Author's note: Woo, sorry about the wait guys, but here it is, chapter 4. Man these chapters keep on getting longer...

I thank Arlequina3000 and K.A. Davidson for reviewing, and actually liking my story. Thanks you two.

Now, onto the story.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Beetlejuice characters, but the unfamiliar characters I do own. Now, without further adu:

Beauty and the Beetle

Ch. 4: Imprisonment

The birds chirped around the Deetz' cottage as a small heard of students huddled around out of potential sight. The Redevance brothers, Vince and Lance, peaked through the shrubbery that made for a marking of where the Deetz' property ended. Vince looked at the cottage longingly and then back to his smaller brother. "Lance, I can't do this. Lydia will have nothing to do with me after this!" Vince exclaimed, barely able to stand up to his brother. Lance sighed.

"Well, Vince, if you don't go and mark your territory, what's going to happen then?!" Lance said, running a stubby hand through his hair. He watched as his brother's will bend and morphed; impressionable he was. Lance smirked as his brother's eyes held glimmers of courage. "Now go give that girl the surprise of her life!" Lance cheered his brother, shoving him through the shrub and turning to the group.

"Listen up men," he said to the group standing around a small makeshift wedding set. It might have been a little eccentric, but it would show Lydia that Vince meant business. He was going to make sure his brother was happy, even if it might not last long. "When Vince comes out that door with Lydia wrapped around his arm, I'll strike up the band." He said, the men watching him intently, and the women sobbing their heads off. Lance rolled his eyes at the superficial girls, that he had no tolerance for.

Meanwhile, inside the house, Lydia lounged on the couch, her legs dangling over the arm rest. She sighed as she lay back, holding the book to her chest. "A ghost in love…it's kind of romantic, even if the stalking is a little over the top." She sighed gently, closing her eyes. Her black hair, out of the usual pony tail, was spread out around her. She had changed out of her uniform and was now in a lavender long shirt that had spider webbing along the sleeves, and dark red pair of pants, custom made herself.

The knocking at the door jerked the girl from her thoughts, and she motioned her head towards where the door was located. She sighed, swinging her legs over the arm rest and letting them rest on the floor. She then hoisted herself up, and walked to the door, leaving the book on the couch. She glanced through the peep hole that her father had installed into the door, and saw a very nervous and jittery Vince. She groaned to herself and opened the door, wishing it was someone she could shoo away.

Vince barged right in the door opened up wide enough for him, which wasn't very wide mind you. Lydia stared at the emotional boy before her, not even sparing him a smile of endearment, or even a glimmer of glee to see him. "Hello Vince, come to harass my abilities once more?" She said dully, watching him twitter around the house, fiddling his thumbs and all the actions that involve nervousness.

Vince then turned to her, after walking into the living room and getting ready to sit on the couch. "Well Lydia, I've come to ask for…for your h-hand in marriage." He looked at the ceiling, lacing his fingers together. He didn't notice the look on her face was a look of horror, and took it as a look of pleasant shock. "I'm not one to be blunt, but you are a beautiful woman, a woman in dire need of my…assets." he said coyly, sitting right down on her book.

Lydia gasped in horror, and rushed over to pull the book out from underneath the boy's frail body. She hugged her book, and was ready to glare at the intruder, when he was suddenly in her face, leaning close to her. She jumped back. He followed her around the house. She tried to push him away. He swatted her hand away quickly, trying to stare into her very soul. She groaned inwardly. Those eyes, those empty, soulless eyes, that searched her very soul for something to leach onto and suck her life force away with.

Lydia avoided his look. Normally, she would find such eyes attractive, to a point, but when they were on Vince…well, it became rather uncomfortable. She glanced around for an escape route, only to back into her door. "Uhm…Vince…I…I don't know what to say…" she mumbled, running her hand along the door, trying to find the door knob.

"Say you'll marry me Lydia." He said wistfully, leaning down to her. They were inches away, centimeters away. "Say you'll marry me, and you can leave everything behind. You don't want this, do you Lydia? You would rather have a big house, with thousands of things to help you ravish about me." Lydia was getting nervous, and she would have started to shake, if she wasn't stubborn. "You can be rich, and you can love the best thing that's ever come into your life. Just two. Simple. Words." Lydia would have screamed as he closed his eyes and almost planted his lips on hers.

She finally found the door knob and her eyes lit up instantly. She smiled gently, trying to shy away from Vince. "Well, geese Vince, I…I just do not deserve you!" She said, flinging the door open and letting Vince tumble out of the door way. She watched Vince tumble down the porch, down the slope, through the shrubbery, and knock into a good ten or fifteen people. Lydia smiled, proud of herself, as groans of pain sounded in the distance. She then left the house, closing the door behind her, and wandered over to the field.

"God…that was a close one." She groaned to herself, sitting in the middle of the field, right under a giant oak tree. "Vince…bleck. That fem boy. I could never marry someone like him. I'd be afraid to even breath in his direction, afraid that he might break." She mumbled to herself. She hugged her legs to herself, resting her head on her knees. "He's a good friend, when he isn't hitting on me, or mocking my belief system… I just…" She shook her head, and closed her eyes, drifting off slowly. "I just wish I could find someone that actually enjoyed me for who I was…someone that I could hug and have fun with…"

She shook her head again. "What am I saying? Someone like that doesn't exist! Not here at least! I need to leave the country! Move overseas or at least over the boundaries…" She said determinedly. "I can do it! I know I can! All I need is...the money…" She groaned to herself, shrinking back into herself. "I just want something more than Peaceful Pines…something more than Vince and something more than my father's love…" She sighed again, and was shaken out of her mind when she heard a distant neigh.

Lydia looked up, and saw Tillent running up to her, startled out of his wits. She rushed over to him and calmed him down. "Tillent, what happened…" She looked at where the cart was, to not find it at all. "Where's papa, and where's all of the things?" She asked worriedly. She looked back at the trail. "You have to take me there Tillent. Take me to where you last saw papa!" She looked at him straight in the eyes, and he panicked. She calmed him down again. "It couldn't have been that bad! Please Tillent…" She rested her forehead on Tillents head, and he gave into her pleas. Lydia jumped onto Tillent, and he rushed off to where he last saw Mr. Deetz; in the woods.

---

Slowly, as Tillent walked through the ever-darkening forrest, Lydia looked about her. Her eyes shown with glee, as she saw beauty that no one else could see in these dead and dying things that surrounded them in the forest. Her mind then went back to her kidnapped father, and she slapped the slight awe out of her mental state. She looked forward, starting to shake with fear. Her mind started to race about what kind of person would kidnap her own father. She then gasped; her eyes rested on a giant roadhouse, which looked ready to fall off of itself. She bit her lip, she would have been amazed at the roadhouse, if she did not know that her father's captor was within those walls.

She looked at her horse, and she ran her hand down his mane reassuringly. It caused her horse to jump at first, but then he calmed down. She got off of her horse, stumbling and almost tripping over a loose root from a nearby tree, and walked up to the gate. Tillent started to whine, and stomp its feet, ready to run off any second. Its eyes were glued to the giant roadhouse, terrified by its presence. Lydia turned back to her horse and ran back to him, petting its head gently. "Easy Tillent, easy. Don't be afraid of a little grime and cobwebs. It's just like any regular roadhouse." She cooed to Tillent, trying to ease his nerves, which seemed to work. Lydia smiled at the nervous wreck. "Stay out here while I go find papa, ok?" she asked, and she got a nervous stomp of the foot in return, signifying yes. She walked up to the gates again, swallowing any fear or anxiety she had.

This place did give her the creeps, even though she would never show it. If she were to face her father's captive head on, she wouldn't have the luxury of fear or anxiety. She had to learn that the hard way through her peers. She gripped the gate gently, and pushed it. It gave easily under her fingers. She creaked it open just wide enough for her to slip through, and the first thing she spotted was her father's hat. She gasped to herself, and ran over to it, picking it up gingerly. "Papa…" she looked up at the road house, covered over with fog and darkness. "I'll rescue you."

---

Inside the castle, Will was ranting to Jacques about the event that just occurred.

"You just had to invite him in, didn't you?" His voice cracked at the last few parts. "Invite him in, set him down, serve him tea, let him pet the yapper. It's always about the niceties with you, isn't it, you-you-bonehead!" Will ranted nasally, jabbing his blue-tinted finger against Jacques's chest plate. He then pushed his pink-rimmed glasses back up his nose.

"I was trying to be hospitable." Jacques said, his thick French accent rolling over his words. They stopped their bickering as the giant front doors groaned. They dropped what they were doing, and looked around the corner, to see Lydia's small body press open the doors. She gasped in amazement at the high ceilings and classic feeling of the room. It didn't look like the inside of a roadhouse, more like the inside of a castle! She almost lost her balance from looking up so high, to try and see the top of the room. Her eyes then wandered about her, trying to search for anyone.

"H-hello? Is…Is anyone here?" Her voice said hesitantly, almost giving her away. She stepped into the room, closing the door behind her. "Hello…papa…where are you…" she whispered to herself. She walked up to the stairway that led to the next floor. She didn't want to move, she didn't want to get lost in this maze of a roadhouse, but her feet walked for her, moving gracefully and without sound. Slowly she went up floor after floor, calling out for her father quietly.

---

A small rose colored spider crawled and climbed about in the kitchen, spotting a bigger version of himself from the ceiling. He stuck the end of his string on the ceiling and dangled down to her. Ginger was washing her little spiders, and humming nasally. "Ladadedade." She sang, drying off her babies and popping them onto the floor. The cheered and hugged their mother. The last little spider lowered down to look his mom right in the eye.

"Mama! There's a girl in the castle!" the little spider squeaked at Ginger, who just plucked the little spider off its string and dunked him into the tub that was used for washing dishes.

"Now shugah, I'll not have you makin' up such wild stories." She said sweetly, if not a little crossly. The little spider coughed, not expecting the sudden water to wash over him. The little spider waved his arms.

"Really mama, I saw her! She has black hair, and-"He was dunked back into the water, and coughed out a little water as Ginger washed him mindlessly.

"Now now shugah, not another word." She hummed, and then looked over when she heard a squeal from one of the random ghosts that wandered the castle. The ghost floated over to the spiders, squealing and fanning her face with her hand fan, which too was ghostly.

"My word! I just saw a girl in zee castle!" she said, then flew off to tell another person.

"See, I told you." The little spider said, and Ginger just rolled her eyes.

---

Will and Jacques were following Lydia the whole time, Will making snide comments silently at Jacques. He, in return, would spook Will with the silliest of things. It was quite amazing how Lydia hadn't sensed the two following her the whole time; she was mostly preoccupied with finding her father. With every footstep her fears grew worse and worse, fearing that something worse than she had expected had happened to him. She was so caught up, that she didn't even hear the two talking quietly to themselves.

"So, Will, what do you make of this girl? Maybe she has come to…ohohoho…break zee spell." Jacques said, jabbing Will's side with his bony elbow gently. Will sighed to himself and shoved his glasses back up his nose, then looked at the girl, studying her.

"I make nothing of her. She'll be thrown out of here faster than that man was locked up, once the master gets wind of her." He said, slightly cross. He crossed his arms, his black and white striped clothing hanging off his arms. Jacques would have frowned, if he could.

"Aww…monsieur, don't be so negative."

"And you don't be so positive." Will snapped. They stopped as Lydia stopped, and they hid when she turned to look at where they stood. Her eyes were wide, and she shook her head lightly, and then went on her way. Will and Jacques looked at each other, and Jacques made a motion to smile at Will. Will tried to stop Jacques by tugging on one of his ribs, but ended up yanking it out of the rib cage. Jacques continued to follow after Lydia, and Will just chucked the loose rib at that bone head of his. He then, reluctantly, followed after the skeleton.

Lydia continued to call after her father, hoping to get some reaction, some voice that belonged to her father. She then heard a creek behind her, and looked, to find a door cracked open that wasn't open a second ago. She rubbed her arm for reassurance, and wanted to turn back then. She shook that thought from her head, and stepped into the door. If she wanted to find her father, then she would have to look everywhere.

She looked through the door, and saw a sparingly staircase that seemed to lead up further then she thought. She heard echoing footsteps walking up the staircase, and she sprung forward. "Wait! I'm looking for my father, please wait!" She cried out, and stumbled up the staircase, and looked around for the person she thought she heard. "That's weird…I thought…" she bit her lip and then looked at the room before her. It looked like a dungeon that she had only heard about in stories. There was a familiar groan in one of the holding rooms, and she gasped. She rushed over to it.

"Papa…" she cooed, and she looked at the hand reaching out through the bars sadly. In the corner of the room, in the darkest part, a green eye looked upon the stranger, fully aware. He growled to himself…

"Lydia! What are you doing here? How did you find me?" Mr. Deetz stammered out, frightened out of his mind.

"Your hands are like ice." Lydia said, her voice shaking somewhat. Her eyes widened as he coughed. "We have to get you out of here!" She cried out, and her father looked at her.

"Lydia, no. I want you to leave this place."

"Who's done this to you?" She asked, determined to get an answer. She noticed her father's eyes shift past her, to look at something behind her. He then looked back at her.

"No time to explain, you must go. Now." He said, looking around, his eyes looking for something he couldn't find.

"I won't leave you!" She said stubbornly. Then something grabbed her shoulder and whipped her around.

"What are you doing here?" A voice rasped angrily, as she was knocked hard against the wall, and she fell to her knees. The figure faded out of focus as her father's voice cried out in fear for her. Lydia looked up, trying to find the source of the voice.

"Who's there?" She cried out, looking around her. She looked to the beam of light that broke through the dungeon's ceiling, and noticed a dark figure behind it. "Who are you?!" She cried out, staring at the figure, which seemed to hunch over and grow bigger.

"I'm the master of this castle." The voice rasped, angry that another person would intrude into his domain. The voice seemed to growl and shift back into a darker part of the room. Lydia stood her ground, and watched the creature's figure shift about.

"I've come for my father. Please, let him out, can't you see he's sick?" Her voice pleaded.

"Then he shouldn't have trespassed into my domain!" The voice yelled, green eyes piercing through Lydia. She looked at those eyes pleadingly.

"But he could die! Please, I'll do anything to save him!" She leaned forward. The green eyes looked away.

"There's nothing you can do." The voice grumbled low toned. "He's my prisoner." The voice said, growing distant. Lydia followed the figure, and then dipped her head.

"Oh…there must be something…" She then thought of something, and she looked up and reached out for the voice. "Wait!" The figure stopped and turned, green eyes glinting at her. She hesitated, and then leaned forward, letting what little light there was shine on her face. "Take me instead." She said quietly. The green eyes flashed with confusement, and then they flickered into deep thought. A few minutes passed, and then there was a snap.

"Done." The voice rasped, and Mr. Deetz tried to persuade Lydia's decision.

"Lydia, no! I'm old, I've lived my life! Don't do this! Think of everyone you love and care about!" he pleaded, and the voice snarled.

"No, father. I have to do this, I have to save you…" She turned to the voice, whose eyes were studying her. "Will you let him go?" the eyes then flickered away, and thought it over. The voice chuckled once.

"Yes, but, as a price, you have to stay with me, forever, without any intent to leave. Got it babes?" The voice said, thick with sarcastic sweetness. Lydia leaned back a little, tuning out her father's pleas and thinking about the deal. She looked up at those eyes, and then bit her lip gently.

"Come…into the light." She said, taking in the surprised look. "I want to see who my captive is..right?" She said slowly.

"Fine babes, as you wish." The voice croaked and stepped into the light. He was just taking the shape he was used to, and there stood a man who looked 25. He had blue skin, dirtied blond hair, and a suit that was black and white striped, layered with years and years of grime. He looked at his red-tipped fingers, and smirked, in a dry and bemused way. When he smirked, he had bugs in his teeth. The sight would terrify most people, and it slightly disturbed her, but at the same time, she was intrigued. His deep green eyes flickered at hers, and their eyes met. She took a breath she was lacking, and she looked away.

She looked up at her father, who reached out to her and cupped her face in his hands. "No Lydia, I can't let you do this." He pleaded, and she looked at him desperately. She then pulled away, and he called out for her. She walked up to the man who looked decayed to a point, and she gripped her hands together. She looked at him, and he raised a blond eyebrow in question.

"You…you have my word." She said shakily, and she saw a cruel smirk rest on his lips before she heard a snap. She gasped and she looked back at her father's cell. It started to creek and crumble, budging and shaping into a walking ball big enough to move Mr. Deetz. He reached out to Lydia, and she reached out to her father, her eyes filling with terror. "Wait…" She cried out, as the walking cell carried her father out.

"You know where to go ya piece of junk." The man said, smacking the ball for it to go. It walked out of the room, down the stairs, and out of the castle. He cackled dryly, and crossed his arms. He looked down at Lydia, and his smirk dropped a little. She was starting to cry, and he would have knelt down and patted her back, if he was that type of man. Instead, he just narrowed his eyes, and sneered at the girl. "Don't snivel, prisoner." He turned away, and barely heard her say 'You didn't let me say goodbye' before he left the room.

Waiting outside of the room was Jacques, fiddling his thumbs and being a bonehead. "Um…Master Beetlejuice…"

"What?" He snapped at the skeleton. Jacques adverted his eyes and waived his hand.

"Well..since…the young woman is going to be staying…why don't we get her a room? A place she can call her own?..." He asked carefully, and Beetlejuice snarled. He grabbed one of the ribs and yanked it out, watching the skeleton drop to pieces on the floor. He cackled and dropped the rib on his head. "Then again…maybe not." The skeleton groaned.

Beetlejuice walked back into the room, looking at the girl who was sobbing on the floor. He rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. Lydia looked up and stared at the man angrily. "You didn't even let me say goodbye! I'll never see him again! You…you could have let me say goodbye to him…" She looked at the ground again, and Beetlejuice was taken aback by the girl's sudden outcry.

He rubbed his arm, and looked away. "Well, I was going to let you have a room…but If you're going to be rude…" Lydia looked up at him, wide eyed with tears.

"W…What?"

"Well, you don't want to stay up here do you? You'll die in less than a week." He asked, knowing that she shook her head gently. He then huffed. "Women, what a hassle." He rasped to himself. "Well then come on, before I forget all about your sorry butt." He said, and left the room. Lydia scrambled to get to her feet, and then followed after Beetlejuice.