Milah believed to be woken from a nightmare where she spent her night crying in the arms of Beast. Her swollen eyes told her otherwise.
She peered from her chamber's window. She had slept late. She wanted to know more and more about the beast. Ancient One had given her a task. She knew he was cursed but she didn’t know the nature of the curse. Her only hope was Duval. As a servant to The beast, he must know about the curse which bounded the beast to this castle.

“…I gulped the sweet wine
But never I had tasted a thing oh so fine
A maiden's kiss is sweeter than most
Her eyes led astray, most virtuous are lost
Curves of her body, she is soft and plump
Entangled with me before morning birds start to hum…”

Upon hearing such words, she debated whether to go back to her chambers or stay to talk to this vile man.

Before she could turn, Duval had spotted her.

“Oh how kind of my lady to grace me with your presence!” He bowed extravagantly after placing a blooded knife he held on the table.
‘I must know about beast’ she thought. 

She appeared lost in thoughts so Duval took the initiative to talk to her.
“What discomforts you milady?” He asked.

“Will you tell me about your master, Duval?”

Duval wiped his sullied hands with a rag and sat on the small stool beside the fire. He gestured towards the other one for Milah to take.
“What is it you want to know?” he had dropped all the formality, his whole demeanor took a turn.

“Just who is he?” She asked.

Duval looked amused by her question.

“Does Old Man Green didn’t tell you anything?” He answered with one of his own.

“I am afraid, he did not.” Milah remembered her conversation with Ancient One who  called Beast as ‘an accursed brat, a lonesome half human.”

“He called him “accursed”, he is cursed, right? I have seen the marks on  his chin and arms.” She said.

Duval took a deep breath.

“Will my lady believe me, if I say I am also unaware of the true nature of curse and story that goes with it?” Duval said.

“Maybe not,” Milah mumbled.

He laughed.

“Upon my honor as a man, I don’t know the true nature of my master. Not entirely. Immortality is one aspect, marks are another. Few other features which my master detests so he hides them under the hood.”
“But there must be something.” She was curious.

“ There is so much mystery to master that he is not willing to share. My sire and he taught me charms. My sire was also a mage but the master is not like mages. He is different breed.”

“A different breed? A half-human?”

Duval exhaled deeply.

“A half I am not suppose to speak of.”

Fire crackled, making Milah look into the fire. Flame took up a shape of a hooded person sitting on a chair, a small child sitting on the lap tugging the hood. She moved her gaze back to Duval. Mage was softly dancing his fingers with the doleful expression.

“He raised me. Master is my family and I wish for this curse to be broken. I wish for him wander the world, smile more, not to be fearful of what others think of him. I wish... But..”

Milah pitied him. Woeful expression didn’t suited him.

“But he will have none. He wishes to die. He wishes none for himself but death.” He almost let out a sob.

“But if you wish to know the truth, you must ask The Old man Green.”

Milah nodded.

“Why have you taken me from the home, Master Duval Freed?” She had to ask. She had to know when he was being this open. “You said, it was you who abducted me. I was scared for my virtue as a maiden when I have seen you don’t have any demands for my father. I remain untouched. Your master and you both had been kind to me in your own way, then why was I needed?”

“I thought a feminine presence will be a welcome addition to this gloomy castle.” Duval smiled. “This castle hadn’t seen a gentle folk for a millennial. Last lady to reside here was Lady Nuala, my master's sister. Freeds have sired their sons from whores, most have never taken a wife. But promiscuous ladies are not meant to live in this castle. It is only a duty as a Freed to serve Lord of this castle. Sons are sired solely for this purpose.”

Duval took her hand in his. Milah abruptly tried to free her hand. His grip was strong but not painful.

“You are different, My Lady. You radiate something I am unfamiliar with. However, a mage in me recognizes a power so luminous that I believe will be end of the curse. An aura opposite to this accursed land. I ask nothing but you to stay here and help, Oldman and I end the misery of this land.”

“I am no Mage, Master Duval. I have no special powers that can lend you.”

“Will you stay here, still? In hopes that your mere presence will ease the burden, we have been carrying for so long? May I ask you of such generosity?” Duval pleaded.

“But…” she wasn’t sure.
“Duval?” They heard Beast from the hall. “That lass cried all night about her family. How will we tell her “your folks are no more”?”
Duval gulped and went pale. Milah shrieked.

Beast who was hoping Milah was still sleeping, ran in the kitchen.
Milah was pulling her hair. Beast hurriedly took her hands in his to avert Milah's own hands hurting herself. Milah struggled against him.

“What happened to my family?” She asked.

Duval looked at his master gulped once more.

“They are dead. I am responsible.”

Milah convulsed in Beast's grip. Beast could hold her no more.

“You monsters!” she shrieked and threw a wooden stool at Duval. She picked up a knife Duval had left on the table and stabbed Beast who left nothing of the sharp knife as it bounced off his skin.

“Murderers!” she shouted.

Duval was shaking.

"Yes! Yes! I did. Your father, your sisters are dead because of me! I am a murderer!" Duval shouted in return.

"Duval..." His master pleaded.

Milah looked at both of them in disbelief.

"You are both evil." She whispered. "You are both evil."

Milah slowly stepped back, turned around and ran out of the castle in the rain.