Beauty and the Beast

7

November 16

It was odd. Plain and simple. She had been living in the castle now for about six months. She would like to say that it's been wonderful but it really, it's been interesting. She and Lindsey had seen each other briefly. Mainly at meals. The second night that she had been in the castle she finally gave in and ate with him. It was an awkward meal and tense but they talked about full names and likes and dislikes. She had thrown him off guard though when he mentioned that he played guitar and she asked him to play it for her sometime. He flat out refused and then left the dining room. 

Other than that, Stevie's made herself useful. She's found solace in the Library as the growing season had come to an end, but during the warm months, she found herself out in the Garden with Sharon countless times, and in the sewing room with Margi. She aids Christine in the cooking of lunch, even teaching her how to make grilled cheese. Lindsey turned his nose up at it at first, saying it was a commoners meal but once he bit into it, he fell in love immediately. He had softened a little bit, and it was around July when he handed her a stack of paper and a pen saying write to your family. She had to send the letter by carrier pigeon but even so, it was nice getting to speak to them, even if it was only in letters. 

Lily was having the time of her life though. Chip had become fast friends with the little dog and he carriers her around all of the time. Even Max and Lily are buddies. They're always playing together and Max has started sleeping in Stevie's room with her and Lily. 

Stevie was walking towards a staircase she hadn't been on or even noticed up until that point and she slowly ascended the stairs until Mick and John practically jumped in front of her. 

"What are you doing?" Mick asks.

"I'm checking out this staircase." She points.

"Oh, there's nothing in the west wing. It's dusty and dirty. Dark and creepy." John explains. 

"Oh...so this leads to the west wing." She grins walking up another step. 

"West Wing is off-limits, let's not go any further." Mick tries to push her back. 

"What's he hiding?" She asks.

"Nothing, nothing at all." John shakes his head.

"If he wasn't hiding anything then it wouldn't be off-limits." Stevie crosses her arms.

"Let's just forget about it. Come on, let's go to the Library. I know you like it there." Mick puts his hands on her waist and leads her down the stairs. 

Eventually, his hand leaves her hip and she slows down allowing Mick and John to trail ahead of her and she quickly bolts up the stairs as fast as she can in her bulky tan platform boots and blue chiffon dress which Margi had made for her. 

The west wing was spookier than the rest of the house. It felt eerie. There was a broken mirror and several portraits on the walls that had been draped with black chiffon. It dawned on her then that this must have been his family's wing of the castle. She almost turned around but then she didn't. She stepped through the shards of glass and under the scrutinizing gaze of the gargoyles on the walls she pushed on. 

When she got to his doors, she quickly pushed them open and saw a room desegrated in shambles. She almost knocked over a table before she sees the rose. She examines it and takes off the protective glass dome The rose is dying and all she wants to do is put it in some water. As she goes to touch it Lindsey appears. before her, slamming the glass back on top of the rose. 

"Why did you come here?" He spits. 

"I don't know I'm sorry." She shakes her head.

"I warned you to never come here." He growls.

"I didn't mean anything by it." She replies. 

"DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU COULD'VE DONE!" He screeches throwing a chair at her. 

"STOP!" She begs.

He just leaps over the table and puts his hands around her neck pinning her to the floor. She claws against him, her long red fingernails leaving scratches on his hands and she tries to break away. As he's choking her he looks into her brown orbs and he can see the fear behind them and he immediately let's go.  She crab crawls away from him, sputtering as her right-hand caresses at her neck. 

"Get Out." He says quietly.

She freezes. 

"GET OUT!" He screams. 

She's finally knocked to her senses and she turns and runs out. When Lindsey realizes what he had done he looks down at his hands and then over to the rose. Another petal falls and he falls down in his spot. He brings his knees up to his chest and brings his hands to his eyes. He just cries for a moment. Still with tears in his eyes though, he stands up and starts wrecking the already wrecked room more than it was. 

***

Stevie sprints out of his room, tears flooding her vision and slightly tripping over her feet. When she gets down the stairs she calls out for Lily and waits for five minutes. When no evidence of her dog appears she goes to climb up the stairs to her room but she stops when she hears glass breaking from the west wing. She gulps and mourns for her dog but then she just sprints for the door where John and Mick catch up to her.

"Where are you going?" John questions urgently. 

"Promise or no Promise I can't stay here another minute." She pulls the door open and she's met with a snowy, blowy, chilly November wind.  

She doesn't have a coat so she shivers briefly before accepting her fate.

"Oh no, please don't go. You don't even have a coat on. Come on please." Mick begs to no avail as they're met with the door slamming.