Chapter 1

She bolted awake that morning, desperately trying to rid her mind of the images her nightmare had contained. Babette felt her now heavily beating heart as her brown eyes darted around the small room, attempted to confirm that she was safe.

The maid breathed a shaky sigh of relief "She will not hurt them. It was just a dream" she told herself. Then, the all too familiar voice of Cogsworth bellow on the other side of her door "Young lady! It is half past nine! Get up for heaven's sake!"

Babette's entire body tensed at the loud noise, but, upon realizing it was only the Head of Household, relaxed. She rolled her eyes as she arose from bed "How fitting..." she mused "That he was once a clock. For he certainly is the human version of one." Suddenly, those few words, 'clock' and 'human', sparked something in her memory. The maid gasped in realisation, mentally scolding herself for forgetting. That day was the anniversary of the day the spell had been broken!It was something that the castle had decided deserved a celebration, and therefore, for the entire day the servants would be excused from their duties to do as they wished. Also, she remembered, there would be a grand ball that night.

The maid was brought from her thoughts when an impatient and infuriated Cogsworth yelled "Babette! Get up right this minute!"

The young woman rolled her eyes "Do not worry yourself mon ami! I am awake!" she called back.

Babette decended the staircase, her duster swishing on the railings, allowing the soft feathers to dance across the polished wood. She glanced at the object, remembering when she had been transformed. Her beautiful, womanly curves had vansihed along with her arms, turning her into the same feather duster she now carried.

The woman clenched her fists in memory of how she was almost like that forever. The enchantment...it had been so close to being permanent. She had been so close to remaining a feather duster for the rest of her life "Which is cerainly something I cannot afford to be" she thought. With everything she had been through in her life, the lies she had to tell, the hiding that had to be done, and praying that her secret would enver be discovered, becoming a feather duster permanantly was something that she honestly didn't want added to her worries.

All of a sudden, the familiar voice of Lumiere came from behind her "Bonjur ma cheri" he greeted.

Babette was startled at first, but then smiled, turning to him "Bonjur mon cher" she replied. The young woman gazed adoringly into his grey-blue eyes, unable to say anything else. The night before the enchantment, Lumiere had confessed his love for her, but the spell had put a hold on their romantic life. Babette found her smile growing as she remebered what had occured that night when the Prince had supposedly 'died'.

She hid behind one of the curtains, trembling and terrified. She had seen the frightening man (Gaston, as she had heard on of the villagers call him), go looking for the Prince. She knew that he would attempt to kill him, because that it what hunters did, they killed creatures. She still felt squimish about the sheer suggestion of killing another living thing.

Suddenly, a roar of pan shook through the castle, emanating from the nearby balcony. She swished across the floor as quickly as possible, knowing that the Prince was in danger.

She was so focused on her destination, that she didn't notice someone coming the opposite way until it was too late. She only realised, when she felt feathers and wood against her. Recognising the familiar feeling, she looked up into the eyes Maria, one of the other maids, and her initial smile upon seeing her, vansihed when she saw her morse expression. Instantly concerned, she asked "What is the matter?"

Maria, who would have cried if she could, replied "The Master...he is..."

But, she didn't get a chance to finsih, before Babette saw something out of the corner of her eye. Prince Adam...alive and, most of all, human! Disbelif and happiness flooded the two woman, especially when they saw that all of the servants were beginning to turn back.

She smiled as she saw the Prince embrace Lumiere, Cogsworth and Mrs. Potts, who had all been turned back. As she appraoched them, Babette felt something strange, yet familiar. Magic swirled around her, blocking her view of anything else. She felt her wooden body transform into that of a human, and when her vision cleared, she saw the most delightful sight...she was human again!

Upon seeing Lumiere, she smilied slyly and walked past him, tickling his nose with her duster. Their eyes met as she looked back at him coyly, before walking away again.

Babette was brought from the memories by Lumiere's voice "Ma cheri, what are you thinking about?"

The young woman answered "Nothing mon cher...just..."

"The enchantment" guessed the Frenchman.

"Oui" replied Babette. She kissed him softly on the cheek, before pulling away, a teasing smile on her lips. Before Lumiere could pull her back into his embrace, the maid slipped out of his reach, continuing down the stairs.

Babette was in the library late that afternoon, when she suddenly felt a familiar feeling. It was something she had only felt once before...and gasped in recognision. The young woman had little time to react, before her gaze switched completely.

What the maid saw was no longer the library, but a beautiful castle. It was made of polsihed wood, had magnificent golden-framed paintings linning the walls, and red silk curtains on either side of the large arched windows. Babette knew what this place was...her mother's home. Babette knew that she was 'sighting' something. She only ever 'sighted' anything when it was extreamly important, which caused her to have more questions then answers.

Suddenly, the feeling she had experienced before she had began 'seeing' the familiar room, returned. Instictively, Babette brought her gaze to the direction of the feeling. The young woman saw a collection of gold and purple light near her, and, after notcing its warmth, recognised it as an aura. The maid asked politely "What do you want?"

The aura moved, and then disappeared. Only then was Babette able to see that the aura had been disguising its owner...the Enchantress. Babette was terrifed, and had to stop herself from sinking to her knees. She trembled, but then the enchantress spoke, her voice meoldic and ringing like the beautiful chimes of bells "This is a warning, Babette. She will return, and you must be ready."

Suddenly, Babette heard Cogsworth's voice, but it was faint, like someone calling her from the other side of a wall "Babette..." she felt herself being shook "Babette, I need to speak with you."

Babette gasped as the castle room and the enchantress disappeared in an instant. She felt her head atuomatically, feeling slightly dizzy from her encounter. She knew what happened "I have been pulled out of my sighting" she thought. Whenever someone from where she actually was, spoke to her while she in a sightning, she was pulled back to wherever she actually was.

Pushing her own thoughts aside, the maid turned to Cogsworth "What?" she inquired someone impaciently.

Cogsworth answered "Well, I came in here and I saw you just sitting there staring. I could have sworn I saw your eyes glow golden. Thank heavens they're still brown now, otherwise I would have thought I was going insane" he said. Babette stiffened for a moment. He had seen her when she was 'sightning', but he suspected nothing. Thank the Lord.

The young woman pretended to listen as Cogsworth continued speaking. But, she had too many thoughts running through her head. The enchantress's warning was fresh in her mind, and she had been right.

Babette had to be careful if she was planning to arrive.

Very, very careful.