Eye of the Beholder Read online

  Eye of The Beholder

  A Reimagining of Beauty and the Beast

  Written by C H Clepitt

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  Smashwords Edition

  This is a work of fiction loosely based on a novella, La Belle et la Bête by Gabrielle-Suzanne de Villeneuve. Originally published in La Jeune Américaine, et Les Contes Marins in 1740.

  This adaptation is written by C H Clepitt and is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are fictitious and any similarity to persons, living or deceased, actual places or events is purely coincidental.

  Copyright Claire Evans 2020

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  Smashwords Edition, License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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  Prologue

  You may assume that this will be a tale of magic and mystery, of love and of the inadequacies of those self-indulgent creatures known as humans. All of those things are true, and whilst the events I am going to relay to you happened a long time ago, in a land you may not have heard of (for indeed, human memory is short), their truth is universal and the lessons we take away from them are never quite learned in their entirety.

  It was a time of great sadness. The people mourned the death of the King, for he was a wise and kind King who loved his family and his people equally. There are some amongst the race of humans who see sadness as weakness, and one of those such humans was the ruler of the adjacent kingdom. A selfish and heartless man who craved power above all else, he kept his people in poverty, for it was the best way to break their will and keep them subservient. Despite owning all the riches of his kingdom, and sitting upon a golden throne, he was still not satisfied. He mistakenly thought that he deserved more riches, and the acquisition of these would lead to his happiness. It was with this thought that he decided to invade the bereaved Queen’s kingdom.

  The wicked King underestimated the Queen’s sense of duty, and her love for the people for whom her husband cared so dearly. So, charging the protection of her daughter and only living family to a wizard, she led her army to meet the invaders and fend off their advances.

  The wizard had been one of her husband’s most trusted advisors. He had arranged the marriage between them and was godparent to their daughter. But the Queen was betrayed by the wizard, who, as the Princess had gone from child to woman had grown to covet her for himself. Being a proud and conceited mage, he did not once doubt that the Princess would return his affection. When the Princess rejected his advances, he slashed her face with his dagger and was only prevented from doing further harm by a brave footman who fought him off and drove him from the castle.

  Incensed by the rejection, the wizard lay a curse on the castle. The curse made it so that none who seek the castle should find it, so those who left the castle could never return. So upon her return from the war victorious, the Queen was unable to find her home, or her daughter, the Princess

  Distraught, the Queen continued to rule her kingdom from a new castle, but she never never stopped searching. However, the curse was so powerful that she never did find her castle nor her daughter.

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  Chapter 1

  “Today’s the day!” Claude said proudly to his children. “We’ll earn it all back! I knew we couldn’t have lost it all in the Crash!”

  “Wonderful!” Simone, his oldest daughter smiled and twirled her blonde hair around the tip of her finger. “I knew you could do it, Papa! And when you sell the brand, and we move back into town, and see all of our friends again, we will all be so happy!”

  “Of course! I shall bring you all back gifts!” The man spoke excitedly. “What will you have me bring?”

  “A new dress!” Simone demanded.

  “A gold pocket watch!” Frederik sounded equally excited.

  “And what of you, Angelique?” Claude looked at his youngest daughter who was sitting by the window reading a book.

  “I think you should see what the man has to say, father,” she smiled. “The banks are no better, no one is recovered, you may find your investment return is not what you hoped.”

  “Oh, come now! Think positively!” Claude insisted. “What shall I bring you?”

  “Oh, very well, bring me a rose,” Angelique returned to her book.

  “A rose?” Simone mocked when Claude had gone to pack for his journey. “You are forever the martyr! It isn’t winning you any friends!”

  “And a beautiful dress won’t win you any,” Angelique returned. “You think they all left you after the crash because you had to wear the same dress twice? They weren’t your friends: they were sycophants wanting crumbs from you.”

  “At least I wasn’t alone! What good will your books and sewing do you when you’re ill or in need?” Simone snapped.

  “They will still be here, unlike your false friends!”

  “Well, I for one will be glad to return to society!” Frederik interrupted his sisters. “I’m far too pretty for farming.”

  “I’m going to bed,” Angelique said flatly and headed up the rickety old farmhouse stairs.

  ***

  “Hello again,” the beautiful noblewoman in the silken gown greeted her.

  “Hello.” In her dream, Angelique smiled and walked across the field to the picnic blanket, laid out on the grass with an abundance of snacks: cheeses, bread, wine and more.

  “You seem troubled,” the woman observed as she handed her a glass of wine. “Would you like to tell me?”

  “It’s just…” Angelique leaned back on her elbows and sipped the wine, gazing up at her beautiful host. “My family are so materialistic, and they are ashamed of me for wanting nothing, and I am afraid that my father will be so disappointed when he discovers his investments have come to nothing. And Simone is right, I have no friends. Only you.”

  “Well, then you have one friend,” the woman smiled as she popped a grape into her mouth. “I am very glad of you. I have felt alone for so long.”

  Angelique reached out and took her hand. “So have I. And now all I want to do is sleep so I can see you!”

  The woman laughed. “Then you will be very cross with the cock now.”

  The crowing woke Angelique. Try as she might, she could not return to the dream, so she sighed and rose to go about the morning duties of the farm.

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  Chapter 2

  “I told you, Cloud,” Barney said as he studied the dishevelled looking man. “It was all lost in the Crash. I dunno where you heard there was anything left.”

  “I received this telegraph,” Claude produced the crumpled piece of paper from his jacket pocket and handed it over.

  “Sorry, bud.” Barney glanced at it, then handed it back. “That ain’t worth the paper it was written on.”

  “So, what do I do now?” Claude’s voice cracked. “I used the last of my savings to get here, I promised my children we’d be alright… I…”

  “Well, jeeze… look buddy,” Barney patted him awkwardly on the shoulder. “Maybe we can sub you boat fare back to France, eh? Times are tough for everyone, I’m sorry it didn’t work out.”

  The boat ticket they provided him was actually to Spain. Having used the last of his gold to go on the journey, he hitched a ride on the back of a hay cart. Utterly exhausted by his journey and the despair he felt over his future and that of his children he passed out in the ba
ck of the cart.

  He was awoken by the cart trundling out of control through the woods. It was night, and the driver was nowhere to be seen. He struggled to his feet and clambered towards the front of the cart to try to seize control of the horses just as it hit a boulder. He was thrown to the ground and could only watch as his transportation careered away without him.

  Scrambling to his feet, he stumbled blindly for an indefinable amount of time before coming upon a walled gate. The bars of the gate itself were ancient and rusted, and as Claude held them to peer through at the ominous castle beyond, they crumbled in his hands. Just then a massive flash of lightning illuminated his surroundings briefly, followed by an immense crack of thunder. As the hail began to bombard him he leapt through the gap in the gate and ran for the castle itself.

  Inside he was surprised to find a comfortable living area with a roaring fire and soft red velvet chairs. A full basket of fruit sat in the middle of the table, and to the side were various pastries and wine. Claude had not realised how hungry he had been, and greedily began to indulge himself in the food.

  “Madame!” Cecile, ran into the princess’s bedchamber. “There’s a man in the castle!

  “A man?” Rosalie looked up from her book. The words caught in the back of her throat and an overwhelming terror began to overtake her. “What do you mean?” She managed.

  “Just walked in out the storm. Cheeky blighter’s just helped himself to our supper and gone a kip in the living room!” the woman asserted indignantly.

  With a trembling hand Rosalie reached for her mirror that sat face down on her dressing table. “Show me the intruder!” She commanded.

  The image in the mirror of Claude, stretched out in the chair, drooling and snoring caused her to visibly relax.

  “What should we do about it, ma’am?” Cecile asked.

  “Just leave him,” she sighed, replacing the mirror face down on her dressing table. “Once he has taken what he desires of us he will leave again, and we will never see him.”

  “Bloody cheek if you ask me, wandering in here like he owns the place. Nicking all me croissants. I hope he gets fat!” Cecile stomped out to share her indignation with the rest of the servants.

  Rosalie stood up and bolted the door behind her before returning to her book.

  ***

  “Where have you been?” Angelique cried as her noblewoman appeared on the bank of the river next to her.

  “I’m sorry,” she smiled as she gently pushed a stray hair away from Angelique’s eye and behind her ear. “I had trouble getting to sleep.”

  “Would you like to talk about it?” Angelique asked as she caught her hand and held it.

  “No, I’d much rather know about your day. What book are you reading at the moment?”

  “Well...” Angelique began enthusiastically, but then the cock crowed.

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  Chapter 3

  “I know he’s stealing our gold,” Rosalie sighed as she placed her mirror down on her dressing table and unbolted the door for Cecile. “What use do we have for it, Cecile? Let the foul creature take all he wants, gorge himself and leave, he’ll never find us again.”

  “It’s not that, ma’am,” Cecile hurried into the bedchamber looking decidedly flustered. “It’s Jean-Paul!”

  “What about Jean-Paul?”

  “He’s run away, ma’am!”

  “No! Do we know who the curse paired him with?”

  “No, ma’am!”

  “Alright, Cecile! We need to keep the vagrant here, do not let him leave! We’ll lock him up if we have to!”

  “Yes, ma’am!” Cecile hurried out, calling others to help her. “Louis! Robert! Come, help me secure the burglar!”

  Rosalie fumbled in her dresser drawer for her mask. She hadn’t worn it for years, but she would not show her true form to this interloper. She would not be judged by a common thief.

  Claude had packed himself a nice bag of jewels and was feeling rather pleased with himself as he swaggered out into the garden. Upon seeing the beautiful blooming rose bush in the crisp dawn morning he was reminded of his promise to his youngest daughter. Taking out his pocket knife he severed a rose from the bush and was about to move on when he was grabbed by two men.

  “Is it not enough that you take advantage of my hospitality? You steal my jewels and mutilate my garden on your way out?” The two men turned Claude around to face the woman in black, wearing a full face mask which only revealed her mouth. “Throw him in the dungeon!” She commanded.

  “Oh! Please! Have mercy!” Claude begged, dropping everything. “I lost everything in the Crash! My children are starving! I only took what I thought would get us through, and I wasn’t mutilating your garden, my youngest daughter requested a rose, I just wanted to bring her a beautiful rose! I’m sorry! I didn’t know!”

  “Shut up, you nasty thief!” one of the men punched him in the stomach and he retched. “You’re going to the dungeon where you belong!”

  “Oh! Please no! What about my children?”

  “Stop!” Rosalie held up her hand to stop him being dragged away. “You understand what you have done is wrong?” She adjusted her mask as she moved closer to him.

  He nodded mutely.

  “And you have severed a magical rose, there is a cost.”

  He stared at her, trembling.

  “You may return to your children, and give them the things you have stolen, but then you must return here. Either you or someone who will willingly take your place, must come back here. If you or your surrogate do not return, someone will die.”

  “Very well! I will return once I have given my children their gifts!” Claude agreed desperately. “You have my oath!”

  “This ring will allow you to return,” Rosalie removed the ring from her gloved forefinger and handed it to him. When you are ready to return to the castle, put it on. You must return in three days.”

  As he closed his hand around the ring, he disappeared.

  “Ma’am,” Cecile began.

  “Don’t.” Rosalie silenced her. “He’ll be back. He’s stupid and afraid for his life, he’ll be back.”

  “But what if he’s not? What if someone else dies?”

  “We can’t kidnap people, Cecile!” Rosalie snapped. “We all agreed to stay here after Pierre died. Jean-Paul broke the vow. We must not become villains because we’re afraid! We must not become villains! They must stay here willingly!” She pulled off her mask revealing her scarred face, wiped tears of frustration furiously from her cheek and turned swiftly to retreat inside.

  ~~~***~~~

  Chapter 4

  “Papa! You’re back! What did you bring us?” Simone rushed to greet her father as he collapsed through the door.

  “Here!” He handed her the bag of jewels before staggering into the living area and flopping into a chair.

  “Did your investments come good, Papa?” Angelique asked as she crouched down next to him.

  “No, my beauty,” he produced a rose from his inside pocket and handed it to her with a flourish. “They did not.”

  “So… where…?” Angelique began.

  “Something truly horrible happened, my dears,” he said quietly. His other children stopped fighting over the jewellery long enough to listen to him. “A storm drove me to what I thought was an abandoned castle. There was food, which I ate… I was so hungry, you see. And I remembered my promise to bring you all back gifts. There were so many lovely things, and no one seemed to be needing them…