~*~*~*~ Forget the Past ~*~*~*~

Disclaimer: So far, only Isabelle, Jared, Demon, and Ravensloft are mine. The rest of Tammy's characters are very upset that they haven't been included in the story.

A/N: Wow, another chappie! I promise to tell you what Belle looks like now! I'll try not to make her seem too perfect. It's just that I feel bad about giving her no friends. *sniff, sniff* The plot is coming, I swear! ;) Anyway, thank you soooooo much to my reviewers, Larzdinn, Keita and M'cha Araem!!!!!!! There's notes for you at the bottom. Enjoy! =D

Chapter Two: The Great Progress

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After feeding Demon his dinner and giving the stallion a thorough grooming, Belle glanced outside at the gathering twilight. She sighed. If she didn't get back to the castle soon, her nanny, Marcia, would have her hide. Literally. Marcia had hit her on as many occasions as her father had. In addition to that, the verbal abuse coming from her nurse's mouth was usually much worse than that from her father's.

The whole reason that Belle had Marcia as her ill-tempered caretaker was that she had no mother. Of course, she supposed she had one once, because before she went to the convent, up until she was almost five, she had seen several paintings around the castle depicting a much younger Lord Jared with a golden-haired, blue-eyed beauty. Belle always there was a slight resemblance between her and the lady in the picture, but the girl also knew that she had none of the classic, clean features that the lady did. (A/N: I'll tell you what she looks like later in the chapter.) Only by the facts that her father had his arm around the lady in most pictures, and that he was always smiling could she presume that the woman was her mother. The paintings had been taken down soon after Belle turned five. Belle didn't know what had happened to her. She had no childhood memories or snuggling on her mother's lap, or even her father's for that matter. There was not a single time that Belle could recall when her father was happy to see her, or that he had even smiled, except when the taxes came in.

So Belle could only assume that the female was her mother. Marcia wouldn't tell her a thing. The only dialouge she had with Marcia was usually one-sided; the older woman throwing insults at the young lady, and the young lady nodding silently.

Belle thought she didn't even need a nanny. For Mithros' sake, she was sixteen! Most girls her age were already looking for a husband, whereas she didn't even have any friends besides a horse.

(DEMON'S POV)

Demon could tell that his mistress was starting to get lost in her thoughts again, and he knew that if she didn't get back to the big building soon, she would get in trouble again with the Bad Man.

Humans, he thought with a snort, most of them can't even take care of themselves. (A/N: Isn't it weird how Demon's and Belle's thoughts totally rival each other?!)

(NORMAL POV)

Belle felt a gentle nip on her elbow, and then a warm mass pressing into her back. It was Demon's way of telling her that she needed to get moving. She had only been able to stay out this long because her father had cancelled her dinner. Because he did, Belle didn't have to worry about being in her room when the dinner bell rang. Her father didn't even let her eat in the dining hall with him and any other visiting nobles.

Belle turned around to give Demon a good-bye hug, brushed the hay out of her skirt, and stepped out into the now-dark courtyard.

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Five minutes later, Belle slipped into her room. The only reason she had a decently-sized room, and not one in the servants' quarters, was because there were none left. She let her gaze slid over the familiar surroundings, and then flopped onto her bed, heaving a deep sigh.

Suddenly, her door flew open, and in marched a tall white-haired woman with a long face and a beaky nose. Marcia. Behind her was a younger servant who was carrying several pitchers that were steaming.

"Time for your bath, Isabelle," Marcia announced, like she was a little child. She was the only one who ever called her by her real name, aside from Demon. The younger servant hurried to the privy, staggering under the weight of the pitchers, where her bathtub awaited. Belle heard the water sloshing against the sides as she filled the tub.

"Come on, now, girl!" Marcia exclaimed shrilly. "Strip, and get into that tub! Jane will help you wash your hair."

With that proclamation, she spun on her heel and stomped out the door, slamming the door in her wake.

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When the water began to get chilly, Belle lifted herself out of the tub, and stood there dripping, waiting for her robe. When it was draped around her slender frame, she hiked it up to keep it from dragging in the dirty bath water, and stepped out of the tub. Jane directed her to a chair, took a towel, and began drying her hair. (A/N: Did they even have towels??)

After a few minutes: "There you are milady. Do you need any help dressing for bed?"

"No, Jane, thank you. You can leave now."

The girl nodded, curtsied, and left.

After slipping her nightgown over her head, Belle walked to one of the cherry bureaus that had a mirror attached to it, and studied her reflection.

The girl she saw in the mirror had long blonde hair that tumbled over her shoulders, tousled from being dried with a towel. An ivory complexion would have been flawless, if not for the freckles dusting her nose and rosy cheeks-"fairy's dust", Evelyn had called them. The feature that did look most like the woman in the old paintings was her eyes. They were the color of sapphires, with long dark lashes framing them. Then her gaze slid down to her lips. They were full and naturally rosy, but Belle had no care to examine her lips. It wasn't like she was going to be using them at all. (A/N: I dunno where that came from…it just popped out!)

Belle sighed again, and made her way toward her bed. She flipped back the covers, and crawled in.

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(FOUR DAYS LATER)

Belle picked at the porridge Jane had brought her for breakfast, gazing longingly out the window. All she wanted to do today was go visit Demon and ride him into the forest, and try and forget there was ever a place called Ravensloft.

"Oh yes, milday, I forgot to tell you that Lord Jared wants to see you in his study at the eight bell," said Jane. (A/N: Get it? It means eight o'clock in the morning.)

"Thank you, Jane." she replied absentmindedly. Just then she had been thinking about chucking her porridge out the window, just to see what would happen.

The maid curtsied, and headed for the door.

Goddess, I wonder what he wants now, she thought tiredly. She couldn't recall anything she's done wrong today. How could she? It wasn't even noon yet. The last four days had been a living hell for her. Then all of a sudden she remembered. The Great Progress! He's probably going to give me another lecture on behavior. Belle could practically recite the speech in her head right now, that was how many times she had heard it.

After about half an hour of trying to convince herself to eat breakfast, she gave up and walked towards her father's study.

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When she knocked on the door to the study she heard a "Come in."

She took a deep breath, telling herself that there was no reason to be so nervous. Despite her efforts, she could feel herself trembling as she stepped inside the large door. It was hard not to be apprehensive when every time she went in there, she came out with another bruise.

"We can expect the Great Progress to arrive here sometime this afternoon," Jared said as he looked down his nose at her."

So I was right.

"I do not know exactly what time they will be here, but they will be parading through the town first, and no doubt we will be able to hear the crowds. The sentries will also be on the lookout. You are to wait in your room until I send your nurse for you. You will join me in greeting the royal family and at dinner for the next two days. I expect you to dress and behave accordingly, especially towards any of the young men you might meet. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir," she muttered. She didn't like that last comment about the young men.

He's probably going to try and marry me off to some baron's son as soon as he can, she thought disgustedly. She had no interest in boys whatsoever, and she was not eager to marry one. If she did eventually marry, no doubt the only reason for it would be to get hold of her dowry. And she did have a rather large sum of money to offer her betrothed.

Her father went on, "Any breach of those rules will get that horse of your given up for dog meat."

That got her attention. So much for resisting marriage, she grumbled to herself. She could also feel some of the fear leaving her.

The words were on her tongue before she could call them back. "What if I don't like any of the young men I see during the next two days?" The moment she heard how sassy the words had sounded, she cringed.

"I don't care what you or do not like, you little wench!" her father bellowed. Moving faster than she cared to gauge, her father grabbed her shoulder in a bone-breaking grip. "You will do as I tell you whether you like it or not!" And with that, he pushed her, hard, until her back was flat against the wall.

Belle could feel the fright coming back full speed now.

"I-I…," she couldn't quite get the words out, she was shaking so badly. "I didn't m-mean it that way-"

"You're damn right you didn't, you little scoundrel." His face was inches from hers. He slowly lifted his head and glared down at her threateningly, an evil glint in his eyes.

Before Belle knew what was happening, he has slapped her so hard across the face that she staggered backward. She lifted her own hand to her face, but, with a vengeance, her father yanked the hand away and slapped her again.

After a moment of silence, he pointed toward the door, and said dangerously, "Get out."

Belle almost tripped on her hem as she hastened to do as her father said.

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(LATER THAT DAY)

As Belle stood by her father, waiting for the Great Progress to make it's way through the town, she could see the streets that crisscrossed through the village. Cats and dogs, and eve mice, had lined the streets along with the village citizens. She also noticed that the birds and squirrels in the nearby trees were much louder than usual. She could just make out what some of the birds were screeching.

"It is good to have you here, wing-sister!"

"Welcome! Welcome!"

"Come visit us soon!"

She didn't know who they were calling to, but if she listened carefully, she could also hear a cool, clear voice answering them.

"Thank you for giving me such a wonderful welcome! I'll try to speak to some of you soon…" and then the voice seemed to be carried away on the wind. When it spoke again, Belle tried to trace the voice to its owner.

After a moment, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a bright flash of copper, and she turned her head to it.

Near the middle of the procession, riding effortlessly next to a very tall man-from what she could tell, as he was on a horse too-was a smoky-haired young woman.

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A/N: Sound like somebody??? Hehehe. *grin* I hope you liked it! ^_^ Let me know what you think of Belle now that you know what she looks like. Do you think I need to up the rating to PG-13 for the violence? Pleeeeeeeze R/R!!!! Oh, and I'm leaving for the beach this Saturday, so I won't be able to update until the following Sunday. I'll try and get another chappie up before then!

Thanx to:

Larzdinn: Blueberry jello!!!! I love jello…maybe too much. =^) Thanx for reading! I hope you liked this chapter!!

Keita: Hehehe, I never thought of Demon that way!! ^_^ Perfect description! I have to say, I had absolutely no intention of making my fic this sad! I almost cried when I read it over before I posted it! I think I'm getting into this waaaaaay too much…;)

M'cha Araem: *blushes madly* Wow! It's very nice to know you like my fic that much! I hope you liked this chapter-I promise the plot is coming…somewhere…=P

Thanx for reviewing!!!!

Cheers,

~IrishRose~