next chapter
...
Chapter 18
Everyone held their breath in excitement. They all gasped.
"He did it?" whispers Shawn "He did it"
"We…are going to be free" whispers Hunter
They all can't believe it. Their master is kissing the one he loves.
John leans back; with a surprise look on his face. Mark looks at him with love; he wants to kiss him again. John looks down. Then it hit Mark; what had he done. He shouldn't have kissed him.
"I…" Mark starts but John stops it.
"No…it's okay. It was wonderful" smiles John
Mark laughs; he really thought he messed up. Mark turns towards the door and lends out his arm. John takes it and they both slowly walk to the balcony. John looks up to the stars. They are beautiful tonight.
"They are so bright…and beautiful" John says
"Just like you"
John blushes as he looks down.
"You know. I have never danced in a long time. It's been years. I almost forgot what it feels like"
John nods.
Mark looks down. "John…" Mark takes John's hands into his. He holds them tight; but not too tight. "Are you happy here…with me?" The beasts ask as he looks at his loved one eyes.
"Yes…but" John looks away back at the stars.
"But…" Mark gets worried.
"Can anyone be happy…if they aren't free" says John
Mark raised his eyebrows. He completely forgot about the staying for life thing. He remembers that John sacrifice himself for his father. Mark now feels bad; he wants to make up for him. John sighs.
"I'm sorry" Mark starts but John stops him.
John holds Mark's face and leans him down to kiss him. They kiss for a good long while. John steps back. Mark smiles at John.
"Don't worry…" whispers John
Mark hugs him tight. John hugs him back. John forgives him. He knows that Mark took his father away; and made him stay for life. John understands now. The beast was trapped and he didn't have a heart then. John can feel that he is changing. John turns around to look at the starts while Mark arms are around his waist.
"My…father…taught me to dance" John starts
"Really…?"
"Yup…I will always step on his toes…and I will always lose my balance" John looks at Mark "I can never twirl without tripping…until my dad told me to let the music take you"
"Did it work?"
"Yes…I followed the beat to the music and I finally can dance without falling…tripping, or even losing balance" he giggles "And he said…if you are to dance with someone…trust them…and they will take you just like how the music would"
Taker gasps. "Trust them…." he whispers "He trust me"
"My dad…was right"
"You must really miss him"
"So much…I wish I can see him one day"
Mark looks away sadly. He doesn't know what to do. He wishes he can help John. It then hit him. He knows how he can help him. He knows how John can see his father.
"There is a way" says Mark
"What…?"
"Follow me…" Mark lends out a hand. John takes it and leads him. John notices that they are entering Mark's room. He follows him until he stops. He looks ahead to see the balcony. The sky is beautiful.
John looks at Mark wondering what he is doing.
"It's another gift from the enchantment. He gave me this mirror…so he can remind me that I'm just a monster"
John looks at him sad. He wants to tell him no you are not.
"Anyways…You can ask it anything you want…and it will show you"
John takes it from Mark's hand.
"I like to see my father…please…"
The mirror shines bright and reveals his father. John gasps.
Vince is being dragged away. The others are helping him being dragged. John can see Vince is struggling to get free. They won't let him go. His father is in trouble.
"Oh no…what are they doing to him?" ask John
Mark looks at John with worry. "What….?"
"I don't know…they are taking him somewhere…" says John "He's in trouble"
Mark looks away "You must go to him"
"What…did you say?"
Mark slowly turns to John.
"You must go to him…I release you"
John looks at him. He doesn't believe he let him go, but deep down he doesn't want to go.
"Your father needs you…Go!" says Mark
John looks at the mirror. Vince is still struggling; trying to get away. John walks up to give the mirror back.
"No…keep it. So that you have a way to look back at me…" says Mark as he placed his fingers below John's chin "And remember me"
John smiles softly. "Thank you" he whispers
"Don't worry father…I'm coming" says John as he starts walking away "I'll be back…I'll"
"No…worry about your father now. It's okay…."
. He stops as he turns to see the beast. John runs to him and kisses him. Mark holds him tight for as long as he could. John looks back one more time. Mark gives his a smile; telling him it's okay. Mark sees him disappear from the door. He lets out a breath. His heart is hurting; and it's broken.
John turns around and starts running. He runs to the front door. He stops. He looks around the castle.
"I'll be back" he whispers
John starts running out. He finds Dallas and jumps on him.
"Come on…Dallas…we have to save my father" Dallas starts running as fast as he could.
Taker was standing next to the rose. He is staring at it blankly. He tries to blink away the tears.
"Well…that went well. Everything is moving like clockwork. True love truly wins the day" says Hunter as he walks in.
Mark shakes his head. "No…I let him go"
Shawn runs in and sees Hunter. He looks at him.
"I saw John running out the castle…what happen?" ask Shawn
Hunter looks at his master. Stephanie walks in slowly; knowing what happen.
"Master….you okay" ask Shawn
Mark shakes his head.
"Where's John?" ask Shawn
"I let him go" Mark says quietly. Shawn gasped.
"Master…how could you do that?" ask Shawn "You…you…"
"I had to" Mark says
"But…WHY!?" ask Hunter
"Because…I…" says Mark "I love him"
Shawn looks at the others. "Then…why aren't we human…"
"Because he doesn't love him back" said Stephanie
"And now…it's too late" said Hunter
"He might still come back…right?" ask Shawn
"No…He won't" Mark says "I set him free…."
Mark looks at the rose.
"I'm sorry…I couldn't do the same for all of you"
"Master…I…"
"No go…your time is almost past…"
Mark looks at them.
"Thank you…for everything my friends" says Mark "I know…that I've been mean, selfish….i acted as a beast, spoiled and loud. I hope you guys can forgive me?"
"Don't worry about it Master." Says Stephanie
Shawn bows down along with Hunter.
"Anything for a friend" said Shawn
Hunter walks up to Shawn and hugs him. "Come on…"
Stephanie walks to meet with Shane. She wants to spend the last moment with her brother. Mark looks back at the rose. He hopes he comes back but something is telling him that he won't.
"I was the one who had it all" starts Mark "I was the master of my fate…I never needed anybody in my life…I learned the truth too late"
Mark walks up "I never shake away the pain…I close my eyes but he's still there…I let him steal into my melancholy heart…it's more that I can bear…"
Mark starts running to one of the open doors. He looks at the field to see John still riding away.
"Now I know…he'll never leave me…even as he runs away. He will still torment me, calm me, hurt me, move me, come what may"
Mark moves back trying not to lose sight of John. He turns around and runs up the stairs. He wants to see John as much as he can.
"Wasting in my lonely tower…waiting by an open door…" Mark stands on top on a small balcony. "I'll fool myself he'll walk right in…and be with me for evermore"
Mark starts running up the stairs again.
"I rage against the trials of love, I curse the fading of the light. Though he's already flown so far beyond my reach…he is never out of sight"
Mark trips on one of the steps. He falls and stays down. He tries to hold back his tears. He blinks a few times. He looks up to another open door. He can still hear Dallas footsteps. He blinks and tries to get up. He runs to the open door. Mark stops as he sees John; getting closer to the exit.
"Now I know….he'll never leave me, even as he fades from view. He will still inspire me. Be a part of everything I do. Wasting in my lonely tower, waiting by an open door…"
Mark keeps walking up higher. He stops as he gets to the highest point of the tower.
"I'll fool myself he'll walk right in and as the long night begins, I'll think of all that might have been, waiting here for ever…" Mark yells out "MORE!"
John is now of sight. He is heading towards his village as fast as he can. Mark blinks and kneels down. He starts sobbing.
"I love you John…" he whispers
Shawn was watching him from behind. "That's the first time he sang in a long time" He then sees his master crying. He wants to help him; but how. He hopes John comes back. He was so close and he let him go. "Master…"
Shawn walks back down and sees Hunter.
"Where have you been?" ask Hunter
"I was following the master…" said Shawn "Hunter…John was the one"
"No…if he was he wouldn't have left" says Hunter
"No…John loves him" says Stephanie
"How do you know?" they both ask
"He wouldn't have left…." She whispers
"But…" says Hunter
"Just let it be…" she says
"The master…was singing" said Shawn
"Oh my…it's been a while since he sang" Hunter said surprised.
"John really did change his heart" says Stephanie
"Come on guys…let's enjoy the last time together"
Hunter hugs Shawn.
"I love you"
"Love you too"
They stayed quiet. Stephanie stands next to Shane. They told him everything. He sighs knowing what is going to happen.
More to come