Chapter 1 : I Wonder If She's Feeling Well
Gaston healed instantly. He felt it as it happened. It was warm and gentle like a breeze across his skin. His thighs no longer burned and his blisters soothed into scabs on his feet. Even his hands lost their reddish tint. Not that he was looking. His eyes were trained on the female as she sat up in the snow.
"Ever to feel, ever to heal." She whispered so softly and the sound was so muffled by the halo of golden hair around her face, Gaston wondered if he was meant to hear her words.
He heaved a sigh and sat back on his heels. "Well, if you can be cryptic, I guess you're alright."
The woman's green eyes lit as she glanced up at him and a sparkle of gold flickered within.
"And if you can be repellent then I gather you didn't die. Good." The enchantress moved to stand but her strength seemed to fail her. Gaston watched for a moment and then straightened, reaching down a large hand.
"Repellent? Witch, have you even looked at me?"
"Yes," Mon Ange answered in a huff as she was yanked by the wrist into a standing position. "And smelt you."
The imposing man gazed down at the woman. His brow gathered tightly. "You're different."
The enchantress huffed and turned away. Gaston raised his palms before her, like he would if he were testing the heat of a fire.
"You feel different. The waves are gone. And you aren't burning my eyes out with the gold."
The woman looked down at herself, grumbling as she lifted her wet gown. "Would that I were."
They both went silent for a moment as they each examined the changes in the enchantress. Her glow had dimmed, though not fully. Her skin was a white gold instead of the beaming yellow of before. Her gown was soaked and plastered to her skin and for the first time in her long, long life, her teeth began to chatter. She didn't like it. Mon Ange sighed and raised her eyes to the incredibly healthy looking man that towered above her. "You seem well, Hunter."
Gaston nodded and felt a tendon flex in his neck and down his muscular back. He was well. Very well. Better than he had ever been before. He felt it in his veins. The blood in them seemed to course with massive speed. His body felt rejuvenated, as though he could run and run and never need to stop for breath.
"Then all is well. Now," Mon Ange paused and looked around for her staff.
After a few steps she reached down and grasped it in her hand. The cool metal stung her palm for an instant before it warmed and fitted itself into her touch. The enchantress smiled and stomped the base into the ground. The staff blazed and sent a blast of heat up her gown and she was instantly dry. The gold began to return to her eyes.
"Now," she repeated, "I believe we had a deal."
Gaston nodded again as his eyes squinted. He had taken in all the changes to the woman and began to feel her waves of power return. "Yes." He spoke absently and gave his head a small shake. "Yes. Me for my men. I want the spell broken. I want them freed."
The enchantress tilted her head to the side as her eyes softened. "A dangerous deal. I cannot guarantee their safety after the spell is broken. Have you asked them if this is their wish? Do they know what lives in these woods? Do they know, Hunter, all that you know?"
Gaston paused. His hands tightened on his biceps and he scowled down at the witch. "They know they are trapped here."
"Trapped?" The woman laughed darkly. "Never to need, never to bleed. I protected them, as I have done for their loved ones in the castle. I nestled them in a womb of safety, far from the claws that would slaughter them."
Gaston shook his head as his voice came out in a tight growl. "They are in a frozen hell."
The enchantresses eyes widened slightly and her head tilted to the side in thought.
"Shall we ask them which they prefer? Come, Hunter, let us go see your men."
The camp was just barely stirring by the time the pair arrived. Jasper and Chip spoke jokingly to each other as they descended from their ladders and landed with sloshing thuds on the damp ground.
"You can probably catch him before he leaves again. Maybe this time," the Orang pulled his folded hands close to his chest and gave a sweetly mocking smile, "if you smile real nice, he'll put an arrow in your other arm."
"You could come too, Jasper. We could find a way out of here." Chips voice was filled with hope and his eyes, slightly sunken in his pale face, shined brightly.
"Ha! Might as well settle in, kid. We are never getting out of this forest." Jasper shoved Chips shoulder playfully and turned to make a fire for yet another meal of mashed berries and eggs. As he reached for a free log, his body froze. His eyes darted forward and the wood slipped from his fingers. There, striding beside the obnoxious brute himself, was the most stunning woman Jasper had ever laid eyes upon. His hands lifted reflexively to his hair and he began to smooth it down.
"Lord." He whispered and blew out a breath in a gush.
Chip shook his head in confusion and followed his gaze. He paused for a moment then rushed forward to the newcomers. "Gaston! I didn't know you left. Who's this?" His eyes swung back and forth between the man and the pretty lady.
Gaston smiled almost tenderly at the kid and shook his head. He looked down at Mon Ange and swung a meaty palm out in introduction. "This is a witch." Then he tipped his head toward Chip. "This is a nuisance."
The enchantress smiled just slightly and put out a luminescent hand for the youth to hold.
"Hello, Chip. You've grown."
Chip reached out in awe and shook her offered hand. "Wow." He said as he released her fingers and ran his palm down the side of his thigh.
Just then a sound from behind him made them all look over. Jasper stepped forward. The Orang's orange hair lay flat against his head and he nodded at the woman.
Her eyes flashed and a slow smile spread upon her lovely lips.
"Hello, Smith."
All rights to Disney
Hello there readers! I hope you enjoyed the beginning of the second part of Belle and the Beasts! If you are new, welcome! If you are one of my long suffering readers, sorry it has taken so long. Things, you know, and stuff. I won't make excuses but I will make apologies. Sorry for leaving you hanging. I'm back and filled with plots and dialogue that will make your toes curl, both with horror and delight. Pinky promise!
I want to thank you all so much for reviewing and messaging me! It brought me back and with me, Our beautiful Belle, a glorious Beast, and the hunky Gaston! I know where I stand in the order of things. :) Anyway, here's your question: How do you feel about our new and improved Gaston? Muscles flexing, eyes flashing. What's around the corner? You tell me and maybe a snowy stroll through the woods is in your future!
As always, thank you for reading, reviewing, following, and/or favoriting. - S.
P.S. You might want to reread if you can...things are a little different.
