The Princess and the Beast

Chapter Three

Camille's POV

I stood there in shock at how much Adam changed. He's heartless and cursed. Belle gasped and Adam glared at Belle, "Choose." Maurice whispered to Belle, "Belle, I won't let you do this. I lost your mother, I won't lose you, too. You can't let Camille do this." Belle looked at her father and sighed, "All right, Papa. I'll leave with Camille." Belle then looked at Adam, "I need a minute alone with him." Adam grunted and turned away, causing Belle to look upset, "Are you so cold-hearted you won't allow a daughter to kiss her father goodbye? Forever can spare a minute."

Adam came back and pulled a level, causing the door to open, "When this door closes, it will not open again." Adam turned around with his back facing us as Belle raced in and hugged her father. I hurried around to look Adam in the face and Adam looked startled, "Princess." I teared up, "Do you know how long I've been searching for you? It was like you were erased from France. I couldn't find you, Adam. I missed you, Adam." Adam's face softened and he went to brush my cheek, but stopped and pulled away, "I missed you too, but you shouldn't be here. I have no doubt that your husband will be furious if you are here." 

I chuckled through my tears, "Husband? I convinced Father to let me be with you and by the time I came back, you were nowhere to be found. There is no husband. Only you." Adam looked relieved but hardened his face as we both looked over to see Maurice pushed outside the cell and Belle in his place. 

Adam looked astonished, "You took his place." Belle looked at Adam with confusion, "He's my father." I flinched, knowing that Adam didn't have that relationship with his father, but with mine. Adam sneered at Belle, "He's a fool. And so are you." Adam grabbed Maurice and Maurice looked at me, "It's time to go, Camille." 

Adam growled, "She will not be going anywhere." Belle cried out, "No! She has to go with him! Please!" Maurice reached for me and yelled, "Camille! No! She has to come with me!" I hurried over to the cell door and tried to reach the lever, only to fail. Belle looked at me, "Camille, why are you still here? You can escape." 

I sighed and looked away from Belle, "I can not tell you at the moment. Just know you can trust me." The cell door opened and looked up to see the candelabra jump down from pulling the lever, "Forgive my intrusion, mademoiselle, but I have come to escort you and the Princess to your rooms." Belle picked up a stool and held it up, "Our rooms? But, I thought..." The candelabra chuckled, "Oh, what? That "Once this door closes it will not open again"?" He imitates Adam's roar, "I know. He gets so dramatic. Hello again, Your Highness." 

Belle shrieks and smacks Lumiere with the stool, causing the candles to go out and I gasp, "Belle!" Lumiere lights his candles back up, "Oh, you are very strong. This is a great quality in the best friend of the Princess of France." Belle looked confused and scared, "How do you know Camille?" Lumiere shook his head, "Not my story to tell, mademoiselle." Belle took some breaths, "What are you?" 

Lumiere stood back up, "I am Lumiere!" Belle didn't look assured, "And you can talk?" I heard another voice, "Well, of course he can talk. It's all he ever does." Belle and I turn around to see a clock and the clock looks at Lumiere, "Now, Lumiere, as head of this household. I demand that you put her back in her cell at once. Princess Camille, please come with me." 

Lumiere harshly whispered, "What do you want to be for the rest of your life, Cogsworth? A man, or a mantle clock?" Cogsworth looked at me, "The Princess is the answer, not the girl." I shook my head, "It's wonderful to see you again, Cogsworth, but I will not let Belle be stuck in a cell while I figure out how you all got this way."

Lumiere and Cogsworth guide us to our rooms and Lumiere makes conversation, "You must forgive first impressions. I hope you both are not too startled." Belle sounds sarcastic, "Why would I not be startled? I'm talking to a candle." Lumiere smiles, "Candelabra, please. Enormous difference. But consider me at your service. The castle is your home now, so feel free to go anywhere you like." Cogsworth turned around, "Except the west wing. Only Princess Camille can go there." 

Lumiere looked frantic and waved off Cogsworth and Cogsworth covered his tracks, "Which we do not have." Belle looked between the three of us, "Why? What's in the west wing that only Camille can see?" Lumiere and Cogsworth shook their heads, "Oh, nothing. Storage space. That's it."

Cogsworth keeps walking, "This way, please. To the east wing." Lumiere chipped in, "Or as I like to call it, the only wing." Lumiere laughed and I giggled, happy to have found the duo. We walked into the east wing and Lumiere pushed open a set of doors, "Welcome to your new home. Princess, your room is right where you remember it." 

I smiled, "Thank you. Belle, please ask Lumiere where to find me if you need me." Belle looked at me warily, "Okay." I walked down the wing to a set of doors that went into my room and as I opened the doors to see my room in the same shape as when I left last. I smiled and looked around, it was all dusted and clean. Like they were all expecting me to come. 

"We kept it clean, in hopes you would return to the master." I turned around to see a feather duster fly to me as Lumiere and Cogsworth walked in. I smiled and held the feather duster in my hands, "Plumette?" Plumette giggled, "You remember?" I smiled softly, "Of course. I could never forget you. I've looked for all of you for years. This place has changed. What happened to make Adam so.......heartless?" 

The three looked uncomfortable and Lumiere quickly answered, "The master can only answer that for you. Please be comfortable. The master will see you shortly.....I hope." The three of them leave and shut the door as I sigh and look through my wardrobe, smiling as I find my favorite dress that I left. The one Adam loves so much for me to wear.

I sighed, "Maybe I shouldn't have left at all."