Beast flinched when the genie mentioned the enchantress. An almost pitiful rumble came from his throat, and for a moment he seemed like he might just collapse in a heap on the floor.

"I know nothing of genies," he said shamefully, remembering all those times he'd been given chances to read and had turned them away in the interest of being pampered instead. He suspected that some of those stories would have told him what a genie was supposed to be.

As he looked back at the genie, he saw the rose out of the corner of his eye, just as the petal fell. He cringed again, and turned his head away, trying to shut out thoughts of that horrible night.