Chapter 15: The Ring
Belle's time was drawing nearer to returning to Gabriel. She often would say home in her head, but then felt guilty to call it home, since here was her family, and were they not also their home?
She was also fearful of leaving Jean alone with Gaston, for she knew just hoe persistent he could be, and poor Jean is only a boy.
It was the day before she had to go, and she made sure she spent it all with her father and brother, and it was very happy indeed. She was in her garden, tending to the roses that reminded her of her Gabriel, when Jean came up to her, asking if she needed help.
They sat for a moment until Jean asked, "Belle, are you leaving us soon?"
"Yes, I promised him. But I am sure that he will let me return, seeing how I kept my promise to him. I am sure it shall be very soon that I may return. I promise."
"But how will you get back?"
"You remember the ring? At the moment it is hidden, but it is what brought me here, and it shall be the thing that will take me back. Promise not to tell anyone about the ring, it could be very dangerous if they knew."
Jean promised and continued to spend whatever time he could with her.
Ludovic watched the two and with an observant tone he said, "They have been spending even more time together then they have these past few days."
"Well, they are blood after all, seems that that means more to her than anything else." Replied Adélaïde with a bored air.
"No, there is something else, it is as if they are going to be parted again." Ludovic turned thoughtful and then said, "Of course. She is leaving again to return to that beast."
"Good riddance I say, she has been nothing but trouble since she has returned." Félicie noted.
"Gaston will want to know."
"Honestly, what does he see in her?" Adélaïde fussed, "Félicie and I are twice more beautiful, and we are the oldest, we ought to be married first anyhow. And so what he if has to know she is leaving, he still has us."
"Well, he doesn't want you, he wants her. And besides, who says that she has to go?"
The sisters looked at each other then asked, "What do you mean?"
"Think of it, that beast has insurmountable wealth, and Belle was going back to keep for herself, but if this beast died, then his wealth would be ours."
This sent their minds racing and plotting. The sisters were to vain to attempt tears on Belle, knowing that they would be soon discovered, and seeing how father is much better, there was nothing they had, except the ring.
"She always has that stupid ring on her finger, how could we get it?"
"It is not on her finger now. She hides it in a clay pot, in the barn. As if she was afraid to scratch that precious ring of hers. But, if she is attached to that ring, she wouldn't go back without it."
The door opened and Gaston burst in. "Any information?"
"We have an idea milord, if you would be so inclined."
Ludovic told them all what he had in mind, that someone goes to the beast's castle to kill him, while the rest holds Belle back from returning, and make her feel guilty and alone that she would have nothing else but to marry Gaston.
Quite pleased with this plan, Gaston volunteered himself to face the beast, seeing how he had the most experience in fighting, while the others held Belle back.
"There is only one flaw in your oh so brilliant plan, how is he going to find his way back?"
"You leave that to me, just take care of getting that ring, Belle must not see you take it. I shall be back tomorrow, and we shall all receive what we want most."
He left them in a confused moment, but they trusted the Marquis, and set to steal the ring.
Gaston rushed back to his home to call upon the old woman, she knew the way back, and she wanted the beast dead more than anyone.
"I am here."
"And I am ready."
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"Father! Father!" Maurice could hear Belle's cries from outside and hurried down the stairs to be caught by his daughter's weeping face. "Father! My ring it is gone!"
"What? Are you sure you hadn't misplaced it?"
"No, never, it was always underneath the pot I always hid it in, someone stole it!"
Maurice pulled his daughter in and hugged her tightly. Jean entered and caught his father saying, "It will turn up, I am sure of it, give it a few days and it will come back."
"Oh, Father, I don't have a few days!" She wept even harder.
"What do you mean?"
"That ring is what brought her here, Father," Jean answered when the poor Belle cried, "And it is the only thing that will take her back."
Maurice suddenly filled with anger, called his other children down, "Adélaïde, Félicie and Ludovic! Get down here, NOW!"
They hurried down the stairs with worried expressions on their faces, never hearing their father ever sounding angry before.
"Now, I know that one of you knows what happened here. And you all will stay here until someone cracks."
No one said anything.
"Answer me!"
They jumped and Adélaïde tried to talk her way out. "Oh Father, what would we want with a ring like that? We all ready have many fine things of our own. It isn't our fault that Belle was foolish enough to leave her ring underneath a clay pot in the barn."
Ludovic groaned and Belle's eyes widened. "How did you know that?"
Adélaïde stiffened and asked nervously, "Doesn't everyone leave rings under clay pots?"
"Adélaïde, please give me back my ring! I need to get back to him!"
Félicie then yelled back at her, "So, that loathsome beast is more important to you than family!"
"That 'loathsome beast' never lied to me, he has always been the kindest sweetest most considerate person I have ever met, and I would always choose to be with him than to ever come back to you selfish beasts!"
Belle ran out with the trio laughing behind her. Maurice glared at them, "I am very much ashamed of you. Your mother must be rolling in her grave." With an arm around his young son's shoulder, they walked out of the room.
"Jean, I know you to be a great little sneak, when it comes to Belle, be sure to watch them, and get that ring back. Understand?"
Jean nodded and ran off.
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Gabriel grew wary of being in the dining room, he needed to wander around; walking helps his mind to wander.
He went to her room, needing to be near her, he looked around her room and let his hand pass over her vanity, dresser, her bed.
Whatever made him do it, he felt the need to take hold of the sheet and press it up against his beak and took in her lingering scent. She smelled like roses, oh god, where is she!
She promised, and he fell for it. Why would she have wanted to stay, she took what she wanted, she is now home, and served her sentence, she is beyond his reach.
He knew it was too good to be true, for who could have ever loved a beast?
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The day was growing dark and Belle was near out of her wits. Jean waited and watched them hoping to see the ring, but they were crafty, they pass hands and took turns in holding the ring. But they had one flaw in their plan, one of them was bound to mess up.
Félicie had always had an admiration for pretty shiny things, and once she was on her own, she took to taking time to admire her ring, which was dying out in color, and turned into a gray color.
Quick as a cat, Jean rushed and snatched the ring. Félicie shouted for her sister and brother to help her, while Maurice, in his great infinite timing, just opened the back door and locked it before the three could get to him.
He watched as his three eldest fidget and scramble to open the door, until Ludovic shouted, "Quick, through the front door!" They all ran away.
"You'll never make it." Maurice uttered with a smile. "To the devil with you three."
Jean found Belle sobbing in the hay, defeated and worn. He nearly tripped onto her, with the ring tight in his hands.
"Jean, you brilliant wonderful little boy!" She kissed his cheek and was just about to put the ring on, when the barn door broke down and the three came staggering after them.
"Give us the ring Belle."
"No, it belongs to me."
"Give us the ring," Ludovic threatened, and then in a second, he snatched Jean into his arms, "Or else your precious brother will suffer."
"Don't do it Belle, go back to him!"
Belle, with a smirk said, "Take it then."
Ludovic looked at her in amazement, "Don't you love that ring?"
"You want it more."
Jean wrangled out of his grasp and hide behind Belle. "What is the price?"
"No price, just know that if you are to take the ring, you risk being taken back to him."
Félicie and Adélaïde took steps back away from her, fearful that just being in the same space as her would transport them.
Ludovic gave a nervous chuckle. "You do not mean that."
"This is why I wanted it back so much. And thanks to Jean, I will go back. And let me just tell you, where I go, I have magic beyond your wildest imaginations, and I will know what you do, and whom you hurt. If I hear or see that you have harmed Jean or Father, I will know, and then you will know how much power Gabriel has."
Félicie cried out, "You couldn't do that! Belle, we are sisters!"
Belle smirked and then said, "Half-sisters."
And in a quick instance, Belle put the ring on and disappeared.
Oh gurl, you tell them! We are nearing the end everyone, and I hope I have not disappointed anyone thus far. Thanks to xxxMadameMysteryxxx, curryboh, Sylxx, laurizzle, Anne Cahill, MadBoySam and DieQuarktascheLP.
And guys, this week is finals week, so tell to break all the legs! Thanks!
