Miguel frowned as he was taken to the forbidden wing, hovering near the doorway as the Beast pulled a book from a shelf.
"Another gift from the traitor." He sighed, "A book that truly allows you to escape."
He opened it up and blew out the dust, resting it against a book stand. On the pages was a highly detailed map, gold patterns of stars moving all around.
"Wow." Miguel whispered.
"Hmmm… it was his cruellest trick of all." The Beast sighed, "Just another curse. The world has no place for a creature like me… but it does for you." He gently took Miguel's hand and pressed it against the pages, "Think of the one place you've always wanted to see… find it in your mind's eye, and feel it in your heart."
Miguel stared at the pages for a few moments.
He knew exactly where he wanted to go.
Seconds later, they were standing in a treehouse, the night dark and eerily silent, aside from the night predators. None of them would dare venture up here though.
"Where did you take us?" The Beast asked.
"… The jungles of Africa."
"Ah! I've read books about this place… stories of El Dorado and all that. Looking for gold are we?"
Miguel wasn't listening though, too busy glancing around the area. "It's so much smaller than I remember." He whispered, eyes falling on a broken photo frame, that contained the photo of a couple and a baby, "This is where I used to live… where we used to live. This crumbling, wreck that I helped build with my own two hands… where a musician fell in love."
The Beast turned to him, a frown on his face.
"Easy to remember… hard to move on." Miguel bent down and picked up a dusty wooden rattle, "Look at this place now."
"Your son's Mother?"
"…. Jane." Miguel smiled sadly. "We were friends as children. She always wanted to tour the world, study all the creatures in it. We were never married, never had the time. Eugene was a baby when we came here. I went out to hunt and- " He cut himself off, turning to the corner of the room, where claw marks still stood out against the wood, and dried blood could still be seen.
"- Jaguar." The Beast muttered in understanding.
"She'd managed to hide Eugene…" Miguel sighed, "… I buried her and left as soon as I could." Knowing that he was seconds away from crying, he turned away from the Beast, hiding his face until he could calm down.
"I'm sorry…" The Beast whispered, "… I- I didn't realise you were raising him alone."
"…. Let's go home."
…
"This is quite the storm!" The Acolyte shouted as they practically waded through the streets, desperately trying to keep his Master calm, "At least we're not tied to a tree in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by bloodthirsty wolves."
Silence.
"You know, it's not too late! We could turn back and- "
Tzekel-Khan spun around and glared at his Acolyte, stunning the man into silence, before opening the door to the Temple.
"It's just…" The Acolyte sighed, "… every time I close me eyes, I see that poor boy stranded all alone. And then, when I open them up again, he's- "The Acolyte stopped in his tracks, eyes widening at the sight of the village standing there, surrounding a familiar child.
"- Eugene!"
Thunder rumbled overhead, as all the people inside turned to look at the Priest.
"Tzekel-Khan." Rameses pushed himself to his feet, "Did you try and kill Eugene?"
Everyone around them murmured casting suspicious looks at Tzekel-Khan, who forced a smile onto his face. "Eugene!" he clapped his hands together, "Thank the stars! I've spent the last five days trying to find you!"
"You tried to kill me!" Eugene glared at him, tiny arms folding across his chest, "You left me to the wolves!"
"Wolves? Now my boy, it's one thing to rave about your little… daydreams, but it's quite another to accuse me of attempted murder."
Favour was starting to shift. Eugene was a child after all, maybe he misunderstood the situation.
"Eugene." Imelda knelt down, her daughter cradled in her arms, "Do you have proof of all this?"
"I-I have… Chel!" Eugene blurted out, "Chel saved me!"
Everyone looked at each other in confusion, as Tzekel-Khan burst out into laughter. "Such an imagination. First a beast in a Temple, and now a mysterious 'Chel'. You should write stories my boy."
Eugene looked like he was on the verge of tears, before his eyes landed on the Acolyte, who was looking like he would rather be anywhere but here.
"Him!" Eugene pointed at the poor man, "He was there, he saw everything!"
"M-me?"
"You're right." Tzekel-Khan smirked, "Don't take my word for it. Listen to my most loyal follower." He placed his hands on the Acolyte's shoulders, "Did I try and kill an innocent man, a good father?"
"W-well, it's a complicated question on a number of accounts- "The Acolyte cut himself off, wincing as Tzekel-Khan's grip tightened on his shoulders, as a silent warning, "- But…. No. No he did not."
People murmured all around them, many casting Eugene sympathetic looks.
"LIAR!" Eugene screamed, running over to Tzekel-Khan and attempting to kick him in the shins. Within seconds, the priest grabbed his wrist and had the child pinned against the wall by his collar.
"You poor boy…" Tzekel-Khan simpered, "… Maybe those daydreams are more than just simple daydreams. Maybe you've become a danger to yourself and others… which is probably where you Dad is right now. Out looking for someone to help, for someone else to take you in."
At Eugene's shocked look, the priest continued. "You aren't well my child… you need a place to heal your troubled mind. Frollo… I'm sure you have something in mind."
The old man got to his feet, a sinister smile on his face. "I'm sure I can find somewhere."
Eugene started to struggle, quickly realising that he was going nowhere.
"Everything will be alright…" Tzekel-Khan hissed, "… just relax Eugene."
….
"Well, I saw him in the main hall, and said that he was making everything more beautiful, maybe we should have a dance tonight? I never thought he would say yes! What was I thinking?!"
"No Master, it's perfect!" Joseph reassured him, as the Beast splashed about in the bath, "The rose only has four petals left, so tonight, you can tell him how you feel!"
"I feel like a FOOL!" The Beast pushed himself to his feet, "He will never love me!"
"Don't be discouraged, he's the one!"
"I wish you'd stop saying that!" The Beast took a seat on a chair, "There is no 'one!'"
"You care for him, don't you?" The silence was the only answer he ever needed, "Well then, woo him with some beautiful music and romantic candlelight! He'll appreciate that!"
"Yes!" Asenath agreed, "And when the moment is right…" She trailed off with a little giggle.
The Beast frowned, "Well, how will I know?"
"You will feel slightly nauseous." Moses sighed.
Joseph lightly slapped the cane around the back of its… head. "Don't worry Master, you will do just fine."
"Yeah." Sinbad agreed, "Just don't be so nervous and tell Miguel how you feel, because if you don't, I can promise you some foul-tasting whiskey for the rest of your days!"
"In the cold…" Joseph muttered.
"… and covered in dust." Asenath finished.
"Cold and very, very dusty!" Shaking himself off, Joseph's entire attitude changed, "Right, let's get your hair brushed, your horns shined, and nails trimmed!"
….
"I don't think I've ever worn something so nice before." Miguel gently smoothed out the fancy gold and red suit, glancing up at the Beast, who was wearing a similar suit in blue.
The Beast opened his mouth, as if to say something, only to snap it shut again and hold out his arm for Miguel to take. Slowly, the pair moved into the middle of the ballroom, bowing to each other as Hector plucked out a soft tune.
And then they started to dance.
As the dance went on, Miguel couldn't help but feel like he was falling in love with this creature.
And the thought wasn't terrifying.
Not anymore.