Development
(Day 109: Wednesday Afternoon)
When Belle steps into the office she silently shuts the door before turning towards the headmistress, "Good Afternoon, Lucinda."
Fairy Godmother nods, "Belle." and she waits for her to sit. "I thought we agreed on four P.M. You're a little late."
"Well, yes," Belle smiles, glancing down for a second. "Something popped up last second, and I'm afraid it took longer to situate than I had hoped."
"To situate?" Lucinda picks out. "Is everything alright?"
Her smile widens, "Yes. Of course."
She nods, "Well, in any case, you're here now." before she clasps her hands. "I only wish we could have met under better circumstances."
"You said it was about Ben." Belle worries, "Is he okay?"
"Not to backseat parent you," she cautiously states, "but as his mother, shouldn't you know if your son is okay?"
Belle rubs her hands, "If he's fainted… he's been under a lot of stress as of late."
"Yes. He has been," she agrees, "and surely his concussion hasn't helped."
Belle's mouth opens and her eyes narrow, before she questions, "What's this about?"
"For starters, what are you doing letting your son attend school with a concussion?"
"He wanted to go," she defends.
"And if he wanted to play tourney with a broken arm, would you let him?" she counters.
"No. Of course, not," Belle exasperates.
"A concussion can be prolonged by mental activity," the headmistress informs. "Did you know that when you let Ben back to school?"
"He was going to use his brain anyway," she defends. "It's just who he is. He actually wanted me to bring a document for him to look over while he was in the hospital."
"Did you?" she raises her eyebrows.
"No." Belle nods down, "Come on, Lucinda. You know me. I would never do something to intentionally put my son or family in danger."
It takes a minute for Lucinda to respond, "Need I remind you that we have not met casually for a good ten years now? I'm afraid to say that I'm not quite sure who you are now."
"That shouldn't matter," she quietly speaks.
"And yet it does," the headmistress comments, "especially when I've been given reason to believe that Ben has been psychologically abused by both you and your husband."
Belle frustrates, "And who told you that piece of fiction."
"Your son," Lucinda calmly supplies.
Her mouth gapes, before she attempts to laugh it off, "These classes the school offers, they don't explain the difference between a singular situation and an ongoing event. All they do is give signs of it and offer situations in which it may occur."
"That is your first mistake," the headmistress frowns. "The singular occurrence is a sign that an ongoing event may occur, and in most cases that is likely the case. Especially, when the victim does not report it, forgives the abuser, and the abuser does not see the consequences."
Belle's eyes shift, and she makes a noise before sighing, "People can change."
It's quiet for a long moment as Lucinda observes Belle, and she evenly continues, "Ben did not call it abuse. He mentioned how you didn't teach him English, he mentioned how he, himself, feels like the family secret, and he mentioned how if he reveals that secret to anyone that your family is at risk of being killed."
It takes a second for her to process it, "I never said that he or our family would be killed, if that's what you're thinking."
"He said that those who are religious would never accept him as a king and that they would kill you all," she informs. "Is that something you're afraid of?"
"What does it matter?"
"Belle," the headmistress tries to reason, "kids are not stupid. They know more than we give them credit, and the younger they are the more emotionally invested they are in our conduct. Is it at all possible that even if you never told Ben these things, that he could have become convinced of it just on your fears or behaviors?"
"Well, he's gotten one thing right." Belle faces her, "In the eyes of the Lord our family would be an abomination, and it is unlikely that the religious majority would be okay with that."
"An abomination?"
"Yes," she affirms. "An abomination. The girl who fell in love with what equates to an animal and the unholy offspring that later became king."
"It's not like Ben was conceived while Adam was the beast," Lucinda counters.
"No," Belle accepts, "but in order for the curse to break I had to fall in love with him while he was still the beast, and that is all anyone sees." She shakes her head, "If the ignorant knew that Ben is documented as a hybrid, then there's a fair chance that the fundamentalists would come out of the woodwork and we would be killed."
"You realize, it's not just documentation?" Lucinda makes sure. "He's shown signs of inheriting nonhuman traits."
"It was nothing public, was it?" she worries.
"If I were you," she sternly remarks, "I would be a little less worried about what people think and a little more worried about your child."
It takes her a moment, "What happened?"
"There's many things," the headmistress slowly answers, "but what I'm most concerned about is Ben's diet. With his injuries, it's more important now than ever that he gets all of the nutritional requirements he needs." Belle waits for her to continue. "It seems like he's developed a carnivorous appetite, but he said he doesn't want to act on it."
"Oh, um," Belle uneasily comments, "I wouldn't worry too much about that." She attempts a smile, "He's just doing this, because he's jealous of how much time Adam gets with me and he wants to convince me to eat out with him. It's just a bluff, won't last long. Trust me."
Lucinda frowns, "If all he wants is more time with you, then maybe you should do it."
"He wants time with me alone," Belle emphasizes the last word. "I rather think that's not such a great idea."
"Why not?"
It takes a minute for her to answer, "Adam is a part of this family too. Ben needs to realize that… It's not just the two of us."
"Belle," Lucinda gives a look. "You have not given me any good reason as to why you shouldn't eat out alone with your son."
"He wants to go to Starlit Nights," Belle firmly informs. "What do you imagine the people would think?"
She slowly shakes her head, looking up in thought, "That a mother and her child are eating together at a restaurant that's known for good service."
"It's a romantic restaurant."
"So?" Lucinda questions, and then Belle looks away. "I know you don't get out much, so you won't know this, but parents eat out with their kids. No one is going to think it's anything more than what it is."
Belle purses her lips before letting out a breath, "Ben has become far more comfortable with me than his father. Surely the public has noticed that on some level. What if they do think it's something more?"
"Then when or if that happens," she evenly answers, "you can simply tell them the truth. Until then, you need to worry more about your son's health and development." She hesitates, "And I know that Adam isn't the easiest to talk to, but Ben inherited this carnivorous trait from him. If he wants to take part in being a decent father to Ben, then having them sit down to talk this through and just offer Ben what to expect and what to do would really help, I think."
She unsurely smiles, "I don't think that's such a good idea. Adam… It's probably just from the lack of education he had growing up, but he gets stressed easily and doesn't always respond in the right ways. And, you know, family night can be stressful enough. He shouldn't have to worry about giving Ben another talk." Her smile falters, "Honestly, he wasn't particularly good at explaining the first one."
"The first one?" she inquires.
"Yes," Belle uncomfortably answers before facing her. "Lucky for me, Ben has always been fairly smart, and after giving a brief overview of puberty he was able to look up the rest for himself." She lets out a stressed breath, "Thank the internet."
"Yes," Lucinda agrees. "The internet can be a very helpful resource." She pauses, "However, I'm not entirely sure that the carnivore minority would be open enough to just have some website explaining common traits, things to expect, and how to solve those problems."
"His girlfriend is a carnivore," she solves. "He can ask her."
"Don't you think that's going to be a little hard with the language barrier?"
"Language barrier?" Belle questions.
"Ben's been having a hard time with English," she informs. "You didn't know?"
She glances down, "I mean, he was having problems in the hospital, but he seemed to be doing better just last week."
The headmistress straightens the papers on her desk, "I need to ask." before she faces her. "Why didn't you teach Ben English before he started to attend school?"
She frowns, "It wasn't the right time."
"It wasn't the right time?" Lucinda offers a skeptical expression.
Belle's eyes shift, before she lifts her head, "Yes."
"For who?" she questions, but as Belle opens her mouth in unsureness the cellphone rings and she takes it from her purse.
"Adam." Lucinda watches Belle turn her head down and away. "Um. I'm with the headmistress at Ben's school." There's a pause. "Why didn't I bring you? Well, uh, Adam. You weren't feeling very well." Belle moves the phone a few inches from her ear as he yells. "I've never said that." She eyes Lucinda before continuing, "Adam. I promise you, I'll be home within thirty minutes. Maybe we could talk then, and you can put on some tea for us?" She shuts her eyes at the sound of a breaking ceramic, "Right. I can put the tea on, then. Just… I love you. Be home soon." She puts the phone away and stands from her seat, "Sorry. I have to go."
"Belle." She waits for her to face her, "I set this meeting as a favor to you, for all of the years that were we friends and worked together, but make no mistake." She widens her eyes in seriousness, "The next time Ben comes to me with this kind of purposeful neglect again, I will be inclined to report it." She merely nods before heading to the door, and she opens it just before the headmistress speaks again. "And Belle." She turns towards her. "Even though we haven't met socially in a while, you should know that I am here for both you and your son should you need someone in any way."
She grins, "Thank you, but that won't be necessary." before she turns to leave the room.
When Ben sees who's at the door he unsurely opens it, "Mother?"
She steps inside and turns to him, "What were you thinking?"
He shuts the door and faces her, "What do you mean?"
"I just got back from the headmistress's office," her eyes widen in fury. "She's just accused me of purposeful neglect."
Ben frowns, "I didn't mean for that to happen."
"Well, you should have known it would happen," she yells. "Seriously, Ben. The things you told her." She pauses before continuing in a quieter, yet firmer voice, "It's a wonder Social Services hasn't come to separate us."
"Look." Ben reassures, "I would never want that."
"Not even to get your father out of the picture?" she accuses.
"You love him," Ben stresses. He reaches out for her, "I—" but she raises her arm to her chest and he halts. "I would never do that to you." She doesn't speak. "I love you. I wouldn't want to hurt you like that."
"Then, next time," she advises, "think before you speak." She shakes her head, "Honestly. I raised you better than this, Ben." and he eyes the blue carpet. "You're king. You can't just say whatever you want whenever you feel like it. These things have consequences."
"I'm sorry," Ben whispers.
She shakes her head before checking her golden watch, "You've better hope that your father doesn't ask any questions." before she heads out the door.
"What was that about?" Ben hears, and he turns toward Doug.
"Nothing," he quietly states.
Doug watches as Ben reaches his hand to his eyes, "It doesn't seem like nothing." but he doesn't respond. "Come on. It's not like she came here just to yell at you."
Ben walks toward the mini fridge, "I need a soda." but Doug stands to go and block it. "Out of the way," Ben bares his teeth.
"Tell me first," he insists.
Ben shakes his head, "She talked to Fairy Godmother. She was mad at me."
"You mean, your mother, right?" Doug assumes.
"Yes."
"And why is she mad?" he inquires.
"Who are you? Evie?" Ben narrows his eyes. "I'm not a dog. I don't need to do stuff for soda."
"Ben," Doug begins.
"Get out of the way," he growls.
"I just want to know why you're doing this." He sighs, "I mean, I know you're upset, but why?" Doug notices his quietness, "Ben?"
He looks up to meet his eyes, "You smell like apples."
He adjusts his glasses, "Well, I do eat a lot of apples." and Ben catches the long, blue vein trailing up his arm into his wrist.
Ben forces his eyes back to Doug's face, "Move."
"Ben," he tries to reason. "I—"
"Move, before I bite you," he sternly eyes him.
He uncomfortably laughs, "Ha, ha. Funny. Nice joke."
"I don't know if I am," Ben states, and then Doug frowns. "Move." He takes a few steps back, and Ben opens the mini fridge to grab an assortment of Diet Cokes before heading to the table and dropping them down from his arm.
Doug steps closer as he watches Ben open the first one, "I understand that you're sad or something, but are all of those necessary?"
Ben drinks a good portion of the first can, before he hears Doug's voice again, "Go."
"Just tell me what's wrong," he insists.
Ben widens his eyes at him and slowly states, "I want to be alone. Stop talking."
"Can I do homework?" Doug questions. "Or do I have to go go?"
"I don't care," Ben irritably responds, before Doug finds his materials and sits down across from him; however, when he opens the textbook the surrounding air spreads out, and Ben catches a more intense version of his scent. "Can you wear or coat or something?"
"A coat?" Doug questions.
"Or something," Ben says again.
"But I'm not cold."
"So?" Ben slowly inquires.
"So, why do you want me to wear a coat?"
Ben sees his suspicion, "Nothing." before he slides over his own textbook. "It's fine."
-Funny thing about the part where the headmistress thinks the carnivore minority wouldn't have many good resources on the internet. In real life there's actually a website about vampires, and it goes into a very long list of traits that many vampires would share as well as a multitude of other things. It's actually where I got the information for the retrovirus idea in the previous chapter where Ben and King Charming were having their debate... I had no idea what a retrovirus was before I read this cite, but if I remember correctly it's basically just a virus that can change your DNA. The cite also has a page that lists a variety of European dishes that just so happen to have blood in it, which is completely and absolutely useless if you live in the United States. Having a lot of German heritage, I would be interested in trying something like blood sausage or black pudding; however, in the United States the farms are all basically large factories instead of local farms (which would make blood even less safe than it already is), and the last time I looked it up selling blood is illegal. So, not even a butcher shop would have it... Maybe I'm wrong. If you live in the United States and know a butcher or store that sells animal blood, feel free to leave a comment on it, but from what I can tell it's really not a thing here. People just really have a problem with blood and meat, and when they eat meat it's cooked very dry. I don't get why.