Page 81 of Beauty's Beast

“Now,” the mage said, sitting back in his chair, “what is it you wish of me?”

“Don’t you know?” Erik asked.

The wizard smiled. “But of course. However, tiresome as it might be, I cannot grant your boon until you ask it of me.”

“I want to know if you can break a curse cast by another.”

“Perhaps.” The wizard gestured at Erik’s mask. “Take that off, please.”

Erik hesitated; he took a step back so that Kristine could not see his face and then removed the mask, clutching it tightly in his right hand.

The wizard’s eyes narrowed. Rising, he approached Erik, ran his fingertips over the left side of Erik’s face and neck. “Is this the full extent of the affliction?”

“No. It covers my left side and most of my right.”

The wizard grunted softly, a wave of his hand indicating Erik should disrobe.

With a sigh, Erik removed his garments, his heart pounding as he stood naked to the wizard’s gaze.

“Did this come upon you all at once, or little by little?”

“Little by little,” Erik replied. He stared at the back of Kristine’s head, praying she would not turn around. She had seen him as he was in the dungeon, he mused, he should have been used to it, but he could not bear for her to look at him, to see what he had become.

The mage grunted again. Rising, he walked slowly around Erik, one hand reaching out to touch the thick, dark pelt that covered his back and shoulders. “I’ve not seen a spell quite like this one before,” he remarked. “‘Tis most … interesting. Did she say there was a way to reverse the spell?”

Erik shook his head. “She said the spell could not be broken until her daughter forgave me.”

“And where is her daughter?”

“Dead these last five years.”

The wizard let out a sigh, then returned to his chair and sat down. “You may dress.”

Erik quickly donned his clothing and mask. Only then did he sit down in the chair beside Kristine. “Can you help me?”

“I will make you no promises. Should I be able to break this spell, what price are you willing to pay?”

“Whatever you ask,” Kristine said quickly.

The mage looked at her, a speculative gleam in his mild blue eyes. “Indeed?” His gaze moved over her, resting a moment on her swollen belly. “Anything I ask?”

“Yes,” she said. “Anything.”

“What have you to offer?”

“I have lands and wealth,” Erik said. “All are yours if you can remove this curse.”

“I have lands and wealth of my own,” the wizard replied.

“What is it you want, then?” Erik asked, though he feared he knew the answer.

“Your child.”

Kristine gasped. “Our child?” She stared at the wizard, mouth agape. “You are jesting.”

The mage shook his head. “Is it a price you are willing to pay?”

“No.” Erik stood up, reaching for Kristine’s hand.

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