The Beast Inside | ✓

19 | Yet This Beast Pleads

As Bella rode her horse down the driveway, away from the castle, she was strangely reminded of the day she arrived, riding on the same horse and with the same desperation as before.

She could not help but smile at the memory, at the way the castle no longer become a ruined site of gloom for her, but instead, a beautiful place she could call home.

Bella turned around as she breached the castle gates, hoping to get a last glimpse of the castle beyond her. As the castle got shrouded by the trees of the forest, she turned forward, missing Adam's gaze as he sorrowfully watched her leave.
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Bella emerged from the forest wearily, her body nicked with cuts and bruises from the forest, after almost being chased to death by a boar. Still, she did not lessen her pace until her childhood home appeared in front of her eyes.

She jumped of the horse, rubbing down its skin, and removing the bag she had attached to the side of the horse that contained, among its numerous contents, a magical piece of glass she was determined to keep safe.

Without sparing enough time to take care of the horse, she promised herself to do it as soon as she saw her ill father, Bella rushed up the porch, towards the front door.

She twisted the knob unsurprised to find it open, especially when she knew only Papa and her had the habit of always locking the front door.

She slowly walked into the house, her eyes narrowed as an eerie silence rang through the house. She sneakily peeked into every room, her heart throbbing as she realised no one was at home. It was only daytime, and with Jennifer's daughter being so young, and her own father being ill, there was little reason why the house was empty.

Unless, she was too late. Her father looked ill beyond belief, but she did not expect to lose him so soon. Not when she had left as quickly as she could to see him again, even if it meant to do so for the last time.
Bella shakily made her way to the couch, tears flowing down her cheek as she tucked her knees under her chin. She closed her eyes, wallowing in grief as she recalled memories of her youth with her father.

So lost in her thoughts, she was more than startled when the front door opened and her family walked in.

"Papa, you are alive!" she said happily as she stared at her father, wiping away the tears in her eyes.

Her father yelped, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Bella?"

She nodded, unable to wipe the smile off her face at the sight of her living, healthy, undead father.

His face transformed, shining brightly with joy as he moved towards her, swallowing her in his arms like he used to when she was a child. The familiar action made her feel safe and protected, loved and cared for, and reminded her of how much she unconsciously missed her family in the castle.

"Oh, Bella, I missed you so much. How could you even leave without telling us? Never mind, it does not matter. At least, you are back now," he murmured into her hair, his emotionless eyes for the past few months finally filled with warmth at meeting his youngest daughter again.

"I'm glad to be back," Bella replied, soaking in the warmth of the embrace. "I don't understand though. A day ago, you were so ill and now you are perfectly fine. I just, I don't understand how."

At that moment, Kaden spoke up from the first time, looking away from his wife who he had been holding back from lovingly attacking Bella.

"It was an allergic reaction. It was bad for a few days, but his fever broke last night and he's been keeping us on our toes ever since," he said, his eyes blinking rapidly as though he still could not believe she was there.

Bella nodded, snuggling her head closer to her father, her worries dissipating into the thin air. "I missed you all so much."

Her father looked down at her face, then at the rest of his family. "So did we, Bella."