Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 74631 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74631 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
How many days have I felt lonely? I have lost track. It is not because my freedom is not important, it just seems…impossible to get it if I want to keep my father safe. And the magic always soothes me if I think about being a prisoner. Or maybe it is the gorgeous clothes and the fine food and the comfortable bed. How can I be a prisoner if I am grateful to exist within these walls?
For this and many reasons, I am more at peace with my capture every day. I do not want to be starving and struggling to stay warm. I have dreamed more than once about having a library like the one in the castle with stories to escape into and imagine another life. I am more accepting now and more at ease, though I cannot explain why and I cannot entirely get rid of the guilt of leaving my father.
As I turn my back to walk down the next row of flowers, footsteps sound in the hall. The beast is a muscled man, from what I have felt, but he is graceful and does not walk with loud footsteps unless he wants to warn me he is coming. His presence immediately fills the terrarium as he steps inside.
My pulse races but in a way that heats every nerve ending along my skin.
I do not find his presence frightening now, but more…exciting. I am in awe of his strength and silence, and I want to know more about him. I want him to talk more freely to me, but I think that can only come with time and obedience.
My heartbeat quickens as I look at the flowers in the row, carefully keeping my eyes away from where I heard the footsteps. They move toward me, giving me the warning I need to keep my eyes averted. It is not fear I feel as the beast moves closer, but anticipation. I want him to be closer. I want him to touch me, maybe even kiss me. I want him to lose control with me the way he did before, but now he seems more determined to maintain a bit of distance.
I bend to smell a flower but do not turn. I know I’m not allowed to. The scent of the flower is rich, and I do not think I’ve ever smelled one like this before. It would make a lovely perfume. I inhale once again.
“I have been thinking,” he says, his low voice rumbling through the terrarium.
I straighten up, my face hot and my heart fluttering. His scent is in the air now, and it is more noticeable to me than the aroma of the flowers.
“Yes?” I say, trying to keep my voice light.
I walk down the row, feeling him move with me and resisting a strong urge to turn and see his face. He feels human when we are together, and I want to know what he looks like, but I have to obey him. He feels like…I do not wish to think of that.
“You can write a note,” he says. “And I’ll ask the magic if it will deliver it.”
A note?
“To my father?” I dare to breathe and before I can regret the clarification he breathes, “yes.”
I stop, blinking hard as tears come to my eyes. I did not expect him to let me do this. I thought it would only come after many years of proving myself to him.
“I thought,” I begin, my throat dry. “I thought the magic was only at the gate. I thought it was only here with you, at the castle.”
“Do not underestimate what magic can do,” the beast answers, and did I imagine it or is there a hint of amusement in his voice?
“How do you know if the magic will deliver the note?”
“There is no way of knowing,” he answers, and then a piece of paper and a pen float over to me.
I did not expect to write to my father today, but I have thought about what I might say. The choices seemed endless at first. There was too much to tell him about. But now, after so many days of thought, I know that the best thing to do is to keep my message simple.
It is simple. I cannot leave and staying here will keep my father safe. I only want for him to find a bit of comfort in the note.
Father, I write. I am safe. I am somewhere you cannot find me or fight for me, and I do not wish for you to do that. Please know that I am well. If I can send comfort I will do everything in my power to get it to you.
All my love, Elle.
As soon as I finish, the letter floats out of my hands. I do not follow its path, because I know where it will be going—back to the beast, and I can’t look at him.