Disclaimer: Animerockchic does not own Hetalia or Beauty and the Beast
(Edit Note: Ciara = Ireland)
Feliciano clutched his scarf and held it to his cheek in an attempt to reassure himself. Romulus had put down the handles of his invention and was examining his map.
"Ve~ Nonno? I think we've gone the wrong way or missed a turn or something..."
"I think so too, Feli."
A low growl reverberated around the forest clearing. Feliciano dived behind Romulus, quivering in fear.
Out from the gloom crept a ravenous wolf pack, eyeing them up with hungry yellow eyes.
Romulus reached behind him and unwound Lovino's scarf from around Feliciano's neck. He held it in front of himself in a pathetic attempt to protect himself from the advancing pack.
They pounced as one upon them, clawing and snapping at flesh and clothing. Romulus punched and kicked out wildly, trying to create an escape. He grabbed Feliciano's hand and pulled him from the grasp of the pack. The scarf fell from his hands as they ran. They ran through the trees, brambles catching them spitefully in an attempt to slow them.
After what felt like hours, they came to a huge pair of oaken doors. Romulus banged on the wood, begging to be let in.
Growls erupted behind them once more. They turned to see the wolf pack advancing on them once more.
Behind them the doors creaked open. Romulus grabbed Feliciano and hauled him through the doors as they swung shut once more.
Their breath crystallised in the air for a moment as they fought to return their heart rates back to normal. Feliciano slid to the floor and curled up into a ball, too startled even to cry. Romulus started to look around. The interior was dark, gloomy and smelled like one of those rooms that are only ever used once every few years, one that smells of dust and drawn-out waiting.
"Hello? Hello?" The words echoed dismally back to them. Romulus pulled his grandson to his feet. "C'mon Feli, let's find someone and ask can we stay here for the night."
Once they had left the room, a small windup clock turned to the candelabra beside him.
"Well, now you've done it, Francis. I told you not to let them in."
The candelabra sighed. "We could not just leave them for the wolves, Angleterre.
The pair passed by them again. "Ve~ is someone home?"
"Maybe if we keep quiet, they might go away."
"Keep telling yourself that, Rosbif."
"Shut it, frog."
Romulus shivered; he couldn't shake the feeling they were being watched. "We don't mean to intrude, but my grandson and I lost our way in the woods and we need a place to stay for the night."
Francis turned to his fellow pleadingly. "Arthur, have a heart."
"Oh no Francis, don't you dare..." Francis cut in over Arthur's blustering and half shouted, "Messieurs, you are welcome here." Francis lit two of his candles so the corner they stood in was bathed in warm light. Arthur blew them out then Francis immediately relit them.
Romulus and Feliciano turned at the sound of a human voice. Seeing no one, Romulus said shakily, "I-I heard that a-and I'll thank you to step out where I can see you."
"Down here."
They both looked down at the candelabra.
"'Allo."
Feliciano screamed shrilly and clutched his grandfather for dear life.
"And goodbye."
Arthur started pushing Romulus's leg, hoping he'd get the hint and leave. Romulus took a step back in astonishment, gazing at the little clock.
"Wait a minute. You're a clock... and you're talking!"
Arthur smiled fakely up at him. "Astonishing isn't it? And quite inexplicable. Now good bye."
Francis put his hands on his hips and glared at Arthur. "Arthur! I am surprised at you! Where are your manners?"
Arthur turned back to Francis, half worried, half exasperated.
"We've got to get them out of here before he finds out!"
Romulus picked Arthur up and started examining him minutely.
"How on earth is this accomplished?" He started poking and prodding Arthur, trying to figure out how he worked.
"Really sir, if you would just... no, stop that... OWW! No, stop, that tickles!" Romulus opened the glass door on Arthur's front. Arthur slammed it shut, looking horror-struck.
"Really sir, do you mind."
Romulus scratched his head. "Well, I'm stumped; this must be some new fangled gadget."
Arthur looked at him in disgust. "I, sir, am NOT a gadget."
"Oh, I'm sorry. It's just I've never seen a ta... talking..."
Romulus sneezed and dropped Arthur, somehow managing to catch him right in the face.
"Ugh, bless you." Arthur wiped his face delicately.
"You are chilled to the bone, monsieur. Come with me."
Francis led Romulus and Feliciano into the next room where a large comfy armchair sat in front of a cheerfully crackling fire. The two humans rushed to the fire, eager to warm themselves
Arthur came trotting into the room as fast as his little legs could carry him. "Now, Francis, I command you to stop right there. I'm the head of the household and I..." Arthur trailed off as he noticed what the other two were doing. Feliciano was sitting on the hearth rug, arming his hands. That wasn't what worried him. Romulus had stepped away from the fire and settled himself in the armchair. THE armchair.
"Oh no. Not the master's chair." Arthur covered his eyes. "I am not seeing this. I am not seeing this."
"Oh la la, what is this I am seeing?" In swanned a feather duster from another entrance. The moment he saw her, Francis started preening himself and examining his reflection in Arthur's glass door. Arthur promptly hit him on the head. The feather duster practically danced over to Romulus, giggling flirtatiously.
"Do my eyes deceive me or is this a man? It has been so long since I've seen a real man!" Francis visibly drooped, his candles extinguishing. Arthur patted him companionably.
"No offence, Francis. Bonjour handsome." Romulus seemed quite pleased at the attention.
"Oh, hello there."
Arthur huffed irritably; things had gone on long enough.
"Alright, things have gone far enough! I am the head of this household and I…"
"Coming through!"
Arthur went flying as a teacart came careening into the room. The cart drew to a halt by Feliciano. "Now how about a nice cup of tea, it'll warm you up in no time." Said the teapot on the cart in a lilting Irish accent.
"No, Ciara, no. They'll be here all night. As much as it pains me to say it, no tea damnit!"
Ciara ignored Arthur and poured some tea into a small cup beside her.
"There you are, pet", she said kindly to Feliciano, "get something warm into you. You look pure frozen."
Feliciano reached out to take the cup but pulled back his hand quickly and shrieked.
"Auntie Ciara, I think I scared him." Said the cup.
Feliciano stared at the little cup. "Ve~ what's your name?"
The cup smiled at him. "Peter."
The feather duster resumed her flirting with Romulus and pulled a blanket over him. "Care for a blanket, monsieur. I just love older men."
Francis growled, he'd had enough of this.
"Jeanne, you are always trying to make me jealous. Well, this time it's not going to work." With that said, Francis resumed his sulking. Jeanne scoffed.
"Me, what about you with Chloe?"
"Jacques?" countered Francis.
"Evie?"
"Pierre?"
Francis and Jeanne were mere inches from each other, hurling accusations back and forth.
"Eleanor?"
Francis started laughing in his usual pervy way, reliving memories of him and Eleanor. Jeanne huffed and stalked off. Arthur grabbed Francis's arm and dragged him over to have a private word with him.
"Francis, listen to me!" Arthur hissed frantically, "We have got to get them out of here before the master finds out. If he finds out them here, it'll be our necks." Arthur gulped and clutched his neck.
Francis patted him on the back. "Calm down, Angleterre. Antoine will never have to know."
A deafening roar thundered through the air, striking fear into their hearts. A tense silence foiled the room. Francis began laughing nervously.
"As I was saying, he's bound to find out sooner or later."
"Should we hide?" Peter asked his aunt.
"Non, remain calm. There's absolutely no reason to panic."
Arthur started laughing fearfully. "Francis is right, there's no reason to panic. May I borrow this?" He tugged the blanket covering Romulus and hid himself beneath it, quivering in fear.
"There are strangers here!" a coarse, animalistic voice bellowed.
"Master, allow me to explain. The gentleman and his grandson were set upon by wolves!" Francis pleaded.
"Who DARED let them in?"
An 'oh shit' expression crossed over Francis's face. Arthur peeped out from beneath the blanket and said meekly, "May I just say, master, that I was against it from the start."
"You have all betrayed me!" Arthur ducked back beneath the blanket.
A tall dark, monstrous figure prowled into the room and towards the chair where Romulus sat trembling. Feliciano peeped around the chair to see what was coming. His normally closed eyes bulged and his mouth fell open in a silent scream. His face drained of colour and he began shaking like a leaf.
The figure loomed over the chair and clamped his paws down on Romulus' shoulders.
"Oh dear", muttered Ciara.
"¿Quién eres?" Barked the figure,
"R-r-romulus..."
"What are you doing in my castle?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. We'll just be leaving now." Romulus tried to rise from the chair but he was shoved back down and around slightly. For the first time, Romulus got a proper look at the master of the castle.
And how he screamed.
The face of a cross between a wolf and a bear, covered in matted brown fur stared back. Razor-sharp, saliva covered fangs extended from an unforgiving mouth and sharp, cruel green eyes eyed him up over a long snout like a morsel of food.
"It's hideous, isn't it?" growled the beast. "YOU'VE COME TO STARE AT THE BEAST HAVEN'T YOU?"
"N-no...no I-I was merely looking for a place to stay..."
"I'LL GIVE YOU A PLACE TO STAY!"
The beast brought down his enormous claw on Romulus
A/n: Cliffhanger ftw :)
Anyway I'm back from Bulgaria and a mountain hiking trip so I've got a few chapters ready to be typed so I should be updating fairly soon (Note, I am an extremely irregular updater.) And while I was skiing in Bulgaria, I had children's skis because I'm fun-sized :)
And guess what was on them...
HELLO KITTY ARU! I was just so happy.
Ja!
-Animerockchic