The Beauty And Her Beast

-ARABELLA-“Good morning Arabella, I trust you enjoyed last night’s reading”, Finnigan greeted me as I wandered into the library. “It was quite enlightening my dear Finnigan, but I wonder if there might be something more-“ I paused, trying to find the appropriate way to word my question, “involved, for me to read?”, I asked, smiling at the look on his face as he realised what I was asking.“Well, this one here is a little more in the genre that you’re wanting, but other than this, I’m afraid I don’t have anything else that will satiate your needs young Arabella”, he frowned, handing me the book in question. I sighed when I read the title. “I know you’ve already read it once or twice, but it really is all I have that is even close to what you’re looking for. Maybe when I’m in one of the larger towns I can see what I can muster up for you?”, he said, shrugging slightly.

-ROYCE-I paced the halls, awaiting Helena’s mind-link. I’d heard from her not five minutes earlier when she let me know that they had managed to pick up the foul man’s scent, but that he had been all over the town in the last day. I prayed that they would find him soon, I didn’t know how long I could keep my beast tamed now that Arabella was awake and overtaking every sense within me.“I will let you know as soon as we find him, sire”, Helena mind-linked, “Get some rest.” I nodded to myself and made my way to my sleeping quarters. My room was magnificent, with a wall of bookshelves covering the north wall, a luxurious hand-carved king-sized bed complete with bear skin blankets and the softest woven silk sheets. The walls were adorned with paintings that my wife had collected and portraits that she insisted we had commissioned. Although the room was large and full, it felt unsurprisingly hollow; empty. My mind couldn&rsqu

-ARABELLA- *FLASHBACK* (Ten years earlier) “Where are we going?”, Arabella asked her father as he pulled her roughly towards the town square. “The king has an announcement to make and has ordered all the townsfolk to attend”, he replied gruffly, tightening his hold on her wrist and quickening his steps. Arabella remembered seeing the king once or twice before; he had always seemed grouchy and displeased. When they arrived, the town square was crowded and the hum of conversation filled the air. Arabella noticed a large wooden stage had been erected by the fountain and at least twenty men surrounded it, their eyes focussed on the ever-growing crowd. Arabella’s father came to a stop when they were but a few feet away from the stage and finally released her now throbbing wrist from his grasp. Arabella looked around nervously and spotted her new friend Finnigan standing nearby. She smiled when he gave her a small wave. Finnigan had been teaching Arabella h