Beauty Is Found Within

The Enchantress spoke, "Until you learn to love another and earn their love in return, only then will the spell upon you be broken. If you cannot, you will remain a beast for all eternity. Remember this, only love can thaw a frozen heart." Repulsed by his haggard appearance he fled from the sight of the enchantress and back to the castle. Where he confined himself to ruling from the shadows, just like his father.

That was the year where winter did not leave. The winds grew stronger, bringing more and more bitter cold air with them. The kingdom grew weak. There was little food and the people were starting to lose hope. Then, one day a letter arrived at every home in the kingdom: there was to be a ball held at the palace. Everyone was invited, and everyone went. The time spent in the palace was grand.

That was until one of the guests went missing. A young woman was escorted from the ballroom and was never seen again. Spring returned for a short time, and then winter crashed back down upon the land. And another ball was held. People were skeptical and did not want to attend, but they had no choice. Yet another guest went missing, another woman. The parties continued annually. Everyone in the kingdom was forced to go and every year, another person was escorted away. Most years it was a woman, one year it was a man. It has been six years since the beginning and winter is coming, after yet another short spring. It is time for another masquerade.