The Beast

by Lindsay Mead

  Liv took it, giving Belle a wink. “You and I both, Darling.”

  Sitting together on the loveseat, Edvina ran a brush through Belle’s loose hair. With her eyes half-lidded, Belle listened to Edvina’s story and watched the fire dance in her room’s fireplace. After a meeting with Monsieur Petit and General Kogsworthe, Belle checked in on a sleeping Aleksander, then spent the remainder of the evening resting her injury.

  Admittedly, Belle was grateful to be back at Castle Vakre Fjell. It was strange. Home would always be LeClair House and her family would always be the Hunters, Friar Clemens, and the good people of Contefées. But she was also glad to be in the care of Edvina, have the sisterly friendship of Liv, and enjoy the intelligent company of Ms. Tops. The companionship of other women, it was something she never wanted to go without again.

  “Anyhow, long story short, the entire castle is abuzz with your epic saga—”

  “My epic saga?”

  “Well you know, how Prince Aleksander rescued you from the cursed, then turned human to show you who he was. And how you carried him to your home and risked your life in turn to save him, then how you both nearly died upon returning to the castle. It is quite the thing. Anyhow, as I said, long story short, even the strictest of holdouts that you were not to be trusted have come around. You’ve won over the entire castle, Child!”

  “I’m so glad that’s all it took.”

  There was a timid knock at the door.

  “Now, who could that be? How very unseemly to come calling so late.” Edvina put the hair comb aside and went to the door. She opened it just enough to see who it was and block Belle from view.

  “Sorry to disturb, but I’ve brought something for the mademoiselle,” said a male’s voice.

  “Couldn’t this wait until morning when she—”

  “It’s all right, Edvina. Let him in.” Belle stood, pulling her silk robe around her and covering the billowing nightgown beneath.

  As commanded, Edvina stepped aside and a middle-aged man, with rosy cheeks, entered. Belle immediately recognized him as a servant who generally worked the stables. He blushed at seeing Belle in her nightclothes. She ignored it, keeping her head high. Whatever it was, it was important enough for him to come here at this hour and she was not about to make it worse by being embarrassed.

  “Pardonnez-moi, mademoiselle, I know the hour is late.” The saddlebags in his hands suddenly gave a jump, causing Edvina to squeal and grab her excessive bosom. The man held the straps tight, so as not to drop it. “However, something in your bag is upsetting the stable hands. It does not act like an animal and is making very unnatural noises. Now, the boys are not superstitious if you can believe it, but their talk has turned to such nature. I thought it best to bring it to you before they decided to convert.”

  “A reasonable decision.” Belle accepted the bag, which had started to wiggle dramatically.

  “Careful, Dear,” Edvina whispered, remaining several feet away.

  Grabbing the metal clasp, Belle unhooked it. Slowly she began to lift the leather flap, tilting her head to peer inside. Whatever it was flew up in a rush. It burst past the flap and whizzed by her face with only inches to spare.

  “What in the world?!” Belle exclaimed, struggling to follow the thing’s fast movements.

  Edvina screamed, swatting her hair like it had bats in it and ducked behind a chair. The servant stepped close to Belle, removing a small dagger to guard her with. The thing made one fast dash around the room, then dove to the bed and disappeared beneath a pillow.

  Belle could hardly believe it. “Pixie?”

  There was just a second of nothing, where the pillow shook only a little. Then the thing flew out again and came straight for Belle. It was so fast, she couldn’t react. Then little cold hands were touched in her cheek and a small voice twinkled hurriedly in her ear. Belle laughed in her surprise and carefully took the small toy into her hands. She held Pixie before her for the others to see.

  “Pixie?” asked the man, looking over her shoulder with his mouth agape. “A real fairy?”

  “No, just a mechanical one. My father made it for me one Noël.” Belle smiled at Edvina to encourage her out from hiding. She came over hesitantly, a hand still on her beating heart as Belle said, “I had no idea Pixie had come with me. I’ve only had her out of the house a few times. The snow isn’t terribly friendly to metal joints, you see.”

  “Ja,” he agreed with an exaggerated nod. “Well if that’s all it was, I’ll be going to calm the boys down.”

  “Goodnight, monsieur. Thank you so much.”

  “Of course, mademoiselle. Goodnight.” He chuckled as Pixie waved enthusiastically to him; a gesture which he reciprocated before leaving.

  “As I live and breathe.” Edvina now clutched her chest with two hands and looked as though she were witnessing a miracle. “What marvels!”

  “I guess she was tired of being alone in my room and hid in my pack.”

  Pixie leapt out of Belle’s hands and fluttered over to the older woman. She twinkled a song and did several circles around her. Like a gleeful child, Edvina laughed and watched her with gleaming eyes.

  Lifting up the saddlebag, Belle looked inside. She shuffled through the various contents and chuckled when she found the decorated egg that Pixie slept in. “Clever little stowaway.”

  In this moon dream, Belle was alone in the courtyard. She glanced around the snowy grounds, expecting to see the Prince, but he was nowhere to be seen. She frowned, placing her hands on her hips. It just didn’t make sense that he wouldn’t be here and she would.

  “The sun is about to set,” came Aleksander’s sweet voice, drawing Belle’s eyes upward. He stood confidently on the outer wall and stared into the distance, then he turned to smile down at her. “Would you like to join me?”

  “I would.” She returned his smile, feeling his lightness of spirit in the air. “But I’m not sure how I would get all the way up there.”

  “Have a little faith.” He knelt down, extending his hand toward her. At her skeptical expression, he added, “Come now, give me your hand.”

  Belle really couldn’t see how this was going to work. He was many feet above her! With a shrug, she decided to just go with it. She reached out her hand, taking steps in his direction.

  Suddenly the ground pitched forward. It lifted her in the air with a soft acceleration and shifted to help her balance. Belle laughed in astonishment. She took another step. The ground came up to meet her boot. Another step and another, Belle confidently walked the earthen staircase upward to Aleksander.

  He grinned charmingly at her, gently taking her hand and guiding her safely onto the outer wall. As both of Belle’s feet found firm footing, the ground receded back into its original shape with a groan from the effort.

  Aleksander held onto her hand a second longer than necessary, letting his thumb trace her wrist. His blue eyes twinkled. His lips remained upturned. There was a softness about him that had been missing over the last few days. Belle hadn’t realized it so much at the time, but now it seemed obvious.

  “You seem quite changed, Aleksander.” The breath of her voice shook just a little. She was nervous for some reason, but it was more like the excited energy that comes with the first of Spring. “May I ask what has brought it about?”

  “Do I?” Aleksander actually looked away, almost sheepishly. He thought for a moment, then gazed out over the mountain range. “I suppose it’s due to being home again. Everyone is well. My kingdom has hope. It is a good feeling.”

  “Wonderful. I am glad for you.” Belle withdrew her hand, wondering at what—if anything—came next for them and peered at the mountains. Their steely gray, capped with perfect ivory, had a backdrop of pink and gold. “It really is lovely here.”

  “However, my change might have more to do with the influence of your company.” His words came out in a rush and she looked at him in surprise. “Belle, I’ve made my affections known. I do not—I will not—hide them,
not even now. I love you.” Aleksander held out his arms in acceptance, looking to the sky. “I love your fierce spirit. I love that your heart has no limits; you care unconditionally. You didn’t need to help me or my kingdom, but you did without want for yourself.” The Prince dropped his eyes to the ground with a shake of his head and a chuckle. “I love that your favorite room in my castle is the library. I love that your green eyes remind me of emeralds, that you smell of roses, and that you make me want so badly to be free.”

  Belle’s breath became sparse. Did her heart even beat, for she no longer felt it? “Oh Aleksander, I…”

  He pressed on at her loss of words, “I only say all of this because I know that I’m about to ask too much of you.” With tentative movements, Aleksander took up her hand once more. He caressed her fingers, gazing intently into her eyes. “I am a beast. I am cursed. This hasn’t changed.” He closed his eyes to take a breath, then forged on. “What has changed is that I know now that I do not wish to be without you. You are my hope.” Not releasing her hand, Aleksander touched her cheek. “If this curse is ever broken, I’d like to court you—publicly. Would that be agreeable to you?”

  Stunned, Belle stared blankly. Then her answer burst out. “Yes! Of course!”

  Aleksander’s eyebrows raised in shock. His lips began to upturn, but he forced the smile away. “Please understand what you’re agreeing to. I may never be free of this curse, or you might have to wait years for me.” He squeezed her hand imploringly. “Then when we do go public, there will be opposition. Some noble families will fight us. It will be a strain both socially and privately.” He straightened his shoulders, constraining all of his emotions. “I’ll understand if you see now that it is too much. I will not force you—”

  “Aleksander, I love you,” she interrupted him. Belle didn’t hide her joy. She splayed it across her face like the sun in the sky. “I’ll wait my whole life just to have you, even if I never do.”

  His hand started to drop hers and he stared at her wearily. “And what of the noble families?”

  Looking at the mountain range, seeing the sun dip behind their peaks, she found her answer. “Our love will be like your mountains. Let the winds batter us, we will not give way.” Belle turned back at the Prince, who watched her closely. She reached up to touch his face. “I know this because I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you, Aleksander. Our love may be new, but one day it will be grand.”

  “You don’t know what it means to me to hear you say these things.” He cupped her hand against his face and tugged her a step closer with his other. “I was stunned the first moment I laid eyes on you. You were afraid but undeniably strong. I didn’t know then the effect you would have on me. Then it was my turn to be afraid, to fear that you might not love me in return.” Prince Aleksander’s blue eyes danced between hers. “You’ve made my heart sing. I love you, my beauty.”

  “And I love you, my prince.”

  It took several knocks before Belle could pull herself fully out of the wonderful moon dream. She loathed whoever forced her to leave. The knocks came again, rattling her senses further.

  “I’m up! I’m up. Just a moment!” Belle threw back the covers with an exaggerated flourish and fumbled her way through the drapes surrounding her bed.

  She blinked at the light just starting to illuminate the distant mountains. Was it sunrise already? Belle tied her robe around her. Pixie pushed up from her egg-shaped bed and feigned a yawn. Rubbing her eyes, Belle walked over and opened the bedroom door.

  “Apologies. There are two gentlemen to see you, mademoiselle. A Frenchmen and an American.” The servant said with only a hint of surprise in her voice. “They say it is urgent.”

  Belle looked over the woman’s shoulder to find Jack and Andre. Though with a description like that, she hadn’t expected to see anyone else. They looked windswept, with cheeks and noses red from the cold. Whatever news forced them to brave the forest so late at night must truly be terrible.

  “Let them in,” Belle said, as unease replaced the moon dream’s euphoria. “Have coffee and food sent up, posthaste.”

  The servant curtsied and turned away. Belle walked over to the mirror. Quickly, she checked her appearance. Really, they couldn’t expect much from her this early.

  The door opened again and the two Hunters walked in. Pixie released a high jingle at the sight of them and flew excitedly over to Jack. She kissed his cheek while he greeted her in kind.

  “Pixie? You brought Pixie with you?” Andre said, eyebrows raised.

  “Stowaway.” Belle pointed at her accusingly. “Please have a seat, messieurs. I’ve ordered refreshments, but I assume you wish to tell me why you are here without delay.”

  “Quite right.” Andre walked over, grabbed a log, and tossed it on the fading embers. A few prods from the iron poker revived the sleeping fire. “I’m afraid the church has decided against allowing the Prince to live.”

  “What?” Sitting down quickly, Belle felt suddenly very awake. “Even after he has returned to his castle?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Jack came over to sit, letting Pixie stay on his shoulder. “I believe the words used were ‘As long as he is controlled by the beast, he is a threat to us all’.”

  “Controlled by the beast? So they don’t believe that he is cursed then. He’s still the devil incarnate to them.” Belle shook her head, frustrated after everything they’d been through.

  “To be fair, they do not know Prince Aleksander like you do.” Andre exchanged a meaningful look with Jack. “And they do not know you like we do.”

  “Merci.” She gave a smile, but it was a struggle with the worry that she now felt. “So what action do they intend to take?”

  “They’re gathering all the capable men in Contefées—” Andre silenced himself as the door opened.

  Servants entered with trays of food and began serving fresh coffee. Belle shooed them away, stating that they were perfectly able to pour their own coffee at this juncture. They curtsied and quickly left.

  “You were saying?” Belle took over where the servants left off, first handing a filled cup to Jack.

  “They’ll be outside these gates by midday.” Andre took the cup Belle offered, thanking her gravely. “Their intention is to execute the Prince and I believe they intend to kill everyone here if he is not turned over willingly.”

  “They said that?” Belle set down the coffee pot.

  “Not in so many words.”

  “But, Belle, there was no mistaking their intent,” Jack added.

  Sipping from her cup, Belle took in this new information. There was really only one logical step to take first.

  “We must wake the General and Monsieur Petit.” She set down her drink and went to the door. “There is much to do and the day is already upon us.”

  The leather slid through the clasp and Belle popped the metal home, tightening the holder across her chest. Then one by one she drove each throwing knife into position. After Belle’s sabre was hung at her hip, she removed her revolvers to make sure they were loaded.

  The door to Aleksander’s room opened. Belle glanced up from looking in the bullet chamber to see Andre entering. He was armed to the teeth, just as she was. With the cover back over the chamber, Belle put her beautiful revolvers in their hostlers.

  “’Bout ready?” he asked closing the door behind him. His dreadlocks were pulled neatly out of the way.

  “As ready as I’ll ever be, I suppose.” Belle hated the idea of possibly fighting her family, and her people. Could she really stand against them if this turned to bloodshed? She knew she couldn’t, so she’d have to make them see reason.

  “How is he?” Andre nodded to the Prince slumbering in his own bed. Since it was easier to defend him here than the royal sick rooms, Aleksander had been moved just hours ago.

  “He’s holding together. His strength is coming back, but it’ll take time for all those wounds to heal.” She looked from the Prince to the Hunter. “Andre, I hav
e to ask. How come you’re with me and not with the other Hunters?”

  Tugging the glove tighter over his mechanical hand, he answered, “The church may pay us, but you lead us. I’ve sworn my vows alongside you from the beginning and I intend for it to remain that way. For Jack, it’s essentially the same.” Seeing Belle’s thoughtful look, he squared his shoulders and held out his arm. “Till my heart stills.”

  Warm pride swelled within Belle’s chest. Somehow, through all of the bloodshed and loss, she had earned a steadfast loyalty from Andre and Jack. If she never earned a single thing in her life, this would be more than enough.

  Belle grasped his forearm. “Till my heart stills.”

  A horn sounded a long, deep keen from one of the castle battlements. Belle released his arm and placed a hand on her revolver. “They’re here. We’d better get out there.”

  Andre sighed. “Here we go.”

  Belle looked at Aleksander. He rested peacefully. Her heart surged as she remembered his recent declarations. She wanted to reach out and stroke his cheek but fought the inappropriate desire.

  As Andre grabbed for the door handle, the balcony doors flew open with a crash. They flinched in surprise as glass scattered over the floor and frosty wind swirled around them. Belle then looked up and gasped.

  Standing confidently on the stone railing of Aleksander’s balcony—like an angel of death—was the norn. Her blue and silver cloak whipped about with the wind. Her hood fell back revealing straight, silver hair. Her hand rested comfortably on an evil looking dagger strapped to the front of her lower waist. A smile played on her perfectly red lips.

  Belle stepped forward to place herself between the norn and the Prince. She drew her guns. Andre moved beside her.

  “Belle LeClair,” The norn spoke, unbothered by the Hunters’ protective positions. Her voice was lyrical, in a fashion, with a lacing of malice. “If I’d have known you were going to be such a problem, I’d have killed you long ago.”

  The sound of Belle’s name coming from the norn gave her a sickening feeling. Andre glanced at Belle, his brow furrowed in confusion. Likely he was wondering the same thing she was.