Beauty and the Beast

(This is not a part of the chapter but when I had Ashley tell Kenna that Jake would be taking her home I made a mistake. I meant for him to say Jinxx was taking her home. I am very sorry. Back to the story! =])

Jinxx did as Ashley said he would, in two days I collected my things, said goodbye to everyone but Andy and Jake, and was on my way home. Unsurprisingly, Andy was not in the castle at all, but I didn’t mind. I was ecstatic to be finally going home…but yet saddened that I knew I would never want to return here. Jinxx, Ashley, and CC had stolen my heart. They had become family. I shed a few tears as the carriage rode through the dark forest. Although spring had come, the trees did not grow leaves. Only a few leaves bloomed and certain trees.

I stared into the trees, seeing the last of the dark forest. I exhaled and leaned back into the cushioned seat. How would I ever forget the memories that I had here? But the hurt that I discovered was too much to bare. Ashley had confessed that Andy was indeed a beast by night. He had tried to tell me the whole story, but I refused to hear it. I now knew why I could not love him. He was a monster…nothing more.

I heard Jinxx slow the horses. When the carriage came to a full stop he opened the side door for me. “This is as far as I can take you.” He said offering me a hand.

I took it and walked off of the two steps leading to the solid ground. “Why? You were able to go in the other villages?”

He sighed and grabbed my things from the top of the carriage and placed them on the ground. “I was banished from this village, as was everyone else.”

“You were the ones who burned down the orphanage weren’t you?” I asked, giggling more than sorrow in my voice.

He squished his lips together and nodded. “Although, Andy was the one who lit the fire, the rest of us were the only survivors so they just sent us all out.”

“How old were you?” I asked picking up the bags Jinxx has set down.

“14, 16, 17…” He trailed off. “Too young.”

“Our mayor is a monster.” I said under my breath.

“I wish you the best of luck.” Jinxx hugged me tight.

“You too.” We smiled to each other.

He showed me the way home, commenting that it was only a quarter of a mile to the edge. He kissed my cheek one last time and sent me off. My heart raced with excitement. I knew that Jordan and Borden would be overjoyed to see me, and I them. Mark might swing at me once or twice, but then I would finally say yes to marry Borden. After all of this I knew that this life was the one for me. Crappy mayor and all.

Jinxx was right about it not being that far. Soon I was clicking my boots on familiar stone instead of damp dirt and crunchy leaves. I could feel butterflies freeing their cages and rushing around my chest and stomach. I was more than happy to finally be home. For good this time.

I walked into my village with a smile on my face, and two bags in my hands. People I used to know passed by like it was any normal day. I was picturing to come home to a party. Jordan would have told everyone that I needed help. But this was not the case.

When I finally reached my house it looked empty. I dropped my bags and stepped inside. Dust coated the floors. Wooden beams were nailed across the windows. Everything was gone.

“Mark?!” I shouted his name, searching every room. Not even our clothes hanger was in the back yard.

I ran outside to be greeted by three men in army uniform. “Would you please come with us ma’am?” A man with orange hair and freckles asked.

“What’s this about? Where’s my brother?” I asked.

“Come with us please.” He repeated, reaching his arm out.

“No! Tell me where my brother is!” I screamed.

The two who weren’t the red head grabbed me and carried me away. I walked with them but demanded to see my brother. I was met by prying eyes of the village while the gaurds guided me toward the Mayors building. I was thrown inside and was left to be guided by Marcy to the Mayor’s office.

“Marcy, tell me what’s going on? Since when do you work for Mayor Losvy?” I asked.

She giggled hard and pushed me inside the office. I was met by a man who was not Mayor Losvy, I had never seen this man before. “The Mayor you speak off is no longer with us. He passed with his son about two months ago.” He had short ash blond hair. He was vary bulky and had large hands.

“What?!” I was confused, I slumped into the nearest chair.

“You were asking about Mark Mills. What was that about?” He sat in front of his desk.

I looked down at my hands. “He’s my brother.” I looked to him. His eyes were black as coal. “Where is he?”

He took a deep breath and moved back around to behind his desk. “He was executed when I took office.”

I broke down, I tried to gasp for air. He may have been an asshole but…he was my brother. “Wh…why…” I choked out.

“Abuse.” He took a sip of a golden liquid in a short glass.

“He may have been a bad person but he was my brother!” I shouted, tears streaming down my face.

“I don’t think you understand. He beat his wife to half to death.” He took another sip.

“His wife?” I stopped crying some to look him in the eyes.

He nodded and walked over to me. “I hear you came from the dark forest?” All I could do was give a small nod as I stared at my folded hands. “Well, under new law I will not punish you, but I will have to keep a close eye. And until we prove that Mark was indeed your brother you can’t go near that house.” He downed the last of his drink and set his glass down. “Are there any friends you can stay with?” Again I nodded small. “Good, out with you then.”

I felt small hands lift me off the chair. “Marcy…” I choked.

She gave me a sympathetic face but kept pushing me out of the building. “They live here now.” She scribbled something down on a piece of paper and handed it to me. “A lot has changed since you left.”

You can say that again. “They?” When I finally got the word out she had gone back into the building.

I was given my bags back and sent on my way. Cherry St was a few blocks away. A few thoughts ran through my head about what Marcy meant by ‘they’ but I would have never expected what I saw when she opened the door.

“Jorden?” I asked, her laugh echoed as she opened the wooden door to the house.

“Kenna…” She stopped laughing and just stared at me like she had seen a ghost. “I…we thought you were dead…” She slowly hugged me then backed away.

“Well I’m not.” I wanted to smile. She was acting weird.

“Who is it babe?” I heard Borden’s voice ask. He came into view and was just as shocked as Jordan. “Holy shit…”

“Babe?” I asked.

They looked to each other, then away, as if shame came over them. “Come in, we have a lot to catch up on…”

Notes