Chapter 38-A Broken Curse

A flash broke free from the rose, swarming around the two figures, and taking in the entire castle. It was a blinding white light that seemed to pulsate and at its touch everything began to change.

Belle broke away from their shared embraced and sitting back she found herself staring at, not the Beast, but a man, a human man with sandy hair and pale skin. The eyes he looked back at her with were luscious blue, the same as the Beasts had been, and he seemed lost as to why she looked so shocked.

The Beast had no inkling of what had just occurred. He had merely felt a strange tingling and partly prickly sensation making its way through his body. It had started from the inside and worked its way out to his fingertips. As this feeling faded he became aware that any pain from his wounds had diminished to nothing and his whole self-felt somewhat lighter.

Now Belle was looking at him as though she had never laid eyes on him before. "Belle what…?" He gasped, as his voice came out different and held his now human hands in front of him, staring in disbelief. "The spell…. it's been broken!"

Feeling beyond over joyed he grabbed Belle in a tight hug; she was far too stunned to protest. What on Earth was going on here? "The spell…you mean the curse? But how...who?" She was trembling slightly, not sure how to process all of this.

Sensing her discomfort, the strange man broke his hold at once. "It's all right Belle it's me, well me as a human." His comforting voice was also familiar, only less deep and rough. "Beast?" she whispered and the man nodded taking her hand. "But I don't understand how could the spell be broken?"

"It could only be broken by love, and I never thought it happen, but you said you loved me." Belle allowed herself to shift closer towards this human form Beast. Looking back towards the balcony doors she saw the castle had transformed from a structure of dark stones and demon faced gargoyles, into a gleaming place of pure white graced with flower covered vines. Marble statues of angels perched on the ledges and even the grounds below had erupted into beautiful gardens.

It was so much to see, that at first she didn't even see the continued presence of the rose. It was still there shimmering under its dome, only now it was back in full bloom. "Look it's….not wilting anymore."

The man slowly rose to his feet; he swayed a little, not used to his old form now made new. Still holding his hand Belle stood up beside him. He now too saw the rose, greeting him like an old friend. "The rose was my timekeeper. I had to learn to love and be loved before the last petal fell."

Something about wasn't fully making sense "You mean you knew the spell could be broken, why didn't you tell me?" It seemed crazy that he would have forgotten to mention this when they talked the night before.

"I wanted too, but once I realized I was in love with you, I couldn't. I didn't want you to feel like you had to love me or take away your freedom to choose."

While that was a very reasonable answer, Belle just kept staring at the rose, "How long did you have till the last petal fell?" "The enchantress gave me a little more than 10 years; I had until my 25th birthday." "When is that?" She figured it had to been drawing close to then.

The Prince however knew the truth and wasn't sure how she might take this part, even he was amazed with how close they had come. "Well that would be today." "Today?! But if it's day….if the last petal just fell…then if hadn't said I loved you when I did…." The Prince nodded to confirm "Then I would have stayed as a Beast forever." Belle had grown a bit dizzy, with all that was happening it felt like the entire world had shifted. And to know just how deep his feelings for her had gone.

"You were willing to do that, to sacrifice your…well humanity just so…."

"Is that so hard to believe? Belle, just look at all you were willing to give up to save me. We both know why you went back to the village, and you were willing to give up your very life to that hunter."

It was true, all of it. And what he had told her about them all once being human, it was also true. Throughout the castle she could hear the shouts of joy ringing from all the servants now returned to their own human forms.

"So you really ARE the Prince? But what's your name?" She had asked this of him before and he had been unable to remember, now it came to him as clear as day, like a breath of fresh air. "It's…Adam."

"Adam," It sounded so sweet the way her lips formed his name. She smiled as she accepted another embrace, whispering into his ear. "I really don't know what to say….except Happy birthday, Adam."

They were startled by a woman's voice from behind them. To Belle it was unlike any she had ever heard, but to the Prince it was very familiar. "Yes Young Prince I am sure this is the happiest birthday you've ever had."

Author Note: dum dum dum who could be coming to pay a little surprise visit to our happy couple? Find out soon, as there is plenty more to come