Innocence of a Child Chapter 12
After such a marvelous and eventful supper Mrs. Potts led Belle and Cosette away from the dining hall.
Cosette was stuffed, very sleepy from all that food. Belle was holding her hand as they walked.
"I don't understand why you're all being so kind to us. Surely, you're as trapped here as we are," inquired Belle, perplexed. "Don't you ever want to escape?"
"The Master's not as terrible as he appears. Somewhere deep in his soul, there's a prince, of a fellow who's just waiting to be set free," insisted Mrs. Potts, speaking in a sweet motherly tone.
That didn't really do much to solve the questions on Belle's mind. So she tried digging a bit more for information.
"Lumiere mentioned something about the West Wing," said Belle, lightly, turning her head to look in that direction.
Not falling for it, Mrs. Potts said "Never you mind about that. Off to be with you, Poppet. The both of you. It looks like that little one is going to fall asleep on her feet soon if not put to bed."
Cosette yawned, rubbing her eyes tiredly with the back of her fist.
They had now reached the bottom of the stairs that leads up to their shared bedroom.
"Good night," said Belle, sincere.
"Nighty-night," said Mrs. Potts, rolling her serving cart around to head back towards the kitchen. "Straight to bed."
Belle began to walk Cosette in the direction of their chambers, but the moment Mrs. Potts was well out of sight she changed course.
Belle then diverted them towards the direction to the West Wing of the castle. Every single inhabitant of this castle was trying their very best to keep them away from the West Wing. Belle's wants to know why. So instead of going up the flight of stairs that would take the sisters to their room Belle went on the other that would bring her to the West Wing.
"Belle," said Cosette, raising her arms for Belle to pick her up.
Instinctively Belle did so both so Cosette wouldn't lag behind and slow her down.
Belle soon discovered the reason why none of the servants wanted her to know about the West Wing.
This is where their Master resided in this castle.
As she walked Belle was surprised to find areas in the Western part of the palace crumbling around them or very well nonexistent. Luckily they carefully avoided areas that might give way underneath her feet. But the realization did hit that the wing of the castle she and Cosette shared was a breath of fresh air compared with the West Wing. Their wing seemed to reflect their love and bright personalities the West Wing seemed to show the Master's downright depressing and rough demeanor. It's a bit unnerving to the naked eye. Enough so that Cosette clutched Belle more for security. Belle shushed Cosette, patting her back. Finally the path ended at a pair of dark looming doors at the dead-end in a hallway. Curiosity overtaking any lingering fear Belle walked forward, slowly pushing open the doors.
Cosette squirmed, longing to be set down. Belle obliged her while still holding onto Cosette's hand.
The suit Belle stepped into all in all is large, spacious, and well decorated, but everywhere you looked the Beast's ownership could be seen.
Curtains hung in shreds from their rods, vases lay shattered on the marble floor, and a sort of giant nest made from torn bits of fabric, feathers, and antlers that had been shoves together made up a bed in place of the four-poster one clearly seen. Also, a mirror in the room is shattered into hundreds of pieces.
The appearance of the suit carry's the aura of an animalistic nature. Given the Beast's appearance Belle should've have been surprised and yet she was.
What really caught the sister's attention is a portrait that hung on one of the walls. The portrait would've been quite lovely if not for two small things. There are three figures in the portrait. A man, a woman, and a boy who Belle took to be their son. The faces of the boy and the man are slashed beyond any sort of recognition, that part of the canvas in shreds. The boy's eyes are the only things left untouched. Squinting her eyes Belle leaned in closer in order to get a better look at the pair.
For some reason those eyes are so familiar. She just couldn't place her finger on it.
"Pretty," said Cosette, drawing Belle's attention away from the portrait and back to her.
Belle dragged her eyes away from the portrait, redirecting them to where Cosette is pointing.
At the far end of the room is a stone balcony where stood a table with a glass jar on the surface. The jar was made of delicate glass, so thin is appeared as though it might break with the slightest of touches. Intricate patterns of vines and flowers had been artistically etched into the sides of the jar against the snow drifting onto it from the open windows. Floating inside was a beautiful red rose. The most beautiful flower either of them has ever seen before, glowing in the moonlight seeping in.
Cosette broke away from Belle running over to the flower.
"Cosette, be careful," said Belle, joining her there.
Cosette held onto the edge of the table as she stood on tiptoe. So as not for Cosette to tip it over Belle picked her up so no damage would be done.
Both sisters reached out to touch the jar, grazing the smooth glass. Cosette wanted to touch and feel those lovely delicate petals so bad.
Cosette never got the chance.
This serenity is broken by the Beasts entrance.
"What are you doing here? What did you do to it," roared the Beast, heralding his arrival.
Cosette screamed burrowing her face into Belle's shoulder frightened to death.
Backing away rapidly from the table and Beast, Belle stuttered "N-Nothing."
Rounding on them, furious, eyes blazing, Beast boomed "Do you realize what you could have done? You could have damned us all! Get out of here! Go!"
Belle booked it out of there carrying Cosette so fast that she had no clue where the adrenaline came from. All Belle could think of is getting out of there, bringing Cosette out of this prison.
Lumiere and Cogsworth are in the middle of a chess game.
And Lumiere was winning, as per usual.
Smirking, Lumiere said "Checkmate. Again."
Huffing, visibly put out, banging his fist on the little table they were using for the match, Cogsworth said "Wait! No! You cheated again!"
Lumiere then noticed the two sisters out of bed running down from the stairs leading to the West Wing.
"Mademoiselle, what are you doing," said Lumiere, standing up in his seat.
"Getting out of here," said Belle.
That will not do. That will not do at all!
Screw the game!
"Stop," yelled Cogsworth, jumping unto the chessboard, blowing a whistle and sounding the alarm.
The doors and windows shut and locked on their own to prevent the sisters from escaping.
Dropping from the table in hot pursuit of them, urging the dog turned piano stool Froufrou to go too, Lumiere said "Go! Go! Froufrou!"
Following, Cogsworth said "Yes, Froufrou. Stop them!"
"Don't let them leave," said Lumiere.
"Stop her," shouted Mrs. Potts.
Froufrou cut Belle off just as she reached the bottom of the main grand staircase. He darted into Belle's path causing her to trip on her feet. Belle fell onto the floor. Cosette yelped as she slipped from Belle's grip rolling closer to the door.
"Cosette, run! Get out of here," said Belle.
"But-," said Cosette.
"Run! Go, now," said Belle, waving her on without her.
The coatrack Chapeau appeared like he would block Cosette, that there was no way out.
Froufrou showed her otherwise.
Barking and jumping around in a playful manner Froufrou danced around her.
"No! No, Froufrou," said Mrs. Potts.
"No! No, it's not playtime," scolded Cogsworth.
"Not now, silly boy," said Lumiere.
Not listening, barking wildly, Froufrou scooted through a smaller door that was built into the much larger main door.
"Bad dog! Bad dog," yelled Cogsworth.
It was too late.
Cosette dived through that door taking Belle's cloak from Chapeau. Belle could not follow. The Maestro stood over Belle preventing her from getting up now.
"No! No! No! Little one, please don't go. It's dangerous," pleaded Lumiere.
"Oh my," exclaimed Mrs. Potts, horrified.
Cosette listened to what Belle told her. She kept running, not looking back.
Authors Note:
Hope you guys like this one. ;D