"Hello Belle!" Gaston announced loudly.
Clutching her chest she scolded him, "You gave me a heart attack!"
He smirked loudly as though the idea pleased him. Belle turned her back on the rose and became very uncomfortable when she realized they were alone… very alone.
"I've been looking for you all over."
Trying not to groan, she responded, "Well it's a large building."
"No matter," He shrugged and walked forward to lean on the table, an arm on either side of her, "Now that I've found you we can talk about more important things, like me."
"My mind is normally on important things already." she tried to push him away from her, but instead he grabbed her hands and held fast.
He smiled arrogantly and said, "Well, this is the day your dreams come true!"
She scoffed, "What do you know about my," she yanked her hands away with a huff, "dreams?"
Taking a step back, Gaston gestured to himself and said, "Plenty! Picture this!" he held up his hands as through framing something in the distance, "A rustic hunting lodge, my latest kill roasting on the fire, and my little wife massaging me feet, while the little ones play on the floor with the dogs." Stopping in the middle he turned to her and said, "We'll have six or seven."
Swallowing uncomfortably, Belle tried not to let her fear show when she asked sarcastically, "Dogs?"
"No Belle!" he laughed, "Strapping boys like me!"
"Oh-" she skirted around him to head for the door.
"And do you know who that little wife will be?" he grabbed her arm and yanked her to look at him.
"Let me think!" she replied nervously before he came face to face with her.
"You, Belle!"
Trying to pull her hand away again she stumbled, "Gaston! I'm- flattered… I really don't know what to say."
"Say you'll marry me." he growled, almost a bit menacing.
"I'm sorry Gaston… I just don't deserve you."
Belle muffled a cry when his hand clamped down on her wrists. Looking up at him in fear she recoiled. His jaw was clenched when he growled, "Belle… I'll have you for my wife. No one says no to Gaston."
"You're hurting me…" she protested.
"I'll let go. One little word Belle, that's all it takes." his grip tightened and she pulled uselessly against the cavemen.
"Never!" she snapped just before his hand came across her face and she fell with a yelp. She looked up, crawling away when she suddenly heard a growling noise behind her. Gaston snapped his head up with a glare before he took a step back and the color drained from his face. As she turned her head to see what it was a dark shadow leapt over top of her and she covered her head.
There was yelling and scraping, but she couldn't make out what was happening in the dark room. Whatever was in there with them was almost completely black in color. She could only hear the growling and grunting from both figures as they struggled. It was almost harder to tell who the real monster was just then.
When the man called Gaston struck her something inside the Prince snapped. At some point he had made his choice while watching her walk around the room, and he knew this was the one he wanted. The fool had put his hands on the wrong girl. When he'd clasped a claw around his throat and pinned him to the floor the Beast leaned low and growled at him.
"What are you doing here?"
Gaston struggled and begged, "Please! Don't hurt me!"
The Beast looked over at Belle, watching with frightened eyes. He had no doubt she couldn't see him, but she could tell what was happening. She looked surprised that he was able to speak. Glancing around she asked, "Whose there?"
Taking a deep breath he announced, "The master of this castle."
The man was still begging beneath him, "Please I'll do anything! Anything!"
"I should lock you in the tower!" he howled in Gaston's face.
"No!" Belle protested to the Beasts surprise and annoyance, "Please! Can't you see you're hurting him?!"
Jealousy boiled under his skin, but the Prince chose to hide it, arguing, "Then he shouldn't have trespassed! The boundaries were made clear to all the guests!"
In reality he wanted to rip the man's head off for the red mark he could see forming across her lower jaw.
"You can't!" she pleaded, "He could die!"
Gaston's eyes fluttered wildly as he began gasping for air, "There's nothing you can do. He's my prisoner."
Loosening his grip Gaston gulped for air and begged again, "Please! Take the girl! She's the one who came in here, I only followed her!"
The worm knew no honor and it made even someone as spoiled as the Prince furious. Lifting him he threw his head into the ground and he went limp.
Gasping Belle ran forward, glancing up at the creature backed away to let her pass. The Beast hated to see her look worried, though the rational part of his brain was trying to tell him she was just soft hearted, the other half of him was still angry at the thought of her caring for another. Taking a deep breath she said, "Do it."
"What?" he rumbled angrily.
She cringed away before repeating, "Take me instead."
His brow furrowed as her words sank in.
"You!" the Prince growled, "… You would… take his place? Why?!"
Indignantly she snapped in a surprisingly bold voice, "If I did- would you let him go?"
Thinking it over for a moment he replied, "Yes. But… you must promise to stay here forever."
Glancing down as the motionless man beside her there was obvious pain on her face. She didn't care for him, but she didn't wish to see him dead either. It was her fault he was even back there. Looking up in the direction of the faceless creature she asked, "… Come into the light."
He hesitated a moment, before stepping into the ethereal glow the rose was casting across the floor. Slowly the gentle glimmer lit the black fearsome claws of his feet, and then the furry legs and massive body, until he finally appeared. The large fangs hung low over his mouth. He was enormous, with a large chest, and powerful shoulders. Gasping, she looked away.
Carefully, Belle collected herself and stood. The Beast towered over her by several feet. Taking another deep breath she said, "You have my word."
The fear in her eyes had hurt him, and his response came out sharply as he snapped, "Done!"
Dragging the man forward and out the door Belle sank to the floor and cried as the bedroom was closed. She knew she'd never see the outside world again.