CHAPTER 7: THE PRINCE
The Beast paced the length of the living room as he so often did when he was lost in thought. This unlikely turn of events was certainly surprising to him. Who would have thought that the old man was right in guessing that his daughter would come looking for him?
He didn't dare hope it would be true when he imprisoned the man, though a small part of him still did. How incredibly convenient it was for her to present herself within hours of his imprisonment. And how lucky he was that she was so beautiful. Or was he?
After all, it was beauty that got him into this mess.
The Beast was eager to speak with the young woman. What had her father called her?
Belle.
The name certainly suited her. She was, by far, the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. She put all other women to shame and stirred something within him that hadn't been there for a while.
Desire?
But could a monster such as he feel such a thing? He supposed anything was possible in a world where magic existed. A decade ago he never would have thought that such things as enchantresses or curses were even possible. Now he lived in an enchanted castle, surrounded by living furniture and objects that would have otherwise been inanimate. And he was a monster. He did, however, have one escape from his life as a beast.
His dreams.
He had always dreamed of himself in his human form, walking throughout the castle. He often wondered whether it had been part of the curse. Beast by day, man by night. He had never shared the secret with his servants, for fear that he would learn it was all in his head. He wanted to test it tonight, though. The dreams were so vivid, and he would often move things in his bedroom so that he could check on them the following day.
Each time, the items had been in the location he had left them when in the dream, which made him wonder whether he was dreaming at all. Tonight, he would visit Belle in his dreams, and hope that she would see him for the man he was, rather than the monster he had become.
Belle sat on the cold, stone ground of her cell with her knees drawn closely against her chest. She wrapped the skirt of her dress tightly around her legs and tried to warm her hands beneath the hem. The night chased away the day - taking with it what little warmth the stream of sunlight from the tiny cell window offered.
She fought to keep her eyes open - refusing to let sleep take her when she knew she should be on high alert. What if the Beast came for her? Would he eat her? What kind of monster was he? She had never seen such a creature before. His brilliant, blue eyes haunted her even now as she sat alone in the dark, cold tower. His form was terrifying. She was certain that such a creature could only be the result of pure evil.
Her eyes began to droop and she could stay awake no longer. Sliding slowly against the wall until she lay on her side, Belle drifted into a rather uncomfortable state of sleep. She jerked awake when she heard footsteps approaching, and her heart began to thrum in her chest.
"Who's there?" she called, squinting in the darkness and looking for any signs of the monster that had imprisoned her.
"Hello, Belle," a warm, melodic voice called from the darkness. It wasn't the deep, rough voice of the Beast. "Do not be afraid, I mean you no harm."
Her eyes widened when a candle flickered into life - filling the cell with a warm, yellow light. Holding the candle was a breathtakingly handsome man. He was tall and strong - with muscles that cut across his lithe body and were apparent even beneath the simple white shirt and black trousers that he wore. He had shoulder-length blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. His jaw was strong and his profile that of a nobleman.
"Who are you?" she asked, scrambling to her feet and patting down her skirt and apron, "and how do you know my name?"
He looked at her with his intense eyes for long moments, then gave her a slight smile. Just a tilt of his lips. Her heart nearly beat out of her chest. He was just so handsome!
"The Beast told me," he replied, setting the candle onto a niche in the wall and reaching for the large lever that held her cell door shut.
"What are you doing?" she whispered, certain that the Beast would hear them and come rushing to kill them both.
The man frowned at her before pulling the lever and opening the cell door. "I'm releasing you," he said, "or would you rather stay here?"
"But the Beast! He's sure to be furious if he finds out. I'm his prisoner." Her last words were laced with sorrow, and the man's expression transformed into one of guilt. But, he wasn't responsible for the state she was in, so why would he feel badly?
"It's his wish that I release you, and move you into more comfortable quarters." The man picked up the candle and extended a hand to her - giving her another slight smile.
Belle hesitated only for a moment before lifting her skirt with one hand and taking his with the other. He frowned down at her tiny hand in his and gave her a wary look.
"You're freezing."
She shrugged and returned his smile. "I'm alright."
He raised a single brow at her before leading her out of the cell and down the large stone steps that led back to the main level. She followed him in silence with her hand still held firmly in his. He was warm, and her cold fingers graciously absorbed all the heat he had to offer.
She followed him up another set of stairs in what appeared to be a ballroom, and down a long corridor lined with impressive suits of armor and beautiful paintings. She stopped dead in her tracks when her eyes fell on a painting of the very man that led her through the halls. She released his hand and approached it.
His painted features were set in a hard frown, but his vibrant cobalt eyes stood out in stark relief. He was dressed in fine clothing and looked to be an important figure. Her eyes traced every detail of the painting until they landed on the small golden plaque beneath it.
Prince Adam, 1751.
She gasped.
"You're a prince?" she whirled around to find the man standing only inches away from her - the warmth of his powerful body radiating and wrapping itself around her.
"I was," he said, staring into her eyes. "Not anymore."
"Why not?" she asked, falling into step beside him when he turned to continue down the hall. "Is it because of the Beast?"
His shoulders stiffened but he kept walking.
"In a way."
Belle huffed. Her patience was wearing thin. She wanted to know what happened to Prince Adam, and why he lived in the castle with a creature as frightening as the Beast. Could it be that he had no choice?
"Are you a prisoner here?" she asked, coming to stand before him and forcing him to stop walking.
Adam cupped her face in his large hands and darted his gaze between hers. Her eyes nearly fluttered closed at his touch, and she found herself struggling to keep her knees from buckling.
"I am," he answered, dragging a thumb across her lower lip and tugging until her mouth parted for him.
"The Beast is holding you against your will?" she breathed, suddenly finding it difficult to speak, "Can I help you? Maybe we can help each other."
He smiled at her then - that slight tilt of his lips - and pressed a kiss to the curve of her jaw.
"There is a way," he murmured against her neck. "Come," he said, releasing her face and taking her hand in his once more, "your room is this way."
Belle followed the Prince down the hall and into a large suite. It was the most beautiful room she had ever seen. Her father's cottage could fit right inside it! A smile graced her pretty face as she ran inside and spun around - taking in the sight of each and every corner.
"Do you like it?"
She whirled around to face Adam, who was leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed against his chest. She nodded and smiled at him - nearly forgetting their previous conversation.
"How can I help you, Adam?" she shuffled over to him and yelped when he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her body flush against his. She swallowed audibly and craned her neck so that she could better see his face.
"You will know in time."
Leaning forward, he pressed a chaste kiss to her plump lips. She nearly fainted. Releasing her, he turned to leave, shutting the heavy bedroom door behind him.
Belle gaped at the closed door, turning over that night's events in her mind. What on Earth had just happened?
Hey guys! So sorry for the delay, life has been a little crazy between work and school. Here is the next chapter and I really hope you all enjoyed it! As I mentioned before, I will be using a lot of aspects of the original French tale, as well as incorporating parts from the Disney version (both 1991 and 2017) that we've all grown to love. I believe I did mention this before, but will mention it again: this will be a MATURE story. I know it hasn't been just yet, but I want to give fair warning that I plan to make this an erotic romance with lots and lots of smut. So be warned! As always, I appreciate your feedback. Please favorite, follow, and REVIEW!
Happy reading!
