Two weeks have passed in this doomed castle.

The first few days were the worst, the reality of my life drowned in, the state of denial, which I was unaware of broke away and I sobbed hard at the situation. And then came the acceptance, we waited for Maurice to show up.

One night, I narrated the story of Belle to the Beast, I described her as the beauty who saved his puny ass, but he rejected my views stating that I was more beautiful than Belle, but I simply said that he hasn't met her yet when he does, he wouldn't be able to take his eyes off of her, he smiled mysteriously, like he knew something that I didn't and walked away to the West wing.

When seven days passed rather blurrily, I found the castle for what the enchantress cursed, it was gloomy, dull, and cold, bringing doom and sadness to the inmates within but by the end of the week, my equanimity returned, I slowly turned into the person I really was, there was no point mulling over hardship that life bestowed but rather learn from it and live happily, hoping everything will end well.

We played snowballs, built a snowman, named it Olaf, just like Elsa did. Glided in the lake, stuffed our faces with amazing food from the kitchen staff. Over time, I became close with the Beast, he was playful and stirred some unknown emotions that were unaware for my very being.

The castle turned from a doomed place to a happy home, with joyful smiles and playful acts of revenge. We were happy, and that was what mattered for the time prevailing.

Today was the fourteenth day in this castle, if you ask who's counting? Well, the answer will be me, Beast, and everyone in the castle, literally.

Why? Because we have two more petals left in the cursed rose, one will fall tonight and the other will wither away tomorrow by midnight, and the curse will be frozen forever.

Our only hope was Belle or Maurice, I would gladly accept if Gaston shows up too, if that helps us break the curse, then who's complaining?

I sat by the small pond behind the castle, I don't feel like referring to this gigantic place anymore, this gives the vibe of a home, here in this doomed castle, I feel home.

I heard soft footfalls approach me, with great efforts to make less noise as he can, it was funny how I recognize him without seeing him, how familiar he has become in the last two weeks, I bet I could find him in the ocean of people with a blindfold and that thought, scared the shit out of me.

"What's your name?" I asked him softly.

"Who me?" He asked stunned by the sudden questions.

I turned towards him, platter the spot on the ground next to me, he settled. "I don't see anyone close by, and I don't speak trees."

"No one ever asked me that before," he confessed, and I raised my eyebrows in amusement, he answered my unasked question, "when I was a kid, people called me as 'Prince' and that continued until I turned into a beast, and then my name forever became Beast."

Pity tugged at my heart, I repeated, "what's your name?"

"Arthur Edgar."

"Hmm, so Arthur-y," I said, his name rolling off my tongue with a sweet tinge.

~
T

today is the final day, in theatrics, the climax.

A petal fall last night, reminding us of the unattainable doom. We have decided to make the most of our time, we planned for a dance, all of our in the household.

When the evenings finally arrived, I screamed at my wardrobe choices. I have two of the maids dressed while they were still human, alternated to make a two-piece dress than the large vintage gown, my hoodie, and denim which I initially wore, an old pair of shepherds jeans and the beast's shirt, with ruffles from the collar to the bottom of the shirt, so ancient in other words.

But I couldn't wear those for the dance, if only the maids' dresses were still a gown rather than my stupid idea to cut it into two, it has saved my day, finally, I decided to wear my hoodie, what choices do I have?

I heard the door open, and Mrs. Potts sneaked in, "you are not wearing that to the dance, young lady."

"I don't see any other choices, perhaps the Shephard jeans?"

"Girls these days," she mumbled and sighed.

"Just as the roses," she said, pointing at the golden roses on the ceiling.

Well, this place is crazy but real so I did what she asked, the golden branches fell on the bed, covering every spot. When it was retrieved, laid a magnificent crimson gown, with intricate golden roses on the bottom and tiny 3D red roses attached in the sweetheart neckline.

"Beautiful!" I awed at it.

"It will be, When you wear it," encouraged Mrs. Potts.

I walked down the stairs with the large gown, I felt like a princess out of the book, I saw Arthur gulp, his eyes wandered my body, taking in every small detail and I smiled in satisfaction. He pulled his beastly blank face back and I smiled bigger.

The music played in the background, the familiar "Tale as old as time," brought back happy memories from the theatre, Arthur took my hands and hold my waist from the other and we started dancing.

"Do you miss your theatre?" He asked unexpectedly.

"Yes, the song holds a lot of memories."

"Does this place scare you?" He inquired, his face completely masked.

"This castle is home, I know your worries but there's still time, Belle could come any moment," my heart ached at the destiny, he was Belle's but why do I feel like my heart is being torn apart?

"What if she doesn't?"

"I don't know," I answered truthfully.

"I don't want you to go," he confessed, his strong demeanor crumbling to pieces, sadness coating his grey eyes.

"Me neither," and kissed him hard, for all the broken dreams and all the cruel fates.

The winds entered the castle, things flew from its places, a blinding light traveled towards us, when it faded, the enchantress stood, her face shone like the sun, eliminating a golden glow around her body.

"You have one petal from the bewitched rose Beast, so choose, choose for a broken curse and she stays here forever, trapped. Everyone will be released from their curse but all of you will be eliminated from the outside world. Or choose for her return to her world, Everyone will become human but you will stay a beast forever. Choose wise Beast."

All of them stood like set properties in the play, none of them spoke, neither moved a muscle. What are they waiting for? The Beast stared at me, a line of tears pelting down his fur muscular cheeks.

"Wish for the broken curses," I urged but he stood there idly, staring at me with a tear-streaked face, whatever he chooses, everyone will be saved but the Arthurs life will be at stake if chooses for my return, and I don't want that to happen, I want him happy, and with me.

Yes, I will miss my family, my play, and the cast members but I love Arthur more than everything, the realization drowned at that moment, I love him.

I love him, I felt like dancing but no, first the curse should be broken.

"Arthur! This is what you want, you and me together, speak Arthur," I shook his trembling body.

"Choose wise beast, for you have only one bewitched rose in possession," the enchantress warned with a wicked smile.

"I choose for her release, no one can be happy if they are not free," he said, his voice breaking at the end, he fell to the floor shuttering in tears and pain.

As soon as he said the words, sadness engulfed me, the enchantress spoke leaving no time to process what was happening.

"So be it Beast," she announced and smiled softly at me.

"You were the Belle all along, I love you," Arthur said with quivering words.

The light radiated from the enchantress body engulfed me, I dreaded the consequences, I was his Belle, but with no happy ending. The fruition of my fare ached my heart and I left an incoherent, "nooo," and the light closed in on me.

When I was able to see, I was back in my bedroom in LA, with tears brimming in my eyes. I was in the same crimson gown, the memory of my love that ended, my backpack was at the foot of my bed.

I cried for hours, my heart slowly breaking at the reminder, I grabbed hold of the backpack, and a small recollection of the night I was transported flashed in my mind.

I hastily opened my backpack, there it was, still fresh, eternal, crimson bewitched rose.

The Beast didn't have a choice, his selflessness saved us all but there wasn't only one bewitched rose, I possessed one too.

This is the key, I pricked my hands with its thorn and hoped for it to work, a blinding light spread across my bedroom and the enchantress appeared, will I finally be able to break the curse of Arthur and have a happy ending?

~

The end.

••••••••••
1582 words

Share if you think the story is worth a read!

Stay safe
Spread love
-haf ❤