The Secret Diary of Belle (Grimmoire Series)

Entry Fifty Three

I remembered Geroux being with me as I fell asleep. He said he would stay.

I remembered thrashing about the room in a frenzy while I was transitioning.

Did I attack Geroux in my blind fury?

I threw on my partially shredded dressing gown and burst out of the room. My mind was racing. Was it possible that I had survived the transformation, but Geroux had not? That would indeed be a cruel twist of fate.

When I entered the hallway, there was a scented swirling, grey-coloured mist hanging in the air. The mist smelled like Geroux, his blood and a fireplace.

With that combination, I could only deduce that he would be next to the fireplace in the main sitting room (or his body was burning on a pile of wood...)

I had only taken a few trepidatious steps in the direction of the sitting room when I heard his voice.

"Belle?" he called out.

"Geroux!" I yelled back, louder than I anticipated. With relief and excitement - I ran, much faster than I thought I could to the sitting room. The grey mist faded as I drew closer. A very tired, drawn Geroux was there to greet me at the door.

I ran over and hugged him tightly.

"Ow, Belle," he said, struggling to breathe.

"Oh my goodness," I said, relinquishing my grip on Geroux. "I'm so sorry."

"Your newfound strength knows no limits," he said, oxygen repopulating his lungs.

I could see the love in his eyes. The smile spreading across his face. My heart swelled with emotion.

Then I remembered the scene in my bedroom.

"Geroux - your blood is all over my room. I think, well... I could smell it. What happened? Are you alright?" I asked, desperately looking him over for any wounds.

"Everything is fine, do not worry yourself," he said, in a very measured tone. "I will explain in a moment. More importantly, how are you feeling?"

"I am better than ever! Everything is better than ever! The smells, oh, it's like discovering everything for the first time. I can't believe it - I'm here! I'm alive! Don't you see, the impossible happened - I pulled through. I made it. It's a miracle," I said, twirling about the room.

At that point, the ornaments made themselves known. The mantle clock, the candelabra, the teapot and the chipped teacup all sprang forth from their various positions in the room. They greeted me with the utmost love. The teapot even shed a few tears.

I was alive, they were alive and then I noticed, that everything in the room was alive. The chairs, the table, the curtains... even the books were wriggling around. This was far more vivid than when I had previously drunk Geroux's blood concoctions - this was simply magical. It struck me that this is what Geroux's sees all the time and now, this is what I will see all the time, forever.

Geroux and I, forever.

"Geroux," I began, "no more waiting. No more secrets."

I took his hands in mine.

"We can finally be together."

I couldn't help myself. I was surging with passion, power and emotion. I had successfully completed the transformation. Geroux and I were now the same.

I was dizzy with excitement. My elation was contagious. The ornaments all began jumping around in celebration.

For a moment, everything was magical, everything was right.

"Belle, we need to talk," said Geroux in a very dire tone.

And the moment faded.

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