Inside, the cavernous castle had lost its previous warmth. Although the heavy door had closed behind Gaston and his raging mob, chills fell from the tall ceilings. Their frightened eyes scaled the shadows hanging from the staircase, hearing the shuffling of feet and clanging of metal but not being able to find the host of the dark palace. Only the dim torch light of their flames reflected the fear in their faces. Arrogance came over Gaston's insecurity as he began up the elegant yet faded marble steps. "Beast?" he bellowed into the dark halls. "Beast! Come down here and face your fate!" A crack of lightning split the sky and a silver flash filled the dark hall. The villagers cowered with a whimper, huddling into the center of the foyer.
"Gaston," Lefou whispered, pushing through the others, "Gaston! Perhaps we should wait until…until it's light outside!"
"I won't wait a minute longer!" Gaston screamed in reply. "I've destroyed every book in the town! I've taken every hope of…dreams and fantasies available to Belle, and she still believes in ridiculous nonsense because of this monster!" A heavy snort came from the west end of the stairs' peak, and the throng cried out again. Fueled by crazed adrenaline, Gaston sneered and faced where the sound had floated. "That's right, you disgusting mutant."
"Gaston!" Lefou pleaded.
"Once upon a time there was a prince!" Gaston teased, slowly climbing the stairs. The hall was a void, but they all could feel the Master's presence. "He was a beautiful prince who had all he could ever want!" A low, curling growl fell from the heavy breath as Gaston could see the wet of the creature's fired eyes waiting behind the rail. "But one night, a horrible accident happened to him. He was no longer beautiful. He was no longer able to be loved. In fact," Gaston boasted, spinning to face the blind followers who only moments before had pledged to stand behind him to fight the Beast. "In fact, no one could even look at the horrible mistake Nature had created." Gaston cackled and pulled the bow from his back, looking into the abyss containing the hellish fiend. "He stayed alone in his castle until finally, one brave soul decided to put him out of his pathetic misery." The entire palace was silent but for the rapid hearts of the horrified villagers, Gaston's fading snicker, and the Beast's blood-chilling snarls.
Outside, a few servants of the Master had come to Belle's rescue. The coat hanger and tea tray with Cogsworth in command fumbled to remove the rusted chains. "They've stormed the castle," Belle cried, ripping the shackles from her pale wrists. "There's too many…"
"The Master would never hurt a fly!" Cogsworth stuttered, yanking at the rope about her ankles. "Although he does enjoy throwing things…and yelling…and if someone happened to point an arrow at his head, I doubt he would allow the attacker to—"
"I won't let him die," Belle vowed, struggling to her feet. "I won't let him die alone!" She sprinted towards the closed doors, her help close behind. Frantically, Belle pulled at the heavy door. She could hear the muffled roars of the Master and felt the vibrations in the ancient wood. They're hurting him, she thought, tearing even harder at the door. Finally, with a sudden burst of wind, the latch was released and she stumbled back to shine moonlight into the grand hall.
She saw the faithful servants defending their home, throwing anything they could and fighting their best. Her fellow citizens were running and screaming, unable to battle against the cursed objects. Lost in the confusion, she focused on the clearing that had centered itself upon the stairs. The Beast and Gaston were in a vicious fight, arrows flying past the twisted horns of the prince while his angry cries answered back in furious reply. She could see a deep cut upon Gaston's arm and a slash over the Beast's shoulder. Without thinking, she ran through the surrounding action and flung her frail form between the two. Gaston dropped his bow immediately. "Belle!" he demanded, "can't you ever stay put!"
"What are you doing here?" the Beast sighed, panting, those sapphire pools narrowed in question.
"This has to stop!" she cried, remaining as his guard. "Gaston, you have to leave! Now!"
"I'm not leaving until this demon is dead and this castle is nothing but ruins!" he answered. The Beast roared and lunged forward, Belle spiraling aside. Gaston staggered back, thrusting a small spear into his side. A painful howl rose from his throat.
"Stop!" Belle cried once more, standing and running to his side. Her heavy villain shoved her back with a quick slap, and she fell down the rest of the stairs to the floor in a cold, limp drop. The prince could see her lifeless and tried to reach her.
"Don't you touch her," Gaston spat, now in his way. The Beast's gaze changed from worry to anger. The challenger sneered in triumph at seeing his rage. "That's right," he taunted. "She's not yours. She never was yours. You don't deserve anything."
He was always a victim to his temper. In a moment, the source of his fury was all he could see, as crimson red as the small pool that had collected on the marble floor around the young heroine's temple.