Ch.2

Benjamin spent the next few days locked in his house, trying to come to terms with his new fate. When he finally got the courage to leave, he wore a long, hooded cloak to hide his appearance. He searched the entire market to try and find the witch, but had no success. She had disappeared without a trace.

He eventually revealed himself to some of his friends, hoping they would understand. He was sadly disappointed. Whenever they saw his face, they would all react with horror, whether making an excuse to leave fast or just screaming in his face and running. And it wasn’t long before word spread around the village and the locals began threatening to take up arms against Benjamin. He tried to reason with them, but no one would listen, so he decided it would be best if he just left. One evening, he packed his bags and his few belongings into his wagon and slipped off into the cold, uncaring dark of night.

Benjamin traveled around the country side, looking for a new place to settle down and call home. He could maybe stay somewhere for a few weeks, but eventually, someone would see his face and he would have to leave again.

At first, this constant rejection made him sad and lonely. He desperately wished for someone to understand, to see him for who he truly was. But the continual disappointment soon turned to anger, as pain tends to do. He eventually decided that humans weren’t worth the heartache. ‘Beast’ they called him, so ‘Beast’ he became. He hardened his once gentle heart, becoming cold, distant and unfeeling. He still roamed the country, but now he no longer looked for friends or home. He never settled anywhere until one day, while coming to a new town, he spotted a castle.

It was old and appeared long since abandoned. The lawns and gardens were severely overgrown to the point of being wild. When he reached the nearest town, Beast asked around about it. Every answer he got was the same: The castle had been empty of any human inhabitants for decades. It had once been a lavish and beautiful palace, but now it was haunted by terrible spirits that would curse anyone who dared enter.

Beast, not believing in spirits himself anymore, decided that this would be the perfect home. He could play up the haunting tale, give them ‘proof’ every once in a while, to keep anyone from getting nosey. He would still be able to go into town in his cloak, but he wouldn’t have to worry as much about exposure.

And that was how he lived the next several years; alone in the foreboding palace. Beast spent many long days tending to the plants inside the walls while being sure to keep the outer perimeter just as wild as before, so it wouldn’t raise suspicions.

But even though he enjoyed not having to deal with the cruelties of the normal humans, he eventually found himself becoming a bit lonely. To ease these feelings, he began going into the surrounding towns more often.

Reviews

[Wildecat]

Wow love reading about the Beast, this is a great story, look forward to reading more of it.