The words had come out before I had time to think about them. Then again, the pain in my shoulder made thinking a little difficult. But it had been said whether I meant it or not, and considering the off-putting smirk from the monster, it seemed to like the sound of it.
"You wish to take his place? But he is old and dying. And you have so much more to live for," the creature advanced, hips swaying as a took a step backwards, my fingers on my bad arm going numb as the blood soaked into my dress.
"You heard what I said. Let him go…take me instead," I repeated with a tad more hesitation in my voice than before. And without another word, the creature agreed, moving to the far side of the dungeon and returning with a ring of keys. The lock on my father's prison made a firm click as it slid from the stone and a creak as the old wood pulled away. I embraced him as he begged me to reconsider, telling me he was an old man, but I was determined and before I could say otherwise, the beast had grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and dragged him away.
I yelled after him, reaching out as if my feet were firmly stuck to the stone floor. But he was gone, being tossed who knows where and I could only hop that he was going to be all right. But then the attention was turned back to me and I felt my stomach turn. "After you, m'lady," the beast huffed as I frowned and stepped into the cold prison, the door closing firmly behind me. My shoulder had gone numb, my heart beating in the bleeding wounds as I moved up to the bars, watching the beast move towards the stairs.
"So this is it? You simply leave me?" My words stopped the creature in its steps as I bit my lip, wondering if this was a good idea. "Is this what you planed to do with my father, just leave him to die?"
"I could have killed him first. Then what?"
"So am I supposed to wait here? There must be something you could want?" I attempted which seemed to make the creature laugh as it turned back to me and walked up to the bars.
"What I want?" It growled, "I want to be left alone!"
"Then why not just let me go?!" I shouted back trying to keep the fear and pain from my face. But my question had seemed to spark some thought in its mind as it blinked, looking at me curiously.
"You do not fear me…" it stated frankly, which was a bit of a lie but I raised my chin anyway. The sharp-toothed smile sent a shiver down my spine and the sudden snap of the unlocking door made me jump. "You wish for freedom? Then I will give it to you." I could see the gears turning in the monster's head as it stepped away form the open door to allow me to exit. Hesitating, I looked towards where my father had been dragged to, licking my lips in thought.
"That's it? You simply let me go?"
"From there…yes," the monster remarked and I frowned, seeing the catch as the beast moved towards the stairs. My own curiosity forced me to follow as we appeared in the main part of the castle and this time I saw it different than when I had first arrived. It seemed alive. Furniture glided around the room, brooms sweeping the floors and chairs shuffling into formations. It was unsettling but amazing all at once.
I glanced up to see the beast climbing the large main stairs, turning to look at me with an annoyed frown. Quickly I trotted after, telling myself that it was all of this shocking newness that made it hard for me to turn away. The beast turned towards one end of the split stairway, "You will stay in the east wing."
"And do what?" I snapped, again ashamed at my uncontrollable mouth.
"Whatever pleases you," the beast growled, "but the west wing is off limits. You get only this warning," it stepped closer to me, "if I see you there, do not think I won't hesitate to keep to my initial promise." I frowned, forcing the nervous churning in my stomach down as I watched the beast turn away from me in a whoosh of fur.
"So that is it, then? I am just some…ornament of yours? What is it I even call you?"
"For someone who has been given the chance to live, you are far from gracious. Are you anything but stubborn?" The monster growled, approaching me again. "I have no care for what you call me as I have no care for what to call you."
There was a pause as my frown faltered, seeing a strange sense of humanity in the bright blue eyes. The monster seemed to see something of the same, huffing and turning back towards its side of the staircase. "Belle," I breathed, stopping the beast in its tracks yet again, "you may call me Belle." The beast glanced at me from the corner of my eye and again the humanity of it hit me full force in the chest.
"Belle," it breathed before giving another huff and continuing the rest of the way up the stairs, leaving me by my lonesome – despite the living furniture rushing past me.