Chapter 5
Leona did not go to sit with her mother. Instead, she went to sit with herself, alone in the garden. It wasn’t much of a garden; all that was left in the middle of winter were a few bare trees and stone benches. Still, it was quiet, and empty; just what she needed, then. For a little while, she’d been able to forget; forget the was a barmaid. Forget that she was just a servant, working for a beast.
She supposed she should be grateful to Lady Carolyn for reminding her of the truth.
Leona’s footsteps echoed as she huddled beneath her coat, her breath blowing out in front of her. She sat on one of the many benches, staring up at the bleak face of the castle before her.
You are upset.
Leona did not move. Her eyes wandered to the shadows, where she knew she would see him. She stared at him a long time, letting herself soak in the sight of him. His fur was dusted with snow on the bottom, and somewhat on the top where a tree had brushed him as he strode past it. She could not see his face; it was cloaked in shadow. Yet she could see his breath, billowing out, exploring the night air till it met and mingled with her own. Her eyes felt heavy as she said flatly, “The Price must be shallow to even entertain the thought of her as a bride.”
She heard him take a step forward. This bothers you?
Leona looked up at him angrily, and suddenly her sadness fled, replaced with cold, hard fury. “Yes!” she screamed out. “He lets them come and treat you, others, as if they were nothing! And you do nothing! You sit and- and let this happen. You do realize she hates you? That she’s just using you, that all she wants is-”
She is beautiful. It comforts me.
Leona gaped at him. “Comforts you?”
The beast’s answer was tilted with a chuckle. I thought only I growled.
Leona turned away from him in disgust. “Is that the criteria, then? I thought you better than this,” she said softly. She started to walk away.
Such beauty, such a beastly nature. She comforts me, Leona, for showing me that I truly am still…will be human.
Leona stopped. Narrowing her eyes, she turned back around. “You know she cannot hear you.”
Yes. And yes, she will be sent home.
Leona stood with the beast there, in the courtyard, shivering. Around them snowflakes started to fall, lightly dusting the beast’s fur with ivory. The stillness of the night enveloped them, twisted around them. Leona laughed suddenly. “How many others like her have there been, subjected to this test, laughed at for what they truly are? Are any potential suitors, or are they all…comforts for you?”
The beast did not move. They are my saviors, Leona. She, others like her, have shown me…my curse.
Leona raised her eyebrows. “I don’t understand.”
The beast stepped forward. I continue to entertain these ladies because I must; because the prophecy is clear what it will take. But I watch them…tolerate them, because though ladies like Carolyn may not understand me, I understand them. Their crude bitterness…is what I must lift off. What I must overcome.
Leona shook her head, pierced suddenly with the sadness in his words. She stepped closer, reaching out a comforting hand; she then withdrew it slowly, realizing what she was doing. “You’re not crude,” she finally said.
The beast growled. Perhaps. Think, Leona. I am.
Leona shook her head. “I…” She bit her lip. “You have shown me nothing but kindness,” she said, not knowing what to say.
The beast continued to stare at her. Kindness, Leona?
Leona frowned. “Why- yes. I told you earlier-”
Ah. Of course. You must understand; I had to account for my lack of foresight. I had to right the wrong I had wrought up on you.
Leona shook her head. “I haven’t…what wrong? You didn’t-”
But I did!
Leona widened her eyes and took a step back at the force in his voice.
The beast’s eyes glowed with passion, with rage as he took a step forward, fists clenched, teeth bared. How dare you call me kind? How dare you flatter me with words of comfort? Do you know who I am? What I am?
Leona’s mouth fell open. Her body started to shake as her calves ran into the icy cement of the bench behind her. The beast growled, leaping forward suddenly, and Leona shrieked, falling backward into the snow. Her skirt tangled above her knees, bottom wet with snow, shawl abandoned on the ground, eyes wide with fear. She stared up at the beast. Her breath continued to puff out in a frenzied succession. Then he spoke, looming above her, oblivious to her pain. Or perhaps all too aware of it.
I am a beast, Leona.
“I don’t understand,” she whispered.
He came closer still, crouching down. Almost too afraid to move, Leona watched him, his large paw mirrored in her eyes as it reached out to trace the line her jaw. A shudder coursed through her body.
You see? Can you not feel it? You know. You’ve seen my laboratory. You’ve seen Carolyn. Both wastes of time and energy, oh yes, this I know, yet I am driven by selfish desire to keep both. Dear Leona…where else would I get the funding for it, if not from…you?
Leona’s mouth dropped. “Me?” she whispered.
You. You are, after all…a part of that world from which I am excluded. The kingdom, Leona, is taxed because of my whims. Make no mistake; these are my whims. You said it yourself; I allow this to continue. And what sort of beast would willingly plunge his country into ruin, and then punish its occupants for not paying, knowing they could not help it?
Leona felt a deep, guttural rage enter her belly; she felt sick. “It’s true,” she breathed.
It was him. He had been the cause of her pain, the reason she lost her job, her friend, her home…. Her eyes burned icy holes into the beast’s warm stare, captured him in her sickening gaze. Her palms stinging with cold, Leona stood up, spine stiff. “I see.”
Her words dripped with indifference. She didn’t know what to think. He’d been so kind and yet…had he not been such a- a beast she wouldn’t have needed his kindness in the first place!
Anger and sadness swam through her head as she watched him. He remained crouched in the snow, staring up at her, awaiting her final judgment. She opened her mouth- and Mrs. Kingsley’s shrill cry shot through the night.
“Leona!” she called, shoving open the thick Palace doors, showering the beast with yellow light.
Leona remained in darkness, eyes wide, trying to connect thought to speech. Mrs. Kingsley ran out, boots crunching in the fresh snow, breath ragged. “Leona, it’s your mother! She’s collapsed- she’s- oh- wait!” Mrs. Kingsley called as, with a gasp, Leona sprinted toward the castle.