Author's Note: I am trying my best to write. I really am. However, this is not to say that I will update like this all the time. I have decided that Living in the Night has to wait. I killed those plot bunnies by accident. The chapter that I wrote for Island Science, was actually meant for Living in the Night; however, I changed it before I realized what I had done. You might have been expecting an update for that story, but this is sadly not it. Instead, I now present to you, all my lovely Cargan readers, my new story.

Not to ruin the story, or plot, but this is a reworking of Beauty and the Beast, NOT the Disney movie, rather the fairy tale written by Jeanne-Marie LePrince de Beaumont, please read if you like old style literature. Things to note, this takes place in modern day California, if you have seen Beastly, then you might notice a few similarities between this and the movie. Nothing more, otherwise I might spoil it.

Shapes of Love (Tentative Title) – Prologue

Love, comes in several different forms, one could see love in how a man beats his wife because he feels like it, or watch in horror as horrible parents starve their children because they were "unexpected." Love is when a jealous wife kills her husband in his sleep because she saw the red lipstick stain on his work shirt that day. Love could also be considered when a teenage girl becomes pregnant and decides to have an abortion because she doesn't want to be known as "easy." Despite all these instances of "love" failing, there is still one shred of hope out there. It's a bit unconventional, a touch insane, and just a tad complicated, but its real, and that's all that matters.

In the small California town of Rowley, everyone knew everyone, a rare sight this day and age. Because everybody knew each other's business, everyone knew about the crazy inventor man with three handsome sons, Levin, Luke, and Logan Mitchell. Each almost a two years apart from the next.

The first born, named Levin, while garnering the attention of all the girls in town, managed to marry a girl who he met at college out of state. Their wedding was extravagant; apparently Levin knew enough to marry up. His wife's family owned several companies and lived the plush lifestyle. They had been married for about six months; they were already expecting a child.

Luke, the middle child, had no problem getting the attention of both the females and some of the males in his college. Never caring what anyone thought of him, he tended to move from relationship to relationship, never staying long enough to develop any real feelings. He never played anyone, but he was known for being a heart breaker.

Finally there was Logan, who didn't look anything like his brothers. Both of which seemed to excrete sex appeal. Logan found himself to be 'average' in the looks department. He could care less what others thought of his external appearance because he knew that looks would fade. Everyone in town thought Logan looked better than both of his brothers put together, except himself and his brothers.

Both Levin and Luke were jealous of their brother's amazing looks. Not only was Logan handsome, he was also brilliant, maintaining perfect grades his entire life. In addition he managed to help their father with whatever new invention he tried to complete. He also never asked for anything from anyone, while Levin and Luke felt entitled to anything they wanted, regardless if they had any right to.

One Monday morning, Thomas, the father of Levin, Luke and Logan, said that he would have to head into Los Angeles to find some parts at the junkyard there. He asked his sons what they wanted from the city.

Levin, who could buy anything, asked for an expensive suit, knowing his father would get it for him. He knew that by the time Logan got to ask for something, their father wouldn't have any money to get anything for Logan.

Luke, who only cared enough about something once, asked for a designer necklace, knowing he would either throw it out or give it to someone he was trying to bed. He didn't care if his father could barely afford both gifts, but he didn't want Logan to get anything.

Logan, who saw what his brothers did, asked for nothing. Just that his father returned safely from the city. However, his father insisted that he would get Logan something from Los Angeles, other than his safe return. So Logan asked for a single red rose, knowing that it could easily be bought and was relatively cheap.

Los Angeles, in a penthouse suite

Carlos Garcia, a spoiled son of a famous father, spent his morning getting ready for school, where he knew people would part like the Red Sea before him. Monday's were Carlos' favorite day, seeing everyone around him treat him like royalty was bliss. His friends were only there because Carlos could tolerate their presence; he didn't like any of them. However, someone knocking at the door interrupted his morning routine. He didn't know why the maid wasn't answering the door.

An old lady stood at the door, shaking in the winter's bitter cold. She asked him if she could borrow his phone, her cell phone died and she needed to call a taxi. Instead of giving her a response, Carlos slammed the door in her face before walking back to his room. He had just placed a foot on the first step of the staircase when he heard the lady knocking on his door again.

This time when Carlos opened the door, a beautiful blond babe stood in front of him. Asked the same question as the old lady, except this time, Carlos said she could. But, she refused, much to Carlos' shock, she said that because she wouldn't let her in when she was an old hag, that he would be cursed to look hideous for one year, unless he found someone to love him despite his looks. She cursed him to reside in this entire apartment building, forced to take care of its entire walls with the help of the residents. She enchanted the residents and turned them into animate objects, but unaware of why they had changed or who Carlos really was.

Carlos' short brown hair fell off his head in clumps, leaving behind a bald head. His face lost its natural glow, and grew horrible scars and disturbing tattoos and piercings, which grew all over his body. When Carlos looked up, he saw that the girl had disappeared, leaving behind a puff of white smoke. His right wrist began to burn as he saw a tattoo form, a single tree with no leaves. A voice whispered in his ear 'Just one year my dear sweet prince, that's all you have.'

Carlos wandered the halls of the apartment complex, noticing that everyone inside had been turned into living items. Some were teacups; others were brooms, a few were various items found on a vanity. He couldn't believe his eyes; everything he knew had changed in less than one minute. He called his father and just got his assistant, apparently his father signed a contract that would require him to be out of the country for just over a year.

Carlos grabbed some boards and boarded up the main entrance of the apartment building. He didn't want anyone to find him, let alone walk into an enchanted building. He crawled into bed, and watched as the cold wind blew through the apartment courtyard. He cried himself to sleep, knowing that nobody would love him in this condition.

A/N: This was long. I think it might be confusing, but I hope you understand what I was trying to go for. If you absolutely must know, it's a bit of Beastly, Beauty and the Beast the Disney movie, and Beauty and the Beast by Jeanne-Marie LePrince de Beaumont. I hope you all like it and decide to stick around. I like the opening so far, and I am going to like writing the rest.