Disclaimer: Ditto

Author's Note: Thank you Chica for reminding me to update and for the lovely review. I hadn't realized it had been so long and I've been meaning to add to this story for a while because I have every intent of finishing it. A small reminder to all readers is that this is a very mature story. I'll try to give you a warning by marking off any bad parts but you are continuing to read this at your own risk.

Bella Noir: Chapter Two

Mauve jerked Bella into the castle forcing her to follow her through the elaborate stone hallway into a large ballroom that looked like it hadn't seen guests in centuries. Danton stood there with his usual cruel smirk twisting his features and there was someone else there to. Way back in the shadows where sunlight couldn't touch them.

"Oh, come now Beast, don't hide. I've even bought my new pet. She's really quite lovely wouldn't you agree Mauve?" Bella felt all eyes turn to her and she shivered under the cruel inspecting gazes, looking down at the elegant tile.

"Yes, I must agree with you Danton. A very beautiful young woman, pity you found her first." Mauve ran a finger down her cheek. "Come out Beast and have a look for yourself." The shadowy figure shuffled a little but then Bella heard him step forward into the light followed by Danton's gasp. Bella resisted the urge to look.

"Lovely work Mauve, your best yet, any particular animal that you modeled him after?" Danton asked.

"Nothing in particular a little bit of this, a little bit of that. Wolf and lion mostly. I had to stick to mammals since he was human and lacked the cold blood of serpent nature." Mauve noticed that Bella concentrated on the floor and pulled her head up by her hair. "Look at him Bella. Don't be ashamed, after all your fear and his embarrassment is what we want most."

At her words Bella closed her eyes to hide the determination in them. She'd be damned if she'd give into either Mauve or Danton's expectations. Calmly she looked towards where the figure had been. She forced her heartbeat to remain steady and her gaze to remain natural as she took in the beast before her.

Mauve was right he looked like a cross between wolf and lion with a smooth almost black mane framing his face. The animal qualities weren't what made him so frightful though. It was the bright amber eyes that looked out at her, and the way he stood upright like a human and even wore human clothing complete with a cloak that hid most of his form from view. He was still human on the inside, Bella realized as their eyes met. She could make out an eyebrow arching slightly in a very princely expression. His muzzle wasn't as long as wolf's or a cats but it extended out and sharp fangs showed as he looked her over obviously in the same manner she was doing to him.

No doubt she looked like something disgusting to him dressed as she was. Danton's voice broke her train of thought though.

"Are you not scared of him?" Danton asked stepping closer to her. The minicing look in his eyes was one she recognized and her throat constricted in fear and her heart pounded as he walked towards her. Mauve laughed. "And yet, she fears you Danton." The sidhe stopped and smiled at one another.

Danton backed Bella against a wall leaning down to hiss into her ear. "Does his appearance please you? Is that what it is? You want him." His hand slid lower trailing along her naval making Bella want to retch.

"I'd rather be stuck with him than you, you're more of a hideous monster than he could ever be." Bella spat at him venomously, earning her a hard slap on her temple that made her see spots. Somewhere in the back of her mind she registered a snarling growl, then nothing as her world faded to black.

He didn't know what to think when the woman stood before him without fear or disgust in her eyes. She looked him over in puzzlement. Maybe she wasn't right in the head, he recalled a servant boy who hadn't been right in the head. The boy would stop and stand still looking at a wall for hours till at last he was sated. However when she looked up at him, he realized there was nothing wrong with her and he looked her over the same way that she had done to him.

Mauve and Danton were correct in saying that she was lovely. Her body was revealed by the clothes that she wore, clothes that were most certainly not lady like. Their gaze met and he arched an eyebrow at her coolly, trying to remain an arrogant prince in front of her, and not show Mauve the embarrassment she wanted. She blushed slightly and ducked her head crossing her arms over her chest in an unconscious effort to cover herself up.

He almost smiled at her but thoughts of smiling were erased when Danton walked towards her backing her into a marble wall. The fear that had been absent when she looked at him was in full force when Danton walked towards her and whispered something in her ear. He could hear her heart pounding and her struggle to breath. He was forced to watch as Danton's hand slid lower and lower until the woman looked at him and hissed clearly, "I'd rather be stuck with him than you, you're more of a hideous monster than he could ever be."

Hope light itself in him at her words. Maybe she didn't see him as a monster after a ll. But then he saw Danton hit her hard and he growled his animal instincts taking over. Danton turned to him. "What? Do you want her? You can have her." He stormed away with Mauve close on his heels.

Slowly he approached her, noticing that she was knocked out he lifted her gently cradling her injured head to his chest. He took her to a spare room that immediately made itself into her room. The castle already welcomes her, he thought to himself as he laid her down on the large bed and went to order the invisible servants in the kitchen to make dinner and called on two female servants to look after her. She wouldn't be able to see them but they would take care of her, he knew.

A/N: In case anyone is confused the he referred to in the second part of the story is the Beast.