Chapter 11
The West Wing
"Ok, this is boring." Bella thought to herself as Jasper droned on and on about the history of each painting, pot and now talked about the suits of armor that lined the hallway. She looked back at Alice and Emmett with 'Get me out of here!' written all over her face. Alice nodded her head and Emmett just shrugged. Bella looked down at Lunaris. Ever since they left the dining hall, the cat has not left her side. "I wonder where the West Wing is Lunaris?" Bella thought to herself as she looked at the cat.
"You are not supposed to be there you know." A small voice replied in her mind. "It's forbidden." Bella started.
"You can talk?" She asked surprised.
"In a way, I can only talk telepathically." Lunaris replied. "Are you sure you want to go? You do realize that Edward told you never to go there."
"Yes"
"Alright, here's what's going to happen. I will distract them. As soon as you can, go behind that tapestry," Lunaris pointed with her tail to the left. "And go down the passage way. I will meet you there. Ready? Bella nodded. Lunaris then scampered off. She jumped onto a nearby table that had chess pieces set up. She then started pawing the pieces, sending them onto the tile.
"Lunaris! Get Down!" Alice scolded. Lunaris looked at her puzzled. Then she jumped down and ran off.
"That was bizarre. She's never done that before." Alice remarked as she picked up a white queen.
"And she had to do it when I was talking about the Baroque Period!" Jasper whined.
"Oh cut it out! No one really cares!" Emmett replied teasingly. "Do you Bella? Bella? Bella!" Emmett frantically looked around.
"What is it Emmett?" Alice asked worried.
"It's Bella, she's gone!"
"How much further Lunaris?" Bella asked as she brushed off cobwebs out of her hair.
"Not much further." Lunaris said simply. "But if you want I could take you back."
"I'm not that chicken." Bella replied, trying not to freak out as she swatted at a spider on her arm. Lunaris chuckled that sounded between a purr and a meow.
"Just making sure." As they turned a corner, Bella noticed that the statues and mirrors lining the hallway looked like they have been thru a hurricane. Bits of marble and glass crunched under her feet, as she looked at her distorted image in the broken mirror.
"Were here," Lunaris said softly. Bella noticed at the end of the hall were two tall panel doors. When Bella came closer, she notices that the metal door knocker looked like a mountain lion' head with its mouth open in a ferrous snarl. Bella suppressed a shutter as she places her hand on the cold metal. Giving a quick pull, she opened the door and went inside. It was as if she just stepped into a monsters layer. Chairs, tables, and cabinets were tossed about and the hanging curtains shredded to thin ribbons. The only light in the room was the moonlight that shone through the shattered window that opened to a balcony. Then out of the corner of her eye, she saw two green eyes. She turned to her left suddenly, expecting the beast to be standing there. Then she breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that it was just a portrait.
"Wait a minute…" She took a step closer. The portrait, like everything else, was shredded. Except for the eyes, which stared back at her?
"Those eyes look familiar." As she reached out to touch it, a light flashed behind her. She turned around and let out a gasp. On a table in the middle of the arch was a beautiful rose. It was enclosed in a glass dome and it seemed to be levitating in its own light. Entranced, Bella walked towards it.
"Bella, what are you doing?" Lunaris grabbed a hold of her skirt.
"Will you relax? I just want to look at it." Bella knelt down and gently prodded the cats jaws open and made her let go. "Don't worry. It will be just a minute." She stood back up and turned around. She lifted the glass case and was about to stroke the petals when she noticed that there was something blocking the moonlight. Then she covered her mouth in horror when she recognized the beast. His face was a mix of surprise, anger and a hint of fear. She saw all thin in a brief moment. Before he dashed towards her. He quickly put the cover back on the rose then slowly turned to face her.
"Why did you come here?" He asked quietly.
Bella felt like she could not talk and after taking a breath, she answered, "I'm…sorry." In a quiet voice.
"ARE YOU DEAF AS WELL AS STUPID? I TOLD YOU NEVER TO COME HERE!" Bella quickly took a step back but the beast came after her.
"Please I didn't mean to." She begged.
"DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU COULD HAVE DONE? GET OUT!" He shoved her roughly into a table, sending her to the ground. "YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO BE HERE! NO RIGHT! GET OUT!" The beast roared. Bella scrambled to her feet and ran for the door. As she ran down the hallway, she heard Alice shout,
"Bella, where are you going?"
"Promise or no promise, I can't stay here."
Back in the West Wing, Edward was frantic. "LUNARIS! WHY DID YOU BRING HER HERE?" Edward shouted, glaring at the cat that was washing her face. Lunaris looked up.
"Who? Me?"
"Don't play dumb. Answer me. Why did you bring here?" Lunaris did not respond for a few minutes, and then finally she responded,
"To break the spell of course. It has been almost a hundred years Edward, don't you think you should at least take a chance n0w. You don't have much time."
"What's the point?" Edward put his head on his hands. "I've already given up all hope in trying…I failed."
"You try. You fail. You try. You fail. But the truth is that the ultimate failure is when you stop trying."
"What do you suggest I do?" Edward asked curiously.
"Try again and get her back you IDOIT!" Then Edward leapt up and ran out the door.