Tale As Old As Time: An After Hours FairyTale (Beauty and The Beast) (Gods Series Book 1)

by Elisabeth -

  ~E~

  Arabella looked over the man that she knew she was now in love with. She looked at how much more his body was defined. His body was taller, bigger, much more defined as if he had possessed the strength of the world. His calves, his thighs, his rock-hard abs that constricted as he breathed waiting for her approval. His large biceps and his large hands that she realized in one, he carried a club. She gasped and moved back knowing who he was.

  She trembled at the sight of this man, no this god. He watched her as recognition came to and didn’t want to interrupt her as she said it.

  “If…” She cleared her throat before she continued. “If I’m right, you’re Hercules. The…the demi god, Zeus’ son?”

  Alcide scoffed at her statement,

  “First of, it’s Herakles. We’ve been through this one already and secondly, I am no longer a demi god but a god.”

  Arabella nodded not fully getting where he was going with this then she surprised Alcide by laughing out loud,

  “Oh! Oh!... You’re telling me, out of all people in the world, I had sex with a god? Hercules of all people? No…gods?” She continued to laugh.

  Alcide groaned at the mispronunciation of his name.

  “Are you done? because I don’t find this particularly funny.” He said irritated that she was laughing.

  Arabella forced herself to stop laughing and when she finally got it under control, she trusted herself to speak.

  “This is...is a lot. Wow! I don’t even know what to say. So, wait? You’re technically dead right so how were you able to become human again?” She asked remembering on all the Greek mythology she’d read.

  “Hmph! You don’t even know how much I had to go through to get my human side from Hades.”

  Arabella gasped,

  “Hades?” She shrieked then the three-headed hound popped up in her head. “So, you mean to tell me Hades knows who I am? Well that explains Cerberus.”

  “You know its name?” Alcide asked, surprised.

  Arabella rolled her eyes,

  “Don’t act so damn surprised. I’ll have you know I’m considered a genius in some countries. Plus, I was obsessed with Greek mythology growing up. All I did was read up on that. Oh! Do you know Apollo?” She asked, suddenly excited.

  He rolled his eyes, of course she’d bring up his brother.

  “Why wouldn’t I not know my own brother?”

  Arabella clicked her tongue,

  “Oh yeah! Oh, he was my favorite. I just find him so fascinating and Zeus. Although, I must say Zeus is a bit of a man whore. Oop!” She smacked her hand over her mouth realizing what she just said.

  As if that couldn’t make it any worse, thunder erupted loudly. Arabella screamed and ran to Alcide. She hugged him tight not opening her eyes. Alcide chuckled and leaned down kissing the top of her head.

  “She was just messing around big guy, relax.” He snickered again when he tried to pull Arabella off him, but she stuck to him. “You’re surprisingly strong for such a little thing.”

  “Shut up.” She said muffled in his body.

  “You wanna go home baby?” He asked her.

  Arabella refused to speak and just nodded.

  Chapter 11

  Arabella felt guilty that Alcide had told her his secret and she was keeping something from him. After they had gotten back, Arabella needed some time to process, so she showered and now that she was done, she stood there with her wet hair wrapped up in a towel and his t-shirt that looked like a very loose dress. Alcide turned and looked at her, tilting his head he watched as she fidgeted. Why did she look nervous?

  “What is it? Was that too much to take in?” He asked concerned.

  Arabella shook her head and took a deep breath. As she released it, she started to speak,

  “When I say, I go to work sometimes...I lied. Instead of work, I go to a mental asylum to visit someone I know. It’s an hour away from here, and my dad has no idea. I’ve been doing this ever since I found out about her. I found out when I was 16 that I had a sister and that mom didn’t just die, she disappeared. She took my twin with her and just disappeared. Dad keeps telling me that she died but I know better. My sister...She’s umm, she’s in a mental asylum, and now, she’s going to be released, tomorrow. I’m not telling you this so that she comes here, but I’m telling you because you shared something very dear to you and you trust me.”

  Alcide listened to her and when it looked like she was done, he stood up and walked over to her. He engulfed her in his arms,

  “Do you want her here?” He simply asked.

  “Yes.” Arabella said in a soft voice.

  “Then she comes here. What’s her name?”

  “Scarlett… But you need to know that she’s a bit off. She sometimes spaces out and says things yet I love her nonetheless. Don’t tell dad about her.”

  Alcide nodded,

  “It’ll be our little secret.” He smiled.

  He removed the towel that she had wrapped around her wet hair and he threw it to the side. He heard her groan which caused him to chuckle.

  “I love your hair when it’s wet, did you know that?” He inquired.

  “No, I didn’t.” She pulled him even closer than he was. Her short arms barely circled his waist, but she was content just like, this.

  She smiled when Alcide started swaying with no music, but at the snap of his fingers the song Beauty and The Beast, by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson blasted through the sound system. Arabella laughed softly.

  “How did you know how much I love this song?”

  “I know you and we are beauty and the beast, my dear.”

  “I am no beauty even if my name says it.” She chortled.

  “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen and met. The pleasure is all mine.” He said this to her and kissed the top of her head.

  ~E~

  Arabella breathed in and out as she waited at the desk for her sister. She made sure to let them know that her sister would be staying with her. When Arabella turned around and looked at her sister, tears that she hadn’t known were there slipped out of her eyes. Scarlett seemed taken back by the emotion not that she didn’t want to hug her sister but she hadn’t had a proper hug in years. No one offered to even touch her when she went crazy in her own mind.

  Arabella ran to her twin and hugged her tight.

  “Finally!” She wrapped her arms around her neck tightly.

  Scarlett hesitated and then sighed hugging her sister back. She didn’t want to cry but just like the first-time Arabella came to her saying they were sisters, she cried like a baby. Arabella soothed Scarlett as she rubbed her back.

  “It’s okay. We’re together now. No one will ever tear us apart again.”

  “You promise?” Scarlett asked.

  “I swear it to you. I won’t let them.” Arabella cleared her throat and moved out of the embrace to wipe her sister’s tears away. “Ready?”

  Scarlett nodded and they gladly left hand in hand.

  When they arrived out in the parking lot, Scarlett froze as she stared at the man that stood in front of the car. She was in awe because she knew who he was. She whispered his name,

  “Herakles…”

  Alcide looked up, wide-eyed at the name that slipped out of Arabella’s sister’s lips. He looked at Arabella, and she shrugged her shoulders.

  “Don’t look at me like that!” She exclaimed. “I didn’t say a word to her.”

  Scarlett looked at her sister,

  “You know who he is? I’m not crazy? You can see him for who he really is?” She inquired.

  Arabella nodded her head.

  Scarlett had never felt such calm pass over in her life as she had right now. She finally found someone who could see what she saw. She wasn’t alone in this and it brought a genuine smile to her face. She sighed finally taking a good look at her surroundings. She was free. She breathed in the smell of the air mixed in with all sorts of scents. None of them bothered her because she w
as finally free. Scarlett was overwhelmed and she dropped to her knees as she sobbed out loud.

  Arabella reacted immediately by crouching down to her level.

  “Scarlett? What’s wrong? Are you okay?” The worry in Arabella’s voice choked Scarlett.

  No one ever asked her if she was okay. No one cared enough to soothe her back as her sister was doing. She sobbed louder not because she was sad but because she was happy. She was happy that she wasn’t alone. That someone cared about her. She was away from the doctors that laughed at every word that came out of her mouth.

  “I’m just so happy.” She finally said as she looked up at Arabella. “Someone, someone cares about me and they ask if I’m okay. I’ve never had that before. It just feels so weird, it hurts me down to my core.”

  “Now why did you have to go and make me tear up again Scarlett? I’ll always ask you if you’re okay. Remember when I first came to visit you, I told you that you are part of me and I am part of you. I will never abandon you.” Arabella’s heart constricted at the sound of her twin sobbing her heart out. It broke her heart to hear those words out of her sister’s mouth. She knew that from now on, she would have her back no matter what.

  ~E~

  It had now been two weeks that Scarlett was with them and she hadn’t had any episodes where she saw angels, demons, or whatever else. Arabella went back to the asylum to ask the doctor there what she could do with her sister so that she didn’t have episodes or anything. The doctor gave her an idea and she ran with it. Arabella led Scarlett into the studio that she sang in. It was built as large and empty as a dance studio.

  This was easier for Arabella to hear herself. She smiled as Scarlett looked around curiously,

  “So, what is that you want to do in here?” She asked as she looked at the polished wood and the wall to wall mirrors.

  “I want you to dance as I sing. I’ve always wanted to see you dance. Are you okay with that? We don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

  Scarlett smiled,

  “I will but on one condition.”

  Arabella was curious.

  “What condition is that?” She inquired.

  “I want to meet Aides.”

  “Who?”

  Arabella had no idea who her sister was referring to. She wanted to help her but if she didn’t know the person then what would happen.

  “I want to meet Hades.” Scarlett said with a serious face.

  Arabella’s face fell.

  “What?” She shrieked. “Hades? Like the god of the underworld?”

  “Have you not met him?” Scarlett asked her.

  “No! Alcide barely mentions him. Have you met him?” Arabella asked. She was genuinely curious as to what the god of the underworld looked like.

  Scarlett smiled widely.

  “He is beautiful. His raven colored hair flows through the wind when he walks. It’s so long and looks like fine silk. He is consumed by flames but doesn’t burn. I thought it would be scary but he looks glorious in it. He doesn’t compliment the flames; the flames compliment him.”

  “Wow.” Was all Arabella could say. She had never thought about what Hades looked like but now, now she wanted to get a glimpse of him.

  Scarlett cleared her throat,

  “So, will you?”

  “Yes. But I don’t know how.”

  “I do. I have to go somewhere to do it but I have to go by myself.”

  “I can’t come with you?” Arabella asked with sadness in her voice.

  Scarlett hugged her sister,

  “No. I have to do this on my own. When I’m done with what I need to do, I will come back.”

  “Okay.” Arabella hugged her back. “Now, let me see what you can do Scarlett.

  Chapter 12

  The next day, Arabella walked out with Scarlett, and they made their way to the greyhound station. Her sister said she couldn’t tell her where she was going but she would be close. Arabella nodded and hugged her sister one more time,

  “Please, call me every night.”

  Scarlett smiled,

  “I will.”

  “I love you, Scarlett.”

  “I love you too Ari.”

  Arabella watched as her sister got on the greyhound bus and then it started to drive off. Arabella felt like a chunk of her heart was being taken with her sister. She just had her full time only to lose her again but she understood that her sister had her own demons to battle. She looked down at her phone; she knew that Alcide said he was going to be busy these last few days but she felt like every time he came to bed, he was distant. He didn’t seem the same, but she shrugged it off to him being busier than usual.

  Her phone ringing brought her out of her daze. She smiled when she saw it was Bernice,

  “Hey Bee. What’s up?”

  “Hey, hey. Not much. Just asking if we’re on for tonight?”

  “Yeah we are.”

  Just then, a whisper came into her ear. She turned but saw no one. Then it was as if she was transported to the basement in Alcide’s house. She watched as Alcide sported a sinister smile in the corner while watching something in front of him. Arabella turned her head and she sharply inhaled when she saw who it was. Her father sat there on a chair hooked up to something. She didn’t understand what was going on but then she remembered sharing what happened to her with Alcide one night.

  “No!” She shrieked but then the image was gone and she was back at the bus station. Arabella forgot all about Bernice on the phone and ran to her car. She had to get to Alcide in time. She didn’t want him to kill her father. Her heart constricted at the image of her father.

  “I can’t let him kill him. He just can’t.” She chanted as she speeded in her car.

  ~E~

  Alcide smirked as he watched a squirming John trying to get out of his restraints. He didn’t bother drugging John to inflict pain on him. He came out of the dark corner and walked over the metal chair that John sat in.

  “Happy for you to join me John…For a moment there, I thought you abandoned your daughter.”

  John’s eyes went wide at the realization of who took him. He wasn’t sure whether to plead for his life or pretend to be interested in his daughter’s whereabouts. He wasn’t interested at all so he did the only thing he knew.

  “Please…please. I’ll give you anything just let me go.”

  Alcide wanted to kick this coward of a man.

  “Why should I let you go? What have you done that was good enough for you to be free?”

  “I gave you my daughter!” He yelled.

  “Wrong answer.” Alcide growled as he snapped his fingers and electricity coursed through John’s body.

  John didn’t realize he was hooked to anything but when he felt like his body was being torn into pieces and set on fire, he knew this was for real. He yelled out loud as his body shook then it stopped. Trickles of sweat appeared on his face. Alcide didn’t speak as he watched the sweat beads trickle down John’s face. None of this phased him because he was a torturer for a long time. Inflicting pain was his specialty and he enjoyed it.

  Alcide pulled up a seat in front of John and sat in it. He reached into his pocket and felt for what he was looking for. The fine, cold feeling of the switchblade warmed his palm as he took it out of his pocket. He snapped his finger again and a table appeared on his right side. There laid a single rose with thorns. He looked into John’s eyes as he watched how Alcide rotated the switch blade between his fingers with finesse.

  Alcide’s eyes never left John’s face. He watched as John became squeamish due to the switchblade in his hand moving closer to John’s upper thigh. A sinister smile crept on Alcide’s face as he gave no warning as the knife descended into John’s thigh. Alcide threw his head back in pure ecstasy as he dragged the knife down further stopping a few inches down.

  John howled his scream not being able to bear the pain as he passed out. Alcide looked back at John and scoffed,

  “Weak!” He growled. He took t
he rose and used a single petal to close the wound. Then he stabbed him again in the same spot causing John to jolt out of his unconsciousness with a piercing shriek.

  The sound of ripping flesh filled the suffocated air in the special dungeon he had made especially for people like John. The scent of urine pierced through Alcide’s nose causing him to spit on John.

  “You are both weak and disgusting. How can you even call yourself a father! You make me sick.”

  John strained to speak, his voice barely coming out as audible.

  “What have I done to her? I have done no wrong. I fixed her.”

  At those words, Alcide yanked the knife out of John’s thigh and wrapped his fingers around his throat stopping him from screaming out again. He leaned in and traced the bloodied knife over John’s jaw and then to his lips then as he spoke, he brought the knife right under John’s left eye.

  “You know, because of monsters like you…You made angels like Ari feel like they were the true monsters but they weren’t. You made her feel inadequate. Inadequate enough for a sick little boy to take advantage of her. He was no man because men don’t do that, little boys take what they can’t have. They don’t know what a no means and it’s up to men like me to remind them.” Alcide tightened his hold on John’s airway as the tip of the knife made a slash all the way down to the outline of his pale jaw.

  ~E~

  The feeling of the knife as it cut through John’s skin caused him to see stars. He was going to die, and he knew it. He shut his eyes but popped them back open when Alcide squeezed tighter on his throat.

  Alcide made sure John opened his eyes as he spoke inches from his face.

  “I want you to see how a man takes care of someone who attacked someone they love. I want you to understand what love does to people. What a man swears by when he loves his woman for who she is and not what she looks like.”