Prologue

There was once a prince. Yes I know that most fairytales start with a prince but this one is different. This is the story of girl and a Beast. There have many retellings of this story but no one has heard the true tale. All of you have no doubt heard that the Beast was a horrible monster who hated his human image. You heard he was cruel and, well, altogether beastly. What the story tellers don't tell you is that he had found a way out. You probably also think that Beauty was an only child that had no one in the world but her father. That too is a lie. She was loved by everyone for her intelligence and her observance although she was something of a recluse. She was from this time but was sent into a strange world of the past. If you wish to keep your delusions put this book down now. Your old ideas will be shattered and will never be repaired. If you want enlightenment please keep reading and do not be surprised when the world looks different when you are done.

Chapter One

Enter the Beast

After years of living alone in my big house I wasn't used to having anyone come into my part of the forest. The witch had put too many protective spells around the estate. But every decade or so, some poor fool will wander in because of the cursed rains that follows where my castle is. I would provide the weary traveller shelter for one night only and then send them on their way. The rain only lasted through the night and once it was gone, they had no trouble finding their way again.

The point of this explanation was not to bore you to death, but add a background to what is about to follow. Our story does indeed start with a prince, but unfortunately we aren't starting at the beginning. We are starting in the middle.

Now I know what you're thinking. The middle is a strange place to begin, I know, but that is when I am starting nonetheless. It was a warm summer night when the rain hit. It blew and raged. I knew it was the magic rain that led poor wanders to my castle, so I left the front door unlocked. (Not that I needed to lock it in the first place.) Sure enough, at around midnight, a man stumbled into the front door. He was wearing strange clothes but I had seen stranger in my time.

"Hello," he called from the doorway. "I need shelter from the storm. May I please come in?" I did not answer but motioned for the servants to get him out of the rain. He looked startled when invisible hands began to push him into the house. Who wouldn't? I stayed hidden but watched as the man was sat down before the fire. He looked to be about fifty years old, with white, thinning hair. He was, in a word, old. I chuckled softly at the thought. I was old enough to be his great grandfather's great grandfather. I may not have aged but I certainly felt the years in my mind. The Beast was trying to take over. At times, it did and I could do nothing to stop it. My roses needed more than what I was giving them, but I don't think I could bear the price of them.

The man finished eating, and called, "Thank you" to the air. I was impressed by his kindness, even when he was obviously sick and tired.

"Master, would you like me to escort this man to a room?" Kanon, my steward, asked. I shook my head, brown hair falling into my eyes.

"He will be asleep in moments anyways," I said. "Leave him where he is."

"Very well, sir," Kanon said, and I felt his presence leave. I stood there for a moment but eventually went into my own room. I hoped that night would end soon and then things could go back to normal like they always did. I closed my eyes but when I was awakened in what felt like only a few minutes.

"Sir, the man," Kanon gasped. "He's discovered the roses!" I quickly jumped up and stormed out of the room, down to my roses. Sure enough, the man was there about to touch my only hope of survival. Unthinkingly I roared and the man jumped. When he turned to see what made the sound, he went pale. Yes, I really was that hideous and terrifying, at least by the light of day. After a brief conversation, which you will hear about later, I threw him into the dungeon. Probably a little harsh but he had almost killed me, the forest, and everything that dwelled in it. I was also curious about this man's daughter. She asked her father to get her an enchanted blue rose? Was she simply stupid or just plain arrogant? I had to find out but I was also curious about the man's other daughters. Could this be my chance? Was fate finally playing in my favor?

I pondered these questions as I pulled out the mirror. It was the one good thing that witch gave to me. It allowed me to stay connected with the outside world. Somewhat, at least.

"Show me the man's eldest daughter," I ordered it. The mirror glowed green and I was given an image of a little house in the middle of nowhere. There was chatter coming from the inside and, sensing my curiosity, the mirror zoomed in.

I saw a girl, the eldest girl I guessed, with blonde hair that flowed like a river down her back. Her blue eyes glinted in the light. She was sitting at the table, reading what appeared to be a newspaper. The mirror zoomed out and I saw another girl, with coal black hair, who stood doing the dishes. She had the same blue eyes as the other girl. Was this pale beauty the youngest?

"Where is Belle?" the blonde one asked.

"Probably out in her meadow," the pale one smiled. Then the door opened. Yet another girl entered the picture. Her brown hair was pulled back from her face, showing off her chocolate brown eyes and freckled nose. She looked younger than the other two and I decided this must be the youngest daughter.

"Welcome back, Isabelle," the blonde girl said. "How was your walk?" Isabelle (Belle?) smiled and I could almost see her brown eyes twinkling.

"It was more of a run actually," she replied.

"Still searching for that rosebush?" the dark-haired girl asked in a teasing tone. Isabelle grinned wider.

"They have to be out there somewhere, Beth" she said. "One of these days, I'll find them just to prove that I'm not crazy."

"You were crazy before you heard about these so-called blue roses," the pale girl (Beth?) said. The blonde girl chuckled.

"You too, Ronnie?" Isabelle asked in mock surprise. "I may be crazy but remember, the best people are always the craziest."

"That's just a crazy person saying," Ronnie said. "We normal people avoid the crazies."

"Very funny," Isabelle drawled. "Now let me go and enjoy my violin."

"Go ahead," Beth said. "If it makes you less crazy, I'm all for it." Isabelle laughed and stuck her tongue out at her sisters. A little while later beautiful music filled the house. I urged the mirror to take me to its source. There was Isabelle, making a violin sing. The song was filled with melancholy and sorrow but I could hear hope in it as well. As I listened, I started to feel something I never have before. This girl, who couldn't have been more than eighteen, had enchanted me. Her sharp mind and beauty had caught my interest but her music…Her music left me in awe. Then it suddenly stopped. Isabelle stopped playing and stared out the open window, into the sunset. I noticed tears gleaming one her cheeks and I wanted desperately to comfort her. What was the source of her sadness? The doorbell rang and she quickly wiped her eyes. It seemed she didn't want to show weakness to anyone.

"Peter's at the door," Beth said, coming into the room. Isabelle groaned.

"Please tell him I'm not here," she said.

"I thought you liked Peter?" I felt a dark weight settle on my chest. She was already spoken for. She could never be mine.

"I like the Peter who doesn't try to kiss me when I don't want to be kissed," Isabelle said. "Tell him I'm wandering the woods or something." Beth sighed but left the room. I breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn't taken. Then anger settled over me. I wanted to hurt the insolent boy who kissed her. What right did he have to steal kisses from her when she obviously just wanted to be left alone?

I couldn't tear myself away from the mirror for a long time. Perhaps this really was my chance to break the curse. I reminded myself that I didn't know anything about her and I was just enthralled by her beauty and talent. Then a traitorous thought popped into my mind and I remembered the sorceress' words.

You will find her when there is no more hope and you will know it is her. But if you cannot get her to love you, you will remain a beast forever in both mind and body.

I didn't have a lot of hope right now and the minute I set eyes on Isabelle my stone heart warmed slightly. Was it her? Or am I just deluding myself? There was only one way to find out.

I debated on how to do it. Should I just ask him or should I order him? It took me nearly three weeks of pacing and watching Isabelle to work up the courage to go down to the dungeons. When I got there, I saw the Isabelle's father, whom I'd learned was called Jacob Hessiton, sitting in the corner, staring at nothing. I decided that I needed him scared and so I stormed in and stared him down for a while. Then I growled what his punishment would be and saw his face go white. It almost caused me to retract my punishment but his daughter was my only hope. I told him he had a week to decide and then I left before he could try and convince to reconsider.

"What're you doing, sir?" my housekeeper, Mrs. White, demanded. She had even taken the trouble to become visible. "That poor man is frightened enough and now you're trying to take his daughter from him."

"I know," I grumbled. "I already feel horrible about it. There's no need to rub it in."

"Why?" she demanded. "Why are you doing this?"

"His daughter is my only hope," I answered tersely. "Everything that the witch said is coming to pass. Even the part the even you didn't understand."

"The part about those accursed roses?" I nodded.

"'Find the girl who can find the true beauty of the rose and she will be able to break the curse,'" I quoted. "She asked her father for a rose, not because she wanted a magic, blue rose but because she wanted a rose."

"How do you know?"

"I've been watching her," I admitted. "The mirror is a helpful tool."

"You are very lucky I convinced that witch to let me come with you," Mrs. White growled. "If I hadn't, who knows what would have become of you!"

"You're concern is touching," I drawled. "If I wasn't worried about slicing you to ribbons with my claws, I might even hug you."

"This still isn't right," Mrs. White said. "You know what the price is if this isn't the girl."
"I know exactly what the price is," I snapped. "But I don't have another choice. She's the last one. I can feel it. If she doesn't break the curse, it will be over."

"What if he doesn't agree?" she demanded. "Or what if he comes back without her?"

"For what I've observed, she won't let that happen."

"That mirror is as evil as the woman who gave it to you," Mrs. White grumbled but I ignored her. She was forever grumbling about the magic that surrounded this place.

"I'm going to take a walk while I wait for Jacob's decision," I informed her. "There's no need for you to wait for me. I will be out until the moon rises."

"I know what you're thinking," Mrs. White warned. "I'll not allow you to tamper with Mr. Hessiton's dreams." I laughed.

"Dear Mrs. White," I said. "You know me too well. And because you know me so well, you also know that I will completely ignore your warning and do as I please. Good day." I heard her huff and I smiled. That woman had raised me and had been with me these long years. She was a much better mother to me than my actual mother was. Lucky she didn't know that I had the mirror with me or else she would have taken it. She didn't like the thought of me snooping on others.

"Show me Isabelle," I told the ornate device. Surprisingly, I didn't see the little cottage. Instead I saw Isabelle sitting in a meadow of wildflowers. Daisies surrounded her and the wind blew her hair around her face. She was humming as she picked the petals of a daisy.

"So little flower," she said. "It seems you are working against me. I know I didn't actually say a name but there's got to be someone out there who loves me." I smiled at her, although she couldn't see me. A grown woman, talking to flowers about love! The thought made me laugh.

"Perhaps you could grant me a wish then," she continued. "I wish my father would come home. He's been missing for a long time. If that's too much to ask, then maybe you could do something about my name. I think people call me Belle behind my back. I would appreciate being just Isabelle." With that, she threw the plucked petals into the sky and watched as the wind carried them away. She sighed and started humming again. Her voice was by no means perfect but it was extremely pleasing to listen to. My heart softened a little more. This girl was amazing and I would like to meet her in person but I knew once she passed through my gates, her fate would be sealed. There would be no turning back. Could I do that to a girl who was so full of life? I could and I would. There was no other option for me. My motives were purely selfish and I could hardly stand myself for this but there are things that must be done.

I waited out the day anxiously. When night came, my plot would begin to unfold. The moon rose late over my lands, but I knew exactly when a moonbeam hit the roses. My paws turned back to hands and feet and my fur only covered my head now. I can almost feel your shock. Yes, every night as the moon touches my roses, I get a few short hours of freedom, something the witch had not accounted for. She didn't even know the roses existed.

As the transformation ended, I walked over to the lake. It glowed silver in the moon light. I took a deep breath and jumped in. When I hit the bottom, I opened my eyes. I could see Jacob Hessiton turn over in his sleep.

"Jacob," I whispered. "Jacob you must agree. You know Isabelle needs to come here. She's always wanted an adventure. Give it to her." This last part was a guess. I really didn't know whether she wanted adventure or not but it seemed reasonable.

"No," he mumbled. "My Belle will not come here. She's all I have left of her mother." My heart softened even more.

"Belle needs to come here," I said. "Her mother would have wanted her to be happy."

"She can't be happy with a beast!" he cried out.

"Look closer at the Beast," I told him. "See his intentions, not his appearance. Sleep now. Give your answer tomorrow."

Well Jacob didn't give me his answer the next day. Or the next day, or the next. It took him ten days to finally answer but in the end, he agreed. I gave him everything he asked for and more, and then sent him on his way. I anxiously awaited Isabelle's arrival. Every day I would watch her in the mirror and prayed she would come.

AN: This is my second story for this site. (If any of you like Pride and Prejudice, I've got a story for you). I'd really appreciate it if you would review this for me. Thanks everybody!