Cursed Creatures: Chapter Eight

Belle stirred as the storm began to rage again. She yawned and stretched out on the bed, her hand hitting his chest. She froze for a moment, feeling for a moment that all of that must of been a dream. There was no way that had all happened, but as she looked at the beast's sleeping face she was pulled from her dreams.

She sat up, looking over him curiously again. He really was lovely and she couldn't deny it now. As she touched his cheek he felt warm to the touch. He was still chilled compared to her, but he felt warmer than he ever had.

He stirred gently, stretching his arm out and his hand rested on her hip. He grumbled slightly and his eyes opened just enough to peer at her.

"Why aren't you asleep?" He growled.

"The storm," Belle murmured as she eased back down beside him. "It sounds awful." she clung close. "The wind is so loud."

He grumbled sleepily, tucking his leg between her thighs.

Belle bit her cheek and sighed, her vulva still sensitive from last night. She hoped he wasn't angling for it again so soon. Lightening lit up the room then and the wind blew the windows open. Belle screamed, cowering in his arms.

"Oh for fuck's sake," he snarled as he pulled himself away. He covered Belle before he went to the windows and forced them against the wind. He managed to shut and latch them, coming back soaking wet.

"This storm has been sent from hell," he glanced down at Belle, seeing her shaking and tearing up on the bed.

He frowned, "Is something bothering you?" He wiped at his wet face. "We're safe if it is the storm you are so afraid of."

"It isn't that," Belle tried to regain herself. "I'm not worried about myself. I'm worried about-" she stopped herself.

"What?" He snorted. He scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Out there?" He pointed over his shoulder. "The village?"

Belle looked up at him and smiled sadly. "I'm sorry. I try to forget but-" she swallowed.

He eased back down onto the bed. "Did I ask you to forget?" He opened up the blanket and crawled underneath with her.

"Y-you're still wet and cold," she fussed as he rubbed against her.

"I can't make you forget your family outside," he nibbled on her neck, taking her hands and pressing them against his chest.

"I feel as if it has been ages," she murmured. "Time moves so strangely here." She huffed, pushing him away as best as she could. "Can you just comfort me rather than eat me alive?" She looked up at him with large, sad eyes. "Just hold me."

He sighed and held her hips between his hands. "I am not one to give comfort, Belle. I am not used to it."

"Being here helps." She placed her hands under his chin and lifted him up to look at her. "If I told you that I find you beautiful you wouldn't believe me would you?"

He frowned and tried to look away from her, but she held him fast. "Why would you even say that?" He snarled. "What's the point?"

Belle rubbed her thumb across his lip, tugging it down and seeing the sharp teeth behind. "I just want you to know." She ran her fingers over the spines and fins on his face. She held his horns and rubbed them slowly. "You're a lovely color, your scales feel like cool stones on my skin. Your chest and lips are like satin." She blushed some. "You aren't the unseemly package everyone murmurs in the village."

She smiled then and giggled. "I find you handsome and sometimes when I look at you my heart flutters like when I was little and that merchant gave me the rose." She felt his hands tighten on her hips and pulled her closer. "I like looking at you, my beast."

"You're a strange girl," he snarled at her. "There must be something wrong with you if you think something like me is as appealing as you say."

Belle's knuckles touched his cheek, "ah...they're warm," she whispered.

"Stop," he pulled away.

Belle grinned in triumph. "I'm making you blush."

"Shut up!" He snarled, trying to sound serious, managing to escape her and stand off the bed. He glared back at her, "Are you trying to make me take you?" He scoffed, slipping on a robe. "You're probably too sore to be any fun anyway."

Belle giggled and her cheeks flushed. "I feel a little sensitive," she mumbled apologetically. "But I do want to feel you again."

He clicked his tongue and then inched close again. "It doesn't hurt does it?" He asked. "Does anything feel wrong?"

"Hmm?" Belle was confused by the sudden change of his tone. He suddenly sounded like her sister when she was examining patients to make new potions. "I mean, I feel a little tender but nothing feels wrong."

His head tilted slightly and he stood up. "Good. You tell me if anything is ever wrong."

Belle was more confused and curious than ever. He was so good to her, in his own way and just now the way he talked made her wonder if he was this eater of women like the world believed. He was so apprehensive to answer any question and he was always snapping and hissing that he would eat her if she pestered on. Belle was beginning to believe him less and less in his threats. They were all empty and he used them armor.

He is just huffing and puffing, she thought as she dressed like him.

"Would you like to see your family?" He suddenly said.

Belle's eyes widened, her heart leaping up into her throat. "Could I?" She gasped, tears coming forth as she leaped towards him, throwing herself into his arms.

He grabbed her hand, holding it up. "Follow me," he whispered, his lips brushing against her knuckles.

She squeezed his hand, following him through the darkness of his room and standing before the glass. She stared at herself in it and then up at him. "What is this?"

"It is a magic mirror." The beast replied, watching as Belle's fingers trailed along the cold glass. He took her hand and held it flat against the glass."If you press your palm upon it and ask the mirror to show you what you most desire, it will appear in the glass."

Belle looked up amazed at him. "So I could see if my sisters are alright?"

He nodded, "if only from a distance."

"Oh thank you so much!" Belle hugged him tightly. "You don't know what this means to me." She turned back to the mirror and slowly placed her palm upon the surface. Instantly, the glass turned murky and swirled, her reflection vanishing as if in a fog.

"I would like to see my sister Pearl, please."

The silver fog inside swirled, turning black and red and then turning into smoke and parting, showing Belle's eldest sister where her reflection should be. She was sitting somewhere Belle didn't recognize, a small, warm kitchen. The glow of a fire upon her cheeks and Pearl's usually neatly styled hair was undone and falling all along her back and shoulders. Thick white-gold curls that she rarely ever showed. She looked tired and weary, her hands were dirty and there was a cut on her cheek.

Pearl looked up as a man came into the room. "I know my home is small, but it is yours until you can travel again safely." He said.
The man was tall and strong, his hair and clothes wet from rain. He sat beside Pearland watched her with the kindest eyes Belle had ever seen. They were such a soft, pretty green. He looked slightly older, his dark peppering at the temple. He touched Pearl's cheek and Pearl gladly accepted the touch, sighing softly and easing into it.

"You saved my life," Pearl murmured. She looked up at the man through her long, pale lashes.

He laughed nervously. "Anyone would have done it." He refilled the cup in her palms, making it steam. "But...what is a thing like you doing out during a horrible storm like this?"

"I received word from an old family friend she needed my help," she sighed, pushing her hair away from her face. "She lives in seclusion out in the woods." She took a drink from the cup, drinking until she was out of breath and had to take a deep breath.

"I didn't think it would storm so." She looked back to the man, her cheeks blooming bright pink. She smiled shyly at him. "Thank goodness you came to save me."

The man frowned. "The woods aren't safe, even with the storm."
Pearl's eyes widened, "Oh? What's wrong?"

"Magic," the man replied. "Many a strange creature is lurking in the woods now. Bears and wolves enchanted and craving a sweet young maiden like you."

Pearl covered her mouth, seeming to have something on her mind. "I see," she nodded and took a breath. "I can't stop though. I owe this woman so much." She leaned towards the man. "I've already lost someone so important."

He stared her down. "I'm sorry about that," his kind eyes bleeding for her. "I understand your motivation, but I must insist you turn back home once this storm is done."

Pearl tilted her head slightly, noticing the tips of his ears blush and bleed down to his cheeks. "I wish I had that option, sir." She held her cup up. "But no man has stopped me before."

Belle pulled her hand away and wiped away a tear.

"What was that?" The beast sniffed.

"I'm not sure," Belle murmured. "I think Pearl is talking about our Auntie May." She glanced up at him, "She was a dear friend of our mother." She then reached out and laid her palm upon the mirror again.

"Show me, Rose," she commanded, the mirror swirling with fog again, parting upon her second eldest sister.

Belle sighed in relief when she saw Rose was in their home. Despite how they had the windows covered with sheets everything looked in one piece.

Rose was sitting before her vanity, brushing out her hair which looked disheveled and tossed about. She looked flushed and slightly dreamy, which was slightly different. Her eyes were at least serious, as always. Belle smiled excitedly and then she saw a man enter the picture. She recognized him, it was Alby, their neighbor and an admirer of Rose.

"You were amazing, Rose." He cooed into her ear as he kissed her neck.

Rose scoffed, pushing his face away. "Oh hush." She held out her palm, which Alby placed a gold piece in.

Belle furrowed her brow. "What's going on?"

Rose took the gold and looked it over and then shooed Alby off. A moment later Snow came into the room, the same stupid smile on her face. "Alby wasn't here long."

Rose stood and sighed "He never is," she scoffed. "But he pays good enough." She smoothed out her nightgown and frowned when it thundered. "Of course this would have to happen when Pearl is out."

Snow blushed and put her hands over her mouth. "How long do you think it will last?"

Rose shrugged, "long enough to earn me the coin I need." She placed the gold coin Alby had given her into a box and locked it.

Snow fidgeted and pointed out the door, "well...there's someone else here to see you."

Rose turned, her serious gaze unchanging. "I guess boys have nothing better to do during a storm than fuck." She checked herself in the mirror again and nodded. "Go fetch him then."

Snow screwed up her mouth, looking unsure before she went back out the door.

Rose sat on the edge of the bed, prepping slightly. She smoothed out the skirt of her nightgown then pushed up her breasts a bit.

The beast pulled Belle's hand away. "You don't have to watch anymore."

"I just don't understand," Belle snatched her hand away from him. "Why is Rose doing such a thing? What does she need that money for?"

"She probably wants my head," the beast growled quietly. He moved Belle away from the mirror. "Or weapons to do it herself."

Belle sniffled, trying to hold back her tears. "I know Rose...I mean...it's not surprising of her but..." She trembled slightly.

The beast stood before her, kneeling down and holding her arms. "I wish there was more I could do for you."

"Not even a letter?" She pleaded. "What harm could it do to just let them know?"

He frowned and stood back up. "You have to understand Belle, there are things I must do. Things that cannot be let out."

Belle's lips formed a tight line. "I wish you could tell me!" She insisted. "Can't you at least tell me anything?" She grabbed his hand and pressed it to her chest. "After last night, I thought for sure things had changed! I hoped..." she hung her head slightly, "I had hoped you would open up to me."

He sulked, lowering his head and whispering to her. "I cannot talk," he held Belle fast. "There are ears listening and hands holding me."

She squeezed his hand tightly as she began to understand. She turned and looked up at him, watching him closely for a second. "You're trapped," she murmured to him.

He looked away.

"I kind of...suspected," she gasped. "It would certainly make a lot of sense." Her fingers touched his throat. "Last night, when you were having that nightmare I saw something." She brushed her fingers across his neck then held her hands around his throat like a collar. "Like this," she murmured then she felt him trembling before he ripped away.

"Don't-" he blocked her hand, his arm guarding his throat. There was real terror in his eyes, Belle saw it as plain as day.

He dropped his arm just as quickly as he had thrown it up. "Just...just leave it be. Don't think about it ever again. We should go an eat," he insisted again.

"In a second," Belle held onto his hand and tugged on it.

He furrowed his brow in disbelief. "Now?"

She pulled him to the bed, pushing him down easily and pulling the blankets up around him. She kissed his neck, her lips brushing against his ear.

"Who is keeping you here?" She whispered.

He seemed alarmed again, closing off slightly. He held Belle's face and kissed her chest, "she can't touch you," he replied quietly. "She won't," he growled.

"You're protecting me," Belle cooed as she kissed his lips, pressing close.

"No, the other way around." They're eyes met, locking. "You're protecting me," his voice a quiet rumble. "Since that day, you've been breaking it."

Belle chuckled in disbelief, "what are you talking about?" She wasn't sure what he was saying. How could she protect anyone? She wasn't even doing anything!

He pressed a finger to her lips. "It isn't safe to talk now Belle," he hummed.

Belle kissed his finger. "I'm just starting to understand."

He grabbed Belle tight in his arms, holding onto her for dear life. She embraced him back, digging her fingers into his back. She felt relieved somehow, knowing these secrets about him. She felt stronger and she knew that he wasn't holding her at arm's length to be cruel. He was holding her close and he always had been.

"I don't need you to understand," he whispered. "I need you to just be here."

Belle pressed her ear to his chest, listening to the rumble of his heart. She closed her eyes and stroked her fingers down his side.

"You're so much braver than me," he growls. "That day on the stairs I tried to scare you. I tried to make you afraid and weak. But never once have you buckled. I wish I had half your strength." He sighs and turns his head onto the pillow. "I can never apologize for how I have treated you. I don't expect you to even understand my cruelty. You're far too kind. I wanted to break you but you ended up breaking me."

Belle sat up, looking down at him. "It wasn't my intent." She reached out and touched his face. "I wanted to stay alive. I wanted to see my sisters again one day. I never expected to want to save you too."

He sat up and kissed her, running his claws through her hair. He then held her, wrapping her in his strong arms. They were silent for a long time as they comforted one another.