The smell of fresh bread cooking filled the castle.

The cooks had begun working on a feast fit for kings and queens the moment the sun rose. Not giving themselves a moment to recuperate from their transformation.

Lucas had slept half the morning away before dragging himself out of bed. He had wanted to spend the entire day in bed. But with Grattle bringing a new arrival, he was forced to go through the usual procedure.

He was seated in the dining hall watching his maids scrub the floor with as much energy as they could muster. They were running on an hour's sleep, but they were all determined that everything would sparkle and shine.

Lucas couldn't fathom why they were all going to so much effort. Helena like many others before her would flee the moment she caught sight of him at night.

He wouldn't and couldn't blame any of them.

Lucas had once caught a glimpse of his reflection one night, a very long time ago. The next day he ordered that all mirrors in the castle were to be smashed. However, the hideous creature he saw was forever burned in his memory.

Even if someone was able to look past the grotesque creature he became then Anna's tricks would certainly scare them away.

Lucas often wondered if her mother had any idea that by damning him, she had trapped her daughter's spirit to wander the castle. A mute, jealous trickster forever his companion in misery. If he wasn't so bitter about it, he would find it almost funny.

"She's here!" Andrew shouted, running into the hall. His face beaming with hope that maybe this one would stay.

"Mama, said she's beautiful, but to warn you she's wearing a white dress. So please don't lose your temper and scare her off!".

Lucas pushed the urge to storm off to his room deep down instead choosing to let out a snort of frustration. He had given Grattle specific instructions to make sure no white dresses were packed or worn.

The maids sensing that his mood had shifted decided it was the perfect time to make their exit.

Andrew didn't leave. He was too excited to sense that Lucas mood was gradually becoming darker.

Lucas heard her exchanging pleasantries with Mrs. Marcus long before she walked into the hall.

The first thing he noticed about her was the dress. It mocked him with its colour. White the colour of Anna's wedding dress, the dress she never got to wear.

He shoved his feelings of regret and rage deep down inside. They were to be expressed when he was alone.

The next thing that caught his attention was that she simply stood there. She didn't try to pull his focus to whatever part of her, she thought he'd find most attractive.

There was no girlish giggling or twisting her raven coloured hair around her finger to make it seem like she was a shy, creature in need of his protection.

He was studying her, she was studying him. Neither one willing to speak up first.

"This is Miss Cranbrown," Grattle told him, interrupting their mutual studying of one another.

Mrs. Marcus glared over Grattle's shoulder as a reminder to him to be nice.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Cranbrown," Lucas commented, keeping his tone indifferent. "Did Grattle not inform you about my rules on white dresses?".

"He told me, but I had nothing else clean so it was either this or come here naked," Helena explained with an air of flippancy in her voice. She twisted a locket around her neck. It was shiny and new, a birthday present no doubt.

"Andrew, seeing as you are standing there like an excited puppy. Why don't you show her around the castle?" Lucas ordered softly.

"Andrew has to help me with something. Maybe you should give her a tour of the castle," Mrs. Marcus suggested, ignoring the crestfallen look on Andrew's face.

Lucas wanted to glare at Mrs. Marcus for suggesting such thing, but Helena was studying his face to see what he was going to do next.

This was the moment she would form his first opinion of him and he couldn't let it be a negative one.

~~~~~

"This is the Library," Lucas declared, feeling a little idiotic.

The room didn't need an explanation to what it was, but he couldn't think of anything else to say.

He watched her eyes light up at being surrounded by so many books. Every shelf was full and the cases almost reached the ceilings. He had one of the best libraries in the world. It was one of the few things that still sent a jolt of pride running through him. 

Lucas had finally figured out what had been irritating him about Helena since he began showing her around.

It was the air of innocence that surrounded her. The way her eyes would light up in wonder at the smallest thing.

She was far too sheltered to be thrust into his world, but he had dragged her into it anyway.

"Why are you being nice to me?" Helena blurted out of the blue."If it's because you think I'll go running home like the others, I'm pretty thick skinned".

Lucas wanted to laugh, but feared Helena would think he was mocking her. He'd heard this more than once and it always ended the same way.

"So if I had screamed or shouted at you over your dress you would have just stood there and taken it?" Lucas questioned, they both knew she had lied about not having anything else clean to wear.

"No," Helena answered truthfully, reaching out for a book that had caught her eye. "I would have let you rant about it, then once you had calmed down I would ask you why you were making such a big deal out of it."

The sound of several things being broken outside the library stopped him from replying with a sarcastic remark.

"Miss Cranbrown, I believe that is something I'm going to have to deal with. Stay here and I'll have Andrew fetch you for dinner."

"Call me Helena!" She replied before opening the book in her hand. He had a feeling she'd be spending a lot of time here.

~~~~~

He could feel it in his bones. Any moment now the sun would go down and the pain would come. With every second that passed, he had to fight the urge to start whimpering like a child.

Lucas had no idea why Mrs. Marcus insisted that she and Andrew transform with him tonight.

Perhaps the thought had crossed her mind that if Helena might out of curiosity would go exploring the castle. That she would stumble upon him and put herself in harm's way.

Maybe she thought that herself and Andrew could provide a distraction long enough for Helena to get away.

He was tempted to tell her the truth.

He had Fred his head chef slip something into Helena's food that would keep her fast asleep until morning.

She would no doubt lecture him on how women took great offence to being drugged. Lucas hadn't wanted to order him to do it, nor had the chef want to do it either, but he had no choice. He couldn't let her see what he really was yet.

A sharp shooting pain spread through his body. His skin felt like it was being torn apart from the inside. It had been a while since changing had been so painful.

The last thing he remembered as Lucas before the beast took over was Mrs. Marcus changing into a beautiful Unicorn and Andrew into a small Pegasus.

Author Note

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I look forward to all your amazing comments.

I really loved writing this chapter.

How do you feel about Lucas drugging Helena? A necessary step or really out of order?

You will notice this chapter lacks a banner at the top and the reason for that is I suck at making them.