Bewitched by the Beast (ENGLISH)

Chapter 1

NEVAEH covered her body with a thick garment as their chariot arrived at the village of Cana where her family decided to move. Unlike the place they came from, Cana's temperature never goes zenith, so her father Solomon finds it desirable for their small business of winter garments.

She traveled her eyes on the giant trees and mountains as they went out of the chariot: a new place and a new beginning for them. The only thing that gives familiarity to her is the cold climate. Just as she expected, towering trees engulf the landscape and are surrounded by snow-capped mountains. Nevertheless, she has high hopes for the folktale of the daylight moon, covered with heat and glaring lights, to occur one day. She desired to experience the natural warmth it would bring and how it would feel. 

Based on tittle-tattles, the mythical daylight moon is existent in some parts of the world. Even so, traveling across continents requires spending a copious amount of fortune, and those who are privileged enough to do so are those with a great expanse of riches and royal bloodlines.

"Nevaeh, lend me a hand," her mother called her out. She immediately helped her mother in carrying the luggage of their clothes and undergarments.

"Are we going to settle here permanently?" Nevaeh asked. She spent eighteen years in their hometown, and moving to Cana makes her downhearted.

Mrs. Miranda Reed, her mother, scowled at her. She found hearing any complaints to be distasteful. They have already spoken about this matter and everyone in the family, including her twelve-year-old brother, Eiran, agreed to their parents' decision.

"Pardon me," Nevaeh apologized and continued moving the luggage in the wooden cart. "When I turn twenty-two and can make money on my own, I can do whatever I desire, like visiting my friends and going to places with warm climates." She said, mimicking her mother's voice and saying the exact words she would always hear every time she complained.

"Our home is about only a hundred meters from here," Mr. Solomon smiled at Nevaeh, giving her assurance that everything will be fine in Cana. "Small but perfect for us four." 

Miranda looked at him and smiled a bit. She only wishes for their business to be profitable as they move to Cana. She wanted to give color to her children's lives, especially to Nevaeh, who only has two years left,  and she could legally be settled with her own family. She wanted her daughter to find a good man and have her own family in Cana.

"You came to the spot on time. Today is the good harvest festival. Everyone will gather at the market to celebrate," the charioteer informed them. Mr. Solomon scratched his head before he nodded. He is not familiar with the villagers, and trusting someone is the least he can do for the time being. He is a stranger to them, and the same thing goes for them.

"Fruits and vegetables will be given for free. There are also festivities and other enjoyment. I think King Ergofin and his son will be there too," the charioteer continued. "It only happens once a year." 

"We will try," Mr. Solomon uttered and went on with his family. Eiran convinced his father to visit the festival, but Mr. Solomon remained quiet. Nevaeh saw a crowd walking towards the market, and some of the villagers were preparing a tiny stage beside a wooden tavern. Some individuals are already having fun, and when she glanced over her shoulder on the other corner, she was taken aback seeing a couple making out. She then averted her gaze instantly as if she saw nothing.

Seeing such an intimate sight was the first time for her. She never had a lover, so it was weird to see a couple having a good time. Culture differs from place to place, and she figured out that she must adapt to the new culture of Cana. 

They wandered their eyes to the old frames on the wooden walls as they entered through the frontal door. The wooden stairs creaked as Eiran rushed upstairs excitedly. "You can use the fireplace to keep yourselves warm," Ms. Magdalene, the house agent, suggested. The old miss and her parents walked through the kitchen, but Nevaeh stayed in the doorway. 

Nevaeh followed Eiran to the second floor as her parents proceeded with the conversation with Ms. Magdalene regarding their new house. There are two rooms upstairs; one is for her parents, and the other is undoubtedly for her and Eiran. Each room provides adequate space enough for their goods and chattels. A tiny family house indeed, as her father told them.

She went to the oak window with two opening frames and leaned her elbows to watch the residents of the village crowding towards the same area.

"What do you think about our new home, Nevaeh?" Eiran asked, breaking the silence in between them. Nevaeh heaved a sigh and stared at the well-defined patches of clouds above. The only thing that never changed is the continuous snowdrops and freezing weather. 

"Simple," Nevaeh replied plainly. "Could turn to ashes in minutes," she continued and grinned sneeringly. Their wooden house is antiquated compared to the other masonry houses in the area, which are made of clay and stone that are worth a fortune. But who is she to complain about? She does not have the wealth to build her parents a better home. 

"I thought so too," Eiran said, walking next to her. "But this kind of house is the only home we can afford for now," he continued. Silence fell upon the room as Nevaeh refused to lengthen the statement of his younger brother. He is right. Nevertheless, she always knew she would be rich, where buying any property will be as easy as blinking. She refuses to believe that royal families are born with privilege. She will build her empire and reign in it without possessing any royalty within her veins until her last breath.

"Eiran. You wanted to go to the festival, didn't you?" Nevaeh turned her gaze to her brother. His eyebrows rose. 

"Yeah, but knowing our father, so much of his introversion will never let us go. He will only lecture us as we insist," Eiran answered dispiritedly. His shoulder sank in disappointment. Nevaeh smirked and tapped his shoulder to send him comfort.

"Who needs his approval?" 

Eiran gasped as his lonely eyes went slightly opened in surprise. "You disobedient child!" Eiran carefully exclaimed to not let their parents hear them. Nevaeh covered her mischievous grin. She knew those words would come out of Eiran's mouth. Eiran never disobeyed his parents. Nevaeh, the older one, was the snake of Adam and eve.

"Ten o'clock in the evening. Do not sleep. Otherwise, you will miss a chance." Nevaeh got her plan out.

"What are we going to do?"

"We will sneak through this window," Nevaeh said and glanced at the ground. A leafless deciduous tree stands next to the window, its dried leaves covering the caked ground. She is certain that jumping from the window will not cause them injury. They will just feel a little bit of butt pain.

"I'm scared," Eiran gulped and followed the direction where Nevaeh's eyes were looking. 

"I am not forcing you to come along with me, Eiran." Nevaeh smiled. 

Nevaeh just looked up straight as she lay on the bed with the blanket covering her body, waiting for 10 o'clock to come before getting up. She turned her gaze to her side, where his brother lies while looking through the window.

"Will you please stay? I cannot let you do what you want and eventually get scolded," Eiran begged her. Nevaeh just kept her mouth shut. She got up from the bed and peaked by the door to find out if their parents were already sleeping. 

"You are just scared of getting reprimanded along with me," Nevaeh said and softly laughed. She closed the door and quickly got herself some nice clothes to wear.

They could hear the cheerfulness of the crowd from a distance from the marketplace. Residents are singing and yelling at the same time. As a maiden new to Cana, she wanted to feed her curiosity about the place. She wanted to get acquainted with the residents and befriend them as she would always do.

Nevaeh looked at her reflection in the mirror. She wore her knee-length boots and tightly hugged her foot-length cardigan to her body. In it was her gray dress.

"Nevaeh!" Eiran roughly rebuked as Nevaeh opened the window. The girl took a deep breath to remove her fear from her chest before looking back to her brother.

"Eiran. We won't be scolded if you won't say anything," she said. Nevaeh distorts it when someone stops her from doing what she wants to do.

"I'll go with you," Eiran quickly put on a cardigan. A sly smile drew on Nevaeh's face. At Eiran's young age, it was better for him to be happy while there was no burden to think about if he ever had a family. He should not restrain himself for fear of being reprimanded by his parents.

They jumped together from the window, and just what the lady expected, they did not get broken bones; instead, a slight sting was felt on their buttocks.

When they successfully landed on the ground, they quickly ran into the marketplace where the fun was currently taking place. Nevaeh held Eiran's hand and stopped as they saw the colorful lights attached in every store. In front of the wooden tavern is a small stage where women in beautiful clothes dance with the residents singing. In front of them is a large fire that gives light and heat to the surrounding.

"Foods are over here. Come take some!" Nevaeh turned to where an inviting shout came from. A lady served a dish that looks like a lamb's leg to the banquet. She gulped as she felt a sudden craving. Residents gathered to taste the food.

"Aren't you those who recently moved to the new north?" Eiran jumped in surprise when an old man of age 60 approached them to ask. He was holding a bitten fruit, and there were crumbs of food hanging from his white beard.

Nevaeh nodded and smiled. "Yes, we are!" she replied happily and extended her arms to the old man to shake hands.

"Welcome to our place. Where are you from? There must be a lot of people with ill intentions there, so you decided to move here," said the old man while laughing. The smile on Nevaeh's lips faded when she felt the old man's wet palm. She immediately released and secretly wiped her palm on the back of her cardigan.

"W-we're from the Mountain of Eden," Eiran replied when he noticed Nevaeh stunned from the old man's word.

The old man nodded and grabbed Eiran's shoulder, "That's a nice place, but the problem is, there aren't too many households," he said. He is right. They moved to Cana because there are more people here that could be their customers in the future. "Get some fruit there. Young men and women of the same age as you are also crowded there. You should start socializing so that the residents here will get to know you," the old man continued.

Nevaeh and Eiran smiled and quickly proceeded to where the old man directed them to go. Their worn boots were slightly submerged in the thickness of the snow. Two women, who Nevaeh thought to be the same age as her, stopped talking when they got closer. Eiran immediately accepted a bread with sweetened pineapples given to him by the woman who offers fruits to the young ones.

Nevaeh smiled at the woman who seemed unhappy with their arrival at the feast and offers her hand, "I'm Nevaeh Reed. It is my pleasure to meet you." She introduced herself.

The young men not far from where she was standing also looked at her and marveled at her beauty. One of the women rolled her eyes in annoyance, and they both left without greeting her back.

Feeling ashamed, Nevaeh lowered her hand back and shook her head to disregard what had happened. "Let those two be. They get angry with women who are more beautiful than them," a young woman with braided platinum blonde hair and green eyes suddenly said.

"Beautiful?" Nevaeh asked herself. She could not believe that there are people who also found her beautiful in this place. 

Her shoulder-length brunette waves and hazel eyes are probably the reason why she looks so different in the village. Most residents have brightly colored hair. She could no longer see any difference in her appearance from the residents aside from her hair color.

The girl nodded and pulled Nevaeh's fringe off her forehead. "I'm Piper, and the old man you talked to earlier is my father, Peter." She introduced herself and reached her hand out to Nevaeh. "Nevaeh," she uttered her name. "And this is Eiran, my younger brother," she continued. As she expected, some people disliked their arrival, and a few were kind.

After a while, the celebrating residents suddenly gathered in a corner when an elegant chariot arrived. An excitement plastered on Piper's face as she grabbed Nevaeh's wrist abruptly and pulled her closer to the crowd.

They both tiptoed to see who the newcomer was. Nevaeh's eyes immediately landed on a leather boot that first came out of the chariot. She was immediately amazed at the gentleman's splendor that she could hardly take her eyes off him. Such a gentleman was born of gold, his dress and running exuding solemnity and bravery.

"Prince Dallas of Schoita. Their family is the ruler of the entire village of Cana," Piper whispered to her ear. The prince wandered his eyes, and Nevaeh did not anticipate meeting his glimpses despite the large crowd.