Chapter 21: Something There

Since Belle agreed to stay with Adam until her father returned from his trip to the Science Fair, it turned out Adam's curse had affected the servants in his house as well which turned them into household objects that could talk and move on their own.

"Sounds like he lived like a Prince, Mrs. Potts," Belle remarked to a teapot with eyes on either side of its spout with a small teacup next to it. She was eating dinner alone again as Adam usually ate alone.

"Oh, yes, he did," the teapot sighed. "Right up until Christmas Eve of last year."

"What happened?" Belle asked.

Mrs. Potts hesitated. "Well, he heard a knock on the front door and answered it. His parents had been out of town and they promised to be home for Christmas. But instead, Adam was greeted by an old woman who offered him a rose. She claimed it was enchanted, but he didn't believe her and told her to leave. In a forceful manner, mind you. Offended, the old woman thrust a mirror into his hand and claimed it would show him anything he desired. Curious, Adam used it to see where his parents were. What he saw, though, was a fallen plane with broken wings and a burning engine."

"Was that the plane that crashed on Forbidden Mountain?" When Mrs. Potts nodded, Belle looked downward. "So Adam's parents…died."

"He was extremely upset and demanded to know why the old woman was there. She revealed herself as an Enchantress who had helped Adam's family accumulate the wealth they had obtained, and was hoping to settle her debt to them by offering the enchanted rose and the magic mirror to Adam. But because he had been so rude to her, she…"

"Turned him into a beast," Belle finished. "And you guys into enchanted objects."

"Yep," said the teacup. "That Enchantress sure screwed us over."

"Watch your language, Chip!" Mrs. Potts snapped, causing the teacup to lower its handle where its eyes were located on either side of. "While the Enchantress may have gone…overboard in her punishment, she clearly had good intentions."

Not saying anything, Belle finished her dinner and helped Mrs. Potts clean the dishes. Then after she left the dining hall, a door that was slightly open caught her attention. It was up a flight of stairs that were on the western side of the house which faced the stairs that led up to Belle's room in the opposite direction.

"That must be the entrance to the West Wing," Belle guessed. "I wonder if Adam's in there."

Before she thought about ascending the westbound stairs, Adam's figure appeared in the open door causing her to walk up the stairs to her room.

###

As the weekend turned into a month, Belle discovered that her father had gone missing along with all the other passengers of a bus that was driving over the mountains from the town where the Science Fair took place. The police had come by her house, which was still trashed after Gaston and his friends had come over, and she met them there. She explained her situation to them and claimed she was staying with Pocahontas which the police accepted. But to make sure her story didn't fall through, Pocahontas gave Belle a cellphone as an early birthday present so the police would contact her instead of Pocahontas' house directly. In exchange for Pocahontas' help, Belle offered to arrange secret dates between Pocahontas and John Smith.

"It's not that I don't think my father would approve of him, but my engagement to Kocuom makes things complicated," Pocahontas told Belle during lunch while Ariel was playing with her stuffed crab.

"You could always break off the engagement," Belle suggested. "It's not like you have to marry Kocuom just because you're engaged to him."

"But this means a lot to his family, and mine, so I don't want to disappoint them," Pocahontas replied nervously.

"But your own happiness should come before anyone else's."

"Indeed, Belle," Gaston butted in, appearing right next to her.

Before Belle could protest, Gaston forced her out of her seat. Then he led her out of the lunch-room and into an empty classroom.

"What do you want?" Belle demanded angrily. "Here to gloat about ruining my house?"

"That…was an oversight on my part," Gaston claimed. "So I apologize."

He didn't sound sincere, but Belle decided not to question him about it.

"Anyway, I have a friend who works at the asylum outside of town who told me they picked up an old man recently. He's been raving non-stop about an evil Fairy and a black castle calling himself Maurice."

Belle gasped. "That's my father's last name!"

In response, Gaston sneered. "Now don't jump to conclusions, Belle. He could be your father, or some random lunatic. But if you come with me, we can find out together."

As Gaston held out his hand, Belle considered taking it but stopped. "I…appreciate the offer, but I'll find my own way to the asylum."

Just then, the bell rang forcing Gaston to leave in a huff while Belle walked out once his massive form was gone.

###

That night, Belle ascended the stairs that led up to the West Wing entrance. Quietly, she opened the door and stepped into the dark hallway before her. There was a source of light coming from a bend up ahead, which illuminated a portrait that had been torn to shreds. But despite the damage Belle could make out a face.

This must be what Adam looked like before he was cursed, Belle guessed, staring at the portrait closely. He's not that bad-looking, actually.

Around the bend was a small table that had the mirror on it but also a glass case containing a glowing red rose in full bloom.

So it's true, Belle realized, stepping closer to the rose. The Enchantress really did bring a magic rose and a mirror, but why did she leave these things here?

Just as Belle was about to lift the glass case, a low growl made her freeze in place.

"Why did you come here?" Adam said in an angry tone. "I made it perfectly clear that this place was forbidden!"

"I'm sorry," Belle apologized, turning to face Adam who was looming over her. "I just needed to borrow your mirror to—

"Get out!" Adam snapped.

"Please, Adam, don't do this."

"GET OUT!"

Frightened, Belle ran past Adam out of the West Wing down the stairs and out the front door. Without looking back, she ran down the hill and almost bumped into three men who wore matching gray hoodies and pants. Once they spotted her, they surrounded Belle and took out their pocket-knives when a loud roar stopped them. Belle looked up the hill and saw Adam charging down on all fours. While she got out of the way and ran across the street, the three men were stunned as Adam lunged at each of them. He swung one man into the air with his bare hand and kicked another down onto the pavement. Then the third one managed to cut Adam's arm with his pocket-knife, causing Adam to growl and punch him in the face. This knocked the third guy back quite a ways as he fell down onto the middle of the street and passed out. For a while, neither Belle or Adam said anything as they both panted heavily.

"If you call the police right now, I will never forgive you," Adam threatened.

"And why not?" Belle demanded. "These guys were clearly trying to attack me, and based on their choice of clothing I think they're from the Hun Gang."

"It would be problematic if they came near my house," Adam responded. "Otherwise, they'll see me the way I am and lock me up in a cage or something."

"Not if you continue to frighten people the way you did to me!"

"I only did that because you went into the West Wing, without my permission!"

"Only because you haven't kept your promise of telling me why you are like this! But regardless, you shouldn't have gotten so angry and listened to what I had to say!"

"Well, you—!"

Before Adam could finish his sentence, he flinched and held his left arm where blood was pooling up underneath his shirt in the light of the street lamp.

Noticing, Belle approached Adam. "Are you okay?"

"It's…just a scratch. Nothing too serious," Adam lied gritting his teeth.

"If you grip it too tightly, the shirt will stick to your wound," Belle said, trying to get Adam to let go. "We need to get back up to the house to treat it properly."

"You can't tell me what to do! I told you to leave, didn't I?"

"I'm not leaving until this is taken care of!"

"Why?"

"Because you saved my life, and I want to show my gratitude by helping you!"

Hearing that, Adam's grip softened allowing Belle to take both of his hands and they ran back up the hill together.

End of Chapter 21