Annette De l'Espoir sighed as she combed her long auburn hair. Tomorrow was her nineteenth birthday and she'd never been more depressed in her short life.
Well scratch that, yes she had. The day she found herself at the Château Versailles, taken away from all she knew, all her friends, and more importantly her beloved older brother. She repressed a shudder; Annette did not often allow herself to dwell on her brother, for an overwhelming sadness engulfed her. She still remembered that fateful Christmas like it was yester day…
10 years ago
"Where's my gift!" roared her eleven year old brother sulking back into his throne.
"Patience Adam," nine year old Annette chided giving her older brother a stern look.
Young Prince Adam gave his little sister a look; she was the only one in the castle that ever dared to contradict him.
"The servants have been thinking long and hard about what they wanted to give us," continued Annette stroking her brother's arm, "let them present them with just as much thought."
"Fine," huffed Adam leaning back sulkily.
Servant after servant presented their gifts to the royal siblings and gift after gift got a sneer from Adam and a squeal of delight from Annette.
"Oh thank you Mrs. Potts," gushed Annette gently fingering the gold rimmed antique tea cup.
"It's a cup," sneered Adam.
"Fine," said Annette coolly setting down the gift, "Then I suppose its time for my gift to you brother dearest."
Adam shifted uncomfortably, he didn't think of getting a gift for his little sister, the only person he ever showed affection towards.
Annette took a seat in front of the grand piano and began to play. She also began to sing, even at nine she had a voice that could make angels weep for its beauty.
Adam was struck by its beauty, though he would never tell his sister. After the song was done Annette got up and handed Adam a small box.
He opened it and inside was a golden Celtic Shield with diamonds all around the edges attached to a long, thin gold chain. On the back it was inscribed, To my beloved brother, Never loose your innocence. All my heart's love, Annie
"Thank you Annie," murmured Adam softly putting the necklace on. Annette pulled out a matching one from underneath her dress.
"So we are always connected," she giggled softly. The servants looked on with warm hearts; it was not often that they saw Master Adam in such a sweet mood. But then again Mistress Annie could put a smile on anyone's face.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door, breaking the magic of the moment.
Angry and annoyed Adam flung open the door revealing a bent, ugly old beggar woman on the front steps.
"Please sir," she whispered, her words punctuated with a hacking cough, "May I please stay the night? I'll pay you of course." She held up a perfect red rose.
"Get out," sneered Adam looking at the woman in disgust, "You are not welcome here, take your ugliness and pathetic gift somewhere else."
"Adam!" cried Annette in shock, shoving him aside in order to help the old woman inside, "It's freezing out and it's Christmas! We can at least let the poor woman stay the night!"
"You best heed the young mistress sire," said the beggar woman giving Annette a strange look, almost as if she was making a mental note of her actions.
Adam roughly pushed his sister, "Like I said, take your pathetic payment elsewhere." With that he slammed the door in her face.
"Adam!" cried Annette, "She'll freeze!"
"So," Adam said shrugging, "One less beggar for the prison to hold. Take Annette upstairs, the evening's events have tired her."
Lumiere and Cogsworth took Annette gently by each arm and lead her towards the stairs. Annette was half-way up the steps when the door flung open revealing a beautiful enchantress. Her long blonde hair and white gown were billowing out behind her she floated into the castle. In her hand, the same red rose the beggar woman had offered in exchange for shelter.
"You have shown that there is no love in your heart Prince Adam," she said gravely, 'You would turn a beggar woman out into the cold…on Christmas no less."
"No…please forgive me!" cried Adam sinking to his knees.
"As punishment you will be turned into what you truly are…a beast," said the enchantress.
As she spoke a rose colored light began to engulf the castle, changing all the servants into household objects. Before her eyes Annette saw Mrs. Potts turn into a tea kettle, Lumiere into a tri-candelabra, and Cogsworth into a mantel clock. Suddenly the light reached Adam and his body began to shake and change.
"Adam!" cried Annette running down the stairs toward her brother. But suddenly in bright flash of light she was taken away from the castle, but not before she saw what her brother turned into.
When the light disappeared Annette found herself in a beautiful, peaceful garden. In front of her, the enchantress. She explained what she had done to Adam.
"Then why not curse me as well!" cried Annette in despair, "why spare me and not the servants!"
"They were not willing to stand up to him," the enchantress said gently, "you were. Therefore you granted yourself immunity from the curse. Fret not child, if the curse is broken you will see your brother and home again."
"And if it is not?" asked Annette, tears streaming down her face.
"You must have faith in your brother's heart," replied the enchantress, "You will live here for now, enjoy the luxuries." With that she was gone leaving Annette alone to weep in the snow covered garden.
Eventually a kindly governess found her and brought her to the King and Queen, her unknowing great uncle and aunt. Annette was raised like a Paris princess. As time passed she grew more lovely, life's little joke she thought. While she grew lovelier her brother grew uglier, lonelier. Young men wanted to marry her, but she refused all suitors, hoping that one day her brother and his love would come and save her.
Suddenly there was a knock at her door.
"Come in," she called.
Her personal servant, Sophia, came in and said, "There's someone for you here ma'am." The servant backed out of the room leaving Annette with her thoughts. It's probably another suitor, she thought dejectedly, either that or another opera master vying for her talents in his company.
Annette had quite the reputation thanks to her lovely voice which had grown even lovelier as time had passed.
A figure wrapped in a thick tattered coat entered the room. "Hello Mademoiselle De l'Espoir."
Annette stiffened; no one in the whole of Versailles knew her last name. "Who are you?" wariness made her voice sharper then it had intended to be.
"A friend," and with that the cloak fell to the ground and the enchantress from all those years ago appeared before her.
Annette gasped and backed up several paces.
The enchantress smiled benignly and said, "You're patience is about to be rewarded my dear, your brother has been lifted from his curse, he and his love now reside in the castle that has been restore to its original state."
Annette stared at the enchantress, "W-W-What?" Her heart felt faint, surely she had misheard.
"I am here to take you home Annette," said the enchantress smiling, "Give him my best regards."
Suddenly a bright flash of light illuminated Annette's face. When she was able to see again she realized that she was no longer in her rooms in Versailles but in a rose garden.
Annette looked around and smiled, she was home at last.