I'm sorry for the delay, I had real life to keep me busy, then my car broke down, so I didn't even think of this for a while. Sorry this part is short, it's all I have ready to post right now, I still need to edit the rest of what I have. Hope you enjoy it.
from part 4
******
He woke early the next morning and immediately realized something was out of place with his castle. At first he couldn't place the feeling, but then he realized he was hearing a soft, steady thumping noise. After a few moments, it dawned on Clark that it was a heart beat. Quickly scanning the castle, he saw a form lying asleep on a couch in his castle.
Despite his promises to himself, and his best attempts not to, the anger rose in him like a beast of its own. Storming through the castle, he approached the sleeping figure. As he neared the figure stirred.
"How dare you invade my castle?" Clark growled loudly. "What gives you the right to...?" He trailed off as the woman turned on him quickly, startled. She started backing away and tripped back onto the couch. As he looked into her terrified doe eyes, sudden recognition flooded him. It was the woman he had rescued the other day.
and now part 5
******
Lois was startled out of her sleep by the sound of something stomping through the castle. As she started to get up, a loud voice, with a strange bestial quality, growled at her.
"How dare you invade my castle?" it said, as she turned toward it.
There was a horrible looking monster growling at her. Suddenly frightened, Lois tried to back away but tripped over the couch she had slept on, ending up sitting on it again. This must be what had frightened her father so. It continued growling at her, "What gives you the right to...?" Suddenly the monster trailed off.
The creature just stared at her. She wasn't sure what it was doing, but suddenly it seemed less threatening than before. Emboldened by this behavior, Lois jumped up and started yelling back.
"How dare *you* come storming in here, yelling at me, after you left the gate and door open. If you really don't want anyone entering, why don't you keep it locked up tight? Really, you think you'd at least find out *why* before you jump down my throat about it. Did it ever occur to you I might have a good reason? I didn't want to be trapped out in the forest after dark. I just wanted shelter for the night. Honestly, it's not like I was gonna cause any harm." Lois said quickly, hardly pausing to breathe.
It seemed to deflate before her. Quietly, and apologetically, it said, "You're right. I don't know what I was thinking. I... I let my temper take control of me and I shouldn't. It was wrong. Please, go, leave before my control slips again."
Lois' fear was gone now, as she looked into its eyes, very human eyes, she noticed. Eyes that showed a pain and even fear that she didn't quite understand, but something inside her made her want to reach out and sooth the pain away. She couldn't explain it.
"No, I suppose it is a bit suspicious to find someone in your castle, just like they own it. Maybe we should just start over." Lois said, with more confidence than she actually felt. "Hi, I'm Lois. I was out in the woods and night was coming, so I sought refuge in your castle. The gate was open so I hoped you wouldn't mind."
He, for now Lois thought of him that way, seemed utterly confused now. After a few moments, he replied, "Hi Lois, I'm Cla... Beast, you can call me Beast. That seems to be what they call me now. And you are welcome to shelter in my castle."
Suddenly something clicked in Lois' mind, and she wasn't sure if she should be afraid again or not. The townspeople called the monster sent that had been sent by the evil wizard Tempus and had killed the Prince the Beast. Could this be the same one? Could this be the castle it had taken over? She had never known where it was.
"Are you the Beast that killed the prince?" She asked hesitantly, hoping not to anger him again.
A look of incredulousness fell upon his face. "Lois, I swear to you I never killed the Prince, nor anyone else for that matter. I'm not sure what happened to the Prince, but yes I believe this is his castle. It was deserted so I took refuge here, so as not to scare the townsfolk. I guess they assumed I had gotten rid of the Prince."
Lois wasn't sure why, but she believed his story. Something she couldn't explain told her to trust him. "I believe you." she responded.
Suddenly, his face brightened. He was obviously relieved she had believed him, which just affirmed her belief in him. She wondered what her dad had found so terrifying about him. Thinking about her dad reminded Lois he'd probably be getting worried since she'd been gone so long.
"I hate to cut this short," she said, a touch regretfully, "but I have to be going. My father will be worried about me since I didn't come home last night. I just hope I can find the way."
The Beast's face fell slightly. "Of course," he said, his voice losing much of its bestial quality now that he had calmed down. "You're from the nearby village aren't you?"
Lois nodded and he continued, "I can show you the path, it's a bit overgrown but you should be able to follow it. It's a several hours walk..."
He trailed off and appeared to be pondering something. "Before you go, let me show you something. Follow me."
Curious, Lois followed him, wondering what he might want to show her. He took her around the castle, towards a stable. In the pasture were several beautiful horses. She couldn't help but gasp, she loved horses but her father hadn't been able to support one. Why was he taking her here? Maybe it was something beyond the stable and pasture. To her surprise, he stopped near the pasture and gazed at the horses. Curious, she moved up to the fence next to him.
"These horses are some of my few companions. I feed them, treat them well, show them a little attention, and they don't judge me by my appearance. I wish more people were like that," the Beast said, a tad wistfully.
As he spoke, one of the horses, a pretty mare with a grey coat with scattered black flecks, trotted up by the fence and nuzzled Lois' hand. Lois reached out and petted the mare on the head. "You're right. People judge by appearance all to often," Lois replied, briefly thinking of Lex.
"Well, you seem to have made a friend," the Beast said, brightening. "She seems to have taken quite a shying to you. Why don't you take her?"
"No, I couldn't," Lois protested. "It's too much, she's your horse."
The Beast roared with laughter. "I have plenty of horses, besides it's not like I ride them. This way you can be get home much faster. I want to give you something. You're the first person who," he paused for a moment, "hasn't seen me as just a monster."
Lois wasn't sure, but she suspected he might have started to say something else. Unable to resist the lure of her own horse, she gave in. "Alright, but I really should give you something in return."
"That's not necessary," he protested.
"Nonsense," she responded. "I know, I'll come back and visit you again. You seem like you could use company sometimes."
"I'd love that," the Beast replied, grinning. "You're welcome here any time."
Something in the way his voice quivered told Lois that she had definitely made the right choice. With that settled, they saddled the horse, and he showed her the route home. As Lois rode home, she hoped her father wouldn't be too worried about her.
******
