Acotar retelling

Knock Off Beauty and the Beast

There was a roar that half deafened me, and the girls screamed as snow filled the room and an enormous, growling shape appeared in the doorway. He's here, he's come for me. My knife was in my hand, and suddenly I was in front of my sisters, blocking them from the beast that is Tamlin. Shit shit shit shit shit.

He reared onto his hind legs and bellows the word, "MURDERERS!" He's angry, and rightfully so, curse or no curse, I did kill his friend with a heart full of hate, just not the way they think.

"MURDERERS!" he yelled again and my dad babbled.

"P-please, we didn't, my girls didn't, I couldn't have-"

Nesta finished for him, "We didn't kill anybody." Brave girl, even in the face of danger, even as she sobbed, she was still utterly defiant, strong for Elaine.

"WHO KILLED HIM?" the beast accused. Play your part. My mind screamed.

"Killed who?"

"The wolf." His voice was a bit quieter, but still a roar, Elaine squeaked and hid further behind me.

"What kind of wolf?"

"A large one with a gray coat."

"If it was mistakenly killed, what payment does the Treaty require?"

"Who killed it?"

"I did," the beast whirled on me, green eyes scrutinizing, as if trying to smell the lies on my tongue.

"Surely you lie to save them."

Elaine was crying, they all were. "We didn't kill anything, please, p-please." Nesta shushed her quickly.

"I killed it, I sold it at the town market. If I'd known it was faerie I would not have touched it."

"Liar," he snarled at me. "You knew, if anything it made you more prone to kill him."

"Can you blame me?"

"Did it attack you? Were you provoked?

"No," the word was heavy on my tongue, and the only thing that kept me from breaking down and crying was adrenaline and fear. I turned my fear into anger and put it into my voice, spitting at his feet. "But considering all the fae have done to us over the centuries, it was deserved."

He growled then and it was filled with pain and rage.

I cannot bring myself to pity him.

"What is the payment the treaty requires?" I knew full well what it was , but I still shook with his answer.

"A life for a life. Unprovoked attacks by humans on fae are punishable only by a human life in return."

"Outside. Do it outside, not here."

"Accepting your fate so easily? I'll let you in on a secret mortal, the Treaty only says I have to claim a human life, it doesn't say how. So as a representative of the immortal realm, I can either gut you like swine, or ... you can cross the wall and live out the remainder of your days in Prythian."

"Where? Everywhere across the walls is death or torture for humans."

"Do I seem that cruel? I have land, I will grant you access and a free life there."

"Why bother?" I knew the answer of course, he needed me, they all did.

"You murdered my friend," the beast snarled. "Murdered him, took his corpse, sold it at the market, said he deserved it, and yet you have the nerve to question my generosity?" How typically human, he seemed to silently add.

"You didn't need to mention the loophole."

The beast snarled again. "Foolish of me to forget that humans have such low opinions of us. Do you humans no longer understand mercy?" he said, his fangs inches from my throat. "Let me make this clear for you, girl: you can either come live at my home in Prythian—offer your life for the wolf's in that way—or you can walk outside right now and be shredded to ribbons. Your choice."

My father was silent, despite the initial plead, there's no begging for my mercy in this world and I started to understand Nesta more by the second.

Instead my sisters spoke up, "Please, please let our sister live with you" Elaine pleads.

"She's useful, and quiet." Nesta added on. Father stayed quiet, sulking in the back and nursing his lame leg.

I let go of my knife, I knew from the start I was going to give in, but the girls were my final straw, the last push I needed to leave. They can fend for themselves, and even then they won't have to, I will make sure Tamlin takes care of them in this universe too.

"When do we leave?"

"Now."

The girls looked on in mute horror, shocked at the suddenness of my departure. I looked to Elaine, "I left the money from the wolf on the dresser, it should last you a while, most of winter if you ration it."

I turned to Nesta next, "whatever you do, don't marry Thomas Mandray, his father beats his wife and none of them care enough to stop it. Poverty is easier to conceal than bruises. Ask Isaac Hale to teach you snares, you can catch rabbits when the money runs out. In the summer, find somewhere to fish."

"Father, help them. I don't care about your leg anymore, you need to step up. If you can't handle labor, you need to help them find jobs and husbands-good ones. Help with the housework, cook and clean so they can focus on what they need to."

They all looked shocked that I called him out, but even if Tamlin eventually sent them money, he really did need to help them, he had neglected them for years.

"I love you guys, and I hope to see you again eventually."

I hugged my family and made my way out of the house, snow crunching under my feet all the way.

A/n: Sorry this is so short, the next chapter is way longer! <3 Thanks for reading!