Hey, it's another Yuffentine! This does not follow Beauty and the Beast like most would think. It's not the, 'There's something there that wasn't there before,' thing. It's dark and the plot is altered to better fit the original FFVII plot. It's still Beauty and the Beast, though. ;)

Just so you know, I made the cover art. Don't take it without crediting me. (Not that it's anything special)

Disclaimer: I do not own anything. Not Beauty and the Beast, not Disney - although it really has nothing to do with this other than the fact that I mentioned a song in the A/N - and I do not own FFVII.

Rated for some violence and possible language. I mean, come on, Hojo makes an appearance - can you say violence? - and it's a yuffentine - yuffie = language.

Full summary: He lived no fairytale by any means~ Vincent Valentine is betrayed by the woman he loves, and in a desperate attempt to save his life, she further destroys him by cursing his existence to merge with a demon through Dark-Mako. Now a hideous monster, the former Nibel Turk slinks away to the basement of his manor and hides away, waiting out his thirty-one year sentence until he can die. However, he does not count on a woman happening upon him - and he shudders at the thought that she just might break the spell, for only love can save a monster.

Storm clouds black as sin enveloped the sky, raining down thick, icy assaults of raindrops onto the unforgiving soil of Nibelheim. Lightning crackled in the distance, illuminating the dark abyss as it splintered and forked, searing the treetops and slamming into the ground, accompanied by the roaring cry of thunder that shuddered through the shadows of the storm. The static and ozone in the air hung heavily, almost a tangible fog as it drifted over the expanse of grassy fields that stretched beyond the ancient manor, its turrets crumbling with time and ivy.

Inside, a man paced the length of the castle hall, his lips grim as he held a hand to his chin and repressed a shiver at the chill in the air. He glanced up at the grandfather clock in the corner of the parlor, seeing the pendulum swing back and forth, ticking each second away. With a profound sigh, the man sat down on the settee, running his hands through his short onyx hair. He worried for her. She was a mere lady with no means of protecting herself, and she was out in that awful weather…

"Master?"

The man glanced up, finding his servant maid offering a small smile to him. She clasped his hands in hers, her blue eyes reflecting in his own rubies. "She'll be fine, Master Valentine." Another clap of thunder.

He nodded and smiled a little, replying, "Yes, thank you, Shelke… You may retire to your room if you wish."

She smiled wider and whispered, "Thank you, master. Goodnight." With that, she bowed and retreated, her brown dress swishing with the movement. The man sat back down, his hands clasped beneath his chin as he rested his elbows on his knees, imaging all sorts of horrors. As part of the elite Nibelheim guard, dubbed the Nibel Turks, he had assassinated many in weather like this. Admittedly, his occupation was something that shamed him, but he could do nothing except soldier through, even if it meant a little blood on his hands.

The master stood and attempted to calm his beating heart. Lucrecia would be home soon.

Soon turned out to be only seconds later. The large doors to the manor opened and a tall woman with warm brown eyes and long chestnut hair entered, beaming at the dark-haired man, who couldn't help but smile himself.

"Hello, Vincent dear!" she greeted, running into his open arms and pressing her lips to his soft cheek.

"I worried about you," he stated, his voice scolding but his eyes warm. She laughed lightly and ran her hands through his short silky hair.

"I know, and I'm sorry. I just had some work to do at the asylum. It's all fine now, love." Outside, the tempest raged, its wind whistling through the tall black oaks.

Vincent smiled at her reply and kissed her lightly, one hand pulling her closer. She sighed into his embrace and he held her tighter, slanting his lips against hers. Just as one hand locked beneath her knees and Vincent went to lift her, the door flew open, allowing a freezing gust of wind to slither through the entryway. Pushing Lucrecia behind his body, the Turk gripped her tighter to him, his arm thrown out protectively.

A man stormed in, his hair greasy and thin and his face leathery over his bony cheeks. His eyes were narrowed behind round glasses that slid over his long nose. Downturned eyebrows jutted out from the angular face, giving the man a very sour looking appearance.

"Hojo!" Lucrecia gasped, and Vincent's brow crinkled in confusion. He dropped his arm and returned to a neutral stance, watching the scientist curiously.

"Professor Hojo, welcome. Is there something you need?" The master of the house's face softened and he motioned with his arm, turning to call his servants. Lucrecia bit her lip and tugged on Vincent's arm, pulling the appendage to her chest. Catching her wide eyed gaze, he arched one eyebrow at the distressed look on her face.

"That won't be necessary," rasped the professor as he slid his glasses up his nose and leered at the younger man. "That won't be necessary at all."

When Vincent awoke, his head throbbed like the Dickens and his body felt like lead. He gained enough strength to lift his upper half and gaze around at the musty, damp walls of what looked to be his own basement. Sobbing reached his ears, and he turned to find Lucrecia watching him from the far corner of the room.

"Lucrecia, what's going on?" he demanded, trying to sit up. His left arm wouldn't budge, making him struggle against his restraints. It appeared that he had been strapped to an operating table, and a rack of instruments sat nearby, some covered in blood. The sight alarmed Vincent. "Lucrecia, what happened?"

The sobbing reduced to whimpering, and slowly Lucrecia made her way to Vincent, her eyes unable to meet his. With a sniffle, she whispered, "I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry…"

"For wha-"

The sound of the basement door slamming echoed in the dark room. A menacing cackled bounced off the walls, along with a cruel, "So the lab rat is awake, no? Hehe, very good. Very good indeed, my love. You have served me well."

Eyebrows slanting, Vincent asked, "What are you talking about?"

Hojo cackled as Lucrecia burst into tears again and turned her back to Vincent. "You mean, she didn't tell you? You see, Turk Valentine of Nibelheim, your lady here has been betraying you. She is with child – but don't begin to assume that it is yours. She's been with me, working for me this entire time in a plot to steal your great family fortune, and of course, further my experimentation. It started with her hand in the demise of your father, Grimoire. An experiment gone wrong, if you will…"

"Wh-what do you mean?" Vincent cried incredulously, turning his head toward Lucrecia as he begged, "Tell me that this is not true!"

"I'm sorry, Vincent, I'm so sorry," she breathed, her back still toward him. With hurt in his crimson eyes, Vincent lowered his head to the examination table, letting is eyes stare up at the dripping ceiling. His mouth was slightly open, a confused and pained expression etched on his face as he absorbed the information.

"It's too late for apologies, my dear," Hojo grated, amusement seeping into his tone. "You've crushed him! How splendid indeed. He'll have no will to fight against me now…"

And he didn't.

Something dug into him, tearing painfully at his flesh. With a screech, Vincent's back arched up, but a strap that ran across his body hindered the movement, making it all the more painful. The broken cry grew louder as he felt his skin open, a warm gooey liquid spilling over the tight and raw flesh. Tears leaked out of his eyes silently as he gritted his teeth against the agony of sharp blades cutting into him, poking, prodding, ripping. When the pain increased to an excruciating extent, and blood vessels burst behind his retinas, his eyes rolled back in his head, and he lay unconscious, allowing the numb void to comfort him…

Tightness in Vincent's chest made him groan, and when he attempted to sit up, a shock ran through him. In anguish, he cried out and collapsed against the table, feeling hot liquid behind his eyelids. What had they done to him? He couldn't quite tell, but he knew that it was awful, and the memory of a scalpel against his torso made him quiver. Sleep overcame him…

Light blinded him, and he felt like he was floating in some murky substance. As his red eyes adjusted, Vincent found himself in a tube-like chamber, a liquid surrounding all available space. In panic, he pushed against the glass and held his breath.

"Vincent, calm down! It's alright."

His heart immediately obeyed the voice of his love. Her eyes gazed back into his, and he yearned to hold her. Disappointment filled him when she tore her gaze from his.

"I'm sorry, Vincent. Please know that…" Once again, everything went dark…

"Lucrecia," Vincent moaned, his hair limp against his forehead with sweat. He thrashed against the table, crying out for his love as needles pierced his skin, each one like a knife in his heart. "Lucrecia, why?"

"I'm sorry, Vincent. I'm so, so sorry…"

The world faded to black…

Darkness met Vincent Valentine when he opened his crimson eyes and blinked. His chest was bound with bandages and there was a heavy feeling where his heart should have been. Testing his arm, he found it to be moveable once more. His right hand ghosted over the wrapping that covered his heart, and when he pressed lightly, a hiss of pain escaped his lips. Something was very wrong.

"Vincent." The soft melody held a bittersweet note, and when Vincent met a brown-eyed gaze, there was sadness in on Lucrecia's face.

"He… He took out your heart."

"Took out… my heart?" Vincent's face twisted as he looked down at his chest in horror, swallowing thickly. "But I'm still alive?"

She laughed darkly at that, shaking her head. "I'm such a fool. I tried to save you, Vincent – I had to do it, you must understand!"

The man blinked at her, tilting his head as he inquired slowly, "You had to do what?"

"The demons, Vincent! I needed you to live – I had to cast the spell on you!" Her giddy, frantic voice came across as insane, and Vincent watched her every move with concern.

Shaking his head, Vincent repeated, "Spell? Whatever are you talking about?"

With a sob, Lucrecia buried her head in her hands and answered, "An old spell… It was a Tome of Jenova." Vincent's eyes widened. Jenova had been an old sorcery coven founded on the principle of Dark-Mako, a magical essence of the Lifestream. At length, Lucrecia continued, "I conjured the spirit of four demons to inhabit your body – they'll give you immortality…"

"Demons?" the man stated, bewildered and taken aback. "What do you mean…? Lucrecia, what… I don't unders…" The scientist brushed her hand over Vincent's cheek and pressed a kiss to his lips. When she drew back, there were tears running down her face and falling onto his, washing blood splatters away from his brow.

Softly, she whispered, "I've been studying the old-world Order of Jenova. Hojo and I thought we were onto something, but his experiments kept failing. He… he thought you'd be a perfect test subject… He subjected you to torture, Vincent, and then used Mako to heal you. However, you began to die, and he could not bring you back on Mako alone… So I resorted to using Dark-Mako and cast an incantation on you, so that you will continue to live. There are certain conditions, though…"

"Conditions?" Vincent repeated, still shocked from the information. He couldn't look into Lucrecia's eyes, and kept his on the gauze that covered his chest.

"The demons within you will remain for thirty-one years, and then return to the Lifestream… Vincent, the only thing stronger than darkness and demons is… love. You must… fall in love with a woman who will love you for your demons within, and for your transgressions as a Turk. She must truly love you – not like I loved you. I was willing to put you in danger in the name of science, and I betrayed you by carrying on affair with Hojo… No, she must love you completely. Then, and only then, will the spell be broken. The demons will return to the Lifestream, and you will continue to age on, no longer immortal. But until then, you will not age and will remain stuck as you are now, sometimes alternating demon forms. If you fail to find her by the time thirty and one years are over, Vincent, you will die."

Lucrecia pulled an orb from her lab coat and held it out, her eyes sad as she explained, "This is a time materia… When the last of the mist has dissipated, your time will be up."

With a shaky hand, the Turk took the orb and narrowed his eyes at it, seeing his reflection in the glassy surface. He was distorted, crazy looking. A monster.

His left arm twitched, and he lifted it, finally discovering why it had weighed so much. A thick golden metal covered his appendage, the digits forming sharp talon-like claws at the end. The gauntlet looked menacing. A monster.

"I am hideous…" The sound was bitter, filled to the brim with self-loathing.

"She will not think so," Lucrecia assured, her eyes sad and soft. She brushed her hand through his short locks and placed a chaste kiss to his cheek, whispering, "Forgive me. I'm so sorry, Vincent…"

She turned and left, closing the basement door behind her. Vincent dragged himself from the table to one of the many coffins littering the basement. He pulled the top off of a grey tomb and crawled inside, a feeling of claustrophobia befalling him. The light diminished slowly as the lid settled with every inch he slid over the cover over him, until finally, no light filtered through. His heart shriveled up and died.

Okay, I'm really excited about this one. Please, please, please - even if you are anonymous, even if you hated this chapter, please tell me. I need to know what you did and didn't like. Remember, a story is only as good as its readers allow it to be!

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed!