Chapter 2: The Beast’s Prison

The flickering flames from the hearth cast

long, wavering shadows on the high stone walls of the chamber. Amara could feel

the weight of the silence pressing down on her as she stood before King Dorian.

His sorrowful eyes locked onto hers, filled with a burden she couldn't quite

fathom.

"The curse has tormented our family for

generations," the king began, his voice heavy with regret. "But it is more than

a curse—it is a punishment, a twisted reflection of the darkest mistakes of our

bloodline. And it is bound to my brother, Kaelen."

Amara nodded slowly, feeling the gravity of

the situation settle over her. "You mentioned his name—Prince Kaelen. Is he...

is he the Beast?"

King Dorian's gaze hardened for a moment, and

the air in the room seemed to grow colder. "Yes, he is. But not in the way that

stories tell. Kaelen is my brother—once a kind and brave prince, loved by his

people. But that was before the curse claimed him. Now he is the Beast, a

prisoner in his own body, his soul trapped in an eternal nightmare."

Amara's heart ached as she listened to the

king's words. It was clear that Dorian loved his brother deeply, despite the

monstrous form he had become. She could sense the helplessness in his voice,

the unspoken plea for someone—anyone—to find a way to break the curse.

"The curse," King Dorian continued, "was

placed on Kaelen by a sorceress who sought revenge for a betrayal long ago. She

bound him to this palace, turning his once-beautiful form into that of a

beast—his heart twisted by her magic. The curse cannot be undone by simple

means. It has been centuries, and the only hope we have is for someone to break

it from within."

Amara's mind raced as she processed the

information. This was no ordinary curse, no simple enchantment that could be

lifted with a spell or a potion. This was a dark, ancient magic—magic tied to

the very essence of Kaelen's soul.

"How do I begin?" Amara asked quietly. "How do

I help him? How do I break a curse like this?"

The king's expression darkened even further.

"I wish I could offer you an answer, Miss Valerius. But I do not know. Kaelen

is trapped in a hidden chamber deep within the palace. Only those who carry the

courage to face him can attempt to break the curse. But be warned—his rage is

as powerful as his sorrow, and many have failed before you."

Amara felt a chill run down her spine. "You've

sent others to try before?"

"Many," King Dorian replied grimly. "He has

become more beast than man over the years, and the magic that binds him feeds

on his pain, making him more dangerous. But we cannot leave him in this state

forever."

She could see the raw emotion in the king's

eyes, his own guilt and grief eating away at him. She knew that helping Kaelen

would not be easy, but it was the only way to end the suffering of not just the

prince, but the entire kingdom.

"I will try," Amara said firmly, though she

felt a knot of fear in her stomach. "But I cannot do this alone. I will need

help."

King Dorian nodded, and for a moment, his gaze

softened. "Of course. You will not be alone, Miss Valerius. We have arranged

for you to have companions. They will assist you in your journey."

"Companions?" Amara asked, unsure of what the

king meant.

"Yes," King Dorian said, rising from his seat.

"They are warriors, scholars, and those who know the palace better than anyone.

You will need them if you are to succeed. And perhaps, in time, you will come

to understand that each of them has their own role in breaking the curse."

As Amara followed the king through the vast

hallways of the palace, she couldn't help but wonder who these companions would

be. The palace was as grand as she had imagined, its marble floors shining

under the low light of ornate chandeliers, and its walls decorated with

tapestries that told the history of the royal family. But there was a coldness

here—an eerie silence that seemed to permeate everything. It was as if the

curse had taken root in the very foundation of the palace, infecting everything

it touched.

They finally reached a grand courtyard, where

a group of four men stood waiting. Each of them was dressed in different

attire, but all had an air of authority about them. They turned to face her as

she and King Dorian approached.

"This is Sir Elias," King Dorian said,

gesturing to a tall, broad-shouldered knight with piercing gray eyes. "A

skilled warrior, once a captain of the king's guard."

Elias bowed slightly, though his gaze never

wavered from Amara's. There was something in his eyes—something guarded, like a

man who had seen too much to ever let his emotions show. His lips curled into a

faint smile, though it was clear he was not here for pleasantries.

"This is Prince Jorian," the king

continued, indicating a young man with a carefree grin and a swagger that made

him seem almost out of place among the others. His bright blue eyes gleamed

with mischief, but there was an underlying sadness that softened his features.

Jorian stepped forward, offering Amara a

friendly nod. "Pleasure to meet you, Miss Valerius," he said in a tone that was

charming, yet there was a trace of something hidden in his words. "I look

forward to assisting you in your quest."

Next, the king gestured to a figure who stood

slightly apart from the group, a man with dark hair and an air of quiet

contemplation. "Alaric," King Dorian introduced him. "A scholar from the

eastern lands. He has studied the curse and the magic that binds Kaelen. His

knowledge may prove invaluable."

Alaric gave a short bow, his deep brown eyes

scanning Amara with an intensity that made her feel as though he was peering

into her very soul. "I hope my knowledge will aid you, Miss Valerius. There is

much to uncover, and I believe you may hold the key."

Finally, the king motioned toward a tall,

enigmatic man standing in the shadows. "And this is Thorn," Dorian said.

"A rogue from the wilds. He has the skills of a tracker and a fighter. Though

his past is... complicated, I trust he will be of help."

Thorn did not step forward like the others.

Instead, he merely nodded from the shadows, his dark eyes fixed on Amara as

though assessing her with every glance. There was an air of mystery about him,

something unsettling but undeniably captivating. Amara couldn't decide whether

she felt drawn to him or wary of him.

The four men stood before her, and for the

first time, Amara understood that this would not be a journey she could take

alone. These men—each with their own secrets and their own reasons for being

here—would be her companions in this mission to break the curse and save

Kaelen.

But as they stood together, a question gnawed

at her. Could she trust them all? Would they help her, or would their own

motives unravel the delicate threads of her mission?