Chapter 14: Stranger and Stranger
She followed the trail till she made it to the room, quietly slipping in to see her sisters sitting on a four-poster bed that was the size of two of their beds together.
“Are you two okay,” she asked, removing the hood of her coat and changing to her human form.
“We’re okay,” Belle sighed, “What about Papa?”
“I followed him to the outskirts of the village where the carriage thing took him before coming back here,” Louata explained, “Disheveled but okay.”
“Did anyone see you enter,” Belle asked.
“Don’t believe so what about Marie?”
“Nope,” Marie shook her head, “I did it just like I was taught.”
“Good job,” the two smiled at her. The older sisters breathed a little easier but knew their day was far from over yet. Now they needed to set out a plan. The eldest two began to make plans when a soft knock came from the door. All three froze in place.
“Who’s there,” Belle asked, trying to keep her voice even. Louata changed back to a wolf and pushed Marie back under the bed, then joining her.
“It’s Mrs. Potts dear,” came a sweet voice from the other side of the door. Belle moved towards the door opening it a little to see who was there only to be startled back by a teapot bouncing into the room followed by a teacup and a sugar cup, “I thought you’d like some tea after everything, deary.”
Louata was startled at the alive tea set that entered the room but kept quiet, making sure her little sister did the same. Belle’s mind was trying to catch up to this new development when she stumbled into the wardrobe, and it began to speak as well.
What the? Did we slip into the Fea world? How many other items can talk?
Panic swelled in Louata and Belle. Had they been spotted by some unknown object? They’d need to escape sooner rather than later. Marie crawled closer to the edge of the bed trying to get a better look at the strange going on, and who Belle was now talking to as whoever they are were trying to cheer her up ,and admiring what she had done for their father. Louata kept her sister still as the tea set left the room and the wardrobe offered Belle a dress for dinner which she declined even as another servant entered announcing dinner was ready. Belle declined again, saying she wasn’t hungry. This sent the servant out of the room muttering nervously to himself.
Once he was gone deep snoring vibrated from the wardrobe.
Louata slipped out from the bed, “What in all the Hells was that?”
“You heard them too,” Belle sighed sitting on the bed, “I was starting to think I’d imagined it all.”
“Even the sleeping wardrobe,” Louata asked looking from the sleeping furniture to her sister.
“Little. Did you make sure Papa got home safely?”
“He was taken to the edge of the village. He should be home by now.”
Belle let out a sigh of relief. Marie wiggled out from under the bed, shaking out her fur.
“Now just to get you two out of here,” Louata said pulling the hood of her pelt back, going to her human form, “Hopefully nothing else in this living castle saw us.”
“How can we be sure,” Belle said picking up her little sister.
“Best not stick around to find out,” Louata said moving to the large bedroom window.
Outside heavy snow was falling with gusts of wind making it difficult to see far.
“Crap,” Louata growled, “Weather turned faster than I expected it to.”
“Maybe we can just hide out till morning,” Marie offered to her sisters.
Belle and Louata looked back at each other. Both didn’t want to admit that that was there best option if they wanted to get home safely. Even if Louata would allow Belle to stay a prisoner in some magic castle, which she wouldn’t, Marie and her pelts would only keep them so warm through the storm. They’d loose too much time trying to navigate back to the village which would use up energy that could be keeping them warm. They’d freeze before even making it to the village border.
“Even if we did escape tonight you’re not prepared for a night trek through snow,” Louata sighed gesturing at Belle’s cloak. It was warm but was a lighter wool than the heavy winter one she had back home. Nor her shoes were ment for it either. Their stockings too thin.
“I hadn’t really expected to be hiking through snow,” Belle grumbled to her sister, “We were kind of in a hurry.”
“I know,” Louata replied, “I’m not scolding you. Just cursing the hindsight of the whole thing.”
While the two elder sisters where trying to think of a plan Marie’s ears twitched as she heard something from the hallway outside.
The Beast pounded on the door shouting, “I thought you to come to dinner!”
The girls jumped at the bounding. Belle quickly hide Marie back under the bed as Louata pulled her hood over but instead of turning to a full wolf form she was in a half human form. Her cackles raised, her teeth snarling at the door.
“I’m not hungry,” Belle called back, “Besides why would you want dinner with me!? I’m your prisoner!”
Faint voices came from the other side of the door, Louata’s ear twitched as she could make out Mrs.Potts voice firmly scolding the beast, “Gently. Gently, like a true prince.”
Prince of Beasts maybe. Stay on guard Belle. Marie stay hidden. If he tries to get in I’ll jump him and you two run as fast as you can away.
“It would…I would be honored if you joined me for dinner. Please.”
“No thank you,” Belle called back, “Huff and puff all you want I’m not joining you!”
Outside the room Beast turned to Cogsworth, Mrs.Potts, and Lumiera, “She doesn’t eat with me she doesn’t eat at all.”
He then stomped back down the hall back to his own rooms.
“That could have gone better,” Lumeria sighed.
“Well Lumeria keep watch,” Cogsworth instructed him. Lumeria gave a small salute in return. Cogsworth and Mrs.Potts then went back to the kitchen to clean up everything.
Beast stomped back into his chambers muttering and grumbling to himself before looking to the magic mirror the Enchanteress had given him the night after his curse.
“Show me the girl,” he commanded the mirror. The mirror sparkled and rippled like water disorienting the reflection of the Beast to a vision of Belle in her room sitting by the bed, comforting a little girl in a wolf pelt clock crying in her lap.
“He’s gone now, Marie,” Belle whispered to the girl, “He won’t hurt you. Your sisters will make sure of that.”
“I don’t want you hurt either,” Marie sniffled hugging her sister tighter.
“Not while I’m here,” another woman came into view of the mirror, comforting her sisters, “We’ll be okay.”
Beast watched in a mix of anger and curiosity. How and when did two other trespassers get in his castle. He would have gone back and tossed the two others out, but the youngest crying stopped him. She was desperately holding onto her sisters as she cried from fear of the Beast. He terrified this child without knowing it.
She looked to be a few years younger than Chip. Guilt flooded his heart as he set the mirror back on the table by the enchanted rose, glowing softly under the bell jar that encases it.
“It’s hopeless,” he sighed, “I truly am a beast.”
