The Beast's Bride

two : dos

Chapter 2

Trees. That’s all you see for miles as we drive home. Sometimes, you’d see a bus pass by and maybe a man from a distance herding livestock but then just trees.

This is home.

I take the deepest of breaths and feel the wind on my hair. If I didn’t respect my grandmother’s wishes my head would be out of our beat up old jeep and I’ll feel the wind from out the window. 

I’m glad I’m finally here after years of being away. It’s the perfect weather too. 

Weird since grandfather told me on the phone there was heavy rain for days. Apparently, it just stopped suddenly. 

I didn’t mind it one bit. I couldn’t wait to run through the trees again. 

“You missed home?” Ron asks from the driver's seat. I was at the back with luggage. My grandfather was at his usual seat on the passenger’s seat. 

I close my eyes feeling the fresh air. “Yes. I’m finally home.”

Our farm wasn’t at home. It’s actually closer to the airport and the main town. The house that I grew up in is the furthest one almost near the mountains. It’s a three story house that’s been redone several times. When I was younger it was a lot more traditional looking but now it’s tall, white and filled with windows. 

My grandfather made sure that it was perfect when I was to inherit it. He said he wanted to pass down a house I could live in comfortably. 

The jeep stops at the metal gates that separated the main road from our home. A pair of gardeners open the gate to let us in and close it right when we pass.

We drive through more thick trees and finally, I get to see it.

Our home.

It’s beautiful that I have to take a moment to breathe in. Ron thankfully, drives slower for me to get a good look at the white painted brick house with a dark grey roof. A smile makes its way to my lips as I see the windows that are all open blowing away white satin curtains. The front door is my particular favorite because it’s a wooden double door with glass panels. We drove under an opening that was decorated with potted flowers which brought us to the back of the house that leads to the garage. 

I’m glad that it still had a few of the house’s old structures letting me have the nostalgic feeling. 

Ron parks the jeep beside the other cars my grandfather owned and for the first time, I feel my heart sink. I expected my grandma to come rushing out the back door to greet me but she doesn’t. 

My eyes meet with my grandpa’s and he smiles softly reaching a hand out to wipe a stray tear. 

“Welcome home, dear.” He says softly and I feel my lips tremble. That’s exactly how my grandma would have said it. 

I don’t get to feel bad for long because Ron jumps out of the car and takes my bags. “Wait until you see your room.” 

“Is it still on the third floor?” I ask forcing my sad thoughts back. She wouldn’t like me feeling bad when this is the first time I’ve seen the house in so long. 

Ron nods excitedly and grins. “The entire third floor.” 

I take my grandfather’s hand as we make it to the back door. Before coming in, I let my eyes wander to the wooden patio with the flowery vines which my grandmother loves. Out of all the things that’s changed, the patio didn’t and I’m grateful. I love it just the way it was. 

We enter the back door that’s connected to the kitchen and several of the house helpers stop to stare at me. 

“Maggie!” They shout together looking incredibly excited. “You’re finally home!” 

It’s nice to know that the people that I terrorized before with my destroyed clothes and muddy footprints missed me as much as I missed them. 

“Hi!” I greet back giving a wave.

Agatha is the one that steps forward first. She’s the one that helped my grandma raise me. Agatha is an elderly woman now but the twinkle in her eye shows the woman that used to help me make pillow forts and the same one that scolds me for pulling at the leaves of a tree she believes to be magic. 

I wrap her in a hug automatically. “Agatha, I missed you.” 

She crushes me in a bone breaking type of hug that I didn’t mind at all. “Our wild child is home.” Agatha pulls back and takes a good look at me. “You’ve grown so beautifully but you still don’t brush your hair.” 

I gape at her. I certainly don’t brush it. She didn’t need to know that. “It was the wind.” 

“Sure it is.” She says with a knowing look. 

“No wonder the weather is good. Maggie is back.” I hear one of the familiar looking girls from behind Agatha say. My grandfather and Ron who were standing a few steps behind us, stiffen considerably. 

Agatha turns back and openly glares at the girl completely shutting her up. “Come, Maggie. Let’s settle you in.” 

It’s a long standing joke in town that on the day I left, the strongest storm ever settled in town. The weather never really went back to how it was. It was always raining and foggy. 

I doubt it’s true or maybe it’s just climate change. 

The interior of the house hasn’t changed at all. It’s still the same house that I would run circles around. The kitchen is still the same, the dining room still had the quaint looking old chandelier hovering over our circular wooden table and the television room still had the old semi burnt carpet. My favorite couch is still there looking more gnarly than ever.

“How’s our very own city girl? You’re looking so important now. If only you’d fix that wavy hair of yours.” Agatha begins as we go up the stairs. 

The entire wall was filled with my baby pictures. How humiliating. 

“I do brush my hair now.” I say but pause when I see the look Agatha was giving me. “On special occasions. I’ve been good. I’ve really missed home.” 

“And home has missed you.” She says, giving me a squeeze. “Do you have a boyfriend?”

Both my grandfather and Ron who are walking in front of us turn back to shoot me sharp looks. 

Agatha clicks her tongue at the two men. “She’s twenty now. Surely, Maggie is allowed to have a boyfriend.” 

“That’s if they can handle her.” Ron mutters under his breath.

Agatha catches him and kicks at his shins. “Watch your mouth boy or you’ll be scrubbing toilets.” 

Ron lowers his head and my grandpa laughs sympathetically rubbing his back. “My bowel movement has been quite healthy and frequent too.”

“Pa, please keep your healthy bowel movement to yourself.” I say with a laugh. 

“It’s true.” He insists. 

Ron grumbles. “I don’t doubt that, sir.” 

We make it to the third floor in no time and Ron opens the door for us. I gasp at the sight. 

Warm yellow walls with shelves filled with countless books surrounded a wide bed covered by a blue duvet facing a beautiful balcony that overlooked my favorite view of our backyard. 

I see my grandfather eagerly waiting for my reaction and I jump at him wrapping him in another hug. 

“I love it. I love it. I love it.” I chant repeatedly. “Thank you so much.” 

He hugs me tightly. “All for you.” 

Ron sets my bags down and Agatha runs to turn down my bed for me. “I’m making your favorite stew tonight and your favorite dessert too. We need some meat in you. City food must not be too good. Look how thin you are!”

I watch them over coddle me and feel all warm inside. It’s been too long away from these amazing people. They didn’t need to do all this but since I haven’t been home for so long, they just wanted me comfortable.

When I’m finally settled in, they vacate the room one by one and I’m left in where I slept as a child. The feeling is nostalgic and I feel emotional at the thought that I wish I was home for different circumstances. 

I walk out to my balcony and lean on the wooden deck railing. My eyes focus towards the woods as I breathe in the cool air of home. 

Suddenly, my blood runs cold and a chill like nothing before runs down my spine when I stare into a pair of blood red eyes.