Beastly Love

Chapter 5: tea, anyone?

She scrambled along side him, clawing at his arm, hoping he would let her go. It was no use, his grip tightened around her wrist. He pulled her across the courtyard and yanked open the front door. Cold air rushed in the warm castle. Goosebumps formed on her arms. She noticed an old woman wearing a housekeepers uniform and a middle-aged man with a butler's outfit.
"Are these his henchmen," she thought.
"Master," the man said.
The beast ignored him. He raced to the stairs. The handrails were covered with dust and cobwebs. They must have gone up six flights of stairs when her feet gave out.
"I can't go up anymore," Jeanne said.
The beast glanced at her for a long moment. He then hoisted her up over his shoulder and carried her like a carpet. She then realized that the two henchmen were still behind them, both were out of breathe, but we're still willing to follow them. They started up the stairs again, passing many more rooms. The housekeeper gave up at the seventh floor, but the butler was still eager to follow his master. The beast opened the door leading to the ninth floor.he set her carefully down on the floor.
"How did you escape!" He demanded.
She was frozen with fear. He waited for a reply and then he roared, "do not test my patience!"
"Maybe..." The middle-aged man interrupted, " maybe, you should giver her some time alone."
The beast was at least two feet taller than the man was, the creature looked down at him. He cowered, stepping backwards into the stairwell and closing the door behind him.
The beast continued, "who are you to Mr. Marceau?" He paused waiting for an answer, "tell me!"
A single tear rolled down her face.
The beast stood there, holding his position, but his demonic face filled with regret and confusion. He walked to the door, opened it, and then turned around.
"Ms. Fanny will be here shortly with tea." His voice was gravely, but was smoother than before. He exited the her newly-found prison. A cold breeze came through a single window and below it was a straw bed with a thin blanket covering it. Jeanne stood on the bed trying to look through the window, but it was a good foot higher than her.
Giving up she turned to the door. Hoping it would be opened, she walked to the door and twisted the knob.
"Locked!" Disappointment shown on her face. Tears started to roll down her cheeks. She crawled to her new bed and sobbed. A hand touched her shoulder. Jeanne jumped, and looked up. It was the old lady from downstairs.
"Your tea miss," a soft voice said. She offered Jeanne a cup.
"Thank you, miss," Jeanne paused to learn her name.
"Ms. Francis, but everyone calls me Ms. Fanny."
"Thank you Ms. Fanny." Jeanne accepted the tea cup.
"Now," Ms. Fanny pausing to plan her question, "what is your name?"
Jeanne's eyes widened.
"My name is Jeanne L' Amaury," she paused not understanding her question, "are you telling me that you don't know who I am or that both you and your master don't know who I am?"
Ms. Fanny laughed, "I don't know, but I'm sure if the master took you, he did it for a good reason. Now, you must get dressed."
She pulled out a pink silk dress from her bag.
"Get dressed for what?"
"You will dine with my master."
Jeanne was frozen with fear. Ms. Fanny took her by the arm and took her down a flight of stairs to another room, inside was a tub with steaming water. Jeanne, undressed herself and carefully sat down in the bronze tub. The water felt like silk against her skin. She didn't want to move or go anywhere else. A picture of the beast appeared in her mind. Eight feet tall furry creature with long nails, teeth, and horns. She shivered at the sight of him. She would rather drown than to see his face, but she had to escape, to save her father. Ms. Fanny came back in, Jeanne hadn't even realized she had left!
"Alright miss, it's time."
Jeanne forced herself to drag her feet over the tub, she stood up. Ms. Fanny covered Jeanne with a soft towel.
"C'mon miss," Ms. Fanny gestured her toward the pink dress sitting on a chair. Ms. Fanny dressed her. Jeanne was covered in pink from her neck to her ankles. She was ready. Ready to face the Beast.