Thanks for all of you! I had a commenter, TheLilyReviwer, ask if I could make an author's note of all the versions that I used, and I promise that I will. I will list all the versions I used, where they can be found and what I had used from these versions.
Chapter 11: Good and Evil
It has been two months since Gaston had seen Belle, and with all his spies, he could not find her anywhere. He had searched all the neighboring town for her, see where this sick aunt might be. But as he learned, there was no aunt that is in relation to Belle. So that begs the question, where is Belle?
He was running around like a madman when he was looking for Belle; Belle, a former lady, a country girl, the consent obsession he couldn't shake. When he first meet her, he tried to forget her as if he had never seen her with other women, but then he noticed that the only women he would have would have to look similar to Belle, and then, it became that he only wanted Belle, becoming a celibate for many months, wanting only her.
How he met her was very unoriginal, at a party of a friend of a friend, but what was original to him was his reaction to him. He was often used to the ladies succumbing to his charms, or even playfully teasing him into temptation, but Belle out right rejected him. He recalled her sisters, but he noticed Belle amongst others, and he remembered that night very well.
He was often invited to these parties, and often found a dull lover in during these events, but he spotted a new and beautiful conquest. She was wearing a light blue gown, and all he could think of is how much better it would look if it was on the ground.
He boldly went up to her and introduced himself. "Good evening. I don't always do this, but I am Marquis Gaston Le Gume. And your name my dearest?"
Belle was certainly disturbed that this man could just come to her and introduce himself without anyone to introduce him, but still, she was polite and answered, "My name is Belle du Bois."
She tried to turn away, but Gaston was persistent, he wouldn't usually thought that girls younger than him were interesting, but this 15 year old, soon to be 16, was absolutely charming, and quite fitting for her name.
"I am here for a friend. Poor friend, he is quite wealthy but not as high in society as I am. Also, I heard that his elder children are a disgrace."
"They may be silly creatures, but not a disgrace, sir."
He laughed, "Oh my dear child. You know not of the sins of humans." He reached for a curl from her forehead and said, "You certainly a sin, my dear, but a sin I would most certainly would let myself go to Hell for." He meant to lean in to kiss, but was given a slap.
Everyone looked as she cried out, "How dare you!"
Maurice hurried up to his daughter, "My dear what is it?"
"This monstrous man tried to kiss me, and just before, he dared to insult our family to my face! He was a rouge and a charlatan, and I shall have none of him!"
She stormed out, with Gaston struck with the thought that she was Maurice's daughter, and how he ruined his chance to have his way with her. Maurice had not thrown him out, but apologized on his daughter's behalf, but Gaston brushed it off, thinking he could just forget her.
But he could not.
He needed her, wanted her, but knew that after that incident, he had to think of a way to get her to willingly succumb to her, and he knew she wouldn't until she was forced into it, and he knew she would do anything for family.
He arranged that Maurice would lose his fortune with free-lance pirates, and soon, after they had lost their fortune, he visited Belle.
When he found himself completely at her mercy, he went to the country and happily found her alone.
"Oh, Marquis, please forgive my appearance, I had no idea you were coming. My siblings are in town and my father and younger brother are out fishing. Would you like me to tell them you were here?"
He chose to stay, not knowing when he'll have this chance again to be alone with her. She went back to washing the floor, but was stopped when Gaston kneeled next to her and said, "Belle, you do not deserve to be washing floors." The floor was newly washed and waxed that there was a slight reflection, prompting Gaston to say, "Even the floor longs to be your mirror."
Looking at her more, she had changed, matured. Her dress was looser, but it gave him a chance to look upon her natural figure more, her breast were peeking out subtly, that he gripped his cane to prevent himself from gripping those breasts.
"Why don't your sisters ever wash floors as you do?"
"Because they are too beautiful and their hands are too white."
"Belle, you are the most beautiful of them all, and your hands," he continued as he held her hand, "So small and white, and perfect. You must know that you are more beautiful than all of them combine. Don't you know how beautiful you are, how desirable you are? A great man would pay dearly for you, enough to pay anything you could need."
He noticed that Belle realized what he was saying, and standing up to move away from him, she answered, and "I shall not shame my family by doing any such thing. My father has my fate in his hands. You do not."
Before he could do anything to repute that, Jean came in and, with a glare at this situation; Jean rushed to his sister, threw his arms around her and made sure that Gaston came nowhere near his sister.
Gaston knew that he would not be able to coerce her into being his mistress, but as his wife, and who wouldn't want so beautiful a wife?
He was awaken by the sound of a servant to say that someone in town had seen a man who looked like Maurice with a young woman, no doubt Belle, had went into the deep woods in the dead of night.
Even though one man had recalled this, it was still better than no news. He feared not the forest, but would like to hear more of this forest, so he may then become the fairytale hero and rescue the fair maiden and save the day. Indeed, he fancied himself as the hero, and his reward Belle, whether she liked it or not.
Belle was surprised to see the Enchanted Lady again after two months.
"Foolish girl," she said, clearly upset. "Do you truly believe his disguise of being good? He is always what he was born to be, a beast."
Belle rose to defend him. "His name is Gabriel, and he was not born a beast, but a human being. If you knew how he truly was like, you would never say such things, and unlike you, I know his soul, and it is much more beautiful than any face I have ever seen!"
The Enchanted Lady went closer to Belle, almost face to face. "You would be wise to listen to what I have to say. I promise you, he will never let you go."
And with that she disappeared.
Belle thought about what she said, and realized that she missed her father and brother, and wondered if he would truly let her go. Don't be silly, she thought to herself, he would, he is not a beast.
She went to her balcony to feel the cool air against her hot skin. She wasn't out there for long when she heard a voice say, "Cheer up my dear. She has always told lies."
Belle turned around and found another enchanted lady, this one had black hair, with orange tips, in an orange dress and orange eyes, and still, in her odd appearance, Belle thought her very beautiful.
"Who are you?"
"Unfortuantly, her sister, the less terrifying one. But I cannot say too much, except, oh Belle, sweet Belle. You must continue to be kind to Gabriel, for it has been long since he has been a human, and you have been the only one willing to save him. Never falter, no matter what she says."
She then placed a kiss upon Belle's forehead and whispered, "God Bless, my dear." And was gone.
Belle certainly felt confused and thought all of this odd. But at least she had someone else think that he was a good man. She felt protected by her kiss, or sleepy, she wasn't sure, as she drifted to her bed and slept soundly, as if none of this had happened.
Lela watched as Belle fell asleep, and once she knew she was safe, she decided that now, more than ever she should face Livia.
Lela had kept herself invisible all these years, taking care of the poor forgotten child who grew up as a beast, who grew into a man, who she hoped, would soon become his true form once more. She refused to let anyone, including her sister, to spoil these proceedings; her cruelty has gone on far too long.
She found her sister waiting for her in the forest, the only place that was far enough from the castle, but not too far. They stared at each other for a few silent moments, knowing what the other had to say, but wondering who would say it first. Lela decided she should.
"This has gone on quite long enough, you must let him free."
Livia laughed, "You think you can just tell me to do something and I will do it? I am having too much fun with this. It is the only thing that keeps me amused. It is that girl that must let him free, she is too clingy to him."
"If love is a fault in you, then I wonder why you wanted his father in the first place. That is why you placed the curse on his son, isn't it?"
Livia knew she would bring that up, it now hadn't hurt her anymore, that pain was now numb.
"It was, but that is not what we are talking about now. That girl needs to go!" she threatened. "She has turned his head and makes him forget his self-loathing, which was all he had before he had her. Now his mind is filled with joy and hope, I can no longer get into his head. Nearly had him kill her that first night, but you had to stop him."
"I stopped you." Lela corrected, "I know you don't mind killing an innocent, but Gabriel couldn't. It would have destroyed him too, he would have become what you have tried so long to convince."
"And he is! It is through his father that he had become a beast."
"No, it was all you. You couldn't let him alone; you had to punish him in the most miserable of ways, had his wife die from sorrows and a painful birth, and then you made his father waste away. Have they all not suffered enough? Can't you let this one go free?"
"No!" she screamed, "I cannot! His father insulated me when he refused my love, and by marrying that simpering Sheppard girl. Did you know that after her death, he came to me? He came crawling on his hands and knees, begging me to lift the curse. 'Take what you want of me, but please spare my son, he is innocent and means no harm to anyone, I was late to see it now. Please, save him.'
"I laughed at him, poor fool, he thought I would want him as a sniveling child. I laughed at him and told him that I refuse him. He should have choose me when he had the chance, but now, he must wait until his son receives the love that his father never gave him, and that will be never. He nearly died on the spot."
Lela was silent for a moment then said, "He did die." Livia seemed surprised. "I buried him next to his wife, his love."
Livia kept silent, she hadn't realized that she killed him, the man she longed for.
"You must truly be a bitter creature to cause so much misery. But it will soon be all over, Belle will be the one to save him, cure him of your curse and restore humanity to him."
Livia smirked and said, "We will see. Fear is greater than love, and I shall not have to depend upon Belle's fear to achieve what I want."
"What do you mean?" Lela asked, trying to hide her worry.
Livia laughed coldly, and threatened, "Never you mind your pretty head about it. I will let it be a surprise."
With that, she vanished.
Livia may not have gotten into Belle's head, but she had listened to their conversations, and she remembered something that Belle said that she knew would be to her advantage.
Going into town, she disguised herself as an old crone and knocked on the huge doors, and was met by a maid.
"Madam, I am afraid that the Marquis is not giving any scraps today, those are his strict orders."
"Oh, but wait!" she said in her best crackling crone's voice, "I have some news that might very well be of interest of the good lord, in relation of a young lady."
The maid sighed, "The Marquis has known many of women, but who is the one you speak of?"
She grinned and said, "Belle du Bois."
Dundundunnnnn! Uh oh, what will happen next? Thanks to lilaleo1, Sylxx, xxxMadameMysteryxxx, lavadiamond10, yellowcallalilly, brittanybblair, Eruaistaniel, TheScaryLittleGhostGirl, Obscured Angel (in regards, to your question, it will be answered in my author's note at the end of the story, but that is something new I learned today, thanks!) Hollowzo and Dragonlilo. Thank you all, again.
