Okay on to chapter three where Erik and Maurice make an amazing discovery and some other interesting things happen.

Chapter 3: The Creature Within

Erik pushed the large door to the castle open and wandered inside with Maurice behind him. They looked around in confusion.

"Hmm, damp, dark, and well lived in. Reminds me of the house by the lake," Erik whispered to himself as Maurice continued looking around behind him.

"Keep quiet Lumiere, maybe if we're lucky they'll go away," a voice spoke quietly through the darkness.

"Erik did you just call me Lumiere?" Maurice asked.

"No, why would I do something like that?"

Maurice shrugged then sneezed into his sleeve. "I think I caught a cold in the rain.

"Bless you Monsieur," a new voice said.

"Thank you Erik."

"Huh? I didn't say anything."

"You just said bless you a second a go."

"I can assure you I didn't. You're hearing things."

Erik looked over to see an old clock and a candelabrum on the table near them. He grabbed hold of the candelabrum and held it up so the light could illuminate the hall. "Come on Maurice let's go find a place to warm up and get out of these wet clothes." But before Erik could take another step something hit him in the head. He looked around in confusion. "Maurice did you want something?"

"No."

"Then stop hitting me in the head please."

Maurice thought Erik was going crazy and nodded slightly that he would stop.

Erik continued walking again and then he felt someone tap his shoulder. "Maurice, I said stop it!" Erik roared.

"I didn't do anything I swear."

"I did," a new voice said from Erik's side.

Erik's back went as stiff as a board as he turned to look and the sight before him jumped back in fear releasing the candelabrum from his hand and sending it to the floor. It groaned and went to push itself up. Now Erik had spent his whole life around candles and not once did they have faces.

"Erik what has gotten into you?" Maurice asked coming to look over Erik's shoulder.

Before Erik could answer the clock jumped down off the table and went over to the candelabrum. "Wonderful job Lumiere, now both of them know we aren't what we seem."

Maurice reached over and picked up the clock and began playing with different parts when suddenly the clock snapped at him. "Sir, close that at once if you mind."

"I'm sorry it's just that I've never seen a talking…clock…achoo."

"Ah, Cogsworth have a heart the poor gentlemen are both soaked to the bone and need a warm fire to dry them out. Come along the both of you and we'll take care of you," Lumiere said heading down the hallway with Cogsworth following behind him.

"Wait one minute. What if the master finds out about this? We'll all become scrap metal for sure."

Erik watched the two argue as he headed down the hall. He wasn't to sure if he liked the idea of intimate objects taking care of him and what about this master? What was he like and what would he do to the two of them if he found out about them? Would he get to see Christine again? He was just about ready to turn back to face the rain and wolves when he saw the welcoming flames of a warm blazing fire before him.

"Come and sit down Monsieur I'll send for a blanket and tea to warm you up," Lumiere said to Maurice helping him into a large high back chair.

Erik sat down on the rug in front of the fire welcoming the warmth and good feelings it sent through him. He reached into his bag and pulled out a small framed picture of Christine and gazed sadly at it.

"Is that a lady friend of yours?" Lumiere asked peeking over Erik's shoulder.

"That's my wife, Christine," Erik said not thinking it weird talking to this Lumiere fellow. "We just got married and got a new house. Now I'm stuck here with no way home."

Lumiere felt awful and crept away allowing for the masked gentleman to reflect the picture in peace. A cart came into the sitting room announcing Mrs. Potts and her son, Chip's arrival.

"How would you two like a cup of tea? It will warm you up in no time."

"No, no tea, no tea," Cogsworth shouted.

Mrs. Potts ignored him and poured some tea into Chip and Maurice picked it up. "His moustache tickles mama," Chip exclaimed.

Maurice laughed as Mrs. Potts went over to Erik. "Would you like some tea sir?"

"Can you make Russian tea?" Erik asked quietly as his eyes remained glued to Christine's picture.

"I can make any kind sir. It will take me a moment if you don't mind to wait."

"Thank you," Erik said finally looking up and nearly fell backwards. "How many are there like you? I mean objects that can talk?"

Before Mrs. Potts could answer a low growl sounded through the sitting room. Chip jumped out of Maurice's hands and ran to Mrs. Potts, who was now truly frightened. Maurice wrapped the blanket around him in fear and Erik tucked his picture of Christine back into the bag and wrapped his cloak around him taking the Punjab lasso into his hand.

"There are strangers here," a loud voice boomed in the darkness.

Well it was no wolf, but it sounded inhuman and Erik allowed himself to look over his shoulder to hear the three servants trying to explain all that had happened, but nothing was working. He remained still while Maurice shivered violently in fear.

Suddenly Erik was grabbed by the neck and held up while Maurice was held up by the other. They were both forced to look into the face of a horrible looking creature with long fangs, horns a top its head, and a coat of shaggy brown hair.

"What are you doing here?" the beast snapped.

"We're got lost in the woods and…" Maurice said quickly.

"You're not welcomed here."

"I'm sorry."

"What are you staring at?" the beast sneered.

"Nothing," Maurice gasped.

"So you've come to stare at the beast haven't you?" the beast roared.

"No, we we're just looking for a place to stay out of the rain for awhile, plus there's wolves outside the gate," Maurice tried to explain. Erik nodded in agreement the best he could.

"I'll give you a place to stay," the beast said harshly as he nearly strangled the two of them causing both of them to blackout.

xxxxx

Meanwhile back in town Christine was over at Belle's house working on some cross stitch while Belle read from her book aloud. Suddenly Christine pricked her finger with the sewing needle. Blood trickled down her finger and seeing it made her cry.

"Oh Christine what's wrong?" Belle asked as she noticed Christine's tears.

"I miss my husband," she replied quietly.

"I know dear. But he'll be back tomorrow. Don't you worry now," Belle said patting her hand. "Let's bandage your finger then we can get some lunch all right?"

Christine nodded softly and gave a small smile. Belle helped her up and took her into the kitchen and wrapped the finger up into a bandage. As they were coming back into the living room a knock came at the door. Christine returned to her chair and sat down as Belle looked through the machine Maurice had made to see people outside the door.

Belle groaned as the door came flying open and Gaston stepped inside wearing a fancy suit and well polished boots. "Well good morning Belle. This is the day your dreams come true," he said completely ignoring Christine, who sat watching everything take place.

"What do you know about my dreams Gaston?"

"Plenty; picture this; my latest kill roasting on the fire, me resting in my easy chair, while my little wife messages my feet," he said kicking off his muddy boots all over Belle's book. Both women covered their noses at the smell, but Gaston seemed not to notice. "While the little one's play on the floor with the dogs. We'll have six or seven."

"Dogs?" Belle asked pulling her book out from under him and cleaned it off.

"No, Belle. Strapping boys like me."

"Imagine that."

"And do you know who that little wife is?"

"Let me think."

"You Belle," Gaston said trapping her against the bookshelf after she had put away her book.

Christine grew concerned, but Belle remained calm. "Gaston I'm speechless. I really don't know what to say," Belle said as she sneaked from under him and leaned against the door.

Gaston followed and was now trapping her against the door. "Say you'll marry me."

"I'm sorry Gaston," Belle said reaching for the doorknob. "I don't really deserve you." She opened the door and snuck away again as Gaston went head first into a mud puddle. Christine joined Belle at the door and the two of them giggled like children.

Gaston looked up and saw Christine for the first time. She was just as beautiful. "Would you like to marry me?" he asked from the mud.

Christine held up her ring finger to show a beautiful diamond ring. "Sorry good Monsieur, but my husband would not like if I was to go and get married to the likes of you behind his back."

Belle grabbed Gaston's boots and threw them into the street as Gaston looked up in shock at the slamming door. Lefou, Gaston's only loyal follower came over to him and gave a smile.

"So how'd it go Gaston?"

Gaston jumped up grabbing Lefou by the throat. "I will have Belle for my wife. Make no mistake about that." He threw Lefou into the mud and took off in an angry state.

Slowly Belle opened the door and looked around. Christine stood close behind her. "Is he gone," she asked quietly.

"Yeah he is. But can you believe him asking me to marry him? I would never be caught as his wife," Belle said. She stepped outside and took the bucket of chicken feed off the porch and made her way down the stairs. "Want to help me feed the animals?"

"Sure," Christine said following Belle out to the back of the house where a goat and a couple of chickens were being kept.

They chatted quietly amongst themselves when a shrill whinny caused both of them to look up. It was Philippe pulling the wagon behind him. Thinking Erik was back Christine ran forward, but found the wagon empty. "Erik! Maurice!"

Belle ran over and tried to comfort Philippe. "Where's Papa Philippe? You have to take us to him," she said slowly starting to unhitch the wagon from Philippe's saddle.

"Belle I'm going with you. There's no way I'm leaving my husband out there."

"I understand Christine. We have to hurry. No telling where they are now."

Grabbing cloaks they climbed into the saddle having no idea as to where they should start looking for Erik and Maurice as they disappeared into the woods.

TBC…

I hope no one is OCC or anything like that. I'm trying to do this as close to the plot as usual, but I have to change it so I can put Erik and Christine into the story. I added the fun lines from BATB however I may only use a few songs, so sorry to disappoint you. Glad to hear you all like it.