Disclaimer: Don't own any of the characters or the original plot for Beauty and the Beast.

The story so far…

England, 1700's-a small village in the countryside

Despite popular opinion, the idea of good will towards men is considered rubbish by simple town folk wanting to make a living. In order to survive, the strong must worker harder while the weak can be left behind to make room for the more capable workers. Though it's a cruel mind-set this is the way of life. And those who challenge these principles are often given the cold shoulder…

Chapter Two- The fiercely determined woman

"Out of luck again Lacie?" a random woman asked as she howled with laughter. The woman wiped away tears as she continued her pestering, "Give it up dearest, you would earn enough money to actually afford a proper meal if you would just sell the goods! Just forget your damn pride already!"

Some other noisy women flocked on each side of the irritating parrot began cackling along with her. The women looked disgusting as sweat dripped off their faces as they sat on the main parrot's balcony fanning themselves as though they were royalty. In reality, though they wore poofy dresses and carried intricate fans all embroidered with laces and silk these women were far from proper women. In fact, each woman who sat on that balcony had probably slept with half the town men and women. They were all town wagons, meaning that everybody had gotten a ride at least once.

The young woman known as Lacie clenched her fists as she tried to walk away with dignity, she bit her bottom lip and tried to act the better person by not shooting back some retort.

"Ohhh Laccciiiee, so young and fair, but yet can't find a job so soon it's to the streets, my sweet," sang some teenager in the small crowd of colorful women dripping with sweat.

Lacie clenched her calloused fingers tighter and thought of water buckets falling on their heads to keep from yelling at them. How she hated these pompous ingrates with a passion, but she had learned the hard way that sometimes keeping one's mouth shut brought good results. Like food on the table.

"Aww Lacie wasn't that the seventh time you were turn down? Perhaps a life or labor just isn't cut out for you! Just sell yourself and surely you'll earn some coins!"

Lacie halted right in the center of the street causing some carriage drivers to grip their horse's reins and pull on tightly to avoid crashing into her. Loud threats were screeched but she ignored those morons, her world was painted red now and the only in her focus were those dumb buffoons.

She circled around to shoot each of the ten females a look of pure repulsion before yelling out, "Yes selling myself would be the easy ticket to earning enough money for food and bedding but alas apparently we have a difference in opinion. You see my fellow women I actually pride myself on working hard and earning my share, while you all chose the lazy method. While I have self-respect and cherish my body, it would seem that you all have decided that your bodies are nothing more than something to be tarnished by gruel men. I'm sorry, ladies that you lack both confidence and dignity."

After giving them a piece of her mind, she plopped a hand on each side of her waist and stuck her chest out. She couldn't help the wide grin from settling on her face as her eyes narrowed in challenge.

It was by miracle that she didn't start chortling out-loud when the look of disbelief crossed their faces, they all sat there stumped. She could practically hear the wheels turning in their heads as each of them probably thought the same exact thing- Did she really just say that?

An eerily deadly silence washed over the once noisy street and Lacie couldn't help herself from looking around. All the sales happening were paused as villagers stopped their purchasing to watch the drama unfold. Lacie noticed people within the local pub and barbershops had also stopped their conversing to watch with awe as the village's black sheep went up against the self-appointed council of wealthy bitches.

Soon enough whispers began to surge and people leaned into each other's ears as they pointed and stared. The villagers thought they were being somewhat quiet but Lacie could hear pieces of the conversations.

That girl's at it again.

Does she like getting into trouble?

It's no wonder people won't hire her she has a bad attitude.

Of course, people would stick up for the wealthy brats than one of their own.

And then the whispers were overpowered by the loud harping as the village princesses finally gave their input each girl couldn't believe some peasant girl would make such outlandish comments on them.

Lacie examined her surroundings with disinterest as everybody looked at her with disgust and continued pointing fingers at her. Lacie released a tired sigh before she walked off with everybody yelling at her to return and apologize that instant.

She rolled her eyes and snorted.

Over my dead body am I going to apologize for speaking the truth where others are too cowardly to openly admit they think the same way.

As she neared the edge of town she silently thanked the heavens for allowing her a moment of silence. Her head was aching from not only the continuous screaming pitches of the villagers, but from the aggravation of missing out on another job opportunity.

This was her seventh failure in the span of two weeks. Everywhere she went people looked down their nose at her simply because she was an orphaned peasant girl. This factor annoyed her greatly because what gave these people the right to act like Gods to her?

Kind-hearted and following God's teachings to the nth degree, such blatant lies!

In anger she kicked at the ground and sent the red dirt flying. She repeated the process once more just to pretend she was kicking those people in the shins.

A few strands of her black hair fell across her eyes and she pushed the strands back with force. Her hair was wet with a small dosage of sweat and she refused to look like some drowned dog when her pride was already at rock bottom.

She had really believed the paper company would take her in as one of the paperboys just because she knew the owner well from church. He was a soft-spoken gentleman with wire rim glasses and a tender smile. Lacie didn't think he had it in him to harm a fly, but sadly when the village princesses got wind of his plans to hire her they went and protested to their fathers who sent letters discouraging him from hiring such an uncouth young lady. Each letter talked about how uncivil she was and would promote a bad image on his company; she had learned this information an hour earlier as the man took her into his cluttered office and spoke about fixing her personal image and then he might reconsider her.

In a moment of rash youthful anger, she told the man to go to hell where cowards reside and there went any opportunity for a second chance as he had her tossed outside.

And now here she was walking back down the dirt road leading to her small cottage shared between her and her brother, Oswald. With each step back to her dwelling she could feel a piece of pride get left behind on the road.

As she walked she kept kneading the front of her dress between her fingers, a habit she often did out of nervousness. While she was angry with herself for letting her emotions win over again (she didn't give a damn about what she said) she knew her and Oswald were going to suffer some consequences. While she didn't care if those girls threw dirt on her and called her horrid names she didn't wish the same for her stony face brother. While he always appeared impassive she had noticed recently how lethargic he had become after working in the sawmill as he was putting in at least fifteen hours a day. Plus, with their small amount of tokens they barely had enough money to afford food on the table but four times a week. Most of their food came from the garden they had planted in their youth along with fishing.

A somber frown formed as she recalled happier times when her parents were still alive. Back then fishing was a family passing time and they planted vegetables just so their mother could make her hearty stews. Biting the inside of her cheek she refused to allow the tears to form, but it hurt to remember them. Her heart always panged whenever she recalled they had been dead for about five years now.

Lacie had been fourteen at the time, while Oswald was sixteen, when they had to watch their once strong, healthy parents get over-come by some strange disease that ate them away from the insides. Lacie closed her eyes as she recalled the hollow eyes and cheeks of her dying parents where there once had been ripe flesh. The image sickened her but she had grown to resist breaking down into sobs that often plagued her the first few months after her parent's deaths. As time went on, it became nothing more than a numbing pain that filled her insides.

Although she often questioned why the disease never affected her and her sibling since they were in direct contact with the disease itself. Oswald thought it was some illness they caught on one of their travels to the countryside, but Lacie thought this was a silly verdict but chose to agree for sanity purposes.

And now five years later, she was nineteen and the villagers had turned on what remained of her family.

The cottage appeared on the horizon, it was a small building that was weathered from suffering through many storms. Flowers bloomed across the arches and in between the cracks where the stones had budged. Lacie loved that her parents had painted the door a bright green just because as a child she hated having to leave the meadow to come to dinner. Her parents convinced her the green door represented the meadow always staying with her.

Such funny people her parents were, them and their silly creative ideas to please their whiney children.

While the meadow was actually nothing more than pastureland for endless miles, during the summer the grass turned the prettiest shade of green that always filled Lacie with comfort for no reason. She used to love coming outside to pick flowers as her mother tended to the vegetable garden since she swore her children lacked a green thumb.

Finally, she reached the green door and stood on her tiptoes to reach the hidden key above the doorframe. After finding the object she unlocked the door and sauntered inside to collapse face-first on the wooden chair her brother had placed a bearskin over.

She cozily rubbed her face against the fur and wished he would return from his trip already. Oswald had left about five days prior in order to explore other sawmills; he was hoping to transfer areas since the living conditions in this town had grown unbearable. Lacie pleaded with him to not allow the villagers' cruel words to run them off but Oswald ignored her pleas.

Lacie knew if she left Oswald would find life in this village more tolerable since the villagers hated her more than the quiet young man. While they sometimes spoke cruelly to Oswald they found his company far more preferable than Lacie's simply because he didn't backtalk anyone unless they spoke rudely of his deceased parents or sister.

While she was nothing more than a creature driven by passion and outrage at their injustice. Where Oswald ignored their taunts and goads, she fought back and it always brought the same results. More alienation from the villagers and upturned noses, luckily it was only she who received this treatment not Oswald.

A disgusting smell wafted through the air causing the teenager to crunch up her nose. She questioned what smelt so awful before realizing it was her own dusty, sweaty body she currently had just taken a whiff of.

Sitting upright she released a groan before making her way to the back room to heat up some water to pour into the basin for a bath. As the kettle began to heat she began stripping off her clothes, a plain burgundy dress with a small white apron to put over it. She cautiously removed the matching bow from her hair. As the bow was untied her long hair cascaded down her shoulders to fall right above her waist.

She gently tried to untangle the knots, which proved difficult as each clump refused to budge. When the final tangle came undone she released a happy sigh of relief that she wouldn't have to cut off the clump.

A deep growl echoed across the room, as her stomach protested not being fed since yesterday. She rubbed a hand across her flat abdomen as she shushed the aching muscle, she didn't need her body yelling at her at the moment.

Once the kettle began to whistle, she quickly took it off the fire and began to pour the warm liquid into the basin. Sadly she was only going to have enough water for a wipe-down this evening since there hadn't been any rain lately.

After resetting the kettle over the fire-pit, she grabbed a towel off the nearby stoop and proceeded to wash herself off. The steam felt good for her aching feet as she settled them down into the basin, yelping at first contact with the scorching liquid. She quickly washed away the grime from her face and arms. Her skin became lighter with each wipe as the dirt and sweat was removed.

As she watched the dirt float through the water she questioned if this was how the villagers saw her as a dirty uncouth girl.

After patting herself dry she grabbed a glass of water she set out earlier and walked over to a nearby mirror hanging on the wall. This mirror was one of their prized possessions since it had been handcrafted by her father and used by her mother. As she dunk her hand into the water and began running her finger through her hair she examined her nude body.

Her mother had been very bountiful in figure and had very tan skin from working outside constantly. The woman had raven colored hair and violet eyes similar to her son; she also possessed a smile that could brighten anyone's day.

As she stared at herself in the mirror while recalling her mother, Lacie saw that besides her dark hair there were several differences between the women. Lacie was very lean from not getting proper nourishment and her skin had become rather pale since she wasn't getting her proper nutrient intake. There was a hint of peach to her skin tone but that was thanks to hours of walking to the village in the blazing heat.

Lacie thought she looked more like her father with her small chin and slender cheeks, plus she had his lips. While all the family members shared common traits there was one that set her apart from the rest of the family.

Her damn red eyes.

While her parents thought they were beautiful and signified that she was special the villagers shunned her since they believed her a child of the devil. She still noticed people crossing themselves or muttering chants whenever she passed. Sometimes she would sneeze just to make the villagers uncomfortable when they said "God bless you". There was always suspense and hesitation as they said the words which made her giggle with glee since she couldn't stand those folks.

While she was musing over her day she failed to notice the creeping shadow that fell across the windowsill. The shadow crept closer and closer but she was too busy drying her hair off.

She did take notice when the voice screamed through the window, "Hello Lacie! How have you been today!?"

The girl released an earsplitting scream that made the creep cover his ears in pain. She quickly hid her body behind the towel as she turned to shot the sneak a glare.

"How many times have I told you, Cheshire, not to sneak up on a lady like that?" she snarled.

The youthful faced teenager stuck a finger in his ear to scratch as he looked up at the ceiling, he said in a bored voice, " But you're hardly a lady Lacie."

Upon that response the cup of cold water was thrown at his head, the boy scampered away from the liquid but she had good aim. She laughed as the water dripped down his ruffled brunette hair to fall on his tan face. She swore the boy had feline-like qualities with his strange shaped eyes, small nose, and sharp teeth. Plus he hated water, which added to her conclusion he was a cat in a past life.

She wrapped the towel around her body and crossed her arms, "What brings you over Cheshire besides scaring young women who are home alone?"

His boyish grin returned besides his prior exasperation to being wet. "Don't act so haughty, your brother asked me to come visit you when I had time away from the bakery. Besides is it bad for someone to miss their friend?"

She couldn't help feeling bad when she saw him pout his lips like an innocent child though he was in his early teens. Releasing a groan she waved her hand ushering him in, "Fine fine, I've missed seeing your silly face so come in."

She began walking to the door when she paused mid-step and jumped around to yell, "And come through the front door this time! Last time you jumped through the window you bro-"

Sure enough he attempted to jump through the window and sent the numerous flowerpots and tools crashing to the hard ground below. He clutched his head and groaned in pain as she closed her eyes and counted to ten.

She opened her eyes to finish under her breath, "broke something."

After putting on a clean dress, Lacie propped her head into her palm as she watched with amusement, as the boy shoveled down a bowl of soup since working in the bakery was just so difficult.

If she knew how to bake she would have sought a job there since his family actually liked her. But then again if Cheshire was any example they were definitely odd compared to the rest of the village.

Cheshire lived a few fields away from her and when they were children they went over to each other's houses all the time to play knights and robbers. She always was stuck as a robber when Oswald came over since he hated listening to Cheshire whine.

Sadly since her job-hunting activities they saw each other less and less. While she brooded over her inability to keep a job or actually get considered, Cheshire found it hilarious and kept a tally chart marked for each failed attempt.

After gorging down the bowl he offered her the bowl with an expectant gaze. She thumped him on the head, "In this house you get your own grub, it's ever man for himself."

"So you're agreeing that you are a man?" he joked, heading over to the pot to pour himself some more. She was lucky that she had found some ingredients left in the farthest corners of the cupboard. The only reason she wasted all the ingredients for their supper was because they were soon to expire.

"No, but if we were to do a comparison I would have to say I'm the more manlier member in this duo," she replied with a twisted grin. Cheshire pouted and slumped his shoulders.

That's what you get for teasing me.

"Where's you brother at?" he inquired sitting himself down at the wooden table. The chair creaked and she silently prayed that the furniture would last until next year.

"Oswald went on a business travel to search for work elsewhere outside this damned village," she replied. At first she was oblivious to the sadden face of Cheshire but seeing his shoulders slump in defeat she quickly got up and embraced the boy into a hug. "Everything will be alright Cheshire, we'll make sure to visit every so often if Oswald can find work."

He looked up into her face, "You promise?"

She nodded sincerely and this appeased him. He went back to eating and she then remembered to ask him what finally brought him over today.

"Cheshire what brought you over tonight besides checking in on me? I know you to well to know that something else was on your mind besides making sure I was safe."

The boy stared at her blankly as he mused over her question then his eyes brightened up as his memory returned. "I'm sorry Lacie but I decided to come over tonight to forewarn you."

She narrowed her eyes, what could possibly be happening that she needed to be warned about. Was there another cow that escaped because she was quite tired of Cheshire warning her of wandering cows. "Forewarn me of what?"

"Okay, I've been stalling the guy for almost a week now so don't get to mad at me for not coming sooner but he's proved insistent."

She reached over to grip his upper arm, "Whose been insistent? Tell me now or I'll shake you so hard your bones will break."

Cheshire's head rolled back and forth as she shook him forcefully, he replied, "You remember that gentleman whom all the ladies have drooled over and practically torn their panties off to sleep with him for a night?"

She bit her lip as each male flashed through her mind, she couldn't remember seeing any fine gentleman but then again she never looked. "Not that I can recall."

"Really you would be the first," he added with a chuckle, she wasn't sure whether to knock him over the head or laugh along with him.

After laughing his head off like he was on some inside joke, he wiped away some tears from his eyes as he looked her in the eyes, "Well my dear lady be prepared for you're about to have this gentleman come courting you tonight when the sky turns into dusk."

She opened her mouth before closing it again; she sure as hell did not want to be alone with some random man who probably had the ego of a peacock. Cheshire twirled at an invisible curly mustache, "Or you can sneak away in the night and stay over at my place to avoid said run in with this gentleman."

She nervously looked out the window and saw the sun making its descent behind the far distant tree line. She turned back around and practically said in a small voice, "Can we get out of here?"

Maybe she was being paranoid but she wanted to avoid letting this random stranger be aware that she was home so she was trying to whisper to Cheshire. The boy sensed her distress with amusement before mouthing follow me.

She had barely crawled two inches before a loud, obnoxious knock came pounding on her door. While one half of her commanded her to sneak off, her pride won since she refused to be scared off by some idiot who sounded like a pompous jerk.

"Who the hell is knocking on the door at such a dreadful hour?" she shouted. Relief washed over her as the knocking stopped, but her joy was short lived as the knocks came more tenderly. She rolled her eyes and looked back at Cheshire, grinning like an idiot, with irritation.

Cheshire chuckled, "At least the man has enough manners to stop pounding on a woman's door like some savage."

She began to pop her knuckles, a move she had seen her father and brother do before getting into fights. "He wants to make a house calling fine by me, I'll show him just how savage a woman can be."

She sprang up and began to stomp over to the door like she was preparing to wage battle. Since the idiot came at this hour he was probably some flirtatious older man whore who hoped to woo her with flowers and empty promises. Or he was an overly muscular guy who planned to intimidate her into courting him. Or…she had no clue what the man would look like but he definitely had the brains of a pig since other village men would glance the other way but still managed to leer at her while others paid no attention.

When she reached the door handle, she stopped for a moment to catch her breath and prepare for whoever stood on the other side. She looked over her shoulder to see Cheshire sit with a smile that reached one ear to the other.

Gathering her courage she swung the door open and fixed the stranger with her most intimating gaze. Her anger halted and was replaced by surprise as she witnessed the man wearing his Sunday best. He wore a white jacket over a black vest with white trousers to match. His white hair was pulled back into a braid to reveal his purple tinted eyes. He leaned on a brown cane as his other hand clutched a bouquet of flowers. He wore a casual grin but she could see his strange eyes look her over.

Just what the hell was this guy? Honestly she pinched herself to keep from laughing at his ridiculous attire.

She looked over the man the same way a butcher examines a coup of chickens, she said with a hint of confusion, "I'm sorry but I do not remember asking for a magician to come pay me a visit."

She failed to hide the contempt from her voice, but he seemed to detect her sarcasm since his mouth faltered from the careless grin he tried to feign. Smoothly he smiled gleefully at her and said with fake amusement, "Why I'm no magician my lovely speculator, what I am is a man who humbly wishes to ask you to come to dinner and a show with me on this fine evening."

Now she couldn't hide the boredom from becoming evident she stared at him with a deadpan expression. Who the hell said these kinds of things?

"Sorry I don't leave the house after dark there might be shady characters out."

He placed the flowers against his chest as he tried to act the valiant gentleman, "Do not worry gorgeous when you're with me not a soul will touch a hair on your head."

Nope but he'll touch everything else won't he?

She pretended to be shy as she gripped some layers of her blue dress and nervously fingered them. A motion that didn't go unnoticed by the caller, she then said with acid sweetness, "And as I said before there are shady characters out."

Sending him her most devilish grin she could practically see the steam rising from his head. She giggled with feigned sweetness, "If you tell me your name perhaps I can come see you some other time."

"When will that be?" he inquired.

She shrugged her shoulders, "Perhaps tomorrow."

Now that got him excited, he squared his shoulders and stood straight in a mock example of pride.

"That would be wonderful, my name is Levi and I hope you will consider attending dinner with me tomorrow night. I took notice of you walking in town one fine afternoon and our beauty stopped me dead in my tracks. I asked myself over and over who was this exquisite woman and I asked every villager to tell me your name."

He handed the bouquet of red roses tied together with a red string and a stupid note that she could see small parts of. All she saw was the line reading "Your beauty is something incomparable," and that had her rolling her eyes as he prattled on about how lovely it would be to see her again.

He could quote love poems all he wanted since she knew that he secretly wanted to be the one who proclaimed he had taken her chastity since men crave what they can't have. Also, men wanted to be known as the one who tamed a shrewd.

She nodded her head without truly paying him any attention, she walked back inside as he continued to speak eloquently, "Yes, yes until a future date have a good evening by yourself. And please watch out for wandering cows I heard they're escaping more often than usual." Her last response had him staring over his shoulder like the said cow was licking its jaw to tear his face apart as they spoke. She kicked the door shut behind her as the man gaped at her audacity.