Beautiful is the Beast
A Fiction by OriSODEhime
1. A Big Mistake
It was many years ago, in a far off land, one winter's eve. The sun had just set, and a vicious snowstorm fled throughout the mountainside that towered over a quaint village. A thick quilt of snow blanketed the ground, striking frostbite into all who treaded through the early night. Upon the sloping mountainside, there was a shining castle of white stone and elegant embellishments. Candlelights lit the windows from the inside, creating a most warm and humble atmosphere within the magnificent shelter.
However, the events about to turn out were not so warm, let alone humble. Slouched in the throne of the grand hall was the prince, with apple red hair and jade green eyes. His brow furrowed in deep concentration, fingers tapping at the armrest, his expression lacking any typical excitement of the season, a time of joy and generosity. All he ever cared about was himself; he had no attention to spare for the servants who tended to his every whim, let alone the tens of hundreds of guests socializing in the very room he was confined to for the time being.
The pitter patter of several pairs of buckled shoes did not draw even a remote notice of his interest. They came to a stop at the bottom of the steps before him, kneeling down before his royal highness.
"Good evening, your majesty!" a chorus of joyous voices rang out. Already knowing of the visitors, the prince pressed a hand to his face, fed up with such jubilant smiles he could make out in his peripheral vision.
"...What do the lot of you want?" In just one snide comment, he had already killed the mood, as the small group looked to each other with slightly questioning faces.
A man dressed to the nines in white and gold spoke up, moving his shaggy black bangs off of his forehead. His smile did not waver, however. "I'm glad you asked, your highness. We thought we would invite you to join the party. All the patrons are so very eager to greet you-"
"No."
"But, sire-"
"Do not make me repeat myself, Shiba. I have already made it quite clear that I do not enjoy attending these pathetic events." The one referred to as Shiba silently groaned, stepping back and disappearing into the party crowd. Another with dark brown hair and blue eyes cleared his throat, standing a little more poised than the others.
"Would you at least like to open your presents before you depart for the night?"
"No."
"Then how about you feast on the extravagant feast we prepared, just for the occasion?"
"No."
"What about-" The prince slammed his hands down on the armrests and stood up, completely ignoring his servant. He made his way down the stairs, shoving his hands into the pockets of his trousers, and making his way across the crowded floor. Those who took notice of the scowl on his face immediately coincided and stepped out of his way, as not to interfere in any other way.
Soon after he exited the room, there was a knock on the grand doors to the outside world. The prince had just about enough intrusions for one night. Marching his way over in the coal black boots, he swung open the door, looking down to the young little girl at the door. A grim frown crossed his face at the sight of her bony limbs, and the frail hands holding a basket in front of her.
"G-g-good e-evening, k-k-k-kind s-sir. M-m-may I p-pl-please...c-c-come i-in? It i-is awfully c-c-c-cold."
"Why should I let you in?" he questioned her. "What do you have to offer me in exchange?"
Her fingers grasped something small from the basket and pulled it out. Before his eyes was a beautiful white rose, its stem neatly trimmed of thorns and engraved with elegant swirls. "I-I have a b-b-b-b-beautiful r-rose," she stuttered through her chattering teeth. "Will this b-b-be e-e-e-enough?" For just a brief second, he could see her frosted blue eyes underneath the tattered hood that concealed her face.
He scoffed, a smirk just barely visible. With a swat of his hand, the rose had been knocked out of grasp and into the snow beside her. "You think that a simple flower—one with such a short life—would be enough to pay for refuge in a place like this? Please. I have come across travelers who would pay me in gold to come here for a mere few hours. Be on your way." Just as he was about to slam the door in her face, the petals began to illuminate one by one, until it was floating up in the air before him.
The girl threw back her hood to reveal milky white skin with bare blue patches of frostbite. Her eyes were beautiful, a color even bluer than the skies when they were clear. Her hair was the same color, silky and wavy in flowing locks around her shoulders. She grasped at the rose, and the rest of the palace was blinded by a sickly black light, like that of a dark lightning. The prince looked up at the white walls, which started to crumble, replaced by much darker stones. The seraph statues guarding the doors at the sides morphed their forms, until they became hideous gargoyles. Screaming echoed from inside the castle, a most grave sign.
"There is no compassion in your heart," she intoned to him. "Unless you can find someone who will love you for who you are, you will be condemned to remain the demon you are for all eternity."
"What kind of witchcraft is this?!" he shouted at her, his voice draining of his human-like quality. Several surges of pain ran throughout his body, and he fell to his knees, growling at the sheer force of the stinging sensation. His glance looked down, watching as his fingers extended into sharp black claws, and his apple red bangs grew down over his eyes and past his shoulders, already pitch black in color. Something ripped at his back in two sharp places, and he could feel his heart and eyes bleeding. Another blurry glance up showed that the mistress had disappeared, and lightning raged through the skies. The doors closed, and he fell limp, twitching as the pain came to a gradual, excruciating stop.
"Master!" his servants called, hurrying up to him. The prince expected to see three or four humans in front of him, but all he could make out were a candelabra, a grandfather clock, and a broom.
Well, that's it for Chapter One! Leave your reviews, and I'll be sure to upload more chapters soon!
