The Blood Red Rose

Prologue

In a land far, far away there is a small kingdom called Yorktown. Living there was a handsome young prince named Alexander Hamilton. He was the last member of the royal family, for the rest of them had died in a horrible hurricane many years ago leaving the young prince alone in a house full of servants. 

Despite this tragedy, the prince vowed to be a wonderful ruler for his kingdom. He read every book in the palace, studied politics and law. He visited the village regularly and made sure his citizens were well off.

As wonderful as he seemed, the prince unfortunately had many faults. He was arrogant, vain and selfish. He could sometimes act like a complete asshole because of this. One night, all three of these qualities showed themselves.

It was Alexander's eighteenth birthday and he had decided to throw a huge ball. The servants tried their best to make the ball perfect for young Alexander. It was a big day after all and they cared deeply for their prince.

The ball was filled with beautiful young men and women, all in hopes of getting Alexander's hand in marriage. He was quite the looker you see, and rumors flew all around the kingdom about how good he'd be as a lover (and how good he'd be in bed). 

Alexander danced with all the beautiful young ladies and even some men. The servants all participated, for the prince had allowed them the night off as a reward for their hard work.

The night was interrupted by a knock at the palace door. Since no servants were on duty that night, Alexander went to open it. The sight that greeted him was equally shocking and horrifying.

Standing at the door was an elderly woman. Thunder cracked comically in the background and Alexander immediately backed away from the door as the old woman hobbled in. His lip curled in disgust when he noticed her stringy hair, dirty nails, wrinkled old face and the ripped clothing that covered her skinny, bony body. She stood before him and pleaded her case.

"Your Majesty, please I beg of you, allow me to stay for the evening. The storm outside is furious and I am just an old woman." She spoke softly, to which Alexander responded by staring at her blankly. The woman seemed to know what he was thinking and her lips curled into a small, slightly bitter smile.

"My appearance disgusts you. Do not be deceived by my outside young prince, for true beauty lies within." She advised. As payment for her stay, the woman offered a beautiful blood red rose. However when she held the flower out to the prince, he pushed her hand away. He did not like this woman. Who did she think she was, coming into his home, asking for food and a bed with only a rose as payment? Not to mention the fact that she lectured him! And in front of all his guests! 

So mad the prince was, that he refused her any shelter. He turned his nose up and insulted her, saying that she was much too ugly to stay in his palace. He even had the audacity to say she'd be better off dead and that the world would be happier without such a disgusting sight.

Suffice to say, the elderly woman was not pleased.

Alexander soon realized his mistake when the woman's clothing began to melt away. Her posture straightened and she grew in height. Her hair grew out and her skin turned fair. With dread settled in his stomach, Alexander realized that the woman he'd tried to turn away was actually a beautiful and powerful enchantress.

He fell to his knees and begged for forgiveness, but it was already too late. The enchantress saw that his heart was full of selfishness and vanity. As punishment, she turned him into a hideous beast and cursed all who lived in the castle.

She drove all the guests away and cast a spell on the whole town, making it so that they'd forget all about the castle and the royal family. As it turns out, the rose she had offered Alexander was cursed as well. If he could not get someone to fall in love with him before the last petal fell to the ground, he would forever be stuck in his beastly form.

Two years passed, and no one had even come near the castle. Alexander soon fell into deep despair, for not only had he seen no humans for quite some time, but his beastly form robbed him of his ability to write, something he used to love to do. He could no longer hold any books to read, leaving him terribly bored. If he attempted to hold any, they would be torn to shreds in his large, sharp claws.

The servants tried their best to cheer him up, but nothing they did seemed to work. If anything, it drove Alexander into an even deeper and darker depression.

Six more months passed, and Alexander lost all hope. He began to believe that he would never return to normal, for who could ever love a hideous beast?

However, in just a few months a young woman will arrive, bringing a horse and a handsome young man in tow.