Wattpad Block Party - Winter Edition III

britainkalai Presents: "Thorns: A Modern Retelling of Beauty & the Beast"

Sneak Peek: An Excerpt from "Thorns: A Modern Retelling of Beauty and the Beast"

By @britainkalai

"Tonight is the night, I am certain of it," Babette said as she buffed my fingernails. "I have chosen a special gown for the occasion. I can feel that it will not be long now."

"Just where did all these gowns come from, anyway, and how is it you never seem to run out of them?" I asked with a bemused smile.

"These things pile up when you have decades of women running the household," Rene said, her reflection in the mirror waving a brush through the air.

"What exactly do you have planned for tonight?"

"Hmm, that I can't say. We have been sworn to secrecy. You will know soon enough."

"Is every Christmas always this mysterious?"

"Non, the holiday is usually quite quiet. But this is a special occasion." Babette rose from her low stool and walked to the wardrobe. "The Master has not celebrated a holiday since the enchantment fell on him. We would normally keep to ourselves in the kitchen."

"What did you do about gifts?"

"Lammert would go out for them and bring them back for us," Rene said, twisting a last curl of hair around her finger. "Of course, no one can go out this year. But we don't mind it," she added quickly, seeing the distressed look I made at this admission. "Seeing the enchantment lifted would be a better gift than any of us could imagine."

I nodded, silenced now. My stomach was already in knots without knowing just how certain everyone felt about my chances of actually breaking the enchantment. To all appearances, I had succeeded; Warren had practically admitted that he loved me, hadn't he? Surely that would be enough to release everyone from the hold the enchantment had over them. My own feelings won't matter as long as we both wish to break the enchantment, right?

Babette brought her chosen gown over to me with a flourish. "This gown is our great treasure. It was found when the enchantress and the first master disappeared. One of the few things left behind by the magic."

I reached out and ran my hand over the fabric. The gown was a soft ivory, worked all over in fine gold thread. The pattern was roses, of course, and a little belt of gold roses encircled the waist. The neckline was a low, scalloped boat neck; the skirt draped in broad folds. It gleamed in the light as I stepped into it.

"And now for the shoes," Babette said, producing an incredible pair of golden heels that were worked all over with more roses and vines. I took them from her and ran a finger over the raised texture before slipping them on my feet. They fit perfectly, as usual. I had long ago decided this was a quirk of the enchantment, like the gardens and my tools in the shed.

"You are ready," Babette said, turning me to look at my reflection in the mirror. I stared back at myself; it was no longer strange to see these elaborate dresses and hairstyles on my reflection, but I was still uneasy.

"Thank you for everything," I said, looking around again at the two women. Rene beamed and hugged me, sniffling a little. Babette merely nodded, but the fierce gleam of hope I could see in her eyes could not be entirely hidden. This was a moment she had waited centuries for. What if I can't give it to her after all?

The house had been completely transformed for the holiday. Garlands of evergreen and holly wound around the banisters of the stairs and hung over the frames of the paintings along the walls. The scent of cinnamon and nutmeg hung in the air, mixed with the sharper pine from the garlands. Where had these decorations come from if no one could leave the estate? Maybe everything was in storage. The crowning piece was a towering Christmas tree that had been set up in place of the table that normally stood in the entrance hall. It had been hung with gold and red tinsel and ornaments, and glittered beautifully as I came to the top of the stairs.