Disclaimer: Read Prologue
"Your intellect may be confused, but your emotions will never to lie." - Roger Ebert
Ch. 10: Is Everything a Lie?
"We're going to go in the forest at night time? You think that's dangerous especially for Arthur?"
"That's the point, Gabriel. That is the point."
Maura awoke before any of the servants did and immediately, she planned to head straight to the library. She changed from her nightwear into a comfortable purple dress. She was quite amazed about the fact that though the only human was Charlie that these dresses fit her well. She slipped out of the room and walked down to the library; as she was walking, she stopped at the window, looking out at the garden to see the king's grave marker.
As the sunlight hit the piano, she noticed movement of the vines that covered it. I wonder who is doing that, Maura pondered; she then resumed her walk toward the library. She pushed them open and the sight caught her off guard. Sitting at a windowsill, a book was floating as if someone was reading. The book then closed with Charlie's voice echoing as she greeted, "Good morning."
"Good morning, Charlie, I didn't expect anyone to be here so early," Maura commented as she walked inside and closed the door behind her.
"I come here when I need some quiet time but I guess I have to share now."
Though there was a joking tone, Maura still apologized. "I didn't mean to intrude."
"Don't worry about that. Bookie there will love someone else to talk to about books besides myself." Maura approached one of the large armchairs and took a seat then noticed that a mirror was placed strategically to reveal Charlie's reflection. The two of them stared each other briefly until Charlie opened the book and asked, "So what brings you here, Maura?"
"I…I have questions about something I found in my father's journal," Maura answered. Charlie stopped reading and placed it down as Maura continued, "I feel like I have more questions than answers; about myself and about this place."
"About yourself, I can't answer. About this place, I can answer only so much."
"That's a cryptic statement."
"I know and I'm sorry."
Maybe, I can still get some answers, Maura thought as Charlie turned her head to look out the window. "How old are you," Maura asked.
"I've been twenty-six for…god, I don't know how long."
"You mean you haven't aged since you've been cursed." Charlie nodded which prompt Maura to ask in addition, "Did you live here all your life?"
"No," Charlie answered. "I was born in England to a merchant and his wife; she was a medicine woman."
"The owner of your satchel," Maura remembered.
"Yes, it belonged to her." Suddenly, a sad smile appeared on Charlie's face, which Maura noticed immediately. "They died when I was barely four and I lost my…" Her eyes darted toward Maura, gazing at her emerald eyes then stated quietly, "I lost my remaining relative, making me an orphan"
"I'm so sorry."
"Don't be. I traveled from forest to forest, village to village; people took me in and I worked my way until it got to a point where I had to do thievery and I ended up at the castle when I was fifteen, almost sixteen. The Mistress was young and I watched her grow eventually, just things happen."
"You were so young," Maura commented. Charlie nodded, standing up from her spot and walked away, making her image in the mirror disappear. "Perhaps you can help me."
"Oh," Charlie's voice echoed.
"I need the genealogies. I found something that I wanted to look up."
A whistle was let out and the books came flying off the bookshelf with astonishment, crossing Maura's face. The large books landed on the table with light thuds with the enchanted talking book approaching the table. "A specific name, dear," the book inquired as he ran his fingers through the pages.
"Doyle." Charlie's head shot up in surprise at the name, which, Maura noticed, prompting her to ask, "Didn't you have the book open to this page last time?"
Charlie looked at Maura and though, she could not see her reflection; Maura could sense Charlie's hesitation in answering her question. "I was trying to find someone," Charlie answered softly.
"Under Doyle or my surname," Maura pondered.
"You know…my memory is feeling a bit foggy, Maura. I'm going to check on the rest of the castle," Charlie said abruptly.
Suddenly, the library door opened then closed, confusing Maura about why she left so sudden. She looked down at the talking book and asked, "Did I say something wrong?"
"I don't believe so, Miss Maura," the book answered. "Miss Charlie prefers her privacy."
Her privacy? How does Doyle relate to her? "She didn't have to run away."
"True but she'll return eventually. Always comes back here to read or look out that window."
Maura turned toward the window and walked toward it to see the Beast walking through the maze with Angela trailing behind. What else do I not know, Maura pondered then returned her attention back to the books.
While Maura was in the library, the Beast walked through the maze with Angela, Frankie, Frost and Korsak trailing behind. "You…requested to see us, Mistress," Frost said softly, unsure why they were all there in the first place.
The Beast did not reply but continued her slow and methodical walk through the maze. Angela glanced back at the others then looked back at the Beast as she asked softly, "Is there something we can help you with?"
"I…" she rubbed her chin then sighed, "How do I try to get closer?"
"With Maura?"
The Beast nodded, "Every time, I want to be near her…I don't know. I feel so…"
"Exposed," Korsak finished her sentence.
"Yes, and I don't know why."
The servants all looked at each other, trying to figure out what to say to the Beast while the creature herself was trying to figure out the feelings that were stirring in her. She took in a deep breath then released it until Angela rolled her cart beside the Beast and stated, "Be yourself would be a good start."
"But what is myself? I don't know who or what that is? All I am here is a-"
"Stop," Angela ordered in a motherly tone; though she didn't use it often on her Mistress (due to other circumstances), Angela was not going to listen to self-loathing that came from the Beast. "Show her the person you wish to be, Mistress. The fact that you are even asking us for help is showing that you're changing but, for yourself or for her, that's the question you need to answer."
The Beast sighed and nodded in agreement; for the first time, the anger that was buried within her toward Angela did not emerge. Though there was buried feelings between the two, the Beast did not let them take control of her and for the first time, she didn't feel like a Beast but who she was originally.
They reached the center of the maze with the Beast glancing up toward the castle.
"There are so many Doyles," Maura pointed out as she looked through the pages once more. "I don't know where to even start at."
"Maybe Miss Maura should take a break," the talking book suggested as he floated up to one of the shelves.
Maura shook her head and sighed, "I can't. I need to know why my father hid these," gesturing toward the journals, "from me." She then turned the page of the book and her eyes widened at the sight of the name 'Maura Doyle'.
This can't be, Maura thought in pure surprise. She ran her finger from the name to the birth to see that the birth of this name was same as hers. "This can't be right," Maura mumbled; she pushed through the pages toward the letter 'I' and looked for the surname of 'Isles'. As she looked through the names, she found Arthur's as well as Constance's but as she looked for her name; she noticed that it wasn't there.
What does this all mean, Maura questioned, feeling her mind spin faster. She closed the book quickly and stood up, feeling her stomach twist in pain. She walked out of the library, shutting the door behind which prompted the concern of the librarian book.
Her servants left her alone as she sat on a bench and gazed up at the piano. She pulled her cloak around her tighter as a chill came over her. Despite having fur, she still had the occasional chill going through her body. She looked up at the vine covered piano and sighed, "I don't think you would be happy with what I become, Papa."
She then stood up and began to walk back to the castle. As she was walking back, she began to think to herself quietly. She doesn't know about my past, she doesn't know the hell I experienced with that monster. Also, she thinks Charlie is an innocent being in this castle; she's a traitor, at least…in my eyes.
The Beast reached the staircase to the main door, pushing it open for her to see the old library book. "Why are you not in the library," the Beast questioned.
The book was breathing heavily upon stopping as he puffed, "Miss…Maura…found something that seemed…to upset her…"
Concern felt her heart constrict as she retorted, "Did you send Angela?" The book nodded and the Beast began to ascend up the staircase to Maura's side of the castle. When she reached the door, she noticed that Angela was by the door as well as Korsak, Frankie, Tommy and Frost. "Has she answered you," the Beast inquired.
Angela shook her head.
The Beast moved closer to the door, taking in a deep breath before she attempted to twist the doorknob. Realizing that the door was locked, the Beast did the unexpected and knocked on the door. "Maura, open the door, please. The servants are worried about you," the Beast stated quietly.
"Go away, Beast," the Beast heard Maura's muffled voice; she also heard her voice cracked mixed with sobs.
The Beast backed away from the door then approached the mirror that hung by the door. "Charlie," the Beast called and the young woman appeared immediately. "I need you to open the door."
"Aren't I violating her privacy," Charlie retorted.
The Beast grumbled, "You never respected that before."
Before the two would start their usual argument, Angela wheeled toward them and said, "Don't start anything. Our focus is the young girl in there."
The Beast and Charlie glared at each other until finally, Charlie began to disappear from the mirror. As she disappeared, the Beast sighed, thinking that Charlie ignored her order until she heard a loud click and the door opened slightly. She walked up to the door and peered inside to see Maura sitting on her bed and staring at papers that were on her bed. "Maura," the Beast called quietly.
"I told you to go away," Maura sobbed.
The Beast moved closer and replied, "Everyone is worried. What happened at the library?" Maura didn't reply but continued to sob until the Beast reached the bed. She took a seat and looked at the items on her bed, reading them slowly until realization came.
"Maura Doyle…is that you," the Beast questioned.
"I…don't know…I continued looking through what we started and then…I found this and I'm so confused." She ran her fingers along the journal and continued, "I feel like...I don't know who I am anymore."
"I know that feeling," the Beast looked down at the ground.
Maura looked up at the Beast and for the first time, she took the moment to take the appearance of her captor. Seeing the expression in her eyes, she thought about the human she met in the mirror world and that same expression of pain in her eyes. "Is there anyway I can help you and the others break this curse," Maura asked softly.
If only you did know, the Beast thought but shook her head. "My mistake to bear," the Beast answered softly.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be." The Beast then looked down at the papers that were before her then continued, "Maybe we can find the answers."
"What do you mean?"
"I think you already know that the castle comes alive at times."
"They seem to be shadows but the voices sound like I'm there."
"Yes but when you enter the Mirror World, it's different. You see everyone's memories and sometimes, the Mirror reveals other things in the process."
"So what are you suggesting," Maura asked in wonder, trying to piece what the Beast was thinking.
The Beast stood up and gestured toward the mirror, "Maybe we can find the answers you're looking for in the Mirror World. Even though Charlie and I don't get along," she grumbled then continued, "-but, I know she might be able to find something." Maura was caught off guard by the Beast's suggestion then lowered her head down. The Beast scratched the back of her neck and retorted, "It's merely a suggestion."
"Actually…" the Beast looked up to see Maura looking at her shyly, "I would like that."
"Really?"
"Yes," Maura gave a small smile with the flip of her stomach. She then looked down then looked back up and said, "You know...I would prefer to call you something else besides 'Beast'."
The Beast's eyes widened in surprise as she looked down at her paws. Do I tell her, she pondered.
"If you don't want to tell me...it's fine," Maura retorted, blushing in embarassment.
The Beast felt this as well for the hazel eyes caught her off guard and immediately, she seemed to fall deeper into them until she turned her head, feeling the rush in her body. What am I feeling, the Beast pondered. Is this how I'm suppose to feel…like I'm floating or falling.
"Jane," Maura heard.
"What?"
The Beast took in a deep breath then stated again softly, "My name is Jane."
"Jane," Maura tested. "I like it."
The Beast blushed then asked, "When would you like to start?"
Maura glanced down at everything on her bed then answered, "Tonight. I would like to start tonight, Jane."
"Alright, Maura."
She felt a dark presence and at first, she thought it was her brooding and colliding with the Mistress. You will never stop arguing with her especially the fact that she blames you for Cassandra leaving, she heard her thoughts echo. She turned her head to see another version of herself; she took in a deep breath then released it causing that version to disappear.
Where is the darkness coming from, Charlie pondered as she walked through the halls of the castle.
"It was her fault that you're like this. Never ending demands. Blames you for everything," she heard; a voice that was strangely familiar.
"She…doesn't know what happened."
"But every time, she brings it up. She questions you. She doesn't trust you."
Unknown to her, the dark presence appeared along the wall, forming into a man's form and began to follow Charlie's shadow. It touched the shadow's shoulder causing Charlie to roll her shoulders back in pain. "Always will be the orphan. Unable to find your family because she kept you from them."
"It was a choice."
"Was it?"
Suddenly, Charlie felt a sharp pain in her chest and shook her head again, rubbing her forehead in pain. "I need to find this darkness before it attacks again," Charlie said softly as she resumed her walk.
"Charlie," she heard suddenly, prompting her to stop and sigh. "I will have to look another time."
As she disappeared slowly away, the shadow's hand stuck out from the wall until it materialized to full-fledged shadow figure. Suddenly, it seemed to have opened its eyes for they were blood red and a smile formed, illuminating red as well.
It inhaled suddenly and said in a hiss, "Smells like lavender and fear."
Sorry for the wait, guys. I got busy but I hope you guys like it! Please review and see you soon!