Chapter Two- The West Wing
"Sweetie, why don't you just dine with him?" Olette, suggested.
The blonde lifted her head up from her arms, sniffled, before mumbling, "Because…he…he's a monster!"
"He isn't all bad deary," commented Kairi in her motherly way.
"Yeah, I'm sure," the girl grumbled.
The wardrobe looked a bit taken a back and then her frame drooped and she lumbered back to where she originally stood. The girl instantly felt a twinge of guilt for making the kind wardrobe sad. She opened her mouth to say something but was at a loss for words.
"Look, I'm sorry," Namine whispered eventually.
Kairi had brought up some tea for her once the Beast had wandered off worrying that the girl would starve. Namine sipped sulkily at it, the taste turning out bitter due to how upset she was. The girl eventually finished it and set it lightly down on the table by her bed. She had to stop herself from shuddering at the thought of living here. Olette then spoke up seeing she was no longer distracting herself.
"It's okay, I've been waiting for ten years…a bit longer can't hurt," she sighed.
"Ten years? What are you talking about?" the young girl asked.
"N-nothing, forget I mentioned it," the wardrobe stuttered.
The blonde's intense gaze made the poor wardrobe shudder slightly and was relieved when the girl's stomach started to growl. She placed a pale hand to her famished abdomen and before Olette could object the adventurous girl had darted out of her dreary prison cell of a room.
She walked on the tips of her toes wanting to avoid the irritable beast. After stumbling about in the dark for what seemed like ever, her nose led her into the dining hall where the servants had barely begun cleaning up.
The hall was huge. A long narrow dark oak table that could fit easily twenty people on one side and one at the head and another at the foot was placed directly in the center of the room. On the table there was a white table cloth spread all the way down and a large chandelier hung on the ceiling above the middle of the table. The windows that showed outdoors were covered by heavy dark red velvety curtains. The chairs at the table didn't have a speck of dust on them and were made of all wood. The chairs at the head and foot though were also made of wood but had a plush red seat cushion. It looked very cozy, the girl noted. But still, she could not shake that cold, dreary atmosphere of the ancient castle.
Most of the servants were mumbling about how their hopes had been demolished or all that hard work wasted. The girl thought back to what Olette had mentioned and felt uncomfortable with the thought of being talked about for something she believed was the Beast's fault and not hers. Namine coughed ever so lightly but it echoed through the eerily quiet room.
"Ah! Mademoiselle! What brings you here?" Axel asked, hopping to her side.
"Umm, I am a bit famished…" Namine confessed.
Before Axel could get a word in, Demyx lumbered hastily over, "no, no, no! Absolutely not! You heard the master!"
Namine's shoulders hunched and was about to leave where Axel's voice called out, "nonsense! She is our guest! Pence, whip her up something fast!"
A small smile formed on her pale face as she reseated herself and food was being bustled out to the table so much more than she had ever seen before and Axel encouraging her to try everything.
"Soup du jour, hot hor d'eouvres, beef ragot, cheese soufflé," Axel exclaimed.
"Alright alright! You guys can cook, I get it!" exclaimed the girl.
The candlestick beamed and sauntered over to the young blonde who was busy feasting. Normally she always made something for herself and her father…and that something was almost always just a simple meal like bread. Demyx who had been shifting uneasily throughout the entire course was now trying to hustle her off upstairs.
"Oh, but I am way too awake now to sleep! Besides, I've never been inside an enchanted castle, I would just love to take a look around," Namine smiled, stretching out her arms and slipping gracefully out of her plush throne of a dining chair.
Demyx whispered accusingly at Axel, going to strangle him yelling at him for blurting when Namine intervened, pulling the two apart, "I figured it out myself, now, I would very much like to look around now."
"Now now now, I am not certain that is a good idea especially since…." Demyx trailed off giving Axel a knowing look.
"Why don't you show me? You seem so…knowledgeable after all," Namine stated, warming him up to the idea.
"Oh, well I wouldn't say ev-….actually, I do!" Demyx grinned, "What are we waiting for?"
After a long time of wandering, Demyx had brought them to a long hallway full of rusting armor, about ten on each side and red carpet in between them to walk on. There was a large golden chandelier casting a light over the three figures as they walked. At this time, Demyx delved into another one of his never ending lectures as Namine walked silently around the hall taking in every detail.
Demyx had just momentarily turned to scold the gawking armor and tell them to return to their business and that was all it took for Namine to notice a strikingly desolate flight of stairs. Intrigued, she walked over and was only three or four steps up the dusty stairs before Axel and Demyx leaped in front of her.
"What? Can we not go up there?" Namine pouted.
"There's nothing up there, though! Just dusty old stuff! The west wing is boring!" panicked Demyx, nudging Axel to help him out.
"The…west wing?" Namine asked, tilting her head.
"It's just where the master sleeps," Demyx said, instantly clapping a hand over his mouth.
Curiosity sparkled in Namine's eyes and she stepped around them but the two servants were quick and leaped in front of her.
"P-perhaps something else! How about the tapestries?" blubbered Demyx.
Namine merely shook her head and took several more steps before being blocked, "what about the gardens? Or the….library?"
"You have a library?" exclaimed Namine, her attention diverted.
"Yes, yes! Let us lead the way!" Axel stated and the three began their descent down the steps and towards the library.
"We have tons of books," Axel stated.
"Mounds and mounds and mounds of books!" Demyx told him as the two were hopping off.
Namine faltered at the foot of the old staircase before tiptoeing back up them and disappearing to her left. Once out of sight she hustled down the eerie old hall until she came upon a mirror. The only strange thing was that it was smashed by something the girl assumed was a claw. She swallowed hard, knowing the two servants were not lying about their master sleeping here. Tearing her gaze away from the mirror she continued down the desolate hallway. Eventually, the blonde arrived at a looming door.
She did a double take before slipping inside the room. Namine gasped at what she saw- the place was in shambles, everything was demolished by three clean swipe marks- a claw. She carefully stepped around the debris before halting at a picture. Gently, she put the picture together and saw a man starring back at her.
The man was all dressed up and had spiky blonde hair that was slightly darker than hers, striking blue eyes that looked strangely familiar and pale skin. She smiled lightly at how happy he appeared.
The rest of the room had the remains of a large king sized bed with a canopy, a beautiful balcony that had a great view of the woods, and an old dresser and a chair used for lounging around. Namine crept over to the balcony, pushing the curtains back and gazing out at the large sliver like moon. The rays poured down over the woods that used to frighten the girl so when she was young. But now, they still gave her the chills but indoors she appreciated them. The blonde was about to exit the room knowing she was pressing her luck, but something glowing red caught her eye. She spun on her heel and noticed that it was a glowing rose floating in a clear container with a silver mirror placed beside it on a brown circular table.
Intrigued, the curious girl stepped over to it, her fingers almost at the container when the doors flew over. She instantly recoiled as the Beast stormed over to her, threatening to attack. He wore only a red cloak and black pants that were torn at the bottom
"What is wrong with you! You should not be in here!" he raged.
"I-I I'm sorry!" gasped the girl, cringing away from him.
"You could have ruined everything! Get out! Get out!"he raged, swiping at the dresser just behind her causing it to crumble into even more pieces.
Terrified, the girl bolted out of the room, down the stairs, and out towards the doors she entered. It did not take long before the enchanted servants were clinking after her, begging her not to leave.
"Please, I'm sorry, promise or not, I cannot stay here…I….it isn't safe," the girl blubbered.
"No, you can't!" the servants wailed.
"Namine, we need you!" whined the little cup, Sora.
"Please find it in your hearts to forgive me," the girl whispered before disappearing into the darkness of the night.
Author's Note: Well, chapter two is up. Last week of school before winter break. WHOOOOO! Enjoy :)