Don't worry, we will get back to Belle and Beast!

Kit had had to leave Villeneuve for the day to insure that his latest and most persuasive letter he'd written to his father would reach the king as soon as possible. So, Ella was sitting alone at the table on her cottage, quietly sipping her tea when the door loudly burst open and Gaston angrily barged inside. Ella was so startled at the sudden intrusion that she sprang from her chair and shrieked. "Gaston." She gulped, bracing herself behind the chair. "W...w-what are you doing here?" Gaston didn't answer, but scowling he stomped around the house throwing doors open and roughly knocked items off the shelves and tables. Ella stared wide-eyed and frightened.

"Belle!" Gaston bellowed.

"What is..." Ella started to ask but felt a strong grip on her shoulder. She was face to face with a very ticked Gaston, his countenance dark and threatening. Ella began to tremble.

"All right. Where is she?!" Gaston demanded.

"Wh...who?" Ella stammered. Gaston pursed his lips.

"You know who! Belle. Where is she?"

"I...I don't know." Ella answered timidly. Gaston pinched her small shoulder harder.

"Don't lie to me." He growled.

"I...I'm not!" Ella pleaded, grimacing at the pain in her shoulder he was causing.

"Gaston! Get your hand off her!" Lefou gasped as he appeared in the doorway. He was mortified at the sight before him. Had it not been enough to Gaston for him to assault then leave Maurice for dead? What in the world was he expecting to accomplish now? And why? Why was he treating Ella so roughly? Gaston ignored him.

"Where did she run off to? Or are you hiding her?" Gaston asked.

"Gaston..." Lefou spoke quietly, too quietly.

"What?" Ella asked confused. "Belle has not been here. I haven't seen her for days! I don't know where she is. I was hoping you knew!" Gaston's lips curled into a snarl and then he tightly clenched her by her hair! Ella whimpered in pain and fear. Lefou's eyes widened. He had to do something! Gaston's fingers dug into Ella's scalp and he pulled her down for further effect so that his glowering face loomed straight above hers. His eyes flamed and Ella became terrified.

"If you lie again to me, girl, and don't tell me where Belle is..." Gaston said through clenched teeth right in her face, "I swear I'll kill you!" Ella screeched and struggled. Lefou rushed over.

"No, Gaston!" He begged, pulling on Gaston's arms. "Enough! Hey, let her go!" Gaston's face shot up at him, his eyes wide with savagery, just like when Lefou had had to pull him out of this state with Maurice! Lefou only hoped and prayed that this time wouldn't end the way that one did! What had Ella done to deserve this torturous mistreatment? Nothing! And she had no clue what Gaston was talking about. Why was he being so unreasonable? Lefou was scared. It just didn't make sense at all!

Gaston shoved Ella down in the chair and slapped her hard across the face for no reason. She let out a yelp and cowered with her eyes shut as her face stung. "L-look," she gulped, trying to cool Gaston down. "I...I-I-I don't know where Belle is. I don't know what you're talking about! I haven't seen her since..." Gaston bent down so that he was almost nose to nose with her.

"I don't want to hear that." He said flatly. "Belle didn't just vanish into thin air. I'm going to ask you one more time. You don't answer what I want to know, you're dead!"

"Gaston...no!" Lefou shook his head frightfully. But his friend completely disregarded his presence.

"I'll give you one more chance." Gaston threatened Ella. "Where is Belle? Where did she go?" Ella was shaking and gritting her teeth.

"I...I don't know!" She cried with tears. "I'm telling the truth. Why don't you believe me?" That did it for Gaston and he slapped her again! Then he clenched her by her shoulders and threw her to the floor.

"Gaston, STOP!" Lefou shouted. "She hasn't done anything! STOP IT!" Surely his friend was not serious. Gaston got right in his face.

"If you don't like it, don't watch." He growled. Lefou stood there watching in horror as Gaston shoved and threw Ella around the room like a sack of vegetables. What could he do? He'd tried to stop him but Gaston wouldn't listen to him this time! Lefou knew the wisest thing to do would to be to flee and get help, but surely Gaston would stop him before he got very far. Plus, Lefou was afraid to leave Ella alone with the madman, afraid that Gaston would kill her right then and there if Lefou himself wasn't there!

Next thing he knew, Gaston jerked Ella to her feet and pinned her up against the wall. She struggled but he was much too strong. He pulled out something shiny from his pocket. Lefou almost threw up when he saw it was a knife! Gaston held it to Ella's throat. She was shaking like a small leaf in a harsh storm and tears poured out of her eyes. "G...G-Gaston, d-d-don't do this! Please!" She pleaded

"I warned you." He fired back.

"L-l-look. G...Gaston, y-you touch me, y-you're gonna be in serious trouble!" Ella whimpered.

"Yes. It's a real shame." Gaston snarked. Ella started hyperventilating.

"Look! I do not know where my sister is!" She wailed desperately. "I haven't seen her at all. I swear! I swear I don't know!" She squeezed her eyes tightly shut, preparing for the inevitable. "Please...please don't do this." She shivered.

Gaston tensed and the dark look on his face spelled danger. He wasn't getting the answers he wanted, and it made him very impatient. He tightened his grip on Ella so she couldn't get away and was about to finish her off...when suddenly, his body relaxed and he cocked his head as another idea, a better idea came to him. He stood back and loosened his clench a little. Ella's lips were quivering. She slowly opened her eyes and watched his every move, fear filling her body like icy water. Lefou watched with baited breath, and hoped his friend was coming to his senses, but in truth he'd known Gaston too long for that to believe he'd actually just relent out of the blue when he'd lost his temper. Gaston stared at Ella, a creepy smile forming on his face and the gleam in his eyes made her feel sick. "You're...telling me the truth?" He asked with false surprise.

"Yes!" Ella nodded.

"You don't know where she is? You haven't seen her since she disappeared?"

"No, I don't and I haven't." Ella said meekly, glad he was no longer holding a knife to her throat.

"It's all right, Ella. I believe you." Gaston said calmly. For some reason, his tone made Ella only feel worse. She stared at him suspiciously. "You must forgive me. I have such a violent temper, it's my one vice in life that I can't seem to control. I assure you, I truly meant nothing by it." He smiled, but Ella didn't believe him.

"You just threatened to kill me because I didn't say what you wanted to hear," She spoke, half hurt and half angry. "Do you really expect me to believe that you were just fooling around?" Lefou was glad that Ella could stand up for herself, but at the same time he wished she had just shut up. This wasn't a good time to provoke Gaston, especially when his temper was not completely on the verge of being checked. "Get out of here." Ella said in a tired, firm voice. "Both of you, leave! And don't even think of coming back. You're not welcome here." Her manner reminded Lefou of Maurice. Gaston chuckled with his fists on his hips.

"It's all right, Ella. We'll leave, won't we, Lefou?" He said nonchalantly. "We won't bother you anymore tonight. Come, Lefou. Shall we be going?" They walked toward the door and Ella marched behind them to make sure that they made it out the door, then she would lock it so they couldn't return. But just as she reached for the door knob, Gaston stretched his long leg out and tripped Ella with his boot. She twisted and fell to the ground, after hitting her head on a cupboard. She was barely conscious and couldn't focus, the drilling pain and swarming dizziness overtaking her mind. Gaston sneered with satisfaction, looking down on her like a hungry wolf having captured his helpless prey.

"What was that for?" Lefou asked in confusion. Gaston shook his head and snickered evilly. He stooped down and dragged Ella along the floor. He reached the pantry and opened the door, then tossed Ella inside. She landed with a thud against the wall and lay there, almost totally unconscious.

"Good-bye, Ella." Gaston smirked and Ella could barely hear the door being locked. She was left in the darkness, hurt and alone. "Let's go." Gaston held his head high in triumph and headed for the front door. Lefou reluctantly followed him outside.

"What kind of exhibition was that?" Lefou asked. "Uh...frankly, I don't get it." Lefou said. "What did she do to get on your bad side? How is this supposed to help us?" Gaston shook his head laughing.

"Oh, Lefou," he said with false sympathy, placing his hands on his shoulders, "you are so naive! Watch and learn from the master, my friend. You will see. Save my seat at the tavern. I'll be along."

"What are you going to do?" Lefou asked nervously, knowing that whatever it was, it couldn't be good!

"Just go!" Gaston growled, giving him 'the look'. "If you don't want to look like table scraps when we get there. Now go!" Lefou gulped hard and slowly made his way to the tavern. Gaston disappeared into the darkness.