This is based off a fairy tale I read in literature class during eighth grade. I can't remember the title just the story. Also pretend that the character's names have different meanings.
There is a legend that the forest is ruled over by a horrible wild panther who will devour anyone who is in there at night. But that's not exactly true but you'll find out about that later. Not too far from the forest there lived a kingdom ruled by a beloved king and queen who had three daughters.
The oldest had hair of spun gold, teeth like pearls, and skin like silk. She looked like all the gems and gold in the world. Her name was Chloe which meant treasure but she was spoiled, snobby, and rude. She spent her days gazing into her reflection and shouting insults at the servants.
The middlest had rich chestnut hair, olive green eyes, and tanned skin. She was a very clever and smart woman her name was Lila which meant knowledge but she was selfish, deceitful, and dishonest. She told lies to make herself appear better than everyone else and played nasty tricks on people for her own amusement.
The youngest had hair like the midnight sky, eyes bluer than the heavens, skin as delicate and fair as a snow flake, and lips as pink as a spring rose. Her name was Marinette which meant beauty. She was by far the most beautiful out of all of them not just because of her face but because she was gentle, kind, and loving. She helped the poor and hungry and tended to the sick and injured.
Her parents loved her terribly but her sisters were very jealous of her beauty. Everyday they prayed to the god of the sky and earth to make her ugly and horrid but that prayer was never answered. They paid wizards and witches to cast hexes and curses that would make her replusive but the spells only seemed to make her even more lovely.
When it was time for the girls to choose a husband all the suitors wanted Marinette as their first pick but she rejected them for they only loved her for her beauty. She wanted to marry someone who would love her for who she was, someone who could be her friend and truly care for her. But when it seemed that no man wanted her for anything other than her looks she decided that she would never marry but not even that stopped them from coming.
"Please marry me Marinette." Begged Lord Theo. "If you be my bride I'll give you all the jewels in the world.
"No marry me." Pleaded Duke Nathaniel. "If you do I'll buy you all the dresses you want."
"Why do you want to marry me?" She asked.
"Because you're beautiful." Theo said.
"Gorgeous." Nathaniel added.
"Thank you but what else?"
"What else is there?" They asked.
"Well you are a princess and marrying you will make one of us king." Theo said. "That's another reason right?"
"Beauty and power? Is that all you want? That's not love! Guards dismiss these men." She ordered.
The suitors only made her sisters more jealous, especially since they only courted them after Marinette rejected them.
"Why do they always court her first? Why don't they ever want us?" Chloe complained. "We're twice as beautiful as she is."
"I have an idea." Lila said. "Let's get rid of her."
"How?"
"We'll have the guards take her to the forest and leave her there to be killed by the beast."
"But what if they don't do it? Or what if they tell?"
"Don't worry we'll find two who are very greedy and pay them enough gold to do it and to keep quiet."
So they found two of the greediest and most disloyal of the guards and paid them a great amount of money to preform this wicked deed. They waited until night when everyone was asleep then they snuck into Princess Marinette's chambers, dragged her from her bed, and took her deep into the forest where they tied her to a tree.
"Please let me go." She pleaded with tearful eyes. "Please don't leave me here."
But they just left her. Marinette tried to break free but the ropes were too tight and strong as she did this she wondered what she could've done to deserve this. For hours she cried for help but no one from the kingdom could hear her. Then she heard a rustling in the trees and a large black figure approached her. Her heartbeat increased, her breath stopped, and her face lost it's color. When it looked at her with it's flaming green eyes she fainted. The creature lifted her chin up with his claw to get a better look at her face. He brushed her hair out of her face and grinned with his fangs bared then cut the ropes with is claws. He scooped the unconscious woman up into his arms and carried her away into the night.
When Marinette awoke the next morning she found herself lying on a downy bed with feathered pillows and warm quilts. At first she wondered if she was dreaming but once she saw where she was she knew it was real. She was in a glorious castle one far more grand than hers. It looked a castle that belonged in the heavens, made for the gods.
She got out of bed when she heard water running. Following it, she was led to a magnificent marble bathhouse with a lovely fountain filling the large tub with warm crystal water. She undressed and began to bathe. The warm water felt very nice and it really made her feel better after being in the woods all night.
"Good morning Marinette." A voice said.
She turned to see a small red creature enter with a towel.
"Who...who are you?" She asked.
"My name is Tikki. I was sent here to help you get ready."
"For what?"
"The master."
"Who...The monster! I saw him last night! Where is he?"
"He is the monster Marinette but don't be scared he won't hurt you. Now hurry up we mustn't keep him waiting too long."
Tikki dried Marinette off and lead her back to her room where a silk pink dress and dainty slippers were waiting for her. Marinette dressed into her new clothes while Tikki styled her hair with pearls. Once she was ready Tikki sent her down the hallway.
"Hurry now don't dilly dally."
"But Tikki he's-"
But she was already gone. Marinette sighed and nervously made her way down to meet the creature. Her heart leapt into her throats when she saw the large black cat standing across from her.
"Beautiful." He mumbled when he saw her.
"Wha...what do you want of me?" She asked. "Do you plan to eat me?"
"Oh no." He chuckled in a gruff voice. "I could never harm you Princess. True there are so human lives I wish to claim but I have other plans for you."
"What is that?"
He walked closer to her making her freeze.
"You're going to be my wife."
"What? Never!"
"Trust me Marinette you'll find that I will make a very good husband. We will be married by the next full moon."
"No! I can't! I...I don't love you!"
"But you will soon."
"No!" Marinette ran back to her room and locked the door. She fell to her knees in tears. Oh how she wished the creature had just eaten her instead of this. Marry a creature she doesn't even know let alone love oh how cruel life could be.
"Don't cry Marinette." Tikki said. "Things are not what they seem here. You'll see, in the end you'll be very happy."
"How can I be happy? I've been stolen from my mother, my father, and my sister forced to marrry someone I don't love! I wish I were dead!"
"Just wait til the wedding night, don't worry it will be alright."
Marinette only continued to sob and pray that some how she could escape this fate.