Beast

Chapter 3

I had the best night sleep. The bed had cocooned me in warmth and the mattress had moulded around me. My body felt better already. But now I had a new problem. I was hungry and thirsty. Exiting my room I go back the way we came yesterday and search for the kitchen. I come across a library and two seating areas, the place was huge. Above one of the fire places was a portrait of a man, a very handsome man. He wore a smart suit and tendrils of his thick black hair fell over his forehead, the forest green eyes that stare back at me look so troubled, that it physically hurt my heart. You can tell he is very broad in the shoulders and impossibly tall, this must be the Prince of the house. But the building seemed abandoned and dark; there was a feeling of hopelessness and despair in this place, and it made me feel uncomfortable. A few doors later I finally find it; and there is a young blonde girl just exiting holding a tray of food. 

“Excuse me miss.” She bypasses me.

“Is that for the Prince?” I ask

“Yes.” Then she is gone. So the Prince is here? I need to find him! I fill a glass of water and gulp it, it was completely see through, no dirt in it at all, and it was cool and crisp. In simple terms, it was delicious and completely different to the water at home. I hesitated at the food though, should I just help myself? I took an apple in the end, and munched it happily. Once I was finished, I went in search of the mysterious Prince.

I checked the second floor since I have already explored the first floor and all the rooms were empty, they just consisted of spare rooms which were furnished in the exact same way, there was another seating area and three bathrooms. I opened the last door at the end of a hallway and found a secret stairway. I just knew he was up here, something was telling me, I felt it. I creep up slowly, trying not to make the stairs creak. When I reached the top I slipped in, closing the door quietly behind me. Once it was shut, I was swamped in absolute darkness.

I could not see my hand when I lifted it to my face, it was that dark. The darkness made it hard to breath and my heart beat rapidly, I hated the dark. Yet my body was being pulled in a way I could not describe.

“What are you doing here?” A deep, masculine voice growls. I gasped in fright, thinking I was alone. 

“I… I was looking for the Prince.” I squeak. I hear him come closer. Each of his steps sounds slow and heavy and the floor creaks under his weight.

“The Prince? He does not want to see anyone, were you not told this?” He is close enough that I feel his hot breath, but it comes from above, high up. By the sound of his footsteps and where his voice is coming from he must be absolutely huge. All I can hear is his deep breathing and the odd growl. 

“I was, but I am desperate.” I hear his dark chuckle; it vibrates my chest and makes my knees wobble.

“Desperate? What is it you need?” He asks, I hear him shifting his weight and take a deep inhale. “Mhm… yes, what is it you need?” 

“My… My papa is really sick, and something keeps taking the animals, the people are slowly losing everything and dying.” It comes out in a whisper, I can feel his heat and it engulfs me, sending tingles throughout my frail, shaking body.

“Really? And what is it you think the Prince can do?” He spits the word ‘Prince’, as if it is a disease.

“He could give us the funds or supplies we need. Our village is falling apart; I fear we will have to move.” I sniffle, my mother might come back one day, what if she did and we were not here? 

"Move? This land is nothing but dry dirt! Why do you sound so upset?" He snorts; it was loud and shocked me out of my frightened state. His steady breathing continues to brush the top of my face and head, and it was distracting.  I do not want to tell this stranger my life.

"My reasons are personal and none of your business." If he could see me, he would notice the way I held my head high and my shoulders back. I have always been the shy and timid girl, I have no friends because I never got to go school, I help papa at the farm instead. So this confidence is new to me, and short lived.

The sound of nails being drawn across wood fills the silence, making me jump and whimper. "What are you frightened of?" He growls, it was a horrific growl, just like the wolves in the woods. It boldly told anyone hearing it that there will be pain and death.

"Please forgive me for my earlier rudeness, sir. I just don't want to lose my papa too, I am afraid of being alone, I will have to marry someone I do not love just so I will be able to live." I picture my papa slowly dying on his pallet at home, he does not deserve to die, and he is so caring and always works so hard. I feel weak for crying, but I need to let it out.

"You cry little one." He huffs and makes a strangled groan, "go and find Florence, tell her Warren said you need medicine. Then get Marcus to escort you home, the woods are dangerous and you are lucky you made it out with only a few scrapes and bruises." The floor boards creak once again, he is walking away, but I feel something soft and furry brush my arm.

"Oh! Do you have a dog in here?" I ask excitedly, I love dogs! 

"GET OUT!" He roars. I turn and feel for the door handle, my movements are jerky, my chin wobbles and my hands shake in fear, his voice was thunderous. When I find the door, I turn around to see two green orbs staring at me in regret.