Beasts Of Blackcastle

Chapter One

Chapter One: Where The Beast's Eyes Can See

When her amethyst eyes gazed at the stars, excited and flustered by her beauty they'd be and so they'd twinkle brighter. The night loved her so, as well as the creatures lurking within it.

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20 years later

"Princess, may I interest you in something sweet? I have prepared your favourite. You'll find my pudding far more delightful. Come on, now." Vye's gentle hands were laid upon her shoulders and without much effort, she turned the princess to the direction she desired her attention to be.

The offer of dessert was merely Vye's indirect way of telling her to move away from the large window. Princess Venia could never miss the look of concern that overwhelms her lady- in- waiting's graceful features every time she stands by the window; especially during the night. Vye had explained why she worried so at her routinely "window dressing" and when she was younger Venia would shy away from the night in fear, but now that she was older and bolder, she was giving Vye a hard time.

"What is even there to see?" Princess Venia recalled Vye's starting lines in her feeble arguments clearly, her voice soft and crisp, forever embedded in her mind. "I know it might sound foolish, but I will not risk him seeing you. I've heard of the legend. The Beast is the darkness and my mother always used to tell me that there's nothing darkness desires more than the purity of light. You are the most precious and the purest of all, princess, that is why the Beast wants you. The darkness will never be your friend, in fact, you don't want the darkness to ever find you."

The Beast.

The Darkness.

Her prison and her ruin.

The mere mention of his title brought the most bitter of taste to princess Venia's tongue. She had never encountered the grotesque force of evil, but she resented him more than most. More than those who had lost family to his evil forest that devours souls. Because of a legend, because of a feared, harrowing myth, princess Venia had never known a normal life, had never known freedom. From the moment the witch Allura said she bore the Mark of The Beast, she became a prisoner in her own palace.

King Thornton and Queen Nulika had enforced very strict rules and laws to ensure her safety and thus the steel bars to her prison were reinforced. Those rules meant she would only get to experience the company of a few and she will never set foot outside. In her twenty years of existence she could only identify faces not more than the fingers on her hands; her mother, father, three brothers and Vye were her only influence on her perception of people… of everything, sadly. The six characters who did not even make- up half a percent of her supposed 'people'. People. The kingdom that she was constantly reminded she will inherit yet she knew nothing of.

The Six all knew that she was unhappy with her circumstances, but the nightmare they all feared will befall her and consume her into its darkness until the very end of time, made them disregard her feelings very much so.

"I promise you, beauty, it is for your own good. It is either this or the belly of the Beast." Her mother would frequent these words in response to her expressed misery. Before she had a hard time believing it, but now princess Venia was convinced of her mother's love, as much as she was convinced that it was just as strong as her fear.

Fear. The solid ground of her inescapable prison. Fear; the mighty force that she herself could not fathom.

Every time her mother's eyes would gleam with suppressed tears, she gained a deeper understanding of that word but she could not exactly say that she had experienced it.

Where would she harvest such a formidable emotion within these walls of "safety"?

"I too would like to be afraid." Princess Venia had once told Vye as she was scolding her over compromising her security. "Just because all I've ever heard is how afraid I should be of my alternate fate does not mean I will automatically experience such an emotion. I can see it in your eyes, I know it's there but I've never felt it. Not even on the surface."

The eery manner in which she uttered those words had left Vye apprehensive for years.

Even now as she stared at her, Princess Venia could tell that Vye was increasingly worried over her. More so of her growing defiant nature and her weakening authority meant to squelch it.

The Six had deemed themselves her protectors and to some extent princess Venia agreed with that title but she had never felt like a princess. All those films and stories she had heard had long made her aware that her circumstances were different. Other princesses were not hidden from the world, from their people, other princesses took delight in the company of many like them, other princesses had companions they share their illicit secrets with, other princesses had the luxury of various forms of entertainment, other princesses went to dances, others even went to war, other princesses went on adventures and more importantly; other princesses had princes and enviable love stories.

Love. The concept of it was bewildering. She could not explain it, but she desired it fiercely; with every breath in her lungs. She had experienced love in one of its stages, one of its forms and she was not and would never be satisfied with not experiencing it in all its forms and complexities.

Princess Venia was grateful that of all the emotions she had been denied, at least she had experienced love. Vye was one of the ones she loved.

The young woman's soft features mantled with emotion as the princess took her into a sudden embrace and slowly twirled her around.

"Don't frown. You're much more beautiful when you smile." The princess' delicate frame swayed along with hers, her whispered compliments instantly bringing a smile to Vye's face. "Much better. I love you, Vye. Your sense of duty is admirable but I do warn you, you're one frown away from looking 90 of age."

Vye was only a few years older than her but she carried herself like a hardened woman in her old age. Nonetheless, princess Venia was only teasing her, Vye was still very much a beauty of plump skin, luscious, fire coloured hair and lively, emerald green eyes.

"You never answered me," princess Venia helped herself to the decadent pudding while Vye swiftly closed the curtains. The princess only sighed at her behaviour and proceeded to ask, "my brother's bride, will I get to meet her before they wed?"

Prince Esgar, at barely nineteen years old had already announced an engagement to the princess of Luxyon and the news, at the instance of being delivered to her, had been received with envy and dismay by the princess. It was not fair that her younger brother had such fortune, it was not fair that he had been denied nothing and was granted the opportunity to find his princess and true love while she could only fantasise about one day being seen. Eventually, she subdued the negative emotions and was actually happy for her brother. Whether she will receive an invitation to the wedding or not was yet to be discussed.

"I'm worried," princess Venia continued in a deflated tone after Vye did not answer her, "I have already missed the engagement party…" she sighed warily, a sadness flooding into her eyes, "I suppose I shouldn't have much hope for my presence at the wedding, now should I?" She couldn't take this anymore, she was literally on the verge of losing her mind. "I can't even be there for my brother and celebrate with him, why?! Tell me why, Vye!"

"Because that it exactly what the Beast will count on us doing." Vye's response came in a soft voice, her calm temper mocking the princess. "I will never let him take you. Your mother would cease to be sane if anything was to ever happen to you, please understand that, princess. I will suggest a private ceremony in this room, before your eyes and hopefully king Thornton will agree. Please, my dear, don't sadden, the Beast-"

"Do not mention him!" The princess slammed her fist into the table, regretting the fright she caused Vye immediately and apologising. "It has been twenty years. He did not come for me when I came of age! None of you have ever even seen a glimpse of his flesh, a single strand of his hair yet you are so frightened by a myth! Who is to say the supposed Beast King has not lost interest in me? Who?! I am STILL here, he surely must have taken a bride-"

"You should not be so sure," Vye interjected, her voice taking a more stern character, "the witch Allura has never said anything about the Beast taking another poor girl as his bride. 'He will come for you when you least expect it', don't you remember her words? We will not take such a risk. Don't you know that there's none as beautiful and as pure as you, my princess?"

Princess Venia frowned deeply, readying an impactful retort but she changed her mind. "No. How would I know when I've only seen two other women? How? I'd rather die than to spend another decade in this castle."

Vye gasped at her words, immediately rushing to her side and kneeling beside her, "Please don't utter such words, princess. What would the kingdom of Derchuen be without you? What would I be without you? You are the future of Derchuen and that is why we will never let that disgusting creature take you as his."

"I still don't understand why Prince Eclix can't take the throne, he is my senior and far more capable than an imprisoned, sheltered, inexperienced princess."

For five years of her life, Princess Venia was known as the first child of king Thornton, until it was revealed that he had two sons with his first wife who had been kidnapped at birth. Queen Icesena did not know that she was pregnant because she had been cursed by a witch and that very witch had taken the twin princes as hers until her death. The princess was not given the details of how they managed their way to the palace and back then she didn't care, she was just excited to have new siblings.

Vye was at a loss for words and whenever she gave her that beseeching gaze, the princess knew she would not resist her manipulation. "Because you are special, in more ways than you will ever understand, until the time is right."

The princess responded to her vagueness as she usually did, "I wish I was not special. I will do whatever it takes to lift this curse of being special." She suddenly gave Vye a strange look. "I know how to break it. If I were to jump out that window, who would stop me-"

"That would be me." Prince Eclix emerged from nothingness it seemed and smoothly interjected. "What madness are you conceiving now, beauty? Stop worrying Vye so."

The princess rolled her eyes, "Perfect timing as always, brother." Her sarcasm was unmatched and always a delight to the first prince. "One of these nights I will-"

"You will what?" Prince Eclix squeezed her cheeks and kissed her forehead.

"I will open that window as wide as possible and jump while the best of you dream away." Princess Venia threatened. Her brother just did not know how serious she was.

"Now why would you want to do that?" The prince offered his hand, which she hesitantly took. "At least now I know of your plans and that madness will never come to be. Such genius, beauty." He teased her. How adorable she became when she pouted like that.

Vye excused herself and the princess spotted a wry, cunning smile as soon as she was out of sight.

"Oh no, I'm not letting you have your way with me." Oh the prince knew very well that tender embrace came at a price.

The princess detached from him, the smile still etched on her face. "You know, there's one thing I admire most about you that Esgar and Eclair seem to be lacking. You are a man of your word. Always."

The prince smirked, a sense of pride overtaking him, "That I am. A character that differentiates men from boys."

"I wouldn't know." Princess Venia thought to herself.

"Ahhh.." the smile gained more of a sly character. "I remember that night when I was eight and I was weeping a storm, you came to me, gazed deeply into my eyes and you told me you'd do anything for me and there's nothing you wouldn't give me to make me happy." Oh no, prince Eclix knew where this was going.

"You did not read the fine print; terms and conditions apply." Smooth save, as expected but the princess had learnt from the best.

"If you do this one thing for me," she fisted his luxurious shirt and desperately clung onto him for dramatic effect, "if you grant me this one request, I swear I will not think about jumping out the window for another year or two."

The prince sighed, he did not know what madness she was to ask of him but how close he already was to giving in. "And what is the request?"

"Please take me outside for a stroll, the night is so beautiful, I want to experience it, please." The look on her brother's face was not very promising but it was not entirely a no. "It's a small thing I'm asking for. I swear it to you, I'll be so content I'll stop contemplating all sorts of madness, please brother. I want to experience the outdoors just this once. Just the garden you always speak of, please, I need to know that there is more to life than this dull misery."

It was a great injustice that she had never been allowed outside. Whenever her grievances were voiced, her brothers tried their best to appease her. When she was fifteen Eclix and Eclair filled her painting room floor with sand from the beach so she could know how it feels beneath her feet. They brought her flowers, soil and leaves weekly so her fingertips could know the grasp of nature, the feel of the earth. They snuck in various pets as well so she could play with them. All of that was not enough. She needed to be within it, to feel something more than the slight kiss of the morning sun on her skin through the window.

To make matters worse, the king was so fearful of the Beast's unearthly eyes said to see everywhere he wishes to see, that he had his best men build a very high perimeter wall around her castle so at any point when she gazes out the window all she sees is a green field and at the end of it, a wall that reaches the heavens.

Prince Eclix was undoubtedly saddened by her words, perhaps that is what eroded his sanity, or maybe he was just stupefied by the love he had for her; otherwise why would he agree to be her accomplice in endangering her life?

"You just had to pick the night, didn't you?!" Oh he was surely going to regret this. "Beauty, you are not very fair, you know I can't resist-"

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" She attacked his face with kisses in her excitement. "That is why you are my favorite brother."

"Ten minutes only and make it another five years-"

"Deal!" She chimed in before he could state the rest of his conditions. "Shall we go now?" The night was calling for her.

As it always was, it just irresistibly drew her in and now at last; an opportunity to answer.

"Let's be quick, I have a feeling Vye will return soon." He quickly grabbed her much smaller hand and led her out of a secret, very well hidden door she did not know of.

It required his blood to open. Now she knew why she could never open the doors herself. "You make an offerance of blood to the door." She noted, very much intrigued. She brought her finger to the pin but the prince grasped her wrist before it could prick her.

"The witch spelled it so it only opens for those who love you very deeply." Prince Eclix briefly explained while she slowly hummed musingly.

"I will be holding your hand the entire way. The witch had cast a barrier spell on the castle so the Beast's eyes will never see beyond the wall, we have to make sure he does not see you or smell you, I don't know how, but he can never know you live, beauty, never."

"If he does come, I'm prepared to face him." Venia thought to herself.

For a taste of freedom, she would face the worst of the worst.