The Heart Of The Beast

The Heart Of The Beast (closed for Erlind )

Kiara grew up a poor man's daughter. Kiara had long beautiful blond hair she always kept in a braid she was about 5'5. she had the bluest eyes and had pale skin. she worked hard so her body was in fit shape. She worked hard out i the fields everyday. But it was never enough. It was just her and her father. As the years went on Kiara's father noticed she was becoming a women and soon he could wed her off the country's depression became worse and he had very little money to feed them. Kiara's mother died giving birth to her so her father had to raise her.

It was at the end of the day when she had two pails of water that she saw the lord's horses near their home. Kiara walked a bit faster. curious as to why they were here. she saw one of the gentlemen on one of the horses hand her father a large sum of silver. Kiara walked over." Father what's going why are the lord's men here." Kiara's father had a sad look on his face and nodded to the man on the horse.

The Lords men grabbed Kiara and threw her on a horse and rode off to the lord's small castle in the woods. Kiara was scared and had no idea what was going on. her innocent mind could not even fathom her father selling her.

Kiara felt like she had been on that horse for hours. her back was killing her and ow the guards roughly drag her off the horse and push her up the stairs and into the castle and push her down on to the marble floor of the castle.

Rimeheart Manor was a mysterious that many feared to go. Since his birth there had been tales of the monster that had been named Nathan Rimeheart. His mother had died in childbirth and his father had been distant his whole life. But when his father died no one had dared question his right to inheritance. Guards lived and worked on the property, but never entered the house. Very few servants were ever hired on and visitors were never entertained. Messages and matters of running the local lands were done through the butler that ran the manor. None ever saw the reclusive lord and none wanted otherwise.

* * *

From a railing the floor above the main hall a monstrous figure watched as the girl was dragged in. He was twice the size of a normal man and covered in long brown fur. Sharp white teeth shown in the dim candlelight. He watched as an older man in fine proper clothing approached the young woman and then disappeared down a dark hallway.

“Kiara, is it? Welcome to Lord Rimeheart’s Manor.” The old man offered the young woman his hand to help her up.

“Your parents owed the Lord a considerable sum and rather than losing their farm, our Lord generously offered to take you on as a maid instead. Come along now, it is late so I will show you to your quarters.” The old man was brusque and had little care for the girl, but he knew this must be a frightening experience for her even if she didn't know where she was.

Kiara looked up and accepted the mans help." how long am i to stay here." Kiara didn't want to seem un grateful but she was scared and had no idea what they would do to here hear. she had heard the stories of the hideous monster that lived here. her life was over. people in the village surly knew she was brought here and now on one would have anything to do with her.

Kiara followed the older man and looked around at the manor. Kiara saw now bright colors. the curtains always closed. there were dark deep colors and it seemed depressing. Kiara also noticed the door ways were huge." sir what will my duties be while i am here." Kiara was brought to a room up stairs and was surprised by its beauty. the room was a velvet red color and the bed was a deep blue shade and there was a fire place and windows." surely you and your master are mistaken. you said i was a maid now. this cannot be my room."

Kiara walked in with awe and looked around a bit unsure of the place." will i be able to walk the grounds or am i stuck inside the manor."

The older man led the girl upstairs to her room. She seemed scared and in awe, but she would adjust soon.

“Your room is next to our master’s. As soon as he leaves it in the morning you are to enter, take any dirty clothes, make the bed, and clean it. Never enter while he is there without his permission. You will help the kitchen after meals and come to me for any daily tasks.” The room was quite nice and perhaps at one time the servants’ quarters would have been cramped and bare, but with so few people living in the house it seemed a pity to waste the space.

“You will remain here until you have paid your parents debts. After that the choice is yours. Until then you are free to move around the manor and grounds until you prove you cannot be trusted to do so. I expect you to begin your duties in the morning, young lady. Goodnight.” The older man gently closed the door behind him. If she ran the master had said they’d have to find other solutions. It seemed too much trouble to him, he would have simply taken the family’s farm, but Master Rimeheart did as he wished.

Kiara’s new room was slightly dusty, but had clearly once been a place of elegance. There was an oak wardrobe filled with clothes proper for a servant, but still well made with good fabric. To one side there were even dresses and other things. A single bedside candle had been left burning for her. Nathan hadn’t wanted her to feel like a prisoner here even if in a way she was.

Kiara listen to what the elderly man had said." yes sir i promise you i will not be any trouble."

Kiara walked over to her window and discovered it led out to a balcony and smiled as she spotted a garden and ran down the stairs to the front doors and ran along the side of the house to explore the garden. she found a beautiful fountain in the middle covered with the most beautiful red roses. Kiara smiled at the beautiful scenery and found her new favorite spot. she could see the moon.

kiara loved being outside and around nature. she thought about her new master and wondered what he looked like or how he acted. she was a little scared to bump into him but with the elderly man's words she had little to fear of meeting him.

kiara sat there for hours and thought about her new life. it was well into the night when she heard twigs break and leave crunch. she paid no mind thinking it was a wild animal.

At night it was much easier to enjoy the grounds. Few people wandered the gardens in the dark and even if they did it was dark enough that he was rarely seen. Nathan had no illusions about what he was, he was a monster. Everyone feared the beast and so he hid himself from his own people. That didn’t mean he wasn’t curious though. This new girl that his guards had brought him was quite fetching, a delicate beauty that it was hard not to admire.

Even in the late hour it seemed she enjoyed the gardens as much as he did. Still, it was a wonder she wasn’t cold out here. His thick pelt protected him, but the clothes she was wearing couldn’t be much protection. The beast stepped on a twig and he thought for certain that she’d heard him, but she didn’t move. Perhaps it was best if she saw him now though instead of wondering for days and worrying. Nathan stepped forward into the moonlight behind her. His yellow eyes gleamed in the soft moonlight and his body silhouetted her completely. She was so small compared to him.

“Why are you out here so late?” His voice came out as more of a growl than he’d meant. He hoped he didn’t frighten her too much, but it was better she knew that she now served an animal like him.

Kiara nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard a deep voice which almost sounded like a growl. Kiara turned her head and froze right then and there. All the stories were true. the lord of these lands was in fact a beast. Kiara had to hid her reaction. she never showed her feelings to anyone and was not about to start now.

Kiara took in the beast and saw his thick pelt and his yellow eyes. she had to move her head up to look him in the eyes. The lord was taller then any man she had ever come across.

kiara relaxed and answered his question." i have always loved the moon my lord. it brings me peace and calmness when i am afraid. to be honest my lord working for you is going to be hard. i am not use to walls. what brings my lord out this late."

Kiara tried to calm her nerves. it was useless to go and faint. this beast seemed nice enough. maybe he would let her go. Kiara looked at this beast more closely and gave a small smile to her self. no longer afraid of him she walked closer and sat on one of the stone benches near the fountain." if you think i am afraid of you your wrong.

She’d startled, but quickly composed herself. The girl was braver than likely anyone had given her credit for. Nathan smiled revealing a mouth full of large sharp teeth when she explained her reason for staying out here. The enormous creature took a few silent steps closer to Kiara and studied her. He hadn’t seen her lovely blue eyes from so far off.

“You may not be scared, but you are one of the few. I don’t like scaring my own people, so I like being out at night when no one will see me. That and I look the moon too, Kiara.” Nathan chuckled, a deep rolling sound that startled a bird sleeping in a nearby bush into waking and flying off. Then he quieted though as he thought about something else she’d said.

“Your parents asked me for money to expand their farm. I granted it, but the harvest hasn’t been good to them the last few years and they couldn’t pay me back. I’m not upset with them, but we needed to figure out a way to pay the debt. They thought your life might be better up here anyway and asked if you could help work off their debt here. I’m sorry I have to keep you within these walls, Kiara. No one deserves to be trapped in here.” That was exactly what he was though, trapped.

kiara like the beast's laugh and gave a small smile. she listened to what he had said and felt sad by his words.' you shouldn't let people decide how you live. you live in a vast forest where most people are to afraid to come, you should be able to enjoy days out side i mean your walls are high enough. and as for my family. my father was ever a father i had to learn on my own and work for my meals. if you were not he. her would have sold me to the highest bidder. all i am to my father was a way to get rich and as far as being in theses walls i am happy to be away from him.

Kiara gave the beast a friendly smiled and walked around but kept in sight of the beast." my name is Kiara and i am sure you have a name may i ask what it is so i don't have to call you beast." kiara looked at him with the most innocent eyes and wonder. she was so curious about this being. she wanted to learn everything about him. how he came to be this way.

with the beast more in the light she could clearly see him better and was not chiding her self. there was nothing to fear.

How curious, she really wasn’t afraid. Her gentle smile warmed his heart and helped him relax. It had been a long time since anyone had just talked to him like this without the obvious edge of fear coloring their words.

“My name is Nathan Rimeheart. It’s been a long time since I’ve talked with anyone like this. Are you really not afraid?”

His appearance made it hard to be close to anyone, and the rare occasions he did, they always seemed to end up frightened away eventually. When he got angry or frustrated this form made it seem four times worse than it really was. A man he’d once called his friend once cowered in fear and admitted to being afraid of being eaten. Nathan just wanted to be sure this girl’s attitude was genuine before he let himself get to know her.

Kiara laughed at his question and nodded." i am really not afraid of you. i will admit i was at first but then i saw how gentle and nice you are and i saw there was nothing to be afraid of Nathan. i am glad i get to have a conversion with you."

Kiara really wanted to ask him how he became this way but decide not to as. she did not want to get him angry or sad." i am glad we had this talk but i should probably get to bed. i will have to get up early and clean your room and wash your clothes."

Kiara stood up and bent over and kissed Nathan on the cheek and walked back up to her room. She dusted most of her room before she feel asleep on top of the covers. it was early morning when she awoke and went to her new wardrobe and put her maid uniform on and began her duties.

After Kiara went to bed, Nathan found he could not sleep at all. It had been a very long time since he’d been able to be so at ease with a person. She was kind, sweet, and quite beautiful as well. Stalking the gardens and gazing up at the night sky, Nathan found himself thinking of all the ways things between them could go horribly wrong and all the ways they could go wonderfully right. Finally, in the early morning hours, he returned to his chambers and passed out in his bed.

In the morning, the door between Nathan’s room and his new maid’s cracked open causing the morning light from her room to spill into his. His pants lay discarded on the floor, they were all he usually wore and that was only out of modesty. His pelt kept him more than warm enough and putting more clothes on top of that was just uncomfortable. The massive bed had torn sheets and claw marks carved into the intricate wood head board from times nightmares had plagued him and he’d sunk his claws into the wood in his sleep. Most noticeable of all, to any newcomer would be the massive beast sleeping in the bed, quietly snoring. Staying up so late the night before had taken its toll and Nathan still slumbered fitfully in the bed, half covered by a slightly ripped sheet.

Kiara got the baskets she would need for the Lords room. she saw the door open slightly and figured he was already out. she walked in and did not notice Nathan till she went to the bed and gasped. Kiara had no clue what to do so she quietly grabbed his clothing and straightened up his things and put fresh clothes away and towels in his bathroom. she stopped a moment and just stared at Nathan and smiled.

Nathan looked so peaceful and innocent. she saw the claw marks and frowned. the dreams this man mas have she thought. she walked up and pulled the cover over him more and made sure he was comfy. As Kiara stood there she awed at his pelt and how beautiful it looked. the rich color. kiara got the sudden erge to touch him. She blushed at the thought and walked out of the room.

a few hours later Kiara was on her lunch break and was outside by the fountain again and marveled at the beauty of the garden and thought she would have to get Nathan out here soon. she hated that he stayed inside because of fear.

Light seeped past Nathan’s dark curtains. He knew he must have slept in, because it didn’t do that until late in the morning. He looked around the room and saw that it had been tidied and wondered if Kiara had been here. He’d dreamed that someone had been in his room with him, but he’d thought that’s all it was, a dream.

He spent the morning with his butler, Davis going over business. Tax collection seemed to be going smoothly, he approved one request for leniency and denied another. Though he had a fearsome reputation, Nathan tried to remain just in the way he governed his small corner of the realm. By the time he was finished with that, it was close to lunch. Breakfast and Dinner he tried to keep in the dining room, but like most days, he asked Davis to bring his lunch to the library.

A hefty portion of near rare roast beef, roasted potatoes and carrots, and some barely alcoholic wine. It was a favorite meal of Nathan’s. He hated to admit how much of his animal side he felt sometimes, but the nearly bloody stack of meat tasted amazing. He settled into his massive comfortable chair at the back of his impressive library. Staying cooped up all the time gave him an appreciation for the written word that he suspected some of his neighboring Lords simply didn’t have.

The beast pushed aside the curtains near him and saw Kiara out in the garden enjoying her own lunch. The sunlight played in her hair and it was so tempting to go out there and be with her, but Nathan tried to limit his time outside during the day. He’d nearly frightened the cook’s daughter to death several years ago, and though they would never admit it, the guards were always nervous when he prowled the grounds during the day. No. It was better to stay in here. Nathan plucked a pair of thin spectacles from the small table by his chair and gingerly put them on. He thought they looked ridiculous on a monster like him, but they helped him read and that was all that mattered. Books were sometimes Lord Rimeheart’s only escape.

Kiara finished her lunch and went back to her cleaning duties. her next stop was the libary. having no idea anyone was in there she walked right in and awed at the books and walked along a stair case not seeing Nathan at all she marveled at the collection of books there were. she loved reading and loved books. that's how she spent most of her free time was with her nose stuck in a book. she touched the spine of all the books in front of her and sighed.

Kiara began dusting the books when she heard a slight growl and turned around and nearly jumped out of her skin with a small shriek she dropped her feather duster and grabbed the railing." Oh Nathan you startled me. i thought you were still asleep. i am sorry to disturb you. i will go at once and return when you have finished in here."

Kiara grabbed the duster and started to heard for the door.

“Don’t.”

Nathan marked his spot with a slip of paper and set down the book he was reading along with his glasses. Then with more speed than would have been expected of such a large man, he crossed the library until he was once again looking down at Kiara.

“Davis warns everyone away from spending time near me, because he knows how much I hate scaring people even by accident. Sometimes the part of me that is a beast wins out over what is a man and my temper gets the best of me. Even at times like that I just don’t want to scare anyone.”

He set one heavy hand on the bookshelf over Kiara’s head and leaned against it. For once he didn’t even worry about his size frightening her. He looked down at the petite beauty with feather duster in hand. Even with the sudden change and being taken from her home she was ready and eager to pay her way, Nathan liked that. The outfit was quite cute on her as well.

“I know what he said, but as long as you’re comfortable I never want you to feel you have to ask my permission to be somewhere in this house. I know you didn’t mind slipping in my room this morning while I slept.” Nathan grinned his toothy grin at her.

Kiara backed up to the book shelf as Nathan walked to her. a bit surprised with the closeness of Nathan she stood still not wanting him to think she was scared. Kiara blushed and looked down kicking her foot a bit." my Lord i thought you were up and away. if i disturbed at all my apologies i will make sure it never happens again."

Kiara never being with a man or this close to a man. her cheeks were growing redder by the second and looked up at his toothy smile." thank you my lord. i didn't think you were in here and i love books. they are the best thing in life. you can go anywhere you want when you read."

"That is so true, Kiara. You truly can."

He looked down at her and noticed her cheeks beginning to turn bright red. She looked so small backed between the bookshelf and him, and her blushing only made her look more innocent. His baser animal instincts began to call to him making him think devious thoughts, but Nathan bit them back. Kiara was a sweet girl and he needed to treat her with respect.

“You’re blushing, Kiara,” he told her in his deep husky voice, “I’m not making you uncomfortable, am I?”

kiara looked up." no no not at all." Kiara tried to lie so it wouldn't make him feel bad. Kiara started to get this tingling feeling in her stomach and tried to figure out why it was happen to her. to test it her self she walked closer to Nathan and touched his body with hers." are you uncomfortable. you sound like something is bothering you." Kiara tried to be tempting but she just felt silly. she had never even been kissed and here she was starting to have feeling and wanting him to notice her. she sighed and backed away and looked down." no Nathan i love your company very much."

Kiara looked at Nathan and saw him as a man and not a beast. she hated the way people talked about him and treated him. she had only known him a day but she was falling head over heels in love with this man. she was going to get to know all of him and hopefully something more to him. she hoped.

When she pressed herself against him, Nathan took a deep breath enjoying her light almost sweet scent. The beast side of him fought for control and there was a low rumble in his chest like a cross between and purr and a growl, but deeper. When she backed away though, Nathan asserted self-control and did the same, removing his hand from above her on the shelf.

“I rather enjoy your company too, young lady,” he told her wistfully. “Perhaps for now though I’ll retire to my chambers with my book and let you work.” Nathan retreated, grabbing the book and his reading glasses before making his way out of the library and up to his room.

The tailor in town that made his trousers always did a good job, but had no way of knowing his size in other ways. He’d left quickly not only to end the pleasant tension between them, but also before she noticed the considerable length that had become outlined clearly in his pants. Nathan knew he shouldn’t be lusting after a girl that had only started working for him, but she was not only strikingly beautiful, but she’d accepted him for who he was without hesitation. As strange as it was, Nathan already cared too much about her to think of her only like an animal.

Hurt by his sudden clodness she finished the rest of her days work and headed back to her room. She started a fire as it was close to winter and the nights had become chilly. She sat next to the firepalce and thought abought what she had said or done wrong. She had a book I'm her lap.

Kiara was so confused about everything. The way Nathan made her feel and why she did wrong.

An hour later she knocked on the door to Nathan's room. She was going to find out what she had did wrong.

After leaving the library, Nathan had only come down for dinner and even then limited his time downstairs. Kiara was too sweet of a girl for the animal thoughts he’d been having about her. He didn’t want to see her right now. She might not be afraid of him, but that didn’t keep him from being a beast. After sunset, Nathan considered leaving the manor and running out in the dark wood to burn off some energy, but he was so close to finishing his book he didn’t want to leave. It was a tale of swashbuckling adventure and just like the end of so many like stories, it ended with the handsome hero getting the girl, an end that he would never have.

He’d just finished his book when he heard a knock at his door, but it wasn’t his main bedroom door, it was the door between his room and Kiara’s. His mind raced. Had he upset her by leaving, was she asking to quit and be let out of her parents’ bargain? All of the worst things ran through his mind. None of that mattered though, so Nathan went to the door and opened it. Candlelight filled his room and while he hadn’t thought it possible she looked even more beautiful in the candlelight.

“Kiara.” Her name was all he managed. He didn’t know why she was here or what to say to her.

Kiara looked at Nathan." May I come in. I wish to talk with you.if I upset you this afternoon I am sorry and I will keep my distance. I am sorry to have upset you."kiara had no words for him other then she was sorry. She looked up at him fully and feel more in love. He looked so handsome by candle light.

Out of fear she kept her feeling to her self. She hopes Nathan that he would let her on so they could talk.

“Kiara, come in.”

He closed the door behind her and motioned to the bed as a place to sit. The beast sat down next to her and shook his head. He’d never meant for her to think he was upset with her.

“I never meant for you to think I was upset with you,” Nathan began his deep voice low and apologetic. “Kiara, I know we’ve just met, but already I care a lot about you. You accepted me with hesitation and have been so sweet to me. You were in no way the problem.” Nathan wasn’t sure how to explain the reason he really left and sitting next to her in the candlelight like this wasn’t making this any easier.

“Whether you fear me or not, I’m still a beast. I can have powerful anger at times and other times I can have other powerful urges …,” Nathan trailed off for a moment. “You’re a very attractive young woman and you’ve been so kind to me. Being so close to you in the library made those urges very powerful. I didn’t want you to think that I brought you here for sex or that I didn’t care enough about you to wait. I don’t even know if you feel the same way about me.”

Kiara sat down on the beasts bed. She was in love with it. It felt so comfy. She sat there listing and waited till he was done talking." I have feeling for you my lord as well. Your so kind and sweet and gentle."

Kiara was so nervous. She got up and paced aroud the room. she had no idea where this would lead. For the first time since she has been her she tool her braid and in did and let her hair fall free. She sat in front of the first place looking at the flames taking everything in.