The Witch's Beast

By Kiki Howell

A witch rejected...a few spells for revenge...an arrogant Prince turned into a Beast...a beautiful woman taken captive ...And, that is just the beginning of this tale of a Beauty and a Beast told by the Witch who cast the spell that began it all. A dismal castle, possessed candles, and a little mangy fur will be the least of the Beast's troubles as the Witch goes into a jealous rage over the Beauty he now holds captive.A magic mirror...desperate sex spells...magical seductive dreams...orgasmic punishments in a dungeon...This time, the Beast will be caught between a Beauty who has caught his eye but rejects his proposal of marriage, and the Witch who allows him moments in his human form to fulfill his every sexual desire.For whom will there be a happily-ever-after? Genre: Torrid Romance Paranormal Fantasy Rating: Erotica - Controversial (Contains adult content, language, and graphic sex)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Torrid Books
• Release date: Apr 1, 2009
• ISBN: 9781603135047

Kiki Howell

Ever since she was young, Kiki Howell has loved to listen to a well-woven tale with real characters, inspired plots, and delightful resolutions. Kiki could spend hours lost in a book, and soon she knew that creating lives, loves, and losses with just words had to be the greatest thing that she could do. To that end, she pursued her study of literature and writing, earning a bachelor’s degree in English. She then followed in a Master’s program in Creative Writing. She has now had over forty stories published between eleven different publishers. She could not be more thrilled or grateful to see her creations polished and out in the real world. In May, 2011, Kiki was chosen as an Ohioana Book Festival author for her novel, Torn Asunder. She's also had three flash fiction stories win writing contests. In the fall of 2013, her novel, Hidden Salem, made the Amazon Top 100 Bestsellers Lists in Paranormal, Suspense and Ghosts; and in the fall of 2014, her novel. What Lies Within Us, made the Amazon Top 100 Best Sellers Lists in Gothic Fiction and Occult Horror. Releasing March 9th, 2015, Kiki coordinated and edited her first charity anthology, We Go On, with all proceeds going to veteran's charities. Kiki resides in the Midwest with her incredibly handsome and talented, singer/songwriter husband and two children. When she is not writing, she is spending time with her family, reading, watching tv or knitting.

Book preview

Chapter 1

The witch stormed from the prince’s castle in a rage that turned the moonlit sky pitch black. The clouds conjured by her anguish pelted the land with rain, disguising her own bitter tears. The brambles tore at her dress, provoked by the violent winds that her madness ensued. As she ran, her heels kicked up the muck, blanketing the wildflowers and hiding the last bits of beauty along the trail. The etched features of the Prince’s arrogant face loomed in her mind, spurring her onward. Her thoughts were consumed with baneful spells that her beliefs would normally forbid her to do.

When she entered her own cottage, the squall slammed the door shut behind her. The atmospheric disturbance raged on as the conception of revenge incited her actions. She went for the book of spells that was hidden behind all of the others. The book, given to her long ago by an aunt who practiced her craft on the wrong side of morality, had been tucked away for years. Even though she had never considered using it before tonight, she had read it secretly several times.

Saraphina flipped through the book, her eyes skimming the pages for spells of revenge. When a spell finally brought a smile to her face, she went to work gathering what she needed and prepping her kitchen. She warmed a chunk of black wax over a boiling cauldron. Oblivious to the heat, she molded and carved the glob into the vague image of a castle. Creativity pushed aside, she worked only until the piece evoked the image of the Prince’s home in her mind. The remaining wax she pounded into the image of a man until she could see the Prince’s form clearly. With wax-covered fingers, she wielded her bolline, a white-handled knife used to do work in the physical realm, cutting the name of the Prince into both of her sculptures. She welcomed in the stormy winds to harden her creations with their chill.

Grasping the spiny berry vines that had clung to her skirt, she allowed them to prick her fingers before wrapping the wax figures in the bloody thorns. That done, she reread the spell to reassure herself she had left nothing out. Satisfied with her work, she laid a piece of black velvet over the castle. With her fingers wrapped around the handle of a mallet she struck the cloth, viciously maiming and breaking her sculptures.

Her angry voice sent forth the words, Your beloved castle, home of pride and power, I now curse to be a wretched home that will instill fear into those who enter its rooms and towers. Make every inch of the castle ugly, dull and cold; so that those who dare to enter will be uncomfortable if they are but so bold. Make his possessions whither so that they can bring him no joy, all but the bare necessities destroy.

She thought through her words to make sure she had left nothing out. Satisfied, she moved the velvet from the ruins of the castle to the figure of the Prince. She brought down the mallet again and again, spewing through her sobs, The shallow and spoiled Prince Amir, I now curse into a hideous beast; with the fangs of a wolf and the hair of a bear, his ugliness I will increase. His image will suffer everyone to flee, with no one to serve him, alone he will be. The pain of rejection you granted me, I will now gift back to thee.

As she brushed the remains of her wax sculptures into a pail of graveyard dirt, an even more inspired idea flickered within her. Pushing the pail under her worktable and leaving everything else askew, she ran for her bedroom to her altar. She fell to her knees, looking as wild as she felt. She was soaked to the bone in her torn dress, with smudges of dirt and wax her only remaining adornments. Forgoing the usual preparations of her altar, the Witch laid out further plans for her Prince.

I am devising a superbly wicked spell that will not also harm me. It will be cast in accordance to the law of three. I will curse the Prince with virtuous traits that will be a detriment to the life of such a person as he.

With her first spells against the castle and the Prince, she had gone against her rede to harm no one with her powers. According to the law of three, any negative she sent out into the universe would come back to her threefold. In her mood she had chosen to ignore it or risk it. On the other hand, with this spell she would be granting something positive, like honesty. Being truthful and sincere were positive attributes, therefore she would be harming none. She knew that the spoiled Prince would complain now that he was a beast and his castle was in ruins. Yet with this spell, he would not be able to lie about how he truly felt, and he would not be able to lie about why it happened. He wouldn’t even be able to lie to himself. Plus, the spell insured her that he could never pretend to like her just to be turned back into a man.

Sparking the candles before her to light by merely running her hand over them, she now softly spoke, With this flame that makes light live, the gift of honesty I will give. In accordance with the law of three, this is what I want, so mote it be.

She fell back upon her bearskin rug and passed out into an exhausted fit of sleep. Her restless dreams brought to her flashes of the day. She had spent hours making herself beautiful, donning a newly sewn dress that did much to accentuate the best of her curves. She had washed her long red hair and twisted each of its natural curls around her finger while they were still wet, to perfect them. After mixing just the right combination of herbs to accentuate her own femininity, she had doused herself with the perfume.

Standing nervously at the door of the castle, she waited upon the approval she needed to speak with Prince Amir. At first, he had refused to even see her, having a servant claim he was too busy. Yet, she persuaded the aging servant, as only a young woman can, to convince the Prince to see her in his study. She had told him quite truthfully that the purpose of her visit was of the utmost importance to Prince Amir’s future. In her mind, it was not a lie or even an exaggeration of the truth.

Prince Amir was none too happy to see her standing before his desk.

Why have you come? I am busy. Therefore, can we please make this short? What news do you have for me concerning my future? The words were spoken fast and laced with arrogance. He was clearly annoyed with the woman before him, and disinterested in anything she may have to say. She had been challenged by his aloofness before and had not let it intimidate her.

I have come, as always, to persuade my old friend to grant me some of his time. She purred out the words as her hips swayed girlishly back and forth to catch her hands.

I have no time. If you have something of importance to say about my future, please do so quickly. Once again he had not even glanced up at her. He continued looking over something on his desk as he spoke in the monotone of distraction.

Prince, if I may have permission to be completely honest?

I don’t suppose I can stop you.

She walked around his desk to stand beside his chair. A bold move daring him to look at her.

What are you doing? His voice had risen in volume as he glared up at her, seemingly oblivious to the body she tried to display before him.

We were friends as children, you must remember, but then you took power and since have had no time for me. You seem consumed with your work, which is very important indeed. She spoke fast, not allowing him to interrupt her. Yet, I think a man needs more than work. I am offering you love. I can take care of your other needs. After brushing aside the curls that had covered the swell of her breasts, she caressed his hair.

He pushed her hand from him. "Get out, before I call in the guards. My