In Captivity

Alec's POV

I haven't done the right thing. I have a feeling this isn't normal for Belle. I have her father locked in the basement, I am treating him with care, he has a queen sized bed, accompanied with a fully stocked cocktail bar and a bathroom, I send him food occasionally and I have my cook, maid and driver banned from that end of the house in the first place. I've heard this one being called 'Blackmail' when a person demands for something in return for something valuable to the victim. In my case I want Belle's love in return she can have her father back. As bad as it sounds and as guilty as I feel, there is no going back. I give Belle's father a few meals I demanded from the cook with a note telling him to eat these meals at different times of the day so he won't get hungry, I leave guilt behind as I drive to school. Today will be the day that matters most.

First thing in the morning, I have history with Belle, I don't know if I can suffer seeing her depressed. I stroll into class quietly, I enjoy reading about history, not being taught it. The teacher is a battle-axe ready to claw anyone's eyes out if they correct her. Belle is sitting at the back for a change, her eyes are red and puffy, and her nose is blue. She looks so distressed.

"Belle, What is the name of the king, Guido Fawkes wanted to assassinate?" The teacher noticed Belle sleepy and took advantage of this moment.

"Um, Princess Elizabeth?" She hadn't heard the question properly.

"Wrong. I asked for a king not a princess, of all people I would expect you to know! Why don't we let new boy have a go?" She stared right into my soul.

"King James, Fawkes actually wanted to assassinate him to replace him with his daughter Princess Elizabeth. " I was going to carry on, but I realised how much of an idiot I sounded, I slumped back into my seat and zipped my lips. The teacher grinned a grotesque smile. I turned around to see Belle, only to see she was gazing back at me with an icy stare. She really isn't in the mood to be corrected. At lunch Belle wasn't reading, she was talking to Gaston and his blonde minions. Jealousy raged over me. I attacked a rubbish bin, Gaston is a jerk, Belle deserves better than that piece of muscle. Belle noticed me out of breath next to a collapsed rubbish bin and put two and two together. She tramped up to me slowly as she got closer I noticed tears rolling down her cheeks. I run up to her and escort her to a seat.

"What's wrong?" I know what is wrong but I need to ask.

"I'm just tired, what about you? Why'd you kick the bin over?" She asked curiously. Her eyes were as green as an emerald, when she gazed into mine.

"I was just angry, I'm fine." I smile at her. The bell rings and we go back to class. 1 more hour.

School finishes, and I drive home. I don't want to be late so I told my driver not to pick me up today. Lumière taught me how to drive.

"You can't always have someone to escort you around, son. You are now old enough to drive, so I will take you to your lessons, they won't be as good teachers as me though." He'd said, he winked at me, when he wasn't super serious he told me some good jokes. I miss him so much.

I run down to the basement, Belle's dad is drinking out of the water bottle I gave him this morning. I pass a note through the door that reads:

'Your daughter is on her way to see you.' I hear him say thank you, through the door.

"Don't hurt her" He shouts through the door gap. I would never do such a thing. I hear a knock at the front door and I rush to it before my maid can. I open the door and Belle looks like a nervous wreck.

"is this a joke?" She looks furious. I shake my head and she slaps me across the face.

"Today you were innocent, and honest as a child! I trusted you! How could kidnap my father you sick freak!" She spits venom at me. I grab her hand and she hits my hand away.

"just listen to me! I know about your blog, you think I am a weird, loner, rich kid!" I want to be soft with her but something tells me not to.

"show me my father!" I'm glad she isn't too loud otherwise someone could hear. She follows me through my maze of a house until we reach my basement, there is 5 rooms in my basement, and her father is in the biggest. Is it one of my guest rooms that no one uses.

"Why are you treating him with care, you maniac?" She examines the room. "This room is massive!" I open the door and Belle runs to her dad.

"Dad! You are okay." She inspects him and turns back to me. "You didn't hurt him."

"Never." I try make it sound better than it is.

"Now, what do you want? You don't need money by the looks of it." She frowns. I don't want anything, but I want her to love me, I think I have done the wrong thing.

"Nothing, you can see your dad when you like, but he isn't going anywhere yet." I respond.

"Dad," She turns to her father with hopeful eyes. "I trusted this boy, until he kidnapped you. I need you to trust him for now, okay?"

"Of course, I love you, don't beat yourself up about this because you know I am safe." He smiles kindly. Belle wanders through my house with me for a bit. She doesn't say a word. When we come across my library, she is very fascinated. Are books the key to her heart?