Calla was in the forest, but it was nothing like it had been earlier that day. Now it was dark and every shadow created by the moonlight triggered things in her imagination she was sure she'd left behind when she about ten. Noises made her jump, branches clung to her clothes. She even thought she heard wolves howling, which was impossible, they had been run out England decades ago, right?

The moonlight dappled through the trees, and what could have been a beautiful clearing in the daylight, was just another horror to add to Calla's list. She sat down next to an old tree, hugging her knees to her and gently banging her head on them.

"I won't cry, not now, not any more," but even though she tried, a single tear slid down her cheek and splashed onto the earth. A howl echoed through the trees.

"So Adam dearest, how are you on this fine morning?" Kairos glided into her chair at the table where they were both sitting to eat.

"Oh I'm just great, having a wail of a time," he said sarcastically, glaring down the long table at her.

"I'm so glad," she smiled and began to eat. After a few minutes she got up and began to walk out, "I'll be out for a while, feel free to make yourself at home, you'll be here a while," she laughed cruelly.

Adam swiped at the bowl, sending it smashing into a wall. That stupid bitch, he would show her. One day. Or he wouldn't, because he would never break this curse. He didn't know how he'd gotten himself into this, and he didn't know how to get out of it.

Calla woke up in the clearing and saw her prediction that with daylight it would be beautiful was correct. Red roses wound around the tree trunks and a golden light shone down to illuminate them. She sat up, and tried to push her red hair out of her face, but it was in a state that only a brush would fix. She rubbed her eyes and suddenly a tall woman was standing before her. She had flowing black hair and blue eyes that seemed familiar, she smiled sweetly at Calla.

"Hello, are you ok?" She asked.

Now Calla had been warned about this woman by her Grandmother, "Kairos right?"

Kairos stepped back, obviously a little shocked, but she soon regained her composure. "Your relatives broke the rule then..." She glared at a tree, then turned back to Calla, smiling again.

"Well, what did they about me?"

"You can drop the act, I know you're an evil enchantress, who put a curse on a poor family, and that we are the only one who can break it."

Kairos laughed, throwing her head back, "An evil enchantress... a poor family," she said between laughs, "Oh how amusingly romantic."

Calla stood up, and glowered at the beautiful woman, "Stop laughing, there is nothing funny about this situation! I have been forced away from my home."

"Yes I know, pity I didn't watch you sooner, but alas, we shall have to make do with the situation, at least it will make this time a little more interesting... what with you swearing never to love, I was afraid it would be too easy!"

Calla restrained the urge to stamp her foot. This woman was extremely annoying, but she could cope with it, she had made a promise, and one thing she always did was keep her promises. "Are you going to take me to him then?"

"Me?" Kairos smirked, "No, I think, since your relatives have thrown in this surprise for me, you can find your own way, just keep walking through the woods," and with a cackle of delight she vanished.

Calla screamed in annoyance. Then she took a deep breath, in and out. There was no point being annoyed or upset, this was what was happening to her, no matter how unlikely it seemed, and she needed to see it through. The best thing that could happen was that at the end she would wake up and find it was all a dream, like in The Wizard Of Oz. But somehow this seemed a little too real.

Adam prowled through the corridors, until he came to a staircase. It was narrow and a spiral, nothing like any of the other ornate parts of the castle. He glanced around, but no-one was there. He slipped up the staircase, he was moving quite fast on his four paws now, having had a bit of practise, and he soon reached the top of the tower. He nudged the wooden door open and it opened, not with the squeak of an unused door but a smooth swing. There was a throne in the middle of the circular room, with its back to him. One small window stood to the East. He crept around the outskirts of the room, feeling wary, this was obviously Kairos's room. In front of the throne was a large mirror with a silver and gold ornate rim, there were even sea shells stuck to it.

"How vain," he muttered, before noticing that the mirror showed, not his ugly reflection, but a smooth shimmering surface. Nothing in the room was reflected.

"Nice to see you Adam," he jumped and twirled around as fast as he could, to see Kairos sitting in her throne, examining her nails. "Like my mirror do you?"

"I..." He began to explain himself, but bit back the words, why did she deserve an explanation from him.

She waved her hand, dismissing anything he might have to say, "Now, you may want to make yourself a little more presentable," she smiled to herself, "We have a guest coming... someone you will, I'm sure, be glad to see."

He was extremely puzzled, but didn't want to stay in this witch's presence any longer. "Whatever," He growled, before running down the stairs, trying to block her cackling laughter from his mind.

Calla stumbled, for around the millionth time. The forest seemed to not want her to get to this mysterious castle, roots and branches kept appearing to block her way. But as she picked herself up, she realised she could see the end of the trees. Finally she was on the other side, she ran out into the sunlight. Really she was in an enormous clearing, because the trees simply circled round. Her eyes widened as she took in the castle. It was incredible, the stuff of fairy tales and myths, towering battlements and wide paned windows. She began to walk down the stone path that was now in front of her. It led her up to a large wooden door, she pulled the knocker and a boom echoed through the halls.

The door creaked open, revealing a small timid old man, "Ah... yes... you're erm, here then," he said nervously, ushering her inside, before closing the door behind her. "This way please, you are to have dinner with the new master."

She glanced behind her, trying to remember where the door was, but it had disappeared. She gasped, but the man just walked faster, leading her though a maze of corridors. Even if there was a door, she knew she would never remember the way.

"Here is your room... you might want to freshen up a little," he pointed to a little wooden door, and she stepped inside, "Someone will come for you when dinner is ready," she heard him say as he wandered off, but she was caught in the wonder of her room.

Opposite the door was a huge bay window with a cushioned window seat the whole way around the sill. To her right was an equally large four poster bed, with light blue covers and drapes, that matched the cushions on the window seat. On the left of the room was a wide mahogany desk, with old fashioned paper and ink all set up, not that she had anyone to write to. There was also a wardrobe and a full length gold mirror. And a door. She lifted the latch and walked into her bathroom. Candles were on all the surfaces, lighting the room. A bath was sunken into the floor, she walked over to it and saw it was big enough to swim in, the castle was obviously done in large. There was also a decorated sink and toilet on the opposite side.

"All my needs taken care of, looks like I shall never have to leave the room." Calla muttered, then she turned on the taps, water with a slightly bluish colour began to run out, she leaned closer and realised it was slightly perfumed. When it was full she got in, dunking her whole body under, trying to forget the journey here. She got out and wrapped an thick white towel around herself. Then she went to explore the wardrobe. Her jeans and top were definitely too dirty, and for some reason she wanted to make a good impression. She guessed she wanted to show Kairos that whatever she put her through, Calla could cope.

There were dresses of every hue hanging up. They were all the same style, a corset top with gold decoration, a flowing skirt and long sleeves with a point at the end. They were all the same velvety material and all had a matching cape. She twitched her nose, as she always did when deciding, and picked a blue dress, it seemed to match her room, and her skin tone. She wondered how Kairos had known this was her favourite colour, because she knew it was like this to taunt her. It had to be.

She changed, and used the vanity set in the bathroom to brush and style her hair in a simple braid, clipping back the shorter curls at the front. She felt as though she had stepped back in time, but if this was a dream, and she was still hoping it was, it wouldn't hurt to make a little more interesting by getting to act her favourite period. There was a knock on the door, and a young woman, in a maid's outfit opened it, waiting for her at the door.

"Dinner is served Ma'am."

Calla followed her through the winding halls and down a magnificent stairway. Then she gestured to a double doorway, then curtsied and walked away. Calla raised an eyebrow, but opened the door. Again, opposite the door was a wide window, the height of the room. There was also a long dining table, with a throne at one end. At the other sat... she couldn't quite describe it. It was some sort of animal, she knew from her Grandmother's description that this was a cursed boy... but still, his shaggy fur and hunched back was all she could see now, but she knew what kind of atmosphere was shrouding him. He turned and she struggled not to step back, his eyes glowed yellow and his jaws, so like a wolf, were full of sharp fangs.

"It's ok, you can look horrified, I understand," he said, with a slight growl.

"No, I... it was just a shock," she walked forward and sat herself at the place to his left, the only other one that was laid. "Are we being joined?"

"I don't know... she just turns up," he said, not looking at her.

"Oh," she said quietly, also looking down and staring intently at her plate. She looked up, "I'm Calla, by the way."

"Right... I'm..." he hesitated, "Beast."

"No, what is..."

"That is all I am now," he interrupted, "what I was before doesn't mater," he said firmly.

"Ok..." After a minute of silence she added, "I'm sorry that I can't..."

"No, neither can I," he interrupted her again.