Midnight Roses

❀Chapter Eight: The Second Bargain❀

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❀Chapter Eight: The Second Bargain❀

It was a dismal night, and the tiny cottage by the river was calm as its residents slumbered restlessly, plagued by haunting thoughts of what may have befallen Belle. None were so haunted than Maurice. Sitting alone at the dinning table, with all its nicks and scrapes on it's dingy surface and stain rings, deep in his cups as he mull over the day's events.

Upon his return home his welcome was a cold one. He was shocked to discover that Desiree had left with Julian. Marian had stayed behind, but only because, she had explained to him in a disdainful tone, she had promised Belle.

Maurice cursed, dipping back the remainder of the canter down his throat. As he reached for the bottle of liquor, a sharp pounding on the door caused him to halt. Maurice's heart fell. Was it the beast? Had he come to kill him?

On trembling legs Maurice moved toward the door. He stared at its wooden a surface before he gathered the gumption to unlatch the lock and allow it to swing open.

Maurice's jaw slackened, his mouth hanging ajar. "You?"

Gaston Heroux loomed imposingly in his doorway, his handsome drawn in fierce determination.

"Where," he growled. "is Belle?"

Maurice's mouth worked up and down but no sound passed through it. Gaston gave a snort, shouldering his way past the disgruntled man. His eyes cut across the sparse space of the room in disdain. He turned back to face Maurice, towering over the older man by nearly a foot.

"Where is she?"

"M-my lord?"

"Belle! I have come to renew our engagement. I have required a special license, and we marry on the morrow."

Every ounce of blood drained from Maurice's fleshy face. Mon Dieu! No!

"Sh-she is-you see, my lord-"

"Old man," he growled venomously. "I grow tired of your simpering. We had a bargain-I would pay off all your preexisting debt in exchange for Belle. Now where is she?"

Maurice swallowed. "She is gone."

"Gone? Gone where?" He demanded.

Maurice wanted to lie, but the murderous light in the marquise's eyes made him think better of it.

"My liege, I-I ran into some trouble and I-I-I had to come up with a payment-"

In the next moment Maurice found himself pinned against the wall, Gaston's arm crushing his windpipe.

"You sold her?! She was mine, you coward! I will have your cods for this!"

Maurice turned ghostly white, his entire body seizing. "M-my-my lord, please, I have another daughter-"

Gaston growled and with a burst of strength, hauled the man from the wall to the table. The air whooshed from Maurice's lungs, pain wracking through him.

"You are a filthy rat! I will have the woman I asked for-now to whom did you sell her to?"

Maurice gasped as Gaston delivered more pressure to his throat, darkness dancing before his eyes.

"Th-the duc! The duc!" he gasped as he struggled for air.

Gritting his teeth, Gaston pressed down hard, eliciting a distressed cry of pain. "Which duc?"

"De Anjou! The Beast de Anjou!"

Gaston recoiled, a look of pure disgust twisting his beautiful features.

"You really are a bastarde," he said smoothing the wrinkles on his fine velvet coat. "Only a heartless man would give up his own daughter to a monster like him."

Maurice said nothing, he was too occupied gulping up air to his burning lungs. "Please, my lord, I had no choice-"

"Silence! You will get her back or I swear I will call upon your creditors and they will be informed of where you live now." A cold, ruthless smile spread across his angelic face. "You would be surprised by how many people want to see you dead, Monsieur."

Maurice swallowed, eyes wide with terror. "You wouldn't."

"Indeed I would. We had a deal-and you broke your end of the bargain. So now we make a second bargain; you will regain the possession of your daughter and deliver her ton me or I will see to it that your rotting corpse be hung up in the streets of Paris."

Maurice swayed on his feet. He knew better than anyone just how dangerous a man the marquise was-and that he always kept his promises.

"I-I will try, my lord-"

"You will do more than try, Maurice. I expect my bride before the next full moon. If not then not only will you be dead but I will rip this country apart until she is mine."

Maurice's face turned pained, hot tears burning his eyes. "Why her? You could have any woman in France-ones with greater beauty and more wealth. What makes Belle so special?"

A heated light flashed in Gaston's eyes that sent tremors of fear straight to Maurice's heart.

"Because I want her," he said with a cool smile. "Bon due, Maurice. Remember; you have one month."

And with that Gaston turned on his heal and exited the house. Maurice watched helplessly as the man was engulfed by darkness, disappearing into the night.

_________Author's Note________

*Swings down from a rope* I came in like a Wreeeeeeeek-ing ball!

Bon guire mon Minions! how's that for an entrance? Lol, so a fair few of you are aware of the struggles I've been having with story, but thanks to the amazing TheresaLugo I have seen the light. It's short do I am sorry. But I hope you like it.

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Lol Amber