Loved by the Beast

by T E Elliott

  Léa sat on the settee with Marie, and Madame Beaumont was in her usual chair. They rose when they heard the sound of visitors. When Léa saw Lisette step forward with Jacques, she rushed toward her and embraced her in a warm hug.

  “Lisette! I’ve missed you so much. What are you doing here? Is it Audric?” Her chin began to quiver.

  “No, Léa, he’s here…” She stood aside and Audric came forward slowly. His breath caught at the sight of her. She hadn’t left his thoughts for the past three weeks, but to see her face, to hear her voice…

  Jacques and Lisette moved to join Madame Beaumont and Marie a few steps away. Léa covered her mouth with her hands and a sob escaped her throat.

  “Audric, why did you come here? You risk your life by being here,” anxiety gripped her.

  “I would risk anything to see you again,” he said breathlessly, “to tell you how desperately I love you.” He stepped out of the shadows and lowered his hood.

  Marie gasped and Jacques took a step back. Madame put a hand to her mouth, then lowered it smiling, it was just as she thought—a different kind of man but still a man.

  Léa first noticed his hands as he lifted them to his hood. “Audric, your hands, what has happened to them?” She took one of them into hers to examine it, fresh scars covered them, a few going up the inside of his arms.

  He took her hands and held them to his chest, he didn’t want to let go of them again. “That doesn’t matter now…” he began. She looked into his face, seeing the dark circles around his eyes and exclaimed, “You’ve been unwell!” Her hand lifted to his face as she tenderly ran her fingers over his brow and down close to his eye. Her touch made his thoughts scatter, but he had to say what he’d come there to say. He took her hand back and waited until she was paying attention again.

  “Léa, my love, listen to me. I’ve come here because I must speak to you. I can’t let another day pass, another hour even, without telling you this. I know,” he lowered his head and closed his eyes, then opened them again, and said decidedly, “I know that you see me as some lost child that needs to be cared for. It’s in your nature to care for others that way, and I love you for it, but that’s just it. I love you. And I can’t live the rest of my life hidden away without knowing that you know that. There could never be anyone more perfect for me than you.” He paused and let out a breathy laugh, “And…it may be…that there’s not another man out there better suited to give you so fine a library.”

  Lisette made a disgusted groan and rolled her eyes, but Léa threw her head back and laughed joyously. Audric sobered again, “So, even if from this point forward you want nothing to do with me,” he had to stop. He brought her hands up to kiss her fingers, “Even if you want nothing to do with me, I will honor that.”

  “Audric, I’ve been so unhappy without you,” she began, and Audric’s heart flipped as he breathed in a tearful breath. “I have to apologize for how I spoke to you in the garden that day, I know I could not have been more hurtful in what I said.”

  “And what did you say that wasn’t true?”

  “Yes, but to direct those words to you in response to what you were asking, it was not how a true friend should behave, and I can’t tell you how sorry I am for the pain I caused you.”

  “I know why you said them, and I understand, I do not blame you,” he spoke softly. “I would bear the pain again if it meant your freedom.”

  Léa smiled at his words full of love.

  “I’ve been so confused by my own thoughts and feelings, and I know you’ve felt it as you struggled to interpret what I was showing you in my words and actions. And now that I’ve been without you, I truly believe that I…”

  Before she could say anything further, someone banged on the door. The handle of the door jiggled and more banging followed.

  “Open up, we know the beast is in there!” Olivier shouted through the door.

  Léa turned to Madame Beaumont. “What do we do? Is there another way out?”

  “The kitchen!” she urged them.

  Everyone rushed to the kitchen, but they heard voices outside the door before they reached it. They all turned to each other, fear and uncertainty gripping each of them.

  “Jacques,” Audric turned to the other man calmly, “Would you be so good as to see that my sister is safe as well as your own?”

  “Of course,” he gave him a solemn nod of understanding.

  “No, no, I know what you’re going to do,” Lisette moved in front of him in a panic and grabbed the front of his cloak. “There must be something, something else we can do!”

  “All of you stay here until the crowd is dispersed, hide if you need to,” he ignored his sister’s words. He looked down at her and slid his finger down her nose. “You promised,” he whispered, then hugged her tight.

  “Léa,” he turned to her, the banging turned into a thump as someone tried to break down the door. Léa looked toward the door, then back at him, horrified. “I can’t tell you what these past months have meant to me. Even though it was only for a little while, for once in my life the ache was gone and there was just joy.” He smiled.

  Audric turned to the others and told them to hide quickly. They scrambled up the stairs, Jacques practically carrying Lisette as she wept and reached out for her brother. Léa stayed where she was.

  “I’m not leaving you,” her voice was firm.

  The door began to crack. There was no time to argue now, he moved her behind him as the last crack sounded and the door came bursting in along with Olivier, François, and at least a dozen other men with torches and whatever weapon they owned. Some had nothing more than farming tools—pitchforks and scythes—but all together they made a formidable crowd.

  They burst in, then froze as they came face to face with Audric. A strange quiet settled on the mob. Juliette came weaving through to stand by Olivier, stopping in horror at seeing Audric without his hood.

  “Juliette?” Léa spoke her name in disbelief, “Juliette, how could you?” She came around Audric, but he placed his hands on her waist and gently pulled her back to him. “Stop this, all of you!” she screamed at them. “He has done nothing that you should come in such force against him.”

  Olivier heard her defend such a man and saw the man’s hands on her waist, and something turned inside him. His pride was wounded, and it was no longer just about getting what he wanted, it was about snuffing out what he couldn’t have for himself.

  He came toward the pair and glared first at Audric then down at Léa. His face came within inches of hers. For a moment the anger left his voice and it could almost be said to be tender, “You would choose a beast over me?”

  “Olivier!” Juliette shouted from behind.

  He ignored her and slid his hand to the back of Léa’s neck, pulling her into a kiss. Léa pushed back on his chest. Audric swiftly moved her to the side, causing her to stumble, and attempted a blow to the man’s jaw. Olivier blocked it easily and delivered a blow to Audric's stomach instead. He doubled over, gasping for air. Léa rose and went to François. “Do something, François, get the magistrate!” she pleaded.

  He spoke so only she could hear, “The magistrate is one of them, Léa. Why are you defending this animal?”

  She stared back at him and said, “François, if you have any love for me at all, please try to understand and help us!”

  Olivier grabbed Audric and pulled his arm behind him then shoved him forward. Two other men grabbed him by each arm and dragged him out of the house towards the town square.

  “No! Stop!” Léa followed them out and pounded at their backs.

  The crowd formed a circle around Olivier and Audric, blocking Léa out.

  “I could kill you now, Beast, and there would be nothing you could do to stop me. But, where’s the glory in that, eh?” Olivier began to circle Audric. “Will the beast put up a fight? Is there enough man in you to make it worthwhile?”

  Audric supposed these remarks were meant to make him mad or afraid, b
ut there were two things about Audric that the seasoned hunter didn’t take into account. One was that Audric had spent most of his life questioning his manhood, so it was no great insult to call it into question now. The other was Audric’s depth of learning and intelligence. Rather than give way to fear, stores of information came to the forefront of his mind as he faced his opponent.

  He’d never been in a fist fight, that much was true, but years of fencing gave him a starting point. First, know your opponent. Audric sized Olivier up. Strengths: Big, strong, purposeful movements, hunting smarts, he thought it through. Weaknesses: Arrogant, relies on intimidation to gain the upper hand. Yes, that’s the first move.

  Audric stood up tall and bowed, waving his arm to the side. He stared directly at Olivier and smiled, showing the man that his move to intimidate did not hit its mark.

  Olivier was immediately thrown off guard and didn’t know what to make of someone who wasn’t afraid of him. He set his jaw and brought up his fists. “Fight, Beast!”

  Next move, stance. Watch your opponent, guard your vulnerable spots. He angled himself to present his dominant side and protect his weak points. Audric kept his eyes fixed on Olivier and brought his fists up. He knew he couldn’t overpower the man, he wasn’t going to win this fight, but he could outsmart him enough to buy time or at least die trying.

  Olivier made a predictable move and Audric easily moved to the side and deflected the blow. Dodge, parry. Audric’s moves were deliberate. Rather than bounce around, he focused and watched, ready to make the right move. Audric smiled again and taunted him, he wanted Olivier to make a big move. He took the bait and brought his arm back to punch hard. At the exact moment he let his fist fly, Audric shifted to the side and kicked the man in the back of the knee causing him to stumble. The momentum of the attempted blow made him lurch forward even more, leaving him vulnerable for an instant. Audric smacked him hard in the ear with the back of his hand.

  “Flick!” he yelled and laughed triumphantly.

  Olivier stood up and turned, holding his ear and wondering what just happened.

  A few of the villagers snickered and one called out, “He just boxed your ear like you were a naughty boy!” and several men laughed in amusement.

  Olivier’s face clouded, then he laughed too as if he were in on the joke.

  “A boy’s move, more like!” Olivier burst out. He brought his fists up again, though he was more wary now. He tried his old techniques again.“Tell me, Beast, what was it like to be so near a real woman like Beauty and not be a man?”

  Audric thought about his opponent’s fallback move of trying to anger him in this way and thought it might not be a bad move to use in defense. Emotion was good, it meant he would make mistakes. Olivier was stuck on berating his manhood, it stood to reason that it was something he took pride in himself.

  “It was quite pleasant, actually. But a real man would not bring a lady’s name into a fight. No, only a fool with no real connection to the lady would do that.”

  Olivier gritted his teeth and stalked toward him. Audric ducked down and slipped behind him, kicking him into the fountain. The crowd made no attempt to hide their laughter this time.

  Olivier stood and shook his wet hair back. Something shifted in his gaze and he circled Audric with eyes full of hate. Audric went on as he moved slowly around in response, continuing to watch his every move, “I wonder what one would call a hunter who was bested by a beast...the master hunted,” he laughed. “Or perhaps it would then be the beast that was praised while the man tucked tail and hid in the shadows.”

  The words had their intended effect, but Audric made one fatal mistake, he overestimated Olivier’s commitment to the thrill of the hunt and gaining the glory for himself. As Olivier moved closer, one of the men in the circle approached Audric from behind. Before Audric could make his move on Olivier, the man from behind smacked him in the back of the legs with a club, causing him to fall to his knees.

  Olivier approached the hunched man and bent down, pulling back his head by the hair. He knew one vulnerable spot that Audric could not outsmart him out of hitting, “You love her, Beast? I shall relish having her while you watch on helpless, and you will be another animal defeated by the master hunter,” he sneered and released him as he started to walk in Léa’s direction. Weeks of little nourishment had weakened Audric considerably, but he gathered every fiber of his being into one last surge of energy as he rushed into Olivier’s back, knocking him to the ground as a primal yell escaped him. This time he landed a punch to the side of the man’s head and kept on for a few more blows before men pulled him back from behind. He grunted and struggled against them. Olivier rose slowly and shook his head to clear it, then turned back to Audric with a face of pure evil. He growled and punched him hard in the stomach twice. Audric staggered to the ground coughing and wheezing. Olivier brought a heavy boot down on Audric’s arm. -Crack- Audric cried out in pain. With his boot still on his arm, the hunter kicked back at his shoulder. -Pop- Audric fell back and moaned, his movements slow as he tried to roll over. Olivier nodded to the men behind them who grabbed Audric up again while Olivier beat him blow after blow.

  When Olivier had enough, the men dropped Audric, bruised and bleeding, to the ground. They began kicking him and ripping at his hair. When they were satisfied, the crowd let up and milled about. Léa, finally able to break through the crowd, rushed to Audric's lifeless body and pulled him gently into her arms as she cried. Olivier saw her from where he stood and a familiar glint came into his eyes. He started toward her, until François blocked his path.

  “Stand aside, François,” Olivier gave him a condescending huff.

  “No. You’ve tormented my sisters long enough,” François finally had a fire burning inside him. Without warning, he plunged into Olivier, knocking him to the ground. He didn’t give him a chance to react, he threw his fists into the man right, right, right, and left, pounding harder and harder. Everyone around them watched in stunned silence, not sure whether to intervene.

  A wagon came rolling in filled with armed men with muskets, diverting François’ attention, and giving Olivier the chance to push out from under him to stand up. His nose streaming with blood, he grunted and leaned against a nearby villager then took a blunderbuss from his hands and turned to François.

  “I wouldn’t do that if I were you, young man,” Devereux called from atop the wagon, aiming a musket at Olivier.

  “No one can best the hunter,” Olivier laughed, then spun his weapon towards Devereux. An explosion sounded and Olivier lurched and dropped to the ground, shot through the heart.

  “None but a soldier, my boy,” Devereux answered grimly, setting down his weapon and hopping out of the wagon along with the passel of armed servants.

  The men fanned out keeping the hushed mob at bay, though they suddenly lost their taste for violence now that they were opposed and their leader was down. Devereux gently knelt beside Léa as she held Audric in her arms, sitting in a half daze.

  “I’m afraid you’re too late,” she sniffed, “I think he’s gone.”

  Devereux cradled his master’s neck in his hand and bent down close. “There may be some life in him yet, my dear,” he answered calmly. “Let’s get him home and see what can be done.” He lifted the younger man and carried him to the wagon.

  Léa rose and came to François who still stood to the side. She hugged him and wept for a moment. He placed his hand on her back, he wasn’t used to feeling affection for his sisters. Léa pulled away and joined Devereux and Lambert on the bench of the wagon, while the rest of the men hopped into the back and held Audric steady as they jostled back to the château.

  The townspeople began to disperse. A handful took away Olivier’s body. Soon no one was left in the square but François and Juliette. They turned to each other, equally lost. Finally, François wrapped his arm around Juliette and led her home.

  Chapter 24

  Devereux and Édouard set to work immediately once Audr
ic was brought to his bed. Villeneuve and Francine scrambled about with bandages and hot water, along with other doctoring essentials.

  “Should not a surgeon be called?” Léa asked, even though they seemed to know what they were doing.

  “No, I’m afraid no surgeon can be called, but Édouard will do what he can,” Villeneuve patted her arm then left the room to gather more supplies.

  Together Édouard and Devereux managed to remove the cloak then Édouard ripped open his master’s waistcoat and shirt. Léa suddenly felt shy at seeing Audric’s, very hairy, yet bare chest and looked away. She couldn’t bring herself to leave without knowing how he was first though. Édouard felt along each side of Audric's rib cage, then down his legs and arms, checking for broken bones. He examined his face then bent down to listen closely to his chest and breathing.

  He turned to Devereux and spoke quietly, “Several ribs broken, his right arm is broken, here,” he pointed, “It will need to be set. The same arm is out of joint. His nose by some miracle is not broken but badly bruised as is of course the rest of him. They’ve ripped out his hair in several places as you can see, the animals,” his voice was harsh. Devereux nodded then stopped first at Villeneuve, who had returned, and said, “Émilie, s’il vous plaît, we need rods, this length.” He measured the length with his hands and she nodded and went in search for what was needed. Next he came around to Léa.

  He took her by the shoulders. “My dear, I won’t lie to you, it is bad. Especially since his body was already weak from lack of care the past few weeks.” Léa looked over and noticed for the first time how thin Audric was since the last time she’d seen him. Devereux continued, “Édouard apprenticed with a surgeon for a time and I have some battlefield experience. We have been in charge of the master’s care for years, so we will patch him as best we can and the rest will be up to him. But, we have much to do and it is not something you’ll want to see. I promise someone will find you when we are finished.”