A Rose for the Beast

The Cost of Freedom

The castle was filled with chaos as hunters and animals clashed together in a brutal fight. Gorillas tackled groups of guards before they had a chance to fire their bows. Chimpanzees screeched as they collectively bombarded any man in green. The hunters struggled to defend themselves against the animals, some retreating before even engaging in the battle.

Rosalie kept the queen in her line of sight while it all unfolded around her. She laughed slightly as she watched her plan in action, then winced as her breaths caused the dagger to slice into her further.

"You may ruin my wedding day, but that won't stop me from finishing you off!"

She peered up at Magda's furious scowl. The queen's hands lifted toward Rosalie, a green aura engulfing them. Though her wound ached painfully and she knew she was losing too much blood, Rosalie forced herself to stand. She glanced at Michel, who roared as he attacked his invisible cage with wild ferocity, desperate to escape and join the fray.

Rosalie's continued resilience must have surprised Magda, because she paused with a curious lift of her brow.

"You're a subborn one, I'll give you that," she said.

She squinted her eyes at the queen, then cut them away to look at Michel. He hesitated his assault on the invisible cage to gaze back at her helplessly. Even though there was a blade in her chest, the twisting pain in her heart wasn't physical. Ultimately, despite all of her effort, she had failed him...all of them.

Just as she was becoming completely despondent, a revelation occurred to Rosalie. Her lips parted on a gasp as her eyes widened.

Cursed objects are as strong as the one who cursed them...the wolf's words rang out in her head.

"If you're done staring at my soon-to-be husband...," Magda chimed in, breaking Rosalie from her thoughts, "It's time for you to die!"

Rosalie made a split second decision as the queen raised her hands again. Summoning all of her remaining strength, she braced herself, launching her body straight into Magda's abdomen. They tumbled across the floor past various scuffles.

The queen's arms lost their green glow, but her rage intensified. Magda shoved Rosalie from her, dislodging the dagger from her chest in the process. She cried out and pressed her hand against the wound, but Rosalie's strength was quickly draining.

"BASTIE--!"

Magda's shout ended on a gargled note. Rosalie lifted her head up to see what was happening. The beast stood above her with the queen's neck dangling from his extended hand. She'd managed to distract Magda long enough for her magic to dissolve, freeing Michel from his cage. Her idea had worked, but it was up to the beast to finish the job.

The fighting had slowed, but still continued around them. The beast roared, halting all action within the stone walls. Rosalie turned her head and saw of Bastien's dumbfounded expression past the few remaining hunters. She tried to enjoy that moment, but her vision became clouded. She battled against unconsciousness as Michel spoke.

"Leave my castle. If I see you on my lands again, I will end each and every one of you," he said, glaring at Magda's guards.

There was a brief silence as they contemplated their loyalty to the queen, then they all shuffled out of the castle. She expectedat least one to stay and fight, but he surprised her. Bastien lingered for only a moment, glancing down at Rosalie before he left the castle, fleeing into the wintery landscape with the rest of the hunters.

"P...please...Mic...Michel... Forgive...me," her voice wheezed out through his tight grip.

"You transformed myself and my people, trapped us in a cold, barren environment, attacked my home and its residents, and tried to kill MY woman. Now, you want me to forgive you?"

Michel's voice held a calm, chilling tone. Despite the moral compass she'd been raised with, Rosalie couldn't see any reason to allow the queen to live. Magda had made it her life's mission to torment Michel in a twisted attempt to make him love her. She doubted the woman would ever change her ways.

Rosalie looked back up to them, her vision clearing just enough to see Michel twist his wrist. Magda's neck cracked and her body fell limp.

"You're forgiven," Michel said as he dropped her body to the floor.

He immediately came to kneel beside Rosalie, his clawed hands shakily reaching out for her. They stopped short when a virescent light enveloped him.

His golden eyes flared as he peered at the other animals, who were all covered in the same aura. Within moments, their bodies shifted and they became human. The servants grinned and embraced one another. Tears sprang from her eyes as she watched them transform.

Michel's irises shifted to their natural blue color as his claws receded and his fur disappeared. It didn't faze him as he scanned her wound and yelled out for the servants to get medical supplies.

Rosalie turned her head toward the open front door. Outside, the wind blew suddenly and the sun's heat pierced the thick tree canopy for the first time in many seasons, melting the snow rapidly. The tangled rose bushes released thousands of red petals into the breeze, which carried them through the doorway. She turned her head back to look at Michel. As the rose petals rained down around them, Rosalie smiled up him.

"You did it," she said softly.

His eyes filled with sorrow, he carefully pulled her into his arms and peered down at her.

"We did it, Rosalie. Do not give up, yet, Chére," he said, brushing his fingers down her cheek.

She barely felt the contact. Her body grew colder by the second. She noticed her wound no longer ached. Her time was almost up.

"Bring me the medical kit, now!," he demanded his servants impatiently, clearly seeing how far gone she was.

Rosalie reached up and weakly placed her hand against his cheek, drawing his attention to her.

"Michel, will you make sure my father is taken care off?"

He nodded as he put his hand over hers, leaning in to her touch.

"Please, Rose...Don't ask me to say goodbye. I still need you," he begged, his deep blue gaze willing her to live.

She wanted to tell him, needed him to know what he meant to her, but she was slipping further and further. Her eyelids grew heavy and bright spots dotted her vision. The world started fading away, so she forced herself to speak once more, hoping he heard the words before she succumbed to the darkness.

"I love you..."