Jiminy smiled, "I don't blame you for thinking that, but honestly, it was so lucky that Ella, and Jules got into the family easily thanks to seeing our adventures together, doubled with the fact that he was and is Leila's forever significant other. I...I may be a human being, but there are people who are a bit... bothered about crickets...And I want this family to be safe...After all, there are hunters of magic, not that I don't know if they exist, but it could be possible, since after what Evangeline said about her people and others similar to her people like Enchantresses.".
The girls nodded as Jiminy sighed. "Sorry, sorry... don't mean to burden you with any sort of thoughts. We've already got enough worries about things.", he admitted. "It's like you said, Perla, it'll all work out.".
Perla smiled, nodding, and so, they worked on the map for a couple of hours while Ray and Evangeline had serene and passionate moments on their stroll, and of course, the husband and wife of Jules and Leila enjoyed each other.
And after that, Evangeline had to leave, heading back to check on her wishes and home, while the adults went to sleep in makeshift sleeping bags inside the boundary of the carts around the fire.
They found an easier, less rough road, which Leila was grateful for, sometimes walking along the road to settle nausea, and of course, eating more for the next few days, but from the looks of it, not to insult Leila, but the food amount was running out fast, and they hadn't encountered a village, yet they can feel the eerie and dark magic in the air as they came down the mountains.
Perla and Juliet kept a tight hold on the compasses in their hands as Major the horse and Arnaldo the mule was twitchy and wary, and the children cuddled close to their parents, hearing faint howls of wolves, and then one moment they felt a barrier, the next they came through, and there was a slight bit of relief that they got through, but still nervous and wary.
Ray whispered, "This is even worse than the swampy forests back in Louisiana.", holding Naveen to his chest protectively, and Jules replied, "We have to keep going...If that was the border of the curse, the center would not be too far off, and if the castle grounds are the center of the curse, we should be safe from the wolves and other wild animals.", as he urged Major, with Leila holding Ella close to her in the cart, as they were next to the other cart.
"Tell us we're close to finding a village or something!", Perla called out as Jules slowed the cart to let the others close to them without having to shout.
"Look, I knew the Vosges mountains would be tricky and there's not much in the ways of settlements around here... if we don't find any shelter soon; we might just have to delay all this and head to Colmar or Mulhouse; at least we'd be alright in a decent sized city for a time.", Jules explained.
Leila replied, "Yet we just passed the boundary of the curse, Jules...I don't think that'd be easy.", and Jules sighed, nodding, and the two carts kept moving as the sounds of wolves got louder.
Carlo whimpered, "Mama, I'm scared!", and Perla rubbed his back as she held him, "I know, darling. We'll find a safe place from the scary wolves.", as fog settled around in the forest.
Major and Arnaldo became even more twitchy, snorting and neighing as Figaro held into Jiminy's pants, fur on end, terrified and wary, and then Ray looked over the treetops, "M-Jules, I see something!", seeing a visible rooftop of maybe a tower.
Jules exhaled, "Thank god! Major's getting anxious, easy, boy! Steady!", holding the reins tight as he urged him on, and then the wolves became closer in their howls, becoming bold.
"Just a bit further... come on...", Jules grunted as their carts moved faster; praying they'd reach safety and avoid the wolves. "Are you doing alright back there, Jiminy?!".
"So far... but that better be a town or something very soon or the wolves are going to eat well tonight!", Jiminy called back to him, as the children cried in their mothers' arms.
As they rushed on, the wolves are getting closer, yet still wary as they knew that a large group of humans can do things easier than a lone human, waiting for the horse and mule to panic or tear away from the carts, and then as they came into a clearing, a chorus of gasps rang around as right ahead of them, is an imposing, incredibly large, and notoriously tall castle, surrounded by a chasm, with a rock bridge, leading to the front fence.
The wolves became more desperate as they saw that the humans and the long-legged animals are close to the castle, growling and snarling, and Jiminy snapped the reins on Arnaldo, "Go, boy!", as Jules urged Major onwards as the mule and horse all but ran to safety, sensing the darkness yet not caring as they wanted to live and keep their humans safe.
"Will we be safe?!", Ray asked as Jules shook his head, "I'm not sure... but that castle certainly will make things easier for us with the wolves than if we stayed in the forest!".
Perla remembered Evangeline's words, and wondered if this is the home of her significant other while she held Carlo closely tight, kissing his forehead to reassure him, murmuring to him, "I'm here, I'm here, baby.".
With a glance back at the wolves, Ray handed Naveen to Leila, as she held Ella and Naveen tightly, and leaped off, running towards the large fence, relieved to see no locks, but they were heavy, and he grunted, pushing them onwards, opening the fence doors, "Hurry!".
Major and Arnaldo didn't need the incentive as they ran past the open fence doors and Ray, and Juliet leaped off the other cart to help Ray to close the fence doors before the wolves come bursting in.
And luckily, in time too, as the wolves thrashed their fangs angrily and frustratedly that they didn't get a feast, Juliet and Ray panted heavily, heading to join the carts back in, as they settled the horse and mule down to slow down their sprinting as they were heaving and frothing deeply from the stress and adrenaline.
Perla glanced ahead, and exhaled, "There's stables...Thank goodness...They're exhausted from that run.", and Jiminy sighed, "Let's settle the boys in, and then we can explain everything, well, not everything, but about how we got in...Let's hope your significant other isn't upset and understands.".
Perla looked to the castle. The strangest feeling was coming over her as she looked... like... something was very off about the place and that somehow the others should leave while she should stay. Probably something Evangeline could tell her sometime in the future.
Juliet kissed her on the cheek as she rubbed her shoulders. "Something wrong, Slats?", she asked as Perla chuckled, always loving Juliet's old nickname for her.
Perla exhaled, "There's something about the castle, wanting me to stay while you guys leave, but I...I don't want to split up! Carlo still needs me, and you, all of you, are my family!", using her hidden white magic to make the presence of the castle back off, and somehow, maybe sensing that Perla wants her family safe, the castle seemed to listen, almost like she's the future mistress of the castle, not that Perla knows.
"It's alright, Perla.", Juliet gave her another kiss. "We'll be alright...", with a nod. "Someone should probably let the owner we're here...", Jules said. "Still... find it strange how quiet this place is...", with an uneasy frown.
"The curse is related to it, right?", Ray asked. "Might be a reason.", with a nod as he held Naveen close in his hand.
Perla nodded, "I think so...I mean, you heard Evangeline that night. Nobody in the nearby village in the kingdom knows about this place, and since we don't live there, we are intact.", as they went to settle the equines in the stalls, unhitching the carts, and Jiminy replied, "I don't know about you, but I think we can wait until the owner of the castle is fine with us, in case if we need to leave...After all, we're visitors.", glancing at the packed stuff in the carts.
Carlo replied, "Mama, are we going inside?", and Perla smiled softly, "That's right. You and the others must behave on your best, okay?".
Carlo and the others echoed, "Promise!", and Leila chuckled softly, "We definitely raised smart children. Let's go inside, then. I need to put up my feet for a minute...Carrying twins is not easy, even if I'm only a couple months along.".
The family bid the equines goodbye, and Ella took Figaro in her arms as they went to the castle, through the courtyard, which is both beautiful and eerie in a way, maybe because of the atmosphere.
Jiminy knocked on the door a few times, and waited before the door opened, and he, along with the others came into an impressive, large foyer, staring in awe to see the scale of the castle on the inside...
"Golly, this is way different than King Louis's castle.", Juliet remarked as Perla nodded, "Sure is...But you have to admit that it's impressive just the same.", as Jules cleared his throat, calling out, "Hello? Anybody here? I apologize on my family's behalf, but we just wanted to have shelter for the night, and the children are exhausted on their feet, and my wife is expecting.".
There was no sound. Everything was eerily quiet. "Did I not knock hard enough?", Jiminy asked as everyone shook their head. "Someone has to be manning the door at almost all hours...", Ray said. "Unless this place is just abandoned...", with a shrug. "Or has one occupant.", Perla suggested.
A hushed whisper, "Don't, Lumiere. Not a single word.", signifying a male voice, and another male voice quietly replied, "Aww, Cogsworth, have a heart. You heard the gentleman, and we can't leave those little ones, why, they must be starving, and an expecting mother, would you want me to tell Mrs. Potts on you?".
"I'm hearing something.", Ray said as he looked to Jules. "Someone's here, multiple people, but they're not opening up, I think."
Cogsworth glanced at Lumiere, impressed of the strong black man's hearing, and Lumiere was about to reply, and Cogsworth hastily whispered, "Don't you dare!".
Lumiere raised an eyebrow, and replied, "Mrs. Potts would be disappointed in you. It's our job to host them.". Ray glanced around; everyone was keeping their eyes peeled for any sign of the voices, "Hey, whatever it is you folks are doing, please stop, we need help if you would be so kind..."
Lumiere nodded, "He's right, Cogsworth. We're being rude!", and Cogsworth hissed, "Shush!", slapping his wooden hand over Lumiere's mouth as they're indeed nearby, but not exactly what those people would think, for they're a clock and candelabra respectively.
"Ray, maybe we should leave...", Jules suggested. "At least go back outside, clearly we're unwelcome here it seems...", with a frown. "I'll leave when we get an answer face to face instead of all this whispering.", Ray told him.
Lumiere's eyes looked annoyed, and he brought his hand over, but instead of a hand, it was a candle, and he burned the wooden hand steadily as Cogsworth soon yelped out in pain.
Cogsworth backed off, blowing into his hand as it ached, as Lumiere called out, "Don't be afraid, monsieurs and mademoiselles, we're honored for you all to be here!".
The group all were still skeptical about that, considering that they weren't seeing anyone but just hearing folks calling out to them. "Well... thank you...", Jules said. "Um... is it alright if you can come out from where you're hiding?".
Lumiere replied, "Alright, just don't scream.", leaping among the table, and the group saw light moving, coming closer, with sounds of metal clinking on the wood, and then Lumiere jumped into the banister, smiling warmly, "Hello.", revealing himself.
Gasps rang around, and Leila replied, "You're...are you really sentient?", something changing her word from cursed to sentient when she wanted to say it.
Lumiere nodded, "Indeed.". Obviously, the group had a lot of questions. I mean, it wasn't out of the realm of possibility. After all, Perla was a walking talking puppet at one point.
Cogsworth came out of nowhere, "Now look at what you did! Splendid, just brilliantly splendid!", annoyed and angry at Lumiere.
"Momma, is he mad with us?", Ella asked, and Cogsworth looked taken aback, stammering, and Lumiere rolled his eyes, and smiled at the sweet girl, "Course not, he just slept on the wrong side of the bed...Now, come along, you must be hungry!", as he leaped off the banister, guiding with his candle.
The adults looked at each other before Perla was the one to speak. "Well... we'd be terrible guests not to follow them at least, right?", she asked. The others agreed and started to follow the candelabra.
Figaro walked near Carlo after Ella put him down, smelling the bare essence of human in those strange objects, and he then froze when he heard a faint, barely audible growl in the far distance, and he looked back, sniffing with a confused look as Carlo called out, "Come on, Figaro. I bet they got yummy fish for ya!", and Figaro purred, seeing shadows move, but put it to the castle being creepy, and followed Carlo.
They came into a room with a respectable-sized table that fits the family, through Perla would have sworn that she saw an even larger and longer table in another room as they passed by a door, and the chairs happily offered themselves to the family.
Cogsworth kept protesting, "Lumiere, we can't feed them! The master, he's gonna be mad!", and Lumiere scoffed, "The children are exhausted! Look at them! They are practically drowning in the chairs themselves!", as a tea cart rushed by them.
A large teapot smiled warmly, a feminine voice replying, "Well, hello, how wonderful to have guests here! Does anybody want tea to warm up before eating?". Leila replied, "Is there a tea that can help nausea, miss? I'm expecting...", with a smile, already liking the kindly teapot.
"Certainly... from one mother to another...", the teapot smiled. "Mrs. Potts... as you can probably easily tell.". The irony certainly wasn't lost on many in the group. "But please, all of you take a seat right now.".
The adults took seats as they saw that the children weren't harmed in their present chairs, definitely curling up in the chairs as Mrs. Potts hopped off the tea cart, with the tea cart rushing off to the side doors that led to the kitchens, pouring tea into three teacups, as the tea cart came back with more teacups filled with tea, hopping into the table, and headed to the adults and children, with the tea applied properly to each person, of course.
Soft giggles came from a few of the teacups as they sipped, with one very vocal, "His mustache tickles, mama!", as Jules sipped, and he blinked before chuckling and smiling as he glanced at the teacup, "Why, thank you. And who are you, little one?".
"Chip! My name is Chip!", the teacup chirped, smiling at Jules, as Leila sipped her own kind of tea to settle her nausea, "Oh, that hits the spot...That's a wonderful blend of tea, Mrs. Potts...".
Mrs. Potts smiled warmly, "You're very welcome, dear, and this tea wouldn't harm the little one as the little one would be just eager to eat without troubling you.", and Leila smiled softly, "Actually, I had my daughter-in-law check me earlier, and I'm having twins.", knowing that they could be biased with magic possibly thanks to the curse.
"Oh, congratulations! You're very welcome to stay here for the duration of your pregnancy. I may not have hands, but I can still assist with some supplies around here as you apparently have seen just now.", Mrs. Potts beamed in surprise and happiness, and Leila smiled softly, "Oh, that would be wonderful and-", before the fireplace within the dining room went out with a crash of the doors coming open.
Everyone's blood ran cold just from the sudden loud noise alone; but that certainly wasn't to say that it didn't also continue when everyone other than the servant objects, saw what made that noise. The servants were fearful too, but in a different sense. But for the family, their eyes were all staring at the hulking beast that stood in the doorway. A monstrous beast that would put the fear of God in all but the bravest men.
The beast growled low and deeply as it walked down the stairs on all fours, snarling, "Strangers...How dare you trespass here?".
Lumiere protested, "Master, they were in trouble. And they were grateful to knock on the door and they just wanted to be safe, especially for-", before the beast roared at him, glaring with a growl, before looking at them, "You are not welcome here! Get out of here or I'll throw all of you into the dungeons!", snarling loudly as Carlo cried out in fear, "Mama!".
Perla narrowed her eyes, a little memory nagging at the back of her head, but she ignored it for now as she stomped up at the Beast, slapping him in the face, "How dare you?! There are children right here, and there's wolves out there! You should be ashamed of yourself!".