Finally I slept a night through without dying in my dreams or waking up in terror. In fact, I slept in far longer than usual—when I awoke the sun was golden in the sky and my tray of breakfast food was long cold.

For a funny second I even forgot where I was. And whom.

Belle, I reminded myself. I'm Belle.

I could hear voices in the castle again—always in the distance, just around the corner or in the shadows. As I made my way to the library I began to wonder when the castle staff would reveal themselves to me. Not that I planned on staying that long anyway.

I spent the afternoon in the library poring over books old and new to me. I wanted to ask Adrian how he even came by a collection this grand and impossible—but then again, that would be a silly question, wouldn't it? I don't even know the first thing about him or this place.

He said we'd meet at dinner with a plan, I thought with comfort. Every hour that passed drew me closer to a way out—and answers.

The day grew late and there was no word from him.

I paced my room as the sun set. Shouldn't he be back by now?

Martha came in with a tray of food, her usual smile fallen.

"Has the master returned?" I asked her eagerly.

She set the tray down on my bed. "I'm afraid not."

My stomach began to knot with anxiety. "Has this happened before? How long is he usually gone for?"

"I don't know, dear Belle," she said.

Something's happened!

Martha noticed the panic in my eyes. "There's no reason to fear," she said gently. "He'll return soon. He always does."

"I don't think this is like those other times," I said faintly.

I waited awake all night. I paced my room, the hallway, and even the front entrance of the castle. Adrian did not return.

The necromancer has him, I thought with dread. And it's because of me.

I fell asleep in a chair in the library just after sunrise then awoke again in my room some hours later. Martha appeared with food for lunch.

"Has he returned?" I asked again, this time unable to conceal the fear in my voice.

She shook her head somberly.

No, I thought desperately. Not this again.

"I can't open the door," I realized out loud. "If he never returns-"

"It will be alright," Martha said quickly. "Give it some more time."

There is a special place in Hell devoted to waiting. A place where time does not move, and if it does it does not do so in one's desired direction. I paced and paced some more, to where the suspense was beginning to numb me.

The view from my window yielded to the breathtaking expanse of the wild forest that surrounded the castle. As the sun dipped low in the sky, it bathed the green tops of the trees in gold. I sat upon my windowsill and watched it dissolve into darkness. My eyes fought to stay open. I must stay awake, I thought. If I dream I will die.

In the dead of night I was awoken by a commotion. The disturbance came from deep within the castle; and with it, the unmistakable sound of a door slamming heavily shut.

HE'S BACK.

I dashed down stairs, winding my way through the castle breathlessly. The halls were dark and full of strange echoes. I headed towards the dining hall—empty. The garden hall was deserted. The library was dark and empty—where is he?

I rushed into the entrance hall, and nearly fell in to Clarkson, who was stationed with a brightly burning candelabra, grim faced and stiff as a board.

"Where is Adrian?" I demanded.

A deafening crack of thunder sounded and rumbled through the castle. I could hear a heavy storm fall upon us. Clarkson regarded me calmly.

"The master is unavailable at the moment. I advise you to return to your room."

"I heard the door," I said defiantly. "I know he's returned—is he alright? He was gone for a long time!"

Clarkson was unmovable. "I can confirm he has returned. He is still unavailable."

I wanted to argue with him, but I knew better. I turned furiously on my heel and returned to my room. Outside, the storm raged on through the night and the thunder rumbled continuously. I lay in the bed awake listening to it. Sometimes it didn't sound like thunder, though. It nearly shook the castle. There was something else- definitely something else there…

But are they screams? I wondered. Or howls?

The day broke still and grey.

Adrian had undoubtedly returned in the night—but something was terribly, terribly wrong.

I could see it on Martha's face when she brought me breakfast. There was fear in her eyes.

"I've heard screaming," I told her, "or something like it."

She did not answer.

"You know what it is. Why won't you tell me?"

"Because I don't want you to be afraid," she said gently.

"Afraid?" I shook my head. "What is there to be afraid of? You told me I was safe here."

"You are safe-" she began to say, but was just then cut off by a howl—a deep, troubled sound coming from below. Her eyes were wide.

"I know its Adrian," I said. "I dreamt of these screams for years. It was a riddle with no answers, no clues. Now it's time for me to solve it."

"Belle, wait-"

It was too late. I stormed out of the room and made my way to the stairs. The horrible screams didn't sound quite human, though—they were too deep—but could it be some kind of animal? Was there a wolf in the castle?

I found the wide doors to the library ajar, and light streamed into the hallway. I took a deep breath and stepped inside. Adrian was there.

He stood before the grand fireplace, his back to me.

"Adrian," I said calmly, approaching him cautiously. He was merely a figure framed against the fire; and then he turned. His clothes were torn in places, his hair fell lose around his neck, and his strong hazel eyes were rimmed with dark circles. He was as pale as ghost.

"What happened?" I asked him as I drew nearer. "Did the necromancer hurt you?"

He seemed to be struggling for words. "I thought I was stronger than this," he said, his voice tight with tension. "I was wrong. I'm losing control…"

I didn't know what to say. He was trembling, as if something inside of him was about to burst through. And then he fell to his knees, and a terrible, guttural growl sounded from inside his chest.

It sounds like a monster, I realized with a growing horror.

His gaze switched my way, a wild expression taking over his facial features. The veins upon his neck were bulging out against his skin; he swallowed hard as he saw me, and shook his head.

"Belle," he gasped, his hands balling into tight fists, "you must run!" As if being struck upon his back by a ruthless whip, he jolted and threw his head back and shrieked. There was a hideous cracking noise.

I was on my knees at his side, attempting to help him up. "You—you have to tell me what's going on, how can I help-" I reached for his hand and was met with a sharp pain; suddenly, a deep scratch across my palm was welling with crimson blood. I gasped and withdrew my wounded hand to realize too late that Adrian's hands were beginning to morph; his slender fingers becoming devilish and mighty claws, like that of a terrible creature.

A beast.

His hazel eyes met mine, a pair of untamed, raging eyes that I had no seen before. They pleaded with me only for a moment before hardening as Adrian became something…else.

His arms began to bulk as he threw himself back onto the floor, gasping and growling. A ripping of fabric signified that he was growing in size, his back widening and his spine tearing through his shirt. The next time our eyes met, he let out a dreadful roar. Initially I had frozen, captivated by this horrific metamorphosis. But now I was afraid. No—I was terrified.

Finally, I did as Adrian had told me to do; I turned and ran.

The beast roared again, and as I passed through the doorway I could hear a thunderous crashing behind me, as if several towering shelves of books had been ripped down upon the floor. I slammed the heavy door shut behind me to find a deserted hall way stretched out before me.

I pushed my feet as fast as they could take me down the corridor, looking for an escape. The beast was now slamming against the door, its echoes following me.

I had just rounded the corner when I heard the library door burst open, and now the Beast was after me.

I bounded through the castle until I reached the front hall, where Adrian had first pulled me inside and saved me from the hungry jaws of the forest wolves. The Beast was still following, for I heard its snarls ever behind me, its anger smashing everything in sight. I looked toward the door—what do I do!?

There was no time to think; not even for one second. I went to the door and placed my hand on the doorknob, bracing myself for the shock. It did not come; there was nothing. The beast roared furiously, charging through the corridor.

With shaking hands I opened the front door of the castle and rushed down the stone steps that led to the vine covered gate. I stole a glance behind me as I fled down the path to the gate, and as I made it through I saw the entirety of what Adrian had become:

The Beast was a creature of multitudes, all ferocious and powerful. He was covered in a heavy shag of fur, his savage eyes set beneath a strong brow upon a frightening, animal like face—and there, too, were fangs bared. He stood tall and hulking, covered in shredded bits of clothing and fur, brandishing his demon claws made for the ripping and tearing of flesh. As he stood poised in the doorway, I paralleled him at the gate, agape in terror.

With another threatening howl from the Beast, I tore back into the woods from which I had come, willing myself to move faster to get as far away as possible from this demon. Unsure if I was still being followed, I ran and ran until the point of no return. My hand bled and throbbed at my side, but there seemed not enough time to put the rightful amount of distance between the Beast and I before I could tend to it.

Back through the thick brush of the woods I traveled, blinded with fear. I ran until I was sure I would drop dead—and at last I came upon the main path through the forest ,of which I recognized from the night my carriage had been abandoned- but as I paused, catching my breath upon the road and wiping my bleeding hand across my skirt, another surprise was to meet me there.

"At last, Mary has finally come out of her hiding place." A cruel voice sounded from behind me. I whipped around to see none other than Lord Terrowin, tall and villainous, standing just a couple of feet from me.

I shook my head in utter disbelief. "No…" I breathed, backing away from him.

His smile revealed his long and pointed teeth. He lunged toward me in a flash, seizing me by my arms and gagging me with a cloth.

The necromancer will not give up so easily. Whatever his plan is, it's nefarious, Adrian had said. And I had fallen right into it.