Chapter 11: A Stranger Here

Morning was breaking upon the branches of the greensward. Sunlight flickered through the leaves and glimmered across the fresh dewy earth. Belle broke into a clammy sweat beneath her cloak and slipped it off. She wandered the path from the stable to the enormous stone castle, walking just a little bit slower than necessary.

Every man, woman, and child knew the dark legends of the Château de Beauchene. To most, they were as familiar as the tales of the enchanted and were recited at bedtime to sleepy toddlers.

As a child, Belle would lay by the fire and quiver with delicious fright as she read the horrors of the great castle in the woods. The endless accounts of evil wizards and misbehaving royals awakened her raw curiosity and she devoured every narrative she could lay her hands upon.

Looking at the castle up close was almost a frightening as reading about it. Each dark corner held the possibility of danger. The black stones soared above her like dungeon walls. At the peak of the towers, gargoyles stood guard. Belle pulled in her lip and looked away from their looming presence. Only when she reached the stone steps did she turn back. No stable boy had asked after her identity and no guards stopped her progress. Odd. Her stomach twisted as she reached for the lion's head knocker and banged it down, twice.

After a moment the door crept open. Belle found herself staring into the somber hall of the Château de Beauchene. She stood on the threshold and gazed inside. There was only darkness.

The door had opened unaided.

There was no servant to guide her. The warmth of the empty space felt oddly stuffy after the fresh and open air of the forest. The black entry looked ominous and the heat from the doorway was stifling. Belle was forced to take a calming breath before she stepped forward to place a single damp boot inside.

"Hello?" Belle called. The sound of her voice echoed back to her.

After a few shuffling steps inside, she heard as the door closed heavily behind her. She turned to stare at it. Her eyes widened. There was no one there.

Belle glanced back into the large room and called out again in the dimly lit space. "Hello, is anyone here? I'm looking for the master of this castle."

Still, there was only silence. Belle took a shaky breath and laughed nervously, "Well this isn't odd at all."

Then a light flickered down the warm marble hall, followed by the sound of footsteps rushing swiftly away. Belle startled and she hurried to the glowing corner of the passage.

Just as it seemed she was getting closer to the light, it began to move farther away. Belle paused in her steps and tilted her head.

"Peculiar," Belle whispered to herself. The light stopped as well.

"Um, my father was lost in the woods. I wonder if he might have come this way?" She called out. "I need to see the..." Belle silenced as the light continued on. She waited a moment then followed after it. The soft glow led her down many marbled twists and turns. Before long, she was completely lost within the dark and decadent beauty of the Château de Beauchene.

The empty halls echoed her steps. Belle felt heat wave along her skin and she ran her fingers across her damp brow. Her breath was slow and shallow in the silence. Her progress was impaired by the darkness. Every now and then she paused and looked about her at the fascinating objects that lined the gilded halls. Heavy pieces of armor leaned along the walls and portraits of disapproving royals stared down at the peasant girl as she walked the sacred marble floors. Her eyes focused on a face hanging in the shadows. It was very stern and handsome. The prince, Belle knew instantly.

That was when she heard the distinct sound of someone clearing his throat. Belle's gaze swung over in surprise. A door along the hall had been left open and a light was shining from within. Belle felt her heart race.

She moved forward. She could see inside. It was an enormous dining room. Belle estimated it could contain several hundred people within its walls. She looked down at herself nervously and wished she could find some time to repair some of the damage the forest had wreaked upon her person. She regretted leaving her bag in the stables, too. At the time it did not seem polite to bring her belongings into the castle. Now, she would give anything for a brush and ribbon.

Belle turned her eyes around the space and gasped. The room had been ransacked. The beautiful wooden table was splintered and many plates and glasses were smashed on the hard marble floor.

"Oh, dear." Belle breathed out softly and took a step back to the door. Her boots crunched on the glass beneath her feet.

A feral growl rumbled behind her.

Adrenaline shot to Belle's fingers and she felt a jolt of fear at the base of her stomach. Slowly turning around, Belle came face to face with a snarling monster. It hovered above her, breathing deeply in long, angry pants. Belle's eyes dilated and the face before her distorted until all she saw were horns, fangs, and claws.

Belle shrunk away and fell on her backside against the crushed tabletop. She barely felt it as splinters stabbed into her tender palms. The creature roared and bared his vicious fangs. She could feel its hot breath blow back her hair with every angry puff.

Then it spoke, or bellowed at a terrifying volume, "You shouldn't be here!"

Belle froze. Its voice was hard, feral, but human.

"I'm sorry. I'll go!" Belle gulped, barely breathing. It was the dark beast the child had spoke of. She was too late. Belle jumped at the sound of slamming chairs hitting the ground. As she scrambled farther away, the monster drew closer. He destroyed everything in his path; wood, glass, silver, and porcelain until nothing remained between the girl and the beast.

The creature reared up to its full mammoth height and towered over the trembling woman. "Come to stare at the beast, have you?" The Beast asked in manic anger.

Belle shook her head and pushed her back against the wall, putting as much distance as she could between them.

"No!" She spoke weakly, turning her face and shutting her eyes against his monstrous rage.

"I'll give you something to stare at." He promised, and within a breath, Belle was lifted off the ground and thrown into the air. Her stomach landed hard against his rock-like shoulder and she let out a painful "Oomph!" before the world went black.

Somewhere in the darkness of her mind, she thought she heard a woman's voice, followed by a terrifying rumble from the beast. Then all sound was lost as Belle fell deeper into the speckled black shadows behind her eyes. Finally, she gave into the sleep she had been denied the night before, not even feeling her body fall to the cold stone or hearing the slamming of the rusted metal cell around her.

A.N. All rights belong to the Walt Disney Co.

Hello, readers! So maybe not love at first sight! I wanted to thank you all for writing in your questions and reviews. You are all better than an invisible butler! Here's your question. Would you be able to forgive a meeting like that? I think it would take a pretty big person. Let me know your thoughts or any about this chapter, and you might win an awesome broken table! I can't believe how helpful and encouraging you all are. Thank you so much! I want to thank ILoveYouDearly for leaving such an amazing review, it was so encouraging and made me want to get back to writing faster! As always, I appreciate all of you who take the time to read, review, follow and/ or favorite! - S