Chapter Eighteen

The Confession

Elliot sat on the steps just outside the cell. Eric hadn't woken up yet, but she would be there when he did. She never liked him, but she knew it would be hard for him when he woke up. It might help him if she was there to explain things.

She also wanted to try and get him to promise not to speak of what he saw. He couldn't just rot in that cell for the rest of his life. She had to convince him that Beast really was good. She knew he was, despite having locked Eric up. She sighed and rubbed her temples. She didn't want to think about it…

She heard a groaning from inside the cell and stood up quickly. The only light in the room came from under the door at the top of the steps, making the place feel eerie. The walls were close together and the stone was damp. The thick wood door of the cell had splinters on it and the bars over the small, square window on the door were rusted. It was not a cheerful place to be, to say the least.

Her eyes had adjusted to the lack of light and she saw Eric stand up. "Eric? Are you all right?"

He groaned again and leaned against the door, grabbing onto the rusty bars for balance. His face filled the window and his nose stuck out between two of the bars. "Ellie? That you?" His voice sounded slurred and he laughed. "I've been looking everywhere for you! What are you doing here? I told James I would find you and make you mine… I was right! You're here to bail me out, aren't you?"

Elliot's brows furrowed and she shook her head in confusion. "Eric… what are you talking about? Beast locked you up, and I might be able to convince him to let you go if you promise not to tell anyone about him."

He laughed. "I wouldn't agree to something like that. Not tell people about a beast. Ha! I wouldn't agree to that even if you agreed to marry me!" He frowned and leaned away from the door. "Actually, I wouldn't want to marry you, anyway. I'm not a one girl kind of guy, you see. I like to have my options…" He smirked at her, the corner of his mouth turning up in a way that made a lot of girls swoon. "You were the one that didn't want me. Every other girl would kill to be with me, but not Elliot Miller. No, she was too good, too smart, too something to be with me. I had to change that, I had to be the one to tame you." He paused and looked around. "Why am I in here? You are here to bail me out, right?"

She groaned and ran her fingers through her hair, gripping the curls and wanting to pull them out. She wasn't even in here for five minutes and all ready he was driving her mad. 'Beast drove him mad in less than five minutes…' She considered playing along, and pretending that she had just made up the beast story. He wouldn't be able to tell anyone about a beast if he didn't remember it, after all. But this was probably just shock from what had happened, and once it wore off he would remember. They couldn't have him suddenly remember when he was on his way to the city. He would come back, with more people. 'Maybe Beast was right to keep him here…'

"Eric, please listen to me! You found out I was in New York somehow. You must have bullied the information from my father or rummaged through my house."

He frowned and took something out of his pocket. He slid it through the bars. "I did go through your house…"

She took the picture and after squinting a bit she saw that it was one of her and her father at the ice rink. She had it hanging on her wall at home. "It's a little creepy that you were going through my things," she admitted. "But at least you remember something. Okay, so what did you do next?"

"I went on your computer and saw a site about a bar in New York." He frowned suddenly. "I had forgotten about that bar. I spent four days checking every ice rink and library I could find and all I had to do was find one bar?"

Elliot rolled her eyes. Typical of Eric to forget something like that. He probably just clung onto the fact that she was in New York and forgot about everything else.

"I flew here, searched for days, then… Then some creep told me where I could find you. He led me here and…" His face went pale and he fell back against the opposite wall of the cell. Everything seemed to come back to him all at once and he looked horrified. "Good lord! Ellie, what was that… that thing?"

She scowled at him. "That thing is my friend!"

"Your friend? Ellie, he tried to kill me!"

"You tried to steal me away!"

"I was rescuing you!" He groaned and grabbed on to the bars once more, his nose sticking out again. "We have to get out of here. That thing can't be safe."

"His name is Beast, not that thing."

"Right, right. Because Beast is just one step above Thing."

Elliot was growing more furious by the minute. She clenched her hands into fists and tried not to lose her temper with him. "Eric, I can get you out of here. You just have to swear not to tell anyone about this place. Just go home, Eric. I'm safe here and I like it here. Beast and everyone else here… they're kind to me."

Eric shook his head, not believing what he was hearing. "No, Ellie, you don't seem to understand. They're monsters! They aren't normal. We need to call the cops, the news, animal control, something! You can't stay here with them. They must have done something to you to make you act this way."

Elliot didn't know what else to say. Eric made it perfectly clear that he wouldn't be leaving quietly. Staying to try and convince him otherwise would be the same as kicking a dead horse. No matter how many times you kicked, it wouldn't move an inch. "I… I'm going to go now, Eric. I can't let you harm Beast. I'm sorry…" She felt awful for leaving him there, so she said, "I'll try and get you a more comfortable place to stay…" It felt hollow, but it was all she could do. She hated to leave him there, but what else could she do? He would bring more people if he left and they would hurt Beast. He didn't understand, and no one else would, either.

"Ellie, wait, where are you going?" Eric called after her. He sounded desperate and afraid, making it harder for Elliot to walk away. "No, you can't leave me here!"

"I… I'm sorry, Eric. But if you leave this house, then in the end, Beast will get hurt. I can't let that happen. We'll find somewhere else for you to stay, all right? I have to go…" She ran the rest of the way up the stairs before he could say anything else. She closed the door behind her and went to find Beast. She owed him an apology.

-

The witch hadn't been expecting that. When she heard the boy looking for Elliot, she had believed that the two were in love. Once Elliot saw her old love, she would simply forget about the beast.

But the boy repulsed Elliot. It was unexpected, but it did not mean that her plans had been foiled, oh no. They turned out better than expected. Over the past few days, she had learned that the more excited or passionate Elliot was, the stronger she became. The girl exhibited everything that the witch needed and she fed off of it all. With every play she acted out and every laugh and every angry word spoken, the witch grew stronger. She laughed as the girl fought with her pet and then nearly lost her temper with the boy. It wouldn't be much longer now. She went to the garden and stared longingly at her roses. Three perfect roses. 'Tomorrow they will become much more than roses…'

-

Beast wandered the house, feeling like… like a monster. How could he have acted so cold towards Elliot? He didn't even have the strength to look at her. Carol followed after him, telling him that he had made the right choice, but it didn't make Beast feel better. The way Elliot had looked at him… it was as if she was realizing that he really was nothing but a beast.

"Sir… perhaps you should eat something. Most of the breakfast was burnt after the kitchen staff ran out to help you, but Michael has prepared another fine breakfast."

He just shook his head and continued to walk down the halls. There were some scuff marks on the floor, from their race that morning or from last night when Elliot found the skates, he didn't know. He smiled when he saw them and hoped they wouldn't be cleaned off any time soon. He walked down the hall, heading to his garden, and Carol followed after him.

Flowers and bushes were becoming overgrown, over flowing onto the path more than usual. "This garden needs to be trimmed," Carol said, trying to get her tail untangled from a bush she had crawled through.

Beast knelt down and cut Carol free then put her on his shoulder. "I like it thisss way. I think Ellie doesss, too."

Carol sighed and hung on as Beast wandered through the garden. He sat at a bench facing a small creek and simply stared at the water gurgling by. Carol sat there in silence, a question burning in her mind. When she knew Beast wouldn't be saying, or doing, anything for quite some time, she crawled down from his shoulder and asked, "Do you love Elliot?" He looked down at her and she continued before he could answer, "And not because she is our last chance? Do you love her because she makes you smile? She makes you forget about the difficult times you've had and she helps you enjoy life, doesn't she?"

Beast nodded slowly and looked back to the creek. "When I think about her, I don't think that ssshe isss the one to break the cursse. I think of how wonderful sshe iss and how I can't wait to sssee her again… I love her, Carol."

The mouse seemed pleased with this answer and crawled down the leg of the bench. "You need to tell her that."

Beast looked hesitant and looked down the path in the direction of the house. "I don't know… Sshe wasss angry with me. Now may not be the bessst time."

"We're running out of time, Sir… I know you really do love her, but there is the curse to think about. The witch…"

"I know, Carol…" He knew that they had very little time left before the witch came back. And he knew that when she did come back, the final step in her plan would be carried out. She would wait until she had enough strength to control him once again, and damn him, he would do what she wanted. He wouldn't have a choice. If he didn't tell Elliot now, then he didn't know when he would, or if he would ever have the chance again.

It was hard for him to believe that they were surrounded by so much danger here. In the garden, everything felt at peace, and there was no witch to be seen. It was hard to believe that she would be coming back when things seemed to be going so well. For the most part. The day had been perfect before Eric showed up…

He stood up and slowly began to walk back down the path. "All right. I'll tell her."

He didn't make it very far when he heard Elliot's voice, though. "Beast? Are you in here?" He heard her rusting through bushes. "I'm afraid I lost the path…"

"Ellie, I'm here!" He pushed past bushes and flowers and saw her getting her hair out from a low hanging branch. Once it was free, he helped her go to the path and they stood there, both feeling sheepish for different reasons. Elliot was blushing, and Beast was making designs in the dirt with the claws on his toes.

They both started to speak at the same time, both saying, "I wanted to…" and then stopping.

Elliot laughed nervously and this helped Beast relax. She didn't seem mad anymore. "You go firssst…"

"I just want to… to apologize. You were right to keep Eric here. I spoke to him and he refused to promise anything. If we let him go, he would bring others and… and I can't let that happen. They would hurt you. I… I couldn't stand to see you hurt…" Her voice was quiet and soft, and something about the look in her eyes made Beast shiver, but he couldn't look away. There were so many colors in her eyes, brown, green, flecks of blue and a hint of orange, even. They had a soft, caring look in them that made Beast blind to everything else.

He was deaf to everything as well.

"Beast? You… you wanted to say something." Elliot was blushing deeply, trying to snap out of the trance she had been in, for he had the same look in his eyes and she had a hard time looking away.

"Oh." He looked away quickly, embarrassed for staring. It was never polite to stare. "I… I umm… I forgot. But you don't have to apologize. I am ssorry for having to put you through thisss."

Elliot seemed relieved that he wasn't mad at her and she smiled brightly and moved forward to hug him. Beast stumbled back in surprise as she nearly launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his waist. He swallowed nervously and looked down at Carol, unsure of what to do. But Elliot moved back, a smile still on her face. "Sorry… I'm just glad that we're all right." Her face turned somber and she sat down on a rock nearby. "But what do we do with Eric? He can't stay in that cell. Is there a way we can find him a room to stay in? He can be watched and the doors can be locked… oh, I hate this." She shook her head and rested her chin in her palm. Beast sat next to her and patted her shoulder, still feeling embarrassed and shy.

"We can have a room arranged for him. But… there are other thingsss that we have to talk about." He glanced back down to Carol who nodded as if to encourage him. He cleared his throat and turned to face Elliot. "Ellie… I…"

She was looking at him, curiosity in her eyes and suddenly doubt sprung up in his mind. He looked at her and he couldn't find the right words to say. He was just a monster who didn't even belong in this time. He knew nothing about her world, and he couldn't ask her to stay here with him and shun the world past these walls. How could he have a life with her?

"I think we need to prepare," he finished in a rush. "The witch will be here sssoon… we cannot ignore thisss fact any longer."

Elliot sighed and looked away. She hadn't expected that and she found herself a bit disappointed. 'What were you expecting?'

"All right… What do we have to do?"

-

Beast had Carol send word to Michael to have a room prepared for Eric and breakfast sent to the garden. He and Elliot stayed in the garden and began to plan, but it was far too easy to get off track, especially when the threat wasn't as obvious as most were. And how do you prepare for an attack like the witch's? They knew that once she was ready, she would take over Beast once again and then… well, neither were sure on the details, but they knew that she would take Elliot's spirit and some how create herself anew with the four roses. They didn't know when she would attack, or how Elliot's spirit would be taken.

"What if she acts like you while she's in control of you and I don't even notice she's stealing my spirit until it's gone?" Elliot was pale as she said this and rubbed her arms, feeling a sudden chill at the thought.

"I think that you ssshould avoid me when it happenssss…"

"How will I know when it's happening?"

"Maybe… Maybe we ssshould avoid each other after thisss day. It will be ssafer that way. And if you do sssee me, then you will know that it issn't really me." It was a foolish idea, and he knew it, but it was better than the other option.

"No, there's too man holes in that. She may not even come for another month and I would hate to spend that much time away from you for no reason." He smiled, but Elliot was biting her thumbnail in thought. "There's only one way she can be beat…"

"Don't sssay it…"

Elliot stood up and shook her head. "No, it is the only way. She has to be whole again before she can properly be gotten rid of."

"And what about you?" Beast exclaimed. "I promisssed I would let nothing bad happen to you! I intend to keep that promisse."

Elliot took Beast's hand and squeezed it gently. "Thank you… but it is the only way you'll be able to get rid of her. Don't you see? You can't have just one of us. It's either both of us or neither."

She wanted to stay strong, but her voice cracked on the last word. She knew that there was no other way. Beast would never be free as long as the witch still lived. And she was willing to give herself up if it meant that he would be able to live. She turned away from him so he wouldn't see her crying. She loved him. Enough to die for him.

"I'd rather have both of you than never sssee you again…" He said it quietly, but Elliot heard. Her shoulders shook a bit, but she didn't turn around. "Ellie…" He turned her around slowly. She was crying softly, and looking down at her feet. He put his hands on her waist and pulled her into a hug. "Don't cry… we'll find another way."

She hugged him back and said, "When I'm gone, you have to kill her. Have a knife on you or something… Please, don't let her hurt you. Tell the others to be prepared to fight her."

Beast sighed and held her tighter. Over her shoulder, through the trees, he could see that the sun was beginning to set. They had been talking and trying to plan all day. "I have to go. I won't let her hurt you, Ellie. And we ssstill have time. We will think of another way." He stepped back from her and looked at her for a moment before turning and rushing back to the house, leaving Elliot alone in the garden.

-

A.N. – Probably my least favorite chapter, and shortest, but I liked writing the part about Eric. I don't know if any of you can tell, but I'm new at writing romance, so this chapter was hard for me.

This story is coming to an end shortly. There's probably two or three more chapters left. I loved writing it and I hope you all enjoyed it! I have another story started that I will most likely post once this one is over. It's another fairy tale based one, but not as common as Beauty and the Beast. It's based off of Puss and Boots with, of course, some original twists. If you think a Puss story might interest you then let me know!

Thank you all for your reviews! Any pointers on how to write better romance would be great!