Disclaimer: Ditto

A/N: Sorry I haven't updated in a while and I regret that I've probably lost a lot of readers because of my slowness to update. I've meant to but haven't found the determination to until tonight. Which is why, if there are a lot of grammar mistakes notify me and I'll fix them at a later time. It's almost one in the morning and I'm exhausted! Also, I skip forward in this chapter a bit tell me if this causes any confusion and suggest how I make it smoother.

Bella Noir

Chapter V

Bella smiled up at the Beast as he lead her out of a grand ballroom. The day had flown by with the Beast offering Bella silly stories of the rooms they ventured into. In the corridor the Beast took on a mischievous look making him resemble a cunning wolf.

"One more room for today and then I'll leave you to get ready for dinner. I saved the best for last."

The dark mysterious tone that the Beast spoke in caused a shiver to go down Bella's spine, though she couldn't begin to fathom its cause. The Beast opened a door and stepped aside allowing her to enter and as Bella stepped forward she almost took a step back.

It was an enormous library with books spiraling towards the ceiling.

"Oh..." Bella gasped in amazement and leaned into the Beast upon hearing his soft chuckle.

Bella ran about like a child gathering several books to take back to her room with her. But even in her excitement the presence of a set of out of place double doors did not escape her notice. Finally, she turned and asked about them.

"My bedroom, I like having access to the library whenever I need it. Your free to look for me here if you ever need to. This castle is as much yours as it is mine Bella." He spoke to her and she looked up meeting his honeyed gaze.

"Thank you for everything, but I do have one question, if I may?" She whispered.

"Of course."

"What's your name?" Bella asked looking into his eyes. "I feel terrible referring to you as 'the Beast' when I really don't think your a Beast at all." her voice grew husky as she took in his appearance.

He was large and masculine but instead of cowering her, his intimidating size made her feel safe. He had fangs and claws but she knew that he would never use them one her, only in her defense. And his eyes were the most expressive she had ever seen, and his voice sometimes made her legs weak. She couldn't explain any of these irrational feelings, but they were there all the less, and Bella had never been one to deny anything.

"Alexander, Milady." He whispered to her. Alexander...it somehow fit him. Not an ordinary prince name like Henry or Ferdinand but still it was very regal, reminding her of Alexander the Great.

"Well, Mi lord Alexander will you do me the pleasure of walking me to my room so that I might make myself presentable to you for dinner this eve?"

"Of course. As my lady wishes so it shall be."

Bella felt a flutter of something at his referring to her as his, and it was not anger nor shame like it had been when Danton called her his.

Time flew by quickly with Bella spending more and more time with the Beast. After he finished showing her the castle he showed her the large castle grounds and the stables where she was surprised to find no less than ten horses.

One of which was a large dark chestnut mare that Bella instantly took to. She was a gentle beast and when Alexander saw Bella feeding her a treat he gave the mare, whom Bella had started to call Artemis, to her as a gift so that the two could ride together.

Alexander had a lovely black stallion, who's size made Artemis look like a filly, named Demon. Bella thoroughly enjoyed Artemis and they often went riding together having picnics by various spots along the stream that ran through the grounds. The two opened up to each other sharing dreams, secrets, and childhood memories.

Then one night the time of bliss had to come to an end.

Alexander was sound asleep when his animal senses picked up the hurried footsteps of Bella. A soft but urgent knock came and he light a candle biding her enter in a voice still lazy from sleep. All traces of exhaustion disappeared at the sight of Bella's tears.

They came fast and uncontrollable as a sob retched from her throat. She wore a man's shirt, one of his own from the looks of it and he wondered briefly how she got it. The shirt fell to only mid thigh and was, for the most part, unbuttoned except for a few in the middle to keep it closed.

Bella's modesty was forgotten as she rushed into his bed. Alexander welcomed her with warm arms careful to keep a sheet over his nudity and between the two of them as he tucked her under his thick warm down blanket.

"Bella, my dear, what ails you?" He murmured stroking her gorgeous auburn hair.

"I dreamed..." She began only to have a soft sob escape.

"Shh..." Alexander comforted her. "Go on, I'm here now."

"I dreamed that Danton was back and he started touching me." She hid her head against his chest in shame. "I can still feel his hands pinning my arms down." She whispered.

Alexander held her in comfort, muttering soft loving words to her, until she fell sound asleep in his arms. Carefully, he extracted himself from her hold, and pulled on a pair of silk sleep pants before crawling back in bed and arranging her under the sheet and blanket so that she lay flush against him.

In the process of moving her he bared her wrists and saw the bruises on them. Pulling up the shirt's sleeve reveled more bruises and, becoming daring, he lowered the shirt slightly until he could see the swell of her breasts, which held similar markings.

How long, he wondered as he gathered Bella closer to him kissing her hair. How long had Danton been sneaking in and torturing her at night?