Chapter One

She wrapped the cloak tighter around her as the harsh wind slashed at her body, auburn hair flying about her in the blizzard. Her breath came out in huffs as it escaped past her lips. Her lips trembling as her golden eyes searched across the snow covered forest. She rubbed her hands together, trying to revive the warmth before cupping them around her mouth.
"Castiel?" She screamed, what was left of the birds flying up at the sudden noise. "Castiel it's time to come home!"

She was met with silence. Her head throbbing as she stumbled forward, deeper and deeper into the dense forest. She should try to go home. But with how it was going she would die out here, found frozen next June by some wondering thief or child. She gave up trying to pull the skimpily fur lined hood on the cape. She held herself tightly, colliding with a wrought-iron gate.

Her breath hitched as she looked up at it. Intricate designs laced up in icy terror to a broken family crest. She tried registering it into her mind, but it was only screaming once thing at her. Go inside, get inside, go. She listened, giving up the fight because she knew she was too worn down not to. She pushed it open, groaning in the effort that taxed her body even more.

With it open just enough, she slipped inside. The edge of the cloak caught on the latch, slipping off her and draping across the ground. The wind was softer here, blocked out by the high rising walls that guarded the secrets inside. Nearly dragging her feet, she walked along the snow covered path up to the palace. She glanced around, holding herself as she studied the walls of the small castle inside. Beautiful. Ripped banners hanged from the outer walls, concealing the identity to who they were loyal of. A large, cracked fountain erected from a large pool in the center of the should-be carriages path.

But she moved on, pulling herself up the stone stair case that led to the large double doors.

She didn't bother knocking, no one would be here. If there was someone this high on the social ladder so close to their little village of Blackthorn, she would have heard. She stepped inside, and unlike the front gate, she closed it behind her. To her surprise, a gush of warm air embraced her like an old friend. Her tired eyes and sluggish brain tried working it.

Someone did live here.

Whispers wafted through the corridor. Her hand touched the wall trying to hold her up. The paintings and floor blurred, fading at the edges of her vision as she pitched forward. The voices began getting louder, clicking and thumping began coming toward her. She didn't want to stand up, hell; she didn't want to be awake.

"A human?" A deep ticking voice scowled.

"Ian be quiet you'll wake her." A soft scolding tone sounded. The tone mum mother gave me and Cas when we fought, she thought, a smile lifting on her lips lazily. "Hiccup go tell the dolls to come quickly. And tell Ashton to stay up."

"I'm on it!" A high pitched child's voice piped up as clicking swept down the hallways.

"Someone will have to inform the master." A thick, German accented voice seemed to be scowling as heavy clanking footsteps walked toward her.

"You get right on that will you, Gilbert?" The ticking seemed to go slower.
"Fine." A soft clicking hit by her head, her eyes glancing up to see a candle holder.

The voices blurred. She wasn't tired, just cold. And hungry. Her stomach was in angry knots. Someone was dragging her. Little hands gripped onto her dress and skin. Then warmth. Bright orange trickled past her closed lids. She curled toward it, her damp clothing trying to keep out all the heat. She tried going to it more, seeking it. A loud thunderous crash boomed as shrill squeals ran out of the room. She stayed down, auburn hair spilling in drenched piles around her. Everything tingled, sending harsh pins and needles. She smiled fondly at it, a sure sign that none of her body parts and digits would be removed.

"And what do we have here." A scolding voice sounded as a new wave of cold stepped in. "You poor thing, you're drenched. Let me help you."

She pushed herself up tiredly, her arms shaking from the cold and effort. A groan left her, followed by a whimsical chuckle. Airless footsteps moved the mysterious voice from the door to her. She couldn't look up; instead, she glanced at the gold and leathered boots. Eyes glancing up, all she could see was a massive amount of thick blue and silver fur. Her breath caught in her throat as the man bent over, slipping his hands under her arm pits and picking her up like a doll.
She refused to look up as he moved his hands, slipping an arm beneath her knees and one around her back. Her eyes widened as she stared at his chest. The fur was tied together with a series of golden chains; a thick emerald stone nestled between his firm, flat breast. But what stunned her most was the pure enchanting mix of deep blue and violet. Markings lined on his chest. No, not lined. Etched in so perfectly they looked natural.

Fear gripped at her like tightly, clawing at her throat. Ancient stories that her mum whispered to her at night swirled around her mind. 'Deep in the forbidden forest, where only the lost and damned dare to wander, stood a beautiful castle. Inside, though, lived a cruel, hideous beast…' Was this it? The enchanting castle with the incubus beast that parents told their children about? Violent shivers racked through her body as cold slipped away from him.

"Now, I'm not that hideous. In fact, I am beautiful to many." His voice came in a low purr. "A look won't kill you."

So she did.