Chapter 1

Belle traveled to the village regularly for books. On this trip she was on her way home purchasing her favorite one from the librarian. He offered it to her for free, but she didn't feel comfortable doing that so she made a donation to the library. Now she felt better bring home her favorite book.

Any way on her way through town Gaston cornered her.

"Leave me alone." Belle was tired of being polite with him. He didn't get the hint.

"Come on Belle, let me show you something you'll love. More then that book." Gaston cornered her into an alley. He was being forward and aggressive trying to get under her dress to her skin.

"Get off of me!" Belle snapped at him pushing at him. He wouldn't stop so she started hitting him. He was starting to get under her clothes. So she went to her last resort and threw him into the wall across the alley with her magic.

He fell to the ground unconscious and she ran. Her book still in hand. She ran home and locked herself in her room.

Her father and Luke worried for days neither could get her out. Finally she came out and got food after three days.

A few days later Maurice received a letter needing to clear something up with his old merchant empire. He needed to leave right away to deal with it.

He left early the next morning. By mid day his horse came back riderless.

"Where's papa, boy?" Belle asked the horse worriedly.

"Belle no you can't go by yourself." Luke said trying to talk her out of what he knew she was thinking.

"I have too. "She climbed on the horse and left before he cause try to really stop her.

She found this huge and ominous castle after it mysteriously started raining. She headed for it.

'Hopefully papa got out of this rain. Maybe he is in there?' She thought to herself.

Dismounting the horse she walked to the grand door. Knocking, the door eerily creaked open to a dark and gloomily lit entrance. She quietly slipped in, the door closed of it's own volition. As she slowly walked farther into the strange castle.

"HELLO!?" She called out loudly. No one answered. She wandered further in and began looking for her father. She could feel his presence and others here. She began to wonder, as she looked, why she couldn't see anyone or thing.

She followed her father's presence all the way to a tower with cells. She saw. Maurice hunched over and coughing with a scrap of a blanket around his shoulders.

"Papa, I found you." Belle said falling to her knees next to his cell.

"Sweetheart, you shouldn't be here!" Maurice weakly spoke in a scared tone.

"Papa, there is no evil here. Just fear." Belle spoke wisely. Maurice always knew his youngest had an old soul.

"Who are you?" A deep voice growled making Maurice shiver. Belle slowly turned and looked into the shadows. She saw furry clawed feet and legs to match.

"Step into the light?" Belle asked."I like to see who I'm speaking to."

The Beast stepped forward. The light slowly illuminating his features. He was large about 8ft tall, large fangs protruding from his lips. Covered in warm chocolatey brown fur with lighter and darker patterns. Large clawed paw like hands, a large swaying tail, some black horns that matched his claws, furry wolf like ears, and a very large broad frame. Over all very intimidating. Belle just looked at him curiously. No fear and this confused the beast.

"Who are you?" The Beast growled again.

"I'm Belle. Will you please let my father go? He's very sick. Belle Introduced herself and pleaded. She stroked her fathers back as best she could.

"He was trespassing here, and so are you." Beast growled

"Could you make an exception and just keep me? I'll serve both our sentences if you send him back to the village." Belle pleaded not caring one bit about herself. Just hoping to save her father.

"Alright, you will stay forever to serve both sentences. Do you agree?" Beast thought before answering.

"Yes." Belle smiled half in joy to her father. "Bye papa, I love you." She said quickly before the beast could drag him off.

Belle sat quietly and waited for the Beast to come back. He quietly walked back to the room. Belle looked up as soon as he walked back into the room.

"Come, I'll take you to a better room." He growled much more gently.

"Thank you." Belle said meekly standing up to follow him.

Beast showed her to a beautiful suite in the east wing. In blues and purples, with gold trim.

"It's beautiful. Thank you again."Belle bowed her head in gratitude.

"If you need anything my servants will attend to you." The Beast stated more for the servants then Belle.

"Uh, may I ask your name?" Belle asked before he could leave her.

"Call me a 'Beast' for it is what I am." He answered cryptically.

'It maybe what you are but not who you are.' Belle thought. 'I'll figure out who you are.' Belle challenged herself. The Beast was very curious to her. She had to know more.

"Excuse me, miss, would you like to rest for the night? It is getting quite late." The wardrobe waddled over holding out a sky blue silk nightgown, with white roses on it, and a sky blue chiffon robe with rose tinted roses on it.

"They're gorgeous! Thank you." Belle said taking them to the changing screen. Changing she laid her tight trousers, blouse and corset like vest over the changing screen. The wardrobe left soft full foot slippers near the screen. She left her riding boots and slipped the slippers on instead.

She laid down under the plush covers of the large bed and drifted off quickly. Not realizing exactly how tired she was.