Author note: I do not own Count Cain: Godchild. Nor do I own the fairytale that inspired me to write this, 'Beauty and the Beast' by whoever originally wrote it.
I was partially inspired by storm101's fic, 'When I Waked,' to do my own retelling of a fairytale. 'Beauty and the Beast' has been occurring a bit in my head, and then it got me thinking about doing this sort-of retelling from there. This probably won't be updated often-it just appeared in my head, and I also need to work on 'My Eyes to See' as well-but I'll do my best.
Warning: AU, Violence, possible pairings (more of implied, I'm guessing but that could change as the story progresses)...I think that's it...
Constructive Criticism would be great, and I hope you guys read, review and enjoy! Thanks!
Scattered Rose Petals
We all know the story of 'Beauty and the Beast.' The Beast, once a Prince, falls under a spell that transforms him into a beast and his servants into objects that are usually inanimate. Eventually he falls in love with a Beauty, who comes to his castle to save her father from harm of the Beast. She doesn't like him back, and when she breaks a promise he almost dies of a broken heart. She confesses her love to him, and he transforms back to normal. Then, they proceed to have a happy ending together.
...'Beauty and the Beast' got it all wrong. It never told of what really happened. That was just a sugar-coated version of what really occurred.
The 'Beauty' that comes to the Beast's castle isn't a young village woman, it's a little girl. And that 'father' she saves from harm by coming to the Beast's castle isn't a 'father,' he is actually a friend of the girl, about the same age as her. And no, there is no love that occurs like 'Beauty and the Beast.' It's a different sort of love. It's much different that romantic love.
This is a story of a girl, a boy, and a man who believes he is beast destined to be alone for all eternity.
I. The Beast
A young boy ran through the thicket, desperately trying to seek shelter from the pouring rain. Dang it, He thought to himself. Maybe I should have started heading back towards the village an hour earlier...Why didn't I take notice of the grey clouds before it started pouring?
The boy's name was Leroy, and he was simply out in the woods searching for food and herbs needed to feed himself and his friend back at the village, Maryweather. He wondered if she might have started getting impatient, or perhaps gone out to search for him. He hoped that she didn't do the latter, considering how the damp, heavy droplets of rain were throughly soaking him and the plant life surrounding him. He didn't want her getting ill from the cold downpour.
He shivered, and he wrapped his arms about his damp body in an attempt to get warm. He looked around still, trying to find a cave, a large tree, something to shelter him from the rain...
And that was when he saw the tall, grey stony castle, standing to the north behind a couple of trees that were bent and twisted by the forces of nature. Light glimmered from the windows, and Leroy wondered if the inhabitants of the castle would let him in.
He didn't hesitate any further, and ran towards the direction of the castle.
In the castle, a figure stirred. He knew that he had seen that boy before in the woods, simply gathering things to be consumed. He figured that he couldn't just let the poor human creature just freeze in the pouring rain. That wouldn't be good for the boy, and so he had lit candles so late in the night to show the boy to a place where he could sleep for the night and have a decent meal.
It wasn't like he was going to approach the boy, anyway, even though he had yearned so long for someone to talk with for so many years... He was fine with the boy entering his castle so easily. Just as long as the boy didn't take anything that belonged to him...
Oh, if that happened, he knew that the boy would...Pay.
Leroy stared at the sight in front of him as he pushed a few dripping, damp strands of ash-blond hair out of his face.
There was food. And it wasn't like the food was rotten, it was fresh. There was a bowl of assorted berries and herbs, with a silver spoon at the side. Taking a closer inspection, Leroy discovered a note tucked under the fork, and he picked it up. He unfolded the crisp paper, before reading it quietly.
I welcome you to this castle to take refuge here for the night. I noticed you treading over here and I have prepared a simple meal for you. I know it's not much, but it is the best I can offer. I have also prepared a room for you sleep in, which is located in the East wing of this castle. The room should be the at the first door to your left when you enter the East Wing. All I ask is that you do not dare take anything from this castle when you leave.
There was no signature.
Leroy looked around as he put down the note. "Um...Hello?" He started, looking around. "Uh...Thanks for letting me stay here the night..." He trailed off awkwardly. "Um...Yes...Thank you, whoever you are..."
There is no response. Leroy just shrugged, before sitting down at the table and picking up the spoon. After eating his fill, he departed to the East Wing to get some sleep.
Sunlight streamed in from the windows the next morning, and Leroy had to blink several times to get used to the bright light. He sat up, looking around in confusion, before recalling the events of the previous night. The rain. The castle. The note. He remembered it all.
Leroy grinned a bit, before remembering-Maryweather-And he panicked slightly. He bolted out of bed, and started to quicken his walking pace, determined to get back to her as soon as possible.
He reached the grounds of the castle, and he realized that all around him there are flowers growing on the bushes. Why didn't he notice that earlier? Perhaps he had been too occupied with getting inside the castle last night to notice them. He gazed at them quietly, thinking. Maryweather would love to see these flowers. Maybe she'll forgive him for coming back so late if he brings one back for her. But then again, the warning on the note-It said not to take anything when he left.
...Well...There are a lot of flowers around. Maybe the master of the castle won't notice.
Leroy hesitated, before reaching towards one flower and plucking it off the bush.
Right after that, a loud roar resounded, and Leroy soon realized he was tackled down by someone, something-
And whatever the thing was, it was definitely not happy.
"Let me go, please! I'm sorry! I-I-" Leroy stammered as he tried to fight off the creature, but it was much taller and stronger than him. Leroy couldn't get himself free from the beast's clutches, and he looks at the creature's face in terror.
The creature stared back at him. His face looked human, surely human, with horrid scars on the left side of his face. Greasy locks of brown hair obscure a bit of his face from view, and amber eyes stare back at Leroy. Surprisingly though, the eyes that look back at him are not of anger-
The eyes are full of grief.
"Why?" The creature drawled out as he continued to look down at Leroy. "Why did you-Did you do this? Why?"
Leroy took a few breaths, doing his best to compose himself before speaking.
"I-I-I just wanted to...Give my friend something. T-to cheer her up." He responded shakily. "D-don't kill me, please, I..."
"Kill you?" The creature repeated softly, cutting him off. It was then that Leroy noticed that the creature's voice was hoarse, as if he had never talked to anyone in ages. "Kill you? As if I would kill a child..." He touched Leroy's face with one hand, looking at him carefully. He then paused, his face contorting into something that matched the expression in his eyes, before getting off the boy and extending a hand to him. Leroy hesitated, before accepting the hand and standing. "Come back here by tomorrow." He murmured quietly, turning away from Leroy. "Bring your friend with you."
"Why should I?" Leroy asked, confused.
The creature turned back towards him, his amber eyes almost narrowing into slits. His voice sounded shaky as he responded. Sharpness leaked a bit into the tone of voice, and Leroy cringed slightly at that.
"Because you broke the one rule I gave you."
Before Leroy could speak to him anymore, the beast was gone.