Chapter Twenty Nine

Unpleasant Memories

(Axel POV)

I found the girl. The one that Calostire or the Beast had taken and fallen in love with. She was sorta tall with emerald eyes and dark brown hair. I thought she was very beautiful, in a simple way. I have seen many women, but none of them could ever compare to her. She had a strong look to her that made me admire her. But I wasn't there to just gawk at the girl like I had been doing for a while.

No, I had to take the girl tonight. She was part of a very important plan. A plan that included ruling this land once more.

My father and the father before me ruled this land for many years. Then that damned after the Great War that was between the West and East side of France.

The odd thing though, was that Calostire and I were once childhood friends. We met each other at the renowned ball that the kings held once every four years just for some peace purpose, and from there we would hang out whenever we could, causing trouble wherever we went. I was only ten then, with still flaming red hair and bright green eyes. My mother said it was such an odd look that it was too cute and Calostire and I would make jokes about how funny each of us looked. The young Calostire was much different then what he should have looked like now, but I heard of the curse that was set upon him years ago. Back then I would have never hurt Calostire or do any of the things I'm about to do, but one day he put our friendship in the past and set war to what land my father was going to give to me.

His men, they murdered my family in a fire that his knights set onto our home one night. I was thirteen then. My heart tore as I watched my father and mother die in front of me. Some knights took both of my parents out to the front of the grounds in front of the other knights. With one quick swing their swords cut through them.

My mother stared at me the whole time, while my father kept his head high like a king should.

My mother shook her head when I tried to come to their aid. It broke my heart when the last thing my parents said were, "Long live King Axel Riavere, the true king of France".

The castle falling upon their dead bodies, and all who once lived with me. Everyone was dead. Servants, maids, and others who had been with me since I was born. While I could do nothing to help them. The only reason I survived was because I was outside playing with my ball. It was at the last second as I came home, that I noticed what hell had happened. The knights, they wore his crest, his mark on their chests with pride of what they had done. I vowed from that day on that I would get my revenge on my old friend and rip out his heart as he did mine.

Days ago I came to the castle, astonished at how the place changed, and spied on the residents of the palace. That was when I saw her. I saw a woman and Calostire perched in front of a great entrance of the castle. After they went inside, I followed them from the outside till they reached a small room with a fire place, reading a book from one of the many windows that surrounded the castle. He was smiling as he looked at her, not even noticing what the girl was reading.

I finally knew what made his heart happy.

It took me a while due to the fact that Calostire, after his parents died, was the most spoiled brat anyone had ever seen. The young prince became that way because of self pity and thought that he was the only one who had ever lost someone in their life. He didn't care about anyone but himself.

There was also one more thing I had up my sleeve, literally and it was poking me very badly. Even through the thick cloth I stuck around.

"This'll be good. Real good."

I snuck inside of the palace through a small window from one of the abandoned rooms. Apparently Calostire had yelled at the girl over her wanting to read just a bit more (he is so uncaring, even to those he says that he cares about). So she left peacefully, but hurt. I stayed in the shadows and followed the girl till she stopped and fell asleep inside of a very dusty room.

'This can't be her room.' I thought to myself. I may know of how Calostire became, but I know that he is a gentleman enough to give a girl a proper room.

'The way she has that confused look on her face. She must have gotten lost'.

I didn't ponder on that though too long. For as soon as she lay on a couch, she fell asleep. I waited an hour to be positively sure that she was sleeping. She started to have tears on her face while she slept.

"Poor girl." I muttered.

I had to fight the urge to wake her up and rid her of whatever was bothering her. I may have been there to steal her, but I was still a gentleman as well.

I silently walked up to the sleeping girl. She almost scared the life out of me when she shifted in her sleep, but I only let out a sigh of relief. Very carefully, I scooped the girl from her resting place and went out the window, like a thief in the night I was.

Two of the most precious things to Calostire were in my possession, and it was time he chose between them.

As I made my way down the palace walls, the girl had even more tears come from her closed eyes. I wiped them from her eyes this time, smiling at myself.

"Keep this up Axel and you'll go soft and the plan will be ruined."

Once I was on the ground I set the girl down on the snow to accomplish one part of the plan, but not too soon cause at that moment she awoke.

"Huh? Where am I?"

Her voice sounded like velvet and made me feel a tinge of guilt for her confusion. As she looked around and realized where she was at, she then whispered as she saw my form.

"Master?" I laughed.

"Master? No, no silly girl, I am not your Master. My name is Axel. Axel Riavere and I am pleased to you."

She made a slight tired nod with her head, her dark brown hair sliding across her face.

"Um Mister Axel, where is Master?"

I laughed even harder this time. Apparently Calostire made her acknowledge him as her 'Master' instead of his real name. I wonder if she even knew his real name.

"Do you always have to call him that? No matter. He doesn't know you're out here. And I would like it to stay that way, otherwise things could get messy."

I got tired of standing in the shadows of the trees so I confronted her. As I took off my hood I could see her eyes widen from the odd color of my hair and eyes. Most people gave me that look, as it's not every day a man with flaming red hair shows up. I turned to her and smiled.

"What's your name anyway? I never got the chance to ask." I didn't want to keep calling her 'girl'.

"My name is Rose" she smiled.

I smirked, such a pretty name.

""Hmmm, Rose. Only such a beautiful name to match a beautiful woman. Well Rose how about you and I take a walk-." A roar cut me off,

"Damn!"

Calostire found out that one of his precious roses were missing.