Amber McEachern [McEachern - Beauty and the Beast

Regulus Le Hagen pushed back his dark brown hair out from his hazel eyes as he pulled open the door to his father's chambers. He looked around the great room and then closed the doors behind him. He turned on his heels as he brushed off his dark brown cloak from his broad shoulder which had whipped around as he turned swiftly. As he started walking down the spiral staircase, he could hear his leather boots click with each step he took. He raced down the steps and opened the door that led to the kitchen.
"Sir Le Hagen, can I get something for you?" Sorice Mandrake, the head chef ask him. Regulus shook his head and smiled slightly and then closed the door. He started down the connecting hallway that led to the dining hall where he heard his father's laughter. He burst through the doors and looked at all of the different faces of his friends and family, his father was hosting a feast, but he was not there to socialize, he had to find his father and warn him of the news. He continued to look at the faces and finally he saw his father in the far right, he was sitting with his daughter Jezebel, Regulus' sister, and her soon to be arranged husband, Emmanuel La Croix. He eyed his father and started towards him.
"Cheers!" Regulus' cousin, Remus Le Hagen spilled his wine as he raised his glass. Everyone cheered along with him, along with his father. His father was much older than his son, but his hazel eyes were always full of life and laughter, but they were covered with wrinkles from his old age. His shoulder length white hair was pulled back into a knot and his short, thick beard was stained with red wine. His crown was crooked and slanted to the side, it was covered with uncut jewels and was stained gold. His burgundy wool tunic was brushed back off of his shoulders and he was leaning back in his chair. His feet were propped up on the table, and his leather boots were crossed.
"Regulus, son, come join us!" He opened his hands and motioned to his friends. He brought his cup to his lips and drank. "Come eat this marvelous chicken with us and drink this luscious wine!" Regulus shook his head slowly and motioned to the small door to his right that led to the hallway that attached to the kitchen.
"Father, I am unfortunate to decline your most generous offer, but I must have a word with you," his father looked at him and then at his daughter. He smiled at Emmanuel and the rest of his guests.
"My fair daughter, my striking soon to be son, and my wonderful guests," he stood up and spread out his hands "I must leave you, I bid you all farewell," he bowed and laughed his bellow laugh.
"Christian, you must stay and drink with us!" Christian looked at his brother Ivan Le Hagen, he laughed and shook his head. He followed his son to the door, as soon as they entered the hallway, Regulus closed the door quietly behind them both.
"Now son, what has made you so crazed that made you interrupt our most wonderful feast?" Christian smiled at his son, "You know this feast is to honor Emmanuel and your lovely sisters soon arrangement," he stopped laughing as he saw the sorrowful look on his son's face. "Regulus?"
"Father, I regret to inform you that Lazarus, son of King Alec, has taken our friendship to great lengths to advise that his father has declared war. He has notified me that since Kristopher and Antoinette committed suicide that the bond that holds our two families together as one has broken." His son laughed shakily, he shook his head in bewilderment.
"Son, that is preposterous! We and the Vondraks are united," his son shook his head and lowered his head.
"Lazarus was informed by his father that to unite two kingdoms, an heir must be birthed." Two years past, his older sister, Antoinette, and Lazarus' older brother, Kristopher, had been arranged to marry. After having three miscarriages in a year and a half, the two committed suicide.

"This is absurd!" Christian slammed the wall with his fist. Regulus felt the castle shake with his father's anger. "So to unite the Vondraks and the Le Hagen's we must arrange another marriage to birth an heir?"
"That is regrettably so not the worst," his father snorted and shook his head.
"God's teeth," he whisper to himself. "What could be worse than this, son?"
"They want Lazarus to marry," his father began to question his son, but he looked at him with shock. His kind eyes grew cold and wide.
"No!" He bellowed in anger, "They know that Jezebel is to marry Emmanuel in two days time!"
"Father? Brother?" Both Christian and Regulus looked and saw that Jezebel had opened the door, "What has angered you so?" Regulus envied his younger sister as she was so innocent and sincere it took no more than a smile to charm anyone who met her. She always got whatever she wanted, but she was far from spoiled. Her name was just as beautiful as she truly was. She had mid-back length onyx hair that was always pulled back into a single braid and her small tiara always sat on top of her small head. Her bright green eyes always seemed to draw everyone in, who ever saw them had a sensation of drowning in pleasure. Her nose was small and slender and her lips were full and always a dark pink, almost a red color. Her skin was a fair white. Today she was wearing a crme colored corset under her gold gown. The neck line was low and revealed the top of her small breasts. The sleeves lowered to reveal her narrow shoulders and clung to her small arms where white lace covered her delicate hands. Her gown clung to her waist and then it loosened and flowed out where it reached her feet, there was a small train that followed behind her.

"Jezebel, it is none of your concern," her father waved his hand as if trying to shoo her. She shook her head and sighed. She took a step and rested her hand on her fathers shoulder.

"Father, I just heard you and brother speaking of a marriage between I and Lord Lazarus." Emmanuel shoved past the other guests and shook his head. Emmanuel was not the most appealing of men, however his looks were astonishing, but he was a beast within. He had dark olive skin that contrasted against his dark blue eyes and dark blonde hair.

"Damn you!" He screamed, Jezebel placed her hand on him.

"Emmanuel, please" he sneered and shook her hand off.
"Get off me, woman!" He spat at her. He glared at Christian and Regulus, "I am arranged to marry Jezebel. The wedding will not be in two days time, but tomorrow! I was promised her hand and I will be damned if I do not retrieve my reward!" Regulus pulled out his sword and pointed the tip at Emmanuel.
"Retrieve your reward?" He mimicked him, "You do not love her! You and your blood thirsty parents are only using her to stay out of poverty! You are a filthy beast and you do not deserve my sister's hand." Christian grabbed his son's hand and slowly brought the sword down.
"Son, I agree, but we gave them our word and our word is an unbreakable seal," Regulus shook his head.

"But what of Lord Vondrak? What of the war?" Christian looked at Reyes Geiger, his servant.
"Fetch me my coat and horse," he look at his children, "I am going to see an old friend. "

* * *

"Father, where are you traveling" Jezebel, Regulus, and Emmanuel were at the front gate. They were preparing their father for travel.

"Are you traveling to the Vondraks?" Regulus asked, "May I accompany you?" Christian shook his head.
"No, I am not going to see Alec Vondrak, I am going to the Vestible Forest." Jezebel gasped and then shook her head.
"Father, no! Angelus Le Doux is a bad man! He is a sorcerer." Her father caressed his daughter's face and smiled slightly.
"You remind me of your mother every new day," he climbed onto his horse and started on his journey. "I will be back in five days time," Jezebel watched her father fade in the thick mist of the fog. She fell into the embrace of her brother.

"Jezebel, don't fret, father will be back soon," they turned back and started towards the castle. She looked back and prayed silently for her father's safety.