I thank Brightfire15 for helping me.

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Tora wasn't aware that she had fallen asleep until she woke up. She realized it must have been much later in the day, almost evening now. And what a day she'd had. Had it only been that morning when Karasu proposed to her? Tora snorted. Now that seemed the least dramatic thing that had happened to her today. Being a prisoner in a beast's castle and locked away from the outside world, far from her family and the only home she'd ever known best of all.

There was a knock at her door. Tora looked up warily.

"Who is it?" she called quietly.

"The head housekeeper, Mrs. Rachel, dear," said a woman. She sounded very kind and inviting. "Would you care for some tea?"

A spot of tea sounded perfect at the moment, so Tora opened the door, expecting a woman to enter. Instead, Tora was stunned to see a dark brown mouse followed by a yellow duck, a pink silkworm and a cart carrying tea utensils.

"Good evening dear. I'm Rachel," said the mouse.

"She's my mother and I'm Ahiru. This is my friend Pique," quacked the duck. She grabbed Pique in her beak and flapped in the air to avoid being stepped on by Tora. "Watch your feet."

Ahiru placed the silk worm on the tray and then began helping Pique prepare Tora's cup of tea.

"What's your name?" asked the silk worm.

Tora was so stunned by the talking animals that she couldn't speak and she backed up into the wardrobe.

"One lump or two?" asked Pique, as she picked up the sugar cubes.

The question snapped Tora out of her thoughts. "What?"

"The sugar for your tea."

"Oh...uh...two, please," said Tora, as she sat down on the bed. She was baffled by it all but chose not to question it. She was a talking beast's prisoner. Somehow, talking animals for servants didn't seem quite so far-fetched in consideration. When the sugar was placed in the tea, Tora graciously took the tea cup and sipped the hot drink. "Thank you. My name is Tora, by the way."

"What a lovely name. It suits you," said Rachel.

Tora smiled a little from Rachel's compliment but the smile didn't quite reach her eyes.

"I told you she was pretty, didn't I, Mother?" said Ahiru.

"Yes, dear," said Rachel, with a twinkle in her eyes.

This time the smile did reach Tora's eyes and she felt just a little better.

"How're you feeling, dear? You've had quite the day," said Rachel.

"It was really brave what you did for your brother. Everyone here thinks so," said Pique.

"Thank you," said Tora. She sighed and looked sad. "I don't regret it but it still hurts. I've lost everything. My brother, my dreams, my freedom. What am I supposed to do? I'm alone."

Ahiru nuzzled Tora's arm, causing the girl to laugh as the duck's yellow feathers tickled her. "It'll be okay. You're not alone. I'll take care of you and be your friend. Hey, want to see me do a pirouette?"

Ahiru hopped onto the floor and attempted to do a ballet step, only to trip over her webbed feet and land in Tora's lap.

"Ahiru!" scolded Rachel, as Pique burst out laughing.

Ahiru looked embarrassed But Tora just smiled, put down her tea and then held the little duck close to her chest. "Thank you. You don't know how much this means to me."

The little duck was trying to cheer up a complete stranger and had offered to be Tora's friend simply out of the goodness of her heart. Knowing Tora had people who cared made her burdens easier to bear.

Suddenly, there was the loud chiming of a grandfather clock, alerting to the castle's residences of the current hour. Upon hearing the clock's chime, Rachel resumed her duties.

"Oh my, look at me! Chatting away while there's supper to be done! Come along, Ahiru!"

The mouse leapt back onto the cart along with Ahiru and rode away.

"Bye!" Ahiru called as the door shut.

Pique then went to work.

"Well, now that that's over, let's get you ready for dinner."

She climbed up the wardrobe and gave the door a tug, causing it to open, revealing a grand supply of magnificent silk dresses fit for a princess. Being a silkworm and able to produce her own silk, Pique was the head seamstress and she made all the clothes for the residents of the castle. Pique looked through the wardrobe and then her face lit up as she leapt up and landed on the hanger holding a silk gown that was the color of Tora's eyes.

"Here we go. You'll look perfect in this one," said Pique.

Tora shook her head. "Look, that's very kind of you, but I'm not going to dinner."

Pique nearly fell off the hanger. "Not going?!" she exclaimed. "But you have to!"

Tora raised an eyebrow. "Why?" she asked, unable to conceal the annoyance in her voice.

Pique looked flabbergasted. "Why? Because the master's in charge! He said so and what he says goes!"

"Not tonight it doesn't," said Tora, firmly. "I'm not leaving this room no matter what that monster says!"

After the day she'd had and having witnessed just how cruel the Beast was, the last thing she wanted to do was have dinner with that heartless monster. The Beast may be in charge, but Tora was stubborn and once she made up her mind, there was no changing it.

Just then, there was a scratching at the door and when Tora opened it, Autor came in. He sat on the floor with his head held up high, giving him a very snooty and regal look only a cat could accomplish.

"Pardon me, ladies. Dinner is served. If you're ready, I'll escort you to the dining room," said Autor.

"I wouldn't bother if I were you. She's never going to be ready, Autor," said Pique, sighing and shaking her head. "Tora's not going."

Autor froze and then made a horrible sound that sounded like a cross between a feline's screech of pain and coughing up a hairball. "What do you mean she's not going?! She has to go!"

"Excuse me, but I'm right here! Don't talk about me as if I'm not in the room!" said Tora, angrily.

Talking about a person as though they weren't there had always been one of Tora's biggest pet peeves.

Autor looked at Tora as his fur bristled. "Why aren't you going to dinner?"

"Because I don't want to go," said Tora, as though it were obvious. "I'm not hungry and even if I were, I have no desire to be in that scoundrel's company right now!"

Autor struggled to reply. "But the master's expecting you! What am I supposed to tell him?!"

"I don't care what you tell him. My answer's no and that's final!" said Tora, firmly. "Now, shoo!"

Autor didn't need to be told twice. He scurried out of the room as quickly as he could, all the while wondering what on earth he was going to tell the master and how to avoid getting caught in the crossfire of the battle that was sure to come.

Downstairs in the dining room, there was a warm fire glowing in the fireplace and a magnificent feast sitting on the table waiting to be eaten. Mytho and Rachel were sitting on the mantle, watching as Fakir was pacing back and forth getting very impatient about why Tora hasn't come down yet.

"What's taking so long?" growled Fakir. "I told her to come down! Why isn't she here yet?"

Rachel attempted to defuse Fakir's anger. "Calm yourself, Fakir. Try and be patient. That poor girl's lost her brother and her freedom all in one day. She needs time to settle in and get used to her new life."

Fakir just grunted in response. His pacing had slowed down and his loud growling had decreased in volume, making Mytho think it was all right to make his own suggestion.

"Fakir, I've been thinking..." said Mytho, slowly. "Have you considered that this enchanting young lady might be the one to break the spell?"

Fakir glared at Mytho. "Of course I have, idiot!" he snapped. "I'm not a moron!"

"Excellent," said Mytho, happily. "Then we have nothing to worry about. When she arrives, we'll create the perfect romantic setting, she'll fall in love with you and you with her, and then poof! We'll be human again by midnight!"

Fakir shook his head and sighed. "Nothing in my life is ever that simple."

Mytho sighed in exasperation. "Must you always be such a pessimist?"

"This isn't Fakir being a pessimist. He's right," said Rachel, in agreement. "Love may be powerful, but it's also quite delicate. It takes time. It can't be rushed."

"But time isn't a luxury we can afford! The swan's beginning to crack!" protested Mytho. "We can't afford to dawdle and take things at a snail's pace if we ever expect to be human again!"

Fakir growled in agreement and ran his inhuman hand over his face and scowled. "What's the use? It's hopeless! She's a beautiful and caring person and I'm...well, look at me!"

Rachel's face softened and she leapt down onto Fakir's shoulder. "You mustn't think that way, dear. You need to help her see past all that, just like we do."

She nuzzled Fakir's cheek, making his face soften just a little.

"How can I?" he asked. He sounded quiet and pleading like a child. "I don't know how. I lost the ability to understand that when I lost my parents. Help me."

Rachel nuzzled his cheek again and then leapt onto a corner of the table and Mytho soon joined her.

"Well, you can start by acting more presentable. Straighten up! Try to look like a gentleman!"

Fakir did as he was told. He stood tall and regal like a royal should.

"Impress her with your rapier wit," advised Mytho.

"But be gentle with her," cautioned Rachel.

"Shower her with compliments," suggested Mytho.

"But be sincere!" said Rachel.

With all the advice, Fakir kept turning his head from Rachel's direction to Mytho's and he was starting to feel the whiplash. He was also starting to feel rather agitated and overwhelmed from it all. Given that they were the closest thing to family that he had lest, Fakir bit his tongue and resisted the urge to snap at them.

"And above all...you must control your temper!" said Rachel and Mytho, in unison.

It was then that they heard the door about to open and immediately, all three of them took their places.

"Here she is," whispered Mytho, in excitement.

But when the door opened, it was Autor who entered the dining room and not Tora, causing much disappointment.

"Good evening," said Autor, nervously.

Fakir growled in annoyance. "Well? Where is she?" he demanded.

"Who? Oh, yes, the girl!" said Autor. He shrank back under Fakir's piercing gaze. "Well, uh...she's...actually she's in the process of..." Autor backed up against the wall as Fakir approached him with narrowed eyes. For all his talk, Autor had never been one to act well under pressure, so naturally he cracked like an egg. "She's not coming."

"WHAT!?" Fakir yelled, angrily as he burst through the dining room doors and ran up the stairs to her room.

Autor ran after him frantically "Sir Fakir! Let's not be so hasty!" Rachel and Mytho followed the purple cat.

When Fakir reached Tora's door, he banged on it really hard, making it shake a bit.

"I thought I told you to come down for dinner!" Fakir yelled out to her through the door, as Rachel, Mytho, and Autor shook their heads at how Fakir is acting.

"I'm not hungry." Tora said, through the door.

"You come out of there or I-I'll break down the door!"

"Like hell you will!" Tora said, back to him. Clearly she was underestimating Fakir.

Fakir raised his fist and was about to break down the door as promised when Mytho flew onto his shoulder.

"Fakir, wait," he whispered. "You'll catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Take a deep breath and speak calmly and politely. Be a gentleman to her and she'll respond in kind."

Fakir rolled his eyes but nevertheless, he followed Mytho's advice as the egret returned to the floor. Fakir took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down and then bowed even though Tora couldn't see him.

"I do humbly beg your pardon, Miss Tora," said Fakir, with force politeness. "It would give me great pleasure if you would join me for dinner."

"Say 'please,'" advised Rachel.

Fakir nearly popped a vein but he did as he was told. "Please."

"No thank you!" yelled Tora.

Fakir couldn't hold it in anymore. He lost his temper. "You can't stay in there forever!"

"You want to bet?"

Fakir gave up. "FINE! THEN GO AHEAD AND STARVE!" He turned to the servants. "If she doesn't eat with me, then she doesn't eat at all!"

And with that, Fakir stormed off to the West Wing and slammed the door so hard, a window broke.

The castle servants shook their heads sadly in Fakir's direction. The girl was their only hope of ever regaining their lives and things were off to a terrible start. Such a terrible beginning didn't hold much promise of good fortune in the time to come.

"Oh, dear. That didn't go very well at all," said Rachel.

"Well, we mustn't give up. This battle's been lost but the war's far from over," said Autor, firmly. He raised his front left paw in Mytho's direction. "Mytho, stand watch at the door and inform me at once if there's the slightest change."

Mytho nodded and even saluted Autor with his wing. "You can count on me, sir."

Mytho stood straight and then began his guard duties by pacing in front of the door.

"While Mytho's at work, you and I should have dinner and get back to work. Oh, the kitchen staff are going to give us no end of grief, I just know it," moaned Autor, as he and Rachel went downstairs.

The glorious dinner that had been so meticulously prepared would have to be consumed by the servants and not Tora and Fakir. It would be regarded as delicious and whatnot, but the castle's head chef and some of the cooks could be particularly picky about who was to eat their culinary masterpieces. They often felt it went to waste if someone other than the intended recipient consumed it.

XXXX

Meanwhile, in the West Wing, Fakir was fuming and knocking down furniture as he angrily muttered to himself about the situation with Tora. He couldn't believe her behavior. He'd given her a decent life in a castle where she'd want for nothing, prepared a feast and even spoken to her politely and still she had the nerve to disrespect him!

"I was a gentleman and she still refused me! What does she want me to do? Beg?"

Knowing he wasn't going to get the answers he sought by just talking to himself and breaking things, Fakir plopped onto his bed, took out his magic book and began to write with his special quill, 'Show me Tora!'

The book jerked as the magic was invoked and then a picture of Tora's bedroom was drawn onto the page. Soon Fakir saw Tora sitting on her bed with Pique beside her. The two of them were talking with each other.

"I know the master's prickly on the outside, but Fakir's really not so bad once you get to know him," said Pique. "Why don't you give him a chance?"

Tora stubbornly shook her head and her voice was thick with emotion as she spoke. "That man, that creature separated me from my brother and took away my freedom! Why on earth would I want to get to know him? He's a heartless beast! I don't want to know him! Hell, I don't want anything to do with him!"

Fakir couldn't bear to watch anymore so he closed the book.

"I'm just kidding myself. She'll never see me as anything more than a horrid creature," he murmured to himself. A rare tear made its way down Fakir's cheek as he buried his face in his pillow. "It's hopeless."

Unbeknownst to Fakir, the crystal swan began to crack yet again.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The halls were silent. No one roamed through, no one was seen. Outside the snow had begun falling again. It slowly drifted to the ground.

Tora had been telling the truth when she said she wasn't hungry. The night's events, and the prospect of dining with Fakir, had taken away her appetite. Then, she tried to hold out just to prove her point, and to show her tenacity. But after a few hours, she was hungry, and she couldn't ignore it.

The girl peeked outside her new bedroom door to see if anyone was out there. When she saw no one there she went out the door and walked into the hallway and made her way down the steps to the kitchen.

There were 4 tiny birds feet standing behind a curtain as an egret was talking with a crow.

Guard duty had gotten rather boring for Mytho and so he'd sought out Rue for company. The plan had been for her to stay with him and make the job less dull, but plans had changed.

The four little birds, Clara, Odette, Aurora and Giselle, worked in the kitchen and when Rue had gone to meet Mytho, they'd followed her. They were quite silly young things who loved romance and they thought Rue and Mytho were the most adorable couple, and so they often listened to Rue and Mytho in secret while wishing they were as lucky as Rue.

"Oh, Rue, my darling. Truly there is no equal to your beauty and your heart," said Mytho.

Rue giggled as she snuggled up with Mytho. "You're a shameless flatterer, Mytho," she said. "I love you."

"And I you," said Mytho, as he enfolded Rue in his wings.

This went on for a few more moments until Rue and Mytho's secret audience noticed Tora walking by. The little birds exchanged questioning looks before Clara spoke up.

"Mytho?" she called out.

Mytho and Rue were startled and shrieked before emerging from the curtain. Mytho looked flustered while Rue looked furious.

"How many times I have told you lot not to eavesdrop on us?!" snarled Rue.

The four birds had the decency to shrink down in shame from Rue's anger. This wasn't the first time they'd been caught and it certainly wasn't going to be the last, but Rue's reaction always remained the same.

"But we just wanted to tell you that the pretty red-haired girl's headed to the kitchen," chirped Odette.

Mytho glanced in the direction of Tora's bedroom and let out a horrified shriek. "Autor's going to have me for supper! Excuse me, ladies!"

And with that, Mytho flew away towards the kitchen.

XXX

In the kitchen, the castle's head chef, Ebine the crocodile, was ranting over the alleged "disaster" that had been the dinner. Rachel and Ahiru were listening as they finished the dishes.

"I slave all day and for what?! A culinary masterpiece gone to waste!" whined Ebine.

Ahiru cocked her head in confusion as she placed a cup into the cupboard. "But it got eaten by us and everyone else. How was it wasted?"

Ebine scowled and groaned. "It wasn't meant to be eaten by us servants! The master and his lady friend were supposed to eat it! Augh!"

"That's quite enough of that," said Rachel, firmly. She climbed onto Ahiru's head and then pushed the cupboard shut before sliding down onto the table. "There's no sense in complaining when it's been a long day for all of us."

"I just hope it doesn't happen like that again. I know he can be cranky, but the entire castle could hear Fakir today. It scared me so much I mottled a few feathers," said Ahiru, as she began cleaning her wing.

Rachel and Ebine both nodded in agreement.

"Well, if you ask me, it wouldn't have happened if that girl hadn't be so stubborn," said Ebine.

"Stubborn or not, if Fakir doesn't learn to control that temper of his, then it's not going to end well at all," said Rachel.

"That goes without saying," said Ebine.

Just then the door opened and Ahiru quacked in delight. "Tora! How nice to see you!"

Tora smiled as she stroked Ahiru's head. "It's nice to see you too."

Suddenly, Mytho and Autor burst into the kitchen. Mytho was apparently being chased by Autor and the egret took refuge on Tora's shoulder as Autor hissed and growled.

"When I get my hands on you, you irresponsible featherbrained—! Oh, my!" Autor suddenly noticed Tora's presence and then he stepped back and regained his composure. "Splendid to see you around, Verpassen! I am Autor, head of the house hold. This is Mytho."

Mytho leapt off Tora's shoulder and onto the table where he bowed to Tora. "Nett, Sie zu treffen, lieb."

"What brings you to the kitchen? Is there something we can do for you?" asked Ahiru.

Tora looked a little sheepish. "Well, I am a bit hungry. But I know it's getting late, so I could just have a little bread and cheese? I'll get out of your hair now if it's too much trouble."

But it was no trouble at all as Tora was about to find out.

"Hear that? She's hungry!" said Rachel, to Ebine. "Turn on the fire, set the table and bring out the china."

The kitchen staff looked excited and immediately set to work.

Autor looked concerned before frowning in disapproval. "But the master said if she doesn't want to eat with him, she doesn't eat at all!"

Rachel scoffed. "Oh, nonsense! I'm not in the business of letting young people go hungry."

Autor groaned and scowled. "Fine! Get her a glass of water and that bread and cheese she asked for, and then send her off to bed."

Mytho scowled and then whacked Autor with his wing. "Honestly, Autor! I can't believe you! This fine young woman is our guest and it's our duty to make her feel like one."

"I agree with Mytho," quacked Ahiru.

Regardless of how Tora came to be there and no matter what the master said, Tora was Ahiru's friend and the little duck was determined to see that Tora received the kindness and respect that was owed to her.

Seeing that everyone was against him, Autor gave in. "Fine, but keep it down. If Fakir finds out, it will be our heads!"

Everyone nodded and then went about their business.

"Really, though, I don't want you to go any trouble on my behalf," said Tora, as she was led out of the kitchen.

Mytho waved his wing. "Oh, don't listen to Autor. He'd complain and fret if life was paradise. And anyway, you have nothing to worry about. We'll be serving you heated up leftovers from tonight's meal."

Tora looked relieved to hear this.

When they arrived in the dining hall, Tora took a seat at one end of the table. Moments later, Tora was feasting on succulent dishes. For the appetizer and the entrée, there was braised bockwurst with German style potatoes, garden salad and bread dumplings. And for desert, Tora enjoyed Rote Grütze with vanilla sauce and whipped cream.

It was all quite delicious.

During dinner, Tora conversed with her new friends. She was mostly answering questions about herself: what she liked to do in her leisure time, the village she'd grown up in, funny childhood stories, her favorite books and the like. She'd never had such a captivated audience before and she couldn't deny that she liked it.

When the grandfather clock chimed, reminding them all of the late hour, Ahiru yawned and excused herself to go to bed.

"I need to join my daughter, but Mytho and Autor will see to your needs if there's anything else you require before bed," said Rachel. "Good-night, dear."

"Good-night," said Tora. "Thanks for everything."

The mouse waved good-bye and then departed after her daughter.

"Is there anything you'd like before going to be?" asked Mytho.

Tora nodded. "Well, I wouldn't mind a tour. I'm too excited to sleep right now. It's my first time in an enchanted castle."

Autor's jaw dropped. "You...you know we're enchanted? How?"

Tora gave Autor a look. "I'm a bibliophile and many of my favorite books are about magic. I know a spell when I see one."

Autor shook head and was about to speak when Mytho flew to the table and interrupted.

"If you would like a tour, then a tour you shall get."

Autor growled in annoyance.

"Come now, Autor. You're the best one to lead the tour. After all, who knows more about the castle than you, apart from Fakir?" said Mytho.

Autor was forced to admit defeat and then he grinned at the compliment. Autor loved showing off his knowledge and so he ended up leading Tora on a tour of the castle with Mytho.

The tour went rather well as there was a great deal to see and plenty of information to share. Everything went splendidly until they came to the stairs that led up to the West Wing. They were just passing it when Tora stopped in her tracks and looked up at the forbidden.

"What's up there?" asked Tora.

Mytho and Autor froze and exchanged horrified looks.

"Nothing!" said Mytho, a little too quickly for Tora's liking.

"It's very, very dull up there. There's absolutely nothing of interest in the West Wing," blurted out Autor.

Tora looked intrigued. "Ah. So that's the West Wing."

Mytho scowled at Autor and nipped the cat's ear with his beak. "Nice going, furball."

Autor batted Mytho away with his paw and huffed in annoyance.

"Why's the West Wing forbidden? What's Fakir hiding up there?" asked Tora, puzzled.

"He isn't really hiding anything," lied Mytho.

Tora smirked. "Then it wouldn't be forbidden."

It was so obvious. Besides, nine times out of ten in Tora's books, if something was forbidden it was because there was something being hidden, a great secret that one would do anything to keep in the shadows.

She tried to walk over them but they stopped her by standing in front of the stairs.

"Perhaps you would love to see something else, we have exquisite tapestries," said Autor.

Tora steped over them. "Later."

"Uh, uh, the gardens, the dance studio, the archery room or the library." Mytho suggested.

"You have a dance studio, an archery room, and a library?" Tora asked excitedly.

"We sure do madam!" said Autor, eagerly. "The library contains works from all around the renaissance and middle ages, our barracks is the perfect place to let off some steam with target practice, and our dance studio is perfect for practicing ballet.

Tora looked wistful. "I love ballet."

"You do? So does the master!" Mytho said.

"Yeah, right," Tora scoffed. A beast like that is a dancer? Tora refused to believe that.

"No, he really did. He was the second best dancer in the kingdom, after the king of course."

"King?"

"Why yes. Fakir served the greatest king this land ever saw. Fakir was said to marry his daughter until... well I shouldn't say anymore." Autor stopped, fearing he said too much already.

"Anyway, we got mountains of books that reach the ceiling," Mytho changed the subject.

Tora followed, and Mytho and Autor went on and on about the luxurious library.

The truth was that Tora wanted to see the library and dance studio, but her curiosity about the West Wing was getting the better of her. She lagged farther behind her two hosts, then stopped.

They were so involved in describing the library and dance studio that they didn't notice. Tora spun around and ran back to the West Wing stairs.