Chapter 18: Life is so Unnerving

The white-haired woman stood gaping at Belle with large brown eyes. For a moment the girl pulled back, uncertain. There were so many emotions in the older lady's stare; surprise, shock, trepidation, suspicion. But most of all, there was hope. It was a hope so strong that Belle could feel it in her own heart.

The woman stepped forward and held out a hand in front of herself. Then, to Belle's astonishment, she began to wave it before her face. The round woman bounced up and down a little. It was all very odd. Belle bit her lip and when she spoke it was slow and cautious.

"Um, Madame, I can see you very well."

Without another word, the woman squealed shrilly and, dropping everything in her grasp, threw herself at Belle with unrestrained glee. She gave the mystified girl a tight squeeze. Then she pulled back and clasped her by the hands. Her enthusiasm was infectious and she beamed brightly at Belle. Words began to fall from her lips in rapid succession but Belle could only catch a few as they bled together.

Belle smiled at the excited woman and leaned back in the bed. Her head was suddenly swimming.

"I'm sorry. I'm confused." She responded in a foggy tone. The woman grinned apologetically and began again.

"Oh, dearie, we have been waiting for you! I was giving up hope, don't tell the Master. And now here you are! Serves him right, I'd say. To think, the Savior, locked in a dungeon. But, well, the Master's not so bad, once you get to know him." Her speech was again spoken in an excited tone and Belle tried to understand as best she could. Her expression must have been perplexed because the woman suddenly went silent. Her hands tightened on Belle's. Then she reached forward and grazed the young girls head.

"You don't have a fever, but you should rest. So pale! I'm going to go tell the Master the news. He will be so pleased!" The woman smiled happily and paused. "Oh, my manners. I'm Mrs. Potts." She introduced herself and then flounced out of the room with a youthful spring in her step before Belle could give her name in return.

Belle sat in silence. The woman's words echoed around in her dizzy head. She needed to concentrate. Focus.

The white-haired woman was very excited, that was certain. As if…yes, she said she had been waiting for her. She called her the Savior, a strangely important word.

Belle looked around the beautiful room and felt her lips point down. Such casual affluence. When had she ever seen such beauty? The shimmering wallpaper with the delicately hand-brushed birds seemed to shiver in the candlelight. The heavy wood furniture shone with a fresh polish. The high posts on her bed curved with the natural shape of the wood and twisted into smooth limbs.

In the corner of the room, standing tall by a thickly paneled window, was a wardrobe painted a lovely shade of lavender. It was so pristine and graceful, Belle doubted anything she owned would be appropriate to place within its drawers. Well, perhaps Gaston's cloak, she thought, somewhat absently.

Sudden panic struck her chest and she gazed around the spacious room, looking for the lost garment. Her eyes rested on the white fur-lined cloak on her chest and she exhaled thankfully.

Just as quickly as she felt her relief, a rush of anxiety returned. The cloak had been changed forever and in ways that she didn't even know yet. Deep within her, she knew she had been changed as well. Belle squinted her eyes and tried to remember why. Images began to flood her mind.

The enchanted child, surrounded by light, wind, and snow, stood before Belle in her mind. She was as clear as true life. Belle's mission, terrifying and abrupt, poured from the girl's tiny pink lips. Find the Master and find her father. Savior. Savior? Savior of what? From what? Belle couldn't remember. She sat up quickly and swung feet to the side of the bed, her mind suddenly fevered. The threat was unknown for the moment but she knew instinctively that she needed to rush.

She looked around the magnificent room for her clothes and found them in a neat little stack by the bed. With a swift arm, she swept her nightgown over her head and pulled her blue gown onto her body. It smelled fresh and clean and the splatters had been scrubbed from the fabric. Belle turned her eyes around hurriedly to find her dainty boots but discovered them absent. She bit her lip in frustration and pulled her hair over her shoulder as she dropped to the floor to look under the bed.

It was then that the door swung open. As her eyes widened in shock, her brain clicked the memory into place.

"The dark beast…he and his horrendous pack have destroyed them all."

There, in the doorway, blocking the only exit, was the creature itself. Belle felt fear grasp her body and her stomach trembled. Run! She thought in panic. For a moment she turned a hopeful gaze to the window. She was up too high. Belle quickly dismissed the idea as suicidal.

It was terribly difficult, but Belle turned back to the creature. She held in a scream that felt like it was ripping at her throat. Her gaze traveled to its eyes. The expression within them was enigmatic. It seemed for a moment that Belle fell into their deep blue depths. She broke free with a shake of her head. Her palms slid across the cool marble floor as she edged back slowly.

"Never to kneel, never to yield."

Belle jerked as the cryptic speech rung in her ears. Her gaze flitted around the room but there was no one present but the Beast.

Never to kneel. The words came again.

Belle began to rise. She shook inside and doubted her own actions as her bare feet suddenly bore her weight. With a bravery she did not fully trust, her tiny chin lifted. She spoke in a voice that, though small, held a simple strength.

"Hello, I'm Belle."

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

Hello, readers! And so they speak, sort of. What are your thoughts on our brave girl? What do you hope will happen next? Let me know and I'll give you a cryptic flashback for Christmas.

Your words, both in reviews and through PM, have made me so happy! Is there any fandom like the BATB fandom!? As always thank you for reading, reviewing, following and/or favoriting! –S.