Page 17 of Isabel and the Werewolf Beast

“The wall is the most unimportant thing in my situation, don’t you think?”

“Maybe not. If you’re stuck here, then you’d want it to stay nice and not become a wreck. Especially by someone like me.”

“Like you?” She gave me a sad smile. “I’m sorry about your parents. About what you must have endured as a child to make it to adulthood, but it says something about your character.”

“What might that be?” I wiped the drying blood from my knuckles, the wounds already sealed shut.

“You’re strong. Determined. Resourceful. I think I was right in believing you can help me out of this curse.”

“Some days I didn’t get us food. Some days I thought I would starve to death and leave Asher alone, leave him to starve to death too. It was the only thing that kept me alive. I needed to protect my brother.”

It was true. Everything in my life I’d endured to keep Asher alive.

She touched a hand daintily to her forehead. “I need fresh air.”

Outside sounded good to me so I followed her to the front door, which opened by itself before she approached it. The breeze caught the length of her gown and fluttered it around her legs. Every moment with her,I was more attracted to her. Once we were both outside, the door closed with a click that filled the silent night air. Isabel’s body reappeared like a regular person now she was no longer in the castle and the lace mask vanished. An interesting curse I longed to figure out.

“It’s so quiet here,” I said. I’d grown up quiet all my life, but this was different from being in a cottage in the woods. There were at least the sounds of nature when I was at home. Home that I might never get back to.

“Yes, like we’re in a bubble.”

“I can easily picture this castle in a snow globe.”

“I’m surprised you understand what one is,” she said, insulting me. It didn’t come out as an insult, but a simple observation that had slipped out of her pretty lips.

“I grew up poor and wild, but I read a lot.”

“Did you find much in the books?”

“I’ve only just begun my learning in your library. I can’t wait to get back and read more.” In her presence, I was torn between wanting to stay with her and wanting to learn more.

“You don’t have to follow me,” she said as if sensing the thoughts raging inside my mind.

“I want to explore my cage,” I said waving my hands around the area outside the castle. I’d seen little except the gate’s entrance to the castle’s front door. “How many acres does the castle sit on?”

“About twelve acres surround the castle inside the walls. Before the curse, many more surrounded it.”

She led the way around the back of the castle since I’d already seen the front which held a long driveway, an expanse of green grass, and the occasional tree dotting the landscape. As we walked around the back, the rush of water burbled, and a water fountain approached into view. Three tiers spread over my head. Moonlight made the water appear like liquid silver as it flowed over each tier into the pool beneath.

“Have you thrown a coin in it and made a wish?”

She laughed. “No.”

I shoved my hand in my pocket and fished out a copper coin, holding it up to my mouth I blew a warm breath and whispered my wish. With a flick of my thumb, I tossed the coin up in the air and watched it spin before landing in the water.

“What did you wish for?”

“If I tell you, it won’t come true.”

“Silly belief anyway.” She huffed.

“I have another coin if you want to make a wish.” I held the shiny disk out in the palm of my clawed hand.

She shook her head. Was it the coin or my hand that offended her? I shoved it back into my pocket. If she couldn’t bear to touch me, then I didn’t blame her. I was a monster as a werewolf. If I was her, I wouldn’t want to touch me either.

“I think I’ll head back inside and read more.”

“Fine by me.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

---