Sorry for the wait, all. I keep getting overrun with schoolwork. Ugh. Anyhow, here's chapter 14 of A Beast and a Rose. I hope you like it! R&R! :)
Chapter 14. A Sorcière
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Open ze door!" came a voice from outside.
"Who on Earth?" Babette asked.
"Guillaume, get ze door." Lumière said.
The house-boy began to open the door. The door didn't get an eighth of the way open when Jules came storming in.
"Jules? Why..." Violette began.
"Where is Pierre?" the wanna-be Damién shouted at her.
"He is in ze kitchen. Why?" Violette replied as though he had asked her politely.
"I must speak with him."
"He is not well. He may die soon."
"I will speak with him."
"Oh, very well. Follow me."
Jules let Violette lead him through the dark hallways of Toulèse's castle. He passed many statues that made him shudder.
"Violette," he began.
"Yes, Jules?"
"How did you bear it?"
"Bear what?"
"Bear being kept prisoner here?"
"Oh, Toulèse did not keep me prisoner."
"Zen, how come you were gone for so long?"
"I became lost. And when you become lost in zese woods, you find your way here. But it seemed familiar to me. I could not quite place it..."
"How is zis place familiar to you?"
"I worked here as a maid once upon a time. But anyways, I soon found out zat zis castle was ruled by a beast. I saw his eyes, and zey seemed familiar too. One night he wanted a word with me. And he said he knew my name was not Beauty as I told him it was. He guessed my name was Violette. It was zen zat I recognized him. He let me stay. And, after Damién,"-she spat his name like a curse-"killed him, I realized zat I loved him."
"You fell in love with a beast?"
"He is not a beast. He is kind and gentle. Here we are."
When Violette and Jules entered the kitchen. Pierre was fully conscious, but still did not look very good. He looked up and asked Violette in a voice that sounded like it was being mangled, "Why is Jules here?"
"He would like a word with you, Pierre. If you zink you can handle it." the Beauty replied.
"Yes, I zink I can." the boy replied.
"Alright."
After Violette left, Jules looked Pierre in the eye and snarled, "You listen, carpet-boy. You have paid for trying to stop Damién from claiming his prize."
"I knew zat already."
"I do not mean your physical condition, but mentally and emotionally. Two lives very dear to you have been lost." Jules sneered.
"Who's lives are lost? Who did it?" Pierre cried.
"Mater, and pater." the wanna-be Damién replied with a laugh, and left.
Ж
"What did you speak to Pierre about, Jules?" Violette asked.
"Zat is none of your business, Violette."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean it is none of your business! Now out of my way, sorcière!"
Violette stood frozen from shock of the insult as Jules calmly walked out of the castle. She was so shocked that she didn't hear the footsteps coming up behind her.
"I overheard what was said just now." Toulèse said, wrapping his arms around her waist; pressing her to his torso, "Do not listen to what he said, Violette. It means nothing. You are no sorcière. You are a beauty. And I love you. Never forget zat."
"But, a sorcière..." she replied, still trying to process what Jules had told her.
"Do not believe it. It is not true." he said in as much of a snarl as he could manage, and held her tighter.
"I am trying." the Beauty replied, pushing away from him, "Toulèse, I cannot breath."
Toulèse relaxed his grip on her and whispered in a sorrow-filled voice, "I am sorry, Violette my love."
"I forgive you. I know you did not mean it." Violette said, laying her head on his shoulder.
They stood there for a long time. It was when the clock had struck twelve that Toulèse released Violette. The Beauty then began to walk back to the kitchens to see if Pierre was alright. Little did she realize that what Jules had done, had hurt Pierre beyond the help of medicine.
A/N: Thanx for reading! Now all you have to do is review. Positive is prefrable, but I'll accept constructive critisism too. Another touching moment between our two love-birds, Toulese and Violette. :) I hope to update soon! Cyal8r!