CHAPTER 10: SOMETHING NEW

Gaston and Lefou arrived back in town early the next morning, and immediately made their way into the tavern.

"Whatever happened to you fellas?" Sam asked, coming around the bar to shake both men's hands. Gaston shook his and raked a hand down his face - pulling with it a few dark strands of his hair from the low ponytail he wore.

"Oh, Sam. The old man is crazy! He had us wandering in circles the entire night. There was no path nor was there a castle or a beast. It was all a lie. Belle probably went out of town for all we know. I'm sure she'll be back within a few days' time."

"And Maurice? Is he back home already?" Sam went back behind the bar and pulled two glasses from underneath. He poured the two men a couple of whiskeys and gestured for them to take a seat at the bar.

Gaston hesitated for a moment, not wanting to be held responsible for the fact that the old man ran off into the forest. It was irrational of the old inventor to have done so, but Gaston wasn't about to stop him when he himself was near freezing and starved.

Irrational, indeed.

Something sparked in the hunter's eyes and he smiled maliciously to himself.

"No, he isn't home. The crazy old loon jumped out of the carriage and took off running into the woods. I had tried to warn him that we needed to turn back, but he would hear none of it! The wolves were out, for Christ's sake! It was freezing and there was no sign of the things he had mentioned. Lefou and I had no choice but to turn back and get home as quickly as possible. We would have frozen to death otherwise. Isn't that right, Lefou?"

The other man squirmed in his seat nervously and gave Gaston a weary look. He seemed to think the better of it and nodded quietly in agreement. Sam shook his head in disbelief.

"So, he's still out there somewhere? He could be killed, Gaston! We must send some men in after him."

"Nonsense," Gaston retorted, pausing only to take a long swig of his whiskey, "we can't risk the others for a man that doesn't want to be found. I'll tell you what, though. We need to inform the constable immediately. If Maurice returns, it is my fear that he may need to be admitted into the Home for the Mentally Ill. I do not believe he is stable enough to live amongst...the common folks."

Sam gave Gaston a concerned look before lowering his face and nodding. He let out a sigh and continued about his work behind the bar.

"Gaston," Lefou whispered once the bar manager was out of earshot, "you can't seriously be considering having Maurice locked away, can you? He might be a little out of it, but he poses no threat to the others. I thought you wanted to win Belle's affections, not cause her to hate you?"

"Oh, Lefou," Gaston patted his friend on the shoulder and shook him slightly, "if only you could see the absolute genius of my plan. With the girl's father locked away, and their only source of income gone, she'll be desperate. Her only option would be to work as a handmaiden to one of the nearby Dukes in order to pay off her debts. That's when I'll step in, and offer to make all her problems go away."

"How do you plan to do that?" Lefou eyed his friend suspiciously and took a small sip of his whiskey.

"It's simple, really. If Belle agrees to be my wife, I will pay for her father's release and make sure that he lives out the rest of his days comfortably in his cottage. I will even have a nurse tend to his needs in his old age, and Belle will come and live with me. She will have no choice but to give herself to me then, as payment for her father's freedom." Gaston squared his shoulders and smiled broadly at his own plan.

He felt that it was foolproof, and couldn't wait to make his way down to the constable's office that afternoon.

Belle would finally be his.

Back in the castle, the Beast had finally gone to sleep sometime in the early hours of the morning, after having spent most of the night staring into the fire and thinking about Belle. He had felt a change within her when she had tended to his wounds. She no longer seemed to loath him, despite the fact that he was keeping her prisoner.

When his servants had run to inform him of her escape after their rather unpleasant encounter in his bedroom, his heart had begun to hammer in his chest. His only chance of lifting the curse was navigating through the wolf-infested forest on horseback.

Because he had frightened her.

His fear had quickly become anger when he realized that she was breaking her promise to him, and the monster inside him took over. He had been prepared to snatch her up and drag her back into the castle by any means necessary. He had just entered the courtyard when he heard her scream, and his instincts took over then.

He had scented the wolves in the cold night air and knew that she was in danger. Something in him demanded that he protect what was his. He took off on all fours and ran right toward the sound and the sweet smell of her, and his anger bloomed when he saw her lying helplessly in the snow, surrounded by a pack of wolves.

Had he arrived a moment later, it might have been too late. He saw red when the alpha had launched itself at her, and wasted no time in jumping at it and tossing it to the side with all his might. He had landed right behind her with his front paws on either side of her tiny form. She had looked up at him then, though he didn't meet her gaze, and he felt the relief wash over her.

She had been relieved to see him there. But, why? Was it because she had regretted leaving him, or was it simply the fact that she knew she would not die? Whatever the reason, she hadn't felt hatred toward him then. The sound of her heart beating erratically had kept him going in the fight. Adrenaline had pumped in high concentration through his veins, keeping him going despite the rather serious injuries he had sustained.

Once the wolves had taken off, he had finally turned to look at her. His heart nearly broke when he saw that she had freed her horse and planned to mount it and leave him. His vision became blurred and he knew that he would die from his injuries. But that paled in comparison to the pain he felt upon knowing that she would leave.

Imagine his surprise when he had felt a gentle stroke along his cheek, and opened his eyes to find her beautiful, kind face looking down at him with concern. She hadn't left him! His heart had soared at that moment, despite the fact that he barely had enough strength to keep his eyes open.

She had told him to help her. She had asked him to stand. He could see her horse waiting nearby, and realized that she had wanted to save him. The idea of her wanting him to live, and that idea alone, gave him the strength he needed to push himself up onto his elbows and ready himself to stand. When she had offered her tiny hand to him, he nearly cried.

How could she be so kind? After the way he had treated her just moments before, she still found it within herself to show him concern and want to help him. He had hesitated, unsure whether he was dreaming. Not wanting her to change her mind, he reached for her hand and wrapped it in his large paw.

He could easily have crushed her bones in his grip and yet, she trusted him not to. Something took root within him. Some new, strange emotion he had never encountered before. Not even in all his years as a prince. The new sensation had caused him to possessively wrap his paw around her waist and hold her against him for their entire walk back into the castle. She had told him to lean on her! He knew he couldn't, for his weight would crush and kill her, but he had appreciated her offer.

She truly had wanted to help him. Instead, he tightened his grip on her slender waist - fighting against the animal urge to press her slender body up against the wall and claim her as his mate - and used the wall to support himself until they had reached the living room. The effort he had exerted for the walk knocked him unconscious the moment he slumped into the large chair.

When he had awakened again, there she was kneeling at his feet. The fire burning behind her on the hearth glowed around her shoulders and face like a halo. She looked angelic and even more beautiful than he had ever noticed before. He lost some control over his inner Beast when she had wanted to tend to his wounds and scolded him for pulling away.

Of course, he had regretted it immediately. In fact, he had been impressed with the way she squared up to him and didn't back down when he argued with her. She had been strong. She was strong. He could see that now. She wasn't feeble or meek as he had originally thought. This woman had a fire in her that called to him, and it made him want to make her his, now more than ever.

Now, in his dreams - or was it real? - he sat in his bedroom as Adam. He wanted to go to Belle, but wasn't sure what to say to her. He looked out the window and saw the sun rising on the horizon. Perhaps it didn't matter whether it was day or night, so long as he was sleeping? He had always assumed that his human form had something to do with the night, but last night had changed that. He had awakened in the middle of night as the Beast, with an undeniable urge to hunt.

The monster within was growing stronger with each passing day.

When he had returned to his room, he had found Belle almost about to touch the rose left to him by the enchantress. It had so few petals left, he had panicked. He had rushed over quickly - pulling her by the skirt and shoving her back as he did so - and quickly replaced the glass cover. Remembering how close he had been to her just an hour earlier, when he had shown her to her room as Adam, he had tried to keep his voice calm so as not to frighten her.

But the Beast within him was strong. When she had not immediately obeyed his command to leave the room, the final threads of his control had snapped. He found himself roaring at her and pounding his fists into the ground. The moment he had regained control and saw her fleeing from his sight, he had felt terrible.

Now, he had an opportunity to make things right. But would approaching her as Adam, rather than the Beast, really be the best way to win her heart? He needed her to love him as the monster he was if he was to have any hope of returning to his human form permanently.

He knew she had found him attractive when he had released her from the tower, but for the first time in his existence, he didn't want her to be attracted to his appearance. He wanted - no, needed - for her to be attracted to him. Who he was inside. He needed her to love him the way he was.

Adam scoffed to himself.

Who he was inside was a monster. That was exactly what the enchantress had said, and the very reason she had turned him into the unnatural creature that he was today.

Sighing, Adam rose from his bed and walked over to a large mirror at the far side of the room. He frowned when he saw that his bandages were still in place, and a few red spots bled through the fabric. This would never do. How was he to explain to Belle that he had the same injuries as the Beast? He couldn't let on about who he really was, otherwise there would be no real way of knowing that her feelings for him were genuine. If she knew that the Beast was really a handsome prince that was cursed, it could influence her decision.

He rummaged through his drawers until he found a dark colored shirt, and slipped it over his torso. Eager to see her again, Adam rushed to the East Wing and stood outside of her bedroom. It was still very early, and his servants would be in the kitchens preparing breakfast and starting their morning chores. He should have some uninterrupted time with her.

Belle stirred when she heard a knock at her door, but didn't bother to roll over or sit up. She was still so tired. Her ankle throbbed and her body ached all over. She just wanted to stay in all day.

Knock, knock.

She groaned with her face still in the pillows.

"Not now, Lumiere. It's too early. I want to sleep."

A deep voice chuckled from beyond the door and her eyes shot open.

"Who is it?" she called, sitting up and straightening her dress. She gasped when she realized her clothes were soiled with mud and horribly wrinkled.

"It's Adam."

"Just a minute!" she hopped from the bed and looked around her frantically. She limped the moment her weight shifted to her feet and nearly lost her footing when a white-hot pain pulsed in her injured foot. Her eyes landed on a beautiful wardrobe against the wall, and she silently prayed there was something suitable for a young lady inside. She went to pull the doors open and screamed when the entire unit moved on its own.

"Oh! A woman! Finally," the wardrobe spoke, opening its doors to reveal an array of gorgeous clothing. "Please, allow me!"

Before Belle had a chance to make out what was happening, she was surrounded by flying fabrics and colors. She could feel herself being spun around and the world continued to spin even after the assault had ended. The wardrobe held one of her doors open to reveal a mirror on the inside, and Belle smiled when she saw the deep burgundy dress she was now wearing.

A laugh bubbled up in her chest at the sheer amazement of it all. She would have to get used to the existence of magic. Though she didn't quite understand the spell the castle was under, she had come to accept that almost anything within its walls was living in some way, shape, or form.

Moments later the wardrobe closed its doors, muttering something about how beautiful she looked dressed as a princess. A quiet snore came from within its closed doors and Belle smiled.

"May I come in?"

She gasped, nearly forgetting that Adam had been standing outside of her bedroom all this time. Without further ado, she rushed to let him in.

Her heart fluttered in her chest at the mere sight of him. He wore a navy-blue shirt and black pants, and his blonde hair was loose and framing his face. That incredibly handsome face. He gave her that slight smile and her knees nearly buckled beneath her.

His blue gaze was smoldering, and she found herself feeling flushed in areas of her body she had never felt such sensations before. He raked his gaze over the length of her body and her mouth became dry. She didn't know how to handle these strange emotions.

She had been around handsome men before, so why did this one affect her so? Gaston was very handsome, but she was repulsed by his arrogance and crude behavior. She didn't know anything about Adam - aside from knowing that he, too was a prisoner in this castle - yet she couldn't seem to form words in his presence.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, cupping a palm against her cheek. Her face warmed at his touch and she suddenly needed to create some distance between them.

Stepping back, Belle gestured for Adam to enter the bedroom and shut the door behind him. She limped over to the bed and took a seat on the edge. Her ankle was still burning, but she did her best not to show her discomfort on her face. When she looked up at him he was frowning at her.

"Are you injured?" he bent before her and inspected her ankle carefully. "It's pretty swollen, and it's starting to bruise. You should let me take care of this."

Belle pulled her foot away from his grasp. His every touch set her skin on fire and she could barely retain any control. The most primal part of her female instincts wanted to pounce on this man and ravish him. She was shocked at her own thoughts and felt her face heating again.

"No, it's okay. I'll be fine. How did you sleep? You missed all the excitement last night."

He smiled at her and stood to take a seat on the bed beside her.

"I heard all about it this morning. That's why I came to check on you. You're very lucky to still be here."

Belle nodded, tracing patterns on the duvet with her finger absentmindedly. "It was a stupid thing to do, running away. But...the Beast can be so terrifying. He was so angry with me and I was afraid he would hurt me. The way he roared..." she paused and turned her face so that she was looking into Adam's cobalt eyes, "I was so frightened."

Adam's face seemed to crumple for a moment, and he had that look again. The one that seemed so full of guilt. But why? He reached for her hand and she let him - placing her palm into his.

"I'm so sorry, Belle. I never meant...I'm sure the Beast feels horrible for what he did. He would never hurt you, Belle. I promise you that."

She held his gaze and tried to let his words comfort her. "Why do you apologize when you've done nothing wrong? And how can you promise he won't hurt me? I don't understand why you defend him, being that you're also his prisoner."

His eyebrows shot up and he gave her a bewildered look. "Whoever said that I was his prisoner?"

"You did...when I asked you last night. You said you were a prisoner here."

He laughed at her and she felt her face flush crimson. Had she misunderstood?

"I'm not his prisoner, Belle. But, for reasons I can't explain to you, I cannot leave this castle. I know this must be difficult for you to understand, but it's all I can tell you for now. As I am...as you see me now, is not how you would see me out there."

"But why?" she asked, trying to understand the meaning behind his words.

"I wish I could tell you, Belle. But...I can't. Please know that I want to, more than anything."

Belle nodded, still not quite understanding why he couldn't tell her the reason he was trapped, but trusting that he would if he could. She figured the castle's magic might be part of the reason he could not speak freely as he wanted to. She could tell by the look in his eyes and the way he held her hand in his that he wanted to tell her everything. She could feel it in her heart.

"Adam, please tell me how I can help you. How can I help us both so that we can be free again?"

His face softened and he palmed her cheek - sending fire through her veins and raising her temperature to feverish heights. "You might not want to hear it right now."

"Tell me," she said, leaning into his touch and imploring him with her eyes to do just that. "I want to know."

He sighed, stroking her cheek gently with the pad of his thumb. His hand wandered back, and his fingers tangled into her unruly brown hair. He stroked it gently, pulling the knots out and letting the silky ends slip between his fingertips. Her eyes never left his and she swore if the tension between them built further she would explode.

"You must allow yourself to love the Beast."

She gasped, pulling away from his touch. Love the Beast? She didn't understand what he was suggesting.

"W-what? What do you mean by that?" she shook her head as if to bring herself back to reality. He couldn't possibly have just said what she thought he did.

"Just, start by opening up to him. Let him in, Belle. Be his friend. He so desperately needs one."

With that, the handsome prince stood and came around to face her. He bent and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead before turning toward the door.

"I'll be back with some bandages - your ankle should be iced and wrapped or it will continue to swell." He left without another word.

Her heart slammed against her ribs and she felt tingles all over. She found herself frozen on the spot. Love the Beast? Was it something she could do?

She had seen two very different sides to the Beast just last night. One had been terrifying, while the other had been protective and gentle with her. He was fierce in his fight against the wolves and she was grateful to him for saving her. The least she could do was be a friend to him.

She decided she owed him that much after what he had done for her.

By the time Adam returned, she had bathed herself thoroughly and washed her hair. She had just finished lacing the corset over her dress when a knock sounded at the door.

"Come in," she chimed, taking one last look in the vanity to ensure her hair was still in order. She hardly recognized herself anymore, clad in an expensive dress she never would have dreamed she'd wear.

Adam strolled in as promised with a large bowl of ice and several fresh bandages. He flashed her a dreamy smile and set the items down on a nearby table. Belle limped toward the bed but was intercepted by the handsome prince. Before she knew it, he had scooped her into his strong arms and set her gently on the bed's edge.

She was blushing so fiercely she could feel the heat penetrate her cheeks. He smelled so good - like man and musk - and the way his arms bulged and hard muscles shifted as he carried her made her weak in the knees. He was just so unbelievably handsome and charming and kind.

She could hardly believe her own thoughts. Was she swooning over a man for the first time in her 19 years of life? It was difficult not to...the man was gorgeous beyond reason.

Adam knelt before her and lifted the skirt of her dress to her knees. It took all her self control not to pull away. She had been raised virtuously, never showing more than a scant amount of shoulder and collarbone. Her legs had always been covered when in the presence of men.

Her heart thundered when he cradled her ankle in his strong hands and massaged the injured tendons. Her eyes slipped shut and she enjoyed his firm touch. She felt her entire body tingle and her core clench as he pressed his thumbs against the top of her foot. He began to wrap the extremity tightly in a bandage, countering the pressure she was beginning to feel from the intense swelling.

When he was finished, he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to it, smiling up at her with those dreamy blue eyes.

"There," he gruffed, cupping both of her ankles in his palms. "That should do it." He kept his hands on her and held her gaze. When he stood, he slid his palms up her calves until he reached the start of her thighs. She gasped, fighting against the pending heart attack that was sure to take place if he touched her any longer.

His flesh on hers felt sinfully wonderful. She never wanted him to stop.

Adam pulled her skirts back over her legs and scooped her into his arms again. She steadied herself against him, holding his strong shoulders and admiring his noble features as he knelt on the center of the bed and laid her against the pillows. He removed a few from the edge of the bed and propped them under her foot, elevating the injury.

She watched him walk toward the bowl of ice and scoop some onto a large cloth, tying the end to secure the ice inside. He rested the makeshift bag over her foot and rocked back on his heels to admire his work.

"I'll let you rest," he said, raking his fingers through his shoulder-length blonde hair. "The servants will tend to your needs." He turned to leave.

"Adam, wait," Belle called, not wanting him to leave so soon. "Have you somewhere to be?"

A light blush formed across the bridge of his nose. "Not necessarily..."

"Then stay." She patted the spot next to her and gave him an expectant look.

He smiled bashfully and rubbed the nape of his neck as he considered her offer. "I shouldn't stay long," he said, taking the seat beside her, "the Beast will wake eventually."

The fear she had once felt upon mention of the terrifying beast never came. He no longer frightened her. "So let him wake," she retorted, "I am not afraid to face him."

The handsome young prince arched a single brow. "You're not? But you said earlier that he frightened you."

"He did, but not anymore. Last night he was...different. He saved my life. I'm indebted to him."

Adam seemed pleased by her answer. "That's wonderful, Belle. You shouldn't fear him, regardless. He would never hurt you."

She wrinkled her nose and canted her head to the side. "How do you know that? What is your relationship with the Beast?"

Adam reached for her face and cupped her cheek, idly stroking her soft skin with the pad of his thumb. "You're beautiful...men must throw themselves at you."

She chuckled, amused by the change in subject. "Not exactly. There have been suiters but they're nothing more than brutes. Awful, narcissistic men that care only about themselves. I'm just a trophy to be won - nothing more. I prefer solitude, or spending time with my Papa."

Another flash of guilt passed over the prince's eyes. "I'm not surprised those suiters weren't worthy of you. I imagine there is no one alive worthy of having you for a wife."

She flushed crimson, biting her lip nervously. "Well, I've never met anyone I was interested in until now." She looked at him tentatively, afraid of his rejection.

His eyes widened and he quickly looked away. "Belle...don't get me wrong, you're gorgeous. I enjoy our conversations and find you to be intelligent and brave...but you're not meant for me."

She pouted her lip, leaning toward him. "Why not?"

Adam stood, his back to her as he spoke. "Because the Beast deserves you more than I do. He needs you..." He glanced over his shoulder at her.

"And...you don't?" She bit back tears, the sting of Adam's rejection hitting her hard.

"I do, Belle. I want you, need you, more than you know. But as I said, you must learn to love the Beast. It's the only way...good bye."

Belle watched in stunned silence as Adam retreated from the room. She was hurt, but more than anything she was confused. If Adam wanted her, why could he not have her?

She considered the Beast her friend after last night, but she wasn't sure she could manage more.

Could she?

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