Chapter 6

No time to waste.

Belle immediately started running down the stairs, the sight of Prince Adam jumping all the way from the heights of Notre Dame still vivid in her sight. She almost tripped into the missing step but grabbed onto the creaking ledge of the stairway just in time. She removed her hood away from her head to see better in the dark. A hand clasped her wrist strongly. Belle looked back at the aged priest. "Father! I'm sorry but I-we have to go!" Belle said very quickly, careful to what words she had to use, in case the priest happened to see Beast's running appearance from the still opened entrance. "It's too dark now, there might be ambushers on the road if we don't make it on time!"

Really Belle? Ambushers? That's the best you can come up with?!

No time.

No time!

The priest clasped the dame's shoulders quite strongly, bring to an end to her haste momentarily. "My dear! Calm down! You are safer here in the walls of La Dame," Father Philipe reassured the scared girl. "Where did you friend go? I got worried when I heard a loud noise in the distance…"

And that was precisely why Belle couldn't stay anymore. "I'm sorry Father, I-I can't stay! My friend needs me! I have to go!"

Had the past self of Belle looked into this futuristic scenario through the magic mirror at one point, she would've either scoffed at the sentimentality she was showing towards the pompous egomaniac she had believed Beast was before the wolves attacked them or she would've screamed furiously at the mirror, telling Belle that freedom was right in front of her and that she could leave him behind anytime. But she had ceased to be a prisoner for a long time now. Even though… unfortunately… she technically was still one. Belle sighed in frustration.

She and Adam needed to talk. This was partially why she wanted him to come with her.

But for now, his safety was her top priority.

"Please, let me go, Father," she lunged herself away from him as strongly as she could, going immediately for the Portal de la Verge.

She dashed straight into a glass of amber. It felt like she walked straight into a wall.

What. Belle touched the barrier. There's nothing here! Why is this blocking my way?

She looked at the priest again, this time wary of him. Was this his doing?

"What is the meaning of this? Let me go near Beast! Why aren't you letting me?"

She grabbed the now empty robe hanger standing near the entrance, from which she and Adam had borrowed their pilgrimage clothes from.

No need to hide it anymore. The clergyman was definitely made out of some sort of magic.

Belle was not the type of person to make the same mistake twice.

Père Philipe looked at her with a sense of regret.

But, as he fixed his astral spectacles, duty was duty.

"I am sorry, mademoiselle. I'm afraid I can't do that."

The forgotten prince ran as fast as he could, barely noticing the pain within his legs, as adrenalin rushed heavily through his veins. The more Adam progressed in that fit of pure rage, the more his appearance shifted drastically from man to demon.

The creature stopped, recuperating his breath in the shadows of, seemingly, abandoned streets, as he prepared to strike his prey on all fours, should the accursed witch herself come in sight. Had he found the Enchantress in that state, a hovering, skeletal figure would've won her precious bet that night without lifting a single finger.

But a fountain he coincidentally happened to reach helped him look at what he had become, the moon's reflection calming his senses.

Mère de tous les Pompadours!

A feral growl escaped Beast's mouth, shame replacing anger as fast as lighting. He had almost lost himself without realising. Perhaps it was too late for him after all...

He quickly placed his paws into the fresh water, dumping his face unceremoniously to cool down. Hesitantly, he looked into his own reflection.

I must calm down, even with her within reach. If Belle would see me like this... I will never forgive myself.

Suddenly, an owl tampered the calming lull of the coursing water. Anger returned to Beast. He swatted the aerial creature in frustration. The barn owl flew upwards, towards the humble Parisian rooftops, almost in a taunting manner.

That owl! Recognition flashed through Beast's mind. That must be the witches' pet. He started to use his olfactory awareness subconsciously. So, wherever she would go... he looked up instantly, his prey located.

The rooftops!

Beast landed on a rooftop without hesitation. He'll have to worry about the agony later.

In front of him, the object of his anger shone in the moonlight.

She did not look like an old beggar this time around. The witch seemed to have taken the form of a child. To inspire pity? She will not have it from me. Not this time. Her robes and pointy hood covered her face. He could barely see her chin. She raised her head slightly.

Despite her being miles away, he could hear her as if she was right in front of him.

You found me.

Beast launched a feral roar which shook everything around him.

He ran towards his tormentor as fast as he could.

But the owl from before came into his way, going straight for his eyes.

He managed to hit it just in time. But another surprise was in store for him.

Between him and his target, the owl transformed into yet another cloaked figure, laughter and menace oozing from the mysterious creature. Despite it changing into a humanoid shape, the distinctive sharp cheekbones and a feral smile did not match with his youthful appearance. The odd feature of the mage (was he?) was that his cloak, unlike the witches', resembled the ethereal white owl he looked like mere moments ago. To Adam, he had a mix of a ridiculous and unbelievable appearance.

Any person would've fled the instant the transformation happened, blaming his insanity on God, Lucifer or his mother-in-law.

But the cursed prince had been used to magic for too long. Far too long.

Beast had no time for conversations.

"Out of my way, boy. My business is with her."

If any common man was in front of Beast at that very moment, he would vividly remember why his ancestors were once afraid of the dark. But the young lad in question was no man. In fact, despite his boyish appearance, he wasn't even human. He moved his dirty blonde hair away from his vision, huffing in annoyance.

Almost out of... pride?

"Boy? How dare you call me that, filthy peasant. I have you know I have a kingdom of my own. Do not presume to anger me, or you will suffer the consequences."

Beast could not believe his ears.

Peasant? Filth?!

If it weren't for Belle calming his past self, he would've launched a serious outburst towards the provoking figure. But he was not like that anymore. He took a deep breath, remembering the woman he loved singing softly him to slumber with a soothing lullaby she had learnt from her father one night he couldn't rest, the nightmares of that dreadful night and its consequences plaguing his every though. He wanted to ask her so many things that night.

But he kept his foolish fears to himself. His strength returned.

"Get out of the way, boy. I won't tell you a third time."

His laughter was as cutting as a blunt knife.

"Oh? And who is this I'm having the pleasure of talking to? The prince of all mobile furniture?"

Beast growled towards him, moving back and forth like a hunting animal. No. I must calm down. This is yet another one of her tests.

He stopped. The cursed prince immediately looked behind him. The Enchantress was still there.

Observing his every move.

But even the so proclaimed prince was not done with Beast yet.

"Forgive me, your grace, but I seem to have had the wrong idea this whole time. Isn't a prince supposed to have subjects? Servants? Perhaps even dream of a throne? How are you only surrounded by moving antiques to rely on?"

Prince Adam snapped his fangs towards the arrogant apprentice.

"Ask your Master. I believe she knows why."

The now obviously not human sprog's attitude changed from mocking to intimidating in seconds.

"Dear, oh dear. Someone's got a temper. As if he didn't- ah, yes."

He stopped, leaning towards the quadruped as if he had nothing to fear from him. His smile was not inviting in the least.

"Bring upon the curse on himself."

Beast's blue eyes widened at the accusation.

How could he respond. He was right.

The arrogant fae started counting on his fingers, oblivious to the silence his new toy was giving.

"And his servants. And his guests. And to so, so many other people. Dear oh dear. How time flies… remember your guests and all of those lovely ladies? All of them had such pretty faces. Such a pity if they can see their faces now. I recall they might- might, be covered entirely in claws and blood now... I wonder who's fault is that?"

Beast pulled his face away in shame.

The Enchantress kept looking forward, muttering some chants.

"I seem to recall you walking down that path with a girl. And in a church, of all places."

But this taking everything too far. Belle had nothing to do with his sins.

Adam looked up in defiance.

"What a poor halfwit. Perhaps that imprudent little fool is still with you out of sympathy, after all."

He had no more patience. His desire for vengeance shifted from the Enchantress to the figure in front of him.

"Leave Belle out of this. This is my final warning."

"Belle? Is that so?" the fae prince kept taunting, ignoring Beast's words. "She must be blind too if she still keeps you company-"

The Enchantress slammed the tip of her staff beneath her, a huge wave of magic causing both quarrelling men into an immediate halt. All of Paris, for a few seconds, seemed to be eloped into a- unmistakably, for the lack of a better word- beautiful sheet made out of gold and colours that cannot be described.

It was a demonstration of sheer control.

Such power… Beast thought, frozen in his place.

His anger was still there towards the Enchantress. But now, something else was slowly creeping inside the prince's chest. Fear?

Yes. This is fear.

The transfiguring apprentice, however, looked more resigned than terrified of his teacher.

"Must I, Master?"

The child-like Enchantress lifted one of her arms, the cloak keeping her features hidden from Prince Adam. The fae prince's hetero-chromatic eyes shone with annoyance, but he had to obey his overseer. "Very well. As you command."

He mocked the cursed prince one last time.

"Your Highness."

After making a fake curtsy, he returned into his owl form and returned to the witch's shoulder.

Silence came between the two.

Now Beast had to see what the witch had up her sleeve before doing anything else.

The witch removed her hood. Her child-like appearance clashing against the aura around her. He heard her, crystal clear.

"We finally meet again."

Author's Notes

Here's hoping you'll enjoyed this, my friends. Don't forget to R&R!

Hope you saved enough money to go watch Wonder Woman. 'Cause that movie is am-az-ing! Totally recommend. Child like Enchantress is not going to be as kind as Agathe.

She is fae, after all.

Beauty and the Beast belongs to Disney and Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve.

Please support the official release - Yes, that was a young Jareth. He says hello.