Kat jerked awake.

Her body felt numb and cramped, but it wasn't that which had awakened her, but a mild suffocation sensation, as if something foreign squeezed her lungs.

She took in a sharp breath, but it didn't feel any better. Her limbs ached and she winced as she forced herself from her sitting position into a standing one.

So many thoughts had chased each other in her mind after the beast had gone, that she'd finally succumbed to exhaustion and she'd dozed off.

She blinked, trying to gauge her surroundings. The sun had sunk beyond the horizon so only the feeble light of the moon lit the darkness.

Around her, all stood silent. Not even a whisper of wind could be heard within the castle. The peace didn't fool her. It meant nothing.

But after listening carefully for what felt like over a half an hour, she couldn't take the pressure in her chest any longer. It felt as if the cell was drawing the life out of her. So, swallowing heavily, she unlocked the door and stepped out. No one attacked from the shadows. Though she honestly doubted the raging beast would bother with stealth.

With slow, careful steps, she made her way back into the entrance hall. The further she moved from the prison, she could breathe more, fill her lungs accordingly with much needed air.

But she felt breathless again once she reached the hall. As expected, it was filled with broken wood and marble. Most of the portrait frames showed the clumsy paintings that proved the inhabitants had left the castle. Kat couldn't blame them. The beast was as terrifying as Cage was compelling.

"Thank the gods you're okay," Joey breathed the moment he caught sight of her. "I thought he might have hurt you. What happened?"

"I don't know," she whispered, moving closer to him. "We were out in the garden and he was really..." Intimate. "Nice to me. Then all of a sudden, he just... Arched and told me to run." That couldn't even begin to describe the chill, the sound of popping bones. She wondered if it hurt as badly as it sounded.

The pained look on Joey's face broke her heart all over again. It also made her realize he knew something.

"Why did that happen, Joey?"

Joey sighed deeply. "That's his curse, Kat."

"What exactly is his curse? How does it work? I thought it was the wolf head, but we both know that's not it."

"Be quiet, boy," Sir William said before Joey could open his mouth. "No offense, Miss Kat, but we can't tell you that. It is between you and-- the Duke."

Kat narrowed her eyes. She was sure Sir William had almost dropped his name. "What's his name?"

"Don't you just call him Beast anyway?" Joey asked, very obviously avoiding the answer.

"I can't call him Beast!" Why was the man's name such a mystery?

"Why not? He is one."

This couldn't go on. She was sick of pretending and all the secrecy. "I know he's not a wolf man. That he's wearing a mask."

Kat had never thought portraits could go pale, but both Joey and William did for some reason.

"Did you... Did you see him?" William whispered.

"Not fully, just his back, but I know he's a man. Not a beast. You called him Cage."

William winced, but Joey's lips quirked into an amused smile.

"Cage is a most fitting name for him. Both figuratively and realistically speaking."

"But it's not his real name."

The portraits didn't answer, but it was clear she had spoken the truth. And her suspicion was confirmed. But even if not his real name, she had to admit it fit him rather well. Maybe because he was entrapped, or because she was his prisoner. Or maybe because she'd gotten used to thinking of him that way.

"Where is he?"

Joey and William didn't answer, but looked over her shoulder, towards the door to the work room, and it was enough.

"You should get out of here while you can," Joey whispered. "You cut it very close. And he really wouldn't want to hurt you."

She agreed with that. Which was exactly why she couldn't just leave him. Not like this. Joey confirmed what she already knew, and the more she thought about it, the more she was disgusted by her behavior that morning.

Cage had real issues, a curse which broke his bones and ruined his life, and all she'd been trying to do was use him to escape.

Escape to what? Tending to her father, dodging Donnie's pestering, and going back to being the village pariah? At the moment, all of that sounded unbearable.

Yes, she loved her father and wanted more news about him, but Cage had been right. He was a grownass man and had to start acting like one. If delaying her departure would help Cage, she was all for it.

"Why would you stay?" Sir William asked.

"Because he offers me everything. Because he doesn't judge me. Because he encourages me to learn and think for myself." Because he was a mystery and she was very curious. Because he was her cage and her escape.

My Cage...

William looked like he was spoon-fed mandrake. Joey's face also scrunched, as if he were in pain.

"What's going on?"

The men stayed silent. She scowled at them, but they weren't impressed.

"You want to help him, don't you?" Joey finally asked.

"Yes. I know he's lonely, as am I. I could at least ease that pain for him."

"Maybe you shouldn't get involved in this," William said. "It is a dangerous path to take. Very dangerous."

"Not get involved? I'm up to my neck in it already!"

"Are you?" Joey asked, his voice filled with enthusiasm.

Kat was starting to get whiplash from their behavior. She didn't understand anything anymore and it made her feelings and thoughts run amok. She couldn't even figure herself out, why she couldn't just walk away from this. But somewhere deep inside she felt this was her story. Her own magical adventure, centered around a man she couldn't even begin to understand.

Someone who didn't want to hurt her, but was forced by evil magic because he dared like her. And like her not because she was beautiful, but because of who she was.

Her beauty is the least impressive thing about her.

"I need to see him."

"Not the best idea," Joey said, raising his hands and making some completely useless calming motions.

Kat knew that. She also had a plan this time. So she strode to the castle door. She'd leave it open so she could run out and around the castle and find a great place to hide if the beast showed its face again. This time, she just wanted to talk to Cage.

She reached the door and pulled the handle. It didn't budge. She pulled harder, but it still didn't move. It was locked. He'd locked her inside.

Her plan shattered, and a new, much stupider one took over. She always had the dungeon, as much as she dreaded the idea of going back there. So she marched back to the door to his work room and slammed her fist against it.

"Cage? I know you're in there." She pounded again, but there was no answer. "Really, your portraits already gave you away." When she received no answer, she pressed down the door handle. Unsurprisingly enough, it didn't work. He'd locked himself in. "If you don't want me here, why did you lock me inside?"

"Because I'm still not sure I can let you go." His answer was so weak and muffled by the door, she almost missed it.

She stopped slamming her fist against the wood. For some crazy reason, she was sure he was right on the other side of the door, maybe even with his hands pressed against it. She pressed her own where she guessed his might be.

"I'm not going anywhere," she said, her voice low and soothing. "I just want to see you. Talk."

"Why? I could've killed you," he muttered.

Yes, he could have. "I want you to explain this to me. It's obvious that you don't want to."

"Which makes me even more likely to do it." He groaned. "I can't do this now. Go to sleep."

Anger rose inside her and hit her inner walls like the waves of the furious ocean she'd seen so many times from atop the cliff overlooking the harbor.

"Go to sleep? Stop patronizing me!"

"Stop being stubborn and understand that I can't do this now," he growled in return.

His answer only fueled the flames inside her. She turned from the door, towards the portraits. "Tell me what he's hiding."

Joey and William both shook their heads. "It's not our secret to reveal," William said.

"I don't care! This is ridiculous. I'm in here with you. The curse affects me, too. I have the right to know!" She banged her fist against the door again. "Did you hear that?"

"Maybe you should tell her. Or let me do it," Joey yelled towards the door.

"Fuck off, Joey," came the immediate, furious answer. "And all the better. Hate me! Stay mad at me."

The portrait rolled his eyes and disappeared from the frame.

Kat had had it. She wasn't going to hate him because he ordered her to. If anything, it made her want to spite him. But since she couldn't actually show him that right now, she would do the next best thing.

She whipped around and stalked up the stairs. She was so fed up with his secrecy, with the portraits letting things slip and then taking them back. If Cage would not give her answers, she'd get them herself. Because she knew exactly where they were.

She entered her room and took off his cloak. The moment it departed from her body, she felt like she'd lost her comfort, but she dismissed the feeling. Instead, she lit a lantern and headed out back into the hall. She stood still, listening carefully. A door opened downstairs.

"I swear Joey, I'm locking all your portraits away in the attic if you don't shut up," Cage said, stomping into the hall.

She shoved the lantern in her room, but stayed in the hall, listening. Joey's answer was too low for her to hear, but she could tell it was the end of their conversation. And indeed, in a minute, she could hear his steps coming up the stairs. She retreated further back, sticking against her door.

He stopped on the landing and hesitated. Kat held her breath, wondering why he wasn't moving on. Was he considering coming to her to talk? The thought gave her a strange thrill.

After what felt like a full minute, she could hear the sound of his footsteps heading further up towards to the west wing.

Trying to fight the disappointment, she listened intently, but heard nothing more. Sure he'd retreated to his bed chambers, she grabbed the lantern again and headed to the west wing, keeping the light as low as possible.

Once she reached the next floor, she realized the door to his chamber was cracked open again. Fortunately, the light drifting into the hall covered the one from her lantern. As she passed in front of the door as quickly and as quietly as possible, she caught glimpse of the wolf mask once again on the vanity table. There was no sign of Cage this time and she was half-glad. She didn't have time to linger. Even if deep down she would have loved to see him.

Kat climbed even higher into forbidden territory, and two flights of stairs later, she found herself in front of a door with iron crossbars that resembled the one to the dungeon, except this one was white instead of dark brown. It made her shudder.

This was it. She'd either turn back and be a complacent little girl, or open it and get her answers. Whatever she decided, there would be no turning back.

Well, not really. No turning back only applied to what she was doing right now. With a trembling hand, she pushed the door open.

The first thing that caught her eye was the giant arched floor to ceiling doorway on the other side of the large room, leading to a small, circular balcony. The light of the moon drifted inside and landed on a round table right before the entrance. On the table, in a tiny glass vial, stood one lone red rose.

Kat shut the door behind her as quietly as possible and stepped closer. The rose seemed to come from the castle garden and it was a beautiful one, ruby red and with large petals hugging each other to form the most perfect bloom. Why was it there? What was so special about it that it was kept in a forbidden room?

She reached the table, but nothing new came to light. Though beautiful, the rose was nothing but a regular flower. She lifted the lantern and shone the light on more of the room.

She gasped in surprise. Displayed on either side of the table with the rose, right outside the circle of moonlight, were statues. They stood in a semicircle, like an exclusive audience, there to admire the beauty of the bloom. She stepped closer to the nearest statue on the left and her surprise only grew. It was a masterpiece, depicting a young woman with a dreamy expression on her face, her hands joined in front of her chest. She looked so life-like, her eyes lost in admiration of the rose before her.

Next to her was another incredibly realistic sculpture of yet another beautiful young woman who also seemed fascinated by the rose. Every carved line imitated real life traits to perfection.

Kat's eyes moved from statue to statue of women -- there were over thirty of them -- and she wondered why they were there, a silent crowd of admirers for a simple flower. Or had he moved them there to make sure the beast wouldn't destroy them?

As the light from the lantern shone on all the beautiful stone faces, it caught on something that glinted.

Dismissing the statues, she moved closer to the wall. The wallpaper was white, with tiny golden stars, but what had caught the light was a particular strip of what looked like parchment which fell from the ceiling down to the floor. It was engraved with massive, golden letters in a gothic script.

Squinting, Kat lifted the lantern higher so she could catch the beginning of the text. It seemed to be a poem with three sections.

Devourer of hearts, all but your own
All that flutter for you unrequited shall turn to stone

She frowned, her gaze taking in the letters again before she would lower the lantern and read the next section, trying to commit them to memory.

But with every letter she reread, a chill overwhelmed her and something inside her chest ached. It was a strange feeling. Pain mixed with a certain yearning. And fear. So much fear. Because her unconscious mind could detect a danger that had escaped her the first time.

Shall turn to stone...

Either you turn into a very pretty statue, or you don't leave here whole.

Joey's words from the night she entered the castle rang in her ears. Her hand holding the lantern trembled as she stepped back and turned the source of light towards the statues.

They were no longer beautiful pieces of art stored for safekeeping. Because they weren't masterfully carved. Just like the portraits downstairs, they were real. Had been real people. And now...

Kat stumbled and her back hit the circular table. With a deafening crunch, the vial holding the rose crashed to the floor. The sound had her entire body jerking and the lantern joined the flower in pieces on the stone below her feet.

What followed was total silence, like the one before the loudest thunder. In that second, she could hear the buzzing of white noise in her ears as she could see in her mind's eye what would follow.

She knew it before she heard the slamming of a door, quick footsteps on the stairs and the door to the room crashing open.

There he was, in the doorway, and she'd gotten her wish. He wasn't wearing his mask.

In the light from the moon, she could see dark eyes sweeping the floor, taking in the rose and lantern, then raising to her. And there was fire in them. So much anger that it made her shudder all over again. The beast was nothing frightening compared to the man.

He seemed to practically fly towards her and the moment he reached her, he grabbed her forearm. His gloves were off and the heat of his skin bore into her.

His face came into light. He had no scars. His eyes were dark blue, like the summer night sky, his nose straight, his jaw well defined. Messy black hair fell gracefully over his forehead. He was gorgeous. It explained everything.

"I told you not to come in here," he said between his teeth.

Even in anger, he was magnificent. His smile would probably kill her. Turn her to stone like the many, many girls before her.

"Get out," he snarled.

"What?" she asked in shock.

"Out of this room! Out of my castle!"

His voice was a lot more powerful without the wolf mask on, more beautiful. Everything about him was. And it was that beauty which somehow made him a lot more intimidating. Terrifying.

"Now!" He shoved her towards the door.

She stumbled, but caught herself before she fell. And in the second it took her to compute what had happened, ice encased her, drawing all heat from the world. This was it.

So she ran. Down the stairs and into her room. Mind buzzing and unresponsive, she grabbed his cloak and draped it over her shoulders, then headed down the stairs.

He meant it. This wasn't about protecting her from the beast. This was about him no longer wanting her company because she'd broken his trust.

The beast hadn't yelled at her. Cage had. The chill hadn't come, the sound of cracking bones, the way he trembled when he wanted to contain the best.

It was just him. He was the one banishing her and it was more effective than all the tarnished furniture and growling in the world.

"Where are you going?" Joey asked as she passed in a flurry. "What happened?"

She didn't answer. She didn't think her voice could work again. Even if she hoped it wouldn't, the castle door opened when she pulled it this time. He'd unlocked it. As if he knew.

"Don't go out there at night!" Joey and William both yelled. "The forest is dangerous!"

Kat didn't care. Her feet pounded the cobbled stone path, towards the gate. It opened, as silent as ever, and she continued her run into the forest.

After over a month, she was finally free. Except her freedom felt like punishment, like defeat. She'd been determined to do so much, but failed. Failed everything.

But there was no turning back. She would run through the forest, at night, and reach her home.

Because nothing was more dangerous and heartbreaking than what she'd left behind.

I'm so very curious what you're thinking right now!!! Did you expect this? Did you like the twist from the original story?

Most importantly, where will this go now? How will the change unbalance the rest of the story? How will they break the curse? And what exactly does it do? At least Kat's not a statue.

Hope you enjoyed and don't forget to hit the star.