more that Laramie said. Eyes wide, her hand went to her chest to see if her heart still beat. “Oh, my.”

  Books, two floors worth, spanned walls that reach endlessly away from Belle. She stepped onto the marble floors, past massive, pink-marbled columns with solid gold tops and bases. Laramie instructed the guards to silently close the doors behind her, but she paid no notice of them.

  The ceiling was comprised of a series of separately painted domes. Belle stared up into the one above her. Baby blue skies were the backdrop of purple-hued clouds. Beautiful angels, dressed for pleasure in a vibrant array of colors, lazed upon them. Their white and gold-tipped wings reflected back the library’s natural light. They laughed and mingled—many of them were reading. A white Pegasus was bursting through the clouds, to the delight of those around it.

  Tears danced on Belle’s eyelids. The painting was so beautiful, she could hardly look away. But she did, forcing her gaze onto everything else. A lightness of spirit she hadn’t known for some time settled into her.

  She walked over to a hand painted globe, so immense that it would take at least two men to spin it. Her fingers grazed over the edges, alighting on the most amazing details of each region. Then her eyes turned to the walls and Belle moved farther into the library.

  Each wall was a sectioned bookcase. Their awnings looked like crowns made of gold waves. The books were kept neatly on each shelf, not too tight and not a one laying lopsided; they covered every topic, in every language. At the end of each bookcase, a new case angled into a high arching window. Of which, each had its own gold crown. Glorious natural light spilled in to illuminate the entire library. It was the only source of light. There was no place for lamps and candles here.

  “Might I help you find something?” The female voice came from behind, rattling off the stark silence and nearly startling Belle half out of her wits.

  Belle spun around to face the speaker, fighting the quickening of her heart. Seeing the petite woman, Belle was surprised yet again. She was thin and a few inches taller. Her hair was drawn up into a severe bun and tiny bifocals rested on a mouse-like nose. Shockingly though, she wore men’s clothes. Her vest was green and black over a white shirt. Her only other accessory was the tight, ebony gloves that she wore.

  “Madame?” The woman asked and Belle realized that she’d been gawking.

  Collecting herself, Belle extended a hand. “Mademoiselle, actually. Mademoiselle Belle LeClair of Glace.”

  “Ms. Tops of the Library,” she said with a smirk and politely shook Belle’s hand. At Belle’s raised eyebrow she explained. “I am the Librarian of this castle and my father was before me. He raised me here. My life is this library.”

  “Oh, and your father, has he retired or does he work alongside you?” Belle noted the streak of gray in the woman’s hair.

  “No, he passed away five years ago.” Ms. Tops’ Vakrein accent was thick and un-lightened by the years of practice many of the castle servants had.

  “I’m so sorry.” Belle frowned. “The curse?”

  “Nah, heart attack,” Ms. Tops said matter-of-factly and waved a hand. “Now, tell me, what are you here to
read?”

  “Anything on Norse Mythology, specifically the norns.”

  The Librarian pressed her lips together and turned to walk away. “You’re just like Aleksander then, only interested in one thing—the curse. Gods help me, I hope I get some interesting readers someday.”

  Shocked by the woman’s formal use of the Prince’s first name, Belle followed dubiously after. Gold reliefs edged the white walls, the top corners of which were inlaid with the golden heads of kings, queens, angels, and gods. They guided her eyes back up into another section of domed ceiling. Similar to the other mural, angels lounged happily among the clouds. It was like each domed ceiling was actually a window to heaven and she was simply getting a glimpse of one small part.

  A pink, white, and gold archway was the entrance into the center of the library. On each side was a slow spiraling staircase. Belle stopped as they reached the closest.

  The library’s circular center was lined with books, but here were also many bronze and gold statues. There was a woman with large wings, clothed in battle armor, and carrying a spear. An older man sat upon a throne with one raven perched on his shoulder and the other on his forearm. Another woman beyond him rode in a chariot, her eyes looking far beyond the library. Yet another statue was a hulk of a man. He carried a mace and a battle ax, as well as a massive broadsword at his side. Like the other statues, he wore a helmet in the shape of wings. His back was draped in bear fur, the head of the animal biting his shoulder. From its ear hung a large gold ring. Next to that statue—

  “They’re Norse gods and Viking royalty,” Ms. Tops interrupted Belle’s revere. “Come along now. I’m curious to see if you can find something the Crowned Prince hasn’t.”

  Belle opened her eyes once again to find herself in someplace other than her bedroom. The library sprawled before her, taking away her breath as it had the first time. She glanced around to find Aleksander standing near the massive world globe. He spun it easily with one finger—a feat he would not be able to do if this were not a moon dream.