Desire (On Hold)

Desire

Hi! I'm actually really excited about this story. I got the idea the other night and it hasn't left my mind since, so I just had to start. It's a Rapunzel retelling, but it's not exactly like Rapunzel. For example, the person I picked to play Rapunzel (named Elle in this story) is Emma Watson, so she doesn't have blonde hair. This story is set in a made up place called Mont Saint Lucerne, which was inspired by the beautiful Mont Saint Michel. I hope you enjoy! Even though this story is set in the twentieth/twenty-first century, it's got a bit of history in it. =D

Prologue

The quiet cries of newborn Elle Verity filled the room.

“She’s beautiful,” Elle’s father Mason Verity breathed. “She looks just like you, love.”

Elle’s mother’s – Lillian - eyes filed with joyful tears as her daughter’s tiny fists collided with hers. Elle gurgled as her mother held her close.

“Papa!” Seth, Elle’s brother, ran into the room. “There’s a lady here to see you. She said her name is Asteria or something like that.” The young boy smiled at his tired mother and watched his new sister wondrously.

“She’s so small!” he exclaimed. Lillian and Mason laughed. Mason kissed his wife on her forehead and left the room to greet the mysterious Asteria.

Asteria was beautiful; there was no doubt about it. She had red hair reaching down to her waist and piercing blue eyes. She held herself tall and proud.

“Hello,” Mason said, greeting the stranger. “What can I do for you? Is there anything you’d like to buy?”

The Verity family owned an antique shop, but business was bad. Nobody wanted to buy things that reminded them of the past. Mason was therefore unable to support his family and occasionally had to resort to making deals with dodgy shop owners. He wondered if that was why Asteria was there.

“Oh no,” Asteria laughed. Her laugh was hard and cruel, but also sweet in a way. “I’m here about this beautiful flower you have somehow acquired.”

Asteria walked over to a vase on top of the rickety dining table and Mason’s heart sank.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know what you mean,” he stuttered. “That’s just an ordinary flower.”

Asteria shook her head. “Here I was, hoping I wouldn’t be lied to,” she muttered to herself and then raised her voice so he could hear her clearly. “You never were good at lying, Mason Verity.”

Something in Asteria’s voice reminded Mason of a warning he had drilled in his head from a young age.

“Asteria,” he breathed, finally comprehending who she was.

Asteria was Mont Saint Lucerne’s enchantress. She hadn’t been seen for many years, or at least only seen with a disguise. Most people had considered her a myth but Mason’s parents were always superstitious and had no doubt she existed.

“Finally you realise who I am,” Asteria sneered sarcastically. Mason’s earlier opinion of her disappeared within seconds. She was a cruel lady and all he wanted to do was get her out of his house and away from his family.

The smell of Mont Saint Lucerne’s crowded streets was overpowering, but Asteria didn’t seem affected by it. She stuck to her path; occasionally glancing over her shoulder to make sure Mason was still following her.

Finally she stopped and swirled around to face Mason.

“Recognise this place?” she inquired delicately.

Mason looked around briefly and felt his face flush. It was a small paddock with some of the most stunning varieties of plants sprinkled along the grass.

He thought about lying but then remembered Asteria could see through his every lie. “Yes,” he answered.

Asteria scowled at him and folded her arms. “This is my garden. What did you think gave you permission to steal from me?”

Asteria’s fingers glowed and within seconds, the same flower that she had seen in his house was curled in her hand.

“I’m sorry,” Mason said, deciding to ignore his pride for the time being. “My wife just had a baby and I wanted to get her something. We have no money. I couldn’t just pop into a shop and buy something for her. Besides, I didn’t know anybody owned this place.”

“You had to resort to stealing?” Asteria snapped. “You couldn’t have done something less drastic? Well, I have no choice but to report you to the King and Queen.” Asteria shrugged and theatrically sighed as if she didn’t want to do anything like that.

“No! Please, no!” Stealing was an unforgivable crime in Lucerne.

Although it was the twentieth century, Mont Saint Lucerne was thought of as being ‘stuck in time’. There wasn’t technology, cars or anything like that. It really was as if the people were living in the sixteenth century when Lucerne was ‘created’.

“I’m going to tell them, I have no choice,” Asteria said, her voice now taunting. “Unless…”

“Anything! I’ll do anything!” Mason interrupted. “Just don’t tell the King and Queen.”

“It’s settled then,” Asteria said happily, clapping her hands together. “I get your daughter.”

So what did you think of it so far?It will get better, this is just the start but I want to know what you all think :) Please comment and/or vote if you liked it (or if you have any advice, I'd love to hear it) =D