Gaston gave a chesty cough as he sat on the floor with his knees tucked up to his chest. He rubbed his swollen bruised knuckles from hours of punching the brick walls and metal bars. When he had begged for his life and said he'd do anything it wasn't exactly what he had in mind. Begging for his life had been humiliating enough; the fact that the great Gaston had had to concede to defeat had wounded his Alfa male ego deeply. But now he was a prisoner of war, something far more undignified and dishonourable than being killed in battle. He had dishonoured his family's name and shattered his reputation, he just hoped with all his heart that the village people hadn't been told of his undignified defeat. Part of him wished that the beast had let him fall to his death when he had been dangling over the castle walls. But he knew that as long as he was alive there was still a slight chance of him being able to claim Belle as his own and as long as there was a chance he would cling onto it no matter how small it may be.

Suddenly price Adam stormed through the library door, the old oak door ricocheted off the bookcase behind it. This made Belle jump, the shock almost made her throw her book in the air. She quickly sat up and looked towards Adam. He pushed his long red hair out of his face to reveal an irritated expression.

"Reading again Belle, really!" He said in an annoyed tone.

"Yes and?" Belle replied calmly. The prince slammed the door behind him. Belle looked back and the pages of her book and carried on reading.

"Listen Belle I was thinking what if we..." he paused and looked at Belle staring into her book, not paying him the slightest bit of attention.

"Belle, I was thinking maybe we could..." he said a bit louder, Belle carried on reading, ignoring him.

"Belle!" He shouted louder. Belle shot up in her chair startled and looked at Adam.

"What? I'm trying to read"

"You know what Belle? I'm absolutely sick of this; you spend more time reading than you do with me, I'm sick of seeing you sat there reading books"

"You've known me for how long Adam? You know I like reading books, why all of a sudden are you angry that I read?"

"I understand that you like reading but every day, every, fucking, day you read, it's like I'm not even here anymore" his face was turning red with anger.

"Then you know what Adam why don't you get one of those dumb blonde groupies of Gaston's and play around with them? I'm sure they don't read" Belle shouted in reply as she leapt out of her chair and ran out of the library slamming the door behind her.

Belle ran down the hallway towards the dungeons. She had to get away, she just had to. Belle needed somewhere dark and secluded, somewhere she could spend time alone to think. Somewhere where Adam would never find her, and the dungeons were just the place. She heaved the bulky oak door open; its hinges creaked and groaned as it opened. Belle closed the door behind her before sliding down the door to the floor. She sat with her knees tucked up to her chest, arms wrapped around her knees and put her face into her knees and started to cry.