"And then the god of the underworld made a deal with the mother of his love." Emily read from the book. "Six months a year, his dear wife would walk on the surface of the earth which pleased her mother and the mother would let all the plants grow ones more, then when the six months were over his wife could return to him in the underworld where they could be together for six months… In that time the earth would be frozen and plants would wither. And so it would go on and on, six months of life and six months of death." she finished then looked down. She was sitting at her usual spot, in a big red arm chair in front of the fireplace at the library, the fireplace was lithe up and burned with gentle orange flames, casting long shadows at the otherwise darkened room due it being evening outside.

"What a… Peculiar story." The beast commented from his place in the shadows.

"You think so?" Emily asked looking up.

"I'm unsure whether the ending was happy or sad." The beast admitted. "I mean, the god of the underworld truly loved this woman, and she loved him. But they are not allowed to be together for very long?" he asked. "But also, when she's not on earth the flowers wont bloom? That's also sad."

Emily smiled amused then shook her head. "Perhaps sometimes there just aren't any solutions that'll just magically fix everything." she said. "Everyone had to compromise here to find a solution that works. We can't always get everything we want, but that doesn't mean we can't find a compromise." she sighed as she closed the book and put it on her lap, then glanced away.

"Emily?" The voice asked.

Emily didn't respond but glanced away.

"Are you okay?" The beast asked.

"Oh…Sure!" Emily looked up. "Why do you ask?"

"You seem… Distracted today." The voice admitted.

Emily sighed deeply. "I'm sorry." she replied. "I suppose that… I'm just starting to have some weird thoughts."

"Weird thoughts?" The beast asked.

Emily bit her lip.

"What kind of weird thoughts?" The beast then asked and Emily looked down.

"I'm starting to wonder if i'm actually dead." Emily admitted. "If I died when I first arrived at the castle. When your voice made me sleep… Did I ever wake up?" she asked. "Am I still sleeping or just dead? Am I caught in a place between life and death? Are you even real?" she asked then grabbed her head. "URGH! I can barely take it anymore!" she said. "I've seen no one! I can hear your voice but it is always echoing, sometimes I am ready to swear I heard other voices to but are they just echoes?" she asked. "Ever since I came here I haven't even felt the touch of another being!" she said looking up. "Please! Show yourself! Let me touch your hand so I can know you're real! ANYTHING!" she asked.

There was a pause as Emily felt the presence move about… or was she just imagining it? Was anything real? "No… If you saw me. You wouldn't even talk to me like you do now." The beast responded.

"Then i'll close my eyes!" Emily exclaimed. "Let me close my eyes and then touch my hand! Just so I know you're really there!" she asked.

A big hiss sounded. "How can I know you wont even peak?!" he asked.

"I'll give you my word!" Emily exclaimed. "My father taught me that a man whom can't keep his own word is no man at all!"

"Not that he is one to talk, he was supposed to come back here, but then you came instead." The beast said.

"Because I stole the ring without his consent. He was fully intending to go back, he made preperations for it and everything!… I'm the one who stopped him by sneaking into his study and stealing the ring!" Emily said then exhaled deeply. "Wait, I think I got it." she said as she loosened the scarf around her waist, then she tied it around her head as a blindfold. "There, now I can't see anything." she said. "Please, let me touch your hand. Just a little!"

There was stunned silence then a swallow. "Okay. Stand still."

Emily stood still as a statue as slowly a presence came closer, she heard foot steps and a chill went up her spine as suddenly she felt it, a huge being standing right in front of her, she could feel the body warmth, then she heard his breathing, it was deep and slow, right in front of her. Now Emily got insanely curious, she had to really fight her urge to remove the blind fold. Then shaking she lifted a hand and stretched out her fingers before suddenly, a touch met hers.

The touch on her hand was so incredible light and so incredible gentle, it made Emily's spine shiver. The touch of the other hand felt warm, the texture was like leather, harsh and rough, yet his touch was only gentle.

Emily gasped. "You… You're real." she breathed. "You're actually here."

"I could say the same for you." The beast breathed as he removed his hand and then suddenly Emily felt a gentle touch on her cheek, so light and it made her shiver again. "Your skin… It's soft and warm." he commented. "I always liked your hair, the curls are funny but also pretty." as Emily felt a careful touch on her hair. "That's soft to!" The beast exclaimed, sounding deeply excited by this phenomena that was Emily's curly hair.

Emily smirked amused. "Your skin is rough." she commented as she managed to find a bit of his arm. "And… You are quite tall aren't you." she asked as she tried to follow his arm with her hand and then had to tiptoe before she even reached his shoulder. "Where's your face?" she asked slightly amused and a hand took hers guiding it towards what Emily could only assume was his face, bowed down towards her so she could touch. "Oh wow, feels so bony." Emily breathed as she felt the face, then she felt a hot liquid on her fingers, she could only assume it was tears. "Don't cry, i'm not scared." she assured. "Is this the first time you've even been touched?" she asked.

"I..." The beast swallowed in a broken voice. "I don't know! Maybe." and Emily could feel him lean towards her hand.

"Oh you poor thing." Emily swallowed then she sniffed and a tear fell from her eye as well.

"Oh no! You're crying!" The beast exclaimed. "Why? Are you hurt? Sad?" he asked.

"No, i'm not hurt." Emily sniffed. "I am not crying for myself."

"Then who?" And the beast halted. "You can't possible mean..." he breathed. "Don't cry, I don't want you to cry!" he begged.

"But it's so sad." Emily sniffed.

"It's okay! Please don't cry. I'll go away now." The beast said as he moved away only for Emily to reach out and grab his hand.

"No! Please stay." Emily asked as she tightly held the thin leathery wrist.

The beast gasped. "I can feel your pulse." He commented. "It's so warm, your blood is… NO!" he screamed as ripped his arms away from Emily and retrieved backwards.

"What? What's wrong?" Emily asked.

"I shouldn't have come so close to you!" The beast exclaimed now ones again echoing from the shadows, yet still he was moving further and further away. "Especially not now while I am starving!"

"Starving?" Emily asked confused. "But there's plenty of food here." then she realized, she had never seen the beast eat… Of course she hadn't seen him at all but.

"Forget it! Forget what I told you!" The beast sneered now sounding actually angry, his voice again seemed to echo from the hallways.

Slowly Emily lifted her hands and then removed the blindfold looking up at the shadows. "I… I don't understand. Surely you must eat. I mean." she halted.

"There are things you are better of not knowing!" The beast informed. "Just don't ask me to come so close again!" he asked.

Emily swallowed and she looked down, whisking away a few renegade tears that still remained. "Thank you." she said. "To know you're real, that's a big ease on my mind."

There was stunned silence then a quiet response. "You're welcome."

And Emily looked up, somehow she could feel the two were looking at each other and she realized the said reality. The only they now had was each other, they were trapped here together. Perhaps it really just was better to make the best out of it.

That night though… Emily had trouble sleeping. She kept tossing and turning in her bed as the beasts words played over her mind.
He was starving… There were things she was better off not knowing?

Words like that made it crawl over Emily's skin, she knew there were things she didn't know about this place! Where had the people gone? Where had they gone to? Why did the weather never change? Who made her food and cleaned those rooms?!

Emily sat up and then grabbed her head, she could still recall his touch but now not knowing what he looked like became an even bigger nuisance, it kept bothering her mind.

Then suddenly a wind blow went through the room, it went up Emilys skin and spine and then a female voice, almost seemed to whisper… "you want to see don't you? I'll let you see… Come this way… Follow me."

Wide-eyed Emily looked up and saw the door open, shrieking as it slowly opened all by itself, wide-eyed Emily looked up… Was she dreaming? Was she a sleep?

Swallowing Emily stood up and then walked out, just out of sight by the end of the hallway, it was almost like there was a small ghostly light floating towards the stairs. Emily gasped but her curiosity had the better of her and she followed this small ghostly light which always kept at a steady pace in front of her.
Perhaps she would finally see who ever fixed the rooms and cooked her food? Slowly Emily walked through the darkness, only guided by this dim light.
But there was no sounds other than the wind, just as usual… Eventually the light lead her outside through the main gates, but instead of going towards the town it went the other way, towards the forest of dead trees.

Slowly Emily followed, into the forest among the trees and then the ghostly light distinguished leaving Emily in darkness, frightened she twirled around but could barely see anything, it was so dark. Then behind her Emily heard a twig snap and she twirled around only to halt.

It was like she lost all breath and a tear appeared in Emilys eye from sheer joy, because right there in front of her was a deer! A doe to be in fact. From its mouth came a mist with every breath, it was breathing. Emily could almost feel its warmth.

An animal! An honest to god living animal. Slowly Emily reached for the doe, wishing so dearly to touch it. But the does neck snapped up and its ears was laid down, before it turned around and jumped away. "No wait!" Emily called but stopped… A deer… A real deer. She smiled as she swallowed.

Though suddenly another sound came, a shadow rushing through the trees a much larger creature breaking bushes and trees as it stormed forwards.

Emilys eyes widened as she realized she was in the way and she had to run, and she did the only thing she could do, ran as fast as she could, but whatever was after her was much bigger and faster than her, Emily looked over her shoulder and suddenly saw two big round eyes lighting up in the darkness and she screamed, she could not think, she could not hear, she could only run! And she ran for her life as the huffs and snarls only grew bigger, she ran through bushes and trees before finally she fell down and she covered her head with her hands as she whimpered.

However the massive creature ran straight past her and soon after another scream sounded, the dying scream from an animal as it sounded like a neck was being snapped echoing through the forest and a big splash followed.

Wide-eyed Emily looked up, her entire body was shaking as she heard it, sounds of hungry slobbering and gushing.

Slowly Emily stood up as she shivered… All reason told her she should walk away, move as far away from the sound as humanly possible.
But then her curiosity played in… What if whatever was there could explain this island? Something was alive! something was.

And Emily swallowed as slowly she stepped closer, closer towards the sound, finally she ran into a stone wall and realized the sound was just on the other side. Slowly Emily snook around and then finally managed to get a peak, just a little.

Nothing could have prepared her for that sight however, for there was the doe but it was dead and bowing over it was a monstrous creature covered in its blood as it ate into the raw meat.

The creature was like a skeleton but with black leather skin stretched over it, its face was something between a horse and a gargoyle, but sunken in and skeleton like, with long sharp teethes from the wide open mouth where blood was dripping out. The long claws were buried into the flesh of the doe. Worst of all though was its eyes transfixed on the doe, its eyes which never closed! They were round as orbs and bright red shining up in the night.

And Emily… She screamed! She screamed loudly from fright as she stepped back.

That made the creature stop, then slowly it lifted its head, it's eyes never blinking as much as ones, blood dripping from its face and mouth. Then… It looked like hunger game over its eyes and it licked its own mouth. "Kill…" it spoke in a familiar voice, a voice Emily knew only to well, but this time the voice was devoid of curiousity or gentleness, it was only cold and devoid of any emotion. "Kill her… " And he reached for her with the claws dripping from blood. "Must kill her!"

And Emily screamed as she turned around and ran, ran as fast as she could. "NOOOOOOOO!" The beast however was after her, jumping up in trees and crashed through bush's as it roared.
Emily was no match, but she feared for her live as she ran, she stumbled and fell but was up again as she ran then finally she saw the castle in the distance and she ran, as fast as she could, a sigh of relief but then her eyes widened as she realized she was on the wrong side of the castle! In front of her was nothing but a huge wall she could not get through and Emily turned around as she was caught.

She heard the beast coming running closer and closer and she screamed as she fell down crumbled together and held her head as she screamed. "NOOOOOOOOOOO!"

And from the forest sprung the beast! Landing in front of her with a raised claw now dripping with blood.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Emily screamed. "LEAVE ME ALONE MONSTER!"

Then the beast halted and it seemed to gasp as it fell back.

Emily however cried as she sat there, cried in hysterics. "You're a monster! YOU'RE A MONSTER!" she cried in fright.

The beast glanced up, then he started to whimper almost as a wounded animal, slowly it tried to come closer but Emily screamed.

"GET AWAY FROM ME!"

And the beast whimpered, retrieving backwards, crawling back.

Emily reached for the ground and managed to grab a handful of dirt which she threw after the beast. "Get away! GET OUT OF HERE!" she shouted.

And finally the beast turned around and ran away, whimpering like a wounded animal.

Emily however fell together as she cried, shaking from fear and crying from shock. How could she nearly have forgotten? This beast this…. THING had intended to kill her father! Just for a bloody rose! And now he kept her prisoner for his own amusement!
He was a monster! A beast! Finally Emily managed to get up on her legs and stagger towards the gate, after a brave fight she made it back to her own room but she was not satisfied with a closed door, she put the chair under the handle to keep it firmly locked and finally she made it to bed. Shivering and crying but also extremely exhausted which is how sleep finally claimed her ones again.

Though her dreams didn't bring her much comfort, in her dream she only saw dissatisfied and disappointed faces.

"You said you would help us!"

"Why aren't you helping us?"

"What have you done?! UNFORGIVEABLE!"

"please." Emily sniffed. "I don't know what I am supposed to do! Just tell me! WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?!" she shouted.

But no one bothered to answer that, all she got was disappointment and no comfort. Perhaps she was right, and this was actually the gates to hell!

AN;
A bit of trivia for the people here.
The story that Emily is reading by the beginning of the chapter is in fact the story of Hades and Persephone from Greek mythology... Ironically in spite of what the Disney movie and plenty of other entities would have you believe, Hades is probably the most honourable and nice one of the greek gods. He's a good guy whom loves his wife and is possible the only greek god whom doesn't cheat on his wife _

Also in the last chapter I talked about Farands travelling route if he goes by ship and well, I am saying Farands and Emilys hometown is in French! So, by sailing South-west from there he'll actually end up in either North Africa or some middle eastern countries, so yeah, he's going to north africa the middle east. It was genuily very common for French sailors to go that route back in time, if you look at a map Africa and the middle east is indeed very close to french.
There of course... is no island nor black void or "Bermuda triangle." between French and north Africa.
There ones was a European country called. "Prussia." before it was swallowed by Dutchland and became part of Dutchland but it was not an island, so that part is entirely fictional.
But yeah that's where we are if you look at a world atlas, somewhere between French and North Africa.