Beast.

He wants me to call him Beast. Sure, I've referred to him as that before, yet I wouldn't demean him by claiming that as his official title.

But if that is what he wants, who am I to argue?

I fiddle with a tinted lilac ruffle on my comforter.

He claims that he does not have a name. Does that mean his parents had never named him? Or perhaps he was an orphan. But still, he must have parents to even be born. Was he always a beast? Were his parents the same? All of these unanswered questions, all of these secrets. But it's not like he would place trust in someone who invaded his home.

Then again, he did provide me with an incredible room rather than leaving me to rot in the dungeon.

I take in my exquisite surroundings. Falling face down on my new mattress, I breathe in the scent of fresh linen.

I roll around, entangling myself in the sheets under me.

They're so soft. I think to myself, feeling as though I am in paradise.

I prance around the room, majestic as a horse, seeing all the sights around me. I leap, twirl, dance, even hum a tune, grateful for everything I've been provided; so much space, a lovely room and an enormous castle to live in.

Yet my optimism can only conceal so much, for my satisfaction is not fulfilled. Nor will it ever be until I am reunited with my father in the home I belong in.

Heck, I even miss Antoine! At least having him as a constant nuisance would be a reminder that everything is of the norm and that I'm still at home; not in an unknown place where I could never belong.

I could never imagine a house without my father's whimsical, humorous self.

It's too bad that I'm going to have to live in one for the rest of my life.

For now, I must make the most of my situation. I think to myself.

I dust off my clothes which are still covered in grime from when I laid on the dungeon floor, unaware of my future.

"I do wish that I at least would be provided with extra clothes." I mutter to myself.

A bright light beams and fills the gloomy atmosphere in the room.

"Did you say extra clothes?" An unknown, unperturbed voice asks in response to my statement.

I fall off​ the mattress, startled by the suddenly loud and unfamiliar voice behind me.

I don't even have privacy here? Another reason to despise my living conditions...

"Who's there?" I question, unable to see anything capable of vocal production.

"Over here." The voice says. I slowly scope the room until my eyes land on the only plausible source in this context.

A mirror. One with the face of a young woman, yet not in possession of my own features.

I walk over to it and softly touch its embellished silver frame.

"How... how are you inside this mirror?" I ask.

"Oh sweetie, you don't know yet?"

"What am I supposed to know?"

"The curse. Does that ring a bell?"

Nothing comes to remembrance.

"I suppose you mean that Beast was cursed." I infer.

"Not just him. All of his staff, as well."

"I can assume that you are, but the rest of the servants? What makes them cursed?"

"I'll leave that for you to discover on your own. For now, let's get you changed."

"Changed?"

Suddenly, the two doors next to the mirror began to slide open revealing an enormous closet, answering my question as well. Every inch of space on the walls was occupied by magnificent habiliments that were clearly woven by a meticulous​ designer.

I was dumbfounded, overall in awe of the artistry that was executed throughout the creation of all these raiments.

"I couldn't possibly lay a hand on any of this apparel, let alone wear it. Knowing me, I'd completely ravage them!"

"I opinionate against that. You seem like quite a fine young lady."

"On the exterior, perhaps it may seem so. Yet most say I'm just a hopeless case. I mean, they all say so whenever I crack open a book. I honestly don't understand why books cause everyone else to grimace. They're so fascinating. It whisks me away from the stress of reality. I can travel anywhere I'd like as my eyes graze upon the pages, and it's truly invigorating." I sigh as I imagine what other journeys are waiting for me still.

"Well now that you mention it," the lady in the mirror begins, while tapping her chin as if she's trying to remember something specific.

"I can't say that you're the only one who has a passion fo--"

She stops herself. "Now how about we pick out an outfit for you this evening?"

"What were you about to say?" I ask, since it seems like it was something that shouldn't have been mentioned which makes me even more curious.

"Oh don't worry about it." She dismisses me.

"Please tell me." I prod on.

"I'm sorry Elliana, but it's confidential."

"Then why did you mention-- wait.. how do you know my name?"

She seems relieved that I changed the subject and answers gladly.

"All the servants are aware of everything that goes on in the castle. Unless master wants to keep something secret. Anyways it's only fair that you have something to call me as well, seeing as I know your name. Mine is Lilith."

"That's a lovely name." I smile.

"Why thank you. Now let us get you dressed into something..." she searches for the correct term "less tattered. Just head into the closet beside me, I'll meet you in there." And before I can question it, she​ vanishes into a swirl of thin, lilac colored smoke.

I cautiously step into the closet, careful not to touch anything in fear that even the very oils in my hand will stain any one of the priceless attire in this room.

"Hello again!" Lilith unexpectedly expresses from a smaller mirror directly behind me causing me to flinch.

"My apologies, dear. Now, which one do you believe has caught your eye the most?" She asks.

I kept looking around, not able to stop stealing glances at each one of the exquisitely hand-crafted dresses.

"Oh, I couldn't possibly choose!" I conclude.

"That's alright, the right dress will find its way to you."

Without warning, a beautiful mint-green silk dress adorned with floral patterns and lustrous pearls swishes out of it's perfectly fitted place on the rack and drifts over towards me.

I stretch my arms out, allowing the delicate material to drape over them.

I, a poor college student from a poor provincial town, am being provided a dress of such high class.

"I-I don't know what to say. I'm speechless." I state with my gaze glued to the attire.

Lilith laughs. "I thought it compliments your hair nicely."

I stand there awkwardly.
"Do I change in here or..."
"Don't worry, I'll allow you your privacy." Lilith assures me. "By the way, before you put on the dress, rest your chin on the cushion of that blue egg-shaped contraption over there."
"What? Why do I need--"
I stop talking when she turns around in the frame, her image disappearing all of a sudden.
I cautiously step over to the machine she specified, unaware of its purpose.
It's orb shaped, large enough for a head to fit inside. The object glows an electric blue with a black leather cushion there for me to 'rest my chin' as Lilith instructed.
I guess I'll just follow her directions. I mean, what's the worst it could do?
I do as I was previously told and wait a couple seconds before getting suspicious and wondering whether or not I should truly be trusting her word.
I've only just met her, how must I know she is speaking words of truth?
As my thoughts of curiosity progress, the machine begins to do it's job in a duration of around one minute.
A beige dust is instantly splayed on my cheeks and forehead. As a powder puff comes into contact with my cheek bones, I come to the realization that my makeup is being done. All by machinery, I may add.
In a robotic voice it says "please close your eyes". I do as I'm told, allowing the nozzle to extend and spray a form of dust onto my eyelids. My lips are then stained with a liquid.

Once the process is complete, I proceed with putting on the dress.

After a few minutes of struggling to zip myself up in the dress, I finally get it to its proper position. Afterwards, I carefully take a seat on the one-of-a-kind designer chair in the room and sigh, taking the experience of these past minutes in.
Finally, I exit the closet to meet Lilith on the other side.
Like a magician, she reappears in the mirror on the outside wall.

"Oh Elliana, you look absolutely gorgeous." She gushes.
I giggle and thank her.

"Now, would you like to see yourself?"
"Yes, please!"

The space she occupied on the wall transforms into a mirror once more, reflecting my image.
My eyelids glimmer with what seems to be the dust of morganite. The eyelashes above them delicately curl upwards. My cheeks are tinted with the hue of a cherry blossom. Upon my lips is a lovely shade, reminding me of a velvet rose.
Standing in front of me was a beautiful girl.

And that beautiful girl was me.