On the way to the castle, Avenant helped both girls, mostly Katie though since she hated slippery snow.
"I pass this place all the time... I never thought I'd actually be able to go into it..." Paula was excited about meeting royalty.
"Oh, it's lovely in there." Katie smiled. She felt lighter now she had got the two lovers together.
Paula was very excited, she had slight goosebumps, but from excitement. Gaston was very far away as they were going to the castle now. He knew just what to do, but he decided to wait a while before he would go to them, leave them in suspense and surprise them with his sneak attacks. Maybe this time would be easier.
Katie smiled even brighter once they reached the castle doors. Paula was amazed, it looked just as beautiful up close as did from afar.
"Should we knock?" Avenant asked, unsure.
"It'd be polite." Paula shrugged herself.
Katie took the door knocker and knocked in the door. Paula and Avenant stood by.
Cogsworth got the door. "Happy Holi-" he greeted, but his eyes widened to who was there.
"Bonjour Cogsworth... May we please come in?" Katie asks, her smile softer.
Cogsworth was still a little nervous and frightened since Avenant was there, but he did as Katie said. Avenant allowed the ladies to go first and followed just after them. Paula looked around the castle with wonder and delight. She felt like she was just in a fairy tale.
Forte was on his way downstairs, he looked behind a pillar he had grasped his arms over and saw that Katie and Avenant were together, but this time with a blonde-haired, green dressed woman. Since Katie was not in any sort of distress, he thought she was okay, but decided to come down anyway. Katie looked over, sensing Forte.
"Welcome..." Cogsworth greeted. "Um, madame, have we met before? You don't seem that familiar..."
"I live in a cottage back in the village with my sisters," Paula explained. "This place looks amazing."
Forte looked back over to Katie, then came downstairs slowly. Avenant glanced to Forte, but kept quiet, he hadn't been really nice to the older man and decided to keep his distance.
Katie looked between Forte and Cogsworth. "Is Prince Adam around?" She asks, slightly more serious.
"I saw him in the kitchen about tonight's dinner." Cogsworth informed.
Forte just shrugged his shoulders since he didn't know and let Cogsworth answer for him. Cogsworth then saw Paula was insatiably curious and decided to maybe show her around if Katie wanted to see the Master.
"Maestro... Would you care to join me?" Katie asks, needing to speak with him too. She smiled at Cogsworth. "Paula is Avenant's new fiancee, so maybe you could show them both?" She asks, smiling a little.
Forte blinked, rubbing his arm a little nervous, but surely agreed. "Very well..." he thought Paula looked a little familiar, but couldn't really place it.
Katie went off towards the kitchens with Forte. "Oh, how is Cherry?" She asks, her voice soft and laced with a bit of regret.
Forte looked a little nervous and overwhelmed like he had found out himself eariler. "Erm... She will be fine... I am hoping..."
"'You are hoping'?" Katie repeats but as a question.
"Well..." Forte rubbed his arm nervously. "She's kind of in a coma right now."
Katie stopped in her tracks, her eyes wide and face pale. "What?" She asks softly.
"I think she is at least..." Forte said very softly. "She won't wake up..."
Katie paled more. "No... It's not true..." she says softly.
Forte took her hands. "I'm afraid it might be..."
Katie shook her head, pulling her hands away. "No... It's just a bad joke you're telling... My best friend and sister can't be in a coma." she says.
"I wish I were, Katie..." Forte said softly. "I'm worried she's stressed herself so much it's made her sick."
Katie, knowing where Cherry's room was, ran away from him to go and check for herself. She didn't believe it. Forte sighed, he knew she wouldn't have liked that news, so he hesitated in telling her.
Cherry's face was deathly pale and she was lying down in bed, she had her hands together and she was shallowly breathing and barely even moving. Katie went over to her and timidly took her wrist trying to feel for her pulse to check it. Cherry did in fact have a pulse, but it seemed to be slowing down somehow. Could she had been dying?
"No..." Katie whispers. She carefully put Cherry's hand back where it was. This couldn't be happening... She walked carefully out of the room, her face pale. She then started to run, dodging anyone she passed. She didn't know where she was heading, but she needed to get out of there, she would barely be alone to think if she stayed right then.
The others watched her go and tried calling for her, but she tuned them out as she escaped.
"Poor girl..." Forte frowned.
Katie ran out, not bothering about a cloak or the fact she slipped in snow a lot. She ran out of the castle gates and right into the forest. She slipped a couple of times but with her forward momentum wasn't hurt other than a few tiny scrapes. Plus she got straight back up and continued running.
Forte released a sharp exhale and put his hands together a little. "Dear Lord..." he murmured, he had barely prayed and only did it in dire times of need. "Please have her be careful..."
Katie continued running. She only stopped when she needed to breathe. She held onto a tree trunk so not to fall. Her eyes were wide, but not really seeing anything. There were in fact wolves in the forest as she was near it, they quietly howled, but they didn't come anywhere near her, but their glowing golden eyes were intimidating, being wolves and all. Katie got her breath back and started to run again. She would until she found a safe place to sit and think.
A dark figure watched Katie as his rose glowed a rather hellish red, who else would it be? Forte sat in a chair next to the bed as he watched Cherry knocked out cold. The others would come see him and invite him to some things, but he didn't want to leave the girl since she was sick and wanted to be there for when she would wake up. Katie couldn't help but notice the glow, and stopped, looking in the direction of it.
The rose's glow shined into Katie's eyes, pulling her forward. Katie slowly walked towards the red glow. Her movements were slow, but precise as the red glow invaded her mind. Within a minute she was close to him, her eyes fixed on the rose with its glow. A few tears dripped down her cheeks, but she looked calm only due to the rose's power.
Gaston felt empowered that Katie was going to the rose and seemed to be hypnotized. Katie came to a stop, right by the side of where he was.
Mrs. Potts came into Cherry's room with tea for Forte.
"Thank you..." Forte told her softly, taking the cup.
"How is the poor dear?" Mrs. Potts asked softly.
"She won't wake up..." Forte said softly, looking to a very ill Cherry. "I can't lose her... I promised her parents I would take care of her..."
Mrs. Potts put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You just need to have hope." she says gently.
Forte watched Cherry, he was deeply worried for her. "I understand..." he gently stroked his finger over her cheek that had the beauty mark on it. "Please Cerise... Stay strong... And do wake up... If you wake up, I promise... I'll give you the best care and will do anything to make you happy... I don't just like you... I love you..."
Mrs. Potts left him to say what he needed in private. Forte sipped the tea, but at one point, he set the cup on the nightstand and held Cherry's hand.
Cherry, though unconscious, seemed to wearily hold out her hand and squeezed his hand back, ignoring the coldness and the clamminess.
Gaston chuckled once he had Katie with him. "I got a proposition with you..." he said to her.
"Yes?" Katie asked slowly, her voice monotonous right then though.
"You will help me get rid of Belle and that 'beast'..." Gaston demanded. "Also, you will take my hand in marriage."
Katie managed to glance to him instead of the rose. "I won't help you hurt anyone!" She says slowly still but her voice sharper.
"Excuse me!?" Gaston glared at her for that.
"I won't hurt anyone." Katie repeats. She took a step back.
"But I told you to!" Gaston demanded. Why wasn't the rose working? It was enchanted and supposed to bewitch her, was it not?
"And I said I wouldn't!" Katie retorts. Her voice stronger now she wasn't looking at the rose.
Gaston grabbed her and put her arm behind her back. He was very angry right now.
"Ah!" Katie gasps, wincing and had to step closer to him.
Gaston darkly smirked then. "Good... Now, if you won't help me, perhaps I should just get rid of any trace of you..." he threatened as he had a firm hold on her.
Katie tried stamping on his foot, it had worked last time. "If I go missing, they'll know it's you!" She huffs.
'Don't be hasty~ if you put her in a trance you can take her to your house and in an unknown place she may be more... inclined to accept part of your request~' the voice of the Enchantress told Gaston.
Gaston growled, but he could somehow hear the voice of the Enchantress. Her advice gave him an idea and he let her go. "You're right, girl... I was too rough." he faked being apologetic and actually held her in a more comforting support.
Katie blinked at the sudden change in attitude. She scowled up at him though.
"Why don't you come over?" Gaston invited, charmingly, but clearly wasn't sincere about it. "You seem like you don't have any place to go..."
"Actually, I do, I just wanted to be alone a little." Katie frowns. She wouldn't willingly go with him.
Gaston pretended to think about it for a moment. "Why don't you come with me anyway? I live far away from that castle..."
Katie shook her head.
'Put the rose in her hand~' the Enchantress whispers across Gaston's mind.
"Please..." Gaston forced himself to say, then handed the enchanted flower to Katie like a charming man would his dearly beloved.
Katie took it by reflex. Her face relaxed and so did her posture. Her eyes dimmed but she looked calm. She looked like she wouldn't fight him.
Gaston smirked, he seemed to have her in his power now. "Now, would you like to come over?" he then asked.
Katie silently nodded and allowed him to move her. Gaston smirked in victory, he actually gently took Katie and led her back to his place, but he hadn't changed like his foolish brother. Katie held the rose in her hand, walking along with him.