A/N: Another story I will be uploading with editing along the way.
A mingling of several Beauty and The Beast stories (CBS - original series, CW 2012, and Disney animated movie) with a twist.
Prologue
Two children sat on a carpeted floor with their back facing the hearth. A fire crackled behind them, keeping their tiny bodies warm. In front of them sat an elderly couple, who had been married for nearly forty years. The husband and wife sat on a tan colored couch that was years past its breaking point but it was a beloved item and neither had the heart to discard and toss it out. It was a gift from their first born child, who passed away much too young and left behind a wife and son.
The elderly man, known as Grandpa Keller cleared his throat. "Legend has it that your great, great, great, well let's just say a very long time ago we were related to a very rich man. His name was Vincent,"
"That's my name grandpa," Vincent interrupted. He was taller than his best friend and they were both quite the opposite. One was talkative and the other shy. One was tall and lean the other shorter and round
"Yes it is, Vincent. Shall I continue?" Grandpa Keller asked.
"I'm sorry Grandpa. Please continue."
"Now this young man was very wealthy and very handsome. Every woman in the village loved him but he didn't love any of them. They all thought that they were his one true love and was vying for his heart. The truth was he was a very selfish person and cared for no one but himself.
One day when he was in his carriage on the way back from the country he encountered a peasant on the road. This peasant, she was very tired and weak from her journey and was trying to get home to her very ill husband and young daughter.
Her husband was sick and his health had been deteriorating. They prayed to the high heavens hoping to lift his spirits but he grew weaker each day. They tried everything they could to get him back to his usual self but nothing worked. Desperate, the wife decided to go to the next town over and seek the one they said healed all. But of course people like that back then were thought to be witches and were very difficult to find as they lived in hiding.
She hated to leave her beloved husband but she had no choice as he was slowly dying and was in pain everyday. The only thing that kept her mind at peace was the fact that their daughter would be at home with her husband to care for him. She bid them both adieu and kissed each on the cheek then set on her journey.
She walked through rain and storm, mud stricken paths and slick hills with very little rest. After a day and half of leaving her home she finally arrived at her destination but was drenched from head to toe and was completely exhausted but it wasn't what she expected. When she asked for help some turned their backs on her but others understood her situation and gave her shelter and some food while she searched for the one who did not want to be found.
It wasn't until three nights later that she managed to make progress. A stranger at an alley called her over. Though it was dark and most people had already gone home she still trusted this stranger," Grandpa Keller paused and then yawned. "I'm not as young as I use to be. I'll let your Grandma Belle continue. Is that okay with you kids?"
The two children looked at each, the smaller one being shy just nodded while Vincent the more outgoing of the two smiled and answered. "Chip says continue!"
"Vincent what did I tell you about calling him that? Say sorry to JT," Grandma Belle scolded.
"But JT likes it,"Vincent turned to his best friend. "Don't you Chip?"
"It's okay Mrs. Keller," JT answered quietly.
"JT, how many times do I have to tell you to all me Grandma Belle," she corrected him. "You and your mother have been living with us for years now JT. You'll always be family to us."
"Yea Chip, best buds, remember?" Vincent chimed in with a huge smile on his face.
JT cracked a coy smile and his chipped front tooth showed. "Best buds!"
They turned to each other and raised their hand for a high five. A clapping sound echoed in the living room as the fire crackled behind them.
"Shall I continue?" Grandma Belle asked.
"Yes Grandma," they chimed in this time.
"My heavens, silly me, where did Grandpa leave off?"
"A figure in a dark alley!" Vincent said excitedly.
"Yes, thank you. She had been up since the break of dawn and regardless of how tired she was she kept looking for this healer. She looked all over town and no matter who she asked no one ever knew where this healer lived, just that she appeared whenever needed.
For three days she walked and searched until sunset. On the third night a hooded figure appeared in an alley and called to her. Discreetly, they walked from cobblestone pathways to mazes of darkened alleys until they were no longer in the village.
The mysterious stranger stopped. "If you dare continue you will do as I say without question and without hesitation. Is this understood?"
Tired and weak but rejuvenated at the fact of being able to save her husband. She gladly answered. "Yes."
Behind them the sun shone bright as it started to rise once more. They continued their path into a forest that no one dared enter but the ones called witches. They walked through the woods, over logs and underneath branches until they reached a cave entrance covered in vines.
"This is as far as you go. Stay here while I get what you seek for."
"But I have not told you what it is I am in need of."
"Your husband is very ill, is he not?"
"But...yes very ill," she nodded. She was now convinced that witches were very much real and she dared not question anything.
"Will you still agree to do as I say?" the mysterious witch asked.
"Will my husband stay alive?"
"Yes."
"I will do all you ask of me."
"Just one and your debt to me will be repaid. If you are to change your mind your husband will die. Is this understood?"
"Yes. I have not come far to watch him die."
"Wait here for my return. I shall not take long but it is a journey I must take alone. Enter the cave only if you hear others approach. It will keep you safe from harm."
The mysterious witch disappeared in the darkness of the cave. In silence she waited for the mysterious stranger to arrive again. She sat outside of the cave and carefully listened to any sound as her legs and feet grew tired. She rested her eyes and soon fell asleep outside of the cave.
She woke up at the sound of footsteps and as she opened her eyes she saw that they were no longer in the forest. She looked around the darkened room covered in webs and rubbed her eyes with the palm of her hands. The witch appeared in front of her with the very same black hooded robe.
"We are back in the village. I saved you some bread and water for your travel home. Will you be okay to make the journey?"
"I believe so."
"I have for you the potion to save your husbands life."
The mysterious witch removed the hood of the cape and revealed herself. She had piercing blue eyes and hair like the sun. Her face was young and she was very beautiful. In her hand she held out a vial filled with blue liquid. "Have him drink this and his health will be restored." In her other hand she brought out another vial with red liquid. "You will meet a man in your travel back home. You are to ask him for help which he will refuse. Kindly thank him for stopping and hand him the vial but do not show him. Tell him 'I will pray for thee' and nothing more."
"But what if he does not refuse, what shall I do then?"
"He will refuse. He does not take kindly to strangers especially those who seek his help. And if by some miracle he agrees to help, simply give him the vial and say 'I pray for thee' but wait until the end of your journey with him. Once said the potion will change into something he cannot refuse."
"Will it kill him?"
"I do not wish death upon anyone and his death will not bring me any satisfaction. Once he drinks the potion his true nature will be revealed. Will you do this for me?"
"Yes."
"Start your journey at dawn. Get some rest as you will need it. Goodbye friend."
As she turned to say goodbye the woman had vanished. She wanted to leave and start her journey back home but she followed the instructions that were given to her. She took the two vials and slipped it into a secret compartment in her jacket and laid on the floor to get some much needed rest.
She woke with the sun beaming on her face and the birds chirping around her. She was no longer inside the small dusty cabin that she fell asleep in but outside of the village. The truth of how she got there she never knew but had a feeling it had to do with the the witch.
She checked her secret compartment to make sure she still had the two vials and when they were, she rose of the ground. As she stood up a sack fell to ground and inside was a small vial with clear liquid and a piece of bread. She ate the piece of bread and drank the vial of clear liquid then started on her journey." Grandma Belle paused and started to cough. She covered her mouth with her hand then cleared her throat. "Will you finish the story, dear?" Grandma Belle asked her husband.
"Of course, dear. The pathway had dried and the weather for her journey home was the opposite of what she encountered when searching for the witch. The sun was bright and the day was hot and dry. Having drank all her water she found the rest of her travels to be difficult.
She walked along the path and stopped only to pick some berries, sometimes almost giving into the temptations of drinking the red liquid. She walked and walked until her feet could no longer take her any further. As she was resting she heard the sound of a horse and carriage approaching.
She reached into her secret compartment and grabbed the two vials. She placed the vial with blue liquid back and kept the other in her hand. She got up immediately and stood in the middle of the path.
The carriage stopped as they got closer to the elderly lady. The carriage door flew wide open and a gentleman staggered out. Afar he was standard looking but up close he was indeed very handsome. He had long hazel hair that turned golden in the sun. His eyes were as blue as the sky but green as the leaves of the forest when seen from profile. His jaw was strong but his features gentle.
"Why have you stopped Cogsworth?" he asked. His voice was loud and intimidating as it echoed through the forest.
"Sir there's a lady...a lady on the road. I just thought...maybe...maybe we should help." Cogsworth, the coachman stuttered.
"Help you say? Where is this lady?"
"Here sir," she answered in weary voice.
"Cogsworth you fool. That is no lady! She's nothing but an old woman," he laughed.
His voice boomed and a chill came down the woman's spine. If the potion was to show his true nature she didn't want to be around to see it.
"I beg your pardon sir. I may not be pretty nor young but I am still a lady. If I may ask, I am in need of assistance. I have run out of food and water and still have a long way to go."
The young man shook his head and struggled to walk decently as he made his way towards her. "That's all you poor folks are good for. Always asking for help."
Nervously, she approached him. It was uncanny how the witch knew exactly would happen. "I'm sorry to have bothered you sir," she reached for his hand and placed the vial in it. "I pray for thee," she quickly said and turned away from the men. She walked on and hoped to never see them again.
He opened his fist to see what the woman gave him. The once red liquid was now a deep wine color.
"What do you think it is sir?"
He pulled off the cork and smelled the liquid. "Spirit! Care for any Cogsworth?"
"Don't you think you've had enough?"
"No such thing as drinking too much," he answered with a huge smile on his face. He drank every drop of what he thought was spirit. The potion had been bewitched the moment the spell was said by the old woman.
"Let's go, Cogsworth. I'd hate to get home after nightfall."
"But sir what about the lady?"
"Leave her be. Do not stop until we are at the castle," he walked back into the carriage and slept until they reached home."
"I don't like him Grandpa. He's a very mean man," Vincent interrupted once again.
"What happened to him? What did the witch do?" JT asked, curiously and excitedly.
"That's a very good question. Would you like me to continue the story Vincent?"
"Yes Grandpa. Sorry, I'll try not to interrupt again," Vincent said in an apologetic tone. He gave his grandparents the best of his puppy dog eyes.
"It's okay, kiddo. I was upset, too, when I heard the story but I promise the story gets better.
There was no sign of light when they arrived at the castle. Intoxicated from all the spirits he drank, the loyal coachman and a stableman had to help him up to his chamber and let him sleep it off.
When the sun rose the next morning the whole castle was awakened by a chaotic growl. All of his servants and maids rushed up to his chamber and was shocked to see what had happened.
It is believed that the witch was a sister of one of his many lovers. She, like many others were left heart broken. They said she never got over him and died of a broken heart. After finding out about the death of her sister the witch promised that she would someday seek revenge on him. Whether or not she attempted it before, one thing was sure, she was successful that day.
The first person to get to his master's chamber was the ever loyal, Cogsworth. Struck with disbelief he stood by the chamber door and was unable to move any closer. In his master's clothing was something he or anyone had never seen before.
The creature stood erect like a human but was not. Its face was covered with hazel hair and with the physical likeness of a lion but with the soft features of a human. He touched his face as he stared at the looking glass. His palm mirrored that of a paw and his fingers were covered with the same color hair.
He tore at his clothing and revealed the fear he had in his mind. He was a creature that was half man and half lion. His torso and the rest of his body resembled a human but covered with more hair.
By sunset half the castle was nearly destroyed and most of his servants but one had left. Out of fear they stayed in the stables and only came back in the castle when the commotion had stopped.
After sunset they all silently walked up the steps and into their master's chamber. Lying on the floor naked was their master, back in his human form. Cogsworth ever worried was running towards the motionless body with a blanket.
"Sir...what...what happened? You're...human again," Cogsworth stammered breathlessly.
"Leave me be, Cogsworth. I do not wish to see anyone."
"But sir..."
"Close the chamber door as you leave. Tell the others I wish to be left alone."
His transformation lasted for half a day and every day from there on. From sunrise to sunset he was a creature everyone feared. Then from sunset to sunrise he was back to his human form that everyone disliked except for his loyal servants who has been with the family since he was born. Why he was only a beast half a day and human the other, no one knew. Whether or not the witch took pity on him was unknown.
Thankful as he could be that he was still part human, he tried living a normal life but found it difficult when telling lies upon lies. His joy for life was slowly diminished as he saw less and less people.
Over the months he became more reclusive and gave up entirely on living a life outside the castle walls. The servants took pity and tried the best they could to make him feel normal but the harder they tried the further he pushed them away. Still none of them left and stayed until their dying breath. He paid his respects by paying for their burial and laying them to rest in the family cemetery.
His servants and maids all became his eyes and his ears outside of the castle. They brought him news they heard as they were in town buying food and supplies but he felt helpless and hopeless as he started becoming a prisoner at his own home.
As the days turned to weeks and weeks to months the servants took more to the beast and he to them. The beast took a liking to his father's library and most days he would lock himself in there until the human came out and went upstairs to his chamber to brood. He had a better appreciation for life while the human became more somber and bitter.
One day, his chambermaid came inside the library as he was reading. "Sir, you have not stepped out of your father's library. Surely there's more you'd like to see and do."
"Vincent, call me Vincent. I am not your master but your friend and comrade. 'Tis your castle as it is mine."
"But sir," she tried but was quickly interrupted.
"Vincent, madame. And I quite like it here. There's so much in these books! No wonder father rarely left this room," he said enthusiastically in his hoarse voice.
It was almost as if he smiled and the little boy she once raised stood in front of her. "If you wish to be called Vincent, please call me Emma. Madame makes me oh so old!
"Ah, will do, Emma. 'Tis a fine day. Please enjoy it on my behalf and do give me a nice story on the morrow."
Emma smiled. "Good day, Vincent."
One autumn day Vincent was stricken with an illness. His temperature rose yet still felt cold. All night long his chambermaid stayed with him. The break of dawn showed a new promise. After his transformation the chills went away and his temperature returned to normal, at least what was normal for the beast.
"All better?" Emma asked.
"Much," he answered weakly. "You are too kind to stay with me all night."
"Get some rest sir."
"What have I said..."
"Rest, dear prince," Emma got up from her place and drew the curtains close.
"Emma..." he tried fighting of the exhaustion but his eyes closed and he quickly fell asleep.
In his human form the illness came back while the beast felt weak. Day and night she watched over him and cared for him like he was her own child.
"Vincent," his chambermaid called from the door.
He rose from the bed. His stature was tall. Even though he looked like a beast he was nothing like one.
"Sit," Emma demanded.
"I've done nothing but lay and sit for weeks now," he pouted like a child.
Emma entered the room and sat on the edge of the bed. "You must rest for the sake of your human body. You're still too weak."
He sat back down and like a stubborn child threw his body back against the bed with large thump.
"Sit up dear. The girls and I have noticed how much time you spend in your father's library so we made this," Emma handed him a worn out leather bound book.
Inside the book the pages were weathered and not all were the same size. Each page was sewn with twine and though lose, it remained in tact.
"Now other's can read your words and be delighted as you are when writing it."
"This is beautiful. You're all too kind."
"I'll have Cogsworth bring your quill and ink."
The book brought delight to Vincent, both human and beast. From sunrise to sunset they wrote. More and more they were beginning to act as one.
A couple of years passed after the cursed day when he finally set eyes on another person. One winter day he planned a walk around his property with protest from his servants. He bundled himself up, covering his face and body with a long cape and hood. He walked the grounds of his castle and admired the beautiful garden his chambermaid had grown.
Rarely did they let him out during the day, fearing someone would see him. He cherished every second, the cold breeze on his face and the chill of winter blanketing his body.
Secretly, the beast slipped further and further away from his castle. He walked past the small hill and into the wide open meadows. Clear across the horizon stood the white capped mountains he traveled many times before. Oh how he missed it!
He growled in delight, the thunderous sound echoed through the meadows and forest. It startled the nearby animals and the servants in his castle. His laughter rose and far in the distance a horse raced through the open field, galloping faster as the thunderous sound became louder. Fear struck the horse and ignored the riders request to halt. Faster and faster it went, beyond the trail and into the forest. It never stopped even after it lost its owner deep within the forest.
His laughter stopped when he heard the cries of a woman. He closed his eyes and listened closely. He ran as fast as his feet could take him. Through the meadows, past the castle grounds and into the forbidden forest where anyone could see him but he didn't care about that at the moment.
He walked slower and more cautiously as he saw the woman lying on the ground. Her cries had stopped and her body lay motionless.
"Hello?" he softened his usual deep and loud voice.
The woman did not reply back and remained motionless. He feared the worse. He came closer and risked more than he should have.
Her heartbeat was faint but surely there. He approached quietly and carefully slid his arms under her, lifting her up off the ground. Gently, he slid her closer to his warm body and she shifted to fit perfectly in his arms.
Blood flowed from the cut on her cheek and he wiped it as gently as he could. Her beauty took his breath away. She was the most beautiful woman he'd seen in his life. She blinked a few times and saw flashes of his hairy face then blinked no more as she lost consciousness.
Vincent was scolded numerous times for bringing her back to the castle but all he cared about was the young lady's health. She slept through the sunset and past the next sunrise. The castle had darkened once more before she opened her eyes.
"You're awake," he whispered softly.
She rubbed her eyes and looked around the candle lit room. Her eyes stayed on the guest that stood by her bedside. His hazel eyes glimmered in the candlelight as he stared back into her olive eyes.
He studied her face, the curve of her lips, the softness of her cheeks, the gentleness of her eyes and the kindness of her smile.
"Vincent," he exhaled.
She'd never seen a man more handsome than he. Hazel eyes with hair to match. Pale skin with a touch of rose. A masculine face with the warmth of a smile. Kind and welcoming eyes that greeted her.
He closed his eyes, dropped his hands to his sides and listened to the growing sound of the beating of her heart. It was something he learned as a beast and he perfected it while in human form.
She reached for his hand and he met her eyes once more. "Catherine," she answered."
Grandpa Keller paused to yawn and checked his watch on his wrist. "I'm afraid I have to stop there kids."
"But it was just getting better," Vincent whined. "Just a little more please."
"It's pass your bedtime. We'll continue tomorrow night."
"But I want to know what happens in the end."
"The ending does not matter if you miss the important part of the tale.
"What's that Grandpa?"
"Every story has a beginning, middle and end. You've heard the beginning and wish for the end but have not heard the middle. It's where the true story lies and the moments we never forget. It's the journey and the experience that makes the ending worth while."
"I can't wait until I'm all grown up," Vincent replied.
"One mustn't look too far ahead into the future or one will miss out on the present. Don't lose sight of the important things, Vincent. Someday the story will be yours to tell."
"Mine will be much cooler! There's going to be lots of action! Come on JT. Lets go to sleep so we can hear the rest of the story tomorrow. Goodnight Grams and Grandpa."
A/N: That concludes the prologue. The story will begin 20 years later.