3. A Bargain Struck

CHAPTER 3

A BARGAIN STRUCK

T he castle looms around Luca like a living thing—cold, crumbling, and suffocating. He hasn't slept, the weight of the walls pressing down on him through the night, the air corrupt and cloying. Every corner feels like it's watching him, like the shadows themselves are alive. He tried to rest, but the thought of his father out there—wherever "out there" is—kept him awake, gnawing at him with each passing hour.

And then there's her . The Beast. The woman trapped in the shell of a monster. She's everything the legends have warned about, yet also something different.

Something more.

Luca stands from the rough stone bench where he's spent the night and wipes the grit of sleeplessness from his eyes. His resolve hardened in the dark hours, and now, as dawn's weak light filters through the cracks in the castle's broken windows, he reaffirms what he has to do.

He can't leave without his father.

And he needs something more to bargain with than himself.

Something valuable.

His footsteps are muffled and muted by the thick air as he makes his way toward the deeper part of the castle, the decaying grandeur of it all closing in around him. He hears the faint rustle of wind slipping through broken windows, the soft creaking of the castle settling into its own ruin. Everything here is falling apart, just like its mistress.

And yet... there's something about it. A hint of the beauty it once held. A glimmer of what it might have been before the curse twisted everything.

The castle is a place of shadows and silence, but it isn't just ruin. There's something else here, something that lingers beneath the surface of the decay. As Luca moves through the cold, empty halls, his breath coming in shallow bursts in the chill air, he finds himself looking past the cracked walls and broken windows, past the crumbling stones and the tangles of dark ivy that crawl along the floors and ceilings.

There are hints of beauty hidden beneath the rot.

A carved pillar, its once-intricate design still faintly visible beneath the grime. An archway adorned with faded patterns, the delicate artistry of its engravings barely discernible through the layers of dust. Luca's fingers trail along one of the pillars as he passes, feeling the grooves of the carvings beneath his fingertips. Whoever built this place created something magnificent, something filled with light and elegance.

Now, it's all but lost to time and darkness.

But it's still here. Beneath the rot and ruin, the remnants of its former grandeur remain, waiting to be uncovered. There's a story here, one that hasn't been entirely erased by the curse that twisted this castle into something dark and forsaken.

It reminds him of the Beast herself.

She's the same, isn't she? A creature of shadows and anger on the surface, but beneath it all, there's something more. Something broken, yes, but maybe something beautiful, too. He's seen it in her eyes, the brief flicker of emotion when she speaks of the curse, the way her voice falters for just a moment. It's almost as if a part of her is still clinging to the past, to the person she once was.

The realization sends a shiver down Luca's spine. He isn't just drawn to the mystery of the curse. He's... intrigued by her. The woman trapped within the shell of the Beast.

What are you? he finds himself wondering as he moves deeper into the castle's shadowed heart. What happened to you?

He shakes off the thought as he approaches the chamber where he last saw her, trying to focus on his plan, on the bargain he's about to propose.

Except the curiosity lingers, a faint but persistent ember in the back of his mind. The curse is terrible—powerful, destructive—but the Beast... there's something about her that doesn't fit the stories he's read. She's supposed to be a mindless creature, a monster consumed by rage and sorrow. And yet, she'sn't.

She's more than that.

And strangely, a part of him needs to understand why.

Luca steels himself as he steps into the chamber. Brynn's there, pacing like a restless predator, her claws tapping on the stone floor. The sound echoes through the empty halls, a sharp reminder of the danger she poses.

But Luca doesn't waver. He takes a deep breath, his gaze steady as he approaches her.

She instantly withdraws to the shadows. Her eyes, glowing faintly in the dim light, flick over him with hard hatred. The air between them crackles with tension, the curse's presence a palpable force that makes the hair on Luca's arms stand on end.

For a moment, neither of them speaks.

Then she tilts her head, her gaze narrowing. "What do you want, scholar?" she asks, her voice low and cold. "Have you come to beg for your life?"

Luca pushes down the fear that coils in his stomach. "No," he says, his voice steady despite the tightness in his throat. "I want to propose a bargain."

Her lips curl into something that might be a smile—or a snarl. "A bargain? With me?"

"Yes." He takes a step closer, holding her gaze. "I'm offering you my help."

For a moment, the Beast says nothing. Her eyes bore into him, sharp and assessing, as if she's trying to decide whether to laugh or tear him apart. Luca forces himself to stay calm, to keep his expression open and honest. He can't show fear now.

Not when so much is riding on this.

"Help," she repeats, her voice dripping with disdain. "And what, exactly, do you think you can offer me? You're a scholar, not a warrior. You have no power, no strength. What use would I have for you?"

Luca straightens, meeting her gaze with all the courage he can muster. "I can help you understand the shard you guard. The Solheart."

The Beast goes still. The temperature in the room seems to drop, the very air thickening around them. Her claws flex as her gaze sharpens, a dangerous glint flickering in her eyes.

"You think you know something about the shard?" she asks, her voice low and menacing. "Something I don't?"

"I think I might," Luca says carefully. "I've read the old texts, the legends of Ravenspire and the power that once protected this kingdom. The Solheart shard is more than just a relic. It's tied to the curse—to you. And I believe that if we can understand it, we can find a way to break the curse."

The Beast's expression darkens, her eyes narrowing as she rises to her full height. Luca fights the urge to flinch as her shadow swallows him whole.

"You think you can break my curse?" she hisses. "Do you have any idea what you're saying?"

Luca doesn't back down. "I know it won't be easy. But I'm willing to try. And in exchange... I want my father back."

Silence falls between them, thick and weighted. The Beast's gaze burns into him, her claws twitching at her sides as the shadows move around her restlessly.

Luca holds his breath, his heart pounding so hard he thinks it might shatter his ribs. He knows he's taking a risk, that this could end badly for both him and his father. But he has to try. He can't walk away now.

Not when there's even the slightest chance of saving his father—and her.

Finally, she lets out a low, bitter laugh. "You think you can buy his life with your clever words and ancient stories?" She leans closer, her eyes blazing. "Hope is a dangerous thing, scholar. It's more likely to kill you than save you."

"I know," Luca says quietly. "But I have to try."

Another beat of silence. Then, to his surprise, the Beast turns away, her movements stiff and jerky. She paces deeper into the shadows, her claws like nails on glass.

Luca watches her, his heart twisting with something he doesn't fully understand. She's angry—furious, even—but there's something else there, too. Pain. Sadness. A deep, abiding sorrow that seems to radiate from her like a dark aura.

He wants to reach out, to say something that would ease that pain, but he knows better. She's a creature of sharp edges and shadows, and any attempt to touch the woman beneath the Beast will only end in blood.

But he can't help being drawn to her.

Even now, even knowing what she's capable of, he can't look away. He doesn't know her name, barely knows what she looks like, but there's something about her that calls to him, a mystery he needs to solve, a truth he needs to understand.

"Very well," the Beast says at last, her voice low and hard. "I accept your bargain. If you learn anything new about the shard, I'll let your father go. But if you fail—if you lie, or betray me—I will end you."

Luca swallows, nodding slowly. "I understand."

Just as she turns to leave, a sudden impulse surges through him, cutting through the fear and tension. "Wait," he says softly.

She freezes, half-turned away from him, her massive shoulders tensing. Luca swallows past his clenched throat, every instinct screaming at him to stay silent. To let her leave.

But he can't. Not now.

Not when something inside him is telling him this is important.

"What is it, scholar?" she growls. "Have you changed your mind already?"

"No," Luca says quickly. He takes a breath, steadying himself, and then speaks again, softer this time. "It's just... I don't even know your name."

The Beast stiffens, her head snapping back around to face him. Her eyes, those cold, glowing embers, widen slightly, as if he's struck her.

For a long moment, she simply stares at him, shock flickering across her features.

"My... name?" she echoes, her voice low, almost disbelieving. "You want to know my name?"

"Yes," Luca says, meeting her gaze steadily. "I do."

Her expression shifts, closing off, the surprise quickly buried beneath a mask of coldness. "Why?" she asks, the word laced with suspicion. "What difference does it make?"

Luca hesitates, choosing his words carefully. "Because," he says slowly, "I don't want to think of you as just ‘the Beast.' You're more than that. I want to know who you are."

Her gaze sharpens, her eyes narrowing. A low growl rumbles in her throat, and Luca's pulse jumps, his body tensing instinctively. Has he pushed too far? Is this it?

But instead of attacking, she simply glares at him, her claws flexing at her sides.

"No," she says flatly, her voice hard. "You don't get to know my name."

Luca's heart sinks, but he forces himself to nod slowly, accepting her refusal. "All right," he says softly. "Then... my name's Luca."

The Beast blinks, the ferocious light in her eyes dimming slightly. She stares at him, confusion flickering across her face. "What?"

"My name," Luca repeats, his voice gentle. "It's Luca. You don't have to tell me yours. But if we're going to work together, I thought... I thought you should know."

Silence falls between them, heavy and charged. The Beast's gaze locks onto his, her expression inscrutable. For a moment, Luca thinks she might lash out, might mock him for his foolishness.

But she doesn't. Instead, she just stands there, staring at him as if she can't quite understand what he's offering.

Then, slowly, the tension in her shoulders eases, just a fraction. Her claws still at her sides, the hard edge of her gaze softening ever so slightly.

"Luca," she murmurs, as if testing the name on her tongue. And then, so softly he almost doesn't hear it, she adds, "I am Brynn."

The words hang in the air between them, delicate and fragile, like the first rays of dawn breaking through the darkness.

"Brynn," Luca repeats, his chest tightening. "Thank you."

Her eyes flash, the vulnerability disappearing as quickly as it has come. She straightens, her expression hardening once more.

"Don't thank me," she snaps, her voice sharp. "It means nothing."

And with that, she turns and disappears into the shadows, leaving Luca alone in the crumbling hall. But even as she vanishes, her name lingers in the air, echoing in his mind.

Brynn.

It's a small thing—a name, a word—but it feels like the beginning of something more. Something fragile and dangerous, something that could shatter at any moment.

But for now, it's a start.

Luca exhales slowly, his heart still pounding. He doesn't know what will come of this bargain, doesn't know if he can really help her, or if he'll even survive long enough to try.

But now, at least, he knows her name.

And that's something.