When Blair got back to the village she went straight back to her home and shut the door. She needed time to think about what had happened. She had met the beast, and he wasn't anything like what she thought he would be like. Instead of scaring her, he was scared himself, she could sense that. Of what she didn't know, but she was sure to find out.

Blair knew she was crazy. Logically she should have accepted Max's proposal. There wasn't anything wrong with him, not on the outside anyways. Dozens of women if not more envied her for catching the eye of the town's most popular bachelor, but that mattered little to her. He was vain and arrogant; just one trait would be enough to turn her away, but both were too much for her. Looks were nice but they were not everything. Still, if she were honest with herself she knew she had to be grateful he did not have the looks of The Beast.

That sounded bad, but he was rather dreadful looking. Behind his outer appearances there had to be more- there just had to be- but it was hard to get past them, even for her. She knew her first reaction, a double take, had offended him, but more than likely he was used to it, whenever he was around people. If he was around people. Poor thing lived such a sheltered life, keeping to himself, no friends, probably no family, just his home and the area around it. Blair couldn't imagine how lonely he must be.

Well he wouldn't be lonely any longer, not if she had something to say about it. She would find him again, maybe bring some of her books with her, find something to talk to him about . Anything would suffice. It would surely beat sitting around afraid of your own shadow. Maybe he would turn her away at first, but if she persisted- and she did know how to do that- then maybe she could do some good. And there had to be some good in him. After all, she was here in the world still to testify to that.

Not that she could tell anyone. If she told anyone what he had done no one would believe her. Or worse yet, the villagers would go after him for putting his hands on one of their own. Blair could just imagine Max's reaction to finding out that she had been touched by The Beast. He would probably lead the charge for his head. And there was her aunt, Dorian. She would no longer speak to her if she knew that she was associating with him, for reputation was very important to her. No, this would forever be her little secret.

The next day she followed the secret trails that she had discovered, along with a picnic basket filled with all sorts of goodies, and some books and made her way to his castle. She knocked on his door but no one answered, so she opened it, and made her way in. Blair was shocked; it was dark and mysterious, just like him but was beautiful in its own way. There were many rooms so she did not know how to begin to find him, but she began to meander off anyways.

She stopped when she saw a painting of a very handsome young man. He had brown hair and deep set eyes and a mysterious smile, who looked familiar but she couldn't place why. Instantly she felt a rapport with this man that she had never felt before, but she had no idea who it was. This was crazy, Blair thought; you don't fall in love with a picture. But as she touched the face on the portrait she was shocked when she heard a loud roar and she turned around to face The Beast.

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm sorry. I came to bring you some food. I hoped we could sit and talk," Blair explained.

"What made you think that I wanted your company- that I wanted any company?" he demanded.

"I know you must get tired of being by yourself so I thought I would come to see you. Don't tell me it doesn't get boring here looking at the same things day after day, night after night with no one to talk to."

"I like it that way. Don't tell me what I like and what I don't like. Now go."

"No. I'm not leaving."

He approached her, staring her down with his steely eyes. "What? Who do you think you are telling me you're not going?"

"That's right! You don't know my name," she smiled. "I'm Blair. Blair Cramer." She stuck out her hand, and he refused to shake it.

"Come on, Todd. Let's go eat."

"You must never come in this room again. Do you understand me?"

"Will you come with me?"

He didn't say anything but instead he turned around and she followed him and smiled to herself. Maybe he wasn't so bad, she thought as she carefully her surroundings.

"Then we have a deal."

So they ate, and it was hard to tell who was more surprised, she for actually eating a meal with him, or he for enjoying it. But no matter; it was a one-time thing, he swore, and after this he would do whatever it took to keep her out.

TBC