I am so sorry that I have kept you all waiting, I have been really busy here at home, computer was acting up on me and I hardly had a time to work on the story. Forgive me and enjoy this next chapter.
Chapter 7: Gabriel
Belle awoke the next morning, feeling much better and well rested. She remembered what had happened the day before and she had to wonder if it was all but a dream. Getting out of bed, she didn't feel the light headedness that she had the night before, but she did notice that she had cuts and bruises on her leg and her now torn dress had blood marks on it, most of which were on her back and looked like hand marks.
It must have been when he carried me, Belle thought. She prepared herself for breakfast, not only physically, but also mentally. If what happened yesterday was real and he really did look like as he did, Belle will have to prepare what was in store.
When she went down to eat, she had not heard nor seen her host. "Hello?" She had received no answer back. "Hello?" Nothing. So, she ate in silence, fearful now that she may have been living in a dream and she was truly alone.
Deciding to step out for some fresh air, she took a stroll in the garden to help clear her head. She had to admit that the garden was beautiful, but she was lonely.
"Good morning Belle."
She quickly spun around and saw the Beast. He didn't look so fearsome now, since he looked so happy to see her, and his voice was no longer gruff but back to its gentle way, and despite all of that, he was still very ugly.
"Good morning." Belle replied happily, knowing that she was no longer alone.
"How are you feeling?"
"Much better thank you."
"I am so sorry for frightening you the other night, and if I wish I could promise you that such an episode like that shall not happen again, but sadly I cannot, for this, being a beast is within my nature."
"Then change it." Belle suggested kindly.
"Oh no," Beast answered sadly, "I am afraid that I cannot."
"Have you ever tried?"
This caught the Beast off guard, and he could only answer truthfully, "No, I haven't. Will you help me?"
"I shall, and it shan't be too difficult, for a beast you are a brilliant one. Animals are meant to be dumber than humans and they are unable to change their ways, you may have the features of many animals, but your mind is that of a human. Neither man nor beast, but you do have the power to better yourself, if you wish it."
Excitingly the Beast declared, "I do, I do very much wish it!"
Belle giggled and continued, "That is the spirit! Well, first things first, we can't continue to call you Beast." She sat down upon a garden bench and asked, "What is your name?"
The Beast turned sullen and without looking into Belle's eyes he answered, "I never had a name."
"What? Of course you do. Your parents had to have given you a name when you were born."
"If I had one, I do not remember it."
"Very well, then we shall have to come up with a name for you. Is there a name that you like?"
The Beast smiled and still without looking into Belle's eyes answered, "Belle."
She laughed and replied, "No silly, a name that you would like to call yourself."
He thought for a moment and then shook his head in disappointment. "I can't think of anything."
"Then I shall help you out. What do you think of, Jacques?"
The Beast made a face and said, "No."
"How about Pierre?"
"No."
"Um, hmm, well it is difficult to think of a name for you and one mustn't be too hasty with names, after all they stay with you all your life."
"Oh, how about Gaston?"
Belle shook her head and made a rather disgusted look.
"Why?" The Beast dared to sit next to her, but she made no motion to leave. "What is the matter?"
"I know someone by that name and they are terrible human being. Not an appropriate name for you." She then gasped and made a triumphant clap and happily announced, "I believe I have the perfect name for you."
"Truly? Please tell."
"How about Gabriel?"
The Beast gave a pondering smile and whispered the name. "I like it, I like it very much indeed. Belle, you are a genius."
She laughed as he stood and bowed to her. "Oh stop, I am hardly a genius. Part of picking a name is simple, one must see it within the face."
"This face," the Beast turned sullen again, "Screams 'Beast'."
"I will not deny that your logic would make you correct, but I found your name within your eyes, your actions, surely these things do not make you monstrous. And so, you are Gabriel, and not Beast."
The Beast looked over at her and saw the truth within her; she really did believe that this was so.
"If only people could see that. I have no skills when it comes to people."
"What about me?"
"You, I don't know, you are just so comfortable to be near, that I forget that I know nothing. I would lose my nerve if I ever spoke to anyone else."
This gave Belle an idea.
"Then let us teach you how.
~~~~~~~00000000~~~~~~~~~~~
Gaston marched up to Maurice's new home, which was not as grand as his old one, but much better than that miserable shack he used to live in, and pounded on his door.
A servant opened and before they could say anything, he barged in, pushing them aside and yelling, "Maurice, get down here you bastard!"
Maurice hurried down and asked rather surprisingly "My Lord, what brings you here?"
"You lied to me you scum! There is no aunt!"
At this moment, there are servants and the children poking their heads out and trying to hear without detection.
Maurice lead the steaming mad Marqius into the parlor and locked the doors.
"I went to seek out your daughter, so I went to see where your sister would be and you know what I found? No sister! You are an only child! You lied to me!"
"I hadn't meant my sister," Maurice tried to laugh off, "I meant my wife's, yes, my wife's sister."
"Well, unless she came out of the depths of the ocean to play hostess to your daughter, I am inclined to think otherwise. The only sister that she had drowned! Maurice, you better tell me what is going on here, or else I will take away everything you have just gained and more!"
Maurice sighs and whispered, "I will tell you, but you must not tell anyone and you must believe everything I say."
"Why are you whispering you fool!" Gaston shouted.
He shushed him and whispered once again, "Please my lord, let me explain."
Maurice explained everything, although he omitted what the Beast looked like, but he did refer to Belle's captor as "the Beast". Gaston had thought that Maurice hadn't meant it literally, but believed that he meant an evil man, and this amused Gaston.
"My dear friend, just tell me where this so called 'Beast' lives and I shall save your daughter."
"My lord, I swear that it is indeed a Beast, and I do not dare to allow you to go to him, he surely shall destroy you!"
Gaston laughed, "No man is that powerful!"
"But this is not a man! He is a beast!"
"Of course he is! Any man who dares to bargain a man out of a daughter is a beast indeed. Now, if you excuse me, I must be off, but thank you for such an amusing tale, quite enjoyed it." And with that, Gaston left.
Maurice still standing in his parlor felt a small go into his, and without looking at his son, he asked, "Jean, don't ever doubt that there are beasts in this world and there are two kinds, one of them holds your sister captive, the other just walked out this door."
Thanks to Joni Smith Mz-CrayZ MaggieBeth14, rebekabandraoi, JustOneMorePerson, Princess Gakoshi, NIGHTANGEL21, youmeandlokid, Kiara Silverwolf, Peyton-rosalie, lopeaup for favoring me, following and/or reviewing me. And thank you all for your patience! I am currently working on the next chapter and as long as nothing happens this week, I might be able to put up the next chapter, keep your fingers crossed!
