Handsome & the Hideous
XV
He let go of the knife, moving out of reach,
expecting retaliation with the creature’s last breath.
Instead, she looked at him, pulling out the weapon.
No blood flow followed, and no signs of death.
Her free hand reached up, removing her hat,
revealing the monstrous animal beneath.
She stabbed the knife into the table,
smiling at him and baring her teeth.
‘Are you satisfied now, is your bloodlust quenched?
Will you finally accept your new fate?
You cannot kill the beast of the castle
while your heart harbours such hate.’
‘But why won’t you die? What do you want?
What is the point of this charade?
Do you expect me to live here forever?
To hide in your shadow and have all your rules obeyed?
The creature sat back on her throne
and Handsome fought to contain his fright.
She closed her eyes, their lids flickering,
and in a hypnotic voice began to recite:
‘From this hurt you’ve caused through rejection
I curse you so I can reclaim my honour.
Your beautiful world will crumble around you
and your body will shift until you become a monster.
‘Those present tonight, in and around the castle,
will vanish, unheard and unseen by all.
Voiceless and invisible, they can’t break this curse,
but they will suffer with you through your fall.
‘Time will not age you, wounds won’t be felt.
Only one who truly loves you will be able to harm you.
Ages will pass, your kingdom will perish,
but still you will linger and suffer through.
‘This way you’ll remain,
the outside world forgetting this place,
and the curse can only be broken
if someone speaks “I love you” to that face.’
She opened her eyes and stared straight
at Handsome, emotions open and raw.
This scared him more than her hostility,
her viewing him with hope and awe.
‘Wait, you need me to love you?
You’re relying on me to set you free?’
At her hesitant nod he vigorously shook his head
and turned away to flee.
In his room he huddled and despaired,
his true situation he was beginning to conceive.
This curse meant he was trapped just like its victims.
He could not kill the creature, and he could not leave.
Scribbled Thoughts 