WHAT IF? Fairytale Madness BlogFest!

I'm here today with the WHAT IF? Fairytale Madness BlogFest!

hosted by Cassie Mae, Mark Koopmans, Leigh Covingtion and Morgan Shamy. 

Here's what they have to say about the BlogFest:

Have you noticed that by changing one detail; one event, one character trait, one thought...you can completely alter the rest of the story?

For this bloghop we are exploring "What If?"
Not only do we want it to be fun, but it will hopefully be a fun writing exercise and make for some great reading during the hop!

To enter:

Think of your favorite "well known" fairytale and ask "What If…!"

Then, pick one of these four categories:

· Best Plot Twist

· Best Love Story

· Best Tragedy

· Best Comic Relief

Finally, write a scene(s) illustrating a new detail of the fabled fairytale that changes our perspective. 

The prizes on offer are: Save the Cat by Blake Snyder (Leigh) A FULL manuscript critique (Morgan),  A $25 Amazon Gift Card (Cassie Mae) and A $25 Hawaiian care package (Mark).

For the full list of participants, and to hop around to the other blogs and read their entire, see here.  

For my entry I've chosen to go with the category Best Love Story and I'm doing a modern re-telling of the Beauty and the Beast story, where the Beast is a figurative monster, not a literal one.

Sorry it's longer than 300 words. I hope you won't hold that against me. 

"Stay," I begged. I turned my face away from his, I didn't want him to see my tears.

He lingered at the doorway, the light from the hall causing shadows to fall across his face, marring his usually handsome features and making him appear grotesque. For an instant I was reminded of the old Alicio and how his face contorted with rage. I shook the memory from my head, and focused on the present.

"Alicio, I'm sorry," I told him.

"It doesn't matter now," he said shaking his head. "I should have known someone like you could never love someone like me."

"I … we … what you saw, with James -"

"It doesn't matter. You're free of your contract. Go to him if you want."

I got up off the bed and crossed the room to the window, looking out onto the snow covered grounds of Alicio's estate. All I'd ever wanted was spread out before me. My tuition fees and debts were paid off, and James finally wanted to take out relationship seriously, he'd even hinted at marriage.

It wasn't enough. I wanted none of it now. I only wanted him. I had to make Alicio believe me.

I turned away from the window, and padded across the soft carpet towards him, flicking on the light as I neared. The overhead chandelier illuminated the room, and the previous spell of the shadows was broken. It amused me how much like turning a light on our relationship had been. When I'd first met Alicio he'd been a complete arsehole, a veritable beast, but some patience, understanding and gentle coaxing had finally revealed the prince underneath.

I took his rough and calloused hand and brought it to my cheek.

"Alicio, there's something I have to tell you."

"Saskia, you're crying," he said, wiping away a tear with the pad of his thumb. "What is it?"

"I love you," my voice was barely above a whisper, but he still heard me. His eyes, caramel brown and framed by long dark lashes, widened in surprise. He crushed his lips against mine, and the air was sucked out of me.

Heat travelled through my body as Alicio wrapped his arms around me and deepened the kiss. I felt the brush of stubble against my cheek, and his tongue delved into my mouth.

In one fluid motion, Alicio flicked off the lights, walked me backwards towards the bed, and pushed me gently down onto it.