Beauty and the Beast

Truth's Revealed

John raced Puddlejumper through the forest. Within minutes he had arrived where Radek had collapsed. He leapt from Puddlejumper's back and to Radek's side. "Radek! Radek!" He checked Radek's pulse and breathed a sigh of relief, he was still alive. He quickly stood up and got Puddlejumper to kneel down. He picked up Radek's unconscious form and slid onto Puddlejumper and urged the Clydesdale to scramble to its feet and headed towards home. It was fortunate, John mused, that Radek had fallen unconscious outside of the cursed part of the forest. John shuddered; he knew he never would have got to Radek before the Wraith Wolves had found him. He gently kissed the top of Radek's head where it was cradled against his chest. Puddlejumper swiftly carried them through the forest, unerringly heading toward their cottage.

Within a short span of time, they arrived home and John quickly got Radek indoors and into bed. Unknown to him, a young man from Genii quickly slipped away and hurried to inform Cowen that they had returned. John quickly got the fire going, it quickly warmed up the cottage. He set water to boil for tea and hurried back to Radek's side. He began to take care of his father and worriedly kept an eye on his body temperature. Twenty minutes later, Radek began to return to consciousness and John sighed in relief. Radek would be alright. He smoothed Radek's hair back and smiled gently down at him as he awoke, "You gave me quite a scare Radek. Are you alright?"

Radek bolted up and he saw that he was back at the cottage with John. He threw his arms around him and whispered, "John, you are all right! That Beast didn't do anything to you did he?"

John pulled aback and chuckled softly, "Yes, I'm fine. Rodney wouldn't hurt a fly," he smiled at Radek. "Ya know, if you hadn't erased his work he wouldn't have thrown you in the dungeon. He also wouldn't have thrown you out of the castle if you hadn't insulted him."

"But . . . but he's a Beast!" Radek muttered.

"Radek, the entire castle is cursed and Rodney is the Master of the castle. He is a human being not a beast." John sternly replied.

"I know that! He just acts like his form. He is a moron . . ."

"Radek, Rodney's the one who solved the Grimm problems." John interrupted.

"He what?" Radek squeaked.

"Solved the Grimm problems."

Radek closed his eyes and thought, 'It can't be. Prince Rodn . . . Oh god, Rodney! The prince! The Heir to Atlantis has been cursed.' Radek opened his eyes and looked at John, "How long has Rodney been cursed?"

"He mentioned that it has just been over a year. Why?" John asked, a perplexed look on his face.

'Oh god, it is the Prince. He just disappeared around that time. He was still producing theories but he had not been seen in public since then.' Radek looked up at John. "John, we have to go back to the castle. Right now!"

"Ummmm, why?" John asked.

Radek opened his mouth to answer but was interrupted by John's bag moving. The flap slid open and the mirror along with Jinto fell out. Jinto wobbled for a moment and then he spun around to face them. He smiled mischievously up at them and piped, "Hi!"

"Jinto!" John and Radek chorused in surprise.

Jinto hopped forward, smiling happily. "I heard you. You said you're going back to the castle. I'm so glad."

"Yeah, I guess we are but Jinto you shouldn't have . . ." A knock on the door interrupted John.

John looked over at the door and frowned, it was late. Not only that, it was Christmas Eve. Most people were home with their families, so he wondered who could be at the door. He slowly got up and headed to the door. He cracked it open and peered out at the person at the other side. A puzzled look crossed his face, it was Koyla. He wondered why Koyla was at his home. "Yes?" He inquired.

"John," Koyla smirked. "It seems your father caused a ruckus last night. I've come to collect him."

John stepped out of the cottage, pushing Koyla back and growled, "My father is not crazy."

"Really?" Chaya asked, sliding out of the crowd that was in their yard and up beside Koyla. "Well you should have heard his raving last night."

"John, who is at the door?" Radek asked as he stepped out behind him. He looked over at the crown in their yard. "What's going on?" He asked, confusion lacing his voice.

"Ah, Radek, the man we've come to collect." Koyla smoothly stated.

"Collect?" Radek frowned and then stated indignantly. "I'm not crazy!"

"Sure your not." Cowen said mockingly, "Last night you came into the inn, raving about a Beast kidnapping John."

Radek crossed his arms over his chest and muttered, "Well he was."

At that statement, the crowd laughed at him and Chaya, a frown on her face, stepped forward and said, "Whatever you say Radek. Until your better it would be a good idea for you to stay at Koyla's facility."

The crowd behind her muttered in agreement and Chaya smiled smugly. Two young men came out of the crowd and began to haul a struggling Radek away. "Hey, stop it! Leave my father alone!" John shouted, trying to haul the two men away from Radek.

Koyla and Cowen pushed John back and Chaya sidled up to John. "Now John, I could do something about this if . . ."

John looked at her, hazel eyes narrowing and icily whispered, "If?"

"If you marry me," she stated triumphantly.

John angrily pushed her away, "Like hell I will."

"Fine!" Chaya snarled and nodded at the two young men who had Radek.

"John!" Radek cried.

"Father!" John whispered and then ran into the house. He ran back out, the mirror that Rodney had given him in his hand. "My father isn't crazy and I can prove it." John shout out and held out the mirror, "Mirror, show me the Beast!"

The mirror glowed brightly and everyone closed their eyes and lifted their arms to shield themselves from the unearthly radiance. As the glow faded, they opened their eyes and lowered their arms. They were greeted by the sight of Rodney growling in anger and stomping around his lab. He was pulling his hair in frustration. He then screamed out angrily and kicked a stool into the wall, shattering it. The crowd gasped in fear and one of the ladies asked John, "Is . . . is he dangerous?"

"No, he's really a softie. It looks like his is having some problems with his current experiment." John drawled out reassuringly as he gently touched Rodney's face in the mirror.

Chaya meanwhile was staring up at John angrily. She could see it in his eyes and his actions that John was in love with Rodney. Then the image of Rodney in the mirror whispered, with a desperate longing in his voice, "John."

Chaya's anger grew both John and Rodney had fallen in love with each other and they had both dared to spurn her affections. This was unacceptable! She stepped forward and hissed, "You're in love with Rodney, aren't you? How could you love such a beast?"

John stared down at her sharply. Chaya had known Rodney's name. How could she know it? He hadn't said his name. "How did you know his name?"

Chaya looked uneasy and blustered, "Whatever do you mean, John?"

"I mean, I never said what his name was. So how do you know it?"

"John you had to have said it or I wouldn't have known." Chaya stated sweetly.

John frowned, examining her closely. He saw the anger and hatred in her eyes and he knew. "You're Lady Allina aren't you? You're the one who cursed Rodney and everyone in the castle!"

Chaya chuckled uneasily, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Cowen and Koyla glanced at the crown and then at each other. They had to do something to help Chaya or they would not be able to get what they wanted from her. Koyla stepped forward and grabbed the mirror out of John's hands. He turned to the crowd and stated, "John has been fooled by this creature. Look at its claws and fangs." The image of Rodney growled out his frustration once again, highlighting Koyla's speech. "This Beast will come in the night. It will come for you and you're children." The crowd gasped in terror and Koyla stated with deadly certainty, "We must destroy this Beast before he does so!"

John shoved Koyla and yelled, "He will not! Rodney wouldn't hurt anyone."

The crowd though, ignored him and were murmuring to each other in fear. Chaya had regained her composure and stated softly, "It's obvious that John and Radek will warn the Beast. We should lock them up."

The two young men, Koyla and Cowen dragged John and Radek to the basement and threw them in, barring the door from the outside. Intent to kill written on their faces the men of Genii headed toward the castle. Chaya was leading the way with the mirror in hand to guide them in the right direction.

TBC