this chapter is for Laheba Alam, bibi234, GigglingBlondeMoments thank you for the reviews. I'm glad to hear you liked the ending to the last chapter. I added the dream last minuet because it wasn't long enough, and I wasn't sure if it would go.
Chapter 4 - Desmond's Tempter
A knock on the door and the sound of the lock turning, brought Audery out of her slumber.
"Lady?" a male's voice questioned.
"Yes?" Audery answered.
"The master wishes you to join him for dinner," the man spoke.
"If he wants my company so bad, he can come and ask for it himself," Audery snapped.
"Lady," the man entered the room. He was tall, thin, and wearing a butler's outfit, his crystal blue eyes held worry, "Please understand, the master has a bad temper, it would be best if you joined him."
"Send the prince my condolences, but I am not feeling well," Audery said acidly, holding the door so he could leave.
"I wish it wasn't so, lady. If you must learn the hard way, so be it," The butler took his leave.
Audery turned, and noticed her surroundings for the first time. The walls were crème with white trim. The ceiling was also white. The carpet was maroon and thin. The bed was made of medium colored wood, with a white flowered bed spread. The only other piece of furniture was a small dresser that had a mirror, and a basin for washing. A window looked out on a side garden that was overgrown. It had sheer, crème colored curtains covering the panes. A small iron stove sat in the corner, to heat the room. An oil lamp hung on a hook next to the bed, illuminating the room in dull light. Audery sighed deeply, what had she gotten into?
How dare she, how dare that bitch-witch. He was a prince! What was she, a healer? Yet she continued to defy him. Who did she think she is? He'll show her who's boss. Desmond stomped to the other side of the castle. Why did he have to put her so far away? The door to Audery's room flew open before he got to it. Did she sense him coming? She was standing in the middle of the room, giving herself space to maneuver. The cold of her fury radiated off her, turning his lungs to ice sickles.
"Why wont you join me for dinner? How dare you refuse me!" Desmond shouted.
"Why don't you ask nicely, Prince, instead of giving orders?" She asked deadly.
Desmond advanced on her, grabbing her arms hard enough to bruise, and violently shook her, "Because I am the Prince! I don't ask, I tell!"
Audery looked up at him, he had many inches on her. Her hair swirled around her. The oil lamp shattered causing fire to spread on the floor. The curtains blew as the violent storm erupted in the now seemingly small room.
"Enough!" Desmond bellowed, his voice barely audible over the chaos.
"What's wrong, Prince, scared?" Audery asked darkly, her green eyes were slightly glazed over.
"No," he replied, "But your making a mess."
"Is that all you care about, your precious items?" The fire blazed brighter, fueled by Audery's power.
The Prince huffed, "If you don't come down with me for dinner, then you can starve."
Audery laughed, "If that's what you wish, beast."
Desmond growled and stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind him. That woman was insufferable. How did he expect her to break the spell, when he wanted nothing more than to tear her to shreds.
Several hours later, Audery's stomach started rumbling. She slowly opened the bedroom door and poked her head out. The corridor was deserted. She slowly made her way to the first floor.
"How can I help you, lady?" came the butler's voice.
"My name is Audery," she answered.
"Well, miss Audery, my name is Paul, what can I help you with?"
"I'm a bit hungry," she replied awkwardly.
Paul smiled, his white teeth almost glowing in the candle light, "Right this way, miss Audery" He lead her into a small dining room. The walls were crème, and the floors hard wood. The only piece of furniture was a large round table that had too many chairs crowding it. "so what will it be?" he asked.
"Oh I can-"
"I don't think cookie will appreciate anybody touching her kitchen, she's very particular," Paul laughed.
"Oh well then, I suppose it will be leftovers?"
"A wise decision."
"What are you doing?" came Desmond's smooth deep voice, that if Audery wasn't already sitting down, her knees would go weak.
"Waiting for everybody to break out in song," Audery replied hotly, hiding any emotion she might be feeling.
"I thought I told you, if you didn't eat with me earlier, then you would go without."
"I'm sorry, beast, I thought you were just having a temper tantrum."
"I do not have tantrums," Desmond snapped.
"Then you wont mind if I eat," Audery said simply.
Desmond growled inhumanly.
Audery laughed, "So when I die of hunger, and you have to kidnap another healer, you can blame yourself."
"If I remember correctly, you came willing."
"Actually, I tried stopping you from taking my father, you took me instead."
"If both of you are healers, then why is he sick?" Desmond ignored her.
"The lung sickness, there is no cure that we know of."
"Oh," was all Desmond could muster. If her father was so sick, then should he have taken her? But he needed her, only a witch could break the spell. Who better than the kin of the witch that placed it?
Paul came out through a swinging door, carrying a tray. He set a plate and glass of wine in front of Audery and a goblet of red liquid at the empty seat next to her. The plate was plain white. Painted in the center was an insignia of two lions facing each other, between them stood an urn that had the lions' inside paws resting on it's sides. The wine glass was made of crystal. Audery supposed that even the hired help dined on expensive china. The goblet was made of silver, with the same insignia carved into it's sides. Audery guessed that the red liquid inside was blood, and a sinking feeling washed over her stomach. Desmond sat down, looking at Audery, his face well disciplined, showing no emotion.
"So the beast does have a soft side," Audery said, her emerald eyes twinkling in the candle light.
"Why do you keep calling me 'beast'?" Desmond inquired, sipping out of the goblet.
"You never heard the tale of 'Beauty and the Beast'?"
"No, will you tell me about it?"
"The great Prince has never heard of a famous story?"
"You do realize this castle is very isolated, and I'm thought to be dead, centuries ago?"
"Oh, right," she said awkwardly.
"So will you tell me?" Desmond pressed.
"If your nice to me."
Desmond sighed.
A maid came along and filled Audery's plate with breaded fish, Audery assumed was freshly caught that morning, and steamed carrots.
Audery ate in silence while Desmond watch her every move. It made her feel slightly unnerved, to have Desmond staring at her as if he never saw anybody eat before. Or was he staring at her like she was the meal? Audery didn't know, and she sure didn't want to find out.
"Are you finished, lady Audery?" Paul asked, bowing formally.
"Oh, yes," she replied handing him her empty plate.
Paul took the plate, then returned with two bottles of wine, and refreshed Desmond's cup with one, and hers with another. Audery prayed to the Mother that he didn't get the bottles mixed up.
"Tell me about yourself," Desmond said.
"Why do you care?" Audery asked tartly.
"I like to know about my staff, so I can better accommodate them," Desmond replied simply.
"I don't know, there's not much to tell."
"What do you do for fun?"
"Well with the farm, and healing, I don't have much time for fun. But I like to read to pass the rainy days," Audery answered.
The grandfather clock in the entrance hall chimed Twelve AM. The ding could be heard through the first and second floors.
Audery yawned, "It's been a long day, I would like to turn in now."
"I'll see you in the morning," Desmond replied.
