The Beauty and the Beast
Clara lived in a small mountain town. Her and her father had moved here after her mother's death, and in nine years it had barely changed. Her father had shut himself away in their small cottage, studying. He was still trying to cope with the loss of her mother, so in defence he had shut himself away from the world, from anything that reminded himself of his beloved wife. Clara had taken to wandering aimlessly through the surrounding forest, meadows and mountains, looking for something more to life than this.
One day, Clara had wandered further than she was wont to, and soon she found herself increasingly uneasy. This deep in the mountains, wolves and worse roamed at will, and the weather appeared to be worsening. She was just about to turn back, and try to find her way home, when she saw the castle. It perched on the side of a mountain, and looked dark and foreboding. She hesitated, unsure of whether to ask for shelter or not, when she heard the howl of a wolf behind her. Clara wasn't afraid of much, but she wasn't silly either, and young town girls didn't survive encounters with a wolf pack. She headed towards the castle. The gates were open, like they were expecting visitors, but there were no lights on in the castle. The door was open as well.
Clara entered nervously. "Hello?" she called. "Is anyone there? I'm being chased by a wolf pack, I was wondering if I could stay here? Hello?"
Someone was watching her from the shadows. She was fairly short, dressed in a plain dress and sensible shoes. Her brown hair was pulled back in a pony tail, and her eyes were bright and curious.
"Hello?" she called again. A pale wraith flitted infront of her.
"Leave," the wraith whispered. "Get out while you can."
"What?" Clara asked.
"Get out," the wraith said. "Or you'll end up like us."
"Who are you?"
"My name was Rose. There is a terrible curse on this place. You must leave!"
"I can't. There's a wolf pack after me." Rose sighed. "They all say that. And it's all my fault."
"What happened?" Clara asked, but Rose never got to answer.
"She did." The silent watcher strode forwards, far enough forwards that Clara could see the shape of the man, but not so that she could see his face. He was tall, wearing a tweed coat, and a pair of trousers with red suspenders. Round his neck she could just see a bow tie.
"Who are you?" Clara asked, pretending she wasn't afraid.
"They call me the Oncoming Storm, the Destroyer of worlds, the Warrior, the Lord Victorious. As to who I am, I don't know anymore." Clara shuddered. She's heard of him. The villagers called him the Beast, as many of the village girls had disappeared over the years, and everyone said that the Beast had taken them.
"You may stay the night," the Beast said, leading Clara through the halls of his castle. "But you cannot leave."
"Why?"
"There is a spell on this place, once someone has entered they may never leave. I am as much a victim as you here."
"That girl, Rose, you said it was her fault."
"Partly. It was my fault really. I made a terrible mistake, and now we are all paying the price." He stopped before a door. "You may stay here." Clara opened the door and he turned to leave.
"Wait," Clara called. "What mistake, what did you do wrong?"
"I made the most terrible mistake a man can make."
"What mistake?" He sighed.
"I fell in love."
