Beauty and the Beast [ #justwriteit #altending #wattpad10 ]

X. The Only Way

Belle sat on her bed, her face stained with tears and eyes red and puffy from all the crying. She had relented, giving into Abigail's request of wanting to tell her something, so , here she was, ready and waiting for what Abigail had to say.

Abigail hadn't found out Belle had escaped until she was already out the front door and Bartholomew had contacted all the servants through their special mind link. She had felt sorrow for herself but then she understood why Belle would escape. The poor girl had no one, and while everyone was so excited to finally be free of the curse, they forgot about Belle who was here against her will.

She needed someone. Something to hold on to. Anything.

"Belle." Abigail spoke softly, her grey hair always in the same chignon from that era they had all grown up in. "There is something you should know about the Prince..."

Belle scoffed, rolling her eyes. "That he's an as$hole?"

Abigail shook her head as she smiled, ladies these days were so crass. She would be very interested to see how the women of today lived and how they spoke and dressed. "No. I mean, well, yes technically he is." She whispered the last, as if someone would hear her, making Belle giggle a bit. "That's better." Abigail smiled warmly. "But I mean that, well, Prince Sebastian may have harmed you.. or rather, his Lycan did, but Prince Sebastian also saved you." She gave Belle a look.

Belle frowned. "What do you mean he saved me?"

"He gave you his blood. The witch that cursed him told him that his blood was a cure all for anyone on the brink of death or hurt badly, as a sort of test for him. She said that the day he used it would be the day he grew a heart. Well, Belle, today.... it was the first time he has ever given his blood to anyone. You. You were healed instantly by him and my some miracle, you have captured his heart." Abigail's eyes were wide with wonder.

Belle's frowned increased. "That doesn't mean anything. He wants me to live so I can break the curse. That's the only reason I'm here. Is for this stupid curse!" She jumped up and began pacing, her body still covered in dried blood and dirt.

"No, child. That isn't the only thing. He has feelings for you! You wouldn't know because you don't know him the way we all do. But if you did know him, the real him, you would see it too. The Prince had always been a spoiled little brat, if I do say so myself. He was rude, crass, horrible with the ladies. He broke hearts left and right and left a trail of them which resulted in his being cursed. He hasn't cared about anyone or anything in such a long time and he has only had us here in this castle with him for over four hundred years. Child, he had had plenty of time to realise the kind of person he was back then, and he has changed. He was so angry for the longest time - until the day you pulled up on that contraption outside. That was the day he began to change and we all see it." She smiled softly at Belle, who in fact, reminded her of her grand-daughter from long ago.

Belle sighed, sitting down on the plush mattress once more. "You can't know that."

"But I do. He was cursed to love you, Belle. And He is coming to terms with the fact that he does. He has never loved anyone but himself. Not even his parents, did he love more than himself. He has had to care for his siblings in their Lycan forms for all this time and yes, he does just want to be free from this curse. He wants everyone to be free from this curse. But he also sees something in you. Something he has never seen in all his life. Love."

Belle scoffed. "Well I don't love him! He's a monster!"

"Just get to know him better, Belle. Please. For all our sakes and yours. You might be surprised." She smirked.