Thanks to XXPay4XtraShippingsXX and Sound of the Heavens for reviewing, to fearless-forever98, readmanga11, and sueariel for following my story, to Demonic Lil Angel 2.0 and charlesie for favoring B&B as well as ange fanel for favoring Ten Days.
Chapter 4: The Beast
After three days, Maurice had gotten back a small fortune to keep the family rather well for a good while, until his business would be up and running again.
Maurice had hugged all of this children good-bye and told Ludovic that he will have to take care of his sisters, even Belle and Jean. Jean would not let go of his father, crying hard and begging that he would not leave them. But he told him that he had to and removed his little boy from him.
Once he got to Belle, she hugged her father and said, "I will pray for you every day, I promise to never forget you and of the sacrifice that you made."
He then wiped away a tear from her face. "Oh my precious Belle. Now I know that I made the right choice in letting him take me instead of-"
Maurice stopped short, but his children had heard him. "Instead of who, Father?" asked Belle.
"Nothing. I meant nothing."
"It was something. And I bet I know what it is. It is Belle, isn't it?" asked Félicie.
"She is who the beast really wants isn't it? It's your entire fault! You had to have a rose, all as an act of modesty, and yet it has brought death!"
"Be still Adélaïde!"
"No, Father, they are right. It is all my fault and I only ask that I take the blame. Please forgive me, but it is the right thing to do." Belle tried to get to the horse, but Maurice stopped her.
"No Belle, you have your whole life ahead of you, I will not let this monster kill you."
"But perhaps he will spare me. If he was kind enough to have saved you from the wolves, then he must be able to make me his prisoner rather than kill me. But either way, I am going. There is no way to talk me out of it."
Maurice knew that it would be no use and so he gave Belle the horse and took his own and off they went to the Beast's castle. Jean had to be held back by Ludovic, but the little boy was not held back from crying for his lost sister.
Once they arrived, they had walked into the dining room, as the candles were lit again. "It looks as if we were expected."
"Yes, we were expected. Eat, Belle, the food is wonderful."
"Oh, good. I am starving."
They sat and ate in silence, waiting for the master of the castle to enter, but as dinner came to a close, no beast.
"I wonder where he is." Once she asked that, all the candles blew out, and the curtains drawn, leaving them in darkness. They reached across the table, making sure that they still were together, when a voice, rich, deep baritone like, had broken the darkness.
"Hello there."
"Who is it?" asked Belle.
"The master of the castle. Am I to presume that you are Belle?"
"Yes." She tried not to be afraid, but she was.
"Did you enjoy my rose?"
"It was the most beautiful rose I have ever seen, and I am now here to pay the price for picking such a fine rose."
"And you have come of your own free will?"
"Yes, because the rose was picked because of me. I would not allow my father to suffer a punishment that I deserve."
There was silence until the voice came to a conclusion, "I see just why her name means 'Beauty', and it isn't just for her face alone."
"Beast, she has a heart pure and gentle, and it is for this reason that I beg of you, spare the life of my daughter. She has never harmed a single soul, and deserves no death sentence upon her. Spare her please." Maurice started to cry, but Belle through the darkness went to her father's side and comforted him.
"Father, do not cry. You have other children besides me. You must think of them now, instead of me. They will need you more than I will."
The doors opened and light shone through, landing upon the merchant and his daughter. "It is time for you to leave, I now claim my prize."
Maurice stood and hugged his child once more and walked out. The dining room doors closed the moment that he stepped out and Belle was alone in the darkness. The windows were opened and the sunlight shone through the room. Belle looked around but there was no one there, and yet the voice spoke again.
"Belle, this is your castle now, and you the mistress of it. I will not harm you, and I suggest that you go to bed."
"And where am I to rest my head, good sir?"
"Just follow the lighted candles and you will find your way."
In an instant, she saw the candles lit and followed them up the stairs. They were not in normal candle holders, but what were holding them were rather golden arms that came from the wall, pointing with their candles juts where she must go.
She followed them down a corridor until they stopped at a door. She reached to open it, but they opened on their own. She looked in and took a step into her room and was amazed. It was a splendid room, indeed, for it had beautifully painted ceilings and a four poster bed with gold see through curtains. Beyond her room was a balcony that looked out to the gardens, with roses creeping up the bars.
She took off her cloak and sat upon her bed. She was trying to figure out just what to make of this place. There were no servants and yet she was waited upon, there was yet to have been any sign of the master of this castle, but she had heard his voice.
Belle decided to rest upon it, see what the next day would do for her.
In late of night, a shadow again appeared and it stood over the sleeping beauty, and just stared. The sudden urge to touch her cheek over came him, but at the last second, he removed his hand from her and hurried away into his own room.
Once he locked the door, he fell to the floor. And then he heard the Voice.
Fool! You could have had her, devoured her.
"No, I cannot kill her. She is good."
That is why you must! She will destroy you with her goodness. That pure heart will become the end of you, as well as your powers.
"She can't harm anyone. I am undefeated." He pulled out the small portrait and looked upon it.
I knew there was trouble when you bought that picture.
"It is a beautiful picture, and it is she."
Who?
"The woman from my dreams. I had always dreamt that a young girl would come and save me, and she is the one. The woman I fell in love with."
Stop this talk! You are a monster, a beast, and no woman, no matter how pure her heart is will save you. You belong to Me, to Darkness; that is all you will ever know.
"No, I can change, and she will save me. I know it. I know it."
Oh, so the Beast is the one to dream of Belle, rather the other way around. Hmm. I like it, what do you think? I made that one up; make it a nice change from things. Stay tuned for next Saturday!
