CHAPTER 4: THE BEAST

The Beast wandered around the large sitting room, feeling unsure of himself. Had it been the right thing to allow the stranger to spend the night? As long as he and his servants remained unseen, he couldn't see the harm. If, however, the man should discover what terrible truth lay behind these walls, there would be an angry mob at his front step in no time.

The Beast sighed. After having been cursed for more than a decade, he welcomed death. What sort of life was he living any way? His servants still clung to the hope that the curse would one day be lifted. He scoffed. As if a woman would ever wander into his castle walls. The first guest he had had in ten years was sleeping upstairs, and he was an old man.

He laughed at the irony. It was probably for the best. No woman could ever love such a monster as he. He was unnatural. With the tails and legs of a wolf, body of a bear, tusks of a wild boar, and head of a buffalo, he was truly terrifying. There was no place in this world for such a creature. He stood at nearly ten feet tall and had to weigh nearly three hundred pounds. His frame was massive and were it not for the large doorways and furniture in his castle, he would struggle just to walk around!

Turning to stare at the fire that burned low in the fireplace, his thoughts were suddenly interrupted

"You should get some rest, Master."

The Beast turned to face the elegant, porcelain teapot that addressed him. Mrs. Potts was always fussing over him. Waving a dismissive paw in her direction, he snorted and turned around.

"Oh isn't it wonderful, Coggsworth? It's been so long since we've had a guest. To be able to serve again and talk to someone human!" Lumiere hopped into the living room with the ornate clock close on his heels. The Beast growled with fury.

"Look what you've gone and done now," Coggsworth murmured, shoving the candelabra with barely contained force, "watch what you say."

"My apologies, Master. I didn't mean - of course, your company is always pleasant. It's just, we haven't seen any people in so long. I'd almost forgotten what a person would look like."

"You are forbidden to speak with the man. Or did I not make myself clear the first time?" The Beast turned and rose to his full height - easily towering over the animated household objects that barely reached his ankles.

"I told you!" Coggsworth hissed at Lumiere and gave him a smug look. "And you just had to go and introduce yourself didn't you?"

"What?!" the Beast growled, unable to believe what he had heard. "You revealed yourself to him? Have you no regard for the rest of us?" The Beast fell hard on all fours - pounding his meaty fists in the carpet - and roared.

His servants flinched but held their ground. By now, they were used to his outbursts as they were frequent. The years had made the former prince's heart harden to stone, and the more time he spent as a beast, the less he acted like a man.

"Apologies, Master. I meant no harm. I just wanted to make our guest feel welcome."

The Beast grumbled incoherently under his breath before turning his back to the three servants.

"Leave me," he grated - his voice low and raspy. He watched the flames in the fireplace flick around as he became lost in thought. Would this horrible curse ever be lifted? What hope was there for his servants and himself?

The following day, Maurice awoke feeling refreshed and very well rested. It had been the most wonderful sleep of his life! The sheets that hugged him and the plush, feather mattress that lay beneath him were truly otherworldly in their comfort. Was this what it felt like to be wealthy?

He rose from the bed and was shocked to find his trousers and shirt hanging in the open armoire, clean and pressed. His cloak was washed as well and hung neatly over a nearby chair. What service! He quickly dressed and, stealing a glance at the clock, saw that it was nearly seven. He didn't want to insult his host by being late for breakfast.

The old man rushed down the stairs and into the dining room - all the while searching for any sign that the surrounding furniture or décor were alive. Had he dreamed it all?

Once again, a marvelous feast was laid out on the large dining room table. He spotted a beautiful, ornate teapot and his stomach growled when he caught a whiff of the delicious brew. He made his way over and reached for the teacup that had been placed by his setting and - oh?- what's this? It appeared as though the cup had been chipped.

Pity, he thought to himself, for the tea set was truly beautiful.

He poured himself a cup and took a seat. He nibbled on a biscuit while adding a lump of sugar to his tea and swirling a spoon around it absentmindedly. How would he get home? He supposed he would have to go on foot. At least he was safer during the day - he hoped.

"That tickles!" a child-like voice giggled and he snapped his head around in search of it.

"Who said that?" he felt something move beneath his hand.

Turning his attention to his cup of tea, Maurice nearly leaped from his seat when it smiled back at him.

"Amazing," he whispered, lifting the cup to his eyes so that he could get a better look. "How are you able to speak?"

"I'm Chip!" the teacup replied, hopping slightly in his hand.

Maurice was certain he had lost his mind. How was any of this possible? He resolved to voice his question.

"Hello, Chip. I'm Maurice. Tell me, am I completely insane, or is a porcelain cup talking to me?"

Chip giggled and hopped back onto the table - sloshing drops of tea over his sides.

"Maman says I'm not allowed to talk about it," he replied, waddling closer to the large teapot, "didn't you, Maman?"

His eyes broadened when the teapot turned, and yet another face was revealed to him.

"Oh, Chip," she scolded, "I also told you to keep quiet, you silly boy! You'll scare our guest half to death! I'm terribly sorry, sir. I know this must all be very shocking to you."

The old man could only stare in utter disbelief as the teapot, who had introduced herself as Mrs. Potts, explained that their castle was enchanted by a powerful spell. She did not reveal to him the nature of the spell nor the reason it had been cast, but merely reassured him that he would not be harmed, and encouraged him to enjoy his meal as well as his time here.

"You understand my hesitance to believe in such things as magic," the old man stated, finishing the last of his breakfast, "I'm a scientist. An inventor! I never thought such a thing to be possible."

"I understand, deary. Yet, here were are. Will you be staying long?" Mrs. Potts was kind and warm and quickly made Maurice feel at ease. It was easy to forget that he had been conversing with an object made from clay.

"Oh, no. I must return to my daughter. Phillippe, my old horse, would have run back to the village by now. She will be worried sick if I don't return."

Mrs. Potts' glassy eyes seemed to light up before his eyes.

"You have a daughter?"

"Why, yes. Her name is Belle. She's my pride and joy. I thank you for your hospitality, but I really must be going." Standing to leave, Maurice gave Mrs. Potts a single bow and turned toward the castle exit.

Once outside, he wrapped his cloak tightly around him to shield himself from the brisk morning air. It was curious that it was so cold in the castle when summer had barely begun back at the village. Could it be true? Was magic really the answer behind the strange things he had encountered? It was difficult to find any other explanation as to what he had experienced here. He supposed anything was possible.

Not wanting to waste the morning, he set off on foot toward the castle gate. He paused when he came across a beautiful rose garden, and nearly leaped with joy. How very convenient! He had almost forgotten his sweet daughter's request for a rose. Leaning toward the nearest bush, he plucked a single rose from the vine.

ROARRR!

The ground shook and he stumbled and fell to roughly onto the old flagstones. A large shadow loomed over him and he shook visibly in fear.

"How dare you? I give you shelter under my roof, fill your belly with food and allow you a warm bed, and this is how you repay me? By stealing from the only beautiful thing I have left?" A deep, gravelly voice boomed from behind him. Maurice slowly turned his head and looked up, afraid of what he might see.

His eyes grew wide and his heart nearly gave out when a hideous beast was revealed to him.

"I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean any harm! Please, Beast, do not hurt me. I have a daughter waiting for me at home. She asked for a rose and I only meant to bring one to her. Please, spare me. She needs me!" Maurice trembled in fear before the monster. He could only pray that it wouldn't tear his head off in a fit of rage.

The creature took a step back and straightened its spine. He gave the old man a curious - yet terrifying - look.

"You have a daughter?" he asked, sounding almost curious.

"Y-yes, sir. Please, don't kill me. I beg of you."

"Where is she now?" the beast asked, bending so that his face was eye-level with his own. He winced and closed his eyes, too afraid to look upon the creature's fearsome face.

"She's home. In the village. Please, sir. She will come looking for me if I don't return soon."

The beast lifted a brow and seemed to be considering his request. His demeanor quickly changed, and he was seething once more.

"You've committed your crime, and now you must be punished! You shouldn't have touched my roses without permission. I should have known better than to give you sanctuary in my home."

Maurice pleaded and begged as the beast dragged him across the cold lawn, into the castle, and up to a dark, dank tower. He tossed him into a dungeon cell and slammed the bars shut.

"You will die here, old man. Unless you can offer me something as precious to you as my roses are to me, you shall not be freed."

"Please! Have mercy on an old man," Maurice begged, falling to his knees and looking up at his captor through the thick, iron bars.

"I know nothing of mercy," the beast said, turning on his heel and disappearing into the dark.

Thanks for reading! I hope you guys are enjoying it so far. I'm really having fun with this retelling, and can't wait to show you guys what I have planned! Please, don't forget to favorite, follow, and COMMENT! I love hearing feedback from you guys. While the follows and favorites tell me you're all enjoying it, reading your comments just make my day! Let me know where you guys think the story will go, and any suggestions you might have!

Happy reading!

Savannah.