The ride in the carriage was long and strenuous. When Isabelle was at her wits end, she heard the carriage men yell whoa; everything abruptly halted almost knocking the girl over onto the floor at the unexpected cease of movement. Pulling the curtains from the window she looked out and saw a large castle before her, the land looked barren all color seemed washed out of it. The sky was gray like rain was coming but judging from the ground rain wouldn't make the grass grow. She put out her hand as the door opened and one of the faceless men took it helping her exit it the wagon. It was cold and dreary, she hastily moved into the doors of the massive palace. Feeling safe she removed the veil allowing a better look at her surroundings it looked like an old castle that hadn't been attended to as far as updates were concerned though outdated it was superb. The servants lined the hallway, their faces covered with black making them blank; none looked up all stood with their heads tilted down. She was brought into a room with a large fireplace and a roaring fire in it she went to it enjoying the heat it gave off. A presence soon joined her. The hair on her neck stood up and she felt an urge to turn around but stopped when a fierce voice spoke.
"Stop! Don't turn around." It commanded. "I am the king of this castle and this land; you will obey me or face the consequence."Isabelle sat in silence her mind whirled around to one idea to another as to who or what was behind her, she was about to speak when it spoke again. "Let me introduce myself to my new bride, my name is Adam, King Adam if you want to be formal but there is no need. When you address me you may call me Adam." Soft hands crept over her shoulder and when they came into sight she realized they were gloved, black like his attendants. She could feel a breath right by her ear and another twinge to see who it was. "Tell me your name."
"My name is Isabelle." Her voice was weak as she responded to him only to feel more uneasy by his next words.
"Isabelle, you are a lovely girl but I can tell by your voice and your scent that you can't possibly be the princess I asked for." She felt her heart stop when she heard him but from his tone it didn't seem to bother him of her real identity "None of them ever send their princesses it's always a chamber maid even with a bath they still have dirt under their nails and smell like a piss pot. You on the other hand do not smell foul in the least. So tell me how much did the king promise for you to come in her place?
"Nothing. I came on my own there was no need for promises."
"Why did you come? I would imagine that a princess would be thrilled to be made that why you came? The idea of being rich and powerful appeal to you?"
"No it doesn't, how do you know that I am not the one you asked for?" There was an odd noise from behind her that she made out as chuckling.
"You told me." The girl felt conned into that one; in her head she cursed how she walked right into it. "Now tell me why you came in place of the princess."
"She is my best friend, we grew up together. She had heard some rumors about you and when I found out I certainly couldn't allow her to go."
"What have you heard?" Adam had heard many rumors from his men but he wanted to hear first hand from someone more reliable than fearful servants. His favorite was that he captured children from their beds in the night to feast on their meaty bodies. Other rumors made him hysterical simply because they would make people come to his castle with riches and virgins offering them to him so that he wouldn't attack their town. He hadn't started a war ever in his reign as king. There was no need to create more trouble for his country and other kingdoms kept away from his land seeing that it no longer carried life. Since the curse his land and their people went into nothingness leaving him and the servants that were also cursed in the castle alone with each other. Not many have seen him and therefore the rumors began and he was ready to see what else people made up since his last correspondence with the domains outside of his kingdom. "Well, are you going to share?" A stutter came out first and after another moment the brunette was able to find her voice again.
"We heard that you are a cruel monster of a man and you killed two of your wives already."
"I see, look how brave you are choosing misery and possibly death so your princess could go free."
"Gretchen deserves to be happy; she is far too kind and gentle of a person to be tied down to a man like you." She hoped her words were like venom as she let them fly from her mouth not thinking of whom she was speaking to and what she was just talking about.
"And you? What does Belle deserve? Does Belle deserve to be tied down to a man like me and possibly killed for her sharp tongue?"
"No, but I thought I could a better match than my mouse of friend."
"Well do your best to keep that tongue dull and yourself obedient and perhaps you will not add to the list of my dead wives." He snickered before moving on. "You must have been called Belle more than your full name."
"I actually hate being called that."Her voice seemed like a yell in the quiet room she didn't mean for it to be as loud as it came out. But it had been done and again the man who was known for his foul temper was calm appearing to ignore her lashing out.
"It doesn't really matter if you like it or not I am the ruler here and if I say Belle you will answer eventually." There was a set of loud footsteps creaking across the wooden floor, they stopped with a loud thud and rustling of him in a chair. "Now show me my dear, prove to me that you match your name." Her body felt like a puppet without strings as she sat before the fire she couldn't bring herself to move. No one but maids had ever seen her naked before and she wasn't even sure when the last time she caught a full glimpse of herself either. A sigh came from the back of the room where her captor was.
"What do you mean?" She hoped that she jumped to conclusions on what he asked of her.
"How can you be my wife if you won't even let me see you? Has no one ever told you your duties as one?" His tone was almost mocking.
"I am not a girl I do know what my duties are to my husband thank you but technically we are not wed yet and why do I have to let you see me when I am not allowed to see you?" The whole room began to rumble as he broke out into laughter.
"I can tell I am going to like you Belle, the others relented without even a second thought. Fair enough stay in your gown. You may leave, one of the servants will be waiting for you out the door please do follow to your," A short pause while he corrected himself. "Our quarters, don't worry we are not wed yet there will be no duties to perform tonight unless you can't resist than I am sure we could break a few rules." Disgusted by this man she now knew as King Adam, Isabelle obediently stormed out of the room doing her best to remain cordial to her future husband. It was odd that she was ordered not to face him but perhaps it was a custom in the country either way she came out of the room to the large hallway were she entered and saw a woman more than likely standing before her. Like everyone else her face was covered in a black expressionless mask and her arms and legs were covered as well; the only way she could tell it might be a woman was her shape and dress. She said nothing just began to walk down another hall to the right of where they were standing.
The castle was gloomy to say the least; there was just enough candlelight so one could see where they were going but not enough to get a full view of the foyer. Isabelle shuddered at the idea of spending her life with this man but comfort that Gretchen wouldn't. "I wonder what is happening now. Oh Stephan I am sorry. I wish I could have told you my answer and father," Upon her departure this was the first time she thought of her decision. "Father I should have told you, now it's too late. I hope I can send word to you that I am okay and that you don't have to worry. I know you will though." She noticed the woman stopped in front of a large mahogany door, it had engravings of roses all around it. Isabelle walked forward as the woman opened it remaining silent as she left her.
"Thank you, oh she is gone." The room was extravagant even more so than Gretchen's, the ceiling was high and had a window on one side that almost took up the whole wall. There was a fireplace in the corner with white marble surrounding it; she could see the wall paper had little rose designs in its red color. After gawking at her living quarters some more she finally went to the bed and began to undress when she turned around she saw a simple white nightgown lay over a chair. "How did that," shrugging she convinced herself that it had been there the whole time she just managed to miss it. After undressing she couldn't help taking a look in the mirror.
A deep blush went over her face and a panic look toward the door to make sure no one was watching her. Her skin was smooth and pale she didn't really get body hair like most women just enough around her groin and light growth under her arms but nothing she felt ashamed of. Her body was plump and downy she didn't have lumps like some women but she could easily bear children do to her wide hips. At least that is what Merta had told her when she looked at her mistress; she was always saying that men would look for that in woman they considered for marriage. A small mole lay perfectly in the center of her cleavage so whenever she wore a low cut dress it brought extra attention there and another was just above her hip. She was surprised that this was one of the few times she was completely nude in front of herself. The idea of looking hideous prompted the adventure of self praise in the mirror and she was glad she could put her fears aside.
"Well I could be worse." She shuddered at the idea of someone being naked with her and the closeness that would be required for sex. After running her hands over her waist and down to her hips than back up to her long brown hair she decided to turn away. "I know I am alone but it doesn't feel like it." Isabelle lifted up the nightgown enjoying the soft fabric as it slid down over her shoulders. She climbed into the large bed, closing her eyes and eventually fell asleep. The door opened to the room sometime later and a dark figure walked into the room.
She didn't wake as he crept across the room. He caught his reflection in the mirror with a quiet roar of disgust he pushed the mirror to face the other direction. They were only able to speak facing away from each other and he wanted to see her face. Adam sat on the edge of the bed looking down at the sleeping maiden. Perhaps she could be the answer to his prayers. He felt hope for the first time in her, a woman he only just met and brought hope. The others were failures not on their part but his. He didn't take the first two women sent here seriously and when the beast he now was wanted to tear them apart he didn't hesitate, they were gone in moments. "Isabelle," Her name silently came from his mouth. A dark ache came from him, whispers to rid himself of the girl played his mind. "She lied to you. Doesn't that make you furious? It is the beginning of end already for this one. Kill the girl before she leaves you." Standing up he knew he had to get away from her. "Your heart will break and you will die, she could never love the likes of you." Adam stood in the doorway getting one final look before retreating and made his way to the forest.
So to tell you guys about the voices, we are going on the fact that it is himself and his doubts that he is hearing. But they are like a separate identity almost so kind of like a split personality I guess but anyway he will have arguments with himself and such. And yes he is a beast I was thinking of having it be the whole beast by day man by night but we will see how it will all play out. Thanks for the read will try to update again soon.