Disclaimer: Ditto

A/N: I'm so sorry that I haven't updated in a while. I've tried to make this chapter a little longer but I wanted it to have a slight cliffhanger (don't hate me).

Bella Noir: Chapter Four

After her nightmare Bella had slept soundly for the rest of the night her dreams accompanied with a reassuring presence. She awoke the next morning feeling well rested and with an eagerness to explore her surroundings. Stepping out of bed she shivered with the feel of the cool air in her room on her bare skin, and as if sensing her chill, the fireplace across from her bed lit itself and soon flames began to dance around inside warming her.

Opening the wardrobe she grabbed the simplest dress she could find and pulled it on not bothering with the layers of undergarments for the sweet blue dress. It was made of a soft foreign material and she tugged on a slightly darker blue corset made of velvet. Who made all of the clothes, she wondered noticing how they fit her perfectly. Bella braided her long hair in a hasty single braid tossing it over her shoulders and grabbed a pair of stockings and soft soled slippers.

As Bella exited her room she felt a pull leading her towards the dinning hall and she followed it hearing her stomach complain at the thought of breakfast. The table was set for one and she sighed guessing that the Beast wouldn't be joining her.

She finished breakfast quickly and set off the explore the inside of the castle first, wondering if the enormous facility had a map so that she wouldn't get lost, and would be able to mark her place. As if reading her mind a portrait shimmered, before revealing a maze of corridors from airily view. It was clearly the first floor of the castle and Bella decided to start here, Especially since the map directed her to do so.

Bella spent her day exploring the halls of the lower floors in awe. Beautiful tapestries aligned every stone wall and one corridor was lined on both sides with suits of armor, each one different from the other. Several of the lower rooms were clearly used to entertain guests and were the standard sitting rooms.

Bella managed to venture into the large kitchen that held fresh foods and was sparkling clean, even though Bella didn't understand how. Another room, Bella fell in love with, and instantly wanted to curl up there. It was a lovely drawing room with plush couches and chairs and with a wall of sheer glass that allowed bright sunlight to stream in and paint rainbows along the walls.

Through the glass she could see the beautiful gardens of the castle that stole her breath away. Every flower in the world seemed to grow there, except she noticed that there were no roses in the garden. Bella thought little of this assuming that roses might not be able to grow in this regions soil.

As Bella exited her new favorite room her stomach growled and she realized that it was getting close to sunset. She had skipped lunch earlier without having noticed, being so wrapped up in looking in every nook and cranny of her new home.

Happily she all but ran through the halls to her room to change from her dusty clothes for dinner. She wasn't worried about getting lost any longer because it seemed like the corridors automatically rearranged themselves for her convenience and, sure enough as she turned the corner, there was her door with the engraved plate on it.

She quickly took down her hair and brushed it out letting it go slightly wild as the auburn thickness waved down her back. She stripped out of her dirty clothes and pulled on the dress that was laying out on the bed for her, not bothering to check what it looked like.

She was so hungry and some small part of her was excited by the thought that the Beast might join her for dinner like he had last night. Forgoing shoes once more she dashed out of her room her hair a red flag behind her as she walked into the dinning hall bright eyed and rosy cheeked.

The Beast watched Bella as she all but ran into the dinning room flushed and looking like she'd been rolling in the hay. He hoped she didn't hear the soft intake of breath that he held when he found his lungs wouldn't function properly. She had to be the most gorgeous being in the world. A simple black dress with silver and purple embroidery swirled around her long legs, covering up dainty feet that he noticed were bare. Her ample chest was brought to attention by the purple corset that was cut to reveal a slight hint of smooth skin.

The Beast forced his eyes away and questioned her. "How was your day, are you finding everything alright?" Bella nodded shyly and sat across the table from him where a place was already laid out. "The castle is very beautiful, I wandered around the bottom floor today. You also have such lovely gardens." Her voice was hesitant and soft, barely above a whisper.

She wasn't frightened by him, but the Beast was going to have to gain her trust. "Feel free to visit the gardens whenever you like, but a storm will becoming soon so I would suggest going outside for a walk while you can, otherwise you'll be cooped up for a couple of days."

Bella nodded. "Thank you for the advice that sounds wonderful." The Beast rose from his seat and started to leave, but as he walked away from the table he heard her voice once again. "Will you show me some rooms when the storm hits?"

Inside the Beast rejoiced at her inquiry knowing that it meant that she was willing to spend time with him. "As you wish, so shall it be, milady." He turned and bowed to her before sweeping out of the room.

True to the Beast's word after Bella's day wandering around the gardens a loud thunderstorm hit the next morning just after she finished eating breakfast. The wind whistled around the stone walls making Bella shiver, she loved the rain but thunder terrified her and, sure enough a streak of lighting could be seen followed by a crack of thunder. She almost screamed when the Beast's shadow fell upon her.

"Oh, my! It's just you." Bella sighed a soft breath of relief and the Beast chuckled.

"Yes, I can't imagine who else it would be. Are you scared of storms Bella?"

Bella blushed, "A little bit."

"It's nothing to be ashamed of. Besides, I've come to take your mind off of things. I believe I promised you a tour?" The Beast informed her and Bella warmed on the inside at the sight of his sharp toothed smile.

"Yes, you did didn't you?" As if she had forgotten something that had occupied her mind quite thoroughly. She offered him her arm and he took it without hesitation...

A/N II: Bella & the Beast haven't had a lot of interaction together yet I know but I'm trying to lay a solid ground for them to build upon, since considering both of their pasts, they can't just be instant trusting friends. I promise more togetherness in the next chapter and also, just to make up for leaving off rather suddenly, the Beast will be given a name!!! If anyone has any suggestions feel free to tell me otherwise I'm going to have to come up with one fitting him. But I think he needs one since he can't just be "The Beast" throughout the whole story.

Also, I want to add that after the next chapter I'm going to skip ahead a few weeks just to get more progress.