ARIEL'S POV
I came home to find grandma sleeping peacefully. I sighed in relief.
It was only 6 am. So no one saw me coming from the forest.
But my biggest challenge was to go to the forest in the afternoon without anyone knowing.
I went to my room and immediately drifted off to sleep because I hadn't slept the entire night.
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I felt someone shaking me.
I groaned before turning to another side.
"Honey, wake up. Its 11am." I heard grandma say.
What! 11am? I had to go to the forest in the afternoon.
I woke up and ran in the bathroom.
I was in my shower when I heard grandma ask,
"How come you slept so much today? Usually you wake up at 7am."
"Umm I was tired from the journey." I lied.
She seemed convinced because she didn't ask me anything after that.
After shower I wore my outfit for today and got ready.
I went in the kitchen to see grandma making lunch.
"Ugh..grannie." I said.
She turned to me and smiled.
"Yes sweetie?" She asked.
"Can I explore the town today?" I asked.
She looked at me with furrowed eyebrows. But then she gave me another sweet smile of her.
"Ofcourse honey. I am more than happy that you are finally moving on. If you want then I can help you explore." She said.
"N-No. I will do it alone. I want to spend some time alone." I quickly said.
"As you wish. But remember that no going to the forest." She warned me again.
I just smiled at her nodding.
How bad I felt lying on her face.
She served us lunch which We both ate while watching TV.
After lunch I took a small bagpack with me. I carried a water bottle and my book to read for incase the Beast doesn't show up.
I left the home saying goodbye to her.
But now there were many people on the street. Anyone could catch me going to the forest.
I was walking in confusion when suddenly an old lady who wore torn clothes and carried a stick to support her while walking came in front of me. She was a beggar.
"People are cruel. Take another way. Go to the park which ends in the forest way." She sang it like a rhyme.
I felt like she was giving me a message. But I couldn't get it.
"You mean go to the park?" I asked.
She smiled at me before going away and begging people again.
Now where is the park?
It was alreay 2 pm. It was time for me to go. But I didnt know the way to the park.
"Excuse me?" I asked a passerby.
"Yes?" He asked.
"Do you know the way to the park?" I asked.
"Yes. Take the next right and go straight. You will see the Town fountain and from there Left is the park." He said.
I thanked him before going to the directions told by him.
As told by him I reached the park. But how to go to the forest?
I saw a small way in the park going at the opposite direction from the town.
I started going that way. Slowly instead of the maintained plants of the park now wild plants and big trees appeared on the way.
I soon found myself in the middle of the forest.
But where is the Beast? How will he know that I am here?
Suddenly I heard a twig snap behind me.
I turned around and came face to face with the beast I met yesterday. Only today, he was wearing a shirt.
"WHY ARE YOU LATE? DID YOU THINK OF BETRAYING ME?" he suddenly shouted.
He seemed very angry.
I was scared of him now. He could kill me.
"I..I was finding my way here." I said looking down.
I had tears in my eyes from fear.
He sighed.
I felt him lifting up my face.
Now we were looking directly in each others eyes.
"I am sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." He said.
"I dont like people snapping at me. And you do that all the time." I said as a lone tear escaped my eyes.
He wiped it with his thumb and then cupped my face.
"I am sorry Princess. I wont do it again." He said.
Why did he call me a princess? I am not one.
"I am not a princess." I said.
"You are one. You are my princess." He said smiling at me.
He looked so good while smiling. Other times he looked so cold and dangerous.
"Lets go." He said while offering a hand for me to take.
I looked at his hand and then his face. I was hesitant to hold his hand.
Suddenly he grabbed my hand in his large ones and started walking.
I had to jog behind him because he walked so fast. He was literally dragging me.
"Can you walk a little fast?" He said in boring tone.
"No. You walk slowly then." I said sternly and glaring at him.
He only chuckled at me before sweeping me off my feet and carrying me in his arms.
I gasped at his actions. He smiled at me. I didnt return the smile.
Soon we reached the castle.
He kept me on my feet once we were in the castle.
The butler Michael came and smiled at us.
"Hello your highness." He said bowing down.
"You can rise." The beast said in his usual cold tone.
"How are you? Your highness." He asked me.
"You can call me Ariel and I am fine." I said giving him a smile.
He nodded.
"So why am I here?" I asked the beast.
He tensed at first but then he composed himself.
"You will spend time with me." He said simply.
I looked at him dumbfounded.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"You will understand, soon." He said.
"So shall I serve lunch?" Michael asked.
"Yes. I am sure Ariel is hungry." The beast said.
"No. I mean I had my lunch already." I said.
"But from tomorrow you will have lunch with me. Only me." He said.
I nodded not wanting him to get angry.
He held my hand and took me to a very luxurious dining room.
He sat on the head chair and made me sit beside him.
Soon his lunch was served. He ate in silence. He offered me lunch but I politely refused.
I dont know what we are going to do every day meeting like this.
"So, tell me about yourself." He said while eating.
My face brightened.
"20 questions." I clapped my hands in excitement.
"What is that?" He asked.
I gave him a shocked look.
"You don't know?" I asked him.
He gave me one more cold look.
"Fine. It is a game in which we both will ask each other questions. I ask one and in return you get to ask one. But answer only truth." I said.
"Okay." He said.
"So first me, What is your favourite colour?" I asked.
He laughed at me.
"I dont have a favourite colour." He said.
I gave him a shocked look.
"What? Come on. Everyone has a favourite colour. Tell me come on." I demanded.
"Fine. Ummm........its black." He said after much thinking.
"Hmmm suits you." I said.
"What is your full name?" He asked.
"Ariel Marie Johnson." I said.
"What is your full name?" I asked.
"Alexander Rosello Knight." He answered.
"Why are you in this town?" He asked.
"Um..I came to live with my grandma." I said.
"Why?" He asked.
"Its my chance." I grinned.
"Okay. Ask." He said.
"Are you really a beast?" I asked.
He tensed. He averted his gaze. His jaw clenched. His knuckles turned wide.
"Yes." He said.
Suddenly he stood up.
"Lets go." He said holding my hand and dragging me.
The beast seems very secretive.