Beastly ever After

CHAPTER FOUR

Two hundred years ago, when the battle for territories were,–tumultuous to say the least.

Men fought against men, and brother against brother but the territory of Alaiskar was prominent enough in battle to win and align themselves knowingly to a country in the north, then just before the Second World War, Alaiskar found itself in the middle of a battle that would later bring about the independence of the kingdom.

To win that war Alaiskar had recruited one of the fiercest warriors of that time, arrogant and proud the prince-general of Alaiskar had stayed away from the war reluctant to involve his powerful household in a skirmish that would not benefit him, at the ripe age of thirty he had long since learned the art of buying and selling.

When however the war began to go awry the prince-general had consented to help his country and what should have been a patriotic duty became a pawn for power.

Years passed away, and the battle was fought and won, the prince-general retired to his castle to live life to his whims but he still had not yet learned life lessons and for it his household paid.

Though he didn't like to think of the events of the past, he knew that it was the past that bred the future, and while there was sorrow, there was a promise of peace, hurrying to the barn Samuel reached for the door the barn hadn't housed in horses in the last hundred and fifty years.

Their manor was once known for its magnificent breeds was now in disrepair and Luther the stable hand who was one of the long descendants that had run these stables was constantly in agony and in essence, he was grumpy

He wiped his brow and nodded to the rest of his colleagues

"A girl came to the castle," he said and they all exclaimed Luther grumbled

"What the hell do we need a girl for" Samuel ignored him and continued talking

"She was pretty and though she seemed scared at first she warmed up fine," he said bouncing on his feet

"Are you sure she's the one?" Sodsworth asked clear disbelief in his tone

"I know she is" he replied snottily.

Their middle-aged housekeeper keeper Mrs Ford nodded

"This is good news I have wondered how long we would survive"

"I saw her from afar, she had blonde fair hair, "Clarisse said coming to stand by his side, leaning her head onto his shoulders.

He pressed a quick kiss to her hair

"That is not the color of hair the witches told us to look for " Jon, the cook boomed

"Hair dye" he shrugged

"And her eyes were there the brown of cocoa powder" Bernie the gardener queried, Samuel froze softly

"No a luminous blue, to pair nicely with his soft gold besides it could be contact" he answered and Carina the maid nodded

"Kids do all sorts of things these days, just the other day I saw some girls by the pizza shop with boots so high they reached your waist"

" You saw what" Samuel sputtered and Carina seemed to pause realizing what she had given away

"If she can see that far then the curse is beginning to take its toil, oh lord we are running out of time," Mrs Ford said alarmed

"We will do it," he placated and the rest nodded their heads, they were wary but hopeful

"Mama, Mama I found a squirrel" a voice cried rushing into the barn and hurling itself across the room

"Oh love watch your step" Mrs Ford chastised softly, Jim was a fine lad smart as a whip and very open to learning, Samuel would always think the witches heartless for dooming such a sweet boy even to teach the adults a lesson.

"I am but Mama I saw a squirrel and a butterfly, flying across the meadow"

"That is a good discovery lad " Sodsworth replied no one told the boy that seeing creatures so close meant no good at all

"All right, run along. Let's go about our day, and hope she is compelled to come back like those confounded witches claimed," he said.

Jim waited no further rushing off into the distance to chase after his butterfly. Samuel watched everyone disperse except him and Clarisse,

"Are you sure we will make it Sam do not lie to me" She was looking into his eyes, he opened his mouth to do just that but the words stuck in his throat, he could not lie to her.

He could remember the day he had met Clarisse Devereaux she had been charming and skittish, with her hair a pile of brown curls that fell prettily into her face she looked like an angel, her caramel skin glowing a flush pink when excited or happy. While her French had been so perfect it gave her a heavy accent she had been clear on one thing, she had no use for liars not after one had hurt her so deeply she had left her home to escape, and he had promised her the truth forever

"I do not know, but I promise we shall go on fighting this curse will be broken" he assured her caressing her cheek something that became harder with each day but he would never let her know.

Cupping her cheek he pressed a kiss to her lips, he sampled and tasted drawing from her a moan that was music, she drew away breathless and he groaned but she giggled

"I have work Sam let me go" she pouted and he nodded reluctantly

" I will see you-" he asked and she nodded

"I will be at the west garden" she replied gazing at him coyly he chuckled groaning slightly at the need to wait as she walked out the door.

There was a chime of bells as the clock struck twelve ringing and ringing another of the witch's plots for them to have time but never be a part of it the castle rumbled and shook and in the distance the roar of a beast could be heard.

Clarisse sen

t him a wry smile, one he returned, they were doomed if that girl didn't return.