Authors Note: Here's the tenth chapter. Thanks to fanficlover555, mrmistoffelees, PatriciaS, Freshie2013, and Eustacegirl for their reviews!
Disclaimer:Beauty and the Beast and its characters belong to Disney.
Alvery ceased struggling and glared up at her captor.
"Change Lumiere back," Babette demanded again.
"I can't," Alvery kept her voice calm, "not while your holding me."
Babette hesitated. She knew she couldn't trust Alvery, but what she said was true. If it wasn't Babette would be in deep trouble by now. Her eyes wandered around the room, as if looking for help, till her gaze landed on the gem which was still resting on the bed. Releasing Alvery, she made a sudden dive for it. Alvery surprised at being free, took a moment reaching for her pockets.
"Stop!" Babette stood, the gem raised above her head. "Stop or I will smash this to the ground!"
Alvery froze her eye's locked on the gem. She knew how fragile it was. "If you do it will not go well for you," she threatened.
"I will break it," Babette stood firm. "If you do not remove the spell you put on Lumiere."
A smile came across Alvery's features. It was obvious that the maid cared for the candle. Alvery could use this for her advantage. With a gentle voice she spoke, "That gem is the only thing that can change him back. If you break that gem your Lumiere will never be human again." She openly moved her hand toward her pocket.
Babette wavered. She couldn't trust anything Alvery said, but what if the witch spoke the truth? She couldn't destroy the only chance Lumiere had.
The hesitation was the only thing Alvery needed. She reached into her dress pocket, her hand tightening around the object she sought.
Babette cried out, as the gem was jerked from her hands and rope appeared around her, tightly binding her arms to her body. She watched helplessly as the gem floated over to Alvery.
Alvery held the crystal and smiled. She'd won.
Lumiere was almost at Alvery's room when he heard Babette's cry. He rushed forward, sliding to a halt in the doorway. At first all he saw was Alvery's skirts, but then she stepped aside. The sight that met him was not a pleasant one. Babette was standing in the middle of the room, bound tightly by a rope. Her face was a mixture of despair and anger.
Lumiere did not think he had made a noise but he must have, for suddenly Alvery turned around.
The gem was still in her hands. She had been going to put it in a safe place, but Lumiere's appearance had interrupted her. She was only mildly surprised. So Lumiere knew her true motives now. Perhaps that was better. She would no longer have to act.
"So it is true," Lumiere murmured more to himself than to anyone else. He had been hoping that when he got to Alvery's room he would find that it was all some misunderstanding or mistake.
"Yes it is true. I am an enchantress and it is I that did this," Alvery pointed to Lumiere, "to you."
"Why?" he asked.
She shrugged, "for fun."
Lumiere's flames burned higher, a sure sign of anger, but he didn't bother to give Alvery a reply. "Babette has she harmed you?" he asked, at the same time warily keeping an eye on Alvery.
"No, she has not harmed me," Babette answered.
"Yet," Alvery put in.
"What do you mean?" Lumiere's voice had a warning note in it.
"I mean, that as long as you do not try to stop me I will not harm the maid."
Lumiere looked again at Babette. She was helpless tied up as she was. Any thoughts of stopping Alvery left him. He sighed, defeated.
"That goes for you friends as well," Alvery continued. "If they try anything…"
"Take me instead," Lumiere interrupted.
"What?" Alvery looked at him amusement in her eyes. It was a typical demand. A demand only fools who cared about someone else more than themselves would make.
"Take me as your hostage," Lumiere repeated. "Let Babette go."
Alvery tilted her head as if thinking, then laughed. "I think I'll keep the maid tied up. She's much more of a threat than you are currently."
Lumiere remained quite, fighting his desire to show Alvery just how much of a threat he could be. He mustn't for Babette's sake.
Alvery felt triumphant. She had been discovered but it didn't matter now. She would win and her little project would be complete. She looked down at the gem in her hands. Only a practiced eye could tell the change but it was there. The glow of the stone had changed slightly. She smiled. It was ready sooner than she had expected. She would be able to continue on with her plan now. She signaled with one of her fingers, and the ropes, which seemed to be alive, dragged Babette to her. "Let's step into the hallway, shall we?" she suggested. It was time to start.