The Beast Captures the Beauty
The Beast Captures the Beauty
Beauty is variable; ugliness is constant. - Doug Horton
Early the next morning, I took a bunch of roses to the market and waited for Belle's father, an old merchant, to come by. I ended up waiting for twelve hours before the fat ass showed himself. He waddled down the street with the reigns of his gray horse in his hands. The creature was already laden down with the other girls' gifts. I adjusted my hood and cloak before speaking. "Hello, good sir, would you like to buy a rose for one shilling? Or perhaps an entire bouquet for three?" He stopped in front of my cart and looked at the roses. "I'll take a bouquet." He said taking three shillings from a pouch. "May I ask the occasion?" I asked, arranging a dozen roses. "Well when I asked my three daughters what gifts I could get them, My oldest two asked for dresses and pearls but all my youngest daughter asked for was a rose." I grinned beneath my hood as I thought back to the sincere look in Belle's eyes. "Surely such an unselfish girl deserves better roses than these!" I bellowed, using my best acting voice. It wasn't what it once was, my voice always sounds hoarse. "Honestly sir, these are not my best roses. Follow me and I'll take you to my rose garden." The gullible fool followed like a dog begging for food.
I walked nimbly through the ever-thickening forest while the old man staggered and wheezed behind me. "Are…w-we…there…yet?" he gasped. I turned around and rolled my eyes at him. Another good thing about my hood, beyond hiding my ugly face, is that people can't see when I'm mocking them. "It's not too much further." I answered, holding up a branch so I could pass then letting it go so that it hit him in his face.
Finally the forest gave way to the gravely beautiful scene of my castle, or…what was left of it after the fire. "Welcome to my home." I said, continuing down the path. "You live here?" he asked, his small eyes glittering with amazement. "There was a fire about fifteen years ago that destroyed most of the castle, it's been abandoned ever since. I found it not too long ago and took it as my own." I wasn't completely lying. There was a fire, but it was never abandoned, I never left. We made our way through the castle gates and I showed him my best rose garden. Blood red roses grew in the castle's courtyard. He lit up with excitement and ran to them. He fell to his knees and proceeded to cut them down. Oh the insolence!
He was caught quite off his guard by my sword at his back. "W-what are you doing?" he asked, dropping one my roses. I watched it fall dead to the cobblestone.
"Those roses are for Belle only." I hissed. "W-what do you want?" he stuttered, his shirt was already saturated in sweat. "I want her!" I growled, "You will bring Belle to me in three days or I will come and slaughter your family and take her by force." "W-who the h-hell are you?" he stuttered in fear. I tore off my hood and got into his face, "I am the Beast." I whispered, watching his eyes grow smaller and smaller in horror. I grabbed him by the shirt and threw him toward the gate. "Three days old man!" I shouted, re-sheathing my sword, "Bring her to me in three days or a most unfortunate event shall befall you all!" I picked up the rose from the ground and threw it to him. "Here! An engagement present for Belle!" I yelled, "Now get out!" I chuckled with amusement as he staggered, huffing and puffing, out the gate.
Belle:
Bell sat in the rocking chair by the fireplace, patiently waiting for her father to return. Her sisters, Mary and Christine were both already in bed. Suddenly the door flew open and her father staggered inside and collapsed on the floor.
"Papa!" she shrieked and ran to his side. That's when she noticed the red rose, he clutched in his hand so tightly that the thorns were dug deep into his flesh. She carefully removed it and laid it on a table. She put him in his favorite chair and padded his forehead with a wet cloth. An hour later, he finally awoke. "Belle. Belle" he called. "I'm right here Papa." She said taking his hand. "Oh Belle it was horrible!" he groaned. "What was?" she asked, her sweet voice tainted with concern. Her father's eyes grew wide as the image of the grotesque creature escaped from his memories. "A demon"
Belle covered her mouth with her hand and sat back in her chair. Her father picked up the rose from the table and handed it to her. "He wished me to give that to you…as an engagement present." He croaked, tears welling up in his eyes. Belle took it from him and stared at it with wide eyes. "Engagement?"
Belle listened in silent horror as he told his story of the demon that wished and longed for her in the ruins of a castle deep within the woods. When he was done she climbed to her feet and threw on her cloak. "Let's get going then." She said, opening the door. "Where are you going?" her father asked, getting out the chair. She gave him a weak smile. "It will take us at least two days to get to this castle. We need to leave now if we are to make it on time." He grabbed her hands and pulled her away from the door. "No Belle, I could never give you to that beast. We will run! We will leave this place and never come back!" She sighed deeply and touched his tear-stained cheek. "What good will that do? We have no where to go. Besides, if he really wants me, he'll just come after me, and I will not put anyone's life in danger for my sake. I'm going. I'll marry the beast."
The Beast:
On the third day, I waited impatiently at the castle gates. I sat on the ground, glaring at the road for hours until I heard horse's hooves and sprang to my feet. They rounded the bend and my heart leapt in my chest. Belle was riding sidesaddle on the back of the old gray mare. She was wearing a dark blue cloak and her brown hair was puled loosely away from her face. In her hand she held the rose I had sent to her. I swallowed hard.
"I brought my daughter just as you asked." Said her father hoarsely, choking on tears no doubt. I paid him no heed. I walked quickly to the horse and offered Belle my hand. She took it and I helped her down. My body felt like it was set on fire again by her touch. It was going to take all the will power I possessed for me to restrain myself.
"Welcome, Belle." I cooed as sweetly as I could. My voice came out as rough as sandpaper. She smiled at me weakly, not at all thrilled to be here. I looked over at her father. "Say your good-byes." I rasped and backed away to give them some space. They hugged each other tightly and he kissed her forehead. I was seeing flames from my viewpoint. I sighed to myself, this temper of mine is going to be a problem. "That's enough! You're dismissed!" I yelled, making the man jump away from his daughter in fright. I walked over to Belle and putting my hand at the small of her back, I led her inside. She didn't even look back as her father left.
I showed her around the habitable part of my castle then took her out into the courtyard to see the roses. Her face lit up the minute she saw them. She bent down and caressed their petals with her fingertips. Was there no end to this torture! This burning desire within me that threatens to consume my soul! As though she could hear my thoughts, she looked up at me with pitying eyes. "Am I really to be your wife?" she asked. I nodded, "Yes, you will stay with me in my castle until the end of your days." I said, probably not the best words to use in this situation. The blue depths of her eyes began to shimmer with tears. "Don't cry woman!" I rasped, "You have my word that no harm will come of you." This seemed to calm her a bit. She paused and went silent for a second then looked up at me again. "May I see your face?" Bloody Hell! I hesitantly removed my hood. She was taken back by shock. Her eyes doubled in size and her mouth gaped open. The tears she'd been fighting back fell one at a time down her cheeks.
She got to her feet and reached a hand towards my face. She touched my cheek lightly sending my heart racing. It was beating so fast I feared it could stop at any second, just as happiness was within arms' reach. "Does it hurt?" she asked as innocently as a child. I put my hand over hers and held it there. "Not anymore." I answered in a whisper. She began to pull away and I reluctantly released her hand.
"Come with me, I'll show you to your room." I said, leading her down a long hallway. "My room? You mean I don't…I don't sleep with you?" her cheeks reddened. Now it was my turn to be taken aback. "I…um…I'm not the kind of man that would ask that of you so soon. We will sleep separately for now." The words cheered her up but felt like a sword to the gut to me.
I opened the door of the room I had spent the last few days cleaning in preparation of her arrival. It was a simple room with a single window, it contained a bed, a table, a chair, and a dresser. "Does this room suit you?" I asked, inwardly cursing myself for not insisting on sharing a room. She turned her face towards me and shyly brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yes, thank you." I began to walk out when her voice stopped me. "Wait, what's your name?" I thought for a long moment, not knowing how to answer. "I used to have a name, but that man died in the fire. Now my name is simply, Beast." Again her eyes showed sickening pity towards me, "Beast? Why would you want someone to call you that?" A very good question, "Is that not what I am?"
