Beauty and the Dream Demon

Chapter Nine: Days in the Sun

In another part of the forest, George was still trying to lead Jane and Templeton to the castle. But George couldn't remember which way he had gone the first time. Hearing the wolves howl in the distance, George was certain he was going the right way.

"No! I'm sure this is the way," George said, confident, "Do you hear those wolves? That means we're getting very close to the castle."

"Look, enough is enough," Jane said, really starting to believe that everything George has been saying was complete nonsense, "We have to turn back."

George stopped their wagon when he was sure they came across the tree which had been struck by lightning. But it had fixed itself somehow. George still believed that they were going the right way. Seeing that George might just be crazy, Templeton asked Jane if she really wanted to marry into Jack's family. But, alas, George was trying to remember what happened the night he met the Dream Demon and tried to point them in the direction of where the castle may be. But Jane had enough by this point.

"I am done playing this game of yours," Jane said stepping off the wagon, "Where is Jack?"

"The Dream Demon took him and he..."

"There are no such things as Dream Demons," Jane interrupted George, "Or talking teacups. Or magic! But there are wolves, frostbite, and starvation!"

Seeing that Jane was looking her cool, Templeton stood up, getting Jane to calm down. Jane took a deep breath and turned back to George with a smile.

"So, why don't we just turn around? Go back to Villeneuve," Jane suggested, "I'm sure Jack is at home, cooking up a lovely dinner."

"If you think I've made all this up then why did you offer to help?"

"Because I want to marry your son!" George looked at Jane, surprised at her confession, "Now, let's go home."

"Jack is not at home. He is with the..."

Jane took George by the collar, "You say Dream Demon one more time, I will feed you to the wolves!"

Templeton left the wagon, taking Jane off of George. Templeton got Jane to calm down, making her think back to the war with all the blood, explosions, and the widowers. This calmed Jane down and she turned back to George.

"George! Please, forgive me, old bean," Jane apologised, "That's no way to talk to my future father-in-law, now, is it?"

"Future father-in-law?" George asked.

"Yeah!"

"You will never marry my son."

Enraged by this, Jane punched George, knocking him out. Templeton saw that coming from a mile away. Not wanting him to interfere further, Jane tied George up, placing him near a tree. Since George wouldn't give Jane his blessing to marry Jack, she was leaving his father to the wolves, hoping that they would finish the job. With no father around, Jack would only have Jane left to take care of him.

Templeton was starting to think that this whole plan of Jane's was a bit extreme, even asking if she would consider a much less gruesome alternative. But Jane just asked if he was coming back to the village with her. Templeton just joined Jane back onto the wagon, leaving George to the wolves. Meanwhile, back at the castle, Jack was trying to treat Maddie's wounds. But she wasn't taking it well. Just as Jack dabbed a wet cloth onto one of her wounds, she yelled out in pain.

"That hurts!" Maddie told him.

"If you held still, it wouldn't hurt as much," Jack argued.

"Well, if you hadn't run away, none of this would have happened!"