Beauty and the Beast

by Amber McEachern

  "It's your brother," she looked at him and smiled.

  "Did he and Jacqualine Roch elope?" She shook her head and laughed slightly. She saw his face still firm and frowning, "No? What did my dear brother do?"

  "Not too long ago, maybe an hour or so, Emmanuel went to your home. He declared that he was going to have your hand after he and his army kills me and rescues you. Your brother objected and went to stab Emmanuel, but he threw his dagger.” Jezebel looked at him, she felt her eyes start to build with tears, she shook her head and swallowed back her tears.

  "What happened?" Angelus bowed his head and sighed.

  "I'm so sorry," he watched her shake your head repeatedly. "The burial is early tomorrow and then your father is coming to kill Emmanuel." Jezebel continued to shake her head. Her tears ran down her slender face and splashed on to her plate and the table. She could feel a cry building inside of her. She tried to hold it back, but it was overpowering. As soon as she let the cry out it turned into a scream. Angelus ran over to her in his unnatural speed. She turned into him and cried into his shoulder.

  * * *

  "How is she?" Angelus Le Doux asked Sigmund. Sigmund nodded his head slightly.

  "She has stopped crying and is now resting." Angelus nodded and waved his servant away. He knocked on Jezebel's door and entered hesitantly. She was in her new room, laying on the gold canopy bed. She was curled up, but looked up as he entered.

  "I am so sorry," he started, "it is my fault that your brother has lost his life." She sniffled and then shook her head.

  "Emmanuel is a monster, if he didn't get his way he would make others suffer."

  "But I pushed him over the edge." She sat up and wiped at her eyes. She nodded her head slowly.

  "Yes, you may have," he looked down and for the first time in his life he was ashamed of himself. "But," she continued, "I do not blame you. Many people are to blame. Alec Vondrak, you, and I. But the only person I blame is Emmanuel." He looked up as he heard the bed shift as she got up and started walking towards him.

  "I am sorry I made you leave your family," she shook her head and brought her finger to his lips.

  "No more sorry's," she removed her finger and replaced it with her lips. Her soft, full lips formed over his firm lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck and felt him wrap his around her waist. The kiss deepened and Jezebel let out a soft moan. Angelus pulled back and pushed her away.

  "No," he shook his head. "I can not sit here and let your father come to his death." He bowed his head and stepped out of the way of the opened door. "I want you to go and reunite with your father. Decide to marry Emmanuel and stop him from ending your life and happiness. I release you." She shook her head and walked towards him. She placed her hands on his shoulders.

  "I don't want to leave you. I don't want to marry Emmanuel. I love you and I want to marry you!" She looked at him in his eyes and felt herself drift away. "I love you, Angelus Le Doux." He reached up and caressed her cheek, she leaned into his touch.

  "I love you, too," he dropped his hand and looked at her with great sadness. "That is why I am releasing you and why I demand you to leave here at once." She stepped back and looked at him with determination.

  "I will leave, but I will be back with my father and an army to defend you. Once we both defeat Emmanuel and his men, we will rejoice. After, you and I will marry." She stood up on her toes and kissed him one more time before she left. After a moment, he heard the main door close and heard the faint sound of her voice as she said her goodbyes and then she ran into the forest.

  "Sigmund," Angelus called his servant. His voice cracked slightly, he cleared his throat and swallowed.

  "Sir," Sigmund appeared in front of him.

  "Sigmund, I want you to take everyone and leave". Sigmund nodded his head.

  "I will remove Sonja and the others and then I will rejoin you." Angelus shook his head, but Sigmund stopped him. "Sir, I have been your servant for over a decade. You have been my master, my friend, and my brother. I will not stand and watch you get beaten by such a brute!" Angelus smiled at him and nodded his head.

  "Thank you," Sigmund nodded his head and turned to leave.

  "Let me remove the others," and with that he left to get Sonja and the others.

  * * *

  Jezebel ran out of the Vestible Forest and looked around. She cursed silently as she realized that there was no horse. She nodded slightly and knew that she had to find her father, build an army, and go back to Angelus' castle before Emmanuel and his men arrive. She had no less than a few hours and it was a two days travel with horse just to her palace. She looked over as she heard a horse. She saw two horses pulling a carriage, it was a royal carriage that belonged to the Vondrak’s. She knew that it wasn't a lady thing to do, but she had a hurry.

  * * *

  Emmanuel looked at the hundreds of men and snorted. He pointed into the forest. "Men, I have called you here to defeat and kill a hideous creature. Yes, there are hundreds of you and only one of him, but do not let the odds fool you. This man will try to say and do anything to deceive you. You are here for his reinforcement," he nodded his head and chuckled, "Yes, he will surely have reinforcements. But, Angelus Le Doux is mine and only mine!" He screamed at them. As he screamed, he pointed towards the forest with his sword. All of the men ran forward, awaiting the battle that was in store for the all.

  "I want you to go around to see if there are any exits," Emmanuel pointed to the ten soldiers. They nodded and set off. He looked at another bunch and nodded his head, "same to you!" He pointed to the opposite side and watched them walk away out of view. He turned around and looked at the rest of the army. "You all and I will go forward and enter through the front.” After all of the men nodded, they all set off towards the entrance. Emmanuel stopped as they got to the door, he looked down and went to push the door open. He jumped back and pointed his sword as the door opened slowly.

  "Jezebel!" He sighed in relief. "I am so glad that you are alive!" He looked behind him at his men. "I have built an army to come rescue you and to kill the beast!" She glared at him and shook her head slowly.

  "You are not going anywhere close to Angelus. We wont let you." Emmanuel stared at her and laughed.

  "What are you saying?" He stopped and saw her face. "You and that beast?" He threw his head back and laughed loudly, his laughter echoed off the trees. He stopped laughing as he registered her words. "We?" She opened the door all the way and he stared in horror as the army came into view. "What is this?"

  "This is an army combined of Le Hagen's and Vondrak’s and they are here to stop you!"

  "On who's orders?"

  "Mine," Emmanuel screamed in horror and terror as he watched Regulus walk into view and glare at him. "I owe Angelus' life for saving me and it gives me a reason to kill you!" Emmanuel shook his head crazily.

  "I thought..." he stopped and gulped.

  "What?" Jezebel stepped forward. "You thought you had killed him?" She nodded her head, "If it hadn't been for Angelus, you would have."

  "Jezebel, it is not what you think!" Jezebel darkened her glare.

  "What, Emmanuel? That you tried to kill my brother? That you tried to force my father to give you my hand? That you are an ass hat prick who would do anything to get what he wanted even if it meant killing innocent people?" Gasps were heard inside and outside of the castle. Emmanuel shook his head and let out a howl of laughter.

  "I have never loved you and I never will," he loosened his grip on his sword. "So I wont regret doing this," he lunged forward and outstretched his other hand that held a dagger. He jumped onto her and they both fell to the ground. Jezebel reached into her shirt and pulled out her dagger. The two rolled on the ground, Emmanuel pointed his dagger at her neck. She leaned up and bit his hand. He howled in rage and with his free hand he grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled.

  "Charge!" Regulus screamed and both army's ran at each other and collided; swords hit swords and swords hit flesh. Half went o
utside and half stayed inside. Regulus started for his sister, but she shook her head as she growled at him.

  "No!" She screamed as she kicked Emmanuel. "Protect Angelus!" He started to object, but he was right earlier, he owed him his life. He looked at his sister one last time and left for Angelus.

  * * *

  Sigmund smiled and he looked out the back window. Regulus had told him that Emmanuel would tell his men to round the castle to look for any exits and escapes. So Sigmund built a trap. With Angelus' help, they built an illusion of grass over the swamp that held the three alligators. As the men walked as one, the illusion broke and they all fell into the swamp. He could hear their screams of terror as they fought to escape, but he had made that impossible.

  * * *

  "Angelus?" Regulus walked into the study where Angelus was told to stay by Jezebel. He saw Angelus at his desk, his head was bowed.

  "Why does your sister wish to save me?" Regulus swallowed and shook his head.

  "I do not know. My sister is a unique creature." Angelus continued to look down, but sighed.

  "Does she know that you wish to kill me?" Regulus pulled out his dagger and shook his head.

  "I do not wish to kill you." Angelus chuckled under his breath.

  "I may not be able to see you, but I am not dumb. Although I am the victim, I do not object and I will not fight you."

  "You will let me kill you?" Angelus lifted his head up and saw that Regulus was about two feet away. Only the desk kept them apart.

  "I have wounded your sister, she does not see it, but you and I do. She told me that my appearance is only an illusion, I would love to believe that," he sighed and rested his chin on his hands. "But you and I only know that that is only a fantasy thought up by her." Regulus lowered his dagger, but only slightly.

  "You love her?" Angelus shook his head.

  "I think I may, but I can never truly love anyone."

  "Sir, the trap worked wonderfully!" Sigmund ran into the study and stopped as he took in the sight. He looked at Regulus and his dagger. He reached into his shirt and pulled out his dagger and pointed it at Regulus. He shot forward and went to tackled him to the ground, but Regulus turned sharply and stabbed his dagger in his side, piercing him between his ribs. Sigmund fell forward and let out a desperate breath and fell motionless.

  "I'm sorry, but it had to he done," Regulus looked at Angelus, he still sat still and nodded his head.

  "Understood."

  * * *

  "You are an unworthy soul!! Jezebel spat at Emmanuel. She punched his face and made him fall backwards. He shot right back up, with this dagger outstretched.

  "I am not going to kill you," he taunted, "I will chain you up and force you to watch me kill your precious beast!" She screamed and lunged. He moved quickly and she fell to the floor. He grabbed her and picked her up. He stared at her anger struck eyes and quivering lips.

  "What a waist," he sighed. She kicked her legs and contacted with his leg. He let out a cry and fell back. She jumped onto him and straddled him. Both of her hands grab her dagger and she held it up above her head.

  "I have never loved you," she whispered as she brought the dagger down. She watched him cough up blood, his body began to shake with convulsions, and then he grew limp.

  * * *

  "Father!" Jezebel watched her father stumble inside, his shirt was covered with blood, but not his own. His white hair was matted and was dyed red with blood. His face with dark with mud and blood and there was a deep cut on his cheek. He looked at her and smiled broadly.

  "Jezebel!" He ran towards her and engulfed her in a tight hug. "What happened to..." he looked over and saw Emmanuel’s lifeless body. Jezebel looked down and then at her father.

  "What happened to his army?" He smiled slightly and chuckled. He waved his hand towards the woods.

  "They all retreated. After they heard screaming from the men who had went around the house they all scattered and ran off." She laughed and hugged him again.

  "Let's go tell Regulus and Angelus and the others," he nodded and smiled.

  "We can celebrate together!" He roared in laughter, they both left and started for Angelus' study.

  * * *

  "Let's rejoice!" Jezebel burst through the door that led to Angelus' study. She laughed as she threw up her hands. She stopped and stared as she saw Sigmund on the floor, blood surrounding his lifeless body. She looked up and saw her brother, his hand outstretched and his knife pointed at Angelus' neck.

  "Brother!" She exclaimed, Regulus turned and looked at his sister and Angelus bowed his head and kept his eyes down, looking away from her.

  "Miss Jezebel," he sighed, "Please leave us."

  "Son?" Christian stepped forward slightly. "What is it that you are doing?"

  "He is an evil man and I have to kill him.” Jezebel shook her head and looked at Angelus.

  "Regulus he is not a monster. He saved your life!" She exclaimed, he nodded his head.

  "Yes, I know he did and I am grateful, but," he turned back and glared at Angelus. "But he is still a monster. He will turn on us and kill us all!" Jezebel shook her head vigorously.

  "No!" Her voice was broke and a tear leaked from her eye. "I won't let you kill him." He shook his head.

  "You think you love him?" She shook her head.

  "No, Regulus, I do love him." She looked at Angelus. "I love you with all my heart and soul. I would do anything for you. And watching you giving up your life like this makes me believe that you do not love me enough to stay alive." Angelus lifted his head and looked at her, she let out another cry. "I do love you." Regulus shook his hand in one quick movement, he moved behind Angelus and grabbed his neck. He pointed his dagger at his neck and pierced the skin. "No!" Jezebel screamed again.

  "Son, think of what you are about to do." Regulus looked at his father.

  "Father, I am thinking. I am thinking of my sister, your youngest daughter. I am protecting her." Christian nodded his head slowly.

  "I understand son, but making her watch you kill him is not protecting her." Jezebel ran forward, but Regulus cut Angelus' skin and drew a drop of blood.

  "Jezebel, please just stay there."

  "Regulus, please don't do this. I will never forgive you." He shook his head.

  "You will thank me for this one day to come."

  "No, I will never!"

  "Do you not love me? Do you not love your family?" She let out a cry and nodded her head.

  "I do, but I also love him."

  "No, Jezebel." He said, "You have to choose."

  "What?" He looked at Angelus and then back at her. "You have to choose. Me and father or him?" She continued to stare at him and then shook her head.

  "I cannot choose." Jezebel stayed put as Christian step forward. She reached her hands behind her and gripped the dagger. "I love you both and I cannot live without either of you." She pulled her dagger into view.

  "Jezebel?" Her brother stared at her and his grip on his dagger loosened. Christian turned and stared at his daughter. "Jezebel? Put the knife down." Angelus stared at her. She shook her head. “Regulus you want me to choose. I choose to not to live without either of you. I am the reason that you are doing this. You are asking me to choose. And I just cannot. That is like making me choose between food and water. Both are different, but I need both to survive." She position the dagger and held it in front of her. She pointed the dagger to her and winced as the point pierced her. She looked at her brother and Angelus. "I love you both," she pulled the knife back and started to bring it forward to stab herself.

  "No!" Angelus pushed Regulus to the side, Regulus screamed as he was thrown to the side of the room, he crashed into the wall and then fell to the ground. Christian ran to his son who was starting to get up slowly. Angelus held out his hand and Regulus' dagger flew into his hand. He ran to Jezebel and brought the knife to his neck.

  "Jezebel if you kill yourself, then I will kill myself in return." Jezebel stared at him and watched
him pierce his neck. She screamed as she watched a sliver of blood ooze from the small cut. She looked over at her father and brother and then she shook her head.

  "I cannot choose," her voice shook and she continued to cry. Angelus shook his head.

  "I know," he touched her hand and caressed her. "I don't want to make you choose." She looked at him and after a few moments, she handed him her knife and smiled at him.

  * * *

  Jezebel poured the tea into the four matching tea cups. She set them all on the tray and carried it out to the dining hall where her father, her brother, and Angelus were waiting for her. She looked at the cups and smiled.

  "I made the tea," she smiled as she walked into the dining hall and saw them all. Angelus, Regulus, and her father all smiled as she entered. She set the tray down on the table and handed the cups to them all.

  "It smells delicious." Angelus smelled the hot liquid. The fumes lifted into the air and filled his nose. She nodded at him.

  "Yes, I made it for a special occasion." She lifted up her cup. "I want to make a toast," she smiled again. She watched them all raise their glasses. "Let us all toast to us and our lives together forever. For eternity." Christian laughed.

  "For eternity?" Regulus laughed.

  "I know that if I didn't do anything, that we all still wouldn't live together in peace." Angelus swallowed a sip and dropped his cup, the tea spilled over the floor. He looked at her and then knocked all the other cups to the floor. He looked at Jezebel.

  "What did you put in here?" He grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "Tell me, Jezebel!"

  "Whoa," Christian said, "Calm down." Angelus shook his head and turned to them.

  "Throw up!" He commanded them, "She put something in our drinks!" Regulus stopped smiling.

  "What do you mean?" Jezebel shook her head.