Sunsets and Sneak Peeks
I know, I know, I'm late again. It's time for a short story and as we're still in camp mode, you're getting to see a portion of "Becoming Prince Charming". This is a tough book to write. As I'm sure you've guessed, it is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I'm trying to make sure I find the right balance between the darkness of what has happened to Kaelen and the hope of what can be. This section may leave you asking lots of questions, but they're probably all ones that I can't answer right now. And I can't really give you any background to this scene either because it would give away some major spoilers! In any case, here's the newest section of "Becoming Prince Charming" based around the prompt "sunset". Next week we'll get back into regular short stories that aren't actually a part of something bigger...maybe. ;) Enjoy!
Cedric entered the room as Kaelen was shuddering violently in the bed, growling and snarling. “Master Kaelen? Are you all right?”
“Do I look all right?” he roared.
“You’ve got to fight the beast, sir. Be stronger than he is.”
“I know what I have to do!”
“Then do it! For you, for Gelasia, for all of us. Be strong!”
For long hours Kaelen struggled to regain control. Elsa invisibly brought up trays for lunch and dinner only to take them back later and throw the food out untouched. Cedric stayed in the room guarding the door to prevent the beast from escaping the room. He watched sadly as Kaelen tore apart his bedcovers and smashed furniture. With each passing moment he grew wilder and lost further control. Cedric tried to encourage him, but knew that only Kaelen could pull himself out of the attack. He feared that his master was giving up.
As the sun was setting outside, the episode seemed to subside. Kaelen fell exhausted to the ground, still shuddering and growling. Cedric immediately went to his side and helped Kaelen back onto the remains of his bed. A blue duster entered the room. “Tillie?”
The duster nodded.
“Tillie, go and get some new blankets for Master Kaelen. And please send Elsa up. I believe he is feverish and may need medicine.”
The duster bobbed again before leaving the room.
Cedric looked out the window. Magnificent colors were reflected in the glass and on the snow as the sun dipped farther below the horizon. Scarlet and violet streaked the sky and darkened slowly, burning down like a fire in the hearth. It seemed forever that he sat and watched before he heard soft footsteps in the room. Stars were beginning to dance in the sky as a blanket seemed to unfold itself and cover Kaelen. A bag of medical tools emptied on a nearby table unharmed in Kaelen’s fit. “Is he going to be all right?”
A pad of paper appeared and a note was written. The paper tore itself from the pad and was held out to Cedric
He is feverish and will likely be ill for a few days, maybe longer. The beast’s attack has weakened him tremendously. If he is attacked again tonight, I don’t know that Kaelen will survive it.
“Do you mean that the beast and Kaelen would die?”
The wooden spoon lifted off the table and shook back and forth.
Understanding dawned on Cedric and he murmured, “You mean Kaelen only would die and the beast would remain. How is that possible?”
The wooden spoon slowly bobbed up and down. Another note was written and held out.
The magic that created the beast is incredibly strong. If I understand it correctly, Kaelen and the beast are in reality two different entities. Should Kaelen give up entirely, his essence will die. The beast will remain forever with no one to stop him.
Cedric sighed. “Then I will stay with him tonight and guard him here. If the beast seems to attack, I will do all in my power to force him out. Kaelen must get well again. If not, we are all doomed.”
Cedric entered the room as Kaelen was shuddering violently in the bed, growling and snarling. “Master Kaelen? Are you all right?”
“Do I look all right?” he roared.
“You’ve got to fight the beast, sir. Be stronger than he is.”
“I know what I have to do!”
“Then do it! For you, for Gelasia, for all of us. Be strong!”
For long hours Kaelen struggled to regain control. Elsa invisibly brought up trays for lunch and dinner only to take them back later and throw the food out untouched. Cedric stayed in the room guarding the door to prevent the beast from escaping the room. He watched sadly as Kaelen tore apart his bedcovers and smashed furniture. With each passing moment he grew wilder and lost further control. Cedric tried to encourage him, but knew that only Kaelen could pull himself out of the attack. He feared that his master was giving up.
As the sun was setting outside, the episode seemed to subside. Kaelen fell exhausted to the ground, still shuddering and growling. Cedric immediately went to his side and helped Kaelen back onto the remains of his bed. A blue duster entered the room. “Tillie?”
The duster nodded.
“Tillie, go and get some new blankets for Master Kaelen. And please send Elsa up. I believe he is feverish and may need medicine.”
The duster bobbed again before leaving the room.
Cedric looked out the window. Magnificent colors were reflected in the glass and on the snow as the sun dipped farther below the horizon. Scarlet and violet streaked the sky and darkened slowly, burning down like a fire in the hearth. It seemed forever that he sat and watched before he heard soft footsteps in the room. Stars were beginning to dance in the sky as a blanket seemed to unfold itself and cover Kaelen. A bag of medical tools emptied on a nearby table unharmed in Kaelen’s fit. “Is he going to be all right?”
A pad of paper appeared and a note was written. The paper tore itself from the pad and was held out to Cedric
He is feverish and will likely be ill for a few days, maybe longer. The beast’s attack has weakened him tremendously. If he is attacked again tonight, I don’t know that Kaelen will survive it.
“Do you mean that the beast and Kaelen would die?”
The wooden spoon lifted off the table and shook back and forth.
Understanding dawned on Cedric and he murmured, “You mean Kaelen only would die and the beast would remain. How is that possible?”
The wooden spoon slowly bobbed up and down. Another note was written and held out.
The magic that created the beast is incredibly strong. If I understand it correctly, Kaelen and the beast are in reality two different entities. Should Kaelen give up entirely, his essence will die. The beast will remain forever with no one to stop him.
Cedric sighed. “Then I will stay with him tonight and guard him here. If the beast seems to attack, I will do all in my power to force him out. Kaelen must get well again. If not, we are all doomed.”
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