Author's Note: I went and saw Beastly last night, the modern twist on Beauty and the Beast. I rather enjoyed it, I mean it wasn't great, but defiantly worth the watch. It also made me eager to write more. The part I'm writing now is pretty steamy taken to heart the one reviewer who said a you can't go wrong with a little bestiality :p It's actually some serious fun I haven't really done inter species sort of animal lemon's before so challenging and exciting. I'm aiming for two lemons in this one so be on the look out and for now enjoy!

Cursed

Part 7 - A Hasty Decision

Wufei felt like he was in a dream, a nightmare to be more exact. His feet where carrying him away from the Prince's private chambers but his mind was already far away. Recalling in fuzzy detail everything that had just transpired. From the moment he was summoned, expecting to carry another dispatch to the 'haunted' castle. What he got was very unexpected.

"Ahh Wufei," the black haired Captain bowed low, "Sire." Clad only in a silken robe the Prince sat behind a table veritably buckling from the food on it. Greasy peaces of pheasant clung to his ever fattening face. As he drained his goblet cool blue eyes regarding the other man slyly over the rim. The Prince sneered internally, the man lover, they where dirty the whole lot of them. It was disgusting and unnatural two men being together like that. "I have a special mission for you," Horatio began smiling oily, unaware of the tension suddenly in the lithe body across from him.

"Sir?" Wufei other replied swallowing the sudden thickness in his throat. "Yes after the ball tomorrow night you will be posted to my brother's castle." Wufei felt suddenly lightheaded and dizzy as the Prince continued on. "We are worried for his safety out there, stories of his presences is leaking into the village. We want to make sure this little secret means remains just that." Wufei said nothing, what could he say? "Be prepared to leave by dawn's first light." A hand gestured then dismissing him, and the Captain concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other.

Wufei suddenly found himself outside the chamber door of his own quarters. Pushing the warped wooden door open, he walked dreamily in collapsing onto the bed; sitting unmoving for god only knew how long. He remained still until the strong arms of his lover pulled him close. forcing Wufei back to himself. Zechs had heard from the King about the new posting, frantic he's searched the castle for his lover scared. He knew how much that place terrified his dark haired lover. The blonde gathered him close closing his eyes in pain, the small figure in his arms began to tremble, but he made no sound.

They sat that way as the sun dipped behind the horizon and night began to draw on.

Neither said a word.

After all there was nothing they could do to change what was about to happen.

-#-#-#-

Despite the petulant outburst from the Prince, Duo was indeed fed. Miss Mary point blank refusing to let a man who had spent the day working go hungry. "Really, fancy the Prince being so snide," she clucked setting another heaping plate on her painting table, Duo in the kitchen receiving it. He ate heartily chuckling as Trowa was retelling the tale to Quatre, embellishing more then was probably necessary. "I apologize for the Prince," the whispery words came from a cupboard door nearby, "He has spent most of his life in isolation, his social skills are somewhat lacking." Quatre said defending his Master, Trowa snorted. "That's sugar coating it, he's a crusty old bugger who needs someone to bring him round. Spends to much time moping and feeling sorry for himself."

Quatre agreed mentally, Duo was very good for the crusty Prince. Heero was also taken with the long haired man. The whole castle was buzzing about how the Master had spent the day watching the young man from the shadows. Duo finished, let out a satisfied moan, "Delicious Miss Merry," he called to the older women. Blushing she patted her mop of curls under the mock cap, "It's good to be feeding a young man again." She gushed, protesting when he stood to do the dishes with her. The fight lasted until the last cup was dried and Duo, bid the cook a goodnight.

He was wide awake, mind to full to sleep yet. Trowa and Quatre followed the big man as he began to wander. "Where are you going?" the metal suit asked, clinking and maneuvering following the other. "Exploring." Duo explained picking up a lighted candle wandering further into the castle. "An excellent idea," Quatre ghosted by, "I would love to show you the finer points of the castle."

Taking over his self appointed roll he danced across mirrors and pictures, "These tapestries where in fact gifted to Alfred the Great, the early king several centuries ago…" Duo stifled a yawn, this wasn't what he had in mind. He had simply wanted to see what was here not listen to the history of the place. There was a creak behind him and the bottom of Trowa's helmet opened and closed, Duo burst into laughter apparently he was bored too. "What is it?" Quatre paused looking at them, "You're a bit dull love." Trowa placated, there was an offended 'harrumph' from the mirror bound man. "Well what do you want to see? Ballroom? Library?" Duo paused, "Library?" Quatre latched onto his interest, "Oh yes a huge one lots of books." He began moving again Duo following, into a part of the castle he had never seen. "Wait," he paused glancing up a set of stairs flanked by twisted statues, dark and forbidding. "What's that?" he pointed upwards, "Nothing, boring stuff…" Quatre hedged. Duo was even more intrigued.

"Right you are, library then?" Trowa said leading the way down the hall. Heero waiting until they where around the corner before hurrying up the steps. Halting at the top he suddenly felt cold. Shivering in his shirt sleeves he, glanced around feeling as though someone or something was watching. He smiled wirily to himself; he was in an encanted castle after all. Shaking it off he wandered further into the blackened hallway feet treading softly on the cold stone. "Relax Duo…" he mumbled to himself, dodging around broken furniture that seemed to litter the hallway up here. His step softer now hesitant, he approached a beaten double wooden door. One door was hanging from it's hinges, deep gouges in the wood as if a giant beast had… his thoughts trailed off. He was in the west wing, the forbidden wing. Hesitating only a moment he glanced back the way he had come, "Fortune favors the bold," he quoted quietly. He pushed onwards, entering what might have once been a master chamber. The place was in shambles the bed shredded, the bureau destroyed, the only thing that seemed intact was a small, scarred couch. As well as a round table in the middle of the room holding a golden something.

Violet eyes darted around looking for the Master of the castle, not finding him he approached the table pausing to look at a torn portrait. It was slashed like the rest of place, yet…he could see blue eyes. Very familiar blue eyes, in a handsome somber face. He squinted unable to see more, the portrait to shredded. A sudden gust of wind blew the balcony doors open, turning quickly Duo gasped, heart thudding.

No one was there.

Careful now he got closer to the table, the something on the table was an ornate hour glass. Golden sand trickling through very slowly; it was beautiful. Reaching out his fingers inches from the glass, he was startled by a sudden bellow. "What are you doing!" Terrified Duo stumbled forward knocking the table. Frantic claws scrambling caught the delicate glass, Duo was immediately contrite. "I am so sorry," he began. "What do you think you where doing?" the Prince growled, "I said I was sorry," he tried again. This time an angry hateful roar caught him, "Get out!" he bellowed.

Duo terrified didn't stop, he turned dashing out the out the door. Stumbling he caught himself halfway down the stairs, "Duo wha-" Trowa was at the bottom, but the big man didn't stop dodging around him he didn't break stride. "I'm not staying another minute with that monster!" he yelled in anger or fright he didn't know. Without pausing he was out the door and into the freezing evening.

In the now silent castle Trowa and Quatre hurried to the window watching as the horse and rider left the gate at a rapid clip. A low moan of anguish came from above them. "He's done it now," Trowa said softly. Quatre sighed sadly looking to his once lover mournful. A metal hand settled on the mirror, a golden indistinct one returned the gesture from the other side.

Duo rode blindly, regretting his hasty flight, he was woefully undressed. The wind was whipping him fiercely. Shivering he crouched low to Clive, the big horse radiating warmth. Sniffling he wiped his nose, hair lashing his face, Duo had no idea where he was heading or even how to begin to get home. "Clive," he began only to have the horse suddenly stumbled. Duo was thrown from Clive's back landing with a solid thud on the wet ground. His head snapping forward and back. Winded he wheezed rolling to his side in pain, he had hurt something. Moaning Duo was feeling very sorry for himself when a sudden hair raising howl came from nearby. "Oh great," he moaned trying to get to his feet. A nearby nervous Clive stamped in fright, fighting to get upright Duo grabbed up a stick just as the first yellow eyed beastie appeared. "Get away!" he called teeth chattering. He swung wide the wolf snapping, grabbing his makeshift weapon. Angry he managed to land a solid hit to one ugly brute before another snapped at him. Clive was holding his own hooves flashing he had already done in three before more appeared. It wasn't looking very good.

Another snap and his stick was gone, lost to the flashing jaws. Arms wide Duo tried to scare him off. Swallowing thickly he held out an arm just as a set of jaws landed on him, reeling back he felt sharp teeth sink into his arm. He wind milled backwards, catching his ankle and twisting it sharply. He cried in pain going down. This was the end, torn apart by wolves. Still fighting he lashed out, grunting and straining he wasn't going to make it easy on them.

Suddenly the wolf was gone. Dazed and bleeding Duo watched uncomprehending. A dark angry shadowed roared at the beasts momentarily starting them. Before snarling lips drew back and they attacked. "Heero," Duo croaked sitting up to watch the fight. The beast Prince lashed out tooth and nail, growling as the pack converged on him. Heeri threw several into trees where the lay crumpled. Several others where torn with vicious claws, but not before they where able to inflict some serious damage. Duo watched worried, then amazed as inch by inch Heero won the battle finally scattering the last of the wolves. Heaving to his feet Duo staggered catching himself on Clive. The Prince stood panting, big body heaving and steaming in the cold snow blown air. "Heero?" Duo asked softly, cradling his bleeding arm. A big shaggy head turned to him slowly, blue eyes painful, before with a small grunt his rolled back and he collapsed in a heap. "Heero!" Duo cried rushing towards him. Wanting to weep in relief when he saw his thick chest rise and fall.

"Clive," he called the big horse plodding forward, heaving and straining Duo pushed the Prince upwards. "Heavy ass," he panted getting him sitting before grunting and straining he managed to sling the once man onto Clive. Panting he rested a moment, glancing at his savior. What had possessed him to come?