FF: ~Beauty Meets the Beast~ Part 4 Pg 18 - Page 10

Part 4:

She was a wanderer with powers.

Some called her the Legendary Priestess.

To others, she was known as the Guardian of Justice.

As per her role, she had been watching Maan for quite some time now. His never-ending anger and ego seemed to be increasing day by day and she'd had enough of it. Maan's irresponsible behavior had to go; there were far too many lives at stake. There was but only one remedy to end this once and for all---and that was in the form of a test. If he passed, he would be free to decide what to do with his life, if not, then she would have to take matters into her own hands.

It was for only that reason that she disguised herself as an old hag. Unfortunately, the confrontation with Maan had ended up exactly as she thought. Sighing in sympathy, the enchantress had given him one last chance to free himself from a life-altering situation, but that man had shown his true colors till the end.

"Maan, I tried to warn you but you leave me with no choice." She pulled her wand out.

From outside, large thunder clouds overshadowed the mansion. A brief flash of magical blue light burst through the windows and shortly after, a collective gasp from the crowd was heard. Maan felt very strange. He opened his eyes to look around him, and he saw his own courtesans looking at him with shocked expressions. Some even fainted at that moment.

Fearing the worst, he looked at his hands to see that they were-- gone. Where were they? His long slender fingers had been replaced by big hairy claws with nails as black as midnight. Blood pounded in his ears as he fearfully ran off to the great mirror in his room and screamed in agony at the resulting mirror image of himself.

He was covered in matted fur from head to toe. His face had elongated into a snout packed with sharp teeth and fangs. His eyes were the only remaining part of his human self. But overall, nothing could describe it except...beast. A Beast.

"Where did my good looks go? Wh-where's my body?! Oh dear Gods, I'm ruined!"

The enchantress suddenly appeared behind him.

"Please forgive me! I have learnt my mistakes, please free me from this curse, I will behave rightfully!" Maan begged on his knees to her.

"You have learnt nothing Maan. But I am willing to let you off the hook, if you find the one person who will be able to tame you...the person who will love you for who you truly are, not of what you have become."

"No please! That will never work!"

"You are not in a position to argue back, understand that loud and clear. Now, take this rose and guard it. It will tell you how much time you have left. If you are able to find and win your soul mate's love before the last petal wilts, then you will be freed. If not, then you shall remain in this beastly avatar forever."

With that said, the enchantress disappeared in a puff of silvery white smoke.

"But who could possibly fall in love with a beast?..."he whispered to no one.

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"I'm sure if we go in this direction we will find a way back Geet," Mohinder said exasperatedly. He and Geet had been walking around for hours, trying to find their way back home, since apparently, their original path had been blocked off by a huge a flash flood. And now, they had somehow landed themselves into one of the densest parts of the forest. Stars slowly began to climb in the sky as the sun set in the horizon.

"Papa, for the last time, that path will lead us to nowhere, just trust me on this." Technically, Geet had absolutely no idea where she was leading them, but the last thing she wanted to do was scare her father by telling him that.

"Wow, this was definitely not on our to-do list." She lightly chuckled. Mohinder smiled back. It never ceased to amaze him at how she managed to remain positive about the whole situation. She's so much like you, Rano. How I wish you were here to see just how big your daughter has become. Unfortunately, their good mood didn't last for too long. Auuu! Auuu! Geet and Mohinder stopped in their tracks.

"W-what was that?" Geet shouted frantically.

"I don't know, b-but we have to be quiet!"

Mohinder held his daughter close as they both stared into the darkness in front of them. Staring right back at them were eight pairs of glowing yellow eyes. Their white teeth shimmered in contrast to the black night.

"Oh, no."

"Werewolves," he whispered.