***
Yellow light seeped through the gap in the drapes. Belle could feel warmth on her face and something soft on her skin. She could hear muffled talking as she stretched. Then the pool of memories, the forest and the castle, crashed into her mind, and she sat up. She kicked off a white fur throw and looked around. She was in a bed, one big enough for five people. Four posts coiled up to the roof of the bed, which was carved with patterns of leaves and roses. The talking, it seemed, was coming from the other side of the door. ‘James,’ Belle gasped and jumped off the bed. She threw open the door and realised that the talking was coming from a room which was directly across from hers. She walked into the light study. James stood up when she entered and so did another man with muscles that looked like they would burst at any moment and dark hair pulled back into a short ponytail. ‘What happened?’
James placed his drink down on the table and gestured to this muscular man. ‘This is Caleb. He lives here. He helped you. You fainted.’
‘Oh.’ Belle looked around the study. A thick layer of dust covered almost everything. The walls were white, and the window looked out onto a wintry meadow. ‘My father was here … he is probably already dead, but in case he isn’t, I wish to make a trade!’
‘Your father is fine,’ Caleb reassured. ‘My master has lifted the curse. The agreement was a trade for you, and your father delivered, well, just in time.’
‘The deal was to trade me for his life?’ she asked but didn’t need him to answer, though he did anyway. She just needed to say it aloud. She supposed it made sense.
‘Yes,’ Caleb stated.
James frowned. ‘We’re trapped here.’
Belle opened her mouth and looked around. ‘Prisoners?’
Caleb bit his lip. ‘Kind of, yes. But the master is kind, he will feed you and—’
‘Kind?’ Belle scoffed and put her hands on her hips. ‘He cursed my father and has now imprisoned me for no reason at all! He is not kind.’ Caleb went to protest but stayed quiet. Edward wasn’t kind; even he couldn’t lie that well. Belle grimaced and walked over to the door. ‘Where is this master of yours? I’d like to say a few words to him!’
Caleb jumped up. ‘Don’t.’ He pressed his lips together. ‘He’s uncomfortable with how he looks. Look, he will let you go eventually. He’s just upset that someone tried to steal from him when he tried to help them.’
Belle sighed. She couldn’t condone her father’s actions, but then, he probably didn’t even realise that taking a rose could be stealing. ‘What’s there to do around here then?’
James piped up. ‘Any swords around here?’
Belle scowled. ‘What’s with the sudden sword fascination?’
He shrugged. ‘Just want to learn to fight.’
Caleb grinned. ‘We have swords, and I can teach you.’ He raised his head proudly. ‘I’m an excellent sword fighter.’
‘We’ll see,’ James challenged.
Caleb laughed throatily. ‘Come on then. Show me what you got.’
They headed for the door. ‘Please be careful,’ she called after them. James turned and nodded then followed Caleb out of the door. Belle walked over to a mahogany cabinet and looked through the bottles of drink. ‘Only whiskey and wine,’ she grumbled. She walked out and down the stone steps, looking for a kitchen. She passed a beautiful tapestry and marvelled at the craftsmanship. It was of three men all fighting over one piece of bread, and one man was in the background offering out his bread to little children. She continued to walk while looking at the paintings and tapestries and almost walked right into a woman. ‘Sorry,’ Belle spluttered. The mousy woman looked up at her and half-smiled. ‘Is okay.’ The woman spoke slowly and Belle guessed that she must have been from a far-off land. She couldn’t place her accent, but the only thing she noticed was that her voice was squeaky.
‘Can you direct me to the kitchen, please?’ Belle asked. The woman looked at her confused. Belle rubbed her stomach. ‘Kitchen? Food?’
‘Yes.’ The woman turned and scurried off. Belle followed swiftly, hurrying down the winding, narrow stone corridors. They walked through a doorway and into a large kitchen that housed three oversized cookers and three long work surfaces. Belle reached up to the cupboard and fumbled for a cup. A small teacup fell out onto the side. Belle picked it up and examined it. It had chipped. ‘Oops.’
The maid scurried over. ‘Is okay.’ She tried to take the cup, but Belle held it.
‘I’ll use it,’ Belle said sweetly and smiled. The woman smiled back. She filled it with water and decided to explore her new prison. She walked back up the same way she came but turned left instead of right. She stumbled into a corridor that seemed darker than the rest and noticed that the rows of doors all had coloured hearts on them. Some red, some blue, and some green. She could hear muttering inside and listened harder. She pressed her ear against the door when a loud bang shook her away. ‘Who’s there?’ a man boomed from inside.
‘Uh,’ Belle hesitated. ‘A maid,’ she lied.
‘Don’t sound like one,’ the man replied.
Belle shifted uncomfortably. Who were these people? Guests? ‘I’m new,’ she lied.
There was a pause. Her heart pounded as she looked down at the lock. ‘Get me some food, maid,’ the man spat.
Belle breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Sure.’ But as she walked away she felt something churn in her stomach and walked back to the door. ‘No, actually. I will not get you food. You are being rude.’
There was another pause. ‘It’s your job!’
Belle ground her teeth. ‘No, you can go without until you learn some manners.’
The man started shouting, and Belle walked off, folding her arms in front of her chest. She stopped by the last door and heard cackling from inside.
A man spoke. ‘You’re no maid.’
She froze. ‘I am.’
‘A liar too.’
Belle pressed her lips together. ‘Am not.’
‘We shall see,’ the man said. Belle backed away, not liking the edge of madness that laced his words. The man shouted after her, and she could just make out the words through the thick wooden door and the distance between them. ‘You’re going to get a lot more than you bargained for being here.’
***
Caleb finished his sword fighting lesson with James and headed to the study. James was surprisingly good, which he didn’t expect. He was a natural. Caleb walked into the study, ready to kick off his boots and have a drink in front of the fire but was surprised to see Edward sitting in his arm chair. ‘She has a son?’ Edward asked.
Caleb nodded. ‘Yes. He is clever and great at sword fighting.’
Edward waved his hand dismissively. ‘Yes, yes. I saw you both in the garden. I’m interested in her. Is she beautiful?’
‘Yes,’ Caleb admitted. ‘She is a sweet person.’
Edward rolled his eyes. ‘Your version of beautiful is probably different from mine. Her father showed me a picture of one his daughters when I was in Northmanni. Trust me, she was nothing special. However, this one is another daughter of his, so maybe she doesn’t have his unfortunate genes. If she wants to be with me, she would have to be very beautiful.’
Caleb scowled. ‘You are such a vain …’
‘No matter,’ Edward interrupted. ‘It’s only a kiss I require. Ask Stilt to make some dresses for the lady. Treat her like a princess and remember,’ he looked at Caleb with heavy eyes, ‘tell her that everything is from the master of the castle, me.’
Caleb raised an eyebrow. ‘She doesn’t seem the type to be interested in material possessions. I doubt you’ll get her to kiss you this way.’
Edward smirked. ‘You don’t know women like I do. Now, leave. We are both relying on this kiss. You want to free, don’t you?’
Caleb sighed. ‘Yes.’ He walked over to the door and turned before leaving. ‘One question …’
Edward raised his eyebrows with impatience. ‘Yes?’
‘Will Bell
e be imprisoned here like us if she kisses you?’
Edward stared back blankly. ‘Obviously.’
‘Right,’ Caleb said and left the room with a heavy heart.
***
Belle sat down for dinner with Caleb and James. ‘Looks wonderful,’ Belle praised, looking down at the plates of turkey and potatoes. She looked at Caleb and sighed. ‘I would like to return to my family.’
‘Sorry,’ Caleb replied. He didn’t elaborate. He didn’t need to. The look on his face told Belle everything she needed to know. That the castle master was intent on them staying. Caleb forced a smile and tried to brighten the mood. ‘James.’ James looked up from his plate and put his fork of turkey down. Caleb raised an eyebrow. ‘Would you like to practice fighting again tomorrow? Perhaps, we can go the far side of the meadow? There are some hills, so we can practice footing.’
James grinned, showing off his straight, pearly white teeth. ‘Sounds good to me!’
Belle rolled her eyes and smiled. ‘You’re growing up too fast.’
James scowled. ‘Not that you’ll ever see me as anything but a kid.’
Belle laughed. ‘You’ll always be my little brown-eyed boy.’
He groaned. ‘Great.’
‘Sit up straight,’ she ordered. James sat up from his slump and ate the rest of his food.
Once he’d finished his last mouthful, he looked at the door. ‘I’m gonna go exploring.’
Belle nodded. ‘Be careful.’
They watched James leave, and Belle turned to Caleb. ‘Is this some sort of weird magical hotel then? I walked down a corridor in the left wing yesterday and some guy spoke to me through the door. He thought I was a maid. He was very rude, so I told him off.’
Caleb couldn’t help but laugh. ‘Sorry, it’s not funny, but I can just imagine you telling off a prisoner.’
‘Prisoner?’ she gasped. ‘Like me?’
Caleb bit his lip and looked up at Belle. ‘Well, they’re here because they are all cursed, and some of them are dangerous—some, not all.’
Her eyes widened. ‘What?! Well, I definitely do not want to stay here anymore!’
‘Wait,’ he said quickly. ‘They’re not really dangerous to us. The ones who are cursed with a love spell are only cursed to hurt the ones they love. If they have a sleeping curse, then they, well, are asleep and can’t hurt anyone. The ones changed into an animal or object are no danger really. There are only a few that we know would probably hurt one of us.’
Belle frowned. ‘And they’re locked in their rooms all the time? Those poor souls.’
Caleb shrugged. ‘Master’s decision.’
‘We shall see.’ She smirked and drank the rest of her wine. She didn’t particularly like wine, but seeing as it was the only drink that was readily available, aside from whiskey, she had developed a taste for it. ‘Why are you here?’
‘Cursed,’ he admitted. ‘Along with Edward.’
‘Edward …’ She pondered his name. ‘He is the master here then?’
Caleb nodded. ‘He’s not a bad guy. He just has a lot of demons.’
‘Don’t we all,’ she replied. ‘What are you both cursed with?’
‘Inner beauty,’ Caleb replied and grinned. ‘As you can see, I’m quite the nice guy.’ He winked, and Belle laughed. ‘Edward, on the other hand,’ he continued. ‘Well, he was a handsome man, but now … not so much.’
Belle picked at her cherry cake and looked at Caleb properly. He was conventionally handsome. His eyebrows were thick, and his eyes were deep set. The pale blue shone against his olive skin. His hair was slicked back into a small ponytail. He looked a little feminine even but extremely butch. It didn’t make sense, but it suited him. His teeth were a little crooked, but nothing noticeable. On his lips, he had a few small scars and a long one his cheek. ‘How did you get those scars?’
Caleb instinctively placed his hand over them and looked down. ‘Fighting.’
‘Why?’ Belle asked.
Caleb pressed his lips together. His hands were clammy, and he felt beads of sweat push through the skin on his forehead. ‘Protecting myself. I’m …’
Belle could see the nervousness and smiled as kindly as she could. ‘It’s okay, you can tell me. I promise I won’t … well, I don’t know until you tell me, but I’m going to go for I won’t judge.’
Caleb moved the hand from his scars and took a deep breath. ‘I like men.’
‘Oh.’ Belle’s eyebrows shot up, but she continued to smile. The more she thought about it, the more she guessed it made sense. She was unsure how she hadn’t detected it earlier. ‘Do you have a partner?’
The question caught him by surprise. This was around the time when most people would spit at him, poke fun, start a fight, or at the very least make a quick excuse to leave. ‘No. Milborn isn’t the most accepting kingdom.’
Belle bit the inside of her cheek. ‘Oh.’ She perked up. ‘Northmanni is quite accepting actually. I have a lot of friends from there who like the same sex. Most are in relationships. You should go there, you know, once you leave here. Can you leave here? I mean all curses can be broken, right?’
Caleb shifted uncomfortably. ‘Well, sort of. It kind of requires someone else taking the curse… I just have to accept I will be stuck here.’
Belle reached across the table and squeezed his hand. ‘Looks like I will be too.’
Caleb squeezed back. ‘Oh dear Belle, I sincerely hope not.’
MEETING BELLE
The next morning, Caleb met James outside, wearing a thick woolen jumper. James laughed. ‘Morning, Grandad.’
‘Funny,’ Caleb said and laughed. ‘It’s cold.’ He looked at James’s attire. A thin white shirt, brown trousers, and brown riding boots. ‘You should put a jumper on too. It’s chilly out.’
‘I’m fine,’ James replied.
‘Now,’ Caleb ordered. ‘Or I won’t take you sword fighting.’
James sighed. ‘You sound like my mother!’ He skulked back inside to get a jumper. Caleb grinned. He had always wanted a son, but it wasn’t possible. Now, at least he had someone who he could guide as best he could. At least while James was at the castle. Caleb had skirted around the subject of James’s father since they came here. Finally, James ran back outside, out of breath. ‘Ready.’
‘Let’s go then.’ Caleb handed James a sword and scabbard. James put it on and walked toward the foggy edge of the meadow. Caleb glanced to his side and looked at James. ‘Shouldn’t your father be teaching you this?’ He had to ask. He found it odd that since their arrival neither of them had mentioned James’s father.
James’s expression changed to one that Caleb hadn’t seen yet. Hurt. ‘He died some time ago.’
‘I’m so sorry,’ Caleb said, wishing that he hadn’t said anything. ‘I’m sure he’d be proud of you. You’re an excellent fighter.’
James shrugged. ‘Doubt it. He was an artist.’
Caleb felt his heart thud with each, crackled cold step. ‘Do you paint?’
James shook his head. ‘No. I wouldn’t mind painting, but I must learn to fight.’
‘Why?’
James glanced back at the castle. ‘To protect my mother. She only has me now. My grandpa is old and frail, and my aunties are reckless, selfish, and stupid. It will only be a short time until they get themselves into sticky situations. I’d like to be strong enough to help them out of it.’
‘Oh.’ Caleb gulped. That wasn’t what he was expecting at all. ‘You’re mature for your age.’
James nodded stiffly. ‘Thanks. Mother doesn’t think so.’
Caleb laughed and stopped. James stopped and looked at Caleb oddly. ‘What?’
‘Your mother,’ Caleb said, laughing still, ‘does think you’re mature. She just wants you to be her baby forever. That’s all. You’re taking it literally.’
James scowled. ‘Maybe. It just aggravates me. Soon, I will be a man, and I want to get into trade. Lots of money in that.’
‘Ah,�
� Caleb said and smirked. ‘So you want to be a businessman too?’
‘Or a knight,’ James admitted.
Caleb nodded. ‘Well, I can give you some advice and help you train. That way when you leave, you’ll be a couple of steps ahead.’
James, in a rare moment, smiled. ‘Thanks.’
***
Caleb took his seat in the study and watched Edward walk in. Edward slumped into a red armchair and sulked. ‘I’ve been thinking.’
‘Uh-oh,’ Caleb teased.
Edward rolled his eyes. ‘Why didn’t I become handsome again? I helped the old man. I mean, yes, after I did curse him, but he was going to take my rose. Either way, I should have at least looked a bit better than I am now. I seem to become uglier by the day.’
Caleb sighed. ‘It didn’t make you handsome again because you helped the old man for your own gain. Selfishness won’t earn you any points. If you want to be as beautiful on the outside, then you need to do a selfless act.’
‘No act is truly selfless!’ Edward stated. ‘Everyone wants something, even if it is self-satisfaction. I’m fed up of all this ‘good verses evil, true love, love at first sight, and happily ever afters.’ It doesn’t exist. We live in the real world.’
Caleb looked at Edward wide-eyed. ‘You don’t believe in happily ever afters?’
Edward exhaled heavily and looked down at the floor. ‘It’s unrealistic.’ Caleb watched Edward leave with sadness. For the most part, he couldn’t stand the ignorant prince, but for the first time, he saw a glimmer of vulnerability.
Edward stormed down the corridor. No longer would he try to be a good person, no, this was time for action. Despite how he looked, he would walk in to Belle’s room and show himself to her. She would be disgusted by his looks, of course, he knew that. In fact, it was the only thing he was sure of. However, he had his wit, charisma, and charm. He’d never had a problem with the ladies, and he wasn’t about to let a load of scars get in the way. He was ready to leave—so ready he could taste the freedom and even felt a smile spread across his face.
The Enchanted Kingdoms (Haunting Fairytales Series Book 1) Page 6