— Chapter One —
In Which Vincent Eats a Whole Lot

It was an hour after sundown. The evening blue haze had faded into an ink black, revealing a myriad of stars that winked down on me like fairy lights over a drape of onyx. I grinned as a chilly wind blew past, feeling refreshed as it tousled through my nut brown hair.

"No, Vincent!" A growl penetrated the blissful silence around me. I glanced down to see my old friend, a cat with raven fur blending into the night. He melted into the shadows with ease, so much that only a pair of slit, glowing yellow eyes were visible as they stared up at me.

"No what?" I asked, my gaze flitted back to the gleaming inn before us.

"I know that look, I know it all too well!"

I tried to hide my smile with an innocent expression. "What look?"

"The one you get when you're about to do something stupid."

I waved my hand dismissively. "Oh, you're being silly, Clarence. What could possibly go wrong?"

"Everything, you halfwit! You know what creepy inns in the middle of the woods are? Places witches make to lure idiots like you into them! As much as I'd love to watch you eat your own words, you're all I've got when it comes to breaking this wretched curse."

Make no mistake, this was actually one of Clarence's good days. I wasn't sure whether he was always like this, or the fact that being trapped in a cat's body all these years had turned his personality sour. But knowing that he had to have made a witch angry enough to curse him in the first place was information enough.

My face lit up reassuring smile as I patted his furry head. "Oh, I'll just take a peek. Who knows? Maybe they will break your curse."

Clarence rolled his eyes. "If you don't leave that place by dawn tomorrow, I'll know that you're dead. So make it quick because I'm not loitering around to mourn your dumbass."

"So sweet," I chuckled. "Alright, Clarence. Wish me luck!"

I pushed past the long skeletal branches and made my way towards the glowing cabin. The closer I came, the warmer and more inviting it seemed. It felt as if the wind got chillier, beckoning me into the warm glow further. I gave the wooden door a tentative knock.

The hinges squealed as it swung open only seconds later. Startled, I'm sent jumping back several feet before falling hard on my bottom.

"Oh my! I didn't mean to startle you!" Chirped a sweet voice. I looked up to find a young woman standing in the beacon of golden light. Butterscotch curls tumbled down her shoulders in perfect rivulets, not a strand out of place. Her eyes shone an unnatural blue, making me slightly dizzy as I looked into them. She was pretty in the way a made up face was, lacking all that nature had intended for itself.

I blinked, realizing I had been staring up at her dazedly for several moments by now. I quickly staggered to my feet. "Heh! You didn't. I'm just a bit clumsy."

"Well, alright. My name is Victoria." she smiled warmly. "I'll have a meal and room set up for you right away, then!"

I returned her smile, a bit sheepishly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Victoria. But I don't have any money. I was just curious to see... well, never mind. I'm sorry to have bothered you, I'll be on my way now!"

"Stop!"

My muscles went rigid in that moment, and suddenly my legs went stiff as I was halfway turned around to leave. She laughed nervously, and my body went slack once more.

"I mean..." she giggled. "Please, do stay. We don't take money!"

I shuffled my feet uneasily. "Well, what do you take?"

"Oh, don't worry about that! Come in, there's already a hot meal prepared for you."

My stomach rumbled at that. She spoke with a voice drenched in honey, so much that I hardly heard her words at all, but rather moved into the inn by the promise of her voice alone.

"Wow!" I exclaimed, the little cabin began to morph into something entirely new. A grand mansion, held up with intricately designed pillars painted a pristine white. The blood red carpet felt soft beneath my well worn boots, while endless staircases and doors could be seen from above.

"I do think you'll enjoy your stay here," Victoria purred, pleased with my reaction.

"I've never seen quite so much magic in one place!" I replied excitedly. "Would you be willing to help my friend? He's curse-"

"Yes, yes. Let's discuss that after you eat."

With a snap of her fingers, a large table laden with a plethora of foods was laid out before me. Anything you could think of, things I never dreamed of were set out for me to indulge in. I was not going to let this moment waste. Whole roasted pigs drizzled in tantalizing sauces, perfectly whipped mashed potatoes, soups with hot steam dancing from them.

Having lived off of fruit and nuts for weeks, the sight was incredibly dizzying. A meal fit for a king, one that any other place would be expected to last for several more days.

I looked up at Victoria from my seat with an uncomfortable expression. "But I haven't paid you. I'd hate to waste all of these delicacies you've worked so hard in preparing."

Her laugh pierced the room. "You're a fine gentleman! Eat up."

"Heh. Well, alright!"

I piled my plate and dug in, not minding any manners. Warm with food and wine, I talked and laughed with several other guests that had joined the table. The longer I stayed there, my mind never seemed quite to clear. But perhaps it was just the wine.