Chapter Thirty One

The Hope Once Left Now Gone

(Beast POV)

We made our way back to my home. The way Rose was asleep in Axels' arms, was making the other side of me feel like I wanted to rip his arms off and take her into my own. Something was holding me back though. She looked so peaceful compared to what she did a few moments ago. Her face when Axel held the knife up to her throat will stay in my mind forever. But something about it made me laugh inside of my mind.

That's the exact face she had when she first met me. Why in the hell are you thinking about this right now?! Some intruder just comes into our castle, steals our woman, and then holds a knife up to her throat! If you just let me take over-NO! I want to talk to him before we do anything rash, plus he still has Rose and the flower, and I don't want either harmed. Fine. We wait till he puts her down, then we pull out our claws! If he tries anything that will harm Rose or something I don't like, then yes. We pull out our claws.

"So… 'Master' where shall I set dear Rose?"

Axel asked as we entered through the castle entrance.

I turned to face him; his eyes and hair were still the same from when we were young. But something about him had an angry presence and it made me feel a bit threatened. With his cloak off, I could see four throwing knives that were black at the hilt all the way down to the blade. They were at least a foot long and they stood out from his black clothes. I still remembered how Axel was very good with his knives and how he was quick to draw them if he felt he was in danger. This would complicate things if I felt that Rose was needed to be away from him.

"Follow me and be quiet. I don't want any of the servants to find you. Knowing Cogsworth and Lumiere, they probably know something is wrong already." I said while walking down the down hallways.

"So those two are still here? I thought by now they would have left. Seeing as all you cared about was yourself-."

"Silence!" I roared.

He had no right to talk to me in such a disrespectful manner, but then again after what happened in the past…

Minutes later we arrived at the Library. It was the only place that the servants would never find Axel or disturb us.

"Wow!" was Axels' first reaction when he saw the mountain of books.

I could never know how he could seem as carefree as a time like this, or any other time when something seemed very important.

"Jeez, Calostire I didn't know you were the reader type. In fact I would have never guessed from all the other things you used to do. Like strategies, hunting, and all of that other stuff."

Axel walked around the room, Rose still in his arms sleeping peacefully.

"You can set Rose down on the couch over there. And don't call me by my name. I lost that name many years ago." I whispered.

In fact, the last time I heard my name used by someone I truly care about was…Rose. And she didn't even know that I was the very Calostire she thinks about.

"Oh and why shouldn't I? After all it is your name, but as I recall, you must have never told Rose your name because as I took her she kept asking where 'Master' was."

Axel asked, enjoying the fact that he had something to hold against me.

As he walked over to the couch and laid Rose gently on it, I answered him.

"Your right, I didn't tell her my name. She is to know me by Master and only that."

"You…your hiding something from her aren't you Calostire." He pointed an accusing finger at me, as if to emphasize his point.

"I heard about part of the curse from your servants. The villagers thought that the whole curse thing was still just a fantasy. But, while they were talking, you were able to stay human for a while. Did you happen to meet Rose, Calostire? Did you meet her when you were still a human?"

I glanced at my once childhood friend, his eyes showing that for once he was serious.

"Why should I tell you? First you come into my home and steal MY Rose, as well as the flower. Then you put a knife to her throat and knock her out. So tell me, why should I tell you about when I met Rose?"

"Because," Axel started, "you owe me that much Calostire."

"WHAT IN THE HELL DO YOU MEAN I OWE YOU!" I roared.

As I was yelling I didn't notice that Rose was starting to wake up after a few hours of rest. She mumbled something about 'Papa, don't leave me' and woke as I started raising my voice. Axel seemed to notice but I didn't as I was too busy roaring my head off.

"What do I owe you that could possibly comprehend to as how I met Rose or anything else concerning MY LIFE!?" My patience was long since gone.

Axel was trying to hide his anger, but do to the fact that I didn't seem to recall a certain incident that affected his whole life.

"What do you owe me? You owe me everything! You killed my parents, you took my kingdom, and you took my LIFE! Everything, gone!"

Axel looked like he was on the verge of tears; he was also trembling with rage.

I looked at Axel in shock.

Never once had I ever seen him like this. Even as children, Axel was never the type to lose his composure in any situation.

"Axel…I didn't…I forgot…" I tried.

"That's right! You forgot. That's all you ever think about is YOU! You are the one who sent your knights into my kingdom. You are the one who ordered your knights to do as they please. And do you know what they did? They burned our home. They murdered my parents. The only reason I survived was because I wasn't in the castle at the time. If you think about it, you owe me your life!"

Rose now fully awake, but before I could tell Axel, the words he said made my heart drop and my hope diminish.

"IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU CALOSTIRE, THAT I AM HERE TO STEAL ROSE AND YOU'RE STUPID FLOWER! I WANT TO RIP OUT YOUR HEART THE VERY WAY YOU RIPPED OUT MINE! I WILL NEVER, EVER FORGIVE YOU! CALOSTIRE I HOPE YOU ROT IN THE VERY HELL THAT YOU MADE MY LIFE INTO."

Axel now noticed that Rose was awake but what he saw made him realize what he had done. He now realized the reason that I didn't tell her my name, and that we had indeed met while I was human. He realized that I fell in love with her and her I, as a human.