I'll make this short since the last one was uber long. MuseHere is my amazing beta. If I forgot anything...I'll put it with chapter 11 tonight.


•10•

The door rattled as his fist slammed on the door. Where was that foolish girl?

"Beauty!" He barked. He had given himself fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes and then he would get her and force her out of the room and into the kitchen. A monster he was, but he still required food like a human.

"I'm coming!" She called, her footsteps echoing out to him through the door. The door flew open and she stood there, cheeks pink and hair wild with a pout on her lips. "I'm not quite ready yet, sorry."

He took in her appearance, enjoying the way her messy hair looked with her creamy skin. Her eyes were dull, lifeless. He made a mental note to fix that somehow. He saw her cheeks were still pink, whether from rushing in her heels or from embarrassment he wasn't sure. The dress was cut low on her and he enjoyed the view, until he realized he knew that dress.

"You're just cooking. You don't need to look like a queen." He hissed, glowering at the garment. "I'll suit you in proper clothes after I eat. Until then, you'll wear an apron over that dress. Do you understand me?"

She inhaled sharply at his tone but quickly pulled herself together the way she had been taught to. "Y – y – yes. I understand." She stuttered, her cheeks staining a brighter pink.

He grabbed her upper arm roughly, squeezing it enough to cause tears to come to her eyes. "Come. Standing here won't make me my breakfast, will it?" He began dragging her down the hallway before she could speak, then chided himself mentally.

You were taught how to woo a woman. Causing her pain and fear was certainly not included.

His group loosened, but he continued to pull her.

She doesn't know the way, she needs my guidance. The force will make her learn faster, won't it?

He nodded briefly to himself, ignoring the curious stare she gave him. "I don't want a simple meal, either. I want something fantastic. I haven't had a true meal in years, being unable to cook myself. You may use all the food there, I shall try to get more food today, if I can."

Her eyes sparkled as she began calculating, her whole body perking up. "So you'll be leaving for a few hours?"

"I said if I can, which depends on you. I'm not leaving until I know you won't run away or try to. Though, it really isn't important since I could easily lock you somewhere where you would never escape but I would like to be able to trust you."

"Why should I ever seek to earn your trust?" She spat out quickly.

He stopped at the front of the staircase and turned slowly to her. She cowered back quickly, realizing her mistake and trembling.

He grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled her close. He exhaled harshly a few times in her face, rage burning in his eyes.

"I should throw you down this staircase right now. I could," He sneered. "I don't need you or anything from you. I've survived years on my own, I could do it again. Do you want me to throw you down the stairs, end your life now?"

•~•

Do you want me to throw you down the stairs…?

End your life now?

How could I answer that?

I could follow the one part of me, the part that said honesty was the best policy. The part of me that said I should say that was exactly what I wanted. Or I could follow the part that said not only was it a sin, but I didn't want that. I wanted to be with the Beast and solve the mystery behind him.

Well…I thought I wanted to be with him.

I did, didn't I?

I bit my lip and he tugged my hair.

"Answer me, whore." His hot, moist breath tickled my ear yet I felt disgusted by it.

"I…no. I don't want to die." Tears threatened to well over onto my cheeks as I stammered out a reply.

"Don't stammer, bitch. Do you or don't you?" He roared.

"I don't! God, please, I don't!" I squealed, tears flowing in earnest.

His hand released my hair, shoving me back a bit. I stumbled, but caught myself quickly on the railing. The railing to the stairs I could've ended this all on.

"That is why you should seek my trust." He straightened his jacket quickly, turning away from me towards the stairs. "And I'm not God. Sorry if that disappoints you." He threw a smirk over his shoulder and began descending down the stairs, expecting me to follow.

I sighed, closing my eyes, as I resigned myself back to this fate. Then I began following him down the stairs. The stairs that could've granted my freedom.

•~•

He stormed down the stairs, knowing she'd follow, while trying to claim some sense of control.

She doesn't know who used to wear that dress. She doesn't know it hurts you. You can't punish her for that, imbecile!

He growled softly, glaring at the innocent, richly designed rug on the stairs. Her words – her behavior – was unacceptable. He was in charge here and she had to learn that lesson and learn it well. Young, naïve, and stupid, even fiery and spirited, she may be, but she was born and raised a lady.

She should know by now how to talk to a man properly.

He stopped at the bottom of the stairs, remembering she had no clue where the kitchen was. He would've let her figure it out herself, but there were some things she just couldn't see yet.

Her footsteps were quiet and delicate, letting her move swiftly and gracefully.

My own little fairy princess.

She paused at the last step, putting herself at his exact height. She kept her head lowered but her eyes peeked up at him through her eyelashes. They were wide and brown, reminding him of a doe. His breath caught in his throat for a moment, as she reminded him of…

Stop it.

"To the…" He paused, trying to recover himself. "To the kitchen, then. It better be a damned good meal to make up for your behavior this morning."


And there is a Rosalie/Alice outtake from this chapter over in the outtakes section.

REVIEWS encourage me to study.