Serena woke up slightly past noon the next morning. She looked around wide-eyed at the giant room around her. She didn't remember making it to the room, much less pulling on the silk nightgown or climbing up the three steps into the huge bed. The room had a warm feeling about it, strange considering that the rest of it felt cold and dead. There was a table facing the terrace laden with food. "YAY!" Serena cried and bounded over to the table. When she'd eaten her fill she located the wardrobe filled with beautiful gowns. Gasping in surprise, not even when her family was wealthy had she had such beautiful gowns! She laughed and said aloud, "But I couldn't possibly wear gown this fine! These were meant for a duchess at least! Not a. peasant!" But since the dress she'd worn the day before was gone she found the plainest think in the entire wardrobe and put it on. She considered whether The Beast would care whether she explored or not, but decided that he couldn't possible expect her to just stay in one room all the time; she'd go nuts! And if she was to stay here, she was going to need to find her way around her new home now wasn't she?

In four hours she'd discovered the whereabouts of three dinning rooms, each larger than the last, two ballrooms, several studies, guest rooms, and a gallery. To her dismay she still hadn't found a library, but that didn't mean there wasn't one. At sunset she traveled back to her room to find a lovely dark red dress laid out on the bed for her. Jewelry set with rubies was on the vanity in the corner. Confused she spied a note that had been conveniently placed under her door. Curious, she opened it,

Serena, I would very much enjoy your presence at dinner this evening. Yours

The Beast

Glancing at the bed and briefly wondering if it had been him who'd set the dress and jewelry out (and giggling at the thought of him raiding the wardrobe) she said aloud,

"So I am to dress for dinner am I? Well, if you insist." So she did, and just as the slid the last of three rings on the door silently swung open and the candles out side it flickered to life.



Eeek, sorry it took so long, again, school, and sorry it's so short. I'm suffering writers block. Review, and give me suggestions! I need them.