Chapter Twenty Six

Sleep Tight

(Rose POV)

I walked all the way down the hallway from the Library that Master had shown me. Master was right about me being tired, the day went by fast and I didn't eat all day because I was too caught up reading. A few minutes later I came to a hallway with four different ways to go.

"Uh oh. Now where do I go?"

I looked at every single hall and they all looked the same, dark with candles lighting up the dark purple walls that surrounded me with growing darkness. Usually some of the servants were around, and I could just ask them for help. But since it was so late, all of them were asleep.

"Great, no one ever goes down here except Master. Maybe I should go back and ask him which way my room is…on the other hand if I'm lost, and if he's going the right way, then I'll just get even more lost. Plus I don't want to upset him any more than I have. So I guess I'll just have to find my own way back to my room." I sighed.

That was easier said than done because as soon as I started walking I knew it was going to be a long walk. Thanks to my reading, I was so tired I could barely see ahead of me. After what seemed like hours, I thought,

'I must be close to my room' when I met yet another hallway like the one before.'

"There is no way, this can't be happening" I sighed, I have to be near. I walked up to a door.

"This may be it. I hope."

I opened it only to find a room that looked as though it was long forgotten, something that was once treasured, but then left. The rest of the room was plain and dusty with nothing interesting what so ever. Although, I could imagine that this room was once very beautiful looking, and anyone that had stayed in it would be treated like royalty should.

The fireplace looked as though it contained more dust than ash, and an ancient red couch with elegant designs on it, but due to the lack of attention, its designs looked old. The bed looked so old that I thought that I might break it if I lay on it. But the couch itself that laid in the center of the room still looked sturdy, comfy and inviting.

"Well since I can't find my room, this will have to do." I mumbled while walking up to the couch.

As soon as I laid my head on the armrest I was fast asleep.

"Calostire?" I whispered.

A tall man, with long light brown hair and a bulk figure, was standing in front of me. It was Calostire, and he was smiling and looking down at me.

As I looked around a smile reached across my face. I was back in the village. I looked around, everything is the same the bookstore, the fountain, and even the smell and noises were the same.

I heard my name being said in such a soft voice that I almost didn't hear it.

"Rose? Rose! I am so glad your back, I missed you so much. I didn't know what happened to you and I was so worried."

I smiled. Calostire was looking at me with those deep, dark blue eyes. I ran up to him and gave him a warming hug. He returned it so warming and loving that I felt like my world would crumble if he were to let go. I missed him so much, and I never wanted to be anywhere else but with him.

"Rose don't cry. I'm here." Calostire stroked the tears off of my face. I didn't even know I was crying.

"I missed you too Calostire. I missed you so much. You'll never believe what happened to me…" my voice drifted away as Calostire leaned into me.

I felt him kiss me again the same warming kiss that he first gave me on the hill, and as I stepped away from his kiss to smile warmly at him again, then something changed. All of a sudden those eyes didn't belong to Calostire anymore.

No, the eyes belonged to Beast, to Master.

"Master!" I looked around.

"Master what are you doing here? And what did you do with Calostire?"

I whipped my head around looking franticly for the someone who was just smiling at me.

"Calostire where are you, where did you go?"

Master started laughing a cruel laugh.

"Calostire? That human, is gone. You will never see him again! Don't you remember? You will be with me forever, not that pathetic human. After all, you belong to me. You are never to see him again, not that you will anyway. You're staying at the castle, and are staying with me till the ends of time. I've got you now and I'll never let you go."

His voice changed and the volume lowered, it was no longer cruel but soft, the voice sounded like it belonged to Calostire but the words were coming out of Masters mouth. His voice was the way it was now, after I got to know him a little.

"No, that's not true. You don't belong to me; you are your own person. No one should ever be held against their will. Its just that I've been alone for so long, and someone as beautiful as you, treats me with kindness and caring even though I don't deserve and of it. That's why you can't leave Rose, without you I don't know what I would do. You must stay Rose, you are my last hope. I can't lose you."

I was back in the castle, but no one but Master and I were in it. I was crying again. I felt that I would be able to see Calostire again, instead Master was with me.

I flinched when Master walked up to me and wiped my tears off my face, just like Calostire did a few moments ago.

Master was looking at me with such hurt eyes that I thought I would be punished for talking about Calostire in front of him. I know what pain he had been through and I know that he couldn't afford to be alone. And over the weeks that I've been with him, I knew also that he cared for me, and I for him. But I also cared for Calostire.

I was so confused…

His touch was gentle and it startled me again. And I felt a clawed hand grab me from under my chin, making me look at Master and his blue eyes.

"Rose, I lo-."