Charming, Volume 2 by Jack Heckel

flicked back and forth as he gazed at Charming with yellow animal eyes.
    Instinctively, Charming gasped and his hand reached down for the sword that was not there. A few days, even hours, before, he would have leapt to his feet, ready to slay such a monster, to battle it like a hero. But he was not a hero any longer. He took in a deep breath, but otherwise did not move from his chair.
    The man—­beast—­cocked his head, studying his reaction. Charming knew he was being measured, but did not care. He had already been judged and found wanting. With nothing to lose, he asked, or tried to ask, the obvious question, the only question: “How did you . . . I mean . . . I’m sorry, are you cursed?”
    The yellow eyes softened, and, to his surprise, Charming realized that there was something distinctly human behind those eyes, and, what was more, something manifestly good. Gray streaks ran through the creature’s fur, and Charming determined that the monster before him must be well past its prime. The creature spoke: “Do you wish to know why I appear the way I do?”
    â€œI apologize, good sir, but yes, I do.”
    The beast gave a deep, gentle rumbling chuckle and began playing with a small golden charm he had on a chain around his neck. The yellow eyes smiled. “First, let us dispense with the titles. My name is Adam. In the tales, I am simply the Beast. As to how I came to look like this, I suppose I could say that I was the victim of a magical curse, but that would be to deny my own part in what happened.” Adam paused, considering how to start, and after a measured moment said, “How do these stories begin? Ah, yes . . .
    â€œOnce upon a time, this part of the kingdom was a thriving land, and this forest and much beyond even that was part of my family’s estate. My father was a good man, and a wise lord, but he and my mother died of fever while I was still young.” The Beast’s voice broke here and he paused to collect himself. “I was a man, but I was immature. Perhaps in time I might have grown into my new position, but I was impatient and lazy. Rather than apply myself, I summoned a fairy spirit and asked it to make me a great lord, strong in battle and feared by all. The fairy, as I have since learned, is quite literal in granting wishes, and turned me into the creature you see before you. Perhaps she thought that it would teach me a lesson.” He held up his hands in a half-­shrug.
    While he spoke, servants slipped quietly into the room and placed covered trays in front of the two men and poured two goblets of wine. The Beast gestured at the dishes. “I would guess that you have not had a good meal in days. Come, let’s eat!” He reached forward, and removed the lid of a large tray to reveal a turkey, cooked a perfect golden brown. Charming swallowed in anticipation. “Ah, the kitchen is trying to impress you. They do tire of cooking for one. If you would be so kind as to do the honor?” The Beast indicated with one of his clawed hands an elegant silvered carving knife and matching serving fork set beside the tray. “I signaled the servants to give us some time before they check on us again. I suspect we both have stories to tell that would be best told with fewer ears listening.”
    Charming regarded his host, who was still playing with the end of the little gold necklace he was wearing. It was remarkable. The creature, Adam, was so well-­mannered that Charming was finding it necessary to remind himself that his host was a monster and not some aged lord.
    As Charming carved and served the turkey, the Beast picked up the thread of his story. “As I said, I was transformed by a fairy who had a remarkably strong sense of right and wrong. But if the fairy’s goal was to teach me a lesson, then I learned nothing. I was bitter and angry, and I used my new form to become a true tyrant. One day,