Before
Once Upon A Time
Once upon a time, there lived a woman whose home was not a place, but rather a person. While a sad tale is usually what comes next in tales such as these, that isn’t our story.
Orphanhood found Lucinda before she had the ability to retain memories, and soon after that, Brielle had come to her. Or rather, she to Brielle. It began as a matter of business. There was much to be done at a home the size of Blythe Manor, and orphans were easy enough to train. So it was that Lucinda came to the manor at just five years old. Her chores were simple enough. Helping with cooking, laundry, and whatever else her clumsy young hands could manage. Until something entirely unexpected happened.
A soft lullaby that called to the part of her soul that would forever crave comfort echoed through the open windows of the manor. Lucinda walked towards the sound and found a pale,scrawny girl positioned by the open window beneath a bundle of blankets. No two souls had or would ever resonate with a single glance like they did that day. Lucinda had found her home, and so it was written into the stars and the law of Blythe Manor.
The manor’s housekeeper, Mrs. Blakesley, had quite a time trying to keep Lucinda on task. In fact, given even a second to elope, Lucinda would find herself on that upstairs windowsill next to Brielle. With only six months separating them, they quickly understood each other. Brielle had always been a sickly child. Her joints often filled with fluid and were still and painful. It made it difficult for her to socialize with the other aristocratic children and often left her ostracized.
What might have left her bitter and wilting merely strengthened her kind heart. She was only ever grateful for the good days and, of course, for her Lucinda. As for Lucinda, having no family was no great hardship when Brielle was always by her side. And that, my friends, is how our story begins.
Chapter one
In A Kingdom Far Far Away
The Beast was but a man tortured. He’d never known the warmth of love and only the cold, icy tendrils of arrogance. The day he laid eyes on her, it was the first thawing of his stone heart, for she did not run from him or beg him to spare her life. Instead, she stood tall and faced him with courage despite the fear she must have felt.
-Tales from Meridea, Volume I
The light flashed across the dark wooden floor and was quickly trailed by the pouncing of paws that sought to destroyit. However, the light was persistent in its continued existence and merely moved a few feet down to hide beneath a blue chest of drawers. A fierce growl followed a small thump; nevertheless, the light persisted.
“Let him have it, Luci. The poor beast is about to lose his mind.” Brielle giggled.
Shifting the small mirror in her hand, Lucinda angled it to catch the light of the sun pouring in through the open window, blue curtains rippling with the spring air pressing in. The orange fur ball that was Calcifer let out an indignant shout as he tried to follow it and instead hit his head on the chest he had been under. Luci set down the mirror and gave the creature her sternest face.
“That’s what you get for stealing milk that doesn’t belong to you.” She pointed a finger at him for added emphasis.
Calcifer merely crawled out from beneath the chest and met her stare before licking his paw and going to curl up beneath the window where the sun’s rays settled just right to provide warmth. Within mere seconds, rumbling purrs filled the room.
Luci sat up straighter on the bed and shot Brielle a disbelieving glance, gesturing to the beast. “Do you see? He is immune to consequences.”
A fond smile fell over Brielle’s perfect heart-shaped lips, which were small and pale. “And why should he be punished in the first place? It isn’t his fault; he gets thirsty at night.”
Rolling her eyes, Luci let herself flop back onto the mountain of baby blue blankets piling Brielle’s bed. They coated her form like a nest, perfectly contouring her as if made for her. Satin and cotton mix together in a perfect symphony of comfort.
“It was for you, not the cat!”
A sweet melodic chuckle came from Brielle as she patted Luci consolingly on the head.
“I’m sure he feels plenty sorry,” she tried.
Lifting her head, Luci found the creature sprawled out on its back, eyes closed, and purring even louder than before. She let her head fall back with a grunt.
“Looks really sorry,” she grumbled.
Brielle’s lilting laugh was punctuated by a sharp intake of breath that ran a chill down Luci’s spine. The blood rushed from her head too quickly as she sat up and surveyed her friend, who was more like a sister. Brielle's thin hand reached for her right knee, which was buried beneath blankets. Her eyes were slightly sunken, and even her face was paler than usual. Worry, familiar and consuming, wrapped its hands around Luci’s throat, constricting her breath.
“I’ll go get your tonic,” Luci said as if suddenly realizing she could do more than stare.
As she scooted herself off the massive bed, Brielle reached for her. “No, don’t. I’m fine, I promise. I just want to enjoy the first day of spring with you and Calcifer.”
Concern ebbed and flowed throughout her in that all too familiar sea. Helplessness.
“Bri, you are in pain,” she tried.
Her friend’s smile was small and consuming. “No more than usual.”