Morning broke over Lynthe in soft hues of pink and gold, but Isabella's mind was clouded with the weight of the previous night. She sat at her small kitchen table, staring at the steaming mug of tea before her. Her hands were clasped tightly around the ceramic as if the warmth could ground her. But no amount of tea or sunlight could chase away the memory of those golden eyes or the deep, mournful voice of the beast.
"We are cursed," it had said, a truth as heavy as the forest's shadows. But cursed by what? And why?
She shook her head, willing herself to focus. "Curiosity killed the cat," she muttered, though the adage did little to dissuade her. She had spent her life learning to heal, understanding the delicate balance between body and spirit. If there was truly a curse, perhaps it was something that could be undone. The thought both terrified and exhilarated her.
A sharp knock at the door startled her from her thoughts. Isabella rose quickly, brushing stray auburn strands from her face as she opened the door to find Greta standing on her stoop. The baker's wife held a loaf of bread wrapped in cloth, her expression tight with worry.
"Morning, Greta," Isabella greeted, forcing a smile.
Greta thrust the bread into her hands. "I brought this for you. Thought you might need it after spending so much time near the forest yesterday."
Isabella frowned. "I'm fine. Really."
Greta's eyes narrowed. "Fine isn't what I'd call someone wandering close to cursed ground. You've got to stop tempting fate, Isabella. One day, the forest will take you, and we'll never see you again."
The words struck a nerve, but Isabella softened her tone. "I appreciate your concern. Truly. But I have work to do, and the best herbs grow there."
"And what good is all your work if you don't live to see its fruits?" Greta's voice rose, then broke into a sigh. "Just be careful. Please."
"I will," Isabella promised, though the words felt hollow even as she said them.
As Greta turned to leave, Isabella placed the bread on her table and retrieved her satchel. If she was going to the forest again—and she knew she couldn't resist—she needed to be prepared.
The Path Beyond
The forest felt different in the light of day, though its mysteries remained. Sunlight filtered through the canopy in golden shafts, painting dappled patterns on the forest floor. Isabella walked cautiously, her steps light and deliberate as she followed the faint trail she had taken the night before.
The air was heavy with the scent of earth and moss. Each sound, from the crunch of leaves beneath her boots to the distant trill of a bird, seemed amplified. But there were no howls now, no glowing eyes watching from the shadows. Instead, there was only the quiet hum of the forest, alive and ancient.
She stopped at a clearing, her gaze scanning the surroundings. This was where she had seen the beast. Her heart raced as she remembered its towering form, the way its golden eyes seemed to pierce her soul. She knelt, placing her satchel beside her as she began to gather the herbs she had come for. But her mind was far from the task at hand.
"You came back."
The voice sent a jolt through her, and she spun around to see the beast standing at the edge of the clearing. It was just as she remembered: massive, furred, and otherworldly. Yet, as terrifying as it appeared, she felt no immediate danger in its presence. If anything, its posture seemed... weary.
"I had to," she said, straightening. Her voice was steadier than she expected. "I need to know more. About you. About the curse."
The beast let out a low growl, its golden eyes narrowing. "Curiosity will lead you to ruin, girl. Turn back now, before it's too late."
"You said you were cursed," she pressed. "I want to help."
The beast laughed, a bitter sound that echoed through the clearing. "Help? Do you think you can undo what has bound us for centuries? What makes you think you're capable of such a thing?"
Isabella's jaw tightened. "I don't know if I am. But I have to try."
The beast stepped closer, and she fought the instinct to back away. Its massive form towered over her, but its gaze was searching, as though it were trying to see inside her mind.
"You are bold," it said finally. "And foolish. The curse is no simple spell to be broken. It is bound to the very heart of this forest, to its darkest roots."
"Then tell me how it began," Isabella said. "Maybe the answer lies there."
The beast hesitated, its claws flexing against the ground. "Long ago," it began, its voice low and rough, "this forest was not a place of darkness. It was vibrant, alive with magic that nurtured both the land and its people. But power breeds envy. A sorcerer, consumed by greed, sought to claim the forest's magic for himself. When he was denied, he cursed the land and all who called it home."
"All who called it home," Isabella repeated. "You were human once."
The beast's eyes darkened. "We were. But that life is gone. The curse twisted us, turning our forms into the monsters you see now. Our minds remain, trapped in bodies that betray us."
Her heart ached at the pain in its voice. "There has to be a way to break it. If the sorcerer cast the curse, then surely it can be undone."
"The sorcerer is long dead," the beast said. "But his magic lingers. It seeps into the earth, the trees, the air. Breaking the curse would require confronting the very source of his power. And no one who has sought it has ever returned."
Isabella's thoughts swirled. The task seemed insurmountable, yet she couldn't ignore the pull she felt. Something deeper than logic urged her to continue, to uncover the truth buried in the shadows.
"Why are you telling me this?" she asked. "Why not scare me away like you did before?"
The beast's gaze softened, if only slightly. "Because I see the fire in your eyes. You will not turn back, no matter how much I warn you. And if you are determined to walk this path, then you deserve to know the dangers that await."
"Thank you," she said, her voice quiet but resolute. "I won't give up."
The beast huffed a sound that might have been amusement or exasperation. "Then may the forest have mercy on you, girl. You'll need it."
Before she could respond, the beast melted back into the shadows, leaving her alone in the clearing. Isabella stood still for a long moment, her heart pounding. The forest seemed to hold its breath, the weight of its ancient secrets pressing against her.
Finally, she turned back to her satchel and resumed her work. But her thoughts were far from herbs and remedies. She had taken her first steps into the unknown, and there was no turning back now.