What Lies Beneath

Chapter 2

"Once upon a time there was a terrible beast that lived in a terrible castle. Upon which a spell had been cast on years ago, beyond anyone's recollection, including the beast that lurked inside..."

Ms. Violet read loudly out of large leather-bound book of fairy-tales and myths. She always kept it on a high shelf in the corner of her room above her desk. No one else really ever paid it any mind, a glance thrown at it once in awhile if it was ever mentioned. Not me. I loved to read and thought about it a lot in class, longing to read the tales it held. Books were always like a symbol to me, a sign that my life could be different. Even if it wasn't happily ever after, it could at least be better.

I felt like that particular book was using that feeling, probing it, emphasizing it, trying to pull me into it's pages. One day it became just too hard to resist any more.

On that day, I was going back to the classroom because I had forgotten my lunch bag. All was normal when I quietly crossed the threshold into the room. But as I went in further to get it, my eyes fell on the shelf with the book. It was almost like I was drawn to it, because the next thing I knew I was gripping it tightly as I pulled it off the shelf.

I glanced around the classroom anxiously, relaxing somewhat when I realized no one was here but me.

I sank to the ground and leaned against Ms. Violet's desk. As I carefully opened it, the spine made small stubborn creaks as it was bent.

I had opened to a bookmarked page, King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. My eyes swept over the first few phrases, and I quickly lost myself in Arthur's story.

I don't know how long I sat there, entranced by the small bold words that filled page after page, but eventually I heard a small, dramatized cough. It was Ms. Violet! She loomed above me, not looking angry, just a bit annoyed and somewhat perplexed. She held out her hands expectantly. I handed the book to her, my face burning with guilt.

"Miss Bianca, may I inquire as to why you have my book?"

I was stunned. I thought she would yell at me, scream at me to not to ever touch her personal property. I gulped and stammered nervously, "Um...well I...you see I just..."

Her eyes glinted dangerously as she raised an eyebrow, as if to say, I'm waiting.

I sighed and swallowed down my pride as I continued, "I'm sorry ma'am. I just love stories, and have always wanted to read it and...well, once I started I couldn't stop. "

A heavy silence hung menacingly in the air. I cast my eyes down, and braced myself for the consequences that were sure to follow.

Then her eyes softened, and she said, "I understand completely." I gaped at her in shock, not entirely convinced I was off the hook that easy, and curious as to where this conversation was going.

But she wasn't done. "I know you don't have much in your life, because I was the same way. I know all about how people look at you out of the corner of their eye when they think you're not looking. I know some children taunt you knowing you can't do anything about it. But sadly I can't help you with that because I feel it's something you need to figure out how to deal with yourself." I was flabbergasted... to say the least. "If it will help, you may have the book to keep?" she offered with a small smile, as she held the weathered book out to me.

I was delightfully stunned. I was about to take it and shower her with thanks, but just when my lips were about to form the words, an unusual feeling swept over me. It was a cold, dark feeling that made me feel threatened by Ms. V's presence.

I glanced up at her eyes quickly. In them I saw shallow sincerity and sympathy. But behind that, wild greed and hatred. But it couldn't be. Ms V was always so nice. Nice is different than good, I heard the voice of Red riding hood ring through my head. Suddenly I saw something cross her eyes, something ominous, but too quick for me to quite make out.