Cursed Creatures: Chapter Nine

This will be all for now. What did you think? Is it worth saving?

The door hadn't been there the day before, Belle was assured of that. She knew the day before that the bookshelf had been there and now it was on the other side of the room near the fireplace. She studied it inquisitively, feeling the raised stones making the frame. Warming the bronze handle with her palm and pressing her ear against the wood. Beyond it, she heard the sounds of the storm along with water rushing fast and hard.

She pulled away and stared at it, her arms crossed and brow pinched. It sounded like it led outside, but that would be too good to be true. While she was able to see the interior gardens of the castle from her window, she had so far found no door at all within the entire place that led outside. She found stairs that led nowhere. A window that opened into a closet. A door that went into a different storage room everytime she closed then opened it.

Things like this though had been happening ever since she arrived. Slowly more rooms were opening up, she could actually go downstairs and into the grand ballroom. The garden outside her window had begun to bloom with life.

"Maybe I have some magic from mama after all," Belle thought to herself when she found the door that morning. "Maybe I can control castles?" She laughed at the idea. "This place isn't normal, that's for sure. Things have been changing since I got here too. That's apparent."

She touched the door again, wanting more than anything to push it open and run out into the rain. Find the garden and perhaps a trail that led outside. Not that she wanted to leave forever. She knew she needed to be there for her beast. But if she could just get out for a few seconds and let her family know she was ok, that would be enough.

Belle stepped away from the door again. "I'll talk to him first about it," she thought. "He deserves to know before I do anything." She nodded, pleased with having thought it out for herself.

She went back to the bookcase and grabbed a book like she had said she was doing. She checked the door one last time before she left. Taking a few steps down the hall and then dashing back to make sure the door was there several times before she decided it wasn't going anywhere and she needed to go back to her room.

She tiptoed inside quietly, hearing the beast snoring peacefully. She smiled, climbing back into bed and looking down at him. She still found herself unable to look away from him, no matter how much she looked it wasn't enough. He was like something from one her stories, so strange and alluring. She wondered if she was strange for finding him so attractive. He was built like a man, he just had some added features. Scales and spikes and a tail. Sure, most people would run at the sight of him, but Belle wanted nothing more than to touch and study and feel him.

"You took too long," he growled, peeping open one glowing eye at her. "And you've been staring at me too much."

Belle flinched, snapping out of her dreamy stupor. "oh well I couldn't decide on the-and I was just looking at-I mean you-" She fidgeted, unsure how to explain herself.

"You weren't snooping again, were you?"

She frowned down at him as he nuzzled into the pillows. She swatted at his tail as it rose up, laying across her lap. "No," she huffed.

"It's strange," he murmured. "I can't feel it."

She watched him, unsure what he was talking about now. "Can't feel what?"

He sat up slowly, looking around the bed, the closed canopy, Belle's curious stare. "The chains holding me," He looked back at her, his eyes going soft and almost pleading. "But still. I'm afraid."

Belle took him into her arms, holding him to her chest. "I'm here. Just hold on to me when you feel afraid."

He sighed, pressing close to hear her heartbeat.

"There is a door now," she murmured. "I found it when I went to get the book. It wasn't there yesterday. And when I listen I can hear the storm outside and the gutters releasing."

He sat up like a shot and stared hard at her.

Belle was taken by his sudden reaction for a moment. She cleared her throat and nodded, "I think it goes outside."

He grabbed her and shook her. "A door that goes outside! Are you certain?"

"No, I just-" she swallowed. "I didn't want to do anything until you knew too."

He released Belle and jumped up, rushing out of her room and rushing to the room. He found the door there and she grabbed the knob and then froze.

Belle came in running after him, slamming into him when she couldn't stop. "What is it?"

He slowly twisted the doorknob, holding his breath and bracing himself. The door cracked open, wind blowing against it and rain wetting his arm and the floor. Belle clutched tightly onto his arm, her lips pressed firmly together as the anticipation grew.

"Open it," she urged, squeezing him.

He ripped it open fully and stepped outside, looking up as the sky flooded upon him. Belle followed him, watching him as he stood there, mouth open and eyes wide open. He looked as if he was crying, but it could have been the rain.

"Beast-" she started.

His eyes widened and he gasped as if remembering something. "Sylas!" He gasped, turning towards her. "My name is Sylas," he grabbed Belle, holding her shoulders. "I was a doctor before I came here...I was called Sylas!" He laughed.

"Sylas," Belle murmured quietly, touching his hand.

"I am being held here against my will, Belle. All these years leading women to their doom." He collapsed in front of her, falling to his knees. "I didn't have any hope until you. When you looked at me I saw it...I saw her will wasn't upon you." He nuzzled his great head to her stomach. "I had to be sure. So I was so cruel to you."

Belle cradled him and shivered. "Sylas," she murmured again.
"I don't know how you've done it, but you're pushing her away."
Belle pulled on him. "Don't just sit there," she forced a chuckle. "It's freezing, and you're cold enough as it is."

He shook his head, clinging to her. "You've opened the world to me again."

She sighed, looking around in the shadows of the rain and wind. "Its just the gardens," she murmured. "There are still walls."

He squeezed her and he shook his head. "Can't you see what you've done? Don't you know?"

Belle wiped the rain from his face and she felt his jaw trembling. "My mother was a witch," she replied quietly. "My two older sisters were born with it, but my other sister and I weren't. At least, that's what we thought."

He raised his head, eyes glowing soft green. "You have the blood of a witch?"

"We told no one," Belle answered. "My sister Pearl made money as a healer and Rose was never able to learn much about her magic, so no one suspected."

Sylas rose up, standing back over Belle. "Of course," he cupped her face, holding her strongly and lovingly. "Yes!" He laughed as he picked Belle up and spun her around. "This all makes sense now!"

"Sylas!" Belle yelped as he twirled her in the air.

He brought her down and kissed her, pressing hard against her. "Sorry," he whispered. "There is so much to tell you but forgive me and give me more time."

Belle frowned. "I have no choice," she huffed. "Now, please! Can we go back inside! I am freezing!"

Sylas led her back inside quickly, the both of them dripping wet as they stood near the fire. Belle removed her clothes and frowned as she hung them up to dry. Sylas draped a blanket around her and brushed her wet hair aside.

"Say it again," he pleaded gently.

Belle glanced towards him and her expression softened. "Sylas," she murmured. "I'm glad to be able to call you."

His shoulders relaxed and a smile crossed his face. "Yes," he breathed, falling back into the sofa. "It's been years since anyone has called me that."

"Why could you not tell me before?"

"I was not allowed," he answered simply. "And, for a while, I had actually forgotten. I remembered once, looking into your eyes, and then again that night you let me inside." He raised up against the sofa, leaning forward on his elbows. "It all came back as soon as I felt that rain on my face."

Belle beamed, her face lighting up before him. "I'm so happy for you."

He stared at her with some disbelief. His shoulders slouched and he tilted his head slightly. His eyes, she noticed, were no longer golden or dark. They were a soft and gentle green, more human than ever before.

"What?" Belle giggled. "Can't I be happy for you?"

He sulked, glancing away from her. "It's still hard," he replied. "To let myself feel happy. Even though all of this is happening to me. I still feel the dread cutting into me with a knife." He hung his head, covering it with his hands. "I feel like as soon as I allow myself to feel happy something will come to rip it away from me."

"Sylas," she murmured, watching him tremble as she said it. "If I really am protecting you then I will protect your happiness as well."

He scoffed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I mean it!" She stomped her foot and he suddenly laughed.

"Don't go stomping your foot at me, girl." He looked up at her, those green eyes making her feel warm and fluttery.

"I'll do as I please," Belle looked away, her cheeks flushed. "I shall stomp my foot and see you are happy and you can huff and puff all you like."

His smiled faded and he looked away again. "Aren't you angry at me?"

Belle was contemplative for a moment, turning her back to him to face the fire. "You said so yourself you weren't sure at first," she mumbled, clutching the blanket around her. "You had to be convincing for whoever is watching you. I was just another girl to you." She turned back around and popped his cheek gently, snapping him to attention.

"But you never hurt me. And each and every time you touched me you always saw to my pleasure as well." She smiled again at him. "I always knew you weren't a monster, Sylas."

She opened the blanket and wrapped him up with her in it. Her bare chest pressed against his. He felt warm to her, warmer than ever. She snuggled in close and kissed his neck, feeling him shiver with each peck.

"Don't do that," he snarled.

"Once the storm ends, we can explore further," she said decisively as she sat on his lap. She spread her palm out across his chest to feel his heart pounding against it. He was a man once, human like her. He said he had been a doctor, so perhaps he had been a good man previously. What had happened that had changed a healer into such a creature and then locked away inside this strange castle?

How long had he gone without being close to someone? Perhaps that's why he had stalked around her so much when she first arrived. His hands always on her, his eyes always watching. So close and able to do as he pleased, but always holding her in awe.

A man alone would certainly lose control from time to time. Those first few times would certainly explain that. He left after each encounter, and Belle thought now that maybe he felt guilty. He had felt like he was using Belle and taking something from her, and he couldn't stand it.

"We haven't had anything to eat yet," she stood up from him, the blanket slipping away. "Let's go back to our room and see if breakfast is waiting."

His eyes lingered on her for a moment. "Why not eat here?"

Belle smirked knowingly at him. "I would like to put on some dry clothes."

He flopped over on the sofa, lounging across it in a defiant stance. "I don't want to leave the fire." He grumbled.

Belle looked over and towards the door, and she understood his hesitance to move. "I'll go change," she stroked the top of his head. "I'll come back."

She went back to her room, finding clothes laid out for her when she arrived. As she put the dress on she turned and saw the magic mirror Sylas had shown her the other day sitting before her. She stared, seeing herself reflected in it, but it wasn't her.

She inched closer, seeing that the girl who was in the mirror had short, pitch black hair. Her eyes wide and dark. Her skin was a rich olive tone, much darker than Belle's pale complexion.

The two looked at one another in shock.

"Who are you?" They spoke at the same time then flinched. Belle chewed on her bottom lip as the other girl's brow pinched together.

"Are you Scheherezade?" The girl snapped, pointing a judgemental finger at Belle.

"What? No, I-" Belle felt flustered. "My name is Belle!"

The girl scoffed. "Belle?" She scratched her jaw, her hand rubbing down her neck. "Then do you know where she is?"

"I've never even heard of her," Belle murmured. "Who is she?"

The girl folded her arms tightly across her chest. "She's an evil sorceress is what she is. More viper than woman, I'll tell you that much."

"Who are you then?" Belle continued as she stood close to the mirror.

"Aladdin," the girl replied. "So if you have no connections to Scherezade then what are doing in this mirror?"

Belle looked away. "I'm not sure. This is strange to me. I thought this mirror only showed me the things I asked for."

"So you have a magic mirror then? You aren't some...mirror spirit?"

Belle shook her head. "No. I'm just a girl."

Aladdin's shoulder slouched. "So am I. If we have that in common there must be more to it. I'm starting to learn that." She forced a chuckle. "So, you honestly have no connection to this Scherezade woman?"

Belle thought for a moment. It could be possible she did after all Sylas was being held here by some evil magic. There was the picture of the woman he destroyed out of anger as well.

"I can't say for certain, but I just may be connected." She replied quietly. "I am in a castle enchanted by magic and I can tell you it is nothing good."

Aladdin seemed to be looking off to the side, listening to someone else. "Oh uh-" she turned back to Belle. "Are women going missing where you are?"

Belle's eyes widened and she gasped. "Yes! Every year our village has to sacrifice a girl!"

"That's a big sign," Aladdin inched closer. "Belle, I need your help," she whispered. "There is so much I need to tell you."

Belle fidgeted, this could be the chance. This could help explain everything happening in her village, with Sylas and the castle. "Yes," she nodded strongly. "Tell me everything."