My Beast

6.

The days seemed to blend in a hazy blur for Elizabeth. She never left her room, except to assist Luna, and spent most of her time weeping and secluding herself in the room provided by Kieran, her captor. Part of her rebellion hoped that her withdrawal would unsettle Kieran, but his already distant and aloof nature made it impossible that he would ever notice.

Elizabeth lay sprawled on her bed, idly toying with the necklace draped around her neck. Sighing heavily, she gazed up at the ceiling, tracing the ancient crack that ran from the chandelier to the bedpost. Restlessly, she rose to her feet and began pacing back and forth in the room.

"This is unbelievable," she muttered in frustration, tugging at her hair. Exhaustion etched lines across her face, as weariness approached her features. Coming to a halt in front of the mirror, she gazed at her reflection and was confronted with the stark reality of her appearance. Streaks of old mascara had smudged across her prominent cheekbones, her clothes were tattered and worn, likely due to her ignoring the clean garments left outside her door. Her hair was matted with grime and grease, resembling a tangled mess.

"I look like a total wreck," she cried out, her words punctuated by a soft knock at the door.

"What?" She whimpered and roughly wiped her tears.

"It's Luna." She said muffled behind the door," Can I come in please?"

Elizabeth glided across the room and opened the door and was greeted by a worried fox.

"Elizabeth..." Luna says in a motherly tone, "You can't be in here forever. You need to make the best out of your situation." Luna plops down on the bed, looking Elizabeth over.

" Luna. Respectfully, leave me alone. I don't want to make the best out of my situation. I'm trapped here and there's nothing that I can do about it. I should've gone with Radiance" She rolls her eyes and looks out the window overlooking the garden

"I'm sorry you feel that way. It's probably because I knew him way longer. But, he doesn't mean it, darling"

"Yeah right, he only wanted me here to become his maid."

"You don't know that. And the Sun Palace people aren't who they seem to be. Maybe they changed for some years. But as I recall they're not as nice." Luna stands up and pulls Elizabeth along with her

"Hey!" Elizabeth yelled, " where are we going"

Luna looks back, " the library"

Reluctantly, Elizabeth allowed Luna to lead her through the castle halls towards the library. As they entered the grand room, Elizabeth was immediately engulfed by the scent of old books and the quiet tranquility that filled the space. The shelves towered high, lined with volumes that held countless stories and knowledge.

Luna guided Elizabeth to a cozy corner, where a plush armchair awaited her. "Sit, my dear," Luna said gently. "Take a moment to breathe and clear your mind."

Elizabeth sank into the armchair, her weary body finding comfort in its embrace. She glanced around the library, her eyes wandering over the titles and spines of the books that surrounded her. It had been a long time since she had immersed herself in the world of literature, and a spark of curiosity ignited within her.

Luna returned with a stack of books and placed them on a nearby table. "These are some of my favorite books," she said a soft smile on her face. "I thought they might offer you a temporary escape from your worries."

Elizabeth looked at the books, their covers worn and well-loved. She reached out and picked up one, feeling the weight of it in her hands. As she flipped through the pages, she remembered that it was the same book Mabel read to her when she was a little girl.

"Tuck Everlasting. I love this book. My mom would read it to me all the time. Oh, how much I miss her." She smiles sadly at the book and places it down picking up another one. All Luna could do was watch as Elizabeth found happiness in her books.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Days turned into weeks as Elizabeth spent her time in the library, engrossed in the stories and knowledge she found within the books. She devoured tales of adventure, love, and resilience, finding solace in the characters' journeys and the lessons they taught.

As she delved deeper into the realms of literature, Elizabeth's perspective began to shift. She realized that even in the darkest of times, there was always a glimmer of hope, a chance for redemption and growth. The stories she read reminded her that she had the power to shape her destiny, even within the confines of her current situation.

With newfound determination, Elizabeth started to take small steps towards regaining control over her life. She began to take better care of herself, tending to her appearance and finding small moments of joy amidst the despair. Luna continued to support her, offering guidance and encouragement as she navigated her way through the challenges she faced.

One day, as Elizabeth was lost in the pages of a particularly captivating novel, she felt a presence beside her. She looked up and saw Kieran, standing there with an unreadable expression on his face.

"I didn't expect to find you here," he said, his voice low and filled with a hint of vulnerability.

Elizabeth closed the book and met his gaze. "I've been finding peace in these stories," she replied, her voice steady.

Kieran hesitated for a moment, his stormy grey eyes searching Elizabeth's face. The weight of his confession hung heavy in the air. "I... I didn't realize the power of stories until I saw you immersed in them," he admitted, his voice tinged with a mix of regret and longing. "I've always seen books as mere objects, but mortals always see the small things, perhaps there is more to them than I thought."

Elizabeth studied Kieran, her heart torn between anger and curiosity. She had been hurt by his actions, his role in her captivity, but there was a glimmer of something beneath his stoic exterior that intrigued her.

"Why did you bring me here, Kieran? Why am I trapped in this place?" she asked, her voice laced with a mixture of accusation and vulnerability.

Kieran's gaze faltered for a moment before he took a step closer to Elizabeth. "I don't know. There's something about you. I just can't figure it out. But until I can find out, you have to stay here. I see now that I have only caused you pain."

Elizabeth's eyes narrowed, her voice filled with a mix of defiance and determination. "You can't keep me locked up forever, Kieran. I deserve to be free, to make my own choices."

Elizabeth stood up, straightening her back with resolve. "I have to go talk to Luna. Bye, Kieran."

As Elizabeth quickly made her way to Luna's suite and opened the door, she found Luna half-asleep in her bed. "Luna!" Elizabeth exclaimed, startling Luna awake.

Luna rubbed her eyes, still half-dazed. "I'm sorry for waking you, but this is serious."

"W-what dear? What do you mean?" Luna asked, trying to shake off her grogginess.

"Kieran is still keeping me here. He said that it's something about me that keeps him on edge. Can you believe that?"

"Well, I can. He never really had a bond with anyone in a long time. It's more to it than a magical necklace," Luna said, as her gaze shifted to the necklace that Kieran had mentioned.

"Oh, well. It doesn't make sense."

"To you. It doesn't make sense to you." Luna stood up, removing her bonnet, and looked Elizabeth squarely in the face.

"After midnight, every night, Kieran changes into something else. Don't tell him that I told you, but he's cursed," Luna said sadly. "He was cursed by someone that he once loved years ago. When he said that there's something about you, he meant it. The curse prohibits him from having feelings and forming bonds. Penelope and I- you'll meet Penelope later on, I think- have been dealing with Kieran's problems for a while.

Elizabeth's shock was palpable.

"What?"