A/N: sorry for the wait, had writer's block. Enjoy.

Belle slowly opened one of the large doors that led into the castle. The faint creek of the door echoed through the endless hallways. She slowly entered, taking cautious steps as she did so. "Hello," she said as she wandered towards the stairs. They looked like they went on forever. "Papa?" she asked as she climbed up the flight. Up and onward she would repeat the question. Suddenly, she heard a small creak coming from one of the doors in the hallway. She walked towards the door, opened it more slightly, and walked inside. She then caught sight of a small light ascending the stairs. "Wait, I'm looking for my father1" She then ran up the stairs hoping this mysterious lantern holder would help her. Alas, when she made it to the top, no one was there. "That's funny." She took one step forward, looking into the dark shadows of the tower room. "Is anyone here?"

Then, a low and raspy voice answered, "Belle?"

Belle's heart filled with joy at the sound of the voice, for she knew that it was her lost father. "Papa!" She grabbed a torch that was hanging on one of the walls and ran towards a wooden door with small bars down by the bottom. She saw her father's large, chubby arm reach out to her. She took it in her hand and put it to her cheek

"How did you find me?" he asked, followed by a low cough.

Belle felt that her father's hand was extremely cold. "Oh, your hands are like ice. I have to get you out of there."

Her father looked upset. "Belle," he said. "I want you to leave this place."

"Who did this to you?"

"No time to explain. You must go, now!"

"I won't leave you!" Suddenly, Belle felt a tight grip on her left shoulder as she was jerked away from the sight of her father by a mysterious figure. She was pulled off-balance and dropped the torch.

"What are you doing here?" boomed the voice of the figure.

"Run, Belle!" shouted Belle's father.

"Who's there?" asked Belle. "Who are you?"

"The master of this castle," answered the figure.

"I've come for my father. Please let him go. Can't you see he's sick?"

"Then he shouldn't have trespassed here!"

"But he could die. Please, I'll do anything."

"There's nothing you can do. He's my prisoner."

Then as the figure began to walk away, Belle resorted to her last plea. "Wait, take me instead."

"You," said the figure sarcastically. Then he stood silent until he asked, "You would take his place?"

"Belle, no!" shouted her father. "You don't know what you're doing!"

"If I did, would you let him go?" asked Belle

"Yes," said the figure. "But you must promise to stay here forever."

Belle took a long pause at the figure's request until she said, "Come into the light." Then from out of the shadows came the large foot of a wolf. Followed by the large body of a bear. Then there emerged the body of a monstrous beast. She gasped at the sight and held on to her father's hand.

"No, Belle!" said her father. "I won't let you do this!"

Then Belle cautiously approached the beast and said, "You have my word."

"Done!" said the beast with a loud thunderous echo.

Belle collapsed to the floor as she heard the mechanics of the door being unlocked. She felt her father's arms around her.

"No Belle," he said. "Listen to me. I'm old, I've lived my life." Then he was grabbed by the beast's great arm and dragged out of the room kicking and screaming.

Belle ran to the window inside the cell. She looked out the window in horror as her father was shoved into a palanquin by the beast. Quickly, it lifted its legs and walked towards the village like a spider. Belle's heart shattered, for she knew that she would never see her loving father ever again. Just then, the enormous shadow of the beast engulfed her. She turned around to face it and said, "You didn't even let me say goodbye. Now I'll never see him again."

The beast said to her, "I'll show you to your room."

"My room, but I…"

"You want to stay in the tower?"

"No."

"Then follow me."

Then as quick as a candle being blown out, belle's image disappeared from Erik's mirror. He stood in silent for a long time until he quietly said, "She's here at last."