Fairy Eyes

Chapter 6

It was a long drive up the winding road. To think, Belle was finally leaving. Years of pretending did not do anything productive at all. Since she had heard the story of the young man named Leo that had vanished, she was enthralled with the possibility that there could be a way of entrance and exit of the fairy world and Earth realm. Truly it did not make sense, why would a young man engaged and with a successful career suddenly vanish?

Belle saw it in the newspaper. Leo had been given a mysterious book on Christmas which had been sent through the mail from an anonymous sender, only to be found later that he had vanished. They had suspected one of the relatives had done something, but investigated each to finding that there was no lead.

...

Of course, Christmastime was not exactly the best time for Belle to leave, but what choice did she have? The fairy, whom Belle called Pumpernickle, had appeared at her window again, knocking. They had been friends for as long as she could remember, but Belle knew that she would not come often as Pumpernickle was busy with the involvements of her fairy kingdom. The window finally flew open, and she came into my room in a blazing light.

She came downstairs, grabbed the newspaper, and brought it up to her room. She shone in her eyes, and Belle tried to swat her away.

Then Belle looked. She saw that Pumpernickle was pointing at the image of Leo.

"I've already looked at that. I thought about it. It probably doesn't mean anything."

Then she turned. Suddenly she was a blazing picture screen. She showed a darkness standing over the sky. It was small, but grew larger and larger. She showed pictures of what would happen if it were to be ignored, and everyday the mass grew stronger and stronger. Suddenly masses of vampires fell down from the sky, biting into the necks of people known and loved. Turning them into dark monsters.

"So you're saying, basically, if I don't go everyone is going to die?"

She nodded her head.

"That is ridiculous" said Belle, throwing a pillow over her head in an effort to go back to sleep.

Then Pumpernickle's image turned into a lion, roaring into her face.

Belle screamed.

Pumpernickle looked furious as she left the room, hurling into the night, as if to say "If you want my help, do not ask for it."

Belle tried to fall asleep, but could not. Plus, if there was a way to break this curse, why would she be stupid enough not to do it? After all, years of rejection facing her ahead on the basis of her looks and ridding of unrealistic expectations of fair treatment based on how people looked to her were better than staying in a delusion.

Belle got up before the dawn before anyone else in her family would be able to wake up. Climbed down the castle stairs. The driver awaited her with the horses ready.

She had to hurry. She packed a suitcase, throwing random clothes in there. When she saw fit that she would survive a week on her own, she hopped into the carriage. She was going to crash in someone else's place regardless if he turned her down!

She watched as the trees disappeared behind. The stormy, dark castle where the man had lived stood on the hill covered with cloud.

When they reached the top, it had begun to snow. The driver took her to the gates, but could not take her anywhere further.

She said her goodbyes to him, grabbed her suitcase, and entered into the tall and looming gates.

Trees littered the garden with blood red roses and apples. Snow stood silent on the ground.

There was a mass of thorn to the left. It seemed to be hiding something, but it could not be ascertained what. Statues of tall men loomed overhead with their broadswords.

The doors stood menacingly. Belle knocked twice, then the doors opened.

The foyer was musky and full of cobwebs. The castle was dark. The only way to see was with a lamp, which stood on the wall.

She grabbed it. Just then, the doors shut abruptly behind her.

Off to the side, a very comforting hearth appeared within her vision.

Following the smell of burning wood, Belle entered into a dining room. There was a ton of sweets. Grape and orange jelly. Lamb with mint. Pasta with shrimp. Nova salmon. Cappuccinos. Lattes. Espresso. Tiramisu. Chocolate fudge cake.

They stood out so readily, inviting her to bite. It would be all too easy.

"Leo Filiogeni, you wouldn't mind if I had anything to eat would you?" she asked.

There was no sound except the cackling of a fireplace.

She took a plate, slicing herself a piece of lamb, and sat down.

She took the first bite.

"Mmm. Tasty."

Then, she felt a claw place itself delicately on my shoulder, and screamed.

To her horror, there was a tall, menacing creature staring back at her. It had horns on the tops of it's head, with shaggy hair covering it's face. A nostril with whiskers like a cat, and long slanted lips. His eyes stared her down. He was wearing red and blue robes, and wearing a crown on his head. His long tail furled behind him.

"Are you Leo Filiogeni?"

"I am he" he huffed in reply. "Though I much rather you refer to me as his majesty."

"I am not sure that I can quite follow you" said Belle.

"You see, I've been living in this kingdom for quite some time. I used to be the prince..." he began to ramble, and then stopped. He looked angry again. "You're not supposed to be here!"

"Oh, really? Who were you laying the food out for then?" asked Belle.

"Don't talk down to your king!"

"My king?" roared Belle. Then she sighed. Anger was not going to get her anywhere.

"Look" she said, "I've come here looking for the man that had been cursed. He was engaged to his fiancee, the world was at his feet..."

"You know too much already!" he cried. His eyes filled with fury. "Go! Get out of here, before I chase you out!"

She did not need to be asked twice. She fled from the table, not regarding to put on the shoes she left near the front door nor grab her suitcase.

Her feet flew her down the hill, over the scrambles of branches. She heard the cry of wolves.

When she made it to the clearing, the thought she was safe. It turned out that there were wolves on either side of her. The only place was towards the middle of the pond.

She stepped on the ice, feeling a slight crack beneath her. She, ever so gently, moved into the middle of the pond. The wolves were less than graceful. They started to slide across the surface, jaws yapping at her.

Then a tall creature appeared. It was the beast.

The wolves were not about to let another creature get at their prey. They scrambled off the pond, jumping all over him and tearing off his clothes.

She did not look back. She slid off the pond, only to find herself smacking her head against a rock. Then there was blackness.