Beauty and the Beast

Cleaning became less and less. Jake soon became the only who was yelling at me for not paying my debt. I wanted to ask why he hated me so much. But I didn’t. Instead, to make everyone happy I continued with the chores and the fixing of meals. Andy had been gone much more than normal this week. CC and Ashley as well. Jinxx would mutter curses under his breath about Andy when he thought no one was listening.

I could tell that there was a fight for dominance between the two. The rest of the guys didn’t really seem to want to get involved, they just listened to Andy. From what I had gathered, Jinxx had brought the powers the four of them had when they first came together. I would imagine that someone who brought that much power would have the need to be on top.

What surprised me was that Jinxx was also the only one who really used the magic he had found. He would turn on candles, open curtains and doors, light the fire places, and other small things. When Andy took me to the little clearing in the forest, he had expressed a distain for the magic Jinxx held. The others must have caught on to that had agreed.

If it was me who brought something new and powerful to my friends and they decided I was wrong I would be mad too.

“What the fuck are you looking at?” Jake commented when I had looked at him for a little longer than he liked.

“Nothing, I’m sorry.” I said, continuing to sweep the kitchen.

He got close to me and snatched the broom out of my hands. “Do you know who runs this house?” He asked.

“If you want me to clean you’re going to have to give that back.” I ignored most of his comments.

“You still owe a debt.” He said pulling the broom farther and farther away as I tried to reach for it. “The only reason you’re getting nice things and treated well is so that you’ll do a better job and won’t want to run off.” He finally gave me back my broom. I looked away from him and continued with my ‘debt.’ “You don’t deserve the kindness you’re getting.”

Perhaps I didn’t. I had done nothing special for them. But I did deserve to go home. I didn’t belong here. Caged like an animal. Jake let me be after that. By the orders of CC, who was not home today, along with Andy and Ashley, Jake had also stepped put by now as well. I had not cooked them dinner. Instead I locked myself in the garden room, which I had grown to love more than anything. I didn’t even have this kind of beauty back at home. I watered each flower equally and then sat in the couch and chatted with the flowers. They did not talk back, but I felt that they cared.

I took a deep breath and stood, making my way toward the window. The trees were spaced out just enough that I could see between them. But if they had every single leaf that might not have been the same. Purple and white tipped mountains peeked on the horizon. I crossed my arms and examined the area. There was a small gap in the trees where I could see a small boney woman making her way through the trees.

Her mouth was moving but I could hear nothing. She seemed to look up to me and was startled. She reached her hands up, like a child begging for its mother. She walked faster toward me. I felt horrible for this woman. She had mangled hair and barley any clothes. I wanted to help her but what could I do? So I was fine with just looking, but when I saw a large wolf type animal creeping up on her I panicked.

I sprinted out of the room, down the stairs and to the front door. Jinxx’s voice echoed behind me. I didn’t care. I ran into the court yard in front of the house and shot my head around. Trying to find where exactly she was coming from.

“Over here!” A faint voice cried. I ran fast toward the noise, Jinxx on my tail.

“Where?!” I searched around hoping that the animal had not gotten to her. “Come here! I will help you!” I screamed.

“Kenna!” Jinxx’s voice had caught up to me.

When I turned to him I felt a pain in my back. I gasped. It felt like three knives had gone through me. I gasped for air. Blood filling my mouth. Jinxx’s voice had grown distant. All I could see was blurred grey, swirls of sun light, and dead trees, and blood, blood was everywhere. Then, it was gone.

Notes