Prologue

Though she had traveled far and wide in her life, the girl was sure she had never seen anything as grand as this. The building, more like a grand cathedral, rose high above the treetops. It seemed awkwardly placed in the center of a forest glade, miles away from any towns or villages.

The girl came through the thick forest, wearing no weapon as travelers ought to have done. She feared no opponent. No one dared come near her due to her strange ailment. She pulled her cloak tighter about herself, gazing up at the structure. Curiosity pricked at her. She decided to venture inside. She feared no danger.

Going to the great oaken doors, the girl pushed them open, entering, her feet padding softly on the stone floor. Her gaze was captured by the countless stained-glass windows decorating the walls. Her eyes grew wide, trying to take it all in as she walked forward.

An elderly man stood at the far end of the building. He heard the door creak open and looked up. He saw the visitor coming forward. Unlike all others who saw the strange girl, he was not alarmed by her appearance. He simply smiled, speaking in a voice that wasn't raised louder than conversational tones but echoed through the room, "Ah, young one, I knew you would be coming soon."

The girl looked up, doubly surprised. First, he hadn't run away at the sight of her. Secondly, he acted as if he knew who she was. She felt her hackles rising. The girl had a suspicious nature, never quick to trust. She flexed her limbs, speaking in a harsh voice, signaling that she wasn't afraid to fight, "What do you know of me, old one? Should I be familiar with you, or are you trying to trick me?"

The man chuckled, his voice a nice thing to listen to. He came forward, his robes brushing the floor. He came level with the girl. The girl was abnormally tall, but this man reached her height. He was old, but his former youth could still be seen. He looked into the girl's eyes and spoke in a friendly voice, "Arabelle, isn't it?"

Arabelle's eyes narrowed, and she snarled, "What witchcraft is this?"

The man smiled again, raising his hands disarmingly, "Fear not, young one. I have a way of knowing things. Besides, you've suffered worse witchcraft, yes?"

Arabelle bristled, knowing the man was referring to her strange ailment. She lowered her eyes as the man continued speaking, "Arabelle…answered prayer…fitting name."

Arabelle snapped at the old man, "I've prayed for deliverance for years! No prayer has been answered!"

The old man didn't flinch at her outburst. He spoke, "Young one, none of your prayers are sincere. All of your travels should have taught you things. I see you will need my help."

Arabelle pricked up her ears, "You? You will help me?" Hope sprang up in her hardened heart.

The man nodded, "Aye…come with me." He led her to the front of the room, indicating that she sit down. Arabelle obeyed, watching the elder intently. He sat as well, looking up at the stained glass windows.

"Do you see those windows? They tell a story. A story you should listen well to." He looked at the girl, straight into her eyes and into her soul, "You see, many began as you did. Some went on, never ending their ways and heading to destruction, while others did something about it. You, my young friend, are lucky to have stumbled upon this place. Not many are allowed to find it. Fate was good to you."

Arabelle's impatience got the better of her. She interrupted the man, "Will you tell me how to be free of this or not?"

The man held up a hand, "Arabelle…you must learn to cure yourself…now let me begin."

He swept his hand out, indicating the farthest stained glass window. Arabelle turned her eyes to it, taking in the scene depicted in it as the old man began his tale.

"Once upon a time, in a faraway land, a young prince lived in a shining castle. Although he had everything his heart desired, the prince was spoiled, selfish, and unkind."

The old man began pointing out the different illustrations as he continued, "But then, one winter's night, an old beggar woman came to the castle and offered him a single rose in return for shelter from the bitter cold. Repulsed by her haggard appearance, the prince sneered at the gift and turned the old woman away, but she warned him not to be deceived by appearances, for beauty is found within. And when he dismissed her again, the old woman's ugliness melted away to reveal a beautiful enchantress. The prince tried to apologize, but it was too late, for she had seen that there was no love in his heart, and as punishment, she transformed him into a hideous beast, and placed a powerful spell on the castle, and all who lived there."

"Ashamed of his monstrous form, the beast concealed himself inside his castle, with a magic mirror as his only window to the outside world. The rose she had offered was truly an enchanted rose, which would bloom until his twenty-first year. If he could learn to love another, and earn her love in return by the time the last petal fell, then the spell would be broken. If not, he would be doomed to remain a beast for all time. As the years passed, he fell into despair, and lost all hope, for who could ever learn to love a beast?"