The birds were chirping and the sun was high in the sky as you emerged from your little cottage, books tucked carefully under your arms. Lightly skipping down the stone steps you started to follow the dirt road towards the little town that that lay just on the horizon.

Softly humming as you crossed a cobblestone bridge you entered the town, a rather small, quiet place where nothing out of the ordinary really happened. There was the usual hustle and bustle as people walked past going about their daily business, some even waving and greeting you as you walked past.

Politely greeting those who greeted you, you hurried on to your favourite place in the whole world, besides your armchair next to the fire; the bookshop. It was small old-fashioned shop, with dark mahogany bookshelves cramming the space, leaving only a little bit of room for the counter near the door. A small bell chimed as you pushed the door open and the smell of old books met your nose as you ventured in.

“Belle!” an elderly voice greeted you as a tall pile of books with legs appeared from behind a bookshelf.

“Oh, Mr Kim let me help you” you said, quickly placing your books down before rushing over to the old man and taking half of the pile of books he was attempting to carry and placing them on the counter.

“Ah thank you Belle, I don’t know what I’d do without you; probably go out of business” the elderly man joked as he too placed his pile down and mopped his forehead.

He was an incredibly kind man, with wisps of white hair upon his head, small circular glasses that were always perched on the end of his nose and old but wise eyes. He lived alone unfortunately but you couldn’t help but think he harboured a little crush on the owner of the seamstress shop across the road as whenever she came in you noticed that his smile widened just a little more, but you kept that to yourself.

 “I’m surprised you’re back again so soon” he commented as you picked up your discarded books and disappeared between two books shelves to place them in their proper place.

“Oh I couldn’t put it down, it was simply breathtaking but it made me wonder if a place like Wonderland really does exists” you commented as you climbed a ladder to peer at the books nearest the top. Pushing against the shelf so ladder slowly rolled down and you quickly scanned the titles for a new book to read. “Have you got anything new?”

“Not since you asked yesterday” you heard Mr Kim chuckle, which you couldn’t help but to giggle along as it was true, unless you borrowed a particularly large book you would travel to the bookshop everyday to collect a book, only to return it the next day and to start the whole process over again.

After searching head to tail of the bookstore for an interesting book to read, you reappeared with a pout on your face unable to find something that appealed to you.

“Read the whole store already?” Mr Kim asked looking up from his own book with a smile.

“It certainly seems so” you huffed as you sat on the small stool beside him and placed you chin in your hands, “What am I going to do now?” you asked more to yourself.

Noticing your slightly distressed look upon realising that you had in fact read the entire store, a light bulb suddenly went off in the old man’s head, “Say Belle, how would you like to look at my personal bookshelf?”

“Personal bookshelf?”

“Mmmhm I keep it in a special place” Mr Kim beckoned you to follow which you did.

You followed Mr Kim to the back of the store where a door stood; he took some keys out of his pocket and unlocked it, clicking on the light before stepping through. You had been back here plenty of times whenever you helped out in the store, it was the storage room where Mr Kim kept numerous things including broken books, boxes, there was a desk and a chair littered with papers where you knew Mr Kim did his inventory but he didn’t spare a glance and walked to the very far corner of the room where you noticed a small rectangular piece of furniture with a cloth obscuring it from view which strangely you hadn’t notice before.

Firmly grasping the sheet Mr Kim tugged it down and from beneath revealed a rather small bookshelf which lay home to only a few dozen books. “This is my own personal shelf where I keep all my favourites that I just couldn’t bear to part with” he said, lightly a few of the titles before stepping back and gesturing for you to move closer. “I want you to pick one”.

“Oh no Mr Kim I couldn’t, these are your books” you waved your hands back and forth before taking a step back.  You were honestly flattered that Mr Kim would even consider letting you borrow one of his personal favourites.

“I insist, it’s the least I can do to repay you for all the help you give me”

You played with the small ring on your left index finger, nervously biting you lip as you peered up at him, he only smiled before stepping back and allowing you to step towards the shelf. You didn’t want to disappoint him so you gingerly stepped forward and crouched down to look at the titles, most of which you hadn’t seen or heard of before.

Carefully scanning the titles you eventually pulled a rather old book called Black Beauty, intrigued by its title and cover you traced over the gold letters before standing up and turning around to Mr Kim who was patiently, leaning against the desk awaiting your choice.

“Ahhh Black Beauty, one of my all time favourites” he said as you approached with the book, “I’m sure you’ll enjoy it, no doubt I’ll see you tomorrow for another one” he laughed as he left the room, switching off the light as he left went causing you to squeak in fright and scurry after him.

Quickly shutting the door you turned to Mr Kim who was heading towards the counter laughing away to himself. Pouting slightly you followed him, playfully sticking your tongue at him as you reached him.

The bell chimed indicating that someone had entered the store and you both turned around to Bertha, the elderly lady who owned the seamstress shop across the road.

“I’ll be on my way now Mr Kim” leaning over the counter to give him a quick peck to the cheek “I’ll leave you two alone and thanks again for the book” you whispered before giggling and sending him a quick wink before hurrying out the shop, but not before greeting Bertha and looking back to noticed Mr Kim’s slightly flustered appearance.

You sighed in contentment as you breathed in the fresh air, smiling slightly at the children who suddenly ran passed in hot pursuit of one another before opening the book that was previously clutched tightly to your chest. You turned to the first page and began reading, trusting your instincts to lead you safely home as you began to walk, only slightly registering all the stares you were getting as you walked past.

You could feel the looks you were getting burning into the back of your skull but you were so used to it you just brushed it off and immersed yourself into the world of literature as you always did, which was in fact one if the reasons why you got stares in the first place.

It was very rare to see a girl with her head in a book these days, but it would be very rare for you not to have your head in a book as day and night, into the late hours of the night till the early hours of the morning your head was constantly in a book, and if not in a book then in your own little world itself. Your father in particular liked to joke how he could never keep you on Earth for more than a few minutes.

It was also very rare to see a girl as beautiful as you, sure there were many beautiful girls that lived in your small town but you had an effortless, simple beauty that numerous men and women either admired or were immensely jealous of.

Your curly, brown locks were always tied up in a high ponytail, with a few strands to frame your face; soft brown eyes, full red lips, a cute button nose and almost always rosy cheeks. You were quite tall for a girl, around 5’7 and you had a rather curvy body which most boys ogled at as you walked past; oh yes, there was no wonder why your name meant beauty.

But because of your beauty there were several boys who had attempted and failed to gain your affection, you were of course flattered at each and every one of them but you knew what their real goal was; to have claim that the most beautiful girl in the village was theirs. Not one of these boys knew the real you nor cared to get to know you, they only cared for your appearance and because of that despite who they were or how elaborate their confession was, you turned each and every one of them down.

However there was one male who was incredibly stubborn either refused to take no for an answer or was just an idiot who couldn’t take a hint. The so-called heartthrob of the village, Lee Joon. Even you had to admit that he was incredibly handsome; a body like a god, soft, brown hair that always sat perfectly upon his head, a dazzlingly smile and dark brown eyes that any girl could easily get lost in, he was far too arrogant, selfish and cocky for your taste. He strutted around town like he owned the place, his ever faithful servant’s friends Mir and Thunder always following behind. They had made the local tavern they’re hangout, a place where Joon could show of his muscles and newest kill; hunting a skill he particularly excelled in.

He had taken immediate interest in you the moment you and your father had moved to town and had immediately claimed you as his but that still didn’t stop others from approaching you which he grew incredibly angry at. He constantly tried to capture your attention and show off in front of you, desperate to win your heart but you always brushed him off but lately you had begun to notice that he was getting even more possessive than he was before.

You were suddenly pulled out of your reading reverie as your book was violently ripped from your hands, slightly ticked off you looked up at the culprit only to meet eyes of so-called heartthrob.

Speak of the devil and he shall appear.

~~~~

 For those who had been reading this story before, yes I have made several changes; I know I've been severly neglecting this story and whilst reading back at it I was really unhappy with it so I've decided to start from square one.

I have a majority of things the same but I've changed a few characters, added a few more details and whatnot so let me know what you think! I'll be editing and adding the new chapters shortly so suscribe and stay tuned^^