"Couldn't keep quiet could we?" Jorge scolded T.J "Had to invite him to stay didn't we?"

"We'll excuse me for trying to be hospitable, kind, and considerate. Something you never were."

"Now don't start with that again!"

"Sorry but your selfish and greedy nature is the whole reason we're in this mess! You just had to raise Manny to be just like you, in fact he's worse than you."

"Hey I never thought it would actually work. It didn't work with his father."

"Ah King Rodolfo, a glorious man he was. I feel terrible that we failed him as guardians to his son."

"I won't disagree, I miss him too and I do feel bad that I couldn't raise my grandson to be a better person."

"There's still hope. If someone can fall in love with him-"

"Don't be ridiculous T.J! There hasn't been anyone here for almost five years! It's not like a young woman is going to just walk into the castle!"

"Hello? Is anyone here?" Frida asked entering the castle gaining the candle and clock's attention. "Hello?"

"It's a girl!" T.J gasped.

"I know it's a girl!" Jorge said. "Who on earth is she and what is she doing here?"

"Who cares! She's a girl! And a beautiful one at that!"

"Now hold on let's not get our hopes up!"

But T.J was already hurrying after her. Frida scanned each room she went into hoping her father was in one of them.

"This place is so creepy." She thought. "I wouldn't be surprised if it was haunted."

She heard a door open and close behind her.

"Hello? Is someone there?" She opened the door to see a light going up a stairway. "Wait! I'm looking for-"

But she didn't anyone or anything except a candle perched on a table.

"That's funny." She said. "I'm sure that someone was here."

She then continued on into a dudgeon.

"Hello? Is anybody home?"

"Frida?" A voice coughed.

"Papa?" She approached on the cell doors to find her father shivering inside his cell. "Are you alright? What happened?"

"Frida how did you find me?"

"Look at you, you're pale and shaking." She felt his hands. "You're hands are like ice! I better get you out of here before you get sick."

"Frida you must leave this place."

"Why? Who did this to you?"

"Nevermind just go!"

"Not without you!"

"You must! Hurry before he finds you here!"

"Who?"

Suddenly she felt someone grab her arm and pull her away from the cell and throw her onto the floor.

"What are you doing here?!" A voice roared.

"Frida run!" Emiliano cried.

"Who's there? Who are you?" Frida said searching the room for the other person but whoever it was, he was hiding in the shadows so she couldn't see him.

"My name is Manny and this is my castle." He growled.

"I've come for my father. Please let him go."

"No! He trespassed here and he stole from me!"

"Liar! My father would never steal!"

"How dare you call me a liar! You could die for that you know!"

"No please!" Emiliano cried. "Frida it's true I stole a rose from him."

Horror and guilt filled her body as she realized this was all her fault.

"It was just a simple rose." Frida defended him.

"It's because of a rose that I am suffering!"

"My father meant no harm when he took it. You have to let him out, he's sick."

"What do I care? Now get out!"

"But he could die! Please I'll do anything!"

"There's nothing you can do! He came into my home uninvited and stole from me now he has to suffer the consequences!"

"Oh come on have a heart!"

"I lost my heart a long time ago!" He turned to walk away. "Somebody throw her out! I've had enough of her mouth!"

"No wait!"

She got up and grabbed his arm. He hissed and turned around to claw at her but stopped when he saw her in the light. He was awestruck by the maiden's beauty, he had never seen anyone more beautiful in his entire life.

"Take me instead."

"You?"

"It's my fault he stole the rose! I asked for it! I should be the one who should be punished!"

"You would really take his place?" He asked surprised.

"If I did would you let him go?"

"Yes but it's forever."

"Forever? But that's not fair!"

"Life isn't fair! So do you promise to stay forever?"

"Come into the light."

He huffed in reluctance then came out from the shadows. Frida had never seen anything like him. He had brown fur all over his arms, legs, chest, and around his back. Instead of regular human ears he had the ears of a wild cat and a tail. His hands had sharp claws, his teeth were fangs, there was white fur around his mouth, and brown fur around his eyes which were bright green and had a scar over the left eye.

"Don't do it Frida!" Emiliano cried. "Please! I'm old! I've lived my life!"

Frida gently stroked her father's hand then bravely faced Manny.

"You have my word."

"Done!"

He unlocked Emiliano's cell door, the man ran to his daughter only to dragged away by the beastly young man.

"Wait!" Frida cried. "Wait!"

But her cries were ignored.

"Please spare my daughter!" Emiliano begged him. "She's only a child!"

"She's no longer your concern!" He threw Emiliano to three armour statues. "Get him out of my sight!"

The statues came to life and took Emiliano outside to place in a carriage that would take him to the village. As Frida watched the carriage take her father away she began to cry. When Manny came back into her cell he found her on her knees weeping and sobbing. He couldn't help but feel sorry for the girl.

"Um Manny." T.J whispered to him.

"What?"

"Don't you think she should stay in a proper bedroom?"

"Why?!"

"Because...Well she's been through so much and besides do really think a girl who looks like that should rot away in a dudgeon?"

"I suppose."

"You didn't even let me say goodbye." Frida sobbed. "I'll never see him again and I didn't get to say goodbye."

As he watched her cry he couldn't help but feel a little guilty about what he did. However he quickly brushed his guilt away and returned to his gruff, angry demeanor.

"I'll show you to your room."

"My room? But I thought-"

"You wanna stay in the tower?"

"No."

"Then follow me."

Frida followed Manny down a long corridor lit with torches. Frida noticed it was very dark and had a lot of statues of gruesome creatures. She walked closer to him to avoid being left behind in the darkness.

"You may go anywhere except the West Wing." He said.

"What's in the West Wing?" She asked.

"It's forbidden!" Manny stiffened.

He stopped at a door and opened it to reveal an elegant bedroom. The walls were painted white with a marble fire place, a wardrobe, a vanity with a mirror, and white canopy bed with rose red curtains and quilts.

"If you need anything my servants will attend to you and don't even think about trying to escape. Have a goodnight." He slammed the door.

Frida locked the door and threw herself onto her new bed and cried herself to sleep.