~Chapter 21~
Noella
It was passed sundown and it was getting later and later. Maurice had been gone for several hours. Belle was definitely getting antsy, which made me feel even more anxious as well. There was still no sign of Joel and I had half a mind to go to that tavern and get him over here. However, we'd still be stuck in any event since Maurice was still gone.
"I don't understand…" Belle muttered as she paced around in a circle by the front door.
"I'm sure he's fine, Belle." I reasoned, "Maybe he was a big crowd pleaser at the fair."
"You don't understand...he's usually home by now."
I walked over to her and halted her incessant pacing, but also wanted to calm her nerves.
"Come on, let's just sit down and relax." I said taking her hand, but Belle pulled away.
"Thanks, but I'll be outside. I need to feed the animals." Belle replied promptly going out the front door. I left her alone while I drummed my fingers on the kitchen table waiting patiently. I took this moment to pull my walkie-talkie from my backpack to radio Riley.
"Pst Riley. Are you there?"
"Noella! Thank goodness! I've lied to Uncle Mark so much in the past week...the guilt is starting to eat at me."
"I'm sorry I put you in that position Riley. If he asks further questions, just tell him the truth. It's not like he can come here and stop me."
"How's it going?" She asked.
"I'm with Belle and we're waiting for father to get home from the fair."
"Oh no, he's going to be attacked by wolves which drive him to find shelter in the castle." Riley quickly explained.
"Castle?" I questioned curiously, "There isn't one anywhere near here."
"Trust me it's there, but inside…"
Suddenly Riley's voice disappeared and all I heard was static. I turned the radio off and back on again, but nothing helped. Well at least I could give Belle an answer to why her father wasn't coming home. Suddenly, I heard Belle yell my name from outside. Frantically, I ran out the front door and Belle was standing beside a horse that was carrying a wagon behind him.
"Who's that?" I asked.
"This is Phillippe, my father's horse who returned home without him. Something happened and I must go look for him." Belle pressed frantically.
"I'm coming with you." I insisted.
No way was I letting her go alone besides my sister was trying to warn me about something and something told me that this little adventure would be better with two people. Joel still wasn't here, but I couldn't wait for him. All we had to do was find Maurice and then I would meet up with him back here. It would take an hour or two tops. Though, how would he react to coming to Belle's cottage and not finding me there. I ran inside to grab my backpack and a black hooded overcoat for Belle, but before I left, I wrote a quick note for Joel should he beat me back to the cottage. I stuck the note in the door frame giving myself peace of mind for going ahead without him. Belle and I hopped on the back of Phillippe.
"Are you sure he's okay with two riders?" I asked nervously.
"Trust me...he's a great horse." Belle said patting his neck, "Okay Phillippe, let's go find papa." Belle ordered quickly snapping the reins. Phillippe took off and we galloped hard deep into the forest.
Phillippe marched us along following a narrow dirt path going through the forest. The horse definitely knew where he was going. The pace was hard and grueling. It didn't take long for everything from my waist down to grow numb due to the intensity of the ride. Though, I knew Belle went at this pace to find her father quickly. The deeper into the woods we went, the darker it seemed to be. Clouds really settled in making a shadowy cloud covering along with a thick canopy of trees overhead. The tall, sketchy looking trees made me nervous and it just felt like someone was watching me or something though I knew it was just my crazy nerves. It took us two hours before we came to a clearing in the forest and trees began to dissipate. We crossed a stone bridge leading to a tall, iron gate and just beyond that was a courtyard leading to a large, foreboding castle. Riley wasn't kidding. There was a castle here and for Belle's sake, I could only hope that Maurice was inside. Belle quickly tied Phillippe's reins to a nearby log on the ground and I pushed the iron gate open with little difficulty. We entered in the courtyard and a few steps ahead of us, there was something lying on the ground. Belle gasped picking the small hat off the ground.
"Papa! He's here!" Belle commented bringing her father's belonging close to her.
"That's great news, so let's go look for him."
"Should we split up?" Belle asked.
"In most scenarios, that's never a good idea." I reasoned.
"Y-Yeah, you're right." Belle nodded.
"Come on, we have our work cut out for us in this place."
We made our way through the courtyard and I immediately was impressed by the landscape of this place. There were small gardens all around lined with rose bushes. It was very well kept even though the castle itself told a different story. We knocked on the tall front entryway doors, but not to anyone's surprise that nobody answered. Slowly and cautiously, I led the way inside trying to notice any movements of any kind inside. Belle shut the door behind us and the sound reverberated throughout this great hall.
"Hello? Maurice? Are you here?" I called out.
"Papa?" Belle echoed as we glanced around while walking.
Candelabras lined every wall with perfect symmetry and they were lit up brightly. Surely someone lived here and could help us find Maurice. We made our way down the main hall and climbed a winding staircase leading to another hallway with nothing but bedrooms all vacant. We retraced our steps back to the main hall and I heard some clattering nearby. I followed the noise curiously and Belle looked at me confused.
"What is it?" She asked following me curiously.
"Shh." I hushed as I stopped in front of a side door.
The clattering stopped once I was outside the door and I quickly opened it. Though nothing was there, behind the door was another winding staircase leading down. I lead the way again walking along cautiously not wanting to find a big ugly spider, rat, or even worse, a human body.
The staircase seemed to wind down forever or at least a couple stories. Finally the staircase emptied out facing a large wooden door with a cutout in the wood at the top with metal bars holding in place.
"Papa, are you here?" Belle cried out desperately.
I could hear the emotion in her voice. I could relate since I was looking for my parent too. We pushed through the door and heard someone wheezing and coughing.
"B-Belle? Noella?" Maurice muttered weakly.
We had found ourselves in a very dark dungeon with limited light.
"Papa!" Belle sighed in relief rushing over to his cell.
She yanked on the door, but naturally it was locked. I started looking around for the key, but there was no luck finding it.
"Why did you girls come?" Maurice asked before going off in a coughing fit.
"To find you." Belle answered quickly, "We're getting out of here."
Belle reached out for her father's hand through the small barred window in the cell door.
"Oh papa, your hands are freezing." Belle said nervously.
"Listen to me, both of you," Maurice said glancing at me, "You need to leave immediately. It's not safe here."
"We're not leaving you." I insisted.
"You don't understand. I'm his prisoner and I don't want him to harm either one of you. Leave me, please."
"No, papa." Belle insisted firmly.
Suddenly the dungeon door flung open and something flew into the room from the shadows. Whatever it was, grabbed both Belle and I by the arm yanking us back from Maurice's cell.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" A deep, menacing voice roared.
The voice shook me to my core and Belle and I looked around for the newcomer, but it was too dark to see him lurking in the shadows.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"The master of this castle." The voice replied coming from another corner of the room.
He was moving around so fast it was almost as if he was circling us.
"Please let Maurice go...we'll all leave immediately and never come back." I promised.
"What good are your words to me?" The voice challenged growling deeply.
"He's my father and my responsibility. Please let me take him home." Belle insisted falling on her knees pleading with the master.
"No." The voice growled practically shouting, "He's my prisoner for trespassing."
"Surely, an arrangement could be made." I said.
"Take me...instead of my father." Belle offered without missing a beat.
The master stopped moving around and his voice lowered.
"You would, take his place?" He asked incredulously.
"No Belle!" Maurice shouted yanking on the prison door.
"If you agree, would you let him go home?" Belle asked.
"On the condition that you remain here forever." The master replied.
"I would like to look into the eyes of whom I'm making this deal with." Belle commented.
The main light in this room came from a single candelabra mounted on the wall. From the shadows, a furry and sharp clawed foot stepped into the light. This master wasn't human. As the light shown on his body, it revealed himself to us. Belle and I looked on in horror. The light shown up his hairy body and his jagged teeth and horned features around his face. He was an unknown creature, the likes I had never seen before. I looked down intimidated by his steely, blue-eyed gaze and Belle shrieked hesitating, but then she clamped her jaw tight and approached the beast.
"It's a promise then." Belle simply replied.
"Done!" The beast growled and yanked open the door to Maurice's cell dragging him out. I knelt down beside Belle who looked as stiff as a board. Though she immediately began crying as the beast dragged Maurice away not letting them say anything to each other. He left the room only momentarily and when he returned Maurice was gone.
"How could you not let them say goodbye?" I challenged walking right up to the beast hitting him with my fists in the chest. He looked slightly amused by my outburst and shoved me aside.
"You may go...the deal I made was not with you. So leave before I change my mind." The beast warned and I quickly shook my head.
"No way am I leaving Belle with you here alone. I'm staying." I said courageously.
"You stupid woman...you would sacrifice your freedom for her?" The beast growled.
"That's what friends do." I insisted.
"Fine, have it your way." The beast growled.
I walked over to Belle glaring at the beast as I did so not really knowing where that sense of courage came from. I helped Belle back on her feet and she gave my hand a squeeze. She didn't have to say anything for me to understand how grateful she was that I stayed with her. It wasn't even a hard decision, there was no way I was going to leave Belle alone with this monster. However, I felt stuck unable to continue my search for the magic mirror and ultimately my mother. My heart felt sick like Belle missing her father and me missing my mother. The beast left us alone for several minutes, but soon returned.
"Come with me and I'll show you ladies to your room." The beast said.
"Our room?" Belle questioned.
"Are we not your prisoners?" I added, both of us obviously confused.
"If you want to stay down here in the dungeon that's fine by me…" The beast snapped gruffly. Belle and I exchanged curious looks surprised by his attempted hospitality.
"Please show us." I pressed.
"Follow me." The beast replied leading the way up out of the dungeon and back into the main hall. Belle and I locked arms as we followed our beastly host.
As we made our way up several long staircases back into the hallway we saw earlier, the beast began to explain some ground rules.
"I have no intention of locking you two up by any means, this castle is now where you live. You can go anywhere on the grounds except for the West Wing." The beast said pointing out a wide set of stairs leading to another section of the castle we didn't browse earlier. Curiosity surged in my mind about the mysterious West Wing, but I don't think I was courageous enough to deal with our host's anger should we venture into that forbidden area. We went down a long hallway and the beast opened a set of double doors and stood aside as we walked inside.
"You two will share this room." The beast muttered. "If you need anything my servants will come to get you anything you require."
The beast paused standing up tall looking at us threateningly.
"Tonight, you will join me for dinner and I'm not asking..." He growled slamming the bedroom doors closed behind him.
Belle and I both released a heavy sigh once we were alone.
"You okay?' I asked.
"As okay as I can be." She shrugged.
I glanced around the room taking it all in and I felt like I was a guest at a five star hotel. The room was fully furnished with two queen sized beds on opposite walls facing each other. Various framed pictures of French art were featured on the walls as well. I walked to the far side of the room with two windowed doors leading to a balcony overlooking the forest below. We were easily three or four stories up, so getting off the balcony would be impossible.
"Nice view." I commented as Belle came up behind me.
"Yeah too bad we're prisoners…" Belle muttered glumly as she slumped down on one of the beds.
"Hey, it's better than rotting in a dungeon." I shrugged trying to look at the silver lining. "Though I have to say dining with that animal concerns me a bit. I mean does he even have table manners?" I said holding back a laugh.
Belle put a hand in front of her mouth trying to hold back giggling as well.
"Oh my dears, you mustn't talk about the master that way…" A voice chimed in.
Belle and I looked around frantically not realizing we weren't alone, but nobody was here.
"W-Who's there?" I called out desperately.
Suddenly the wardrobe against the wall moved forward and a face toward the top above the doors appeared. Belle and I looked on shocked at our guest and I took a step back.
"The master has asked to dine with two beautiful ladies...leave it to me." The wardrobe smiled excitedly.
"Madame…" Belle stood up politely, "May I ask your name?"
"M-My name?" The wardrobe replied hesitating looking sad that the answer didn't come right to her. "Ah, my name is Violette and I look forward to dressing you this evening."
"Are you human?" I asked curiously.
"I was...once." Violette replied glumly, "But alas me and all within this castle have been placed under a horrible spell and it's up to our master to break it."
"The beast is human?" Belle asked.
"All within the castle?" I added. "You mean there's more of you?"
"Naturally." Violette nodded, "Hard to keep a place like this in shape without everyone."
Belle and I exchanged curious glances wondering who or what we might have passed by upon our arrival. Violette pointed out a rope with gold embroidered tassels on the end one by each bed instructing one of us to pull it. Within minutes a serving tray on wheels sped into the room. On it was a large teapot with a few cups one of them with a chip on the edge.
"Welcome to our home ladies." The teapot exclaimed, "I'm Mrs. Potts and it's lovely to meet you. Would you like a nice spot of tea?" She asked immediately pouring into a nearby cup. It was seconds before the little chipped teacup bounded right into my hand without spilling a drop. I went to take a sip before a face appeared as I brought the cup to my lips. Once I saw the face appear, I immediately spit out the tea in surprise coughing to clear my throat.
"Sorry about that, dear. Was the tea too hot?" Mrs. Potts asked.
"I was just surprised." I answered honestly.
Soon a red carpeted ottoman with gold accents ran into the room barking loudly jumping into Belle's lap which startled her.
"Woah." She said nervously patting the little piece of furniture on the head. The sight was kind of comical and I held back a laugh.
"Sultan…" Mrs. Potts scolded, "Away now...let's leave our guests be until dinner. If you need anything anytime ladies, just pull either rope by your beds and I'll come straight away."
Mrs. Potts glanced at the chipped cup in my hand.
"Come along now Chip." She called out and the little teacup smiled at me and promptly returned to the serving tray.
With that, Mrs. Potts and the serving tray dashed out of the room with Sultan, the ottoman following behind.
"Now, let's get you two dressed for dinner." Violette grinned excitedly.
As Violette pulled several beautiful dresses from her drawers, she opened a couple of her drawers and several moths flew out. I was surprised by that and Belle was better at hiding her amusement behind her hand in front of her mouth.
"Uh, you weren't supposed to see that…" Violette muttered looking embarrassed.
"No harm done." I replied with a reassuring smile.
Violette moved on quickly trying to forget her unwelcome guests within her drawers. She pulled out a fuschia dress handing it to Belle and pulled out an emerald green one for me. They both were lovely and I think the smile on Belle's face showed that she approved of her chosen garment. I was excited for the change of clothes that would fit the style of the province better.
"Now let's see what we can do about your hair…" Violette added.
Belle and I exchanged glances and I walked across the room leaning against the wall crossing my arms sternly.
"You seriously think we're going to meet his demands?" I asked Violette curiously.
Violette looked surprised by my change in demeanor.
"Well yes actually, the master is in charge. After all, he is our sovereign."
"He should get used to disappointment…" I said smirking slightly.
"Besides…" Belle went on to say, "We're already here as prisoners against our will. What right does he have, royal or not to boss us around?"
"I second that." I agreed putting my fist in the air. "Prisoners on strike."
"Mademoiselle, you are no prisoner here. Come now, you are our guest." A heavily accented voice chimed in the conversation. I looked around to acknowledge the newcomer in the room. Once again nobody was here, but the door was ajar with a large candelabra with a face etched in the wax stood on the ground grinning at me.
"Bonjour mon ami. My name is Lumiere. Do you approve of your accommodations? I suggested them to the master myself."
"We appreciate your kindness." Belle replied. "My name is Belle."
"I'm Noella." I added.
"A pleasure to meet you both. Come, come we must get you dressed for dinner." Lumiere insisted, but Violette stopped him scooting in his way.
"I'll get the girls ready. You go tame the master's patience." Violette suggested.
"Very well, but come tout de suite." Lumiere pressed.
"What the heck does that mean?" I asked Belle.
"Quickly." Belle shrugged.
"Well, he's going to be very disappointed." I replied with a single nod.
Soon our bedroom door opened wider and a large clock came taking large strides in his steps. The magic in the entirety of this castle never ceased to amaze me.
"Come now ladies, you mustn't dawdle." The clock scolded pointing at the time on his- uh, face.
"Who are you?" Belle asked.
"I'm Cogsworth, head of the household. A pleasure." He said kindly bowing.
Everyone aside from the beast had been so kind and polite to Belle and I. Why did the beast have to be so mean and stubborn?
"If you ladies need anything during your stay, come to me with your request. Do you understand?" Cogsworth continued.
"Well if that's the case, could you deliver a message from us to your master?" I started to say.
"Of course, m'lady." Cogsworth agreed.
"We aren't coming to dinner." I said simply.
Cogsworth froze.
"Are you quite sure about that decision?" He asked incredulously.
"Absolutely." I nodded.
I was trying to come up with a word to describe Cogsworth's face in this moment. It looked like he had tasted something sour.
"As you ladies wish." Cogsworth replied immediately leaving closing the door behind him.
"We may regret this." Belle muttered.
"Yeah, but it's kind of fun messing with our oh so gracious host...isn't it?" I asked.
"Unless, he takes it out on his servants…" Belle said glumly.
We next told Violette to save those dresses she picked out for another day since this one was almost over anyways. Belle and I for the next few minutes began taking notice of little details and things about the room that we didn't notice before. We were talking with Violette about the room when a big, deep voice reverberated from deep within the depths of the castle.
"What?" The beast roared.
It wasn't even sixty seconds before there was a pounding on our bedroom door.
"I told you two to come down and join me for dinner." The beast roared from the outside of our bedroom. I glanced at Violette who was in the process of scooting herself as far away from the door as she could manage. The banging continued and I was surprised that he wasn't destroying the doors.
"You two better come now...or I'll...I'll break down the doors." He threatened.
Well that didn't take long, I thought. His voice sounded feral and intimidating. However, I kind of was in a snarky mood myself. Belle grabbed my arm nervous with the beast's growing impatience and anger. I hoped our bedroom door wasn't some poor enchanted soul. Wanting to try and tame this beast I came up with an idea and I whispered to Belle my plan. She nodded her approval as I walked up to the bedroom door opening it just wide enough for my head to come through. Before I even spoke, the beast looked irate with that intense blue-eyed gaze of his. His brows furrowed as he towered over me crossing his arms.
"I seriously hope you haven't been beating someone to death with those paws of yours." I finally said.
"Dinner...now!" He grumbled ignoring my comment.
"No thank you." I said calm and firm.
Inside I was shaking, but somewhere inside I held onto that little nugget of courage I had right in this moment.
"Look, I may not know your whole story of how you got to be this way, but you don't treat people this way. I understand you're the royal of this castle however, that gives you no right to demand us to do anything. It's about time someone taught you some manners." I said raising my voice defensively.
The beast's face softened just a little bit. My words struck a chord somewhere in his psyche.
"Enough with your mind games, you foolish woman." He replied furrowing his brows again.
"Look, I have a name. It's Noella and her name is Belle." I said opening the door wider so he could look at Belle watching this conversation with amusement.
"It's either eat with me or not at all." The beast bellowed.
"I don't like ultimatums, but we're not hungry. Thanks." I said before quickly shutting the door softly, which took much restraint because slamming the door in his face would have given me great pleasure. As I turned to face Belle exhaling a heavy sigh of relief, I heard the beast stomping down the hallway like a kid throwing a tantrum.
"Fine! Then go ahead and STARVE!" He roared.
Feeling somewhat the most victorious I have felt all day, I walked over rejoining Belle sitting next to her on one of the beds.
"That was amazing!" She smiled as I sat down.
"I'm still shaking, but I think we made our sentiments very clear…" I nodded.
"Thanks for doing that...I mean you're only here because of me. I feel responsible."
"Don't even think that way, Belle." I said putting a hand on her shoulder, "It was my choice...he gave me the option to leave, but I refused."
"Thanks Noella." Belle smiled.
"Anytime." I replied with a nod. "So now what?" I added with a shrug.
Violette scooted over to us as quickly as she could manage.
"You know I might have some playing cards or something...let me take a look through my drawers." She said with a beaming smile.
I appreciated the distraction and as Violette opened and shut several of her drawers before finding the cards, I gazed out of the balcony doors. Those were the only thing in the room with a view and I thought about Joel. I was so thankful that I decided to leave that note, but with me here for the foreseeable future, maybe he would end up moving on and going back home. It would be selfish to think he would wait up for me to return.