Mad love for my Beta!

Prologue

"Jean!" The horse's name rang out in the forest clearing as the horse and his rider slowed to a trot. The old man petted his horse's neck. The weather was getting worse by the minute. A threatening mass of dark clouds hung low in the sky and the wind was dancing about ferociously.

The rider frowned and looked to his map again. The sooner he got himself home, the sooner he could break the news to his poor family and be done with it.

After a few minutes of turning the map this way and that, he sighed and admitted what he had known all along. He was lost.

"Jean, we may never find our way back home." He spoke softly and climbed down from the horse's back. The weary old traveler took a few steps in one direction, then turned and took a few steps in the other direction.

He and his horse had been traveling for the past two weeks. Jacques Donovan had been one of the most famous and wealthy merchants of all, once. But to look at him now, one would never have guessed what he had once been. His face was dirty and he was covered in grime and dust from the trail…The trail that he had lost… The trail that was supposed to lead him back to his home – and his family.

The man ran a hand through his greasy silver-grey hair as his thoughts turned to his family. Would he ever see any of them again? Or would they be led to believe that their own father had abandoned them when the times got rough?

He pictured his eldest daughters, Camille and Marguerite, their light blonde hair framing their faces like halos, two pairs of bright eyes, one pair green and the other blue, smiled back at him from his memories. Then came visions of Beau and Belle, his twins. They were darker in countenance, with dark eyes and dark hair. They looked out of place with the rest of them, both Jacques and his wife had been blonde. Belle looked out of place even with her brother sharing the same dark hair and eyes. Her hair was not quite as vibrant, her eyes were not as bright… She had always been a bit…odd.

Odd was the perfect way to describe her. When he had asked what to bring her when he went to town, she had smiled and said, "Only a packet of rose seeds, Father." The others had asked for emeralds and pearls and gowns.

Once, he would have been able to afford these things, but times had changed. The Donovan Family had hit a patch of hard luck, losing nearly all of their riches. And now he would not only be poor, but dead as well, if he could not get out of the foul weather soon enough...

He grabbed the horse's reins and tried to ignore the snow that was beginning to fall. He resumed walking, though at a faster pace than before. He had hoped to avoid bad weather, but he had no such luck. Within minutes, the snow was falling so hard that they could barely see a foot ahead of them.

It was then that he saw it. Up ahead, there was what seemed to be a path. He climbed onto his horse and they set off. The most curious thing happened as they walked along that road. It seemed to get… warmer…

Impossible! The old man reasoned with himself silently. The weather did not vary that greatly in only the space of a few miles. The weather did continue to get better though, and the scenery only grew greener.

Jacques frowned, and sniffed the air. It smelled so... sweet... He took one more deep breath and felt himself slip into unconsciousness.

Jacques awoke the next morning - or what he hoped was the next morning - to the smell of fresh eggs and bacon, and clean clothes sitting on the end of the bed that he had been left in. He ate and dressed quickly, hating the complete silence of this place - not even the tell-tale sign of feet on the stone floor was there to break the silence.

He left his room and began to look around for someone to thank for finding him. It seemed to him that he had searched for hours without finding a soul! He decided finally to give up and went outside, hoping to find Jean. Jean was there, reins tied to a short tree. He untied him quickly and they started on their way.

Jacques was amazed to see the amazing variety of flowers that lined the drive. He recalled almost at once his promises to his daughters. Two wishes would have to be left unfulfilled, but if he could find a rose for his Belle, he would be happy.

He turned the horse down a path and began to look earnestly for a rosebush. He found what he was looking for tucked away in a corner of the garden, and smiled. He picked the most beautiful bloom and turned to go back to his horse.

A monstrous roar filled the air, and Jacques rushed to pull himself into the saddle. He wasn't quick enough though. Something grabbed him by the back of the shirt and tossed him to the ground.

"You dare take a rose from my garden!" It roared. "I gave you comfort, shelter from the storm, and this is how you repay my generosity!"

The merchant was unable to find his voice, he was frightened so. The Beast was the single most terrifying thing that he had ever seen. It was the size of a bear, though a bear would have been much preferable. Almost anything would be preferred when facing the mixture of ram's horns, wolf's snout, and fangs of a rabid dog that stood before him.

"I – I was only thinking of my daughter, Monsieur!" Jacques tore his eyes from the beast, and focused on the rose instead. What would the price be? "Sir, I promised my daughter –my Belle- I'd bring her a - "

"Silence!" The Beast roared, grabbing Jacques by his collar and pulled him up, face to monstrous face. "You wish me to let you go?"

"Yes, sir, please!" Jacques moved his feet in the air, anything to get away from the monstrosity that held him, but it was no use. "I'll give you anything I have! Anything! Just let me go free!"

"You are in luck, Monsieur." The Beast smiled. "You have exactly what I need."

"W-what would that be?" Jacques asked, his voice quivering a little.

"It seems that I am very…lonely… I have need of a girl." He laughed harshly. "I will trade you your Belle for your life."

The man paled. His Belle? Give her to this demon? "Never."

"Very well," the Beast snarled as he raised a large paw, preparing to strike. "This might hurt… a bit…"

"No! Oh, God, please, no!" Jacques cried out, bravery turning quickly into cowardice. "I'll do it! I'll do it! I – I'll bring her! Just let me go, please!"

"You have my word that she will not be harmed." The Beast sneered, setting him down on his feet. "If you do not bring her back by sunset four days from now, I will find you and your daughter and both of your lives will be mine!"

The merchant could do naught but nod and back away, tears streaming down his face. What a horrid father he was….

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