The bright light of the sun blinded me as I woke up. I squinted, trying to cuddle into my bed more than I already was. An image from the nightmare I was having convinced me to move. I sat up and closed my eyes again, trying to escape the morning light.
Wait a minute. Light.
Like lightning, I shot out of my bed and ran over to the huge window that showed me the outside world. Golden rays of light shone as the sun rose over the trees tops, the light escaping through the the leaves on the trees that circle the castle grounds. One of the small pools of water near the garden maze rippled like a fish jumped out and sparkled light a precious gem. Very gently, I allowed my fingertips to touch the cool glass. I had seen this part of the grounds before, but not in the morning time. I slowly exhaled out, not realizing I had been holding my breath.
A knock on my door startled me. Raul's voice came from behind it.
"Miss? I brought you food."
I looked down at myself as I heard the creaking of the door handle.
"Wait a minute!" I yelled as I ran to my bed. The thin nightgown that covered me was something I didn't really what to be seen in. I frantically threw the covers over me as my door opened.
"I'm sorry, Miss. The master ordered me to come in when you were up."
He froze as he saw me in my bed. I sat down and shoved the covers up to my chin. His wrinkled face turned a light shade of pink as he gently put my breakfast tray on the few sheets I hadn't disturbed.
"I'll call Lia for you, Miss. She'll dress you."
"Wait," I started to protest, but he had already left my room.
I just need to know where my clothes are, not someone to dress me!
My door opened again, and a skinny girl with short blonde hair tiptoed in with a green something draped over her shoulder. She looked around twelve or thirteen.
"Here you are, Miss." She spread out the green object, and I realized that what she held was a dress. The whole thing was the same color as the grass outside until the skirt, where a dark forest green formed a triangle in the front. The sleeves were longer than short sleeves, but shorter than a three-quarter length.
"I can't wear that."
The words leaped off my tongue before I could stop them.
Lia looked disappointed. Pity washed over me, but before I could say anything, she spoke.
"Master wants you to wear this, Miss."
Rage threatened to boil over me.
He wants me to wear something of his choosing like I'm a plaything?
Lia's blue eyes filled with tears. I must have looked like I was about to hurt her. I calmed myself, then asked her softly,
"Could you please get me some pants and a shirt?"
"I'm sorry, Miss. He won't let me. He'll-" The young girls voice cracked and tears poured out from her eyes. I slipped out of my bed and put my arms around the girl, trying to calm her.
"Does he hurt you?" I asked, terrified of the answer.
Lia reeled back in horror, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, Miss. I shouldn't have said anything. I'll go get you your clothes now, Miss."
"Wait!" I shouted. She stopped at my door and turned toward me. This girl reminded me of my friend's little sister from the village. Before she had to work with me at the tavern, she and her sister could be seen around the town with their father. Her sister would always jump around and laugh, trying to bump her father and her sister over. I don't know what had happened to her after her family died. I had never even found the courage to ask that question.
YOU ARE READING
Inside the Beast's Castle
Fantasy"As soon as you believe you are a monster is when you become one." After many years of war, the kingdom of Edria is finally in an era of peace--peace obtained by one thing and one thing only. A deal. King Regol has made a deal with the devil, or r...
