Between A Rose And Its Thorns (ON HOLD)

Facing the Beast

Lucinda's point of view

"You're sure?" The words slip from my lips. This doesn't make sense? Why would he want to get rid of her?

She sniffs and wipes away a tear. "Who else could it be?" She mumbles, her eyes staring into mine. Something was in those eyes, something I've never seen before in them. Isabelle would never lie to me.... would she? She bites her lip, and shakes her head. "I don't know what to do, Lucinda! He... he wants me out! But... b-but he won't... won't let me leave! What am I suppose to do?" She whispers, her eyes begging me to help her.

Whether it is him or not, I'm not going to let my sister get hurt.

I drop my hands and turn away from her.

"Lucinda? Where are you going?" I ignore her and grab the door handle once I'm close enough. "Lucinda! What-!" I open the door. "Lucinda!" I stop, a hand pulling me back from going through the door.

Isabelle looks up at me. "What?" I snap.

"What are you going to do?" She asks, her eyes widen as I pull my wrist from her grasp.

"What I should have done the moment I come to this castle." I say and walk out of the room.

I can't believe this! Someone has been threatening my sister! I grit my teeth and walk toward the Beast's study. No one cared to tell me? Did the servants know? Were they in on it?!

I make a sharp turn, my fists clenching at each new thought going through my mind.

I thought we were safe! I thought we could stay here and hide away from that awful little town! But no! This place is just as bad as that old provincial life! Perhaps even worse!

I stop in front of the familiar wood door.

Whether he was the one who sent those letters or not, I won't risk Isabelle's safety a moment longer!

I open the door, revealing the beast's study. And sure enough, there he sat, in the giant chair Jonah and I had sat in together and still had room, however... now it looked extremely small with the beast in it.

His ears perked up as I walked in. I slam the door behind me and cross my arms. Yet he did not look up from his desk, he kept staring at something on the papers in front of him.

I clear my throat and walk closer to his desk. He looks up and shoves the papers into a drawer, quickly shutting it before I could even had a glance on what could been on those papers.

"That was a short talk, wasn't it? I would have thought you would want to-."

"I want to leave." I cut him off. This catches his attention, his eyes lock with mine. I could see his tail flicking back and forth behind him.

"Pardon?" He says, standing from the chair. I hold back a wince at the sound of the wood groaning under his weight.

"You heard me, I want to leave, and Isabelle will be coming with me." I say with my chin high. The beast is three heads-at least- taller than me, I need him to see I'm serious about this.

His hands slam onto the desk, I gulp as he dug his claws into the delicate wood. "Lucinda, I don't understand. Just an hour ago, you told me you hated that village and now you want to go back?" I meet his gaze, his blue eyes staring deeply into my own. "What is this really about, Lucinda?"

"Can I not change my mind?" I snap. "What if I like it better over there? At least at the village I was free to do whatever I wanted! I can't do anything here! I'm always being watched!"