A/N This is a sequel to the story, "Chain of Souls" that my friend and I co-wrote. She, RosesnWater, made videos on YouTube, and I wrote the story based on those videos. That's how this story is co-written right now.

I don't own anything except an OC characters you see (Almira, Alexandra, Victor, etc.) All characters are owned by their respective companies; the plot was written between RosesnWater and I, so she partially owns the plot.

With Eyes Wide Shut
Chapter 1

She didn't know where she was, or how she got there. All Belle knew was she was in a dark castle, but it wasn't the castle she had stayed in for several months. This one didn't have a cheery feel to it, nor did it have the sound of clicking claws or padding paws. It was dark and eerily quiet. It scared her that it was very quiet more than that it was dark and empty.

Another thing was that Belle was searching for something, but she had no idea what. She walked in and out of the different rooms of the castle, looking around each room. If whatever she was looking for wasn't in the room, she left. And still as she searched, she was still frightened; as though something could jump out and attack her at any moment. As she walked up a spiraling staircase, everything went black.

When she opened her eyes, Belle was no longer in a dark castle; she was snug in her bed, her husband asleep behind her, and their pet softly snoring at the foot of the bed.

Belle sighed softly, realizing it was only a dream. It scared her, but she was relieved when she found herself in her bed. She snuggled back against her husband, smiling when he wrapped an arm around her in his sleep and pulled her closer. Belle managed to roll over so she was facing him without waking him up.

Her husband's name was Thrax. He wasn't a pure human; he was actually part-Daemon, which was a mysterious creature resembling a gargoyle guarding a castle. Thrax had red skin with darker red claws and eyelids. His face was angular with a long pointed chin and cheekbones, purple dreadlocked hair, and yellow and green eyes, which were shut in sleep.

Belle snuggled against Thrax's warm chest, sighing softly again as she drifted off to sleep. The frightening and confusing dream didn't bother again that night.

The next morning, Belle was walking through town with a basket on her arm, shopping again. She wore her favorite blue dress with a white undershirt and apron. Her brown hair was tied in a ponytail with a blue bow, and her hazel-colored eyes often glanced down at the pet at her feet.

This pet, named Almira, was an oddly orange-colored hyena with red spots and flaming legs, flaming yellow mane and tail, and pale yellow eyes. She had a bite in her right ear, and a scar that snaked down past her left eye and the corner of her mouth before stopping under her mouth. She also wore a purple bandana around her neck.

Almira never liked strangers, but had warmed up to Belle; especially after she was married to her master, Thrax. Now Almira enjoyed going with Belle to shop in the village they lived near. The villagers either cowered away in fear or scowled and glared at her, but the hyena, being used to this treatment, hardly cared at all. After all, she and Thrax had always been shunned by the villagers, and always would be.

Belle didn't like that Thrax and Almira were treated as freaks and monsters, as the villagers whispered. She admitted they didn't look normal, but this didn't matter to her. She felt that beauty was only skin-deep, and that true beauty was found within. But other people never understood this. And in addition to her husband and pet being shunned by the town, she herself became one of the most unpopular people in the village.

She was already perceived as odd due to her loving to read books and refusing the proposals of the best looking man—he was now thought to be dead, when in reality, he was living as a true beast in an abandoned castle in the forest. When she announced she was marrying Thrax, there was a big uproar. People were convinced she was forced to do this, while others thought she had truly gone crazy. Belle was often hurt by these accusations, even when Thrax comforted her.

The whispers behind her back still sounded as Belle walked through town, buying the things she needed, which included a new book. People whispered about how odd she was, reading, and about how she married a monster. Belle had sent glares in the direction of the jibes the first few times, but now she ignored them, although she was still hurt; not just for herself, but for Thrax's treatment.

Before they left town, Belle looked back at the villagers, who had gathered around to stare at her. When they saw her looking, they went on their way again. "I know what you're saying about us." She said bitterly. "And I don't like it. I may be able to ignore you all on the outside, but it still hurts that you say what you do about Thrax and I. Just because he's part Daemon, it doesn't mean he still isn't as human as you and I."

One person stood out, ironically, in the shadows. This person was an elderly woman, wearing a hooded cloak. She had a long face, green eyes, wrinkled tan skin, and long, graying black hair. With her was a long, blue serpentine-like animal, and a tall humanoid white and green animal with a long white dress and red eyes.

These two creatures with the woman were creatures called Pokemon. The serpentine one was a Dragon-Type one called Dragonair; the other was a Psychic-Type Pokemon called Gardevoir. The woman, who in fact was Thrax's mother, Melissa, used these Pokemon to spy on her son and Belle, believing her son to be as evil as his Daemon father. The two Pokemon would spy on them, and the Gardevoir would tell Melissa everything they saw; some Pokemon could learn how to talk, with Psychic being the fastest to learn.

While it was rude of the Pokemon to spy on her and her family, it irked Belle more that the villagers didn't mind the Pokemon; apparently, anything that wasn't associated with Thrax was fine in their eyes. That was why when the Pokemon that lived with Thrax and Belle revealed they lived with them, the villagers immediately ignored them.

These Pokemon were talking Pokemon who had been living in the castle in the forest. Belle met them after saving Thrax from dying in a blizzard, and they all bonded together so that the Pokemon lived with them. The leader of the trio was a Vulpix; an orange Fire-Type, fox-like Pokemon with six tails. She wore a brown bow on her right ear, and her name was Alexandra. Her best friends were a Meowth, a Normal-Type, cream-colored cat with a gold coin on his forehead, and a blue bandana around his neck, named Francis; and a Grovyle, a three-foot tall Grass-Type green and red lizard with yellow eyes, and a red bandana around his neck, named Victor.

The three Pokemon "earned their keep" by helping around the house and backyard; be it collecting eggs, cooking, or cleaning. Belle originally said it was okay that she did them, but they insisted on keeping themselves busy.

Belle's eyes met Melissa's sharp ones; as the women glared at each other, a shadow appeared over the younger woman from behind. Melissa's eyes widened, and she stepped away, her Dragonair and Gardevoir following.

Belle turned around, facing Thrax, who was standing right behind, grinning. He was wearing his gray turtleneck sweater, and black pants, boots and trench coat. "Hey, baby." He smiled.

"Hey yourself, handsome," Belle smiled, standing on her toes to kiss him; at over six feet, he was much taller than she was.

Almira wagged her tail at her master, smiling as he scratched behind her ears.

A/N As I said in the first A/N, this is the sequel to Chain of Souls. So it'd be best if you read it first, and watch the videos as well, before reading this to ease up any confusion.

The video this part of the story is based on is called "With Eyes Wide Shut" by RosesnWater on YouTube. Beware for spoilers if you watch the video first.

I try to put in as much as I can in each chapter, but sometimes I can only put in so much, so forgive me if the chapters are short. Also, I may be working on some other stories, so I might be slow on updating.

Fun Fact: I was writing a research paper for school. I chose hyenas for my subject, and I learned hyenas can live up to 20 years in the wild; in captivity, they can live for as long as 40 years! I was astounded; I honestly did not know that. I only assumed they lived for over ten years at most. So, since being a pet is the same as being in captivity, Almira's gonna be around for a LONG time :)