In her nightmares, a woman lingered in the distance, cloaked in darkness and light, speaking to her on the wind before rushing towards her as thorns started to grow on her hands and arms, her hairs slowly transforming into rose petals. Each time she woke, Belle could only gasp for breath as the fire suddenly roared, the castle creaked as it sensed her terror.
This particular morning, the nightmare had taken a face; a woman of exquisite beauty and grace, but eyes like black diamonds shining in the moonlight, whispering Who could ever learn to love ….a beast. The thorns had dug into her skin this time, as the stem of the rose seemed to wrap around her; blood running to the ground to its roots where it drank it in as it slowly strangled her.
Panting she sat up, throwing off the blankets as she threw open the door – suddenly she had a desire for sunlight. Her feet moved blindly, she moved down the stairs with little or no sound startling as she saw fire standing at the landing below. The creatures turned to look at her, if it was startled she couldn't tell, but it started backing away –"No, wait please!" She begged, it had been many days since she had seen anyone in the castle, and she had spent most of her time I her room for fear of incurring the wrath of its master. "Please don't go."
"The master wouldn't like it." The voice responded, and she had a vague memory of seeing the creature on her very first night here, when she had tried to find her father.
"Please, I only want to see the sun." She pleaded, moving down the stairs to get somewhat closer. The creature turned back to face her, she had not been aware he was even turned around.
"T-h-h-he sun-n-n-n do-e-e-e-es no-t-t-t-t shi-n-n-n-ne he-r-r-r-r-re." A voice replied, and she turned her head to see the approach of another, even in the darkness she could see his deformed face, and heard the ticking.
"At least let me breath in the air outside, anything to leave that room for a few moments." She said softly, looking toward the door.
"Alright, follow me." The fireman said, and she nodded, walking along beside him watching him carefully as the voice behind them hissed.
"Lu-u-u-umier-r-r-r-e wha-t-t-t ar-r-r-e yo-o-ou doing?"
"You're name is Lumiere?" She asked and the fireman turned so she could see his face. "My name is Belle."
"You are not afraid?" He asked, stopping as he did so.
"No, I am not afraid." She replied softly, smiling ever so slightly. "I feel as though I have met you before."
"Lumiere takes care of the fire in your room." A woman's voice said, and a figure wisped into view and she gasped slightly as the duster girl seemed to float in, and Bell took in as much of her form as she could in the darkness.
"Oh, thank you." Belle said as she turned back to the Lumiere.
"You are very welcome mademoiselle." He replied, bowing slightly and she smiled but shook her head as she touched his shoulder and he jumped, fire flaming around his entire body and she pulled back her hand as she felt the flames dance on her skin. "You must forgive me-
"It's my fault, I startled you." She replied and he shook his head sadly.
"It has been too long since I have felt the warmth of human kindness, I apologise mademoiselle. The master will not forgiv-
"I forgive you." She said, her voice kind but firm. "Please don't fret over me, I am alright –see, you didn't burn me at all." She showed her hand to him, where a faint red lay on her skin but nothing to indicate real harm done.
"Lumiere, you must be careful!" The dustgirl said softly, concern obvious in her voice. "What will the master say-
"He can talk to me about it." Belle said firmly and the two went silent as they gapped at her in their own ways as the girl before them swayed on her feet. "May I sit down?"
"Oh course mademoiselle." Lumiere said, making a motion as a chair walked over, and Belle blinked as a face appeared in the cloth. It was old and twisted, his knuckles were arm rests while the face was scattering in the cloth.
"Will I hurt you?" She asked it, and the cloth linked at her.
"He can say nothing, I'm afraid, he has long since lost his ability to speak." The dust girl explained as she indicated Belle should sit.
"Does this happen often?" She whispered, afraid to ask.
"Yes, when time has stripped us of what is left of our humanity." The girl explained, tucking her head and Belle frowned as a door swung on, air rushing in and Belle breathed in the smell of pine and soil.
"How long have you been here?" Belle inquired, closing her eyes as she let the breeze sweep over her.
"I don't know mademoiselle, we have no contact with the outside world to tell." Lumiere remarked, and Belle nodded slowly as she opened her eyes.
"Are you all that are left?" She asked, looking from one to the other.
"There are roughly twenty of us left like this, most of our friends have become…much like this chair or worse." The girl said and Belle frowned, looking at her own hands.
"Has anyone turned into a rose?" She asked softly, and the two went very quiet once more.
"Not e-
"You must never ask us about the master." Lumiere whispered, "He has forbidden us to speak of it." The man looked away, facing the air as the fire melting away from his 'hands'.
"I was asking about myself." She whispered, "I keep dreaming of a woman whose beautiful and deadly, terrifying yet alluring and each time I am slowly being transformed – until …it strangled me."
"You poor dear." Another voice said and Belle turned her head to face the sound of whoever was approaching. "I knew something like this might happen."
"Who are you?" Belle asked, feeling slightly overwhelmed by it all.
"Mrs. Potts dear, can't you tell by the china?" She chuckled and Belle smiled softly, nodding ever so.
"What did you mean, you knew it might happen?" Belle asked and Lumiere flared up once more, looking directly as Mrs. Potts.
"It started to same way for us dear, but over time." Mrs. Potts explained softly.
"We are forbidden to speak of it." Lumiere hissed and the china woman made a noise.
"She deserves to know what is happening, she's alone and she's scared with no friends and no one to turn to –
"There's William." Belle whispered and the two stopped arguing. "I can talk to him." She sounded more like she was reassuring herself that there was someone in this castle she could talk to, a friend.
"The master? Dear, you must be careful there, he is…not himself." Mrs. Potts said carefully.
"You mean, because of what happened?" Belle asked, and the creatures around her nodded.
"He could have killed you dear." The china woman said softly, and Belle shook her head.
"No." Bell said firmly, remembering the frightened look in his eyes when she had touched him, the pain and suffering that turned to quickly to rushed anger. "He wouldn't."
"He has before," The dust girl said softly, "Strangers who wander into the castle."
"He isn't like that." Belle said, not knowing how to why she was spouting what her head told her to be nonsense. "I know he seems viscous, but he isn't –He's alone in a sea of emotions he can't escape." She chuckled softly, touching her head. "That sounds crazy doesn't it?"
"No, dear." Mrs. Potts said softly, before piping up. "Goodness me, you must be hungry? How about we go to the kitchen and see what we can whip up."
"That sounds wonderful, thank you Mrs. Potts." Belle said, standing as she thanked the chair, walking beside the china woman as they made their way to the kitchen, Lumiere and the dust girl following behind.