Mira flailed in bed as she awoke from her nightmare. Her eyes darted around her quiet room, looking for a danger that wasn't present. She took steadying breaths, trying to calm her heartbeat. The Sleeping-Beauty dragged her fingers through her tangled hair and sighed. This was the third time this week that she had woken up due to nightmares that took her breath away and made her shriek and panic.

Untangling the knots of her hair with her fingers, Mira made her way across the hall to Ari's bedroom. Opening the door silently, she gasped in shock at the sight of the nursery. The pale blue walls were coated in ice, slowly climbing towards the ceiling at a lazy pace. Frost crunched under her feet as she made her way to the baby's crib. Arachne was silent, staring up with pale blue eyes at the icy world around her. Snowflakes, shining like little lights, fell from the ceiling and onto the baby, who cracked a toothless grin as the cold settled over her.

Mira jumped back from the crib as it turned as cold as ice. She ran toward Bliss's room and then Elsa's, screaming at them to help her in Ari's nursery. The fairies were as shocked as Mira when they noticed the condition of the bedroom. White magic began to swirl around the room, taking away the ice, frost, and snow from the small room. Warmth began to flood back into the bedroom, the wintry chill seeping away. Mira cautiously grabbed the baby from her back-to-normal crib and held her to her chest. Ari's pale skin was freezing to the touch, so Elsa and Bliss grabbed blankets and began swaddling her. The four girls spent the rest of the night in the living room, all silent.

As sunrise turned the sky a pale pink, Mira was grabbing her pea coat and pulling on her boots. She wrapped herself in her scarf and grabbed the car keys from the rack by the front door. Mira made her way to the Down the Rabbit Hole tea shop for a steaming cup of chai tea. She settled into the back corner booth. Cupping her cold hands around the hot drink, the chill that had filled her since she walked into Ari's room began to be replaced by warmth.

The bell above the door tinkled as a group of teenagers walked into the tea shop. When Mira saw who the kids were, she pulled her coat's hood over her head to hide her away from them. A stressed-looking Jewel, a panicked Freddie, a sleepy Viv, and a reluctant-looking Henley grabbed a small table and placed their orders. When they all had their drinks in their hands, Freddie began pulling his fingers through his hair.

"What are we going to do to fix this? Rafe won't let us in to talk and Layla doesn't even know if she wants to rescue her father from Rafe. This isn't how the story goes. Layla should be at Rafe's pleading for her father in exchange for her. If she never gives herself over, Rafe is going to be a hairy beast until another Belle-incarnate is born."

Jewel choked on her drink as a sapphire spilled from her lips. She placed it in her pocket before returning her stare to Freddie. "Can we force her there? If this keeps up much longer, it might be our only option."

Viv shook her head. "She's just scared. Don't forget, she knows Rafe. She knows what he's like. And now if she goes to that mansion, she's his forever. Layla teaching Rafe to love? Doesn't seem logical in her mind, and you know how much she loves logic."

Henley scratched at the back of his head. "We've all gone through our curses, some more than others," he said with a pointed look at a coughing Jewel. "She's going to have to suck up her pride at some point."

"Is it pride though? Or just fear that she won't succeed?" asked Freddie.

Jewel cringed. "So, what? We're supposed to build up her self-esteem before she becomes Rafe's slave? That's ridiculous."

Early birds began coming into the shop, causing enough noise to make Mira have difficulty hearing her friends. She stealthily made her way out of the shop and out to her car. Driving home, Mira had a crazy idea and pulled a quick U-turn in the road. As she started climbing at the fence behind Rafe's mansion, Mira was filled with fear. This could be one of her stupidest ideas yet. She pulled her leg over the top of the fence and began making her way down. She landed in the hidden rose garden that her and Freddie had been in just a few days ago.

A snarling sound from behind her caused Mirabelle to jump in surprise. She spun quickly, coming face to face with sharp teeth and a ton of hair.

At the sight in front of her, Mira tried to suppress her giggles, but she couldn't stop them from spilling out of her mouth. Her dimples appeared as she laughed until she couldn't breathe. She heard Rafe begin his mumbling and grumbling, which caused her to sober up.

She smiled up at him apologetically. "Sorry, Rafe. It's just that you look so cute! You're like a big furry thing that I want to pet! You're adorable!"

Rafe sat on his haunches, looking unimpressed. "Shut up," he mumbled out of his formerly snarling mouth.

She sat down across from him, peering at him from under her eyelashes. "You don't look terrible, just so you know. I think you look sweet." She reached over and began scratching behind his large ears, making him growl and her laugh.

He looked shy, probably for the first time in Rafe's life. "Is Layla with you?"

She tilted her head at him questioningly. "Do you want her to be?"

Rafe flinched. "Her dad won't stop trying to sell me things and trying to invest in stuff I've never even heard of. Also, I don't like being looked at like a fluffy dog."

Mira looked down at the ground, trying to hide her smile. "I didn't say you were a fluffy dog. I just said you were cute."

Rafe frowned. "Which is what you would say about a little fluffy dog."

"That's ridiculous! You're not little at all," said Mira with a laugh.

Rafe sighed at her amusement.

"Have you tried calling her?" implored Mira.

Rafe looked anywhere but her. "No, definitely not. I'm not desperate."

Mira raised a single eyebrow in disbelief. "Yes, you are."

Her big, hairy beast of a friend seemed to deflate at her words. "Yeah, I really, really am. I can' t look like this. Not when I know what I actually look like. I had a super hot date last night that I couldn't go on because I look terrible. Furry and sharp-toothed was not the outfit I was planning on wearing. She'd run away screaming."

She reached over and placed her hand on his hair arm. "I didn't run away screaming. And neither would Freddie and Henley. And neither would Layla."

He leaned into her touch, a puff of breath coming out of his mouth. "I know. I didn't want anyone to see me like this."

She stood up, brushing off the back of her leggings. "Call her," she commanded, staring down at him until he looked away.

"Fine," he groaned.

She patted his head. "Who's a good boy? You are! Yes, you are!" She used a baby voice to talk to him, as if he was a puppy or a baby.

He fell to his back to the stone ground, groaning. "I hate you so much."

Thanks for being so patient guys. Sorry for keeping you waiting for so long!