Model Beast
By Thomas Mc

Chapter 13 : The Wedding Show

Halloween 2036

"My parents are in town visiting. Would it be ok if they were included in the audience of the show?" Emily asked Pierre as they were discussing last minute details for his big fashion show tomorrow. "I would consider it a great favor."

Pierre nodded. "After all you've done to help me put this thing together, how could I refuse?" He then got a concerned look as he glanced at the four tall men she had introduced to him. "Are you sure that the other three will be here in time for the show tomorrow?"

"No need to worry." She responded. "The others are due to arrive later tonight. They will all be there for the show tomorrow morning in plenty of time." She smiled at him reassuringly. "Don't worry so much Pierre, I have your male models all lined up, and I guarantee that you will be amazed when you see them in the show. The makeup artist is here and ready, I saw him yesterday." The previous day, Elizabeth had introduced Emily to the man that would be playing the part of the makeup artist. Elizabeth had told her that he had been a helper many years ago before he moved to California, and he was familiar enough with the movie industry to easily pull off the part of a makeup artist.

~ x x x x x ~

Emily arrived early at the Castle. She wanted to make sure that everything went smoothly with her little ruse. The workmen had finished building the stage the previous night. The main stage was located right next to the castle. On either side of the main stage the models would pass under two, six foot wide by eight foot tall, arches that were covered with red and white roses. A fifty foot long, six foot wide runway jutted out from the center of the main stage, making a T-shape. At the far end of the runway was a ten foot diameter round stage where the models would strike their poses.

She went down to the castle basement where they were already setting up the changing and makeup areas for the models. Richard, the man that was playing the part of the Beast make-up artist, was directing the arrangement of his area at the back of the basement where the secret entrance was located. The men's outfits had already been brought in and were lined up in order on a clothing rack over by the wall.

Richard had begun unloading and setting up a fairly realistic looking movie make-up station when Pierre came up behind Emily. She turned around to see a wide-eyed look of recognition on Pierre's face. "Richard Cunningham?" Pierre exclaimed in surprise. Emily felt a moment of panic. If Pierre knew this guy then her plans could very well fall apart right here and now. "Emily why didn't you tell me, you little sneak?" Pierre put his arm around her shoulder. "When you told me you had someone that could do the beast make-up, you forgot to say that it was because he was the one that did it for the movie."

Pierre was very impressed . . . so, by the way, was Emily. Elizabeth had not mentioned Richard's profession when she had introduced her to him a couple of days ago. At least now Emily understood how the Beast character in 'The Hidden Kingdom' could have looked so much like Devin and his family.

Richard pulled out several beast muzzle appliances and laid them on the table beside the makeup. "Most of the work has already been done for the movie and I will just be recycling some of the same appliances we used there. It will allow me to get your actors, ah, models made-up very quickly."

Pierre turned and left feeling more at ease about Emily's preparations, now. He was putting a lot of faith in her assurances that she had it all covered. So far she hadn't let him down.

As Pierre disappeared up the stairs, Richard busted out laughing. "Oh, Emily, the look on your face a moment ago was priceless." He continued to set up the make-up station that they both knew wouldn't be used. "My parents were helpers and I spent a lot of time in the tunnels." He looked at Emily with a wistful smile. "I really have enjoyed seeing Charles and Jacob again. Their boys have all grown so in the fifteen years since I was last here."

~ o ~

The four fake male models had arrived and three of them had gone out the secret tunnel so that they could arrive as the three remaining models. Devin and his male relatives were changing into their first sets of clothes. Richard was off to the side talking to Vincent and the remaining model pretender. Emily was also in the changing area giving last minute instructions and advice to Devin and his relatives. Devin was in the process of changing into the shirt for the first outfit, his very muscular and very furry upper torso in full display, much to Emily's distracted delight.

Pierre came barging into the curtained off back area nearly running into Emily and Devin. "Emily my dear, have . . ." Pierre's eyes nearly bugged out of his head as he took in the scene before him. For a moment they all stood there staring at each other in silence. One of the fake models walked through the curtain at that moment and bumped into Pierre.

Pierre's eyes traveled up Devin's length, taking in his powerful furry torso, clawed hands, and very real face. He glanced momentarily at the untouched Beast make-up table then at Richard and the fake model over with Vincent. He looked back at Devin. Finally he blurted out in surprise. "You're . . . real?" He again glanced around at the others. "You're all real!"

After a couple of seconds, Emily recovered from her startled shock and glanced around at the others. "Well I told you I could get models that would be perfect for the look you wanted." She shrugged. She then threw her arms around Devin's neck and gave him a quick kiss. "Have fun and don't forget your lines for the wedding." Then she spoke to the rest. "Good luck guys. See you on the runway." She turned and linked her arm through the elbow of the stunned fashion designer. "Come on, Pierre. You've got a fashion show to run." And she guided the dumbfounded man out of the changing area.

As they reached the stairs on the other side of the basement, Pierre looked dazedly at Emily. "They were real, weren't they? I wasn't just seeing things?" His gaze swept the basement and settled on her dark hooded cloak, hung up next to the female model changing area. "You weren't kidding that time you said the Central Park Creature gave you that cloak."

Emily held her finger to her lips, her eyes dancing with humor. "Shhh, it's a secret. You can't tell anyone or they will all have to bug out in a hurry." She turned him around and gave him a gentle nudge towards the stairs. "You've got a show to run, and I have to get changed into my first outfit. Now hurry along, Pierre, and don't worry. The show will be perfect."

Pierre made his way up the stairs in a befuddled state. At the top he turned to the two security guards, took a deep breath, paused and took another breath, trying to get himself back into some semblance of control. "No one is allowed down there but the models and the necessary staff. Especially, no press allowed." He shook himself, squared his shoulders, and headed to his position behind the stage.

~ o ~

Pierre was trying to deal with the concept that all seven of the Beast's in his fashion show were real live lion-man creatures, just like the Beast in 'The Hidden Kingdom'. He realized that by a chance twist of fate, he had become privy to a huge, mind boggling, secret that no one would ever believe. Already his mind was swirling with a million questions.

As he glanced around at the audience of fashion reporters and buyers, all in Halloween costumes, he noticed that the crowd was much larger than it should have been and there seemed to be an unusually large proportion of people dressed in clothing that made him think of medieval peasants. Something about the look of this group peaked his interest. There was a very romantic feel about the look of their clothes that he wished he could duplicate in his own clothing lines.

He noticed one from this group standing very close by and, almost absentmindedly, began to note the details of her costume when one certain detail caught his eye. The scrollwork embroidery along the sleeve of her dress was exactly like the embroidery along the boarder of Emily's cloak. Then the woman noticed someone in the crowd and moved away from him.

Soon the musicians, he had hired, started up. Pierre dragged his attention back to the job at hand. It was time for him to begin directing the fashion show.

Emily reached the top of the basement stairs and recognized one of the two guards. "Danny! What are you doing here?"

Danny smiled back at her. "I was still in town and they offered me this gig so I took it. Somebody has to keep an eye on you and keep you out of trouble." His expression got a bit more serious. "By the way, thanks for talking to my grandmother. She has been in much better spirits ever since your visit. And she has stopped bothering everyone and insisting that her creature is real. She has also become friends with another woman there named Nancy."

Emily smiled back. "Your grandmother was very sweet and I enjoyed talking to her."

It was two o'clock and as the announcer began reading the first lines from Brigit's book, Emily waved to Danny and took her place behind the left archway. Devin, who would be second, approached Pierre.

"Which side do I start on?" Devin asked.

Pierre had not heard Devin come up behind him and he nearly jumped out of his skin. After taking a second to compose himself, Pierre pointed to the archway on the right side of the stage. He didn't quite trust himself to speak.

"Thank-you." Devin replied to him, and then headed over to where Pierre had pointed.

From her vantage point Emily saw the little exchange and felt Devin's emotional reactions to it. Pierre was temporarily disconcerted and missed the first cue for Emily to start. Emily knew the general order and stepped out right on her cue anyway. A half beat later Pierre realized what was happening and dragged his attention back to the show. Emily was at the top of her game as she strutted down the runway. She was master of the runway and every eye turned to follow her down the runway. She reached the circular stage as the narrator began his description of her clothes.

After a couple of turns and poses, Emily started back just as the narrator began reading lines from another part of Brigit's book. At that same instant, Pierre signaled Devin to start and he stepped out onto the stage. Pierre was impressed as he watched Devin stride down the runway with a catlike grace that practically oozed a very sensual masculine power. He also noticed the look Devin and Emily gave each other as they crossed at the midpoint of the runway. There was definitely something going on with those two. Pierre shook himself and watched Devin's performance. Though not as polished as a professional model, he certainly packed a hell of an impact out there on the stage.

As he posed out on the circular stage, Devin tried hard to remember Emily's advice and forget that there were dozens of outsiders staring back at him as well as many of his friends out there watching him. He had never felt so exposed in his life. Then he felt Emily's love flowing over him, warming him and his fears melted away.

Emily exited the stage as the next model, Jessica, took up her position waiting for her turn, then paused to watch Devin posing out at the round stage. Jessica was also staring intently out at Devin. There was an almost dreamy look in her eyes. When Devin started on his way back, Jessica almost missed her cue and Emily had to give her a little nudge to get her moving.

As Jessica and Devin passed each other at the mid-point of the runway, she wobbled just a bit but quickly recovered. Emily ran around to the other side of the main stage to meet Devin as he came off the stage.

"Devin, you were magnificent!" She grinned. "You certainly had an effect on Jessica."

Devin actually blushed and she could feel his embarrassment. "I've never affected a woman like that before . . . except for you, that is."

She linked arms with him and headed back towards the castle. "I guess I'd better keep an eye on those other models around you. Don't want them trying to steal you away."

~ o ~

It was an hour into the fashion show and Pierre had finally begun to really relax and accept the fact that the Beasts in his show were the real thing. Besides, the buyers and magazine photographers were eating it up. Then as he listened to the narrator, it hit him like a ton of bricks. The first segment was over and the next was about to begin. The children's clothes were next and in a few seconds the two eight year olds were supposed to step out onto the stage escorted by the Beast. As he stood there frozen, his mind racing around in circles, the cue came from the narrator.

Pierre looked up in surprise to see a magnificent white headed lion-man step out onto the stage with an eight year old gripping each clawed hand. At the center of the stage he knelt down and whispered something to the children that made them giggle. Then he stood up and led them down the runway to the round stage at the end where he again knelt to whisper something to them. This wasn't part of the script! Then the two children strutted around the lion-man as the narrator described their clothes. At the proper moment the lion-man stood up and led the two children back.

Next the two adolescent models stepped out onto the stage to do their thing. When they returned, the white headed lion-man again stepped out carrying the two five year old girls, one in each arm, each wearing one of the fairy princess outfits. He strode down the runway to the round stage as the two girls giggled and waved to the audience. Once there he sat down cross legged in the center of the stage, his dark cloak spread around him while the two little girls bounced and pranced around him. At a quiet word from him, the two girls jumped back into his arms, and then he gracefully rose up and carried them back up the runway and off the stage, moving as though the two children weighed nothing at all. Pierre realized that it had to have taken a tremendous amount of strength and dexterity to do that so effortlessly.

There were a total of eight outfits for each age group and Pierre just stood there stunned as that part of the show deviated widely from his original plan, ending up far better and more intriguing than he could have imagined. The younger children apparently loved that white headed lion-man and did their parts in the show to perfection with just a few words from that lion-man to guide them.

~ o ~

During the Children's part of the fashion show, the models and the Chandler-Wells men were back stage getting changed for the finale. They were all dressed in clothes from Pierre's line of formalwear. Once dressed and ready, they were paired up and given last minute instructions. This was the girls' first chance to really get close to the boys for any length of time.

The models were all fascinated by their escorts with the exception of Caitlin. Once she got a close-up look at Jacob, she became very nervous and kept edging away from him. Jacob moved out of the line up and caught Emily's attention. "Emily, we have a problem." He glanced back at Caitlin. "The girl that I've been paired with is afraid of me. I don't think she is going to be able to do this."

Emily pulled Caitlin aside and talked to her for a minute. It was quickly evident that Caitlin was very afraid of all of the Chandler-Wells men. Emily was desperate, this could ruin everything.

Then she remembered a previous fashion show and ran upstairs and out into the park to speak to Pierre. Emily told Pierre that there was a minor snag and he needed to give them a few extra minutes to straighten things out.

Emily ran out into the audience and grabbed Elizabeth, dragging her back down into the basement. She assured Caitlin that everything would be OK then got Elizabeth into Caitlin's outfit. A little minor shuffling of the pairing and everything was ready. Elizabeth was paired with Charles, which seemed appropriate; Claudia was paired with Jacob, she was also currently happily married; Jessica was paired with Michael, she seemed to have trouble keeping her eyes off him; Cynthia was paired with Peter; Randy was paired with William, he seemed to have trouble keeping his eyes off her; and Heidi was paired with Joseph, they seemed to have trouble keeping their eyes off each other.

Emily ran upstairs and informed Pierre that the crisis had been dealt with. Pierre had stalled for time by directing all of the young models to go out to the round stage together and had the narrator introduce each of them to the audience. Emily ran back down to get changed into the wedding dress. The pale pink wedding dress had a distinctive medieval flair to it. It was trimmed in white scrollwork embroidery that was very similar to the embroidery that adorned the cloak that Devin had given her. With the help of two assistants, she managed to get the complicated outfit on in record time. As she glanced at herself in the mirror she thought that she looked every inch the princess about to wed her prince.

~ o ~

The narrator began reading from the introduction to the wedding scene in the Brigit O'Donnell book as the two decorative arches on either side of the stage were being moved to the far end of the runway. Once joined together, on the round stage, they formed a, six foot by six foot by eight foot high, rose covered arbor very much like the one that Emily had sketched out.

Two young tween girls, still dressed in clothes from their last change and escorted by the two tween boys, walked the runway scattering rose petals as they went. The four tweens took positions at the four corners of the arbor.

Next the priest, dressed in the medieval costume from the movie, walked down the runway to the center of the arbor. Then, after a short pause for some more lines by the narrator, the six very unusual couples, lead by Elizabeth and Charles came down the runway and circled the arbor while the narrator described their outfits. Then the couples took up equidistant positions around the outer edge of the circular stage.

Emily came pelting up the basement stairs just as the small orchestra launched into the love theme from 'The Hidden Kingdom'. She took her position and stepped up onto one end of the stage as Devin stepped onto the other end. Devin's outfit had a romantic medieval flair that perfectly matched his appearance and complimented her dress. Their eyes locked onto each other and for them the rest of the world faded away. As they approached the center of the stage, their sense of each other's emotions intensified. Emily could feel herself drowning in the love that was coming from Devin. Devin felt overwhelmed by the waves of Emily's love that were washing over him. For a moment they just stood there bright green eyes gazing into blue-gray eyes.

Pierre, from his vantage point couldn't help noticing the look on both their faces as Emily and Devin met in the middle of the main stage and was stunned by a revelation. They both heard Pierre's quiet exclamation. "There's more to this wedding scene than just the show's finale isn't there? This wedding is real!" They both glanced back at Pierre and he was nearly blinded by the brilliant light of joy from both their faces.

Emily and Devin turned and walked the runway together hand in hand. Emily had to hold on tight because she felt her legs go rubbery when their hands met and she was afraid she would fall if she let go. Devin felt his life suddenly coming together as he felt her love and joy coursing through their link with overwhelming intensity. They both felt like they were walking through a beautiful magical dream as they made their way together along the rose petal covered runway toward their future. The audience was entranced as they watched the couple travel down the runway, love radiating in every step they took. The flash of the cameras were popping so fast it produced a nearly continuous light that only added to the magical feel of the moment.

Emily and Devin came to a stop in the center of the round stage under the arbor. Emily glanced around at the trees, the castle, the rose covered arbor, her heart overflowing. The fairytale wedding that she had dreamed of since childhood was really happening. Her eyes locked onto Devin's face. What more perfect groom could there be for the perfect fairytale wedding?

As they clasped hands Emily was only aware of Devin's presence as they spoke the words pledging their love to each other and tying their lives together while the orchestra softly played the original romantic background music from the movie. At the same time both of their hearts were pledging the more profound joining of their souls together over their bond that was now singing with their emotions.

Then it came to the exchanging of the rings and for the first time Emily and Devin saw the rings that would symbolize their union as the priest produced and handed them to the bride and groom. The silver and gold engraved rings that they exchanged were one of the five sets that had been made for the movie. Richard had 'liberated' them from the movie set and had presented them to the priest just before he had come onto the stage. Devin and Emily were both surprised and moved by this gift. Soon the beautifully simple ceremony was over and the bride and groom kissed.

As they separated from their kiss Devin leaned back his head and roared in triumph, startling half the audience. Pierre jumped and nearly fell over. That was certainly not in the script.

There was a low murmur from the audience as they marveled in wonder at what they had just observed. Where had that roar come from? It had sounded as if it had really come from that oh-so-real looking lion-man up on the stage. How had it been done? Some suggested a loudspeaker hidden in the arbor.

Then the wedding party made their way back down the runway as the strains of the movie's love theme again swelled to fill the park around them. Emily and Devin were completely lost in the magic of the moment.

As the wedding party exited the stage, Linda, Catherine and Emily's parents made their way through the crowd to the Belvedere Castle entrance where they were met by Vincent. Pierre followed them down to the basement where he congratulated everyone on a job well done. All the while he kept looking over at Emily and Devin. Then he headed back up the stairs and everyone began changing out of their costumes.

The original plan was for the wedding party to head down to the tunnel community's dining chamber where the reception would be held. But that plan didn't quite go as intended.

Continued in Part 14

'Beauty and the Beast' and its characters are owned by Witt-Thomas Productions and Republic Pictures. No infringement on copyrights is intended. This story is presented merely for the enjoyment of fans. Original concepts and story elements may be used by other authors as long as appropriate credit is given.