A/N: This chapter was written by me and Wrestlemaniac829.
Night had fallen in the village, hardly a light could be seen on the village square. The only light came from the far end of the village where the Le'Roux manor stood. The fireplace was burned brightly through the window and a figure paces back and forth in front of the fireplace. It was Gaston, walking about impatiently whilst his father sat in his chair, a hand rapping the chair handle nervously. In his other hand, he smoked from a pipe to clear his nerves a bit. For a long moment, neither man in the room said a word until Gaston finally had enough.
"Where is that man?" Gaston asked. "It's already been hours!"
"Patience, my boy," His father spoke. "My men are doing the best they can to find him. Hopefully they find him soon; no man would want to miss his own bachelor party."
Just then, they heard a knock at the door. Gaston left the room and walked toward the door to answey it.
"Hmm, that's probably them now," Gaston said.
But as soon as he opened the door, Peter and Olivia La' Belle rushed into the manor. From the expressions on their faces, they both showed a face white with fright.
"What the-?" Gaston said. "Mr. and Mrs. La'Belle, what's wrong? You look as if you've seen a ghost."
"You don't know the half of it," Peter replied, struggling to catch his breath.
"Mr. La'Belle is that you?" Mr. Le'Roux called out. "Come on in, have a seat."
Peter and Olivia walked over into the family room, taking a seat down on the couch in front of the fireplace. As soon as Mr. Le'Roux saw them come in, he noticed they looked to be in a state of grief.
"What's the matter?" Mr. Le'Roux asked. "Where's your son?"
"Please! Oh please, sir," Olivia cried. "We need your help! Frederick's been captured! She's got him locked in the dungeon!"
"Dungeon?" Mr. Le'Roux asked, removing his pipe.
"Yes!" Peter spoke. "Our son's being held prisoner in a castle! Please, we must save him! N- Not a minute to lose!"
Mr. Le'Roux stood up from his chair and turned to the butler near the door.
"Fetch me musket!" He shouted. "We must save the groom, at once!"
"Whoa!" Gaston said. "Slow down, Father."
Gaston cued the butler not to move from the door. Suspicious, Gaston approached the La'Belle family.
"Now, tell me. Who's got Frederick locked in a dungeon?"
"Well," Peter said, struggling to find the right words. "You're not going to believe this, but it was a… A… A… A-"
"A beast!" Olivia shouted, nearly jumping out of the couch. "A horrible, monstrous beast!""
The Le'Roux's sat silently for a long time, not sure what to think of it. Arms crossed, Gaston slowly approached the La'Belle's and from where they were seating they felt small compared to the man towering over them, as he looks down upon them.
"Let me get this straight," Gaston pondered. "Frederick disappears, a few days right before the wedding I might add, and the "only" excuse you can come up with is him being held prisoner by a beast?"
"Y-Y-Yes," Peter stuttered, not sure what to make of it.
Gaston smiled smugly, he had the La'Belle's where he wanted them.
"Sure… We'll help you out."
Then, Gaston began to urge The La'Belle's to the door.
"Well, thank you, Gaston!" Peter said. "Maybe Frederick was wrong about you. You're the nicest pers-"
Just then, Gaston opens the door and shoves Peter and Olivia out, knocking the couple onto the snow-covered ground and that smug smile turned into a frown.
"And stay out!"
Gaston slammed the door, rubbing his hands together as he made his way back to the living room. Mr. Le'Roux turned to see his son come back in, Gaston simply shaking his head at the scene.
"I always knew that the La'Belle's would go crazy. Doesn't that surprise you, father?"
"Nothing surprises me anymore, son," Mr. Le'Roux replied. "Except maybe your late mother." He slammed his fist onto the arm of his chair. "How could they do this to us? Insulting us with some poppycock of a tale about a beast in a castle. Do they not know who we are?"
"If you ask me, father, Freddy's run out on us with some other woman."
"… No. That's not like Frederick to do such a thing," Mr. Le'Roux said. "Frederick is a man of honor, he would "never" fancy himself with another maiden. He always keeps his word and he comes from a good family…"
Mr. Le'Roux turned to Gaston, who sees his father's expression turn to anger quickly.
"And YOU! You have the "gull" to throw out his parents like that, for no reason whatsoever! As crazy as their story sounded, they are our guests… And you did not treat them like guests. Remember: As the parents of the groom, Frederick's family is "our" family, TOO! And this is what you give as first impressions to them?"
"But father!" Gaston argued. "You can't possibly be saying you actually "believe" them? The groom a prisoner in a castle, owned by a beast? That's the talk of a nutcase!"
"Don't be so foolish, boy, there's no such a thing as a Beast," Mr. Le'Roux retorted. "However… A castle in the forest… I know about the castle."
"What do you mean?" Gaston asked.
"Years ago, this village was ruled by a Royal Family, who resided in a castle. They were good rulers, beloved by everyone in the village. But then one night, they just…disappeared. No motive, no reason, they were just…gone. Course, they never had enemies from the village or anywhere in the kingdom, so an attack on the kingdom was very unlikely. But for the La'Belle's to claim that their son is a prisoner in that very castle… It simply can't be possible. No one has lived there since the family's mysterious disappearance."
"What are you saying: That you think there's something lurking in the castle?"
"What I'm saying, Gaston, is that something strange is going on in the forest? The only clue we have to Frederick's whereabouts is the castle. That's why I'm asking "you" to hire some of the best trackers in France and start looking for him. Find the castle and you find our groom. Then, the wedding will go on as planned."
"Of course, Father. Consider it done. I happen to know just the men for the job."
Mr. Le'Roux nodded and with a flick of the wrist, he sent Gaston away, the son giving a bow and leaving the living room as the butler closed the door behind him. For a moment, Gaston stood outside the door, lost in his thoughts. He then took a deep breath and went to the other side of the first floor: The Trophy Room. Gaston closed the door behind him, locked the door with a key from his pocket. Gaston then sat down on a chair that was made from the remains of a bear.
"La'Belle… La'Belle… La'Belle! That's all I've heard all night is that wretched La'Belle name. What have they ever offered to my family? We barely even know them! And yet they expect ME to sort out "their" problems because "they" can't handle the pressure and because we offer them hospitality for "their" troubles? La'Belle… Nothing but nutcases, I've always thought them as such…"
Meanwhile, Peter helped Olivia off of the ground, brushing some snow off her body. Olivia leaned onto Peter, who feels nothing but angry for what just happened tonight.
"How dare that walking tree trunk throw us out of his house when we are in need help?"
Olivia was about to speak, but started coughing outrageously out of control. So out of control, that Olivia felt a pain on her chest and leaned on the manor wall before collapsing back into the snow.
"Olivia!" Peter felt her hand. "Oh, you're so cold… Don't worry, we'll find a Doctor and…"
Suddenly, Peter heard a voice coming from inside the house from that same wall. Judging from the sound of it, it sounded like a rant of sorts. Peter steadied Olivia onto the wall and leans by the window. He saw Gaston, who had since stood from his chair and had been pacing around the room talking to no one but himself.
"… And my father is just as mad! Feeling sorry for the La'Belle's, he even likes them more than me! I'm the most popular man in town, I'm the son of the most powerful family in France, and he, my own father, disrespects… Me! His only son! And it's all that Frederick's fault!"
He slammed his hand by the fireplace plating, which was made entirely out of gold. Gaston stared down at the fire, feeling it's heat wrap around his body.
"I should have ended this a long time ago, I should've just put him away when I had him in my grasp. Nonetheless… The plan will go on. So they find Frederick, big deal. The wedding goes on, everyone's happy… And when Frederick's all alone… He's mine. But the best part: Everyone will think it was an accident. No one will ever suspect me, these people love me and I practically have them in my grasp. Then, everything goes back to the way it was… A world without Frederick La'Belle. I'll stake my life for that…"
Gaston turned toward the plating, admiring his reflection along the plating. Just then, he noticed something was off. Gaston could see his face clearly, but then… He could also see another face. A face… Mr. La'Belle's face… Coming from the window. Gaston quickly turned around, but Mr. La'Belle was gone. Gaston hurried toward the window, but he didn't see either Peter or Olivia. But that only made it worse for Gaston… They know…
At that very moment, Peter practically had to carry Olivia back to the carriage. When Peter ran to Olivia, she had no time to ask and Peter just carried her away as far from the manor as quick as they could. When Jean-Luc attempted to ask, Peter just pushed the question aside and ordered him, if not pleaded, for him to take them back to the house. As soon as they returned home, Peter urged Jean-Luc inside the house and once they were inside, Peter gently aided Olivia to a nearby chair. The look on Peter's face made Jean-Luc see that something scared him.
"Master La'Belle, what's the matter?" Jean-Luc asked.
"… It's about Frederick… And Gaston…" Peter replied.
"What's wrong? Is everything all right?"
"… I think…our son is in trouble."