I was lead down the hallway, my attention every so often pulled by something interesting in the corner of my eye. In all honesty I didn't think the structure was so massive, but it seemed that with every turn that came, another hallway appeared. For a few moments I was concerned the candle and teapot were leading me back to the dungeons, but kept telling myself they simply wouldn't do that. Even in this short period of time I'd started to believe these curious characters were my friends, seeking refuge in someone other than the Beast such as I.
At one point we came around a corner and I heard talking, immediately the pair seemed to pick up their hopping down the hall as I followed. But at the cracked door I halted, glancing in to find the beast and Cogsworth. It seemed to be some sort of study, half destroyed bookshelves against the walls, a dusty desk in the center. Beast was in the far corner looking out the window as Cogsworth spoke to her.
"You must'n be so cross with her, your majesty. She is just a scared girl," he explained and I found an annoyed frown pulling on my face.
"A scared girl," Beast hissed, turning from the window as the clock shied away. "She is far from that. That…that Belle is nothing but a stubborn brat. She's not even made an attempt for escape. I'm sure she has more than just her father waiting for her at her little village. And yet she remains just to pester me with her words."
"M-maybe she wishes to help, Your Majesty. Your anniversary is in a few months…and then…"
"I know when it is!" Beast hissed, even startling me as I leaned back, just as Lumiere tapped me on the ankle, waving me to follow. I glanced back, seeing Beast with her face in her hands before rolling my lips and following.
"What anniversary?" I breathed when I believed we were far enough away. The pair hesitated, looking at one another as I raised a suspicious brow.
"Nothing more than a day of remembrance," Mrs. Pots stated and even if the answer wasn't satisfactory in my opinion, I let it go.
We appeared by another door moments later and the pair opened it to show me the kitchen, clean and bustling with movement. I was sat in a chair at a small table and in minutes was filled to the brim with delicious meats and desserts to the point of having to beg for them to stop. But the chaos continued and eventually I snuck form the kitchen without any the wiser.
The issue with this, of course, was then finding my way back to my room. At least that was my end goal – if I went on a bit of a detour of the castle I wouldn't complain. I wanted to see what the castle had to hold behind its walls. Unfortunately…I seemed to have gotten turned around during my initial trip to the kitchen and found myself in a completely darkened hallway.
My fingers brushed against the dust-covered walls to guide myself as I looked at the shredded paintings on the walls. One of them drew particular interest, the face completely gone but the hint of a crown resided at the top. This must've been her, at some point in time.
Suddenly a voice echoed through the halls and I jumped, picking up my pace and finding the nearest door to enter. The moment I did, though, my gaze was transfixed on a curious object in the center of the abandoned-looking bedroom.
A rose, contained in glass, glowed a faint pink by the balcony. I ignored the door that I left open and moved curiously towards the flower. My hands delicately pulled at the glass cover, moving it to the side so that I might see the floating rose without a barrier. It hypnotized me as I reached up to touch one of it's soft petals-
"What are you doing?!" Came a loud roar from the other end of the room and I turned, my trance broken as my eyes fell on the beast. My heart pounded in my chest as she flung a coffee table across the room. I moved away from the rose, my back against the wall as she approached me, "I told you not to come here!" She continued, ripping her reading chair form its place as it crashed against the wall. "Answer me!" She hissed again as she grabbed the glass and covered the rose again, snarling.
"I just got lost!" I snapped but my voice was shaky as she slid up towards me and for once fear settled into my entire being as tear welled in my eyes.
"You were going to take it! Weren't you? I knew keeping you alive would have been nothing but trouble!" She raised a clawed hand and I gasped, shying away.
"Please no, Beast…I'm sorry," my voice quieted as I prepared for the blow, but it never came. And when I looked up I swore I saw sadness in her eyes. The intimidating gold around the pupil had disappeared as the eyes widen into a more human shape. Moonlight gave them a small twinkle and again curious trance took over me as I reached for her jaw. In a second the hand came down to grab my wrist, the animalistic look returning with a simple growl.
"You're a thief," she huffed as I felt my fear turn into anger. I yanked my hand back, hating myself for the small bit of sympathy I had given her.
"I hope you rot in here," I breathed, not giving the beast time to stop my hand from slapping across her face before I bolted from the room. And in no time at all I was down the main castle stairs and out the front door.