Author's Note: Welcome to the second chapter of A Villager's Tale. Thank you to TrudiRose my Beta for this chapter. Enjoy and don't forget to review. Thank you for your time.

-Kittyhawk09

Vincent raced home as fast as he could. He stopped when he reached a farmhouse with windows lit up by the light of candles. He opened the door, raced through it, slammed it, and started searching the house.

"Mama, where's the lantern?" he called as he continued racing around and opening cabinets

"Vincent, where have you been? And why are you making so much noise?" a voice called through the room.

"Mama, I don't have time to talk. Where's the lantern?" He shut the cabinets, got down on the floor, and started searching under the chairs. He heard a splash and footsteps approaching. They came closer and closer and then stopped right in front of him. He quickly jumped up and turned to face his mother.

Ari Teuleres was a woman of medium height with reddish-brown hair neatly piled up on her head. Her face was nothing extraordinary, but she was a handsome woman with strong features, and her eyes shone with intelligence. Currently those intelligent eyes were scrutinizing Vincent. He watched as she crossed her arms and looked him in the eyes.

"And where would you be going off to at this time, young man?"

Vincent gulped and took a breath. "Mama-I don't have time. There's a-" He started panting and holding his chest while his lack of patience started to affect him. "-and I need to go with Gaston to-"

"Vincent, what will I do with you?" Ari sighed and shook her head. "If you wanted to go on a hunting trip with Gaston-"

"No, Mama, everyone's going to be there!"

"And so you have to go?"

Vincent nodded his head rapidly.

She took a deep breath. "Well, I suppose you can go, after you finish your chores of course, but couldn't you have waited till morning to ask me?"

Vincent's eyes widened. "No! I have to leave tonight."

His mother put her hands on her hips and lifted an eyebrow.

"Vincent, what animal could you possible want to hunt with Gaston and the rest of the town that you couldn't hunt in the morning?"

She watched her son's eyes become earnest and he delivered the words fearfully.

"A beast."

Ari noted the seriousness of her son's face and she grew concerned for him. What animal could have spooked him so much? She walked over and sat down on a chair, gesturing for him to do the same. Reluctantly he did.

"Why is this beast so important this evening?" She was concerned for her son. Why would Gaston organize a village event in the middle of the night? Vincent did not satisfy her curiosity with his reply.

He reached for her hands in his. "Mama, he will make off with women and children. He will kill animals. It's a man's duty to stop him."

This answer strengthened her fear for her son. "Vincent, please listen to me. You are only sixteen and I can't let you go off in the middle of night with strange men to a beast at 10 o'clock at night! You have chores in the morning."

"But Mama, this isn't just any beast! This is a demon beast that captured Belle-"

"The inventor's daughter?"

"-captured Belle and convinced her that Gaston is a monster." The boy continued talking as if she had never interrupted him.

"Well, I wouldn't call Gaston a monster, but he is a bit of a-"

Vincent was really getting into his story and didn't hear his mother's comments were not heard by him.

"She showed Gaston a magic mirror and told him she could prove he wasn't a monster. Belle was so blind and the minute the beast appeared on the mirror he was roaring with an inhuman rage. Gaston tried to convince her. He thinks she's beautiful, but I think she's crazy to not like Gaston. Why would she do that?"

"I can think of a few reasons," his mother muttered.

"So you see, mama, I need to join the men in the fight to kill the beast! It's my duty as a citizen."

"Vincent, no! I don't want you hunting after any beast at this time of night. I am tired of discussing this. You are going to clean up, go straight to bed, and stay away from that beast's den." She got up from the chair and pulled Vincent with her. "Now that I consider it, stay away from Gaston too. Stay away from him and it and I don't want to hear any more of this beast business!" She took her hands off Vincent and walked back toward the kitchen and began to pick up dishes to wash.

"But Mama," Vincent whined as he followed her into the kitchen. "I have to go! All the men are going to be a part of a procession and march up to the beast's castle! I have to be there. They will need everyone available to drag the carcass back to the village."

At the word "castle," Ari froze. Vincent noticed and moved closer towards her, confused. She had stopped cleaning and was standing still. He leaned over to meet her eyes. Her face had lost colour and her eyes were distant. He went to comfort her, but she flinched. He pulled his hand back, even more baffled.

Suddenly Ari gripped his hand tightly with both of hers. The dishes she had been holding clanged to the floor, unnoticed. Instantly Vincent tried to squirm away but she held on to him tightly, and her fevered eyes stared deep into his. He shuddered and tried to look away, but she grabbed his chin and forced him to meet her eyes. Then she spoke and her voice cracked.

"Did you...did you say castle? A beast in a castle?"

Fear grabbed his heart as he took in her face. Her blue eyes were wide and in shock, as if he had kicked her in the stomach.

"Mama, are you all right?"

He watched her take a breath and close her eyes. When she opened them again she gave him a sad smile and gently moved a piece of hair from his face.

"My brave boy, I have decided that you may go with Gaston and the other men to kill that monster."

"What?" Vincent was thrilled, but even more confused.

"I changed my mind," she said slowly. "It is important that you go tonight. The beast...the beast must be killed. No one is safe now. Not even the most innocent child is safe while that beast remains in the castle." She glared at the door as if the beast was there. Then she turned and put her hands on Vincent's shoulders. "And you, my brave boy, will help Gaston kill it once and for all." She turned and left the room.

"Mama, what do you mean? I don't understand," he called after her. In a couple seconds she returned with the lantern and I small box of matches.

"You don't have to understand, Vincent. You just have to know that I'm letting you go. Here are the lantern and matches." She handed him the items and retrieved a saddlebag to give him.

"Thank you, Mama," he said as he took the items. "I won't let the village down. I promise."

The woman tried her best to smile. She wanted to tell him that he didn't understand. He was too young. Too young just like-

"Mama, where's my cloak?"

"It's on the chair where you threw it yesterday," she said gesturing to a chair in the corner.

He retrieved it and slipped it over his head. "I won't let you or the village down. That beast will die tonight!" With that exclamation he raced over to the door, but then ran back to peck his mother on the cheek. Then he grabbed his provisions and raced out the door. His mother also ran to the door and watched him as he saddled and mounted his horse Louis.

As he started to ride off, his mother turned towards the door and started to go in, but then a thought struck her. She raced back over to the horse while signaling him to wait.

"Wait, Vincent! Drag the carcass, join the procession, and do whatever else in heaven's name you want, but stay away from that monster beast! Leave it to Gaston and stay safe."

"Yes, Mama, don't worry! I'll be back tomorrow and we can talk about the hunt over dinner." He kicked the horse and was immediately racing away.

"Bye, Vincent. Please stay safe!" she shouted after him. "May God keep you safe. I can't afford to lose another person," she muttered darkly. "Especially to that beast. Why did it have to be that beast my son would go to kill? Why couldn't it have been anything else?"

The wind gusted around her and she realized she was standing in the cold, at bedtime, staring off into the distance, and talking to herself. "I must be out of my mind to do something like this."

Muttering about her lack of good sense, she walked back into the house and shut the door. After taking off her apron, she splashed her face with cold water and headed to bed. As she closed her eyes all she could see was an image of a dark-haired boy laying still against the couch with dead brown eyes staring lifelessly back at her. She shuddered. "No not Vincent. Please not Vincent. Please Vincent, be safe. Please be safe."

AN: Well what did you think? Don't forget to review and tell me your thoughts. What is your impression of Ari Teuleres? What do you think will happen? Do you think I should come up with chapter titles? REVIEW