prologue; demise

"You're safe now, milady." I offered my hand, helping her to stand up from the ground. I could guess that we were of the same age. "Thank you." She uttered and I could feel the animosity lurking behind her words. My eyes were buried into the depths of her eyes. They were cold, distant, yet I could feel the intensity that it had. Still, I opt to read between the lines - it was lonely, pleading, and afraid. Her face was white as snow. Her lips was red as rose and her outward bearing screamed perfection. Her silky hair gracefully swinging with the piercing breath of the wind.

I wasn't dumb enough to know why she was in the middle of the woods and I know that she too, is in search of this realm's hidden beast. "Why are your here in the middle of the woods? Did you know that it's dangerous to step into the lion's den? I'm afraid you don't know what you have gotten yourself into." She utters and I wondered what they offered her to make such beautiful lady to agree to their terms of annihilating of the most dangerous beasts that has ever existed. From the stories that I've heard, facing this monster was far worse than slaying a dragon.

Legends says that this monster ruthlessly captivating. Still, one bite and you could instantly die or return home with your last breaths. Lately, the killings had been more prominent yet the beast remains elusive and peculiar. No one knows how the killings had been done but they suspect that the beast is hidden in the middle of the forest. And as the kingdom's knight I must live my chivalry code and serve my sovereign.

And if death means my service then death it shall be.

"I fret I should ask you the same question, milady." I told her as I picked my sword from the ground, putting my sword into its sheath. "It's dangerous staying out in the open. You should go home. I could take you home if you'd like." I was trying to reach out to her shoulder but she immediately shove my hand away.

"No, but there's something you could do to help me."

I slowly placed my hand back my sides, and faced her as my eyebrows furrowed. "What is it? Tell me and I pledge to do my best to help you with your desire." She chuckled and slowly removed her cape, her skin radiating against the moonlight. 

"Tell me, my lord. Why have you come here?"

"I believe that I came here for the same reason that you have. To end the wicked witch's curse, to kill the hidden beast of this forest."  She laughed at my intention and rather than being amused, I could feel the threat shed by her laughter. 

"That's interesting, my lord." She says, nodding. "We do have the same reason - to kill." She started walking around me and I could feel the warmth of her breath in my earlobe. "However, I did not came here for the beast. I came here to kill everyone who tries to kill me."

"What?" I asked, my understanding wasn't enough to comprehend why would anyone try to kill her. Why would anyone could kill a fragile lady like her. "I beg for your apology, milady, but I understand isn't enough to comprehend what you're trying to say."

"Want to break the curse? Well, that's interesting," She chortles as she leans closer, "because I am the curse."

I stepped away from her. She must have been a mad woman. How could she be a beast if she's human? "How could the fairest flower of any field be such monster?" I told her, "you should go home and rest. this is not a place for playtime. This place is dangerous."

"That, you should have known." She walked a few steps distant from where I stood and removed her cape and started looking up at the moon, she inhaled the breath of fresh air and when she darted her gaze back at me, her eyes turned into something different, turning into azure hue while the other remains its dark orbs. "Behold my guest for you have met this den's most dangerous beast." She smiles at me and when I blinked my eye she was standing right next to me.

"And I do solemnly swear that this beast would be the cause of your demise."