The Castle
The sound of Philippe trotting along the ground startles him. He turns ready to see his dad, but it worries him when it is just Philippe by himself.
As Philippe comes closer, James can tell he’s thirsty and tired. James immediately fills the tray with water so he can drink.
“Philippe, drink please.” James gestures to the tray as the horse goes and drinks.
When Philippe finishes drinking James becomes nervous and worried at the fact that his father isn’t seen. “Take me to my father.” James says and mounts Philippe ready to find his lost father.
—
Eventually, James and Philippe enter a place of snow. It’s odd considering it is spring. He looks down on the ground and spots the music box his father made. It’s broken now. It worries James more.
They go down further into the forest. Eventually they come into contact with a beautiful castle. It’s beautiful and detailed. “This is where dad is?” James asks Philippe. Judging by how Philippe reacts, James realises that that's where his dad is.
James gets off Philippe. He looks up at the beautiful stairs that are leading up to large detailed doors.
He walks up the stairs to the door and knocks on it once. “Hello?” He asks. The doors swing open by itself.
He walks in and finds it stunning inside.
James hears voices and turns around, finding no one there. James goes up to a winding staircase.
He sees a locked cell holding someone inside.
“Dad? Is that you?” James asks, walking more into the light, finding his dad.
“Jamie?” Monty asks spotting his son. “How did you find me?”
James grabs his dads hands feeling them. They are as cold as ice. “Your hands are as cold as ice.” He voices.
“James, you must leave. The castle is alive and if he finds you.” There is worry in his voice.
“Who?” James questions.
A loud roar distracts James from his dad. He turns finding a large shadow of a person. He can’t make out what he looks like as the person is standing on the darker side.
“Who’s there? Who are you?” James questions. A tremble in his voice.
“Who are you?” A deep voice replies.
“I’ve come for my father.” James responds, trying to sound confident.
“Your father is a thief.” The person replies. James is confused. His father is anything but a thief.
“Liar.” James says. He is sure his father never did anything like that.
The person roars. “He stole a rose.” He shouts.
James' eyes widen and he immediately feels guilty. “I asked for the rose. Take me instead.” James insists.
Monty makes a worried sound. “James, what he means is forever. Apparently that's what you get when you steal a rose around here.” Monty has a bite to his voice.
“A life sentence for a rose?” James questions the person holding his father hostage.
“Do you wish to take your fathers place?” The person changes the subject.
“Come into the light.” James says. It isn’t said in a questioning way.
The person remains still, until they slowly walk into the light. James grabs hold of a candle and thrusts it forward, trembling backwards when he comes into contact with a beast. His face is large and horned. Nothing about him seems human except for the fact that he has grey eyes. The only part about him that seems human.
“Now choose!” The beast shouts.
“James, I won't let you do this. I lost your mother, I won’t lose you too.” Monty pleads and then turns into a horrible coughing fit.
James contemplates before making his decision. “Alright, I’ll leave.” James turns to the beast. “I need a minute alone with him.” James pleads.
The beast stood still, unresponding. No emotion written on his face whatsoever.
James chooses to take another route. “Are you so coldhearted you won’t even let a son say goodbye to his father.” He says rather harshly. “Forever can spare a minute.”
The beasts' cold demeanour changes so slightly. He moves a step towards James, and reaches out a paw. It’s large and clawed. James closes his eyes, bracing himself to be hurt when he hears a loud clunk.
James opens his eyes to find the cell his father was held in, slowly being opened.
“When this door closes again.” The beast spits. “It will never open again.”
James disregards what the beast said and runs into the cell and hugs his father. “Dad.” He exclaims. “I should’ve been with you.”
Monty pulls away from the warm embrace and cradles James’ face. “James, listen to me. Go. Live your life. Forget about me.”
James laughs in disbelief. “Forget you? Everything I am is because of you.”
“I love you, James.” Monty hugs him. “Don’t be afraid.” He whispers.
“I love you too dad.” James lets a tear fall down his cheek. “I’m not afraid, and I promise I will escape.”
“What?” Monty is confused.
James pivots and swings his father out of the door just as the beast shuts it. Monty falls to the ground, just as the beast turns to James. James meets his eyes.
“You took his place.” It’s not a question. And it’s the first time the beast has ever shown any emotion.
“He is my father.” James retorts.
“He is a fool.” The beast says walking to Monty. “And so are you.” He grabs Monty by the shirt and drags him away.
“Don’t hurt him.” James calls, his voice echoing.
He only has hope. Hope that this will end well.
–
James sits in the corner of the cell. He is sad and scared as he doesn’t know what his future now holds.
Then, the sound of metal clanking and the cell being opened, frightens him.
“Forgive my intrusion, monsieur, but I have been sent to escort you to your room.” A voice from around the corner, pronounced with flair.
James gets up off the ground, confused as to who is talking to him. He grabs a stool from the floor and holds it like he would a weapon.
“My room? But I thought-” James says, confused.
“What?” The person says. “That once this door closes it will never open again, rawr?” He mimics the way the Beast would say it. “What a load of nonsense. He is so dramatic.”
James walks out of the cell, nervous, still holding the stool like a weapon, bracing himself to hit whoever is talking to him. Instead, he comes face to face with a candelabra. And it’s waving at him.
“Hello!” It waves.
James shouts and hits the object with the stool, knocking him to the ground with a clank. The three candles it holds extinguish from the impact. The candle grunts and gets up, re-lighting the candles that previously burnt out.
“Man, you are strong. That is a great quality to have, you know. But if you are going to hit anyone, please hit Remus. He deserves it more than I do.” The candle says as it recovers.
James looks at the candle suspiciously. He is confused and concerned. He also wonders who Remus is, and if he’s a candle too.
“What are you?” James asks, suspicion gracing his voice.
The candle smiles a wicked grin. “Why, I am Barty!” He says with cheer.
It has a name? James thinks. “And you can talk?”
A clock appears coming up the stairs, panting and out of breath. “Of course he can talk!” The clock says with a heavy accent. “It’s all he ever does.” He complains. He turns to Barty’s direction. “Now Barty, as head of house I demand you put him back in his cell at once.” He says with force.
James is so freaked out, he retreats back into the cell in search of a better weapon.
“What do you want to be for the rest of your life, Remus?” Oh so that's Remus. “A man?” Barty asks. “Or a mantle clock.” He spits. The candle turns back to James. “Ready monsieur?” He then directs his attention to the clock. “Trust me.” He whispers. James almost can’t hear it. “Come on,” Barty waves his hand to get James to follow.
They begin to walk down the dark, damp staircase. James follows Remus and Barty down it. James looks around, trying to find an escape. Instead, he realises just how big the castle is.
“Now monsieur, you must forgive first impressions. I hope you aren't startled.” Barty says with flair. That's something James has noticed about the candle. He is dramatic and does everything with flair.
James chuckles in disbelief. “Why would I be startled? I’m talking to a candle.” He says, sarcasm lacing his voice.
“Candelabra, please.” Barty says rather harshly. “There is an enormous difference.” He persuades. “Consider me at your service. The castle is your home now, so feel free to go anywhere your heart desires.” He says rather dramatically. And he says the Beast is dramatic.
“Except the west wing!” Remus cuts in. Barty turns around from where he's walking and throws Remus a look that says, please just shut up. “Which we do not have.” Remus lies.
James becomes curious. “Why? What's in the west wing?” He questions.
“Uh… Nothing?” Remus says in the most unpersuasive voice.
“Storage space.” Barty cuts in, throwing Remus a glare.
Remus nods along. “Yeah, just storage.”
James, intrigued, looks at the direction the west wing will be. It looks dark and haunted.
“This way please!” Barty calls.
“To the east wing.” Remus finishes his sentence.
“Or as I like to call it, the only wing. There is no west wing, just an east one.” Barty persuades.
“And no north or south nonsense either.” Remus says. “Now watch your step.” He says in his heavy accented voice.
They enter a hallway, the walls a pretty green and it’s lit nicely with the windows being open and the sun coming in.
Barty and Remus lead James down the hall to the second last door. Up close, you can see all the little details and a gold door knob. It is gorgeous.
Barty jumps up and grasps the handle with his candled hands. “Welcome to your new home.” He says as the door opens. James expects a dusty dirty room, except, when the door fully opens, a beautiful bedroom is revealed. “It’s modest, but comfortable.”
James takes a step inside and he’s immediately blown away by the design. A large dresser and a beautiful big bed. The ceiling painted with clouds. James is at a loss for words.
“It’s-” James starts to say.
“Spectacular?” Barty finishes his sentence.
“Glorious?” Remus cuts in.
“Beautiful.” James finishes.
Barty turns to Remus. “I was closer.” He states proudly.
“You're also a candle.” Remus argues.
Barty scoffs. “Candelabra. Huge difference.” Barty turns back to James. “Master wanted you to have the most beautiful room in the castle.” He jumps up on the bed and dust fills the air. Barty starts a coughing fit. “Well we weren’t expecting guests.”
A feather duster, gracefully glides into the room. James never knew a feather duster could be so beautiful.
“Bonjour monsieur. Don’t worry, I’ll have your room spotless in no time at all.” The feather duster lands in the arms of Barty, whos candles burn a little hotter at the sight of him. “This plan of yours is dangerous.” He states in a whisper.
“I would risk anything to kiss you again, Evan.” Barty whispers back. Barty moves closer to embrace him, but Evan stops him.
“No, my love.” He stops. “I’ve been burnt by you before, we must be strong.”
“How can I be strong when you make me so weak?” Barty asks.
Remus, rather loudly, clears his throat, drawing the attention of both Barty and Evan, who quickly separate.
James chuckles and the obviously in love objects. “Is everything in here alive?” He picks up a small locket with a snake on it. “Hello, what’s your name?” He asks. Puzzled at the fact he doesn’t get a reply, he looks down to spot the clock looking up at him in disbelief.
“That’s a locket.” Remus says like it's obvious.
James is startled by a snore that comes from behind him. He turns, coming face to face with a wardrobe. The wardrobe immediately opens and starts to sing. James shrieks, startled by its performance.
“Don’t be alarmed, monsieur. This is just your wardrobe. Meet Sirius. He is a great singer.” Barty introduces.
James looks down at Barty as he talks to him. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees that Remus’ metal is all flushed. He’ll save that piece of information for later.
“Sirius!” Barty calls. “We have someone for you to dress.” He announces.
Sirius takes notice of James and smiles. “Hello.” He says to James and then turns to Barty. “He’s handsome.” He turns back to James. “We are going to be best friends, I can feel it in the air. I am ready to dress a prince.”
James looks around confused. “But I’m not a prince?” He says.
“Nonsense. Now let's have a look at what I’ve got in my draws.” Sirius opens one and pulls something out, revealing a lingerie set. “Oops. I don’t even know why I have that.” He chuckles to himself. “Do you want it?” Sirius asks. James is quick to shake his head and Sirius throws it behind him.
Sirius begins to dress James. Items flying everywhere of different colours as he gets dressed whilst Sirius talks to himself.
“Perfect!” Sirius shouts, proud of himself, stepping back to admire his work. He looks over to Remus and Barty to get their seal of approval.
Both Barty and Remus have fake smiles on their faces. It makes James snort.
“Yeah, yeah.” Remus keeps repeating. Flustered by the fact Sirius’ eyes are on him.
“Subtle, I love it!” Barty lies, looking at the floral suit James is wearing.
Barty grabs Remus’ arm, as he’s in a loop and can’t stop, dragging him out of the room. Evan follows them out the door and the door shuts.
“You look ridiculous.” Sirius snorts.
“What?” James says, confused.
“I put you in that outfit to mess with them. I do that quite often.” James bursts out laughing. “I said it once and I’ll say it again; we will be the best of friends.” Sirius smiles as James nods in agreement.