A/N: Again, sorry if there are spelling mistakes!

Chapter Three: Meet the Beast

Two days later, Belle was sitting outside in the snow, enjoying the beauty of the crisp winter scenery all around her. Her mind was swimming with thoughts of books, dreams, and her father and she couldn't have been more content at the moment. However, the moment was quickly broken by an event unexpected. Suddenly, Maurice's horse Philippe came bounding out of the woods, dragging the overturned cart behind him awkwardly.

"Philippe!" she gasped, and ran to calm the wild animal. His eyes darted from side to side frantically, and there was foam at his mouth. Quickly, she unhooked the cart and then led the horse to the stables. After locking him in with some carrots and water, she ran into the house to find her mother.

"Are you alright Belle?" asked Astrid, when Belle came sliding into the house, tracking snow everywhere.

"Something has happened to Papa," she replied anxiously. "Philippe just came home alone with the cart tipped and broken."

"Oh my," said Astrid as she slumped into a nearby chair.

"What are we going to do?" Belled asked, sitting down as well. She folded her pale hands in her lap and let a tear roll down her cheek.

Astrid said nothing for several minutes. She fiddled with the hem of her skirt and gazed at the fire. In all honesty, she did not have any idea whatsoever as to what they should do. Eventually, she just placed her head in her hands and broke down into tears.

"I'll go find him," whispered Belle. She was now sitting up straight and wiping the tears from her eyes. "I'll go find him."

"No Belle!" said Astrid, lifting her head up. "I can't let you do that. What if something happens to you?"

"Mama, you know I've always longed for adventure and something bigger than I can ever get while I stay here. I know that there is a risk involved, but I love Papa and want him back. Perhaps by doing this I can fulfill that empty space inside of me. And besides, who else would we find to go? Hardly anyone dares to go through those woods besides Papa, and especially not in winter."

Astrid frowned, and furrowed her brow. "Fine," she said quietly and reluctantly. "Go and find him, but promise me something."

"Anything," said Belle.

"Come back right away if anything goes wrong or you cannot find him. If you're not back in two days, I'm sending Gaston after you, alright?"

"Alright," agreed Belle. "Now, I must make haste if I'm to set off before the evening." She ran upstairs to her room to fetch some warm things; a heavy cloak, warm underclothes, and a thick gown. In a bag, she packed some food and supplies for striking a fire if needed, as well as all her life savings just in case. Then, she ran back down to where her weeping mother was drying her tears. "Fear not mama, I'll stay safe," Belle said as reasurringly as possible. Then, she ran out to the stable and hitched up Philippe. Before either woman could change their mind, Belle rode off into the woods to find her papa.

- - -

"You had no right to trespass upon my property."

"I'm sorry! I did not know!" Maurice exclaimed. He was in chains and shackles and tied to a wall in a dark dungeon. Water was dripping somewhere at a steady pace, and it was so cold that he could see his breath. "I did not know," he said sadly.

The being who spoke to Maurice grunted in reply. So far, all Maurice had seen of him was a large shadow that had grabbed him viciously from behind and then dragged him down here. His voice was deep, gutteral, and menacing. It actually sent shivers down Maurice's spine. "Why were you so deep in the forest?" the voice asked. The form was now pacing impatiently, like he was using all his will power to keep from strangling his prisoner.

"I was on my way home from the towns when a pack of wolves attacked my horse and I. We ran through the woods to escape but Philippe bucked and I was thrown to the ground while he ran away. The wolves began to close in on me and that was when I saw the gate. I ran to it and quickly opened it and shut it behind me. I had no other choice!"

"Death..." said the voice dangerously. "You could have chosen death."

"No I could not," said Maurice. "I have a wife and daughters to go home to, and I promised them that I would return." His voice trailed off at the end and he began to weep.

"Cease your crying immediately, Sir," the voice growled. Instantly, Maurice quit his crying. Both were silent until the voice said, "You have daughters."

Maurice wiped a tear off of his cheek. "Yes, three. Why?"

"I will let you go free if you bring me back one of your daughters." He stopped pacing, and Maurice could feel his steely gaze.

"One of my...NO!" Maurice exclaimed.

"If you do not bring me back one of your daughters, sir, then I'm afraid that they shall never see their dear 'Papa' again. Do I make myself perfectly clear?"

Maurice did not want to die, but he also did not want to give up one of his children. Finally, he made his decision: "I will bring you back one of my daughters. I just wish I still had my gifts for them."

The voice's tone softened and asked, "What were your gifts?"

"A silk gown, a pearl necklace, and a rose - though I would not have found that anyways I'm sure."

"I can give you these things..."

- - -

Belle rode tirelessly through the woods all day, stopping only once to eat. Very quickly it became dark and she was forced to slow down. Philippe was always alert of their surroundings and both were weary of what creatures lay hidden in the dark. In the middle of the night as Belle and Philippe were resting, they heard a twig snap. Both Belle and her horse stopped breathing and prayed that it was not a wolf. Their prayers were answered.

"Belle!" gasped Maurice when he saw his daughter sitting agaist a tree. He rushed over to her and they embraced. "What are you doing here? You should not be here! You must get on Philippe and run away now!"

"Why papa? What has happened? What's wrong!"

"I cannot tell you now Belle," he answered. "You must leave this place before he finds you." Unknown to Belle, she and Philippe had decided to rest just thirty feet outside the gates of the place in which Maurice had been imprisoned. Maurice feared that the voice would follow him and find Belle.

"Papa, what is..." she stopped midsentence for in her father's hand was a single red rose. "Where did you get that?"

Maurice looked down at the rose in his hand. His captor had left him alone for several moments, and then returned with all three gifts. The rose, said the voice, had come from his garden. It was the perfect speciman; flawless and beautiful...just like Belle. "It was given to me, but I cannot say by who. Come Belle, we must flee!"

Belle detected the panic in Maurice's voice and instantly began to prepare Philippe to ride. However, before she could mount him, a sudden gust of icy wind swirled around her and her father and the lantern was put out. Belle looked over her shoulder and was met with a fiersome sight; a Beast. She gasped and dropped Philippe's reigns, giving Philippe an opportunity to run away, which he promptly took advantage of.

"Well, well, well," said the Beast. He was large and ferocious looking. Sharp fangs were bared and atop his head were two dark, gnarled horns. He had steely blue eyes that bored right through Belle and made her frightened and excited all at once. "Who is this young lady?" He circled the pair, walking on four legs instead of upright. His back had a hump reminiscent of a buffalo, and he had a long tail like a wolf. Belle, though terrified, was now thoroughly fascinated by this strange being.

Maurice mumbled something incoherent which earned him a growl from the Beast. "My daughter," he said, his voice dripping with hatred for this creature.

"Really?" said the Beast. He sniffed at Belle and then turned sharply to face Maurice. "I'll take this one. You may continue home now to the rest of your family." He extended a clawed paw to Belle, a gesture for her to come toward him.

"Belle no!" shouted Maurice when he saw his daughter actually step closer to this monster.

"Quiet old man!" lashed the Beast. "We made a deal, I will not make an exception. You promised me a daughter and here one is, ready to go. Be gone!"

With a tearful goodbye to Belle, Maurice headed into the woods and toward home. Tears fell furiously from his eyes as he walked as quickly as he could, tripping over roots and holes. How would he ever explain this to the rest of the family?

Meanwhile, the Beast had begun to lead Belle toward his castle. "What is your name, girl?" he asked.

"Belle," she replied. Her voice lacked emotion, for she was horrible confused about what had just happened. She knew that it was something horrible, but she was finding it difficult to comprehend just at the moment. "What is your name?" she asked him.

The Beast hesitated; no one had used his name in a long time. The servants referred to him as the Master, and he had not met anyone knew in just over four years. Shortly, he replied, "Adam."