Helen and the Beast
Summary: An AU take on both Sanctuary and Beauty and the Beast. Helen and her father are investigating several attacks in Serbia. She is relatively new to the Sanctuary program and working with her father. Her life is forever changed when a beast imprisons her in his castle and a long lost scientist named Nikola Tesla helps her adjust to her new life.
Author's Note: I'm not sure where this came from, but I went with it. In this case, The Five never met and this is completely AU after Gregory tells Helen about the Sanctuary. Enjoy
Disclaimer: I do not own Sanctuary or Beauty and the Beast.
Chapter One: The Serbian Mystery
Gregory Magnus and his daughter, Helen, were exploring the small town in Serbia. 20 years ago, Gregory would have never imagined they would be traveling to this country to chase down an abnormal, but there they were. After losing his wife, it was hard for him to juggle his secretive work and a head strong young lady. Helen didn't believe in the highly restrictive society and times, and he couldn't be more proud. He taught her how to be self-sufficient, and as she grew older and more mature, he could see more and more of himself in her.
Soon she started to question her father's work, not as a doctor, but as a scientist. He would be gone at odd hours and conduct tests she had never heard of, and one day she finally confronted him. He had told her of his dreams of a Sanctuary Network to offer a safe haven to everyone. And everything. She had been fascinated by the creatures called abnormals, and where most would have expressed fear or disgust, she only showed interest and a willingness to help.
They had gone on their first retrieval and Helen instantly wanted to be a permanent fixture within the budding Sanctuary. Now, 5 years later, here they were in a quaint inn gathering together all of their information about the strange sightings and deaths in the area. From the reports, something was feeding on the livestock in the town and had attacked 7 people in the last month.
Examining the images of the wounds on the animals and victims, Helen noticed something.
"I do believe we are looking for two separate creatures," she said excitedly as she passed the photos to her father, "the bite patterns marks are completely different. On the animals, you can clearly see the two puncture marks and nothing else. The people that were attacked were mutilated. There are large lacerations that look to have been made by sharp claws and not necessarily teeth."
Gregory examined the photos they had collected a few hours ago and agreed with his daughter's deduction.
"You're right. There are two creatures involved. We will have to talk to some more of the locals tomorrow. We can see if they have any information on the presence of more than one abnormal. For now, we need rest. Good night, Hele."
Gregory placed a kiss on his daughter's forehead before excusing himself from their sitting room. Helen took one last look at the images in front of her before she too decided to call it a night. The next morning, they began their search by talking to the family members of those who were attacked. All of them stated that there was a legend of a beast that would claim its victims every year and then disappear once its appetite was fulfilled.
"These people seem to believe a creature similar to a Minotaur is the cause of this, but Minotaurs are extinct," Helen said as she exited the carriage.
"They're supposed to be," Gregory tipped the conductor and walked towards the tea shop, "but there have been rare cases of abnormals reappearing throughout history. All it takes is two parents with the same recessive gene to have a possible reemergence."
"You think it could be a Minotaur then?" Helen whispered as she sat down at a far table away from the entrance and prying eyes.
"Or something similar," her father nodded distractedly as he alternated between pouring their tea and going over his notes.
"What about the other marks? Nobody has mentioned any concern over the loss of livestock."
That's a whole new dilemma for a whole new day. As far as I can tell, that creature doesn't appear to be as violent or as much of a concern to the locals. We will focus on finding the so called Minotaur and see if we discover anything in the process," George said with finality as he passed her the hot cup of tea.
Following the information from the town's people, Helen and her father journeyed to the outskirts of town where the dense forest began and the town ended. The air was crisp with the bone chilling cold that winter brought along, and soon Helen was shivering beneath her 5 layers of clothes. They had been walking towards the thicker parts of the forest for about two hours when a heavy fog rolled in out of nowhere.
"We should turn back, Helen. I don't like the look of this weather," Gregory turned to say something else when he was struck by something very large.
Whatever it was tackled him to the ground and had him pinned before his bearings could return. There was a growl that sent shivers down his spine and he was convinced those were his last moments. Suddenly the cocking of a gun and the unmistakable voice of his daughter brought his attention to her.
"We do not wish to harm you, but I will if you give me no other choice," Helen spoke with resolve in her voice, "We want to help you, nothing more."
The beast above him seemed to be considering her offer, but he had yet to release him. The creature was rather large, and from the small glimpse Gregory had seen of it, he knew it had tusks and horns of some sort. While it was not a full blooded Minotaur, there were familiar aspects. Before Gregory could think anymore, he was hit upside the head with the creatures arm, and he soon saw darkness.
"Father!" Helen yelled urgently as he went limp beneath the beast.
Before she could shoot the abnormal, it was charging at her full speed. She managed to shoot it once in the shoulder and once in the arm before it was in front of her swatting the gun away. It backed her into a tree and growled, showing its sharp teeth. Helen was frightened as she realized that those teeth would perfectly fit the mutilated corpses' lacerations.
"As I said before," she said cautiously, "we only want to talk with you. Understand why you're attacking these people."
"I don't need help," it said as it knocked her unconscious.
Helen woke up in a cell, or at least a poor excuse for one. The cell was only about the size of a linen closet and had nothing but a moth eaten piece of cloth that she supposed could be a blanket…for a child. She slowly stood to take stock of what had occurred while she was unconscious. Her clothes were slightly torn and dirty, but otherwise intact. Her lower jaw was throbbing and it would be sore for at least the next day or two. She searched her person for her more discretely hidden weapons, but they were all missing. Finally satisfied with her self-survey, she tried to stick her head out of the bars as much as she could.
"Father?" she cautiously called.
There was no immediate response, but he could very well still be passed out from his blow to the skull. She was about to yell again when a shadow from the stairwell caught her attention.
"Hello?" she called out, "Who's there?"
"Your father is not here," a voice thick with a Serbian accent answered her earlier pleas, "He was not brought back to the castle."
"Is he still alive? He was badly injured by that abnormal and needs medical attention," Helen begged for answers from the approaching stranger.
"He is alive. It seems you piqued the beast's interest and he left your father alone. You are both very lucky. He has killed several people who walk those woods alone," the stranger said as he stopped just shy of the light coming from a torch on the wall.
"Who are you? Where is the beast? Where are we?" she bombarded him with question after question.
"Miss, we are in the beast's castle. He is currently attending to other matters. I am Nikola, a local scientist.'
"Nikola…" a thought crossed her mind, "as in Nikola Tesla? My father and I communicated with you several years back about your work. I am Helen Magnus."
Nikola stepped into the light and the sight that greeted her was impressive. He stood in a full three piece suit with his hair slicked back, and there was not a hair out of place. His eyes were a captivating greyish blue that held her attention completely.
"I remember our correspondence. I do apologize for these conditions, but it is a pleasure to meet you, Helen. You are more beautiful than I imagined. Brilliant and gorgeous, a rare combination to come by," he said, shamelessly flirting with her through the bars of her cell.
"Could you perhaps let me out of this cell? After all, you did say I was rare," she flirted back, hoping to find a way out of this castle and back to her father.
"You know, with some practice, your flirting could be almost as good as mine. I'd be happy to serve as your test subject," he grinned while coming closer to the bars.
"Mr. Tesla-"
"Nikola, please, Helen," he interrupted her.
"Nikola," she said a bit caught off guard by the absurdity of the situation, "Would you please let me out of this cell?"
His grin seemed to become a bit smug as he leaned in closer, through the bars.
"Begging will get you everywhere. I'll let you out for the small price of a kiss," he said whilst tapping his cheek.
"I hardly find that appropriate," she scoffed, trying to hide her excitement at the prospect of kissing him even if it was just on the cheek.
"You don't strike me as the kind of woman to care about the rules. In fact, I think you take them as a light suggestion."
It was amazing how this man already made her want to roll her eyes, but he did hit the nail on the head about her.
"Fine. One. On the cheek," she acquiesced, planting a chaste kiss on his cheek.
"My lady," he smiled a toothy grin as he opened the cell door with a flourish.
"Thank you," she said quickly before heading down the stairs, "Now if you could just point out an exit-"
"I can't do that," he said darkly, suddenly rushing in front of her, effectively halting her progress down the stairs.
Now she was angry. Decorum be damned.
"And why the bloody hell not?!" she practically yelled.
"The beast would simply track you down and he would not be happy to do so. He spared your life once, but it took a great deal of control. I'm not sure he would be as gentle the second time around," Nikola explained with trepidation.
He really didn't know if the beast's fondness of her would save her a second time. He was hungry and had been denied two meals.
"I simply have to make it to town before he notices I'm gone. There are supplies I could use to subdue him. My father would have made his way back to town as well. If that's so, then it could be as simple as meeting him halfway."
Shaking his head, Nikola looked up at her, "The journey to town is too far. The beast would surely catch up to you within an hour."
"An hour?" Helen looked at him with a confused look on her face, "H-how long was I out?"
"About four hours," Nikola said as he took in her shocked expression, "And before you ask your next question, allow me to answer it. We are approximately 100 km from town."
"100Km?!" Helen screamed, "That's impossible! He would have to be faster than any abnormal I have ever met."
"He is rather fast, "Nikola said while diverting his gaze away from her.
If she only knew the truth, it would probably make more sense to her. Yes, the beast was fast, but other creatures were much faster. If only she knew of his abilities. At least the ones he was proud of.
"You must be hungry," Nikola decided to change the subject, "I was actually coming up here to feed you."
Realizing for the first time that she was absolutely starving, she nodded eagerly.
"I am famished," she admitted while taking his offered arm.
"Well, we can't have you dying of hunger on your first night here, can we?"
AS they began their decent back down the stair case, thoughts of Nikola's hunger ran through him. He would have to sneak away soon to feed if he didn't want the beast deciding Helen was worth more than a snack.
TBC.
Author's Note: Let me know what you think!