So this is Love ● The Beast

{13}

My fingertips ran across the soft sheets and the plush pillows, the feeling soothing and almost unreal. I can't recall a time where I've ever had the pleasure to just sleep, to do almost absolutely nothing for an entire day. It was nice but, it was also so unfamiliar and made me feel almost guilty.

What was my family doing now? Working, probably. Finnegan had possibly already returned from his work, he usually only spent three to seven days at a time out of the state, a fortnight. Papa was most likely rummaging through town trying to sell his most basic equipment while getting ready for the shipment of his most complicated work. Poppy had yet to get a job but, now she would have to work alone with the farm animals. And Lucille...

I trailed off, unable to think of my older sister. Shaking my head, I let out a sigh before hesitantly taking a seat along the soft bedding slowly. I felt the corners of my lips curve upwards as my body sank deeply into the mattress, I relaxed slightly before slowly laying on my side.

It was warm, so warm. Despite the snow hitting the glass window faintly, I could hear the harsh winds that blew the freezing air around the area.

Was my family warm against the weather?

I asked myself this, my head slowly leaning back to lay across the pillow, my dark curls lay across the white sheets like chocolate strands against snow. I sighed heavily before placing my hands around my elbows in an effort to take me mind off of the thought of the family I may never see again.

My eye's trailing against the wall paint across the room, the pale cream a beautiful contrast to the thin wood boards of our home. I then pushed myself off the bed, my bare feet hitting the cold, marble floor beneath me. I ignored with a slight shiver before walking over to the room at the opposite side of the bed, the door was shut but, I pulled it open with ease relieved it wasn't closed off.

Opening it, I jolted in surprise as I stepped in and the candles flickered on eagerly, almost lively as I noticed the porcelain white paint across the room. A large tub in the middle of the bathroom and I gaped at it as I walked over, it was almost the size of a pond, I could swim at least 6 feet across.

"I'll need a lot of water to even add an inch," I sighed defeated as I recalled all the times I had to go outside to the lake a few miles off just to fill up the cart with a few buckets just to get a proper bath. I began to walk towards the bedroom again, before suddenly the door is opening and I find myself staring at a wooden coat rack. In its wooden handles, a porcelain bowl of steaming water, and not just one, your eye's widened in surprise as a good dozen, servants you presume, march into your room, each carrying a bowl of hot water. "No, no, I-i it's fine, really--" they each just bow and continue you on. My face heats up, I've never been waited on before, this was and new feeling, awkward mostly and I felt undoubtedly guilty.

I turned as a larger piece of furniture entered the room, "That's it, thank you my darlings," Madame wardrobe backed her way into the room and you sighed softly, understanding now that she was the reason. "Ah, there you are, and wah-la! A hot bath for our lovely guest," Her wooden lips turn upwards as her perfect crafted body straightens and she's taking each wooden step forwards, "Come now, love," she directs me to the bathroom.

I watched as each servant begins to leave after depositing their layer of water, "Thank you very much. I really appreciate this," I clasp my hands together, smiling almost apologetically, but they all only turned towards me, bowed before a few came grasping my hand in their wooden grip and their heads seemed to come forwards. Each kissing the back of my hand, I could only feel the smooth surface of their waxed wood structure but that didn't stop me from blushing hard. "I, uh, hope you all sleep well," I smiled, my cheeks burning.

Madame a la Bouche finally directed them out of the room and lightly shoved me on into the bathroom, "Alright now, my dear, your bath. This lovely Monsieur will assist you," she began pulling at my robe as she turned me around to face the other furniture servant that already had a bathing brush in hand. My eye's widened before I shook your head.

"Oh no, this isn't needed, really. I'm perfectly--" the loud, wardrobe woman cut me off.

"Oh yes you are, dear. As perfect as can be!" She complimented and I knew it was hopeless to convince her to let me do anything on my own. "But, you are in a palace. You will be treated as royalty while you reside her, don't worry yourself, my love. Come now," Her wardrobe opens and her ribbons are spinning before surging towards you. I gasp as I feel my robe stripped from me and I'm standing on the tiled floor, naked. Before I can say anything, her fabric pieces are lifting me up and setting me down into the tub, the warm water surprises me for a moment before there's another splash beside me. I look up and the servant is already scrubbing away at my back, "There you are. Now, I'll be back in a few minutes, dear. Au Revoir!" She closes the door behind her.

I sit there, the servant lifting my hair and brushing it to the side, I can smell the scent of roses and vanilla, it makes me swoon as I begin to play with the ends of my hair. "Um...hi," I realized I didn't know the servants name as I turned my head to look at him, I smiled softly. The servant turned its head, tilting it to show he easy listening as he took another bowl of water from the side and let it run slowly down my shoulder's. "I know you won't answer me back but--I'm not used to this, and I don't want to make your job harder than it already is. So--" he stopped me, another different brush coming up and brushing through my hair, lathered up with a smooth cream, he pulled gently and I curved over. He looked at you, my eye's searching for his, as he waved his wooden finger at my face and he pointed at himself, before he continued brushing. Every knot and twist brushing out like it was never there, I was alittle startled, my hair was a nest at times and I could hardly get my own hands through it. But, I knew what he was saying, This wasn't your job, it was his, I chuckled softly and I let him brush through my locks.

Afterwards, Madame a la Bouche came back just as I finished, she wrapped me up in a sleeping gown, it was so soft like silk and she already knew I had some words to say. "Quiet now, dear," she said and I opened mymouth before closing it and she chuckled softly while I climbed into the bed. As I laid down on the pillow, I glanced at her as she positioned herself at my bedside, close to falling asleep herself.

"Goodnight," I breathed. She only smiles and I turn over, my eyes drifting to the window, where the snow was calming, I hoped that my family was safe, that Lucille had made it home ok. I wanted to see them, but it wasn't right to back out of a promise, even if it was forced.

Slowly, my eyes began to drift closed, the candle light by my bed flickered off and I was asleep before the last light was out.