The Letters From the Isle

Chapter 17| Aftermath

|Beast|

   The battle on the pirate ship was one I was not prepared for. Harry Hook, Uma, and Gil where all waiting for us when we got back with our side of the bargain. Y/n stood on the plank still tied up, but what got me was the marks on her face and neck that weren't there the last time I had seen her. She had a large gash on her left cheek it was bleeding profusely. Her neck was red with small purple spots growing, almost as if someone had strangled her. Her once E/c eyes where now dull and had little color. 

   I wanted to run to her and save her in the second, run away from the pain that was before her. Uma and Mal stood in my way from the girl. Her clothes covered in dirt and a little blood on her collar. Her once elegant hair now disheveled. I watched Mal and Uma's exchange of the wand and Y/n, I just needed her back by my side. We should have never come here. 

   Y/n sat next to me in the limo, Mal sitting on her other side. I felt her hand shake next to my thigh, I glanced down seeing the tremor in her fingers and reached down, lacing my fingers with hers hoping to calm her nerves. Her other hand came from the other side of her and grabbed our joined hands, resting on top of them and placing them in her lap. I softly traced images on the back of her hands.

   "Are you okay?" I whispered. She glanced at me, I could see the cut on her face clearer now, the area around the gash was bright red with a mixture of dried blood and irritation. 

   "I will be," she responded softer then I've ever heard her speak before. Something had happened, I was determined to find out once we were back in Auradon and away from the eyes of the other VK's in the car.

   She turned back to the front of the car and rested her head on my shoulder. I smiled weakly at the girl, her H/c hair softly tickling my nose as I kissed the crown of her head. 

   Mal, Evie, and Carlos watched Y/n close her eyes and take a deep breath, they all had the same look in their eyes, pity. I knew Y/n well enough to know she did not want anyone's pity. I turned to them and just shook my head no softly as if telling them to look away, and they did. 

   Once back in Auradon, Jane ran up to us, she walked up to me showing me her device. The beautiful stained glass window I had custom made was on the screen. 

   "She's going to love it!" Jane exclaims quietly.

   I take a breath and turn to Y/n, "Do you still want to have cotillion?" The question hangs in the air for a moment before she speaks.

   "Yes, I do."

   "Alright," I turn to Jane. "Thank you, it's perfect." I watch Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos all leave. Jane runs off as well. I turn to Y/n again examining the cut. "Come on lets get that patched." I pull her towards my office, were I pull out a medical kit. She stands by the door awkwardly, "Come on," I gently pull her arm over to the desk making her sit on hi so her face was higher up making it easier to clean.

   "I'm sorry," I hear her whisper.

   "There's no need to be sorry. I should be the one to say sorry. I left you there, and I knew you where afraid." I gently dab a cotton ball with cleaning liquid on it, she hisses and pulls away. "I know it hurts but we have to clean it so your face is clear for your big night." I smile lightly placing my other hand on her other cheek and turning it to look back at me, using my other hand to clean the wound. 

   "I didn't expect Uma to be so-"

   "Angry?" I asked softly.

   "Yeah," her eyes danced around my face as I continued cleaning.

   "Well, it could have been worse." I grab a bandage and place it lightly on the cut, the inflamed skin around it already looking better. Her cheeks now only having the damage of dirt and a small cut I hadn't noticed before. The small cut sat right above her lip on the right side, it did not look as bad as the one on her cheek but I went to clean it anyways. 

   "Once you left," she started as I set the cotton ball down on the desk beside her. "He came, and I have never seen him so angry." I knew who she was talking about. Her father, the one man who scared her more then anything. "He beat me, all because I left. I feel so bad for leaving Gil with him for so long."

   "Hey," I say gently making her look into my eyes by raising her head. "You are doing your best, and I am so proud of you." I heard her sniff, her eyes became glassy as tears formed in the dull E/c eyes sitting before me. 

   "Really?" she asked, tears now pouring down her face, washing away some of the dirt. I laughed softly. 

   "Of course, I am so proud of you. You came here on accident and then made friends, you're in the top of all of your classes. Fairy Godmother loves you, my parents love you. I can't think of what my life would be like with out you." I reached over and hugged her tightly as she cried into my shoulder. I glanced at the clock on my desk, "Now, it's time for you to go get ready for cotillion. I will see you there. You will look so beautiful, and I can't wait to show you what I have in store." 

   "Okay, thank you, Ben." She smiled at me, kissing my cheek and heading out the door to her room.

Dear Y/n Gaston,

   You are so amazing, and I can't wait to show you this amazing piece Jane and I have been creating for cotillion. I made it in your likeness and it is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, beside from you of course.

   Your H/c hair, and the bright E/c eyes that you hold are a delight to see and I hope that you see how I have incorporated both you and your family into such an amazing piece. The thought of being finished with it brings me to joy and the thought of you seeing it makes me nervous to the bone. 

   But I love you, all of you. I hope you like this piece I have spent so long curating for your moment.

Love,

Ben Beast