The town of Blackwood is where Bellindia Frankenstein would continue to live her life under the watchful eyes of her beloved father and live in perpetual harmony. The town was divided into three sections; South, West & North. Blackwood South was referred to as the slums of the town in which most common folk resided along with the orphanage that was run by the Frankensteins. During the day, Bellindia would hunt those that dare to endanger the town and at night she would rest with her many cats and dogs that resided in her room, and on most mornings the sounds of the children that lived in the same household as hers would start knocking. It was this knock that interrupted the beauty’s nightmare that was of dreaming of the rose last held by the mayor who would then turn his gaze to her with wondrous and confusing sight.

“Bellindia?!”, one of the orphaned boys called. “Wake up, it’s well past noon!”, said a girl. “Ready or not, here we come!”, the children then burst through the door and rushed to the elf as the dogs started to bark and the cats scattered as the children leaped over on her bed.

She covered herself immediately and the children began to laugh as they started to pull her own blanket down from her while another would start hitting her with a pillow.

“Children!”, it was then that an old man’s voice called. “Stop torturing your sister and for heaven sake, beauty, get up from bed already. It’s half past noon!”, it was Victor and Belle sighed as she was clearly annoyed as well as cranky due to the rude and sudden awakening.

One of the boys then saw Victor slowly walking over to the window before he would rush ahead.

“I’ll get it, father!”, the boy said as he then pulled the curtains open to let the sunlight in that then blinded beauty who then once again covered herself. “Come on, Belle!”, said one of the girls. “Go away and let me sleep!”, Belle replied back to the girl who seemed sad.

“Children, let father take care of it from here.”, he said with a smile before he clapped his hands together with his cane. “Off you go then.”, the children then sighed themselves and got off from the bed as they then made their way out off the room before two servants walked in.

“What is this?”, Belle then raised her head and looked confused for the servants seemed to carry what appeared to be some sort of a box. “I have a gift for you…”, replied Victor and then the servants would open the box to reveal an attire that caused the elven gorgon to quickly rush out of bed to grab hold of it at once, observing it and then taking it into her arms, hugging it.

“Oh, father, is it?!”, she asked. “Yes, it is.”, he lowered his head and looked into her eyes before giving his reply only for her to hug him so tight. “Well, go on…”, he gestured with his head towards the small booth in the back. “Try it.”, he suggested and she nodded her head excitedly and then one of the children ran back into the room, pulled Victor by his pants.

“Pa, there is someone here to see you. He’s waiting for you downstairs.”, said the boy and Victor nodded before bowing his head to leave his little beauty alone to get changed while he ventured down the stairs towards what appeared to a woman that he recognized and smiled to fondly.

Her name was Lucy Murray, a malfhi born and raised among the human population, and she use to be an orphan at Blackwood Orphanage before her departure from it.

“Victor!”, she called his name and Bellindia’s ears twitched as she raised her head. “Lucy!”, she then heard Victor call her name and rushed out of the booth immediately as the boy’s eyes would then widen at the beauty and the new beautiful red attire that she wore as she rushed out.

“Lucy!”, Belle called for her dear and closest friend. “Belle!”, Lucy called excitedly and Belle got on all fours as she ran down the stairs and past her father who chuckled at her excitement.

The two friends, who didn’t see each other for a few days, then embraced in a warm hug that made Victor smile. Lucy was known for her white attire and Belle for her red, the colors that radiated more with their natural elven beauty at birth.

“How are you, sister?”, asked Lucy. “Better now that you are here.”, Belle replied. “Spill the tea, darling, what happened last night that you so urgently wanted to see me?”, Lucy asked.

“Okay, okay…”, Belle then reached for the hands of Lucy and looked deep into her eyes. “Three men have proposed to me last night; Lord Harker, the mayor and the dark ranger.”, Belle replied and Lucy then raised both of her eyebrows as she was quite surprised.

“The Dark Ranger?”, especially by that one. “Abraham Van Seward?”, she said his name and Belle nodded her head to confirm. “So who did you choose?”, asked Lucy. “None, of course, I don’t have any interest in any of them!”, Belle raised her voice before staring back to her father and then pushing her friend away only to whisper into her ear.

It was then, in that moment, that Victor would lean against one of the columns of his staircase and it seemed he was in pain before an elf approached him, a malfhi, which reached for his arm.

“Is everything alright, milord?”, she asked. “Yes, Justine, I am quite alright.”, he assured her. “Milord, how long have we’ve known each other?”, she asked. “Since I was a little boy.”, he smirked and gave his reply as she helped him stand once again to regain his footing.

“And how long will it take for you to finally realize that even if I am blind that you will never be able to lie to me?”, she asked and then he sighed. “Yes, nanny.”, replying in defeat. “Come, let’s get you back to the dining room for lunch.”, she implied and then set out to do so.

“Three men have asked for my daughter’s claw in marriage, hah, and all three of them shall never have my blessing for I deem them to be unworthy.”, Victor explained. “Ah, yes, and two of them have something in common; they’re rich and their wealth could save the orphanage.”, replied Justine and Victor grunted. “No, my little beauty is better than that.”, he implied.

“The Dark Ranger is a professor, a doctor, a huntsman, and hell, sometimes, he’s even a lawyer. Have you forgotten that one time he helped you out in that one particular case?”, Justine pointed out the benefits and perks of the other potential partner. “Yes, but he too shares that which he has in common with the other two candidates and that’s wealth and status but he too, like them, lacks to see the beauty for what she is from within. They see her beauty and nothing more. I want them to love her for who she is, not social status and so that they can parade her around.”, the old man explained to the nanny, the malfhi that was a hundred years old, and yet she appeared like she was in her early thirties with gray eyes for she was blind, a consequence of her old age.

“Your daughter has received an invitation to Blackwood Manor.”, Justine revealed. “What?”, Victor replied. “Yes, the mayor has invited her to the royal ball, most likely to shower her with gifts and praises to win her over.”, the nanny replied, giving the old man some ideas.

“No…”, Victor said as he briefly paused for a moment. “He will try to tempt and with her over with the promise of the rose.”, he added. “Yes, and I have no doubt that the other two that wish to have her claw in marriage shall also be present at the royal ball for they are nobility after all.”, the nanny explained and Victor sighed before placing his right hand over his face.

“Don’t tell me you overheard her saying that she would accept the invitation, nanny.”, said the old man who then turned to face his nanny that simply smiled at him. “Damn…”, cursed Victor and the nanny then shook his shoulder. “Oh, relax, Victor, for it can’t be all that bad. You see, Belle is not stupid and you should stop treating her like a cub. She has a good friend that will accompany her and both you and I know that the white ranger is a good lass.”, the nanny calmed Victor down after she had explained what both of them already knew and he calmed down.

Later that day, the rangers would make their way to the Blackwood Mansion that overlooked Blackwood Quay and Blackwood Lake. The mansion was nestled between hills, its massive bridge made of stone that lead to the five stories building with a slanted rooftop on the fourth floor while the fifth floor consisted of a small rectangle like quarter with guardsmen at the top. The manor was located in Blackwood North where the most wealthiest and lucrative people resided. It was home to wealthy and successful merchants, rangers, guards, politicians, nobles and the skilled huntsmen. It was for this reason that the mansion had many heads of stuffed lycanthrope heads hanging from the walls for the mayor took great interest in purchasing them.

“It’s beautiful…”, said Belle the moment she laid her eyes on the interior of the ballroom. “Hey, I hate to break it to ya, Belle, because the dark ranger and Lord Harker are already eying you top to bottom.”, Lucy warned her friend as she stood before her and dusted off her scarlet-like robe.

“Shit, are they both coming this way? There’s so many footsteps, I can’t tell one from the other, you know?”, Belle asked and Lucy pretended to smile. “Unfortunately, they are.”, Lucy replied. “Don’t leave me.”, requested Belle and Lucy chuckled as she reached for her friend’s claws.

“You kidding?”, asked Lucy. “I wouldn’t miss this for all the money in the world.”, she added.

It was in that moment when both Lord Harker and Professor Seward arrived, both men took their bow just as the red ranger turned to face them and then she bowed her head in return.

“Lady Frankenstein, it is lovely to see you again.”, Lord Harker was the first to speak, a young man with a black tuxedo and a black bowtie who was easily distinguished by his slicked back short black hair, a tattoo on the right side of his cheek and his red cybernetic-like eyes.

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“Yes, I must say that I wasn’t quite expecting to see you here, milady. Are you here for some matters of politics?”, the other man to speak was Abraham Van Seward that wore a black tuxedo with a black bowtie with a bronze gadget hanging from his upper left pocket.

Abraham had blue cybernetic-like eyes, short black hair that he kept combed along with a short goatee beard and twirled mustache. Abraham also wore a cybernetic monocle over his left eye and appeared rather serious compared to Lord Harker that appeared calm and calculated.

“I invited her.”, it was then that the third suitor, the mayor of Blackwood, spoke up and stepped in between two men before taking his bow. “Mayor Goldalming.”, Belle addressed him and she would bow her head to the black human male along with the others present.

The mayor was a man who wore a black and golden embroidered tuxedo with a dark red bowtie. He was in his forties while Van Seward was certainly in his late thirties with the youngest being Lord Harker who was in his mid twenties that was the closest to the twenty five year old Belle. The mayor also wore a golden chain while he kept his hair short with his mustache and beard well trimmed. All three men looked at Belle with their eyes mesmerized by her beauty.

“It is an honor to be here, thank you.”, Belle spoke politely and the mayor smiled. “May I have a moment, milady?”, the mayor asked and gestured with his hand before Belle bowed her head. “Lord Harker, Mr. Seward...”, Belle would look to the two other suitors and say their name before turning to her friend. “Lady Murray.”, she said her name and bowed before finally leaving to excuse herself with the mayor that requested her to accompany him.

“I was wondering if you gave some thought to the proposal I made to you?”, the mayor wasted no time and got directly to the point with Belle sighing. “In all fairness, mister mayor, I have to decline. You are too old for me and I am the type who is into men around the certain age that I am.”, she replied and this response caused the mayor to stop who then sighed and looked aside.

“Wow…”, he was surprised to say the least in his response. “Well, I guess that’s what I get for making a proposal in the form of a letter. Something tells me I should of made the proposal with that enchanted instead.”, he chuckled as he commented and then Belle shook her head.

“No, mister mayor, that wouldn’t have helped either.”, she said to him and this response would then surprise him. “The key to my heart does not lie in lavish gifts or some enchanted rose, and besides…”, Belle spoke her mind at once and then paused briefly before she continued. “The rose is what brings life to the nature of our here town and I would not selfishly take it away from the people of Blackwood that need it as a wedding or proposal gift, and I hope you didn’t just invite me to this ball in order to ask me whether or not I thought about your proposal?”, this is what made the mayor admire her more and he simply smiled, smirked and then replied.

“Of course not.”, clearly lying to her, not understanding that this just made his chances lower. “May you enjoy the ball and you have my word that the rose will be in good hands. May you have a splendid evening, red ranger.”, the mayor bowed and clearly had his pride hurt from being declined as he walked away from her and the red ranger turned to see Van Seward.

“This ballroom is filled with so many trophies of mine, all which I carved and stuffed myself to present to the mayor of Blackwood and its people, and the moment I laid my eyes upon you I knew you are a natural huntress.”, he spoke about their past while she immediately got to the point with him as well. “I know why you are here and it’s regarding my proposal.”, she replied.

“I didn’t mention anything about that…”, he said. “But you’re thinking about it.”, she replied. “Well, of course I am, who wouldn’t be after making a proposal to a huntress such as you?”, he asked and then she took a gander to the trophies surrounding her before sighing.

“Trophies do not interest me, Mr. Seward, and I do not care what type of foe you have defeated or what kind of wealth you may provide. I do not care what kind of reputation you have built throughout Blackwood and the only reputation what matters is what we have built between each other, and I hate to say it to you like this but I do not wish to build any relationship with you with the exception of the one between associates, between two skilled hunters that fight to protect this town and her people from any potential danger that may befall them.”, she shared her thoughts to him and he stood there, impressed and nodded with a smile on his face. “So that’s a no?”, he said and she shrugged her arms as well as shoulders. “I am afraid so.”, she replied to his question.

“The moment I laid my eyes on you, Lady Frankenstein, I hunted you in order to show you the appreciation and love I have for who you are, but you always kept yourself distant or secluded. You always gave me mixed signals.”, he explained. “Yes, that’s because I didn’t want us to get involved so that our hunts and nights spent together don’t become awkward. I still want your friendship, Abraham, but I don’t want your love. I am sorry.”, she replied to him and he nodded.

“Belle, there is no need to apologize, I totally understand everything and at the end of it all it is your decision, and I will respect that. I appreciate your sincere honesty and I’d rather you be honest with me than you lying to my face. Now, if you would please excuse me. I must converse with Lady Murray and I’ll be back shortly.”, Abraham finished expressing himself and took his bow before he took his leave as then Lord Harker stepped forth, staring at the man leaving.

“Arthur…”, Belle said his name and he bowed his head. “Belle…”, he replied even though Belle noticed that the man was acting unusual and rather uneasy. “How are you?”, she asked and then he reached for the back of his head, scratching it and looking towards Lucy that they both saw was being approached by the dark ranger who engaged in conversation with her.

“About my proposal letter…”, he said and Belle sighed. “I must admit, it felt like it came out of nowhere, Arthur, and I never expected that you had those types of feelings for me.”, she replied and then stepped forth. “That’s because I don’t.”, he said clear as daylight and this surprised her.

“Say what?”, she looked so confused and why wouldn’t she be? “Look, you read the letter and do you know how it references angels a lot and the heavens in it?”, he replied to her and she nodded but she was still confused. “The letter wasn’t mean for you.”, he said to her and then Belle would lean her head back as Arthur stood there, hoping he did not hurt her feelings.

“Then who was it for?”, Belle leaned over and asked him that question as he then gestured his head towards Lucy which then put formed all the pieces of the puzzle together in Belle’s head.

“Oh, that would explain why you also happened to mention the altar and mass…”, said Belle. “Are you disappointed?”, he asked and then she turned her head, shaking it. “Of course not, I don’t have those type of feelings for you.”, she replied by telling him a truth and a lie at the same time for she did not have feelings for him but she did show some interest after reading the letter.

“Oh, thank the gods…”, Arthur said before he placed his hand over his head in relief. “You have no idea how awkward all this is for me.”, Arthur added before he approached and reached for Belle’s own claw. “Once again, I am so sorry, so sorry!”, he apologized and she smiled back.

Arthur then turned and walked away from Belle. The gorgon stood there all alone and she looked at Lucy talking with Abraham before Arthur had approached the both of them, interrupting them and somehow managing to squeeze into their conversation to talk to the both of them.

“Scarlet Robe…”, it was then that Belle heard a soothing voice addressing her and stating one of her titles she had earned throughout the years. “The Red Ranger, the Slayer of Lycanthropes…”, she turned to face an elf, a malfhi, wearing a white dress. “You’ve come far from just being a Little Red Riding Hood.”, Belle wasn’t surprised that the elf knew about her past for many within the town of Blackwood knew off her history for it was a small community and people do talk…

“Times change.”, said Belle. “Indeed.”, then another stranger spoke and Belle turned to see a tall gorgon wearing a black dress. “The town, yourself and your father truly changed once the rose was brought to Blackwood and yet the mayor keeps it locked all to himself.”, the elf spoke her mind at once and Belle agreed with what she said but did not dare to speak out against her own.

“Tell us, have you ever thought about seeing it again?”, a third stranger then spoke out and Belle turned to an elf, the youngest of the trio, with rested and yet focused eyes staring at her. “The rose?”, Belle asked. “No, I haven’t.”, she added and then the stranger smiled.

“Liar.”, this comment annoyed Belle. “Excuse me?”, Belle asked and then the gorgon would speak once again. “The path to the rose is clear and there is no key that you require for the man that fancied you left it open for you.”, the malfhi spoke yet again and Belle turned to face her. “And how would you know this?”, Belle asked and the three elves chuckled that spooked Belle.

“Who are you?”, Belle finally asked the important question. “It doesn’t matter who we are.”, the second stranger then walked past Belle who turned to face her. “It does to me for I have never seen you in Blackwood before in my life.”, Belle explained and pointed out the mysterious.

The trio seemed to speak one after the other and always seemed to finish each other’s sentences. Elves were natural in their beauty but the malfhi was white skinned tone, the second gorgon stranger that introduced her first was ebony and the other seemed to be brown. The gorgons had long raven hair and the malfhi had long blonde hair that was braided at the back, and the malfhi had gray eyes for she was blind which meant she was over a hundred years old.

“Observant, are we?”, said the brown gorgon. “You are right, little ranger, for we are not from these parts.”, the ebony implied. “We are strangers to you but we are no strangers to Blackwood for we are responsible for its foundation.”, said the malfhi and Belle smirked with disbelief.

“It’s foundation? The founders were the nobles of the once renowned House Dracula and what remained of them died over a decade ago.”, Belle said what she knew and then brown gorgon replied. “Did your father tell you that?”, Belle looked to the elf before giving a serious look. “No, I was there on the day that they died.”, this reply did not even seem to move the three elves.

“And on the day that the rose was brought to Blackwood by your father as it were.”, the ebony one reminded Belle before the malfhi then added. “The rose that was not rightfully yours, but of House Dracula itself.”, Belle then looked to the ranger general from afar for she sensed danger.

“Ah, yes, you have every right to be suspicious of us and that is why we will give you a choice.”, said the brown gorgon. “Call for your ranger general and your father will die without a moment’s notice. He will lose what little time he has left to cherish.”, the malfhi assured Belle that was paralyzed by what she heard until the ebony gorgon spoke up next with another choice.

“Or you could go home to him now and protect him from the evil that is coming to Blackwood. So you must ask yourself. Will you trade three lives for one or one life for three?”, and then the brown gorgon would add. “The choice is yours, Belle of House Frankenstein.”, the three elves then stood side by side while Belle looked to the ranger general and he looked back towards her.

Belle looked around to see Lucy Murray and Arthur Harker that were no longer present, and she was trying to desperately find Lucy Murray for help. She saw the mayor conversing with the crowd, sharing drinks with the ranger general who kept his eyes on her. Belle, not wishing to appear suspicious, then decided to make her choice and bowed her head to the elves before she took her leave from the ball without an excuse to anyone as to why she is leaving.

“How long will I suffer this dreadful disguise?”, asked the ebony gorgon. “A little while longer, my dear sister.”, said the brown gorgon. “Right on cue, here comes the general.”, said the malfhi and the brown gorgon then leaned to whisper to her gorgon sibling. “Now is the time to shed that horrible disguise, don’t you think?”, both gorgons grinned before the ebony one walked away…