A Villager's Tale

By Kittyhawk09

Chapter 5: Vincent Awakes

Author's Note: Welcome to the next chapter of A Villager's Tale. Thank you so much to TrudiRose, Lily, and Jonny2b for reviewing the last chapter. I hope chapter 5 is worth the wait. By the way, what are your impressions of Vincent and Ari so far? Also taking that into account, what do you think will happen next? Please PM me with your thoughts. Enjoy this chapter and thanks for your time.

-Kittyhawk09

Disclaimer: I do not own Disney's Beauty and the Beast. I only own the characters you don't recognize.

The first thing Vincent noticed was bright sunlight. For a second all he could see was the harsh light, but then slowly a hazy world came into his view. He blinked a few times and tried to focus his eyes.

Where am I? he wondered as his eyes took in the blue sky above him.

Judging from what he could see with his unclear vision, he was outside, but not in any familiar place. He was under a clear sky, but a bush obstructed his vision on one side and a stone wall obstructed the other. Vincent turned and craned his head to try to see more, but stopped suddenly when he felt a flash of pain go through his neck and shoulders.

He slowly turned his stiff head back to its original position and stared up at a blue sky. Then out of the corner of his eye he saw movement.

He took a deep breath and slowly sat up. Pain and stiffness gripped his body, but he continued to try to sit up. Eventually he succeeded. Vincent crawled shakily around the bush, and silently glanced around again, but this time he saw nothing.

After taking another breath, Vincent reached over grabbed a hold of the stone in the wall above him. He tightened his grip on the stone, put pressure on his knees, and forced himself to stand with a groan. Soon, he found himself on his feet with only a slight lingering discomfort.

He turned from the wall and walked the opposite direction. As he walked further away, the sunlight became brighter and he began to hear the sounds of loud morning birds and other animals.

He covered his ears as dizziness started to overtake his senses. He quickened his pace and then stopped suddenly. Where am I headed? he thought. Then another frenzied thought hit him. I'm still at the beast's castle!

Vincent's heart dropped as anxiety started to set in. If I'm at the castle, he thought, where is everyone else? Why am I the only one here?

Immediately a malicious answer came to him. They left you. A voice sneered mentally.

"Did they really leave me here, alone?" Vincent said aloud. "Did they kill the beast without me and leave? Or is it…is it still…alive?"

Vincent shivered and glanced around him, as if the beast was there watching him.

If the beast is as bad as the things in his castle, then I shouldn't stay long. "Fearful images of blurred color flashed before Vincent's eyes in a hazy, dreamlike way. He couldn't seem to recall anything solid or clear from the night before. All he remembered was his own feelings of terror and horror. Through his frustration, a curious thought entered his head. I wonder, was the castle as bad as I remember? Vincent searched his mind for any thoughts of what the castle had looked like, but all he recalled were dreams of demon objects and even those were unclear and distant. Demon objects? he thought. Did I really see demon objects last night or did I only dream about them?

As doubts swirled in his mind, Vincent turned back to study the castle of his nightmares. However, unlike the horrible, dark nightmare from his dreams, in the daylight this castle was a work of art.

Vincent' mouth dropped open as he really saw this castle for the first time. His eyes drank in the marble walls; the gold embellishments glinting in the sunlight, and the way the distant mountains framed the silhouette. The castle glowed with beauty. Everything about it was light and elegance.

Still, Vincent felt uneasy in its presence. The polished oak doors were far above what he had ever seen before. They seemed to belong to another time. Gold embellishments that seemed to glint seconds before, now glared at him with superiority and hatred.

Despite how foolish it sounded, Vincent was sure that the castle didn't want him here. He also didn't feel like staying around to find out why.

As he started to back up, his thoughts turned towards home. Mama is waiting for me at home. She would kill me if I missed my chores, he thought. I need to get home to feed the animals and clean out their pens.

These thoughts of responsibility did not bring a pleasant feeling. Vincent stopped backing up for a moment and gazed back up at the castle. As he gazed at the grand, gilded building. temptation began to begin inside of him.

This is the only time I'll ever be near a castle again, he mused to himself. If I go home now, I'll wish I had stayed. I don't need to stay long…just until I see it.

His thoughts came one after another and his plan began to take shape before his eyes.

Gaston most likely took care of the beast and the men left without me, so I'll take one look inside the empty castle and then I'll leave.

Empowered by this thought, Vincent strode up to the wooden door, bubbling over anticipation. When he reached the wooden door he stood a couple of moments before it hesitating.

He glanced back at the path away from the castle. A voice in his mind urged him to leave. You're in danger here! Go home before you regret it!

Deep down Vincent knew the voice was right. He turned away from the door with difficulty and walked back down the steps.

Then suddenly, he changed his mind. I've come too far NOT to see it, he told himself, and ran back to the door.

After taking a moment to catch his breath and ignore the stiffness developing in his legs, he looked back up at the heavy oaken door. He swept his eyes over it, looking for a place to enter. Finally he noticed that the door was slightly ajar, and if he squeezed himself though while pushing slightly, he could make it.

I'd have to squeeze a little, but I could do it, he reasoned with himself.

As he positioned his body in front of the opening in the door, a desperate thought came to him. It's not too late to leave. Go home and be safe!

After hesitating a bit, he took a breath and answered the thought with his own. I can't. Steeling himself and the butterflies in his stomach, Vincent slipped through the opening.

Once he was in the castle, he swept his eyes over his surroundings. He was in a large entrance hall with elaborate gilded furnishings and large windows.

The room was unfamiliar, but an uncomfortable feeling nagged at Vincent. I'm sure I've been here before. He stared at marbled angels decorating the entry way and his mouth gaped at the rich decoration, the plush carpets, and the magnificent table.

"Is this how kings live?" he remarked aloud.

As if his feet had a mind of their own, he crossed the marble floors and reached out and touched the runner on the entry table. The material was soft and smooth with a silky finish. Vincent stood in awe as he held the material. Next he turned away and examined the rest of the hall. He walked towards the windows.

Suddenly he heard a creaking sound off to his right. He stiffened and then stumbled back from the windows and froze as a large door began to open.

Immediately he realized his exposed position and darted away from the door, scanning the open room helplessly. Thoughts raced through his mind.

I need to hide! Could I go back towards the exit? No, I would never make it…How about the curtains? No, I would certainly be seen…Under the entry table?

The door creaked again and the gap between the door and the doorway continued to widen.

I'm out of time! his mind screamed.

On sheer impulse he raced over the floor and slid under the entry table. As he was tucking his legs under him and curling into a ball, he heard the door creak open and voices enter the room.