Swan Obsession

She did not know what time she finally fell asleep, but when when she woke, nothing seemed right. The bed she lay upon was bobbing; No, it was not a bed. She was on the lake. Yet she could not swim! She flailed her arms in a panic, but instead of her usual limbs, she saw that she had wings, spread out gracefully, and flapping. Wings? That wasn't right. She twisted her head to get a better look, and was disturbed by how mobile her head was. Her neck surely wasn't always that long. "No!" She tried to cry out but instead a strange and awkward sounding honk was emitted from her mouth... no, she had no mouth. It was a beak. She looked down at her reflection upon the lake, for the sun was just starting to rise, and to her utter shock, the image that looked back at her was that of a swan. Before she could decide what to do, she heard a voice from between the trees.

"Odette." She looked up. It was the man from last night. The man who had thrust his fingers... No! She would not think of that! She turned her head away, and drifted gracefully further into the lake. Her motions were natural as though she had never been anything but a swan.

"Now don't let my little spell make you sad Odette," he said gently, "It doesn't even last the whole day" She turned herself to look at him, paying as much attention to the man, as to his words. He had red hair, and an arched nose, like a falcon's, which sat over a thick red mustache. He wore around his blue tunic, a black cloak, that fluttered like wings around him as he paced. His hands were gloved in leather, and his breeches were tight and fitted. As much as she feared what this man had done to her, she felt a stirring of desire within her for him.

"As soon as the moon comes up, you'll be transformed" he continued, "But alas... you'll have to wait. As will I..." He looked up towards the rising sun, and then at her hungrily, though she was but an animal.

"Let me touch you," he implored, and without thinking, she drifted towards him. He caressed her feathers, his hands like silk upon her. She wondered what his name was, and as though he could read her mind, he told her. She ran over it in her mind; Rothbart, Rothbart. It was strong and mysterious. A wonderful name.

"You should know," he continued, "That you can only transform in my presence..." Odette paused, and wondered at that. It was clear that he wasn't about to let her leave. She turned away from him once again, drifting further into the lake.

"Look, Odette," Rothbart said, his voice hard, "This sort of thing doesn't give me any pleasure... well, maybe a teeny bit, but what I really want is... your father's kingdom". It was like a slap in the face. Odette bowed her head low, not knowing what to make of his revelation. She assumed after the what had happened that night, that he had wanted her, but she had been a fool all along. All he wanted was land, and she meant nothing to him.

"However," he added, his words long and drawn out, as he looked thoughtfully at her. She raised her bowed head and waited to see what he had to say. "once you steal something, you spend your whole life fighting to keep it. But, if I marry the only heir to the throne, we'll rule your Father's kingdom together, legally, King and Queen." He paused and eyed her, and she almost forgot she was a swan, as she began to flush. But she remembered again that he was only using her, and so she turned away angrily, refusing to acknowledge him.

"Think about it", he said finally, before leaving her and returning to his dark palace.