Disclaimer: I do not own Shadow Hearts or Beauty and the Beast.

**

"Are you sure I can't come with, Papa?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

He shook his head, already on top of Philippe. "No, Alice. I'll be away for quite a while. Someone has to look after the house."

"I know," I said glumly. "Take care, Papa. Come back safe."

"I will. Don't worry Alice. You can come along next time, I promise."

I nodded. I wanted to learn how to be an excellent exorcist, like my father. I knew I could be, I even had the talent for it. That had been proven when I had first heard my mother's voice and discovered she hadn't been able to rest in peace.

Often I came along with my father, but sometimes, like now, he had to go for a week or longer. Then I would be left to stay behind and take care of things.

"Goodbye, Papa!" I called after my father as he rode off. "Good luck!"

"Goodbye, Alice!"

**

[A week later]

My chores were done and I began rereading one of my favorite books. It was a romance story, as I'll admit those are my weakness. It was about a beautiful girl who was rescued by a prince, disguised as a commoner, and fell in love. I sighed as I read the book; how I wished so much something like that would happen to me.

I even had someone that the prince could rescue me from.

A knock came from the door, bringing me out of my reverie. "Just a minute," I called, placing a sheet of paper at my place in the book. I opened the door and instantly Wugui walked in, looking rather dressed up. "Wugui, what a pleasant surprise," I said. He was the pest my prince could rescue me from. But there was no reason for me to be rude to him; it was just that he was a little too persistent for my liking.

"Aren't I just full of surprises?" he said arrogantly. "Alice, this is the day-" Catching sight of himself in a little mirror, he gave a small 'hmm' and devoted the next few seconds to picking something out of his teeth with his tongue. Vain and rude. I pretended that I hadn't noticed. Once he was done, he continued, "Alice, this is the day your dreams come true."

I laughed, wondering what he thought my dreams were. "What would you know about my dreams?"

"Plenty," he said, sitting himself down at the table. "Picture this: a spacious manor, me coming in after a hard day's work…" He put his boots up on the table, right on top of my book. By now I was trying very hard not to show my displeasure. "My little wife, massaging my feet as the cook makes us dinner…"

"How wonderful," I said absently as I took the book. I quickly wiped it off and put it back on the shelf.

"Do you know who my wife will be?"

"Let me see…"

Wugui pressed two hands against the bookshelf around me, making me turn around. He leered at me. "You, Alice."

Is this…a proposal?!

"Wugui, what a-an honor," I said, ducking under his arms. I started backing away to the door, where I could hear people's voices and laughter. "I'm speechless, I-I don't know what to say-"

"Say you'll marry me," he told me, once again leaning over me. He had a whole wedding already prepared outside, didn't he?

"Wugui, I'm sorry, but--" I fumbled for the doorknob as I realized he was leaning in to kiss me. "I'm just not worthy," I finished, finding the doorknob not a second too soon. I twisted it and opened the door, throwing him off balance and down the stairs. Wedding music began playing outside and I closed the door quickly.

His retaliation came seconds later as he pounded on the door. It shuddered behind me and I put all my weight against it. "You little wench! Can't you tell when someone's doing you a favor?! No one else would even consider marrying you! Your father's a lunatic-"

"He's an exorcist!" I yelled back.

"And apparently you take after him! Reading those silly books, getting idiotic ideas--You'll die a penniless old maid!"

Voices joined his outside, some expressing their approval of what he said, others trying to placate him.

I knew…I knew I shouldn't let myself be upset by his words, but I was upset all the same. Partly because I knew he was right. I knew about the gossip in town about my father and me. No one would want me as a wife, except Wugui.

My father had once asked me to consider him as a possibility, since after all he was trying to court me and his family was very influential. His family's power…that was what he depended on. There was nothing else to him. He was boorish, arrogant, vain, rude…but everyone looked up to him all the same, because he had money and influence.

Luckily my father had dropped it when I told him I couldn't, but Wugui never understood. For a while, I entertained the idea of going outside and giving him a good slap in the face, to see if that would make him understand.

When I looked outside, I found that no one was around. They had already left. Thank goodness. "Madame Wugui," I said, shaking my head. I couldn't imagine myself as that.

I walked out and went to the barrel of feed we kept for the chickens. Gathering a handful, I bent down to the ground while the eager hens came and ate from my hand. "How can I make them understand me?" I wondered aloud. Papa and I had moved here five years ago, and I still felt like a complete stranger to these people. My hands now empty, I left the hens and walked towards the field. The afternoon sun was still bright and warm, calming me--until I heard Philippe's neigh.

"Papa!" I yelled, running towards the horse to meet my father. It was then that I noticed that Philippe had no rider, and my insides turned cold despite the warm light. "What happened? What happened to Papa, Philippe?" I asked, grabbing the reins. I felt like a fool when I realized of course that the horse couldn't tell me what had occurred. Quickly I mounted him and said in his ear, "Take me to Papa."

**

"We're getting close," I murmured. It was just a feeling I had, but I'd learned long ago my intuitions were usually right. Philippe was getting more nervous by the minute. "Steady boy," I said soothingly.

Then I saw where Philippe was leading me to: a large, dark castle. It was in disrepair, seeming like no one had lived inside for a while. But this had to be where Papa was. I knew because, coming up to the giant iron gate, I saw Papa's hat lying inside. Getting off of Philippe, I pushed the gate open and led him in, then closed it again and tied his reins around the bars, making sure he'd stay there.

I looked at the castle, feeling a bit of trepidation. If Papa was here, what kept him here? A ghost, or some poltergeist? And if he couldn't handle it…

How could I?

I'm not doing anything just standing here, I thought. I forced my legs to walk forward, into the castle, while fighting down the urge to just run away. Papa needs my help.

Once inside, I looked around. No candles were lit…that made it seem like the castle really was abandoned, but I thought I could sense people in here, near me. The thought was frightening and I searched again. In the dark gloom, I made out a candleholder and a clock, nothing more. I laughed suddenly with giddy relief. There wasn't any malice in here, but someone was definitely here. Maybe they could help me.

"Hello?" I called out, making my way up one of the huge staircases. "Papa? Are you here?"

No answer came to me, but I continued to call as I made my way up. "Papa? Anyone?"

My father definitely wasn't here then, but…someone definitely was. It felt like more than one person. Why wouldn't they answer me?

"Please help me! I'm looking for my father…"

I stopped as I realized that I had already gone through this hallway. I needed to be careful; I could easily get lost in this place. That wasn't an appealing thought, spending the night in this gloomy castle.

"-could be the one?"

My head turned towards a set of narrow stone stairs, and I saw a flash of light that disappeared past the bend. I chased after it, calling out, "Wait! Wait, please!"

I reached the top of the stairs but saw no one. The room I was in was a prison, with some cells on both sides of the room "That's funny…I was sure I heard someone…"

Someone coughed violently, and a weak voice called, "Alice?"

"Papa!" I ran to the door as his hands stuck out of the bars. Grabbing one of them, I was startled at how cold it was. "Papa, your hands are like ice," I said worriedly. "I'm going to get you out of here."

He shook his head. "There's no time. You've got to get out of here, right now!"

A sudden breeze blew out the candle, but I could still see my father's face suddenly pale. Someone was here. I turned around and demanded, "Who are you?"

"The master of this castle," came the answer, almost as a growl. A figure in a ratty purple cloak stood in the shadows, looking at me. "That man is my prisoner."

"He's my father. He's done nothing wrong," I answered.

"He trespassed here, as you are doing right now."

"He's sick, don't you see that!" I said desperately. "He might die."

"He is my prisoner, I can do whatever I want with him!"

How can he be so cold? I wondered. I looked down at my father, who was coughing again. This damp air wasn't good for him at all. If he stayed here long…I struck on an idea. "Then take me as your prisoner."

"No, Alice!"

The man seemed intrigued by the prospect. "You would do that…for your father?"

"If I did, would you let him go?" I asked.

He considered and then nodded.

"Then I'll be your prisoner."

"Done." The figure stepped past me to the door. In disbelief, I fell to the floor, wondering what I'd just gotten myself into. I felt my father's hands on my shoulders as he told me, "Alice, I'm old, I've lived my life-"

His voice was suddenly cut off and his hands were taken off. I looked up in time to see my father being dragged away by the man. "Papa!" I cried out.

"Alice!"

And then he was gone, already gone. I was already all alone. "Papa…pa…" I choked on the tears that were rising, now coursing down my cheeks. I'd never see him again. I'd just agreed to live out the rest of my life in a cell. How long would the rest of my life be?

Footsteps interrupted my black thoughts. Looking up, I saw the dark purple hood and cloak. "He's gone?" I asked.

"Yes. The coach will take him back to the village."

"But I didn't even get to say goodbye. I'm never going to see him again--and you didn't even let me say goodbye…" The tears came fresh and I buried my head in my arms.

He seemed regretful for a bit, but it was probably just my imagination. "I'll…I'll show you to your room."

I looked around, puzzled. "But I thought I was staying here."

"Do you want to stay in the tower?" he demanded, looking at the cell.

"N-no."

He turned around, his cloak sweeping along the floor. "Then follow me." He grabbed the candle and it suddenly lit, giving us more light. He walked down the stairs, leaving me to follow him.

The candlelight did little to make the castle less frightening. If anything, it made it more terrible, because I could see the gargoyle statues at the top of the staircase, staring down at me. Beautiful paintings in ornate frames, lavish decorations--they all seemed like some terrible mockery of what they really were, hideous instead of beautiful.

"You're going to be living here from now on," he told me. It wasn't a question. "You can go anywhere in the castle you want, except the west wing."

"Why?"

"It's forbidden!" The word 'forbidden' echoed in the hallway and I could feel, rather than see, his eyes glaring at me. It was impossible to see him at all; the cloak covered everything, even his face. It made me curious.

"Can I see you?" I asked.

He stopped again. "I'm not invisible."

"Take off your hood," I clarified. He seemed reluctant to do so and I continued, "I would at least like to know the face of my jailer."

"You'll wish you didn't," he muttered darkly, but he took off his hood. I stared for a moment as he stared back at me.

"You're--you're--" I could feel my legs weakening, my vision becoming black.

And the thought that would remain with me for a long time:

Dear God, I've given myself up to the Devil.

**

Author's Note:

Well, I did say I wanted to do a Beauty and the Beast/Shadow Hearts fanfic…so I thought I'd better get started on it. Don't worry, Shadow Souls will be continued as usual. This is going to be a more on-the-side thing.

Um…Wugui as Gaston…::sweatdrop:: if Keith was the Beast, I could have made Yuri Wugui, since I can imagine him being like that. But…Yuri's the Beast, and I couldn't imagine Keith being like Gaston, and besides, I didn't really want to wreck either of them (they're both so cute! ::hugs Yuri and Keith::). I also considered making a younger version of Albert Simon Gaston (which would have been really bizarre) but Albert Simon would probably like books and be a learned person, not a stupid jerk. So, uh…Wugui (I don't know how old he is! Just pretend he's twenty-something). And since his good looks aren't really that good (sweatdrop), it's more of a political power kind of thing that makes him popular.

I also had Alice faint just because…it seemed better that way.

Um…yeah I cut scenes from the beginning. But it seemed so hard to adapt them for this, and they weren't that important…

Yuri: Here we go again…and this time I'm being made into a beast, just great…

I could sic Regina on you again, you know…

Yuri: No you can't! Different fanfic, she's not in it, hallelujah!

Oh…darn it…well I'll sic her on you again once we get back into Shadow Souls.

Yuri: But then you would be punishing the wrong Yuri.

There's more than one Yuri?

Yuri: ::nods:: Yep! There's SS Yuri and B&B Yuri. We may share the same body, but we are of different minds.

::sweatdrop:: And now I've got a schizophrenic muse…

Yuri: Weren't we schizophrenic before this?

DON'T CALL YOURSELF 'WE'!

Yuri: …what if it's the royal we? Aren't we royalty in here?

…Just shut up, please, you're giving me a headache…

**

One last thing: a lot of the characters from Shadow Hearts are going to be appearing as the objects. You can make suggestions of who should be included and what they should be, but these people are already taken: Alice (duh), Yuri (again, duh), Keith, Margarete, and Zhuzhen.

These objects are taken: the feather duster…thingy, the candle (you can tell who these two are, right?), and the clock.

So um…please read and review!