Chapter Eight: Change of Plans

As we trot back toward Mr. Beast’s palace, I can’t believe how well everything is working out. It’s still late afternoon and I’ve already found Beauty and gotten her to agree to trade places with Jonah. In a few minutes, we’ll be at the castle. I’ll drop off Beauty, and Jonah and I will be able to go home through the castle’s magic mirror. Easy peasy! I bounce in my saddle. Maybe my brother’s memories came back, too!

But I shouldn’t get ahead of myself. First I’ll introduce Beauty to Mr. Beast and let the story unfold. It will be sweet to watch them fall in love and see Mr. Beast’s curse reversed.

I look behind me at Beauty. Hopefully, she won’t freak out when she meets the beast. I didn’t really give her much information about him. Maybe I should warn her about what he looks like? Yes. I definitely should.

“Um, Beauty,” I begin, “about Mr. Beast …”

“Yes?” she asks.

“Well, he’s called Mr. Beast for a reason.”

“Is it because he’s hairy? My grandfather was very hairy. That was his name actually. Hairy.”

“Well, Mr. Beast is hairy. But that’s only part of it. See, he looks like … a beast.”

She cocks her head to the side. “How so?”

I gulp. “He’s scary-looking. Not like a monster, but …” I clear my throat. “Well, kind of like a monster.”

“Oh!” Beauty pulls a curl tightly around her finger. Then she lifts her chin. “That doesn’t change anything. I said I would switch places with your brother and I will. I don’t go back on my word.”

“Okay,” I say, heaving a sigh of relief. “I just wanted to warn you.”

We trot for a few more minutes until we turn onto Rocky Path.

She points up ahead. “Is that the castle?”

“Yup. Pretty, huh? I hope you like it. Thank you for coming!”

“I’m happy to help,” she says. “I’m always happy to help.”

Pony stops before the moat, and Beauty and I dismount. “Follow me!” I say brightly, taking Prince from Beauty. I am trying to keep my voice extra light and fluffy so Beauty still thinks she’s walking into a great situation.

We cross the drawbridge, and I knock on the front door. “Hello!” I call. “It’s Abby. I’m back! Before dinnertime. And I brought the girl I was telling you about! Beauty!”

Mrs. Butler opens the door.

“Hello,” I say serenely. “We’d like to talk to Mr. Beast.”

She holds a hand to her ear. “You’d like to have a feast?”