An angel glowed in the entrance, her blonde hair covering her face in a
field of golden wisps. She stared lifelessly at the rotting door in front
of her, it no longer towered above the beauty like a giant, now it was
smaller, and it was in reach of her delicate grasp. She placed her slender
fingers on the handler and shivered as she felt its cold brass. "I am
leaving now." Her words sung like a chorus, echoing in the dust-ridden
corners of the castle. She received no reply; instead she was grasped only
by the frozen silence of a thousand empty hearts. She spun around like a
top to face the shadows, her cerulean eyes having trouble adjusting to the
endless black. "I said I will be leaving now." She could hear her own
throat crack with emotions, and the pain in her eyes return. The pain that
tears bring. 'Don't cry, Serena. Don't you dare cry! You should be happy,
you are free.' She swallowed the lump in her throat, it scratched and
ripped all the way down. She looked away from the darkness and closed her
eyes for a moment, a blue tear spilled forth from her cerulean eyes.
Upstairs in the shadows, always in the shadows, he was watching her. Frozen in time like a star, forever to burn on the inside, but unable to move. His emotions swept through him like a storm raging in the night, tearing him apart. "Please don't leave me." He whispered so slightly, the only sign of his words were his vibrating lips. "Serena, Please don't go." Again his words were to soft to even stir the air. Rendered helpless from emotion, he watched as she ripped apart the doors, bathing herself in the pure light of the dawn.
"Goodbye." She whispered softly, her voice to teary to be any louder. For some strange reason she felt ill, her stomach twisted in knots, her throat was cut and her heart ached; yet she didn't understand why.
"Goodbye." He whispered into the shadows around him, and then watched as she melted away into the white light. 'This is the way it should be.' The voice ran though his head. 'That is where she belongs.'
.
.
.
.
.
~*~*~*~*~~*
.
.
.
.
"Serena? Serena, are you in here?" A silvery haired woman glided into the room carrying a crystal tray overflowing with food. "Serena?" She called again, her melodious voice ringing throughout the room. The lace curtains danced upon the cool night air, parting away gracefully to reveal a saddened girl on the balcony. "Oh, Serena." She said, placing the tray on the floor and walking out into the night.
"Here you are." Queen Serenity whispered as she wrapped her arms possessively around her daughter's waist. "I thought that I had lost you again." She placed a kiss upon her cheek.
Serena seamed untouched by her presence.
"I missed you so much. You know, when I saw you walk through the palace gates this morning; I thought that you were my imagination. I thought you to be an angel, oh Serena, you have no idea how worried I was." She clasped her tighter, nearly robbing the girl of her breath, but Serena remained lifeless, staring blankly out into the sky. "I am just glad you came back to me in one piece."
"Of coarse I did!" Serena swung around, her mother's last comment snapping her out of her trance.
"Shh, Okay, sweetie. I just mean that I am just glad you are home, where you belong."
Serena stared back out into space, ignoring Serenity once again. "Mother, what do you know of him?" Her thoughts slipped out from her mouth.
"Hmm? Know what of who?"
Serena's eyes flashed an angry red for a second, but then returned to a foggy blue. "Him," she said, pointing to the planet that was hovering in the distance. "Why is he like that? What happened to him?"
Serenity fell silent for a moment, pondering her words carefully. "Not much, only rumours." She replied.
"Rumours, like what?"
"Rumours about a boy, lost in the woods. Cursed by an old witch who stole his soul." Again she paused. "Like I said, only rumours." Serenity turned to go back inside, but stopped as she felt a desperate grip on her arm.
"Mother, please, I want to know." She begged, turning to meet her mother's silvery gaze. She could see that Serenity was trying to conceal something, it was written all over her face.
Serenity paused again, staring at the blue and green ball hovering amongst the blackness. "The witches spell failed though, the boy's soul was so pure, that it could not be extinguished by evil. So instead his soul lay dormant deep inside the shadows of his own body, only permitted to surface by daylight. But by moonlight, the evil inside him takes over, vengeful and wicked." She spat out the last of her words. "The evil is always there, Serena, and always will be."
"But why does he look, in the daylight, look like that?" She stumered out, her heart and her mind were having a hard time grasping his situation.
"You mean, like a beast?" Serenity answered solemnly. "That is what the evil looks like, Serena. The beast's soul may come out at night, but his body comes out by day."
Serena fell silent; inside of her everything had just shattered. She could hear her heart fall and break on the floor, but at the same time, she was happy, happy because she had finally found the answers that she had been searching for.
"Darling? Are you alright?" Serenity asked and placed her formal hand upon her shoulder.
Coldly, Serena twisted and moved it off. "How could you not tell me this!" She erupted, her silvery tears welling up inside once again. "Don't you get it mother? He is not evil. He never was, it was that thing inside of him. I can't believe that you didn't tell me this before."
"Yes, but he could have still stopped it!" She shouted back, the same fiery glow burning in her eyes. "He could have stopped all of the bloodshed, instead he just stood by and let it happen. Don't you care about that?" She asked, a spray of angry saliva shooting from her royal mouth. "He could still have controlled the beast inside, he could have stopped it all!"
Serena paused for a moment, half in shock. She had never fought with her mother before, never like this. She felt sick inside her stomach, "Of course I care." She said calmly, trying to reduce the tension in the air. "But you don't know him like I do. There is still good inside of him, he just forgot that he had it." She met her mother's gaze, hoping to see something other then hatred staring back. "He is good, trust me. Inside of him is a pure heart, a heart worth saving."
"Oh, no." Serenity gasped, taking a step back to have a good look at her daughter.
"What?"
"You." She said, and brushed aside a strand of her daughter's golden hair. "You love him." She sounded almost disgusted at the idea.
"No." She denied, but was uncovered by the blush creeping over her face. "I don't, I just feel sorry for him, that's all." She looked at her mother who was shaking her head from side to side. "Look, I don't. Trust me, I don't." She blushed again. "I don't." The words tasted like acid on her tongue.
"Yes," She sighed, but then smiled sweetly. "You do."
They both stared at each other for a moment, but then suddenly Serena ran back inside.
"Where are you going?" Serenity called, grabbing her arm tightly as she ran past.
"To see him, mother. You're right. I think I do." She said with a spark glowing from inside of her. She smiled warmly, a genuine smile that had not surfaced itself for years.
"Please don't." Serenity said abruptly, a grievant look upon her face. "Just stay here."
"What? Why?" She laughed and tried to wriggle herself free, but Serenity's grip did not loosen. "Mother?" She asked, suddenly concerned about the look upon her face. "Why?"
"I just don't want to loose you. Don't go."
"Mother," She laughed half-heartedly again and tried to get free of Serenity's vicelike grip, suddenly she grew desperate. "Mother why!"
"Because he won't be there." She whispered softly, silvery tears of sadness glowing in her eyes.
"What? What are you talking about? Mother?" Her heart splintered like thin ice, she could feel it about to break. "Mother what have you done?" She said angrily.
"Athos has gone to him, daughter please, you must understand. It was for your own good."
She pushed Serenity off of her. "What? How could you?" She spat angrily. "What have you done!"
"I was only trying to do the right thing by you." Her silvery tears stained her dress, never had she been so heartbroken. "It would be over by now, Athos was to arrive at Earth's sunset, just before dusk. Daughter, forget him. Please." She received a frosty look from Serena. "Please, forgive me." She dropped to her knees and sobbed.
But Serena didn't hear her pleas. Her eyes were fixed towards the Earth; already it had started to fade with the approaching darkness. She pulled away from Serenity's icy grip, her face white with fear. "No." The ghostly girl whispered and ran out of the room, leaving nothing but a salty spray behind her.
.
.
.
.
.
In his palace: Dusk.
.
.
.
A ghostly figure stood in the doorway, the shadows masking the figure's skin like an onyx cloak.
"Serena? Serena is that you?" A croaky voice came from somewhere in the room, quiet, yet excited.
The ghostly figure spat onto the ground. "As if it would ever be." He answered spitefully. "You vile creature, you will pay for everything you have ever done to us." He rushed into the room, screaming a battle cry at the top of his lungs. His icy blade sliced through the air, slashing at everything in the room. His movements were erratic, graceless, fuelled by anger and hatred.
"Show yourself." He demanded into the darkness. His fanatical swings sliced throughout the air, his blade catching on one of the dark purple drapes and ripped it open, letting in a shower of the fading twilight. The room was immediately bathed in gold; he scanned the room, looking for his target. Probably hiding in the remaining shadows like a coward, suddenly, a flash of blue eyes stared at him from in the darkness of the corner. "Get out from there!" He yelled, readying his blade. His blood was boiling, raging with anger. "Get out from there!" He screamed again, sweat dripping off his brown and staining the ground below like acid.
Reluctantly, the beast stepped forward into the light.
"What? What are you?" Athos gasped, taking a step back. There was no reply. "Disgusting." He spat on the floor again. "Look at you! You're a freak, a disease." He had gotten over his shock "That's what you are; a vile, disgusting, merciless freak!" Athos thrust his sword towards the beast's chest, but the oversized animal simply stepped aside and retreated once again to the shadows. "Fight me!" Athos yelled and pulled his sword back, but again there was no reply. "I said fight me, Beast!"
"I do not wish to fight you. Do what you will, and then leave my castle." He said emotionless and stepped further into the darkness, however his tall frame was unable to hide this time.
"And what if I wish to kill you." He said through his clenched teeth, slowly, he raised his blade and pointed it towards the beast. "Huh? What if I wish to kill you?"
The emotionless look on his face did not change. "Then do it, for I will not care." The beast's voice was as bland as water.
"Fight me!" Athos's desperate voice echoed throughout the empty rooms.
"Leave me!" The beast echoed Athos's intensity and stepped forward towards his rival.
Athos swung his sword around and walloped him with the hilt across the side of his face.
"I said fight, you coward."
"I will not fight you!" He yelled and stepped quickly out of the room. Athos charged after him and jumped him from behind, using all of his bulk to pull the beast down to the ground. Together, the two of them went tumbling into the staircase; landing at its foot with Athos perched on top.
"Why do you not fight?" He yelled, angry saliva spitting from the gaps between his teeth. His right hook connected with a wad of fur, before he held his sword above the beast's heart. "Answer me! Why do you not wish to fight?"
"Because I deserve to die!" He yelled back, his blue eyes as misty as the ocean.
Everything went silent; his answer shocked even the dust in the corners. Athos was completely stunned, but only for a moment. Suddenly, the front door burst open, making the remaining shadows scatter like thieves. In the doorway stood an angel, dressed in white, the fading sunlight and her golden hair dancing behind her.
"Serena." He breathed, turning his head to the side to face the vision.
"She is the princess, you vile creature. How dare you call her by her name!" Athos drew back his sword violently. Then with one effortless motion, he drove it straight into the beast's chest.
"No!" Cried the angel as she came running into the room. "Beast!" She cried again, silvery tears streaming off of her pale cheeks. With one foul movement, she pushed the perched Athos off and sent him flying into the banister. "Please," She begged, placing her hands over the wound to try to stop the bleeding. "Please don't leave me." She sobbed.
"You came back." He coughed, his voice weak from tears. "You came back to me."
"Of coarse I did. I am so sorry." She sobbed, she looked down at her hands; a river of crimson blood was spilling through the gaps in her fingers. She buried her head into his neck and whispered into his ear. "I am so sorry that I left you here alone."
"Shh." He hushed her and cradled her delicate head in his hands. "No, don't cry. Not for me." He wiped away at her tears and stared deeply into her bloodshot eyes. "I am the one who is sorry. Sorry for all I have done." He hushed her softly. "This is a good thing, my princess; I needed to find redemption, redemption for all the evil I have done."
"No." She sobbed again, and stared at him angrily. "You have been punished enough. You have lived your life fighting the evil inside of you." She spoke though clenched teeth. "Don't apologise, it wasn't you who did those terrible things. You hear me!"
She lifted her teary gaze off of his and stared daggers over at Athos. "How dare you!" She spat at him, her nostrils flaring in anger. "Leave us, go. Get help. Get something!" She screamed. Her face was ghostly white, no longer did she look like the perfect angel, now she looked like a human. A human in pain. She looked down at her blood stained hands, his blood spilling down his chest and onto the floor. "Please just hold on, you can't go, not yet."
"Shh. Don't worry about me Serena," He said, blinking his glassy eyes. "At least now, my soul will be finally free." He sighed, and looked down at his hairy body. One of her tears splashed onto his cheek and he gave her a warm smile. "Thankyou, Serena." He smiled softly, but she could see the pain that it brought him.
"What for?" She sobbed, her breaths short and quick.
"Thankyou for warming my heart. For sharing with me a soul like your's." He fanned another smile. "Thankyou." He whispered one last time and then closed his soulful blue eyes.
"No!" She cried and bent down to his chest, frantically searching for a heartbeat that was no longer there. "No, don't leave me. Please, I need you." She cried; her tears sparkled in the air like fairy dust. "Please, you mustn't leave me. Don't leave me! You hear me!" She shouted at him and beat down on his bloodied chest.
There was nothing.
"Please," She said softly, her hysteria turning into a mere whimper. "You can't leave me." Her honey breath soaked his face. "Please. I love you." She said and then delicately kissed his lips. "You hear me? I love you."
Slowly, she let go of the wound and got up off the ground, leaving her one true love to lie motionless on the floor. The heartache was too much for her as she backed away from him.
"Serena." She heard a voice call behind her. Frantically, she swung around, amazed at what she saw.
A magical light had surrounded him, swirling around in the air. One by one, the hairs on his body disappeared, and his body twisted back into shape. His fingers and toes grew normal, and his face turned perfectly symmetrical. His entire being was bathed in one final blast of light, before disappearing and exposing a dashing black haired man in a tuxedo, lying in his place.
"Serena." The handsome man smiled and scooped Serena up into his arms. "Serena, you did it."
"Did what? Who are you?" She asked, looking deeply into his eyes, a familiar pair of soulful eyes staring back at her. "Beast?"
"Yes," He blushed at her words. "You did it, my love, you broke the spell."
She was dizzy from the constant rush of emotions. "But, but how?"
"Because you loved me. Only a pure heart could love a beast, could see what was on the inside." She blushed momentarily as he started deeply into her. "Serena, I love you." He leant in to kiss her.
"Wait." She said, interrupting their perfect moment. "What is your name?" She asked unexpectedly.
He cleared his throat and held her tight. "I am prince Darien, of the Earth."
"Hmm, Darien and Serena." She whispered for both their ears. "It sounds perfect."
Slowly, he bent down and kissed her ruby lips, the two of them finally embracing each other. At that moment, their souls connected, and they knew that at long last, they would live blissfully forever after.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
A.N. I wish to thank everybody who has reviewed this story. Without you, I would not have been able to finish. Thankyou.
Upstairs in the shadows, always in the shadows, he was watching her. Frozen in time like a star, forever to burn on the inside, but unable to move. His emotions swept through him like a storm raging in the night, tearing him apart. "Please don't leave me." He whispered so slightly, the only sign of his words were his vibrating lips. "Serena, Please don't go." Again his words were to soft to even stir the air. Rendered helpless from emotion, he watched as she ripped apart the doors, bathing herself in the pure light of the dawn.
"Goodbye." She whispered softly, her voice to teary to be any louder. For some strange reason she felt ill, her stomach twisted in knots, her throat was cut and her heart ached; yet she didn't understand why.
"Goodbye." He whispered into the shadows around him, and then watched as she melted away into the white light. 'This is the way it should be.' The voice ran though his head. 'That is where she belongs.'
.
.
.
.
.
~*~*~*~*~~*
.
.
.
.
"Serena? Serena, are you in here?" A silvery haired woman glided into the room carrying a crystal tray overflowing with food. "Serena?" She called again, her melodious voice ringing throughout the room. The lace curtains danced upon the cool night air, parting away gracefully to reveal a saddened girl on the balcony. "Oh, Serena." She said, placing the tray on the floor and walking out into the night.
"Here you are." Queen Serenity whispered as she wrapped her arms possessively around her daughter's waist. "I thought that I had lost you again." She placed a kiss upon her cheek.
Serena seamed untouched by her presence.
"I missed you so much. You know, when I saw you walk through the palace gates this morning; I thought that you were my imagination. I thought you to be an angel, oh Serena, you have no idea how worried I was." She clasped her tighter, nearly robbing the girl of her breath, but Serena remained lifeless, staring blankly out into the sky. "I am just glad you came back to me in one piece."
"Of coarse I did!" Serena swung around, her mother's last comment snapping her out of her trance.
"Shh, Okay, sweetie. I just mean that I am just glad you are home, where you belong."
Serena stared back out into space, ignoring Serenity once again. "Mother, what do you know of him?" Her thoughts slipped out from her mouth.
"Hmm? Know what of who?"
Serena's eyes flashed an angry red for a second, but then returned to a foggy blue. "Him," she said, pointing to the planet that was hovering in the distance. "Why is he like that? What happened to him?"
Serenity fell silent for a moment, pondering her words carefully. "Not much, only rumours." She replied.
"Rumours, like what?"
"Rumours about a boy, lost in the woods. Cursed by an old witch who stole his soul." Again she paused. "Like I said, only rumours." Serenity turned to go back inside, but stopped as she felt a desperate grip on her arm.
"Mother, please, I want to know." She begged, turning to meet her mother's silvery gaze. She could see that Serenity was trying to conceal something, it was written all over her face.
Serenity paused again, staring at the blue and green ball hovering amongst the blackness. "The witches spell failed though, the boy's soul was so pure, that it could not be extinguished by evil. So instead his soul lay dormant deep inside the shadows of his own body, only permitted to surface by daylight. But by moonlight, the evil inside him takes over, vengeful and wicked." She spat out the last of her words. "The evil is always there, Serena, and always will be."
"But why does he look, in the daylight, look like that?" She stumered out, her heart and her mind were having a hard time grasping his situation.
"You mean, like a beast?" Serenity answered solemnly. "That is what the evil looks like, Serena. The beast's soul may come out at night, but his body comes out by day."
Serena fell silent; inside of her everything had just shattered. She could hear her heart fall and break on the floor, but at the same time, she was happy, happy because she had finally found the answers that she had been searching for.
"Darling? Are you alright?" Serenity asked and placed her formal hand upon her shoulder.
Coldly, Serena twisted and moved it off. "How could you not tell me this!" She erupted, her silvery tears welling up inside once again. "Don't you get it mother? He is not evil. He never was, it was that thing inside of him. I can't believe that you didn't tell me this before."
"Yes, but he could have still stopped it!" She shouted back, the same fiery glow burning in her eyes. "He could have stopped all of the bloodshed, instead he just stood by and let it happen. Don't you care about that?" She asked, a spray of angry saliva shooting from her royal mouth. "He could still have controlled the beast inside, he could have stopped it all!"
Serena paused for a moment, half in shock. She had never fought with her mother before, never like this. She felt sick inside her stomach, "Of course I care." She said calmly, trying to reduce the tension in the air. "But you don't know him like I do. There is still good inside of him, he just forgot that he had it." She met her mother's gaze, hoping to see something other then hatred staring back. "He is good, trust me. Inside of him is a pure heart, a heart worth saving."
"Oh, no." Serenity gasped, taking a step back to have a good look at her daughter.
"What?"
"You." She said, and brushed aside a strand of her daughter's golden hair. "You love him." She sounded almost disgusted at the idea.
"No." She denied, but was uncovered by the blush creeping over her face. "I don't, I just feel sorry for him, that's all." She looked at her mother who was shaking her head from side to side. "Look, I don't. Trust me, I don't." She blushed again. "I don't." The words tasted like acid on her tongue.
"Yes," She sighed, but then smiled sweetly. "You do."
They both stared at each other for a moment, but then suddenly Serena ran back inside.
"Where are you going?" Serenity called, grabbing her arm tightly as she ran past.
"To see him, mother. You're right. I think I do." She said with a spark glowing from inside of her. She smiled warmly, a genuine smile that had not surfaced itself for years.
"Please don't." Serenity said abruptly, a grievant look upon her face. "Just stay here."
"What? Why?" She laughed and tried to wriggle herself free, but Serenity's grip did not loosen. "Mother?" She asked, suddenly concerned about the look upon her face. "Why?"
"I just don't want to loose you. Don't go."
"Mother," She laughed half-heartedly again and tried to get free of Serenity's vicelike grip, suddenly she grew desperate. "Mother why!"
"Because he won't be there." She whispered softly, silvery tears of sadness glowing in her eyes.
"What? What are you talking about? Mother?" Her heart splintered like thin ice, she could feel it about to break. "Mother what have you done?" She said angrily.
"Athos has gone to him, daughter please, you must understand. It was for your own good."
She pushed Serenity off of her. "What? How could you?" She spat angrily. "What have you done!"
"I was only trying to do the right thing by you." Her silvery tears stained her dress, never had she been so heartbroken. "It would be over by now, Athos was to arrive at Earth's sunset, just before dusk. Daughter, forget him. Please." She received a frosty look from Serena. "Please, forgive me." She dropped to her knees and sobbed.
But Serena didn't hear her pleas. Her eyes were fixed towards the Earth; already it had started to fade with the approaching darkness. She pulled away from Serenity's icy grip, her face white with fear. "No." The ghostly girl whispered and ran out of the room, leaving nothing but a salty spray behind her.
.
.
.
.
.
In his palace: Dusk.
.
.
.
A ghostly figure stood in the doorway, the shadows masking the figure's skin like an onyx cloak.
"Serena? Serena is that you?" A croaky voice came from somewhere in the room, quiet, yet excited.
The ghostly figure spat onto the ground. "As if it would ever be." He answered spitefully. "You vile creature, you will pay for everything you have ever done to us." He rushed into the room, screaming a battle cry at the top of his lungs. His icy blade sliced through the air, slashing at everything in the room. His movements were erratic, graceless, fuelled by anger and hatred.
"Show yourself." He demanded into the darkness. His fanatical swings sliced throughout the air, his blade catching on one of the dark purple drapes and ripped it open, letting in a shower of the fading twilight. The room was immediately bathed in gold; he scanned the room, looking for his target. Probably hiding in the remaining shadows like a coward, suddenly, a flash of blue eyes stared at him from in the darkness of the corner. "Get out from there!" He yelled, readying his blade. His blood was boiling, raging with anger. "Get out from there!" He screamed again, sweat dripping off his brown and staining the ground below like acid.
Reluctantly, the beast stepped forward into the light.
"What? What are you?" Athos gasped, taking a step back. There was no reply. "Disgusting." He spat on the floor again. "Look at you! You're a freak, a disease." He had gotten over his shock "That's what you are; a vile, disgusting, merciless freak!" Athos thrust his sword towards the beast's chest, but the oversized animal simply stepped aside and retreated once again to the shadows. "Fight me!" Athos yelled and pulled his sword back, but again there was no reply. "I said fight me, Beast!"
"I do not wish to fight you. Do what you will, and then leave my castle." He said emotionless and stepped further into the darkness, however his tall frame was unable to hide this time.
"And what if I wish to kill you." He said through his clenched teeth, slowly, he raised his blade and pointed it towards the beast. "Huh? What if I wish to kill you?"
The emotionless look on his face did not change. "Then do it, for I will not care." The beast's voice was as bland as water.
"Fight me!" Athos's desperate voice echoed throughout the empty rooms.
"Leave me!" The beast echoed Athos's intensity and stepped forward towards his rival.
Athos swung his sword around and walloped him with the hilt across the side of his face.
"I said fight, you coward."
"I will not fight you!" He yelled and stepped quickly out of the room. Athos charged after him and jumped him from behind, using all of his bulk to pull the beast down to the ground. Together, the two of them went tumbling into the staircase; landing at its foot with Athos perched on top.
"Why do you not fight?" He yelled, angry saliva spitting from the gaps between his teeth. His right hook connected with a wad of fur, before he held his sword above the beast's heart. "Answer me! Why do you not wish to fight?"
"Because I deserve to die!" He yelled back, his blue eyes as misty as the ocean.
Everything went silent; his answer shocked even the dust in the corners. Athos was completely stunned, but only for a moment. Suddenly, the front door burst open, making the remaining shadows scatter like thieves. In the doorway stood an angel, dressed in white, the fading sunlight and her golden hair dancing behind her.
"Serena." He breathed, turning his head to the side to face the vision.
"She is the princess, you vile creature. How dare you call her by her name!" Athos drew back his sword violently. Then with one effortless motion, he drove it straight into the beast's chest.
"No!" Cried the angel as she came running into the room. "Beast!" She cried again, silvery tears streaming off of her pale cheeks. With one foul movement, she pushed the perched Athos off and sent him flying into the banister. "Please," She begged, placing her hands over the wound to try to stop the bleeding. "Please don't leave me." She sobbed.
"You came back." He coughed, his voice weak from tears. "You came back to me."
"Of coarse I did. I am so sorry." She sobbed, she looked down at her hands; a river of crimson blood was spilling through the gaps in her fingers. She buried her head into his neck and whispered into his ear. "I am so sorry that I left you here alone."
"Shh." He hushed her and cradled her delicate head in his hands. "No, don't cry. Not for me." He wiped away at her tears and stared deeply into her bloodshot eyes. "I am the one who is sorry. Sorry for all I have done." He hushed her softly. "This is a good thing, my princess; I needed to find redemption, redemption for all the evil I have done."
"No." She sobbed again, and stared at him angrily. "You have been punished enough. You have lived your life fighting the evil inside of you." She spoke though clenched teeth. "Don't apologise, it wasn't you who did those terrible things. You hear me!"
She lifted her teary gaze off of his and stared daggers over at Athos. "How dare you!" She spat at him, her nostrils flaring in anger. "Leave us, go. Get help. Get something!" She screamed. Her face was ghostly white, no longer did she look like the perfect angel, now she looked like a human. A human in pain. She looked down at her blood stained hands, his blood spilling down his chest and onto the floor. "Please just hold on, you can't go, not yet."
"Shh. Don't worry about me Serena," He said, blinking his glassy eyes. "At least now, my soul will be finally free." He sighed, and looked down at his hairy body. One of her tears splashed onto his cheek and he gave her a warm smile. "Thankyou, Serena." He smiled softly, but she could see the pain that it brought him.
"What for?" She sobbed, her breaths short and quick.
"Thankyou for warming my heart. For sharing with me a soul like your's." He fanned another smile. "Thankyou." He whispered one last time and then closed his soulful blue eyes.
"No!" She cried and bent down to his chest, frantically searching for a heartbeat that was no longer there. "No, don't leave me. Please, I need you." She cried; her tears sparkled in the air like fairy dust. "Please, you mustn't leave me. Don't leave me! You hear me!" She shouted at him and beat down on his bloodied chest.
There was nothing.
"Please," She said softly, her hysteria turning into a mere whimper. "You can't leave me." Her honey breath soaked his face. "Please. I love you." She said and then delicately kissed his lips. "You hear me? I love you."
Slowly, she let go of the wound and got up off the ground, leaving her one true love to lie motionless on the floor. The heartache was too much for her as she backed away from him.
"Serena." She heard a voice call behind her. Frantically, she swung around, amazed at what she saw.
A magical light had surrounded him, swirling around in the air. One by one, the hairs on his body disappeared, and his body twisted back into shape. His fingers and toes grew normal, and his face turned perfectly symmetrical. His entire being was bathed in one final blast of light, before disappearing and exposing a dashing black haired man in a tuxedo, lying in his place.
"Serena." The handsome man smiled and scooped Serena up into his arms. "Serena, you did it."
"Did what? Who are you?" She asked, looking deeply into his eyes, a familiar pair of soulful eyes staring back at her. "Beast?"
"Yes," He blushed at her words. "You did it, my love, you broke the spell."
She was dizzy from the constant rush of emotions. "But, but how?"
"Because you loved me. Only a pure heart could love a beast, could see what was on the inside." She blushed momentarily as he started deeply into her. "Serena, I love you." He leant in to kiss her.
"Wait." She said, interrupting their perfect moment. "What is your name?" She asked unexpectedly.
He cleared his throat and held her tight. "I am prince Darien, of the Earth."
"Hmm, Darien and Serena." She whispered for both their ears. "It sounds perfect."
Slowly, he bent down and kissed her ruby lips, the two of them finally embracing each other. At that moment, their souls connected, and they knew that at long last, they would live blissfully forever after.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
A.N. I wish to thank everybody who has reviewed this story. Without you, I would not have been able to finish. Thankyou.