“They’ve never been very smart, despite what they think.” He let out a sigh and his voice turned to a cough.
“Please...” I looked to the trio. “I’ll stay here. Please let him go.”
“It should be her choice.” Alexander’s voice came out in a growl. “She is the innocent one.”
“I agree.” The one to the right nodded and I saw Alexander step forward with a key in his hand.
“No!” My father shook his head, but the beast opened the door on his cage and pulled him out by the arm.
“You will go now.” He pushed my father towards the door.
“Anabelle, don’t do this. You should go—live your life!” My father ran to my cage and put his hands on the door.
“She has made her decision.” Alexander put his hand on my father’s shoulder.
“I love you, Daddy.” I squeezed his hand through the bars. “I’ll be okay. Tell Cassandra and Bethany I love them.”
“I love you too, Anabelle.” His words were hurried as he was pulled away.
“The medicine is in my backpack!” I yelled out to him as Alexander pushed him towards the door.
“You will never speak of this place.” Alexander put both hands on my father’s shoulders when they reached the doorway. “We opened the way to you once out of kindness, but we will never do that again. If you come looking for our castle or your daughter, we will leave you to die in the snow.”
“I’m sorry, Anabelle.” My father’s eyes were filled with tears as he looked at me one last time before being pushed out of the door.
Alexander and the beast that stood to the left of him left the room, leaving me alone with the other one. They were all fairly large, but they weren’t exactly the same. Alexander had dark brown hair and his beard was thick with curls spiraling from his chin. The beast in front of me had a lighter complexion, dirty blond hair, and his beard was almost like hair flowing from the edges of his face. He tilted his head as he watched me. I couldn’t hold back tears. I had finally found my father but he was yanked away from me the instant we were together.
The weight of my decision started to settle into the reality of the moment. I was a prisoner. I was locked in a cage and I had no idea what the three beasts had in store for me. I tried to calm myself even as the tears started to flow. I hoped my father would be okay. His body was weak with his blood pressure out of control, but the medicine would bring it back in balance. If he could make it home, and he would be able to take care of Cassandra and Bethany. His company wouldn’t have to be sold. I took a step back and sank down against the concrete, feeling the bars on my back.
“Your name is Anabelle?” The beast’s words broke the silence.
“Yes.” I nodded in confirmation.
“My name is Gill. That was quite a sacrifice.” He stepped towards my cell. “Yet you cry because you made it?”
“I would make it a thousand times over if it would save my father’s life.” I stared at him through the haze of my tears.
“I see.” He nodded and tilted his head. “Even though you’ll never leave this place?”
“You may be underestimating my father...” I narrowed my eyes and blinked away my tears.
“He’ll never walk through our door again.” The beast shook his head. “This castle is cursed, just like all of us that reside inside of it. It can only be found if we allow it.”
“How did my father find it then? How was I able to find it?” I felt my jaw clenching with anger building up inside me.
“Your father was weak and starving. He was alone in the snow for a couple of days and we took pity on him. We didn’t want to watch him die. We hoped we could feed him and send him on his way. That act of compassion will cost one of us our life.” Gill gritted his teeth. “That is the price one of us will pay as a final act of mercy.”
“Your life?” I blinked and raised my eyebrows. “How?”
“The roses are a symbol of our life. If one of them is plucked from the vine, it separates us from the curse. We only live as long as the rose has petals.” He shook his head and let out a sigh. “It was Alexander’s rose that was plucked.”
“Oh god...” My lips trembled as his words tumbled in my head. “I’m so sorry.”
“That doesn’t fix anything.” The beast stood. “Perhaps your suffering will ease the last days of his life. You would have never found the castle if he didn’t allow you to enter, so maybe he has special plans for you.”
Chapter 4: Gill
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