Beauty and the Beast Bamon style

Disclaimer: i don't own anything!

Another disclaimer: i haven't yet finished the seventh vamp diaries book!

Another great disclaimer: Though this is Danielle Salvatore's idea and I love her version a lot, I just can't get this out of my head so i hope she is not too angry with me for borrowing it. Do not hate me, guys and review!

Thanks for reading!

Prologue

Once upon a time, in a far away kingdom, an old king lived in a magnificent castle situated on the outer edge of an enormous forest. The king was very much loved by the people under his rule because he was kind and just and peace and prosperity extended over the land.

The king had two sons who both resembled him in outer appearance and strength. The two brothers had grown up under their father's care and loved him a lot. When he died they grieved a lot together with all the people in the land.

After the old king's death, the rule passed to his eldest son, Damon. And the people believed that everything will remain as good as it was when his father was alive. But they soon found out they were very much mistaken. For even though Damon looked like his father, he was not like him.

He was just and when he judged he did it rightly but he was cruel and arrogant. He didn't respect ordinary people and he treated them brutally if they crossed his path. The noble men feared him because it was very difficult to please him. The joy and peace left the kingdom and were replaced by fear and terror.

There was only one person who had some influence over the young king for Damon loved his little brother very much. The two of them were very different – while Damon was cruel, Stefan was kind. He was good natured and considerate and people loved him as much as they feared his brother. Damon's brutality hurt Stefan a lot and he often tried to make his brother see reason.

'There will come a time, when all that venom that you hold will turn against you. Don't let it control you. I don't want to see you suffer.' Stefan often said. But his brother just laughed and didn't think twice.

The days went by and the kingdom lived in fear. Damon never listened to his brother's warnings and he didn't try to show kindness. Just as Stefan predicted, it brought his downfall…

It was a scary night and a horrible storm raged around the castle. Lightnings seemed as if they were trying to smote the towers and thunders rolled one after another making people shudder. Then, suddenly a knock came on a small side door that led to the kitchens. When the servants opened it they saw an old lady. She was soaking wet, wore rags and seemed so dirty that they didn't dare let her in. Instead, they sent for the king.

When Damon saw her, he was appalled. He absolutely forbid that she ever come close to the castle again for fear of being executed. Instead of being frightened as were most who witnessed the king's wrath, she laughed. A pale light appeared around her and she grew tall and beautiful but also terrible. And then she spoke:

'You were cruel to an old lady who did nothing to offend you. You were arrogant and uncompassionate. You thought too highly of yourself and you never respected others. And for that you will be punished.'

She raised her hand and a pale golden light seemed to engulf the whole castle. Damon was blinded for a moment and when he regained his sight he couldn't see his servants around him. He called for them and was terrified when a teacup, a kettle and an old clock answered. He turned to the woman:

'What did you do to my people? Turn them back!'

'I can't.' she answered. 'You are the only one who can break the curse.'

'How?'

'When the time is right you will have to make a young woman fall in love with you. Only true love's first kiss will break the spell. Until then you will live alone – ugly and isolated to pay for your cruelty.'

She handed him a rose and a mirror.

'Make sure you guard the flower well because if the last petal falls before you find true love you'll remain like this forever.'

Damon looked at the mirror, gasped and almost dropped it. His once attractive face was changed. His eyes were bloodshot and the veins around them showed clearly in his now ghostly pale skin. He saw blood trickle down his chin and when looked at his lips he saw that terrible fangs pierced them. He had turned into a monster. A dull ache filled his heart and he remembered his brother's words. If he had just listened to him…

'Wait!' he said suddenly. 'What of my brother? What will happen to him?'

'If you fail he will die.' The woman disappeared without another word.

Suddenly fearful Damon ran through the now seemingly empty castle to Stefan's room. He found his brother fast asleep on the floor. No matter what Damon did Stefan would not wake. He laid there still and pale as if dead and only the slight breath and the steady rise and fall of his chest proved that he was still alive. Feeling helpless, Damon bent over his brother and cried until the sun appeared through the window. It hurt Damon's eyes and he walked forward to close the curtains. When he looked out he gasped again. The forest had grown in the night and engulfed the castle. It reached as far as the eye could see with no road through it. The young king was utterly alone.

No one ever found out what happened that night. The people were almost glad when they chose another king and life slowly rolled on undisturbed. Many years passed and people forgot about the brothers and their castle. Only a legend was still told as a tale for kids but no one truly believed.

Until…