The castle stood atop the hill, forgotten for centuries but never abandoned, for the residents still resided in it long since it had faded from the memories of the small town you lived in. Except, you no longer lived there, for you’d made a grave mistake.

The owner of the castle and its staff were cursed and bound to the body of a half beast, half human. You’d sacrificed your freedom for your fathers after he’d stumbled across the castle on his journey, and now you were trapped in this castle for eternity, with no company besides it’s unusual inhabitants and it’s rather… disgruntled owner.

You rarely saw him, and when you did, very few words were exchanged. You were his prisoner, and yet he treated you like a mere guest. You almost wished he’d simply locked you in a cell. Instead, he had you placed into a normal suite, one fit for royal guests, and ignored besides meal times. You roamed the castle aimlessly for days, with nothing to do. You were bored. Who knew being a prisoner was so dull.

You’d gotten used to the creatures that roamed the halls, considering they seemed normal besides the fur on their bodies and the occasional set of horns. But you could never get used to The Beast. He was larger than the rest, standing at a height of at least 6’5, with a skull mask covering his face, large horns protruding from his head, and a sweeping tail.

It was winter, and the grounds were still perfectly maintained. They were, albeit, the most beautiful gardens you’d seen. You decided to venture out for the first time in a week. You saw The Beast, standing on a snow covered bridge with… a book in his hand. You knew it wasn’t wise to approach, as he’d been anything but open with your presence here. But you were curious.

You stepped onto the bridge quietly, and asked, “What are you reading?”

He paused, glanced at you, and instead of leaving like he’d done before, he grumbled, “Something about King Arthur. Nothing interesting.”