Elizabeth

Chapter 7- An unfortunate conclusion

Elizabeth crept down the stairs like a mouse, following the dim shadow in front of her. A familiar growling became much clearer, the same growl that caught them in the maze and the library. Elizabeth shivered, yet continued to follow the figure into the seemingly unending darkness. Eventually, they reached the bottom, the master lit various candles along the wall illuminating a humongous metal cage with a thick, rusting padlock clasped onto the front of the bars. Inside the cage, the cancrivorous beast slunk out from the shadows revealing itself to the dumbstruck Elizabeth. It's razor sharp teeth glistened in the candlelight as it stared a the master with piercing blood red eyes. A vicious snarl escaped its mouth, however, this soon turned into a gentle purr, much like a tame cat as the Master tenderly stroked the side of its face through the bars.  "There, there Angelica, it's nearly time for dinner." He spoke to her softly. The beast rubbed it's nose up against the palm of the Master's hand as Elizabeth seized this opportunity to sneak into the corner and hide in the darkness. 

Footsteps echoed down the stairs, slowly getting louder and clearer. Now close enough to be audible it sounded as if three people were marching down the stairs. Elizabeth shuffled further back until she was crushed into the wall, after all, there was nowhere else to hide. "Sorry, we're late!" laughed a friendly voice, Elizabeth recognised it instantly. "Just had to round up these two trouble makers, they were still looking for that girl. After we did such a good job of locking her in there too." The master darted round, "She's not dead?" he explained, with a shocked and slightly concerned expression. "She'll find out at this rate." The three people came into view. "Oh trust me she'll be dead soon, I mean we've already killed off most of her friends," whined Margret throwing June's squirming body to the floor. Elizabeth winced at seeing her precious friend being mistreated however felt helpless in her situation. She wanted to cry out and hug June, tell her it would be ok however it was as if strong chains clutched her against the wall. Jacob strut forward waving a knife around in his left hand. "To be honest I'm surprised she hasn't killed herself already" laughed Meredith, both Margret and Jacob joining in. The Master sighed, "Well since you've disappointed her once, you'd better give your mother a meal to be proud of." Smiled the Master as he looked over at the beast, "My Dearest Angelica, enjoy this meal we have prepared for you." Jacob stabbed June on cue, blood coated the knife as he plunged the knife into her chest repeatedly. Elizabeth covered her mouth and looked away from the horrific scene in fear of throwing up and revealing her position. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she tried to drown out the beast chomping on bones and tearing at flesh, the girl's laughing and Jacob looking proud of his work while wiping away the crimson blood from his hands. "I hope you enjoyed your meal mother" announced the three as the bowed in unison at the cage and marched out. The Master watched with longing eyes at the beast as she devoured what was left of June, leaving only blood stains on the cold stone floor. 

Elizabeth fell forwards in dismay, the Master jumped and lunged for his knife, aiming it at the girl. Tears fell to the floor like rain as she cried, looking up at him she asked: "Why do you do this?" The Master looked down at her with wide eyes, simply staring at her until the beast strode over to him and whimpered slightly. "Angelica please, you know I can't let her live, she knows now. You know if this gets out we'll both be killed." Elizabeth looked over at the beast who seemed to take pity on her by giving her a sorrowful look. "Is she your.... your wife?" she asked. The Master looked at the beast and lowered his knife slightly, looking down at the floor, "She is, and I love her very much." Elizabeth stared at him with an inquisitive look, the Master seemed distressed and frantically avoided her gaze. The beast whined once again and with trembling hands, the Master dropped the knife and it clattered to the floor. Giving out a long sigh he leant back against the wall behind him, "She's not always been this way you know, my precious Angelica... We came here as a family, to start a new happy life, just like every other family" he clenched his fists "It's just a shame misfortune was out to get us. From day one this house seemed to want us dead, things were always falling and out of place providing death traps all over the house, soon enough we got fed up and tried moving from the house, in fear of the danger that it revealed to us. however, the day before we moved, my beautiful Angelica fell to her death down the stairs." The master's eyes watered slightly as he spoke reflecting pain and suffering. "We chose to bury her in this room as it was hidden from guests and peaceful so my dear could rest happily, as soon as we finished burying her, a loud voice filled our ears. It was malicious sounding and had a certain tone which seemed, well, disturbing. It said that it would continue to keep Angelica alive and rid us of misfortune, any other family would have run...not us. This voice would keep our Angelica alive and content, however, we were told she would be in the form of a beast so could never meet the public eye and could only live on human flesh. I accepted instantly, it was selfish of me really but I simply couldn't help it. I love Angelica to the end of the world and back, I'd do anything for her." The beast purred and the Master went over and caressed its neck once again as they looked deep into each other's eyes. "So you sacrifice people to keep Angelica alive..." continued Elizabeth solemnly. "I didn't want to, I really didn't. But as I said, anything for my Angelica. The children agreed as they loved their mother dearly, well, Jacob argued at first but soon came around." Elizabeth sighed, looking back nostalgically at the fun she had had with Jacob, footsteps woke her from her trance and the Master unlocked the cage. "Look, I'm sorry but I can't let you leave here, you know our circumstance, I even sent people warning you not to get too involved after all, I hope you understand." He turned to the beast and gestured towards Elizabeth however she soon stopped and turned round. "What are you waiting for dear? Go on, eat her!" Elizabeth stood up straight and walked towards the Master, determination in her eyes. The Master stepped back slightly trembling until he really was flat against the wall. "Do you not see?!" Elizabeth shouted, "she doesn't want this! Would the Angelica you knew, really want to eat people?!" The beast whimpered and stood by her side. Shocked, the master looked over at his Angelica, "this can't be true, you want to be alive though right? My dear? Please, please tell me you want to be alive, no sacrifice is too big for my love right?!" The beast looked down at the ground and the Master fell down to the floor shaking. "It can't be..." he cried, Elizabeth placed a hand on his shoulder and took away the knife "You have to do what is best for her," she said tenderly. 

Suddenly Jacob bolted down the stairs, "Father!" he shouted, seeing the knife in Elizabeth's hand he lunged towards her with his blade. Elizabeth shut her eyes tightly and waited for the sharp pain however it didn't come. She opened her eyes to see Jacob kneeling on the floor, weeping and the beast dead...a stab wound in its side. "Mother!" Jacob cried, "you killed her!" Jacob lunged towards Elizabeth once again with hatred in his eyes however his father held him back. "Jacob... it's ok." Jacob turned around shocked and fell to the floor, staring at his dead mother. "What we were doing was wrong," the Master continued, "This is what she wanted, trust me. Please go explain to your sisters and begin clearing out the house, we're moving. Send everyone home to their families, let's start again." Jacob hugged his father tightly and sobbed into his shoulders, then began trudging up the stairs. 

Elizabeth packed her things into her suitcase and headed towards the coach Master had sent for her, to take her home safely. Other coaches darted into the distance carrying other guests home, Mary and Kaitlin waved at her gleefully from the window of a departing coach and Elizabeth smiled back. She stepped into the coach with her suitcase and looked back at the castle one last time. The Master, Jacob and the two sisters stood at the door, all seemingly upset from the death of their mother, but thankful for being rid of the curse. Elizabeth closed the coach door and gripped the bracelet Charlotte had given her tightly, the coach sped off into the distance leaving behind the castle only as a memory.