I used to know exactly who I would become. I would become the king. I would be a wonderful man who was worshiped by all. I would have the best servants waiting on me.

I would have the most beautiful woman in the world as my wife. We would live together in a perfect romance.

Now it seems none of that will ever come true.

I have been a beast for almost eight years. I don't want to remember how, but the thoughts just keep coming back. I was a young, vain fool. An old beggar lady came to my door, asking for shelter. She would give me a rose in return. I was disgusted by her appearance, so I turned her away. Then I learned the beggar lady was not a beggar lady at all. She was really a beautiful enchantress. She saw that I did not love anything that wasn't my own reflection. She transformed me into what I am now, and gave me two items: the rose and a mirror.

The rose is enchanted. It has pink petals on it. A petal falls off every year I am a beast, counting down to my 21st birthday. The enchantress said if I can find somebody who loves me by my 21st birthday, I can become human. I will stay like this forever. In a way, the rose is like a clock. It is my only connection to time.

The mirror is also enchanted. I can ask it about anybody, and it will show me where they are. I used to ask it where my parents were, until they died. I tried to ask it who the person who would save me was, but it didn't work. It just fizzled for a few seconds. I guess I need to have already seen the person I ask it for.

I have closed myself in the castle. A thick forest still grows around the castle gate, and nobody comes in. This is not like in the fairytales, where princes come to save the sleeping princess. Nobody wants to save a only time I go out is to hunt. Hunting used to be the worst thing I could do. Now it is almost normal.

I still remember the first time I went hunting as a beast. I'd been sitting up in the West Wing. It was in the summer, and I was looking out the window. I saw a deer run through the woods. A deep desire ran through me. I ran out of the castle and began to follow it. I couldn't see where the deer was, but I certainly could smell it. I followed it all the way down to the river. Then, I leaped out. The deer saw me, but it was too late. My jaws were already around its throat. I killed it and dragged it back to the castle. After I saw what I'd done I locked myself up in the West Wing. I had been hunting before, with my father and some other relatives. This was something different. Before I was hunting for sport. Now I hunt to survive.

That must be why my servants did not get turned into animals. They were all turned into objects. The dog I got when I was a boy is my footstool. Mrs. Pots is a tea kettle, and her children are all cups. Dependable Cogsworth is now a clock. Lumiere is a candlestick. I know they want to be human again. I just don't know how they can help me. People would be frightened enough of a monster, but an inanimate object speaking is just as bad.

I hear something now. There is horse whinnying, and wolves growling. Probably just a horse that got loose from its hitching post and decided to take a walk. It happens. The wolves will kill it before it gets too far. It's how it always works. The wolves are animals, and soon, I will join them. At this point, I can never be saved.