Monster

(Monday Night, August 12th)

"Where is it?" Ben seethes, as he strides over to the dining table.

"Evening, Ben." Charming inquires, "What are you looking for?"

"You know what," he accuses. "It's not in my dresser."

"It's in a safe place," he reassures.

"I want it back," Ben shouts.

"Why don't you have some breakfast?" Charming questions. "We can discuss this at a different table." Ben shakes his head, turns around, and marches out of the room.

After he leaves, Ella asks, "What did you take from him?"

"Shapewear," he simply says before scooping the smashed potatoes with his fork.

"He's skinny as hell," Chad disbelieves. "What does he need shapewear for?"

"He doesn't," Charming agrees. "Why do you think I took it from him?"

"Oh," Ella recalls. "Pumpkin. Audrey's parents just sent me some very unfortunate news earlier. It turns out that her church will be closing for the time being."

"What?" Chad questions, "Why?"

"Allegations," his father informs. "A boy accused Pastor Richards of a crime."

"Sexual misconduct," his mother clarifies.

"Anyhow," he continues, "there's going to be an investigation, and he will not be able to preach any services until the charges have been dropped."

"It's hard to believe people like that can exist," Ella remarks. "This man built his livelihood out of nothing, and now it's all been taken from him in a day."

Chad gapes, and his father evenly expresses, "It hasn't been taken, yet. He just needs to make it through the trial."

"Hold on," Chad interrupts, and they turn to him. "Didn't you just say a kid came forward about being molested? You really want that kind of guy back running a church?"

"The boy obviously lied," his father inputs, and Chad looks away, heart beginning to race. "You used to attend bible camp with Audrey. You've been attending his sermons all summer. Does Pastor Richards really seem like the kind of guy who could do that?"

Chad faces him, "Just because he never hurt me, doesn't mean he's never hurt anyone else. People don't just say they were assaulted if it didn't happen."

"Except that it does happen," his mother disproves. "Pastor Richards gives over half of his income to charities. He's gone out of his way to feed and house the homeless. He's funded scholarships. If anyone's a good man, it's him."

"It doesn't matter if someone does good things," Chad's voice raises. "If he really hurt that kid, then that monster needs to be sent away." His parents give each other a look, and Chad's eyes widen, "Why can't you just believe the victim?"

"I'm glad you're taking the subject matter seriously," his father starts, "but the only victim here is Pastor Richards."

"If I were him, I'd file defamation charges," Ella supports. "I'd hate to lose everything I earned, just because someone felt the need to make up some lie about me."

After Chad stands from the table, his father sees the tears in his eyes, "I know this is hard, but the truth will come out. It always does."

Chad narrows his eyes at him, "You're a fucking liar." before he runs to the door.

"Chad," he calls after him. He exists the room, and Charming sighs, "Bernard. Keep an eye on him for me, please."

"Yes, Your Highness." He bows, walks out of the dining hall, and heads for Chad room. He hears muffled crying from the other side of the door. He knocks, "Prince Chad." There's no response, so he cracks open the door, "Prince Chad? What's wrong?" He hugs the pillow, and Bernard closes the door. "It's okay. You can tell me."

Chad whimpers, "I have a monster at my school."

He takes a moment, "Do you know the monster's name?"

"Hawthorne," he whispers, and he sobs again. "I wish they'd just believe me. The second I even start to say it… He's just such a great guy, and I'm just some stupid drug addict with homosexual inclinations. It must all just be in my head." He sadly laughs, "I wanted it to happen." The tears leave his eyes, "No one believes me."

"I believe you."

Chad looks at him, "You do?"

"I do," he confirms. Chad hugs the pillow harder, and Bernard slowly walks over to him. "The monster. Did he hurt you?"

Chad shakily says, "I got paralyzed last year… He visited me in the hospital, gave me this whole speech about snakes, while… I couldn't move. He said he was there to help, but then…" Chad starts to cry again, "He used to be my favorite teacher. I told him everything, and then he did that to me." Chad gulps, "He said if I told anyone, he'd tell my parents my secrets, but now that they know, they believe him: I had a crush, and he was nice to keep it private." He takes deep breathes, "Maybe they're right. Maybe I led him on. Maybe I wanted him to do it. It's not like I pushed him away."

"I don't believe that." He reassures, "And he's not going to hurt you again."

Chad faces him, "Are you going to protect me?"

He nods, "I will do everything in my power to make sure this never happens again."

When the castle doors open, Ace eyes over Ben, "No. I didn't order a bag of bones. You can go."

Charming questions, "Is that supposed to be funny?"

"I was my sabumnim's assistant last week," Ace informs. "After the students started calling me monster and shaking in their stance, I've been dismissed until further notice." He faces Ben, "So, yeah. When I find my stock isn't fattening up to my liking, I find it funny."

Ben eyes between Ace and Charming, "I don't get the joke."

"I've risked everything on you," Ace sternly explains, "and you can't even keep your body alive. By the end of the month it won't matter what agreements we made. You'll be a carcass, and the throne will be mine." Charming gauges Ben's expression, but he continues to stare at Ace. He rolls his multicolored eyes, "Come on. I'll find you something to eat."

"You don't need to do that." He turns back around, and Ben excuses, "I know that you ration it."

"If you're here," Ace stresses, "you're eating. It's not a negotiation."

Charming places a hand on Ben's shoulder, "He'll do his best."

Ace turns into the foyer, they follow him, and Ben hears him shout in German at a guy on the couch. He smiles as he stands, and Ace yells something as the guy goes up the staircase. Ben slowly asks, "Did you just ask for a cult?"

Ace grins, "Yes, Ben. We're feasting on a cult of evangelicals." He glances at King Charming, "No offense."

"I'm Lutheran," he frowns. "Not Evangelical."

Ace walks over to the armchair, and Ben questions, "You weren't serious, were you?"

"Only if they come onto our land," Ace evenly expresses, before he nods them over. "Come on. Sit."

They take a seat on the couch, and Ben informs, "I'm here to learn more about me."

"You know, I'm pretty tired of telling this story," Ace sighs.

"If you're telling anyone about it," Ben points out, "it should be me."

He nods, before the tray and drinks are set in front of them, "Thank you, Luke."

The brown-haired guy steals a ball of raw hamburger, "No problem."

After he leaves, Ace gestures to the tray, "Ben?"

When he grumbles, King Charming asks, "May I?" Ace nods, and he takes cracker and piece of cheese."

Ben watches him eat the snack, before he reaches for a piece of salami and nibbles on it. Ace starts, "Once upon a time our grandfathers were brothers in a pack of wolves. Long story short, your grandfather mated with a lion, they bargained with an enchantress so that their child would become the form of his chosen mate, and now you're here. The end."

Ben gapes at him, "I'm going to need a little more than that."

"I told you, you had to eat," he reminds him. "Take some hamburger, and I'll tell you."

Ben eyes from the raw meat to him, "What's next? An animal's heart?"

"That was a delicacy," he takes offense. "You should have tried it."

"Ben," Charming whispers, and he faces him. "Eat, please."

Ben eyes over the platter, before he slowly takes the ball of raw hamburger. He stares at Ace, placing it into his mouth, and Ace smiles, "There. Not so hard, is it?"