Beastly Love

Chapter 6: "Getting Started"

Jeanne took one step at a time down the elaborate stairs. Her pink dress could be seen from a mile away. Ms. Fanny led the way down. They reached the fifth level of the castle.
"I do t know if I can do this!" Jeanne blurted out.
Ms. Fanny turned around to face Jeanne.
"You will be fine ms.," Ms. Fanny paused to find comforting words and then continued,"he will not harm you."
"How do you know that?" Jeanne said angrily.
Ms. Fanny replied calmly, "I just do. I know my master."
"Why do you work for him or I guess in this case it."
"Him. He is Jacques De Brèzè, but he wants us to call him master."
Miss Fanny turned back around and started walking down the stairs. Jeanne started to follow. The continued descending the staircase until they reached the main floor. They turned left to a waiting room, the walls were covered in painted roses. Miss Fanny turned to Jeanne.
"Please wait here, Miss L'Amaury."
Miss fanny walked into the opposite room. Jeanne became frightened, although it was still daytime, the room started to darken. The sun was setting.
"I didn't know it was this late." Jeanne said aloud.
She turned around to find the middle aged man near the door Ms. Fanny had gone through earlier. Jeanne jumped backwards toward the window.
"I'm sorry ma'am, did I frighten you?" The man said.
"No. You caught me off guard."
"I see." He paused, "I am Mister Tynan, the head butler."
Jeanne walked over to him and shook his hand.
"Nice to meet you, mr. Tynan. My name is..."
Mr. Tynan interrupted, "Jeanne L'Amaury. I know, Ms. Fanny told me. Would you like to eat miss?"
Jeanne turned her attention to her stomach. She hadn't realized it before, but she was starving.
"Yes, thank you."
Mr. Tynan opened the doors leading into the dining room. The polished oak tree table could seat at least a dozen people on each side. The giant room was only lit with a candelabra on one side of the table. Mr. Tynan came to the head of the table and pulled the tall chair out. Jeanne moved gracefully across the floor and sat it the chair, Mr. Tynan pushed her in. Jeanne looked up, in the middle of the dining table was a gorgeous vase of wild flowers.
"I thought it would help." Said the gravely voice.
The flowers covered the beast, enabling Jeanne to look at his face.
The voice continued, "I was hoping I could ask you some questions later without anyone crying or fainting."
She chuckled. Was this the beast she had come to fear?
Mr. Tynan came out of what seemed liked the kitchen entrance and said, "dinner is served."
Almost immediately, ten young boys came out of the kitchen door. They ranged from the ages of five to fifteen. The boys all had the same attire: black pants, white shirt, a black vest, and a black bow tie. Most of them had dirty faces and scruffy hair. They all surrounded the table. Jeanne's personal server was one of the oldest boys.
"What is your name?" Jeanne asked him.
He hesitated, not sure if he should answer.
"Michael."
"Hello, Michael, I'm Jeanne L'Amaury, but you can call me Jean." (Jean was her nickname as a child)
Michael brought her a bowl and set it in front of her. Potato soup. She took a spoon full and put it into her mouth. The potatoes were not cooked as well as they should have been, and the liquid surrounding the potatoes was only water.
"Could you please pass the salt, Michael?"
Michael went to the other side of the table and retrieved the salt. Jeanne held out her hand and he placed the salt shaker carefully in her palm. She poured a mountain of salt on the soup and gently stirred. The soup tasted better, especially after the added salt., but as hungry as she was, she ate slowly. Once she finished she looked up at the boy and said,
"Thank you Michael."
Michael lifted the Bowl up and and passed it to another boy, who took it to the kitchen. He came back with a single leg of turkey, the boy handed the plate to Michael, and he set it down in front of Jeanne. The single leg looked ridiculous, but strangely appetizing. Jeanne took her knife and fork and cut her a slice to try. It was well-done, almost burnt to a crisp. Jeanne cut the meat open to try and find the good meat that was not burn, but to her surprise the inside was not burnt but was not cooked at all. Blood soaked the black meat. She looked back up at Michael, his face was full of pity for her.
"Thank you Michael." She chuckled softly.
He took the plate and handed it back to the boy again.
"Can I get you anything else?" He stopped for a moment to hear her reply. When she didn't reply, he continued, "Wine perhaps?"
"Yes please."
Michael walked over to a tall wooden table. He poured her a tall glass of red wine, walked back over to Jeanne, and handed it to her. She hadn't noticed before, but Michael looked very tall for his age(15). He had black hair and dark blue eyes. His skin was dark almost brown compared to her ivory skin. Jeanne accepted the glass and took a sip. The wine was the best she had ever tasted, however, she had only had three years of experience. She tried her first sip at age 15 coming out ball.
"Thank you Michael."
"Yes ma'am"
"How do you like the wine?" The voice from the other side of the table asked.
"It is the best I've ever had."
"Good, good..." He trailed off, "well then," he continued, "let's get down to business."
Jeanne took a big gulp and then said,"ask away, but wouldn't you rather go some place else to talk?"
"Why?!" He sounded offended.
"So we would not need to yell across the room."
"Alright."
The beast stood up, his face was hard not to stare at.
"Well? C'mon." The beast said.
He headed toward the rose-painted waiting room. His server, who was about 16, followed him. Michael took her chair as she stood up and slid it back under the table as shed moved to the door.
"Thank you Michael."
"You welcome, Jean"
She followed the beast and his server through the waiting room and up to the second level. They turned to the right and headed into a dark room. The beast's server walked to the marble fireplace and struck a match against the stone, a flame appeared. He stuck underneath the wood, fire almost immediately appeared. The room became luminous, and she realized that the room had been a study at one point. Two chairs sat in front of the comforting fire. She noticed the beast, he looked more like a lion with his nose connecting to his forehead than any other animal she could think of. His fur almost reflected the light from the flames. He took the tallest chair, it was expertly-carved and had fine-stitched green cushions. Jeanne took the smaller chair, her chair was almost as beautiful as his thrown. The wood was also carved carefully, but with a flowery design. The cushion were red, edged with a darker red rose design. Before sitting she straightened down the back of her dress and then took her seat. The Beast the said, with his deep voice,
"Let's get started."