The Price of a Rose

Chapter 8

Eve waited for the Beast in the dining room that night. It was getting late and she hadn\'t touched the meal that had been set out for her. She was very worried about him, and rightly so. He had rushed off in such a hurry she was afraid that she had done something to offend him. After several hours had passed she decided to take matters into her own hands. She stepped out of the dining hall and wandered down a hallway that she had never been through. She figured if she wandered around long enough she was sure to find him. The hallway seemed endless, and finally after what seemed like an eternity she came to a grand staircase with faded red carpet. She crept up the stairs until she reached the top and went through another darkened hallway. As she walked she saw pictures that had been ripped and broken mirrors on the walls. The further she walked the colder it became. She passed many rooms, and peeked inside each one. She found nothing but open windows and cobwebs. Eve finally came to the end of the hallway, the last door remaining in front of her. She opened the door and felt a cold gust of wind brush against her and rustle her skirts. The room looked as if it had once been grandly decorated, but something had torn it to shreds like the pictures and mirrors in the hallway. Beautifully embroidered tapestries that once hung on walls were torn down and ripped, more mirrors had been broken and it looked like a heavy wooden drawer had been smashed to pieces. There were deep furrows in the floor leading to the door. Eve guessed it was from someone dragging something large and heavy. In the far corner of the room there was a pallet with several tangled blankets on it. Whoever slept here did not have a restful night. There were double doors, standing open, that led out to a balcony. She stepped onto the balcony and saw that this room was directly above hers. She also had a good view of the grounds. She looked around, straining to see if she could see the Beast in the moonlit night, when she was startled by a voice from behind her.
\"Looking for something?\" asked a familiar rumbling voice. She jumped and turned around. The beast was perched on an outcropping besides the balcony, looking at her. She felt embarrassed at being caught snooping around.
\"I.. I was trying to find you.\" She paused for a moment, not sure of what to say. \"When I didn\'t see you at dinner I got worried.\"
The Beast jumped off the ledge and onto the balcony with fluid grace. He leaned against the railing and let out a long sigh. \"I had to think for a while.\" He replied quietly. Eve drew up her courage and asked the question that was gnawing at her. \"Was it something I said or did?\"
The Beast looked at her; from his movements Eve could tell that the question had startled him.
\"No!\' he said empathetically shaking his head, \"It\'s just..\" he seemed at a lost for words for a moment, \"I\'m just not used to being around anyone else. I\'ve been here by myself for so long.\"
\"It must have been very lonely for you,\" Eve replied softly. \"But you aren\'t alone anymore.\" He nodded and then turned to face her. She could see his green eyes glow in the moonlight. Suddenly a thought popped into her head. \"Beast,\" she said then hesitated for a second, \"Will you do something for me?\"
\"Of course Eve,\" he replied.
\"Your hood, take it off. Please?\"
He paused. She could see he was remembering the last time she had asked him to do this.
\"Are you sure Eve?\" he asked, his voice quavering.
She took his large hand in hers. \"Beast, I want to be your friend. And friendship begins with trust. Do you trust me?\"
\"Yes.. I do.\" He replied softly. He slowly pulled the hood down, his long black hair tumbling onto his broad shoulders. She looked this time free of the fear that had clouded her mind when she had last gazed at his countenance. She did not see the horrifying monster from before but a face that seemed to hold a trace of humanity. His beautiful emerald green eyes shone with sadness as he waited for her to turn away in disgust. His features held a quality that made him seem almost beautiful in a tragic way. She smiled at him, \"See that wasn\'t so bad now, was it?\"
\"You\'re not afraid?\" he asked softly. She shook her head, still smiling. \"No not anymore. Before I was afraid, but I know you now. I know you are not a monster\"
He was silent, at a loss for words. Finally he spoke, \"It\'s getting late. You really must get some sleep.\" Eve nodded, yawning. \"I will,\" she tilted her head and smiled mischievously at him, \"But first thing in the morning we\'re getting rid of all those hoods. From this day on I don\'t want to see you with a hood hiding your face.\"
He gave her a quirky smile, \"Of course Milady,\" he replied giving her a low exaggerated bow. She giggled and bid him farewell, and went to bed to get some well deserved rest.

* * * *

He stood alone on the balcony, his sensitive ears hearing Eve getting ready for bed in her room below. He played back their conversation in his head several times. When she had had looked at him witceptceptance and understanding, instead of disgust or even, Gods forbid, pity, his heart trilled with unbridled joy. She considered him a friend, and he found that he could be content with that.
\"She\'s a pretty little thing, isn\'t she?\" said a dark leering voice from behind him. The Beast bit back a snarl and turned to face Ian.
\"She is none of your concern,\" he replied in a cold stony voice.
Ian laughed, “Oh now, it seems you’re developing some teeth, bratling.” He looked down towards Eve’s balcony.
“You don’t mind if I go down for a visit do you? I’m sure she’d enjoy my company far more than yours.”
The Beast snarled, “Leave her alone. She has nothing to do with this.”
\"What makes you think you can do anything to stop me?\" Ian sneered
At this the Beast grinned, which caused an expression of puzzlement and suspicion to cross Ian\'s face. \"Actually I can do several things to stop you,\" he said in a pleasant voice. As he was speaking, vine began to silently wrap around Ian\'s legs. When Ian had finally noticed the vines tightened, holding him firmly intoce. ce.
\"What the hell?!\" the mage cried as the vines began to ensnare his arms. The Beast leaned against the railing of the balcony and grinned, showing sharp gleaming fangs. \"I\'ve developed some magic of my own during these long years alone here, but I\'ve never felt compelled to use it,\" at this he pause, his grin vanishing and his face going stony, \"Until now. If you so much as touch her..\"
\"I\'ll do anything I please, bratling,\" the mage hissed as he exerted his powers, burning his vine bonds. He drew back his arm to conjure a ball of flame to strike the Beast down, when a firm hand grasped his wrist He turned to bring his wrath down on the one who had the gall to stop him, but then froze in his tracks. There stood Oberon, with a smug look upon his face.

Chapter 9

\"Ahh… Ian,\" sighed Oberon, who was casually leaning on the balcony railing. He held Ian\'s wrist with a black leather clad hand. \"Here you go again, meddling in affairs that you claimed to have washed your hands of.\" He shook his head, pulling his cousins hand down and released it as soon as it was at his side. Ian stood shocked for a moment, but quickly recovered.
\"Stay out of this Oberon,\" he said softly, \"The bratling is mine.\"
Oberon reached out and took a firm hold of his cousin\'s chin and turned it so that they were face to face. \"You gave up any claims to him that night in Arcadia, Ian. You forced my hand so I would take responsibility for the mess that you made.\" He let go of Ian\'s face, and the younger man scowled slightly. \"So I am now responsible for the \"bratling\" as you\'re so fond of calling him. And I don\'t want you interfering with him anymore,\" Oberon grinned showing sharp white teeth, \"Understand?\"
Ian fumed but did not defy Oberon. He did not relish being striped of his powers and becoming one of the mortals that he so despised. Not trusting himself, he tuned away from Oberon\'s smirking face, and transformed instantly into his hawk form. He took off into the air and disappeared instantly in a swirl of black mist..
The Beast turned to Oberon, \"Thank you,\" he said in his soft rumbling voice. Oberon shrugged, \"Don\'t thank me. I know my cousin has done grievous damage to you. I cannot begin to make up for that.\"
They both stood silent for a moment, not really knowing to say to each other, when finally the Oberon cleared his throat, \"I must be off now.\" He turned to leave but cast a glance back at the Beast. \"Take care of her.\"
The Beast nodded, \"I wil
At
At that Oberon took the form of a silver wolf and disappeared.

* * * * * *

Ian may have promised to leave the Beast alone, but he made no such promises about the girl. Like any true predator, he bided his time. He waited exactly two months after the confrontation between himself, the bratling and Oberon. He watched them carefully, determining when the most opportune moment to strike. Ian saw that the more time the Beast spent with Eve, the more he had to go out and feed his blood hunger. Ian smiled smugly to himself. Apparently the bratling was cutting out on his sleep time so he could spend more time with his slut. He would only go hunting when he was sure she was asleep. Perfect. Ian waited one night until he was sure the girl was asleep and the Beast was far from the castle. He soared in through her open window in his hawk form. He changed into his natural shape before his feet touched the ground. He looked at the girl who was sound asleep, wrapped in sheets of velvet and silk. He would of loved to take her, awake and screaming, but the brattling would probably hear and come to her rescue. No, he would take her in her sleep. He cast a spell that would keep her under until he left. Then the next time the bratling came near her, he would smell that someone else had taken her. Ian undid the buckles on his black leather outfit, exposing lean muscles and his fully engorged member. He licked his lips and slowly pulled the blankets off of her prone form. She wore a simple nightgown and nothing else. Ian chucked darkly. Dressed like that, she was asking for someone to take her.. He slowly crawled over her body, taking in her sweet scent. He roughly pulled down the front of her gown to expose creamy breasts tipped with rose nipples. He smiled and began to pull her gown up over her hips, parting her legs. Eve stirred slightly, her brow furrowing, and tried to close her legs. Ian roughly pushed them open and wedged himself in between. Before he could force himself into her, someone grabbed him by his long braid and threw him across the room. Ian crashed solidly into a wall, and fell onto the floor. He looked up, with a snarl on his face.
Standing before him, in all her fury, was Titania. Her green eyes blazed with hatred as she stood between Ian and the girl.
Ian stood up and sneered at her. “What the hell do you think your doing?”
“I am stopping you from committing an atrocity Ian,” She hissed at him, “Oberon told you to leave theses people in peace.”
“I promised to leave the Bratling alone.” He snarled, “I said nothing about his little slut.” Ian narrowed his eyes and looked at her with suspicion, “Why are you so interested in the fates of these pitiful humans?”
“That’s my concern,” sheliedlied her voice like ice. Ian looked at her a moment longer as if a realization had just dawned upon him. A leering grin broke across his face.
“Ah, now I know.. It hadn’t occurred to me before, but now that I think about it, it can’t just be coincidence.”
“What are you talking about?” Titania asked, trying to feign indifference, but Ian could hear a trace of panic.
“You and the bratling. The same eyes, the same hair, the same annoying attitude.” He chuckled. “I bet Oberon would be quite upset to find out about your little indiscretion.”
“I would have been,” replied a deep voice from behind the both of them. Both Titania and Ian turned to see Oberon standing at the window. “If I didn’t already know.” He walked towards his wife and pulled her close to him. “Now Ian I warned you before to leave. Now I am ordering you. If I see you come anywhere near these people again, I will personally turn you into a banana slug..” Ian quailed and fled the room.
Titania stayed quiet for a moment, then turned to look at her husband. “So.. you knew.”
“I suspected.” He replied softly, “You were very concerned about his welfare. And when I saw him up close, I could see the similarities.”
“You.. You’re not angry?”
“I should be..” he said shaking his head, “But I have no right to complain. You had left me because I had hurt you, badly. It was only fair that you..”
Titania put her fingers to his mouth, interrupting the rest of what he was going to say.
“My love, Thank you. We are different people now than we were back then. I love you and will always love you. I was afraid if you knew that you would hate me.. and hurt him. He is an innocent in all this.”
“I know my Queen,” he smiled softly at her, “He’s gone through enough. Now let us leave here.” He pulled her into his arms. “I have plans for you to make atonement to me,” Oberon purred seductively.
“Mmm, I’m all yours lover,” she replied, as she nibbled on his cheek. They disappeared in a gust of wind and mist. Eve, who had been all but forgotten, had stayed under Ian’s spell until the presence of the Faye had left the room. Once they were gone, she sat upright, Ian’s taint still fresh on her skin. She screamed one word before curling into a ball and sobbing uncontrollably.
“BEAST!!!!!!!!”

* * * * * *

The Beast headed back towards the castle after an hours worth of fruitless hunting. His fatigue outweighed the growling of his blood Hunger. He could barley keep his eyes open as he walked up the castle path, intent on sleeping until dawn. Suddenly he heard a scream that made the fur on the back of his neck stand up straight.
“BEAST!!!!!!!”
It was Eve! The fatigue dropped from his body like a blanket as he sprinted into the castle and towards her room. He threw open the door to find Eve curled up on her bed, rocking back and forth, sobbing. The beast sniffed the air and could smell Ian’s scent in the room. He snarled in anger and cursed himself for leaving Eve alone. He walked over to her bed, not really sure what to do. He sat at the edge on her bed and placed a tentative hand on her shoulder.
“Eve?” he said in a small voice.
She looked up at him and sat up, wrapping her arms around him. “Oh Beast! It.. It was awful. I had a horrible nightmare about a man and he tri.. tried to..” She broke off in another fit of sobbing.
“It’s alright, its ok..” he crooned softly as he drew her into his lap. He could smell that all Ian had done was apparently grab her. No damage was done to her.. innocence… Luckily something stopped him. He sat with her on his lap, patting her soft hair, and whispering comforting words in her ear. Eventually her sobbing died off and she sat quietly with her head against his chest.
“Beast,” she said quietly, “Um could you… Could you please stay with me tonight?” She looked up at him, her fear still apparent in her eyes. “I.. I don’t think I would be able to sleep alone tonight..”
The Beast was momentarily speechless. “Uh.. Ok, I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep. Alright?”
Eve nodded and slid off his lap. She crawled under the covers and held up an edge so he could join her. After a moments hesitation he crawled in next to her. She snuggled up to him, her arm draped over his chest, burying her face against his soft fur.
\"Mmm Beast? You smell like roses.\"

Beast chuckled. \"Does that bother you?\"

\"No...\" She replied giggling. \"It’s nice..\"
She hugged his tight and closed her eyes. Beast chanted softly, to soft for Eve to hear, a sleeping spell, so that when she fell asleep, he would be able sneak off without waking her. It would also make sure she got a least an eight hour sleep without interruption. After about five minutes her breathing had evened so that he knew that she was asleep. His own eyes were dropping as his fatigue returned tenfold. I’ll just stay for another five minutes, he thought to himself. And then I’ll go to my own bed…

* * * * * *


Beast awoke with a start, feeling warm, soft flesh against his cheek. He opened his eyes and nearly cried out in despair. He was straddled over Eve. At some point during the night he had pulled up her gown over her hips and hap pulled her legs over his waist and was thrusting his pelvis against hers. He had also pulled down the front of her gown and was nuzzling her chest. The only thing that had saved her virginity was that fact that the monster inside him, did not have the presence of mind to take off his pants. He stopped mid-movement, both disgusted and ashamed of himself.

The voice in his head screamed anew. She’s asleep, she’d never know. Must go inside her taste her. Fuck her Fuck her FUCK HER! He almost listened to the voice, almost undid the front of his breeches to let loose his painfully hard erection, but he couldn’t do this to her. He stayed over her, breathing hard, trying to gain his composure, when suddenly Eve lifted her arms to his waist, urging him to continue his thrusting.
“please don’t stop,” she murmured in her sleep. Beast pulled away from her, as if she was made of fire.
“Gods what have I done.. what did I almost do…” he whispered as he gingerly pulled her gown back in place and tucked her under her bedcover. The room was heavy with the scent of roses, the smell of his arousal. He bolted out of her room, to his own room at the top floor. Even though he was horrified and sick to his heart at what had happened, his body was still begging for release.

After he had bolted his door behind him, he stalked to his bed pulling off his breeches and flung himself onto his pallet. He stared up at the ceiling trying to ignore the hard member of flesh that lay pulsing against his stomach. Eve’s words haunted him, and he remembered the way her hair felt under his hand, the taste of her skin, and the smell of her own arousal. His hand moved down, of it’s own violation and brushed against his velvety flesh. He gasped at the sensation, and continued to run his fingers across the blood-engorged member. His eyes closed and an imaged appeared of Eve, totally nude, lying on her stomach, her pert behind raised in the air and her legs spread wide. He could see himself going into her deep and hard as she screamed at every pelvic thrust. A groan escaped from his lips as his hips began to buck against his hand, unconsciously. He imagined himself nuzzling the back of her neck, tracing his sharp fangs over her skin. Then he bit down hard on to the scruff of her neck as he thrust into her harder and harder. Beast let out a strangled cry as this final image pushed him over the edge, his seed spilling across his stomach. Tears of shame ran down his cheeks as he sat up and used a tattered shirt to clean himself up.

* * * *

Eve awoke to the smell of roses in the air. She turned and found that the beast had left some time during the night. A faint blush rose to her cheeks. She had a dream where she and the beast had.. It must have been a strange after effect of her previous nightmare. The beast was her friend, nothing more. Suddenly a feeling of great loneliness fell over her. She missed her father, her home. She just wanted to see him one more time. She got dressed finally and wandered around the castle. The beast was nowhere to be seen. Her depression grew until she was surround in a haze of sadness. Finally it was time for dinner. She trudged to the dining room and sat down. She wasn’t really hungry so she pushed her food around her plate.
\"You\'re very quiet tonight,\" the Beast said, interrupting her thoughts. She looked up startled, into his inquisitive eyes, and then blushed. He had sneaked into the room without her even noticing.
\"I\'m sorry,\" she said, \"It\'s just I\'ve been thinking about my father lately. I miss him so much...\"
She could feel tears trickling down her cheeks and she quickly rubbed her eyes to wipe them away. When she looked up again, the Beast was no longer sitting across from her but crouching next to her, looking at her, his face filled with sorrow. She knew he was feeling horrible, because it was he who took her away from her family. He raised his large hand and brushed it against her cheek, wiping the tears that lingered there.
\"It is my fault that you are unhappy here,\" he rumbled softly as he cast his eyes downward, not being able to look her in the eye, \"But maybe I can make it up to you.\"
He held out his velvet-gloved hand and Eve could see a swirling light gathering in his palm. The light finally formed into a small ornate hand-held mirror, the only intact mirror that Eve had seen in this castle, not counting the one in her room. She also saw it reflected everything in the room, but the Beast. He took her hand and gave her the mirror. It buzzed faintly with magic and Eve could see her reflection distorting and swirling as if it was made of water.
\"Think of what you want to see the most and it will appear on the mirror,\" He said softly as she brought it up to her face. The surface of the mirror fogged over then cleared to reveal the image on her father. He looked so weak and pale that she burst into tears.
\"Beast! I must got see him,\" she cried, \"He\'s dying..\" She began sobbing.
She felt the Beast\'s strong arms wrap around her and draw her into a comforting hug. She cried against his chest as she could feel him softly stroking her hair. Fin her her sobs tapered off into sniffles and she looked up at her friend. His eyes were filled with inner turmoil.
\"Eve, I will let you go see him,\" he said in a gruff voice, \"But I can only let you leave for a week. Any longer and I will die..\"
\"What?\" She drew back, studying his face for any signs of illness. He smiled softly at her, and there was such sadness to it that she felt as if she would cry again.
\"You have become a part of the magic here, Eve. If you leave forever, everything good in this place would fade away and I would die,\" he said in a sorrowful tone, \"Will you come back, my little beauty?\"
\"Of course!\" she cried, \"I don’t want you to die! You are my friend and it would break my heart if you did.\"
A flash of bitter sadness crossed his face and he stood up. He pulled off one of his velvet gloves to reveal his large hand. He pressed his large embroidered glove into her small hand.
\"Before you go to bed tonight place this on your hand. It will take you back to your home,\" He pulled a necklace from around his neck that she had never noticed before. Hanging from it was a small silver key. He placed it around her dainty neck. She looked up at him questioningly.
\"This key is to a small pavilion behind the castle. You\'ve never seen it, because it is hidden from prying eyes. Only the holder of the key can see it and open it\'s doors. Inside is all my earthly wealth and magic. If I die it will be there for you to take, for you and your family.\"
\"But Beast,\" she protested, \"I don\'t want your treasure, I don\'t want you to die.\"
\"I know Eve,\" he said softly, \"This is my way of showing you that I trust you explicitly\"
He stood, and pushed a lock of her strawberry blonde hair away from her face. He knelt down and placed a soft kiss upon her forehead. \"Eve, do not forget your friend, Beast..\"
He turned and disappeared into the darkness.

Chapter 10

Eve sat in her room, looking down at the velvet glove the Beast had given her. Her fingers traced over the intricate designs along the edges, and she smiled to herself. The Beast had placed a lot of trust in her and she didn\'t want to let him down. He was very dear to her, the best friend she ever had, but she missed her father so very much.. She would keep her promise, and come back after she made sure her father was well. Her eyes welled up with tears as she thought of the look on his face before he left her, and her hand went to her throat where the key was hanging. She shook her head to try and shake off her melancholy mood. She was going home, even if for just a moment. As the scent of roses drifted up to her, Eve stood up out of bed and walked to the balcony. She looked down as she was placing the glove on her hand, and she saw the Beast enter the garden below. She wanted to call out to him, but she could feel the magic of the glove wash over her body, making her unable to speak. The last thing she remembered was the sound of a sad, mournful cry that echoed from the garden.

* * * * * *

Eve felt as if for a moment she was flying, as she was bathed in a warm, bright light that enveloped her like a cocoon. Then the feeling faded away. She could hear the cracking of a blazing fire. She opened her eyes and found herself in her father\'s room. He lay, sleeping restlessly in his large bed. He was so pale, and he had lost a lot of weight. He began to mumble softly, calling out to her. Eve rushed to his side and showered him with kisses.
\"Father, father,\" she cried,\" I’m home! Please wake-up!\"
He opened his eyes to behold his daughter in all her beauty, \"Am I dead?\" he whispered, \"Am I seeing an Angel in the form of my lost child? Or am I dreaming?\"
She smiled down at him as she felt her tears falling down her cheeks and landing on his face.
\"No father, its no dream and you’re not dead. I’m here,\" she hugged him tightly.
\"Eve, you came back. You\'re safe!\" He gave her a good look, drinking in every detail of her that he had missed during these long months. She looked like a princess out of a fairytale.
\"You must tell your sisters and Anton that your back,\" said before he broke out into a coughing fit. It subsided after a few minutes, and he smiled weakly at her. She was loathed to leave him, but he insisted. She paused at the door and took another look at him, before she descended down the stairs to see her sisters.

* * * * * *

\"I hate this!\" exclaimed Amelia as she looked at her broken nail in dismay. \"Washing is so beneath me. We should have servants doing this. Eve should be doing this!\"
\"Stop complaining,\" muttered Felicity, as she finished hanging up bed sheets. \"Eve is gone and you shouldn\'t speak ill of the dead. Anyways it\'s just a broken nail.\" She was getting thoroughly sick of her older sister\'s complaining.
\"Just a broken nail?!\" Amelia screeched. She threw the load of freshly cleaned laundry on the ground, and to Felicity\'s horror, stomped all over it getting it covered with dirt. She sneered at her sister.
\"You bitch!\" Felicity screamed launching herself at her sister. Her fists went flying as both girls began to pull each other\'s hair, screaming at the top of their lungs. Anton, who had been chopping wood, heard the catfight and shook his head. He ran to the two women, trying to get between them, but ended up getting scratched for all his trouble. The three of them fell into a messy heap of twitching body limbs.
\"Umm.. Hello?\" asked a soft voice in front of them.
The three of them stopped their struggling, disentangled themselves and looked up. In front of them was a finely dressed lady in a black velvet gown, with red lace at the throat and sleeves. Scattered on the bodice were rubies and opals that sparkled in the sunlight. Her strawberry blonde hair flowed loose down her shoulders and small rubies hung from her ears. They looked at her with slack-jawed amazement. Felicity felt her face flush with embarrassment. The lady smiled and Felicity recognized her immediately.
\"Oh my god.. Eve?\"
Eve smiled down at her sister and reached down to take her hand to help her up. Felicity took the offered hand and stood up. Anton jumped up and immediately hugged Eve.
\"You\'re alive!\" he said holding her in a bear hug and swinging her around.
\"Anton please,\" she managed to gasp, \"I can\'t breathe.\" He put her down and gave her a sheepish grin.
\"We though you were dead,\" Felicity said, \"We thought the Beast killed you!\"
\"No,\" said Eve softly shaking her head as her fingers played with a silver key that she wore on a chain around her neck, \"He is my friend, He would never harm me.\"
Felicity noticed as Eve had been disengaging herself from Anton\'s embrace that Amelia was hanging back, looking at Eve with intense ha.
.
\"So how long are you staying with us humble peasants?\" Amelia sneered.
Eve looked surprised at Amelia\'s hostility. \"I.. I’m here for a week I promised the Beast I would come back.\"
\"What?!\" Anton\'s face flushed, \"You can\'t go back, Eve! I won\'t allow it!\"
\"I must go back, I made a promise.\" She shook her head as if she were trying to sort through her thoughts, \"Look, let\'s go inside and I\'ll tell you the whole story.\" Her hand took Anton\'s and led him back into the cottage. Felicity followed but noticed that Amelia had stayed behind, with a look upon her face that made a cold chill run down her back. Amelia\'s eyes caught her sister\'s and she smiled an evil leering grin. Felicity scowled back and hurried inside.

* * * * * *

Amelia finally went into the cottage, as Eve, who was siting in front of the fireplace surrounded by Anton and Felicity, was in the middle of her story. She told a tale of an enchanted castle filled with iibleible servants and a beautiful rose garden. Amelia did her best to ignore her sister\'s voice as white-hot jealousy welled up inside her. Then Eve got to the part about the pavilion with the Beast\'s treasure. That got Amelia\'s attention immediately.
\"Why did he tell you about that?\" she asked trying to keep her tone neutral and polite. Eve looked up, startled, \"Because he trusts me,\" She replied in a soft tone, her hand moving up to a small silver key that hung about her neck. The movement was not lost on Amelia.
\"Eve,\" Anton said in a pleading tone, \"why must you go back? You have to stay, I want to marry you.. If you’ll have me.\"
Amelia rolled her eyes. Anton\'s obsession with making Eve his wife was sickening.
Eve blushed madly and avoided looking into Anton\'s eyes.
\"You know I can\'t. I told you, the Beast would die if I left him.\"
\"One would think you had feelings for him,\" Amelia muttered under her breath.
Eve turned a darker shade of red, and Felicity threw Amelia a dirty look, but Anton was totally oblivious to the comment.
\"I\'m going to check on father,\" Eve said in a subdued voice, \"I bid you all goodnight.\"
\"I\'ll come with you,\" Felicity said, throwing Amelia one last look before she joined her younger sister.
Anton sat there looking longingly after Eve, when Amelia was struck by an idea.
\"Anton, you love Eve don\'t you?\" she asked in a pleasant tone.
\"With all my heart,\" he replied, his eyes still on the staircase where Eve had gone.
\"Would you do anything to keep her here?\" she asked as she drew closer to him.
\"Yes,\" he whispered as he turned his gaze to her.
\"Good,\" she replied as a predatory grin spread across her face, \"That’s just what I wanted to hear.\"
Chapter 11

It was as if Eve had never left. She went back to cleaning, washing and taking care of her father. The only thing that had changed was that Felicity actually helped out. Felicity was become a fast friend. Eve told her everything about her time at the castle, and her sister was eager enough to listen. Eve talked much about the beast and how kind he was. At first Felicity was skeptical, but after a while she began to see Eve’s feelings for the Beast.
“I can see why you want to go back,” Felicity said, “He’s treated you much better than we ever had.” Felicity gave her sister a sorrowful look. “Can you ever forgive me for being so horrible to you?”
“Of course!” Eve cried as she embraced her. Finally Felicity had become the sister Eve had always wanted. Amelia, on the other hand, was just as spiteful as ever. She sneered at her sisters and did nothing to help around the house, but Eve didn\'t mind. This was the way it always was and she was quite used to it. To her relief Amelia seemed to keep Anton busy. He would keep throwing her pitiful glances now and then, but otherwise he stayed away. Life was so busy at the cottage that she did not notice how quickly the days went by. Her father was getting his color back and was actually getting out of bed for small walks and the house was cleaner than it had ever been since she had left. She was happy that she was with her family, but she knew that she had to go back to the Beast soon. The day she had to leave her father became ill again and she thought one more day wouldn\'t hurt. Then that one day turned into two, and two days turned into three. The longer she stayed, the worse she felt and she would become quiet and distant. Such a mood struck her, as she was busy serving dinner to her father and Amelia. Felicity was in the kitchen, cleaning the pots and pans they used to make their meal. Her father noticed how quiet she was.
\"Eve,\" he asked, his voice filled with concern, \"Are you alright?\"
\"She\'s just mopping,\" sneered Amelia, \"She probably misses her life of luxury and feels she\'s tond tnd to serve us anymore.\"
\"Amelia! Stop that!\" their father scolded. Amelia just went on as if she didn\'t even hear him.
\"Tell me Eve,\" she purred, \"Does he have hidden charms? Is that why you want to go back to him? Because you missed being fucked by the beast?\"
Eve stood frozen for one moment, and suddenly threw the pitcher of water she was holding at Amelia’s head. Her rage made her aim faulty, but it crashed into the wall, mere inches away from her sister. Everyone stood in stunned silence at Eve’s outburst. She ran from the room as her father called after her. She reached her room and tossed herself upon the bed, and burrowed her head into the pillows. Eve curled into a little ball and cried herself into a deep sleep. She was dead enough to the world that she didn\'t notice the figure that slipped into her room. The figure carefully pushed aside Eve\'s reddish gold tresses to reveal the chain that hung about her neck. The intruder deftly undid the latch and pulled the necklace and it\'s prized key away. Key in hand the intruder slipped quietly out the door and left Eve to her troubled dreams.

* * * * * *

\"Do you have it?\" asked Anton as Amelia came downstairs. She took off hhawlhawl to show off the chain that hung around her neck, with the silver key attached to it. She grinned maliciously, \"It was like taking candy from a baby.\"
A dark look crossed Anton\'s face, \"If you hurt her…\"
\"I didn\'t even touch her,\" Amelia sneered, \"She was sleeping.\"
Anton shook his head.
\"I don\'t know about this. Maybe we shouldn\'t do this.\"
\"Don\'t be an idiot Anton,\" Amelia replied. She took Anton\'s face in her hands so she could look him right in the eye. \"Look all we have to do is go to the castle and kill the Beast. Then Eve will be all yours and you\'ll have his treasure to support her.\"
Anton nodded, \"Ok. I\'m in. Problem is how are we going to get there…\"
Suddenly they were interrupted as the door leading to the kitchen slammed open. Felicity stood in the doorway, seething.
\"How could you?\" she cried as she turned a baleful glance on Anton, \"She trusted you!\"
\"I\'m doing this because I love her!\" he snarled back, \"I won\'t let her go back to that monster.\"
\"The only monsters I see here are you two,\" Felicity spat. “If you kill him, she’ll never forgive you. She doesn’t love you, she loves him!”
Anton stared at Felicity, his jaw agape. “What? You’re mad!” he snarled. “She couldn’t possibly love him!”
Felicity gave him a scathing glare.
“It’s plain to see, if only you’d look! I want her to be happy.” She headed towards the stairwell, \"I won\'t let you do this to her!\"
he mhe made to go pass Anton, he suddenly grabbed her and placed a hand over her mouth to prevent her from screaming.
\"We don\'t have time for this,\" commented Amelia, \"Put her in the pantry and lock her in.\"
As Anton did as he was told, Amelia thought she could hear hoof beats coming towards the house. She opened the door was stunned to see Storm Runner pawing at the ground in front of the house. A sly grin spread across her face.
\"Anton,\" she called, \"It\'s time we were off to kill a monster..\"