The Four Tales Page 24

  “Do you have the answers?” he whispered to the image.

  It only showed the red-brick building in the black light. A few townspeople crossed the road to enter it, and a few others exited. The main road was clear for now since many had gone home for the day or were still working.

  “Sacrifice,” he whispered.

  Taking a seat in front of the mirror once more, he contemplated the town. He considered entering the gym and seeing what progress they had made. Mainly, he wanted to see what progress she was making.

  The beast’s power to watch his people had its limits. He could see them outside and in public places, but he couldn't see or hear them in their homes. Most of the time he stayed out of the public.

  None of them had been able to escape. They were stuck in here with him. He supposed he should be grateful the witch queen hadn't made him a prisoner in his castle all alone.

  Yet, he knew his servants now feared him, more so than they ever had, and they served him because they couldn't escape. They wouldn't have stayed otherwise. So, he might as well have been all alone.

  “Perhaps she can save me,” he told the mirror. “What would it be like to allow him to enter instead?” he pondered aloud. “Would it make any difference? What if I actually let one of them kill me?”

  He didn't want to die. He didn't really want to die for any of them. What good were they to him? Had any of them tried to save him?

  As if anyone can save me. As if I can save myself. Sacrifice? What does that even mean?

  The beast knew their plans would fail. They didn't have magic. It was the one thing he had in his favor. He could do to them what he did to all the others.

  Growling, Beast turned his head away from the mirror. Away from her.

  “Buford!” he shouted.

  His butler entered the door behind him and stepped forward with punctual footfalls. “Yes, sir?” the low and respectful voice asked.

  Well, there was Buford. He was a loyal man, and Beast couldn't forget it.

  “I want you to do me a favor, Buford,”

  “What, my lord?”

  “I want you to tell me when the land starts to grow flowers.”

  “Flowers? But, sire, there haven't been flowers here in ages. I don't think that day will ever come. I--,” Breaking off, Buford's eyes widened, and he said no more.

  He knew what flowers meant. His king’s reign would soon come to an end, one way or another, when the flowers returned. All of the servants knew the curse.

  “I know, Buford. They will come back. She said they would, but I can’t recall when or how.”

  “Yes, sire. I will inform you at once.”

  “Thank you,” he said it quietly and turned back to the mirror.

  “Of course.”

  The servant left, and Beast continued to see what the townspeople were up to, but he knew why he was watching. He was waiting for her.

  Scratching the back of his neck, he leaned forward as the girl exited.

  Her black hair was wound into a braided bun, and her black eyes flashed at something. He wondered what angered her today. Normally, she left in a good mood. Sometimes she even smiled.

  Of course, he was making sure to note everything about her. He could feel the electric current running through his veins as if it were waiting to change again. There were the inner thoughts again.

  She was going to kill him.

  Tear him apart limb from limb.

  But how?

  4

  “Ouch!” A twist, and then her arm was pinned behind her back. The jerk sent a spasm of heat and pain through her left shoulder.

  Holding her left arm close to her chest, Roz felt the sharp pinpricks of pain slicing through it even now. Trying to remain calm, she yanked against him and tried to remember how to get out of the hold.

  His voice whispered, “You're not as strong as you think, are you, Roz?”

  “Stop it, Leuthar!” she had snapped back. “Let go of me!”

  “You're not as perfect as you think, Roz. You think you can win against the beast. He'd break you like you're a twig.” He wrenched her arm a little further. Sweat from his brow trickled down his face and landed on her shoulder.

  “What's wrong with you? Leuthar, get off me!” she hissed.

  “Leuthar! Time!” Captain Ralph called out.

  “I just want you to know what it feels like to be bested. How does it feel?”

  “What did I do to you?”

  Shoving her arm away, Leuthar stood. He wiped his forehead and brushed past the captain with a shove of his shoulder.

  “Leuthar!” Captain Ralph yelled, but her brother didn't ease his stride as he yanked his bag off the bench and slammed out the door.

  “Roz, you okay?”

  “Ye-ah,” Roz breathed out long and low.

  “You want some ice for that shoulder?” Brows low, lips down-turned, he glanced from her to the door and back again.

  Rubbing her shoulder, she shook her head. “I'll get some at home. It's fine. Really.”

  “Roz, is there something I need to know here?”

  Captain Ralph’s eyes beseeched her for answers, and although Roz wanted to explain, she knew she needed more time. Shaking her head, she hoped he’d let it go. She wasn’t ready to give up on Leuthar.

  “Let me know if you need to talk.” Patting her on the shoulder, the captain said no more and walked on to other partners.

  She caught his gaze coming back to her once or twice as she gathered up her gear. For the first time, Roz looked around to see several of them staring at her. Their eyes held sympathy for the most part, but a few held smirks, raised lips, and turned away at her glance.

  The sore tension and sharp stabs going through her shoulder were intense. Not wanting to stay there any longer, she knew her sessions were over, and she could go home. She would need to tell her dad what had transpired.

  Roz ignored the looks and picked up her bag. Throwing her cup in the trashcan on her way out, she slammed the center's door without care and turned toward home. She ran up the street, panting, fists pumping at her side, and heat creeping all over her body.

  Feeling sick, Roz slowed down and stepped carefully along the gravel road. She hoped to make it home without throwing up or crying. Both possibilities were coming closer to happening, and she needed to distract herself.

  Clearing her throat and sniffing, she thought about the team who’d been absent for the day. Everett hadn't been in class but on a scouting detail. It meant they'd soon be arming themselves for attack.

  The thought sidetracked her for a minute. She had wanted to be there when he returned with the others and find out what they had seen. Captain Ralph must feel they were getting stronger.

  They were meeting this Friday, and the full plan would finally be revealed. She was eager to get started. She wanted this to end. Maybe Leuthar would return to normal then.

  “Roz!” a shout behind gave her pause.

  She turned to find Nina running down the road after her. Roz waited for her friend to catch up with her.

  “Are you okay?” Nina rushed out all at once before bending over with a hand to her stomach and another on her knee.

  As she gasped for breath, Roz told her, “I'm fine, Nina. It hurts, but I'm hoping it won't last long. Some ice might help.”

  “Ice,” Nina suggested, still gasping.

  “Are you going to be okay? You shouldn't have run to catch up to me.” Roz worried about her friend. Nina had asthma attacks induced by the weather as well as working out.

  “Fine,” she sucked in a breath through her nose and stood straighter. “Heating pad?”

  “I may try that as well. Want to come home with me?” Roz asked her and started walking forward again.

  “Yep, that's why I hollered at you. I was working with the ammunition today. I learned how to shoot several rounds into a hole. Captain Murphy said I’m a great shot.” Taking a moment to breathe, Nina paused.

  “That’s great, N
ina! So, are you going to be on the defense team?”

  “Still unclear on their overall decision on that. I know they’ve been having me practice a lot of techniques, but they’re worried about my ability to escape if needed. With asthma, you don’t win many awards for being the fastest.”

  “I know. I’m sorry, Nina.”

  “No worries. If it means I can lug around artillery and be a part of the mission, I’m game. Now, are you going to tell me what happened? I heard a few people talking about Leuthar taking you down.”

  Roz shrugged her right shoulder. Roz's eyes filled with tears, and she slowed to a stop on the right side of the road. “Leuthar was just being a bit of a jerk. Nothing big.”

  Nina faced off in front of her. Looking down into her dearest friend's eyes, Roz noticed a sympathy she hadn't seen in a long time staring back at her.

  “What’s been going on, Roz? Please don’t tell me nothing. I know you, and I know when something is happening. You can’t hide the truth from me.”

  “I don’t know what to tell you, Nina. He’s been upset ever since mother died.”

  “Roz, is he getting the sickness?”

  Eyes wide, she shook her head. “No, Nina. He doesn’t have it.”

  Nina’s shoulders slumped. “You don’t trust me.”

  “What? No! That’s not true at all.”

  “Roz, you’re not telling me the truth, and I know it. The only conclusion I can draw is that you don’t trust me. I can’t believe you’d lie to my face.”

  Nina turned to leave, and Roz grabbed her arm.

  “I trust you! I’m telling you what I know. Leuthar has been upset since mom died. He’s angry I’ve been beating him. He was just more forceful this evening. I don’t want to make more of it than I should.”

  Nodding, Nina sighed. “Perhaps he blames you because it's easier than blaming himself?”

  Roz felt relief at her friend’s reply, shook her head, and sighed. “It doesn't matter. Being angry and blaming me, not blaming me, or whatever the problem is doesn't matter any longer.”

  Nina remained silent as they continued down the road again, and Roz started to wonder if she should have told the truth. Reaching her hand out, Nina took Roz’s own. Smiling at her friend, she squeezed her fingers.

  “How are your parents?”

  “They’re the same,” Nina whispered. “I don’t know if they’ll survive. They’ve stopped eating.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Roz breathed. “Can I do anything?”

  “You can be my friend,” Nina whispered, “and always tell me the truth.”

  “Nina—”

  “No! I want you to tell me what’s happening. I know Leuthar’s been angry. He’s been angry for a very long time. Hurting you is new.”

  Nina yanked on Roz’s hand, stopping them both in the middle of the road. Her angry, blue eyes stared, and she squeezed Roz’s hand tighter. Both were at a stand-off.

  Shoulders slumping, Roz ducked her head and tucked her chin to her chest. She sighed and shook her head. Nina wrapped her arms around her friend.

  “You need to be honest with yourself, Roz.”

  “I can’t,” she whispered.

  Eyes closed, she breathed in Nina’s peppermint scent and tightened her arms. Trying to keep the tears gathering in her eyes from leaking through her lids, Roz sucked in breath after breath of the peppermint.

  “We have to keep hope,” Nina whispered.

  Roz shook her head, sniffed deeply, and pulled away.

  “We could be wrong, Nina. What happens if we go to the castle and find it empty? Yesterday, Ev was the skeptic, and I think he was just echoing my own thoughts.”

  “He’s understandably shaken,” Nina said. “We’re losing our parents and can only visit them through bars. People look at us with sad eyes. It’s hard to get through.”

  “Then you can see how I don’t want that to happen to my father and I? Not yet. Not when we’re so close, and it’s under control.”

  “Is it?” Nina dropped her arms and took a step back. “You think him pinning you to the ground is having things ‘under control’?”

  “Leuthar is fine. He’s just angry. We all can get frustrated, right? There’s no use jumping to conclusions.”

  “Roz, do you even hear yourself? His anger is the first step. What will you do when he starts hallucinating? Or what about when he’s talking to people who aren’t there?”

  “Nina, stop it. I won’t let it happen.”

  “You can’t stop it!”

  “Do you think Ev or I wanted our parents to go through this? Do you think we didn’t do everything in our power to stop it? That we didn’t ignore it too? It doesn’t work like that, Roz! Wake up!”

  Shaking her head, Roz took a step back. “I just need three days. Three days, Nina.”

  Heading tilting backward, Nina stood without speaking or making any noises. Soon the others would be leaving the gym and filling the street. Workers who weren’t a part of the plan would be heading home.

  Roz closed her eyes and pleaded inside with her friend to help her.

  “Three days, Roz.”

  Opening her eyes, she stared at Nina. The blue eyes were now black in the descending black sun, and the shadows started to grow obscure. Blinking, she nodded.

  “Three days, and you tell the doctor.”

  Hearing the words, a shiver ran down her spine. Roz nodded. “Thank you, Nina.”

  “I mean it, Roz. Three days. If Friday comes and goes, and we haven’t killed the beast, you have to go to the doctor. You know what could happen if you don’t.”

  “It won’t happen. We’re going to kill the beast.”

  “Now you’re getting hopeful?” Nina attempted to joke.

  “You’re right, Nina. It’s all we have. Right now, it’s all I have. Do you want to come over still?”

  “I better get home,” Nina said. “I should be there when Ev gets home. He’ll need me to be there.”

  Roz nodded. “I understand.”

  Nina started to turn away. Stopping, she stood motionless for a second, and Roz waited. Finally, she turned back and threw her arms around Roz’s shoulders. Standing on tiptoe, her arms clasped so snug Roz felt her windpipe being crushed into Nina’s shoulder.

  “Three days,” she whispered, kissed Roz’s cheek, and left.

  Watching her go, Roz allowed herself to stay put until Nina was out of sight before she turned around to head home. The sound of the doors banging open behind her, and the voices making noise in the air comforted her as she headed home.

  Leuthar might be there, but her father should also be home by now. It meant she didn’t have to face him alone. A small part of her began to fear Nina was right, and it made her wonder if she could trust Leuthar not to kill her.

  5

  His finger smoothed over the surface of the mirror. For a second, it almost felt as though he were touching the skin of her cheek. He had overheard her conversation with the girl she called Nina.

  Apparently, her brother had hurt her during their practice. He wondered what type of

  brother would hurt his own sister like that, but the question made him think, for the briefest moment, of his own selfishness. He shoved those thoughts away.

  They were talking about the sickness. Nina’s parents had it, and she suspected Leuthar did as well. Roz didn’t come out and admit it, but the beast could tell she thought he had it too.

  Slamming his hand on the chair arm, he took a stand and walked to his dresser across the room. Staring at the odds and ends scattered across the top, he pushed a figurine of a boy on a horse over with his long nail.

  “I suppose the sickness is my fault too,” he spoke aloud. “Why won’t you just show yourself?” he shouted to the room.

  Turning, he caught movement in the mirror and thought it was the witch queen. “Where are you? Why won’t you come back? Tell me what I need to do!”

  Silence was his response.

  Looking back in the
mirror, he saw Nina hugging Roz. Swallowing, he approached the mirror once more and placed his palm against the cold, hard glass. The blue-tinted fingers sprawled over the girls as if to hide them from view.

  “I can’t save anyone,” he whispered.

  “Sir?”

  Beast turned to find the door open and Buford’s head peeking inside. “What is it, Buford?”

  “Do you need anything?”

  “No, Buford. I don’t need a thing.”

  “Some tea, perhaps?” the butler asked.

  “I don’t think tea will help.”

  “I see, sir. Well, King – er, sir, would you like me to tell the cook to serve supper now?”

  The beast shrugged and collapsed into his chair. Eyes on the mirror, he listened to the ultimatum Nina gave Roz. Three days.

  What does that mean?

  “Sir?”

  “What is it, Buford?”

  “Would you care for supper now, sir? I can have it brought right up. Mrs. Hausmeister has fixed a delightful meal. I’m sure it will raise your spirits.”

  “Do you think my spirits need raised, Buford?”

  “Well, sir, I suppose it couldn’t hurt.”

  The positive note in his butler’s voice had him rotating in the chair. His eyes landed on Buford, but the butler didn’t flinch away. Instead, he stepped inside the doorway with his hands behind his back.

  “Why aren’t you afraid of me, Buford?”

  “Sir?” The butler’s brows narrowed into a frown.

  “Why aren’t you afraid of me? You and Mrs. Hausmeister are the only two who don’t flinch and run away when I raise my voice. If anything, you come toward it. Don’t you fear what I’ve become?”

  Buford took a deep breath, and the beast could see the rise and fall of his shoulders before he responded.

  “You’re my king. I know who you are. Therefore, I could never be afraid of you.”

  “I look nothing like I once was. I’m a monster.”

  Buford didn’t reply at first. Beast watched the butler watching him. He took note of the tall, thin stance and his straight shoulders. Buford’s white-haired head was high, and he didn’t hesitate to look in the beast’s eyes.