"My Name is Belle"

Chapter 5

First, so it's been four weeks since I've updated. This new update hasn't been posted due to stress, school, and hesitation. But :( Sorry for all of you eager readers out there. Do enjoy, cuz this is a long one :)

2nd of all, I'd like to introduce to you all a part of Delaney's past, because not much is known about this mysterious young Lord.

Oh well. This chapter is a hit or miss. But overall, I do like the way it's heading. Please enjoy chapter 5 and don't forget to Read & Review! They are much appreciated. :)

Introduction: Delaney's Past

Lord Delaney Ashcroft 4 years before, at age 15:

Yesterday was a full moon...
What a dreary castle of a home.
Father was still pent up in his chambers from having experienced his horrible episodes of beastliness. These episodes are part of that damn curse Grandfather Madison Ashcroft had bestowed on himself when he committed a horrible act upon the Le Dubois family. He had kidnapped one of the daughters whom he was madly infatuated with, and hurt her. There was a massive search for her, and the matriarch Countess Bella Genine Le Dubois, vowed that when she found the person who dared resort to such perversion, cursed "the fool to become the beast he truly was upon every full moon, until the rays of the sun streaked back to chase away the night."

Although, not only was my Grandfather cursed to become a beast of the night, all the son's of his bloodline would also be so upon their sixteenth birthday, to endure a life of pain & loneliness. The only cure I've been told is to find a woman who purely loves this beast and can change his awful ways. But who can love a beast?

I have another theory. Perhaps it may work. The true cure to this curse shimmered to light in front of me on the night of my sixteenth birthday, as I was staring at my reflection in a pond...

Much precaution was taken into account that night, being that my birthday happened to fall upon a full moon. They tried to keep me in the house for my own safety, to keep me away from the world, but no. I wanted to escape from that. Mother tried to teach me love, patience, and trust, but what good will that do me now? At the time, I was a confused and angered soul who wished nothing more than to have been born in another life. So I ran away to the dark comforting forest, and found myself nearing a pond. I stopped. I felt that there was something I needed to do here, something that would change my life forever. The powerful urge to just take a glimpse my visage upon the glassy surface, made me edge closer to the banks. As I was there, transfixed at the reflection the pale moon cast above me, images of all sorts of played before my eyes. I soon realized I was staring at my horrid reflection and turned away in pain. The painful thoughts of having to return to a cold home resurfaced, "Hah, this is what has kept mother so distant from father...this...condition. She vowed it was true love that could break this curse, and she had tried, but in vain. Now she is nothing but a lonely wife, with only a son to devote herself to. Why has my family fallen so far from grace? Is there no hope for me now?" Just as I clenched my fists and started to retreat back home, the reflection from where I had been transfixed glimmered softly, catching my attention again. I neared the phenomena, and focused my hazed sight on what I what was witnessing. There before me was a reflection not of myself, but of a beautiful young woman with raven black hair, olive complexion, & green eyes, smiling back at me, clasping a red rose in her palms...

From then on, I vowed to find this mysterious young woman at any cost. She was the one. She is the cure to this five decade long curse, my cure. She will love me.

(End of memory)

Now, previously from Chapter 4:

"...He was staring right at her and smiled the same charming smile from before and started walking on over. The other girls around him squawked as they saw him move away from all of them, towards their now envied friend, Belle.

Belle had a smug look on her face, but upon seeing him again, it quickly registered in her mind that HE was that lord, thus deflating her expression to a scowl. As she recalled her behavior and the rudeness from before, embarrassment crept into her cheeks. She immediately wanted to run away and hide, and found the only thing close enough that she could defend herself with was James. So in the last minute just as the lord approached, she decided to act like James and her were a couple. She quickly grabbed his arm possessively, eliciting a curious eyebrow from him. Belle wanted to throw the Lord off his game and make him go on his way, and was definitely in no mood to be fake-charmed by this Lord from England again..."

He had been searching for Ms. Herrigan for quite a while...

Upon entering the room...

He had perused through the throng of tasteless girls who kept trying to coax a dance from him, but he carelessly rejected each, for he wasn't going to be polite this night. He knew what he wanted and he wanted her. His dreams that night showed a man of his same stature would be in the way of his attaining of her, and finally he saw whom it was.

He had heard this young man was Jameson Bodeleur. His father was a wealthy businessman from London and happily ran a side job of postmaster. He laughed at the though of how degrading that must be and finally spotted the group near the refreshments.

Delaney neared the group and politely nodded respectfully at the three of them. At seeing her standing there, looking even more alluring in an evening gown, he confidently asked her for admittance into their company.

He extends his hand out to receive it as a polite gesture of 'yes' to say, "Good evening. May I join in on your company this night, Madame?"

Belle didn't say anything. Her senses were still too shocked to do anything but nod.

At the same time, James warning lights went off. Looking at the likes of this young Lord, he gets the feeling he's about to have some unwanted game. Delaney was standing before the three of them, looking a wee bit awkward with his still extended hand, so James took it, and shook it very firmly. Belle saw this exchange was surprised the Lord hadn't squawked in pain, for you could practically see the imprint of James's grip on the Lord's gloved hand.

"Jameson Bodeleur, and you are?"

James was expecting the Lord to answer to him, but instead of James, Delaney directed himself to Belle and replied, "Lord Delaney Ashcroft, and who might this beautiful young lady be? Why, have we met before?"

Belle, now outraged that he would dare mock her, didn't take his hand and wouldn't offer hers. Haughtily, she raised her composure and proudly replied, "Belle Le Dubois. -hesitates- Herrigan."

The Lord looked at her amusingly and laughs, "Oh, you say your surname with such distaste. I wonder why. Please don't still be angry over our first meeting earlier, I'm deeply sorry to have troubled you. I didn't mean any stress..."

Belle looked deeply into his eyes and saw sincerity. Could she trust him, would she trust him? Why was she still getting these odd feelings of uneasiness around him? But she thought to herself, "Gosh, I red-flag him already after such a stupid ordeal as before. Sure, it is possible that his dog really did run amuck and was looking for dinner, and it honestly was not his fault they stumbled upon my rabbit. Sigh, poor guy. Seriously, it's not like he wanted his dog to eat my rabbit...uhhhhh...I was so mean to have disrespected him like that..."

Belle was squinting her eyes in deliberation as those around her started to worry on her current mental state. She seemed to be struggling to reason with herself about something.

James places a hand on her cheek to bring her back to earth, and whispers, "Belle...hello, Beeeeelllle?"

She snaps out of her musing, and looks embarrassingly at Delaney. Blushing a little she smiles back at him and replies, "Of course, I understand. I accept your apology for before, and I really am sorry to have gone off on you like that. Really, I'm not usually like that to a new resident of Sandrosia. I really do appreciate your sincerity. Sigh, but it seriously is a shock to find you are a Lord!"

Belle laughs out loud again, getting a few more humorous looks from those around her, but they do not mind. Especially since the sight was of their Belle conversing with the handsome new Lord from England.

Delaney laughed at this and thought to himself, 'Ah she is still such a child, a child who would soon become a woman in the years to come…and in that time, I'm to make sure I get to know her as much I can...' Smiling back at her, Delaney is transfixed of her every movement and tried to portray himself in his most calm composed light. Actually, he would have rather have taken her by the arm onto the dance floor and try to woo her; securing his chances with her. But to the likes of his luck, Jameson Bodeleur was attached to her arm, and from the moment he stepped into their circle, vibes of protectiveness seethed from the other man's aura.

Belle noticed that Delaney had been staring at her with the same stare from when she first met him. It certainly made her awkward once again, and decided to break the mood by introducing her lady friend Nicolette. She definitely knew the girl was too shy to muster up the courage to ask for a dance. She was much too modest, but after hearing her blab on and on about him earlier, it wouldn't hurt to shift this stranger over to her friend. Besides, she wanted him out of her hair anyway. Having to apologize to him was most uncomfortable and honestly, she would rather be across the room away from his gaze, and away from her insecure thoughts and feelings towards him.

"Ah, how rude of me Lord Ashcroft! I would like you to meet my best friend, Lady Nicolette Rochester. She used to live in England also, so you two must have much in common. It was very pleasant meeting you again, milord, but I have to get mingling again. We'll talk soon I suppose!" With that, she grabbed James's arm and steered him away from Nicole and Delaney, briskly walking away from the refreshments table to an open window for fresh air.

Nicole had a look of complete surprise at her friend having been so forward with leaving her alone with a stranger. Staring down at her feet and fiddling with her dainty cheese plate, Nicole doesn't know what to do after remembering all that she had dished out about him earlier. There was awkward silence between them, but finally, she musters up the strength to look him in the eye and was just about to ask him if he liked to dance.

Well, he beat her to it, and charmingly askes her, "Well Lady Rochester, would you like to have this lovely dance with me?" Nicole weakly smiles at him and gives her his hand, which he led out onto the dance floor for a slow waltz. If anyone had looked at her, they would have automatically seen that Nicole was smitten with the man. Delaney, with eyes so azure and hair so golden, it is certain most girls dancing in the arms of this dashing young lord, would have surely melted in his arms.

Across the room, leaning against an open window and taking in the fresh night air, Belle was fiddling with her glass so much, that James had to take it from her and ask her out loud, "Okay Belle, what is the matter with you?"

She looks up at him with her glassy green eyes and replies, "That Lord, sigh, he was the one, that guy I met the estate earlier. He seems not as bad as I remembered him. Ugh, I feel so rude to have done that to him, yet by my womanly intuition, and it seems like he was mocking me!"

James laughed and hugged Belle. 'Oh she was so warm,' he thought, and took her by the hand to say, "Come, I need to tell you something I've been wanting to say for a long time. Anyway, you shouldn't worry about this Lord; I believe he has a liking towards Nicolette more. See, look over there, they're laughing and dancing already..."

Belle looked over to see Nicole and Delaney dancing gaily to a waltz. She was quite glad the Lord's blue eyes were no longer looking at her with such a penetrating stare. James tugged at her hand for her to follow him and brought her attention back from the happy pair. Now to wonder what James had in store for her...

He was leading her out into the candlelit gardens. 'That's odd. Why are we out here? I feel like a place setting such as this is only fit for couples,' thought Belle. As she looked around, past feelings she had been keeping under wraps for awhile, resurfaced back into her thoughts. She couldn't help but notice the warmth she felt in the hand that held her own. She couldn't help see that James looked exceptionally dashing tonight and how he had actually taken the time to do his hair. He looked much more handsome in formal wear than his casual dress, but overall Belle really did like him. Looking around she noticed they were nearing a gazebo; once again eliciting the feeling like this was a scene that had played in her mind over and over again from a romance novel. If it were love, she wouldn't know.

When she was younger, Belle used to have a crush on James. She always made so much fun of him and loved it when he'd pout and walk off. Never in the world did she know he liked her too! One time when he and Nicole used to hang out a lot, she felt as if Nicole and him were a better pair being practically grew up together. Childhood friends can become you true love. Also, when eleven year old Nicole friend confessed to her that she really liked James, she felt the need to ice those feelings. She felt her feelings needed to be snuffed out because in no way was she going to like a boy her friend already liked. So as they grew up, she made sure her heart was in for the friendship rather than anything else, and thus her blindness to see the real picture began.

As for tonight, maybe it was because of the romantic atmosphere that was making those old feelings come back. Besides, these things are just brief and she'd carry on without thinking about ever pursing a romantic relationship with James. It was just as she stopped daydreaming that James stopped them near the gazebo with marble benches amidst an assortment of lit candles. It overlooked a glimmering pond sprinkled with the reflection of the midnight sky above them.

James let go of her hand and let her pick her seat, near a wall of hanging red roses. Looking at her as she was adorably sitting there slack-jawed with nothing to say, he thought about how much he was going to miss her...

The candles were glowing lightly and Belle felt the stars in the sky seemed to wink back at her every time she blinked.

James came closer to Belle and lightly touched her rose necklace. She looked up at him in surprise and wondered what he was going to do. In no way was she prepared for what he was about to say.

"You know, when you were opening that box to see what was inside, I was admiring you at how wonderful a person you are. Yet, I always wondered why I was always only the other side of you, only looking at you. I'm always watching you from far away and you're always turned the other way, but tonight, we're going to be facing each other and you must hear what is about to be said..."

His hand lingered momentarily on the pendent once again, and slowly traced her collar to her jaw line, where he cupped the side of her cheek in his hand.

Belle understood what he was talking about. How a part of her she had to hide for the sake of retaining their friendship. But what was he trying to get at? That he liked her too? Why now of all times would he be telling her this...it was definitely getting her a bit unhappy. Looking up at him with sadness, she places her hand lightly over his in assurance that she would listen.

James was a bit startled by such an intimate gesture from her. Looking down at her, he noticed that she was looking up at him with such openness that bordered close to sadness, making him unsure whether to go through with what he was about to explain. Looking away from her to gain his composure before speaking, he sighs and decides to continue on.

He starts, "Belle, when you let me put this necklace on you, I felt if I could give you anything in the world, it would be this. This beautiful necklace that brings out the green in your eyes, that gives you a rosy gleam on your cheeks. Belle, after so many years of knowing you, of getting to be with you, I've always felt like just being friends wasn't enough. I've always wanted to hold you in my arms, to feel your arms around me loving me back, but I know that you don't feel the same way. I come to you tonight to tell you that, I love you. I've always loved you, ever since you came to Sandrosia, I've always watched over you and made sure you were happy and kept all those mean boys away from you. I've always loved your silliness and playfulness…that's why I'm telling you now so that it doesn't hurt so much after I go away…"

'Go away…?' Belle thought. Her eyes were filled with tears, and her mind was jumbled with many unsaid words as she suddenly realized in all those years, he had loved her! It's been so long that she had been asleep inside, that she had learned to forget that kind of love. And here it was, being presented to her right here, right now; but her numb tongue was not helping at all! Intercepting him before he could continue on, Belle gasps,

"What?!? Going away? What do you mean going away?!? James…I," But before she could tell him what she really felt for him, he sighed heavily and continued on with what he was saying.

"That's if I know that you can't love me back. And I know you don't. You couldn't give up your heart to me. You need time to find someone worthy enough to have it, and certainly that will never be me. So now I'll just leave you here to think…even though I already know your real feelings…"

He let go of his endearing hold on her cheek and started to walk away when she quickly caught his hand with both of hers. James's clamped his eyes tight in misery as he slowly turned around to look at her. She was trembling all over, and tears were streaming from her eyes. Her hands were grasping his for dear life. He couldn't bear to see her this way, crying and in distress.

A part of him regretted having to say all he said but the other part of him knew it was essential for this to happen. In order for him to go on without any lingering doubts, he had to let it all out.

Sighing and shifting his stance towards her to be in a more relaxed form, he whispers despondently, "I'm really, I'm so, so sorry…Belle, I'm sorry if all that I've said and put upon you is so confusing…but I…I just needed to lay this all out in order for me to carry on…"

Hearing those words coming from him tinged her with such pain. Now she felt her heart was on the brink of breaking to pieces. Looking back up at him with grief stubbornly pooling at the corners of her eyes, she gasped, "But…but… why would you go… if…if you never even knew…that…that I…I…I… loved… you… too…" With that, she quickly looked away; letting herself give into the tears rushing down her cheeks, and relinquishes the hand she held with such desperation. Rising in haste, she strode morosely over to the terrace interlocked with the gazebo, overlooking the twinkling midnight sky. She didn't see the reaction he gave at hearing her confession, but he was obviously stuck in shock, and probably mentally battering himself before deciding to reach back to her.

Clearly exasperated with what was going on, he racked his hands through his already mussed hair and thought, 'What!? Did I hear that right?'

She said 'she loved me too'…oh…this…is not the way I thought it would be…it has turned out much better…' Quickly looking up to find her, he sees her near the terrace and rushes over. Hesitating at first, he lightly places his hand upon her bare shoulder.

Gently turning her around for fear of what he said may have already ruined his chances, James whispers, "Belle…?"

Belle in turn, closed her eyes in relief. She wasn't sure whether or not what was done, was done. Sighing deeply, and wiping her tear streaks away before saying anything, she looks up at James, smiles and says, "Oh Jameson, you've always been in my heart…" Placing her hands on his cheeks, she gazes at him in adoration, giving him a moment to soak in what she just said. He is still a bit shocked, he gently removed her hands from his face to back away a little and regain his sanity.

Now, she wasn't quite sure he if heard her right, making her worry if she communicated that correctly, or James was being the same, confused guy again. But, she was quickly reassured when he steps closer to her and beamed. With that, she moved to close in the gap between them and swiftly raised her arms around his neck. He at the same time, bent lower to her in order to wrap his own arms around her frame.

They hugged for only a few seconds; to then move apart a little, and meet each other's lips for their first soft, kiss. Their light exchange deepened into passion, as both James and Belle would never have realized this happening in their lives. They were in love, and for all James felt, this moment to have her lips upon his, so soft, and warm, should never end.

Belle was so caught up in the moment that she couldn't believe James was actually kissing her. How many times had she dreamed of this moment? She could not count; yet here they were locked in each other's embrace. Although longing for them just to stay this way forever, Belle had to take back the reigns of her self control and abruptly drew away from his hungry kisses to take one hard look at him. There was a dramatic change in him. She should have noticed this the moment he took her arm upon entry to the gala. As he stood there in front of her with a touch of warmth upon his cheeks, brow softened, and eyes so full of emotion yet tinged still with sadness, she could not help but wonder if this was what she always looked like to him. Did he always have that sorrowful, yearning look upon his face when he was around? Leaning up to his ear, she whispered, "James, if you love me so much, then why do you look so sad?"

James face lit up automatically with her words and replied, "Now, now. I'm not sad. It was just for a split second there I felt this all could just be dream. Although I would be justly reassured that this is in fact real, by receiving another chaste kiss from this beauty standing before me…" With that, Belle laughed out loud, smiling at his coyness, and rose on her tippy toes into him, melting back into his arms as he captured her lips sweetly again...

From a balcony up above them, Lord Delaney looked down at the couple and menacingly crushed his glass of wine.

Things were not going as planned. He was supposed to be the one in her arms tonight, not that swine Bodeleur! He needed to revise his plan quickly otherwise his spell would not work. Quickly bringing out some white glitter, he quickly sprinkled it into the air and whispered,

"Bella contrera, my Bella Le Dubois, the love you seek now is not as you saw. The man you see before you, in your arms holding you tight, is not your true love. His heart is not true, the man you truly seek has been searching for you far and wide, and you'll meet him in a fortnight, near the white river's tide. As for now fall asleep, into a deep slumbering spell. In which the only way you shall awake, is if the spell master kisses you well…"

The dust fell upon the couple below though none felt it. Belle's mind suddenly spun into a daze as this spell unfolded around her. She stood there for a brief moment, looking up at James and dazedly asked, "James…something…do you hear that? James…I …love…" But before she could say anything else, she collapsed into him as if her life just drained out of her. Her skin went cold and her eyes shut tight. James fell into a shock and quickly tried to shake her awake, but she wouldn't. Her pulse was very slow and the only way he would get help was to take her inside. Gently taking her up in his arms, he crashed into the ballroom where everyone gasped at the sight of them.

He was screaming that Belle had just collapsed and wasn't breathing. The guards and doctors quickly ran to them and seized Belle's limp body from him.

The guards grabbed his arms and threw him to the floor.

He was screaming at them, "What the hell are you doing to me? You act as if it were my fault! Let me go! This is insane, please, go help her, she's not waking up..."

The ladies were wailing and shocked at this happening and many of the clung onto the safety of their husbands.

Nicolette came rushing towards them and screamed with horror at what she saw, at what everyone saw.

Right before them, were a bloody young man and an unconscious young woman, with a stab wound in her abdomen.

Seemingly, the white sand Delaney had sprinkled on them somehow turned into blood, and he had cast upon James, a scene that looked as if a lover's spat had occurred, at which he had acted out in rage and hurt her.

James was looking around trying to stabilize his blurring eyesight. His eyes were burning and his head was spinning in agony. He looked at the floor where he all of a sudden, he saw blood. Tracing it, he saw the blood was coming from Belle.

He screamed, "Oh my God! Belle! You've been hurt! Who did this! How'd this happen? I was just with her...what the hell! Why won't you let me go?! Oh my god! Belle!"

The guards would not let him go, and he had to watch in agony as the doctors gently hoisted her onto a stretcher and quickly led her to the hospital room.

The guests were silently escorted out of the room and the guards cuffed James, sitting him on a chair where he hung his head low from the pain and guilt he felt as the images unfolded before him.

Confusing jumbles of fuzzy images start to rearrange in his mind...

He wasn't sure if this really even happened. He KNEW that they were kissing at the moment, and she had all of a sudden collapsed.

But then that vision warped.

He saw the two of them fighting and how she said she didn't love him ever, and that he was being stupid to try to make her love him. She said she loved Delaney and that nothing was ever going to change that, and they were lovers from long ago. She told him that he was too weak, too stupid to be worthy of her love, and that Lord Delaney was a much better choice. He saw himself acting out in fury from her taunting him and screamed at her, "If I can't have you, no one could have you!" And at that moment, he forcefully grabbed her by the arm and stabbed her with a blade he had concealed in his pocket...

End of Chapter 5. Next to Chapter 6.

TO BE CONTINUED…

PLEASE REVIEW!!!

OK, so that was a REALLY long chapter, yah? I hope you liked it. I put much time and effort into this thing...(hah. Two days? The 1st day I sat here in front the screen pondering over whether or not I should finish this thing. On 2nd day, which I shall tell you is Thanksgiving Day, I spent the whole day editing on & off. So, hopefully this chapter didn't scare you off. Don't worry, this has not even 'touched' upon the surface of the 'real' Beauty and the Beast.

Thank you all for having the time to peruse through this wreck with me. YES, it's been FOUR weeks since I last updated, but school has been taking up a bunch of my time, and just recently, I've lost a very good friend. He was my most dedicated reader, and he was not able to stay with us long enough to see the end to this story. I will miss him. He was a great friend, so I dedicate this story to a real life Jameson Bodeleur, Victor Vazquez. May he rest in peace.

My Thanks to all of Yoooh again.

Love,
Lady V. (11/23/06 at 10:09PM)