Bellamy arrives at the grand castle and lets out a low whistle. He's never seen anything like this. He thinks that in another life he would have loved to see this mystical place. Perhaps when he wasn't so worried about Octavia.
He makes his way up the staircase, knocked hesitantly on the castle door. Helios had led him here, after all. Octavia had to be here. She just had to.
The doors open with a loud creak and Bellamy steps inside. Everything is dark and dusty. "Octavia!" he yells. "Octavia!"
He thinks he hears something up the stairs, so he darts that way. He has to find her because she is all that he has.
He's up in the tower when he calls again. "Octavia?"
He hears her then. "Bell? Is that you?"
He turns around and finds a cell in the darkness. "Octavia! We have to get you out of here!"
She shakes her head. "No, Bell, you need to get out of here. I can take care of myself."
Bellamy obviously doubts that, as he's left her alone for a few hours and she's ended up in a cell.
He looks at the large lock on the door. "I won't leave you."
He surveys the room, looking for anything to help them out of this mess. There is a large keying hanging on just the other side of the cell. He starts toward it, but then a large figure jumps in front of it.
"Who are you?" a feminine voice inquires.
"I'm Bellamy. My sister, why is she locked up?" he asks, his voice gentle. He doesn't quite understand what's happening, but he feels that he should be wary.
"She was somewhere that she didn't belong."
"Is that any reason to lock someone up?" he wonders. "What if I took her place instead?"
The massive creature seems to soften. "You would stay here in her place?"
"Yes. I'd do anything for her."
The creature steps into the light coming from the ceiling. She is wild looking, fur in disarray, claws curled into a fist. He is not frightened, however, and more sure than ever that he will take Octavia's place.
"If you will stay here," the beast starts, "I will let her go."
"I'll do it," he says.
The beast tosses him the key. "You may say your goodbyes."
The beast then goes down the stairwell, leaving Bellamy and Octavia alone.
"You can't do this!" Octavia exclaims, a tear running down her cheek.
"I already have," Bellamy whispers as he unlocks the cell.
Octavia is in his arms within seconds. "Please," she begs.
"I can't."
He lets her go. He doesn't know if he'll ever see her again.
He waves goodbye as Octavia leaves on Helios. At least their goodbye isn't too bittersweet. At least he got to say goodbye at all.
Bellamy can feel the beast behind him, but he doesn't turn around.
"You are not without visitation," she tells him. "I told her that she can come back whenever she likes. She didn't want to leave you at all, but I told her to sell her dresses. The one she wore was quite beautiful."
Bellamy is very confused by this statement. He turns to the beast. "You spoke to her?"
"Of course," the beast replies. "I am not without a heart. I was going to move her down to a proper room, but then you came bursting in."
"So why keep her here with you? Why let me take her place?"
The beast lets out a sad sigh, something that takes him off guard. "Perhaps I am just lonely."
The beast leads him to a room, declaring that this will be his from now on.
There is a mirror in the hallway, which the beast automatically turns around. Bellamy gives her a look of understanding.
"If something is not to your liking, you may call for one of the servants."
Just then, a teapot, teacup, candlestick, clock, and a feather duster all stumble into the room.
"At your service," they say in unison.
Bellamy hears something behind him and turns to see that the wardrobe is also moving around.
Though he is shocked, he is also absolutely delighted. This is the type of thing that he's only read about in books!
"I'm Jasper," says the candlestick.
"John Murphy," says the clock. "I prefer if you just call be Murphy," he adds, glaring at the candlestick.
The feather duster moves in front of Murphy. "I am Emori."
"Raven," supplies the teapot.
"I'm Nathan Miller. But you can call me Miller," says the teacup.
Finally, the wardrobe speaks. "I'm Monty."
He smiles brightly at each of them. "I'm Bellamy."
The beast holds in what appears to be a smile. "Alright, everyone. Let's leave our guest be."
The room clears, except for Bellamy and the beast.
"You never gave me your name," Bellamy says.
The beast hesitates, looking down at the floor. "I have not had anyone call me by my name in years."
Bellamy waits, patient. The beast finally meets his eyes.
"Clarke. My name is Clarke."
As it turns out, living the castle isn't so bad. Even though he is technically a prisoner, he doesn't really feel that way.
Clarke may be a beast, but she is far more interesting to talk to than the towns people.
And Bellamy may be physically attractive, but he has his own demons as well.
"What's it like?" Clarke wonders. "Out there in the real world."
Bellamy chuckles, regretting it when a sad look crosses her face. "This place is better, by far. You aren't missing anything."
Clarke shakes her large head and rolls her eyes. "You lie."
"I prefer books to many of the people from town."
"Books? I've got plenty of those. Would you like to see them?"
Bellamy smiles so wide that he's sure his face is going to break. "Yes, of course."
The library is unlike anything that Bellamy has ever seen. His jaw drops in awe.
"Do you like it?" Clarke asks.
"Yes, yes, I do."
She lets out a deep laugh, something he doesn't expect of her.
"Then it's yours."
Bellamy feels as if this is all a dream. That he will wake up in his home, stuck in the small village he was so desperate to be rid of.
His fingers run along the spines of the books until he comes across a familiar title. The word Iliad is in perfect script.
"A fan of Homer?" Clarke muses.
"This one is my favorite," he says, taking the book carefully into his hands.
"I haven't read it," she admits.
So they sit in the big chairs and Bellamy reads aloud to her.
Octavia enters the library, led by Murphy and Jasper. She sees them together and can't remember a time that he brother looked so happy.
Perhaps it was fate that brought her here.
