Chapter 12: He's Got Her Locked in a Dungeon

"But, you can't just leave her in the dungeon, Master!" The old woman cried.

The Beast felt his anger rise at the mention of the false savior.

"Are you giving me orders?" He demanded, watching as she drew back from his words and posture.

"No, your highness. Of course not!" she assured him, "But she is just a girl. It's not her fault you were expecting someone else when she wandered in. And she says she is looking for her father."

The Beast shook his mighty head and rubbed his shoulder. It was the same one the girl had landed on. He felt his skin heat under his fur and his nostrils flared.

"She shouldn't have been here. How did she find the castle?" He turned to his servant and ran a hand over his head. "Is the spell breaking already?"

Mrs. Potts stared at him and shook her head. "I don't think so, Master. She didn't see Cogsworth as she followed his candle. Maybe she stumbled upon the castle."

"Or perhaps she is in line with the dark beast." A perfect ruse. A beautiful, injured girl looking for her father. Anyone would allow such a creature inside. The Beast paused to recall her face then shook his massive mane. "She stays in the dungeon. Am I making myself clear?" He announced to the woman and watched as she turned away, silently seething.

When Mrs. Potts walked to the door she stopped and stooped down to pick something up from the floor. It was white and even from a distance, he could smell the sweet scent of the girl clinging to it. The Beast growled low and averted his gaze.

"Surely you wouldn't have her freeze in there?" Mrs. Potts asked as she shook out the beautiful ivory fabric. She folded it delicately and tucked it under an arm. Without another glance at her ruler, she left the room, closing the door behind her with a soft click.

The Beast rumbled deeply. It took everything in him to hold himself back from plunging down into the darkness of the dungeons again. He thought of the girl and snarled.

He remembered her stunned expression when she finally detected him. Just the memory caused his teeth to flash.

He had watched her from the dark hallway with eyes that saw even better in the shadows. She didn't notice him as she stumbled, unsure, following after Cogsworths flickering candle.

At first, he had been shocked by her appearance. She was incredibly small, with a torn, bloody gown and soggy boots. Her long hair lay draped over one shoulder and cascaded down her front in chaotic ringlets.

The creature frowned as he watched her draw nearer. There was a misty sheen on her skin and her body shook. She was pale, as well. Too pale. Weak.

A realization swept over him then. The girl had no power.

Anger and disappointment rocked the Beast back onto his hindquarters and he felt the monster come to the surface. His eyes darkened as he searched for the reasoning behind her appearance at his castle. The girl was too frail to have made it to his home by herself. Who sent her? Why? The questions blared in his mind as he stalked forward. He never took his icy eyes off of the girl's perfect heart-shaped face.

He had heard her say she was searching for her father. He gnashed his teeth silently. A likely story.

She appeared to be incredibly interested in her surroundings, in particular, the art his family had collected through the ages. His eyes squinted as he watched her examine his portrait.

She had fallen behind his butler and noticing this, hurried to catch up. His servant had opened the door to his dining hall and cleared his throat. The Beast saw her expression startle and then witnessed a determined spark come into her eyes. The Beast paused at this and frowned suspiciously.

She surveyed the room and hesitated by the broken table and whispered "Oh dear," in a tiny breathless voice.

The Beast ignored the evidence of his temper all around them, yet he felt it increase as he watched the expression on her face.

Standing as tall as the trees beyond the hills, he slammed the door shut behind her and growled. His body blocked any possible escape and the girl swung around and stared at him with huge hazel eyes.

Her voice trembled as she spoke but the monster barely heard her words. His eyes became hooded and he no longer saw the girl in front of him. She was only a pretender attempting to deceive him. She backed away in fear, whether from his appearance or his words, and he found himself looming over her petite frame.

Then she was in his arms and flung over his shoulder. He rubbed it again with the memory.

The Beast turned from the room and the memories and stormed for the west wing of the castle. When he was eleven years of age he had taken those rooms as his own. Against the wishes of his guardian, he had gutted the space and removed all belongings of its former occupants. The only thing he allowed to remain was a single table with a vase holding a dead rose.

He stomped across his room heading for the open air of the balcony. He needed the numbing breeze. He needed the clarity it would bring. The biting cold sobered him from the anger that was trying desperately to swallow him whole.

Gripping the iron railing until it squeaked, the Beast gazed across the woods and hills.

To the East and West, his people were just waking up for another day of work, or study, or play. His subjects, blissfully unaware of the dangers that stalked them, went about their daily lives. They didn't know of the great evil that threatened to end them all. They didn't know that all that stood in its way was a monster struggling against a darkness of his own.

And a savior, he thought belatedly. He felt himself call out to her. Wherever she might be.

"Come," he demanded ferociously. "Before it is too late."

A.N. All characters owned by Disney

Hello, all! Ah, we just took a walk on the wild side and got the Beast's pov. Did that clear some things up? Any questions or thoughts? Share them now and you might get flung over a muscular shoulder!

As many of you know, I am new to FF and have recently come to realize what an amazing and supportive community we have. You are all a blessing! I have been made to feel welcome by you, and I can't tell you how grateful I am for your help, both in the incredibly constructive reviews and through the private messages of my many new and creative friends. Thank you, guest reviewers for your encouragement. I want to thank a new reviewer, PastOneonta. Your reviews were insightful and interesting to read. I'm so glad you took the time to write to me! I want to thank you, silent readers, as well. I really appreciate you giving my little story a shot. I hope you will come back for more! As always, thank you for reading, reviewing, following and/or favoriting. -S

* Hi, readers! I just wanted to let you know I just uploaded a new story based on the classic movie Labyrinth. I'm extremely excited! I hope you guys will give it a glance and tell me what you think. I value any input greatly!- S.