Belle had never felt so disappointed in her life. And it had all happened so very fast that even now, even as her heart was still returning to its normal peace, she still could not recall what had exactly happened.
Her master had come to her cell as he was wanton to do to bring her to her many duties. He had left her for only a few moments in the now familiar dining hall. Belle had no idea how long he would be gone, nor what he had gone to do, but her eyes darted to the accessible doors. For a split second, she had thought of escaping, fleeing the wretched castle and returning home.
But then the Dark One's voice had spoken in her mind. "It is forever, dearie." She had promised him forever and she would, no matter how homesick or frightened, would never break her word. But just for once she found the prospect so very tempting, that she slowly began to cross the wide expanse of the room, slowly approaching the door. She glanced to the hall through which her master had left. Holding out her hand to grasp the knob, she quickly released it as if she had been burned, and shook her head. No. She would not leave. She could and would prove that she was brave and stronger than to remain in the midst of this monster for less than two weeks.
Sighing, she turned away from the door only to have a thought cross her mind. Of course, she could just open the door and take a look outside. It was winter after all, and the beauty of the whitened world was all about her, unseen because of the dark and heavy curtains which hung in the windows. Surely it couldn't hurt to just take a peek outside, to look upon the world that she would never be free to roam again. Her hand again grasped the handle and turned it. Belle was delighted to find that the door opened silently, and her breath was taken away as she could see the winter wonderland outside. Her head turned to look behind her and when she did not see the threatening face of the Dark One behind her, she took a cautious step out onto the veranda.
The frosty air immediately began to nip at her bare shoulders and she wrapped her arms tightly around her. She exhaled and delightedly saw her breath float along the wind. She took yet another step, the fear of being caught slowly disappearing and being replaced with determination to see the world she had lost. She approached the stairs leading to the earth beneath. Extending one foot forward, she made to step upon one of the stone stairs, when a sudden puff of purple surrounded her whole form and she found that she could not breathe. It felt as if she had been stripped naked as she felt the strange fabrication of magic all about her and her vision went dark as she closed her eyes in fear.
When the magic seemed to loosen its hold and she felt her feet on solid ground again, she peeked open one eye and her mouth flew open. She had been brought back to the dining hall by that confounded puff of smoke! Disappointment showed in her creased eyebrows and she wore a pout.
"Trying to escape now were you, dearie?" Belle turned around in haste as she heard her master's high-pitched voice. She tried to hide the fright that he had given her, and if he noticed he said nothing. He just wagged a finger at her and smiled slyly, "I'm afraid that is quite impossible without my permission. You see I have cast a spell around this fortress. Nothing-" he eyed her darkly, "Enters or escapes unless I allow it."
"I—I-" Belle stumbled as she tried to find her voice, "I was not trying to escape, Master." The Dark One's eyes looked on in disbelief and she shook her head, "I do not break my deals, even when made to monsters like you." Hurt flashed across his face before he gave her a look of indifference.
He motioned at her and raised an eyebrow, "Then what were you doing outside, if I may ask?"
"I was just stepping outside for a moment." She paused for breath and noticed that he still didn't believe her. She held her chin high as she finished, "I miss my home, and since I am being kept prisoner here...well, I thought that perhaps I could just see the outside world for just one more time."
The Dark One seemed to be thinking about what she had just said and clasped his fingers together as he so often did. He slowly began to walk towards her and then he stopped only a foot away from her. "Do you miss the outdoors?" He asked, and she could nearly sense a splinter of compassion in his tone. She nodded and he looked at her strangely.
She rubbed her shoulders to find that they were no longer cold. "My father and I used to spend hours in the snow and it was a favorite pastime of mine. If I am to never enjoy those things again, can I not be spared the graciousness of seeing winter from a distance?"
"Gracious? Me?" He mocked her and squealed, "Do you know who you are dealing with, my dear?"
She smiled faintly, "I do. And that is why I believe you understand. You must have certain pastimes that you miss, that you would like to relive. But you can't because, like me, you are trapped. But you are not trapped in this Castle. No. You are trapped by your power and your deals." Belle could not tell what gave her the courage to speak so but she waited silently for the Dark One's reply. By the look on his face, she could tell she had struck a chord and his eyes had glazed over as if he was reminiscing of other days and of memories that he would not tell her. She licked her lips.
His eyes focused once again on hers and he gave a curious stare, "Very well," he finally answered, "You shall be aloud out of the Castle doors-" Belle's heart swarmed with joy, "- But you may only go with my permission, and with me by your side." Then, the compassion left his voice and the imp returned. "Don't want you running away now do we, dearie?"
"No, sir," she shook her head, happier than she could explain. She tried to keep herself calm and under control so that he did not see the joy that seemed to be radiating from her skin.
He smirked, "Very good. And-" he looked at her slyly, "- if you are to go outside, then we must find you something more suitable to where. Perhaps something a bit warmer." With a wave of his hand, the purple mist returned and swarmed about her. As it disappeared, she looked down to see that she was dressed in the blue dress that had been sitting in her cell, and a long red cape was clasped around her neck.
She grinned as she looked upon her master. "You are tricky. You just wanted to get me into this dress, didn't you?"
The Dark One's eyes twinkled with mirth as he responded, "Perhaps that was a part of my reason, dearie. Perhaps." He cleared his throat, "Now...let's get this done and over with."
XxXxxXXxxx
At this time, the Dark One was having a hard time coming up with a good reason as to why he had come out in the first place. All the girl wanted to do was run about in the snow like a child. She had even taken up some of the snow in her hand and eaten it! He shook his head. Right about now would be a good time for his brain to come up with a logical reason of why he had come outside into the cold, wet outdoors. Of course, he wasn't really freezing. He had his magic to keep him warm enough- and dry. But he could still see his breath every time it exhaled, and he felt his fingers becoming chafed and coarse. More so than they already were. He let out a groan. He had been stupid, that was the only explanation. He had allowed himself one moment where he had released his hardened mindset and had showed some foolish compassion toward the girl. And now he was outside with a frolicking child, who was smiling, and he didn't quite know what to do except to stand awkwardly by.
"Don't you know how to play in the snow?" Belle asked as she stood beside him. He looked at her in surprise and shook his head. She only laughed more. "How could you not?"
He set his jaw in a firm line and replied stiffly, "Forgive me, dearie, if I do not have time to take part in such foolish nonsense."
She pursed her lips. "Enjoying nature is not foolish or nonsense." She instantly regretted her words as the Dark One looked at her with warning in his eyes. She quickly averted her gaze in submission and walked a bit faster so that she was ahead of him.
He placed his hands behind his back and watched her carefully as she ducked behind a tree. His eyebrows were raised high as he began to approach the tree. "Now wait a moment, dearie. Stay where I can see you, rememb-" He was cut off as he felt a large ball of snow collide with the side of his face. His hair was covered in flakes of snow and he felt the cold rushing through his scaly skin. He placed a hand upon his cheek and allowed the magic to flow through his fingertips and warm him once again. He then turned to a grinning Belle and looked at her with surprise that she would do something so bold as to throw snow at the all-powerful Dark One.
She frowned when she saw his serious expression. Hugging the tree tighter, she carefully chanced asking, "Can't you enjoy yourself a bit?"
"How would you like me to act, milady?" He asked a bit harsher than he had intended, but she did not flinch.
"Well, you are placing quite a bit of a depressing rain cloud over my day. I am meant to be enjoying myself."
He grinned wickedly, "And you can't be happy unless I join you?"
Belle blushed. That had not been what she had intended to say at all. She just stood there silently and watched as his face lit up in delight at having been victorious. He nodded his head in compliance. "Very well, dearie. If that is what you want." He slowly knelt down to the ground and took some snow into his hand, carefully molding it between his fingertips. Belle just watched him, her eyes becoming wide as he stood and faced her.
"You wouldn't-" She began to protest.
"Ahh-" he squealed, "I think we both know I would." And with that, he drew back his hand and let the snowball fly towards her. Belle held up her hand to shield herself, but just before it hit her, a magical burst caused the snowball to rupture and she was met with an even larger torrent. The heaviness of the snow threw her to the ground where she lay momentarily stunned.
When she finally did move, she sat up in the snow, using her hands to prop herself up, only to see the Dark One grinning profusely, obviously pleased with having proved his point. Belle was unwilling to allow him the victory and just smiled all the more. Falling back upon the snow, she began to move her arms and legs back and forth.
She heard the crunching of snow and knew her master was approaching her. She closed her eyes only to hear his voice, "What are you doing?"
"I'm making a snow angel, of course." She tried to stand up on her own, but fearful of ruining her project, she slowly held out a hand to the man before her. "Could you help me up?"
She tried not to shake as she felt her palm being pressed into the hand of a monster. She tried not to act as if his very touch burned her. His fingernails were an inky black and his tanned fingers were rough and scaly. But they were warm, and she found that his touch was not entirely as bad as she had first imagined. The Dark One seemed less than pleased to be grasping his servant's hand in his but he helped her up nonetheless. And it was he who released her hand quickly, as if her touch repelled him.
"Thanks," she replied quickly and he offered her a hasty smirk.
"It is time to return to your work, dearie."
Belle was disappointed but would not show it. "Alright, Master." She replied instead, and she offered him a small smile.
He walked on ahead of her but it was Belle's voice that caused him to stop. "Thank you for letting me outside, Master." He continued on walking then and Belle was left wondering if he had heard her.
But he had...