Beauty and the Dream Demon

Chapter Fifteen: Protecting the Castle

As they walked into the castle, Templeton voiced his concerns. He remembered George talking about the objects being alive so Templeton was concerned that the castle may be haunted. But Jane assured him not to lose his nerve. As the villagers looked around the place, some of them felt as if they knew the place already. Jean expressed it, feeling as if he had been to the castle before. As Templeton explored, he stumbled upon Topsy and Georgie on their tea tray. Seeing the cup, Templeton recognised it from George's story about there being a talking teacup. He turned to Topsy, assuming that she was Georgie's grandmother.

She seemed offended by this, waking up and ordering the rest of the castle staff to attack. The castle suddenly lit up as everything that could move came to life. Instantly, they all started to attack the villagers, ensuring to keep their home safe from the intruders. As the coathanger went to attack Jane, she pulled Templeton in front of her, making Knuckles take the hits instead. The coathanger started punching Templeton in the face before giving him one big punch. Templeton escaped Jane's grasp only to meet Michael who fell on top of him. Looking up at his friend, Templeton asked Jane for help. Unfortunately, Jane wouldn't help. She was off to slay the Dream Demon, leaving Templeton under Michael.

Even Michael was starting to feel a little bit of pity for the man he just almost crushed. Back at the village, the coachman suddenly realised that the padlock on the doors of the carriage had disappeared. Opening the doors, he saw no one inside. George and Jack had escaped. He closed the doors again to reveal George with the padlock. He handed it back to the coachman just as Jack raced off on Philippe back to the castle, leaving his blue suit behind. Back at the castle, the villagers were still being attacked by the castle staff. Michael had gotten off of Templeton who was just barely recovering from what had happened. Meanwhile, Jane was exploring the castle, trying to find Maddie.

Georgie was throwing up saucers at people around him as Binnacle cheered him on. And, at last, Kate had left the East Wing, ready to join the fight. A table with some books arrived at Binnacle and Kate and Binnacle ordered them to fly and attack the intruders. Which worked until the three men who attacked George earlier gave Binnacle a glare. He took that as his sign to leave. The three men ran up the stairs to get to Binnacle. But Kate stepped in, showering the three in fabrics. And, when the fabrics floated down, all three were dressed in wigs and dresses. Two of them screamed and ran while one of them didn't seem to mind the new outfit. He smiled at Kate with a slight curtsy before walking elegantly down the stairs.

As Jack continued to make his way back to the castle, Kate threw Topsy onto the chandelier which started to spin while she poured boiling hot water onto the people below. But she got distracted when she saw a familiar face. Jean. Though Topsy addressed him as 'Dear'. Either way, the distraction caused her to fall but Templeton caught her. Topsy thanked him before helping her attack two men who lunged at the two. Topsy complimented Templeton's help. After what Jane had said and done, Templeton wanted to join the castle staff in the fight. Topsy agreed and suggested they continue the fight. Michael was doing well to fight off everyone around him, making them all fly when he kicked them, all while still playing his music.

But soon, the old woman told everyone to shut him up. Hearing this, Kate stood up on the banister, greeting her long-lost love. Kate jumped down from the balcony, sending the woman flying. Once she was dealt with, Michael shot the keys of his piano self at everyone around him. Meanwhile, Bert had set up some gunpowder and lit it, making everyone over it jump out of the way. This caused everyone to run away. All except one. Mary had managed to walk through the chaos and was making her way up the stairs as everyone fled. As everyone left, Jack finally made it to the castle. But, despite everyone fleeing, Jane was still inside, climbing up the stairs to find Maddie. She had seen the lights from across the palace and followed them. Once she reached the top of the tower, she found Maddie staring into the darkness below her. Seeing her, Jane dropped her torch, gaining Maddie's attention. Jane held up her pistol.

"Hello, Dream Demon," Jane cocked her pistol, "I'm Jane. Jack sent me."

Hearing this, Maddie looked away, devastated that he had sent this mob after her. And yet not all too surprised. She did have him trapped in the castle for a while. But her heart broke hearing these words from Jane.

"Are you in love with him?" Jane asked her, "Did you honestly think he'd want you?"

Noticing Maddie's silence, she took the opportunity to shoot her in the shoulder. Maddie yelled out in pain as she fell off the tower. But she managed to catch herself on a nearby rooftop. Maddie climbed up, saving herself from falling. Seeing this as the perfect opportunity, Jane reached for her arrows only to see that they weren't in their holder. Turning to see if she had dropped them, she saw Jack in his white undershirt and coat, arrows in hand. He snapped them in half and threw them off to the side.

"Where is she?!" Jack asked Jane

"When we return to the village, you will marry me," Jane said once again reaching for her pistol, "And that Dream Demon's head will hang on our wall!"

"Never!"

Jack tried to snatch the pistol from her but she kept a tight hold. Unfortunately, when she had him let go, the platform below her broke, making her fall and throw the gun. But she managed to grab onto the ledge and fall safely into an open room below them. She watched the pistol land on the other side of the castle so she left to get it. Seeing it, Jack took his coat off and went to try and stop Jane from gaining back her weapon to finish Maddie off.