Beauty and the Beast {Merome AU}

Chapter 2

A/N- Remember if you haven't read chapter one go to CrazilyInsaneArtist's page, make sure to follow her. She has awesome writing.

Remember everyone deserves love and kindness.

~Jerome's POV~

     Every day it's the same thing; roam the castle, talk to my friends (who are now objects), eat, go to the garden, tend to the plants, go to the library, eat again, take a nap, repeat. Nothing ever happens. I snarled as I realized it's all the enchantress's fault. I was never an angry person, but then again, I'm not a person anymore.

     I was usually a kind person, as my parents raised me to be. I would always put my people first, it wasn't about me. What did I do to deserve this hex? It was the day of my coronation, I greeted the people with a smile and bow. Children played in the ballroom, as women and men socialized.

     I greeted an older woman the same way I was taught to greet all women, kissed her hand and smiled. She glared at me. What I did, I do not know.

     "You have until the last ax is dulled, to fix your ways; get an extraordinary person to fall in love with you, or stay this way forever." the woman muttered, "quia non sum videre vos ut mihi praeberetis ordinarius. Est autem rursus tu es."

     There was a flash of light; I was a monster, fur covered my body, I screeched, my voice had deepened, I gained more muscle mass. Angered I ran throughout the castle screaming my frustration out. Everyone ran, a forest had appeared around the area. Ian, my cook, was now a stove; Preston, my butler, was a candle; Vikk, the majordomo, a clock; the list goes on, at least I wasn't alone.

      "My friends," I growled, "I wish this never happened. Are all of you all right?"

      "Oui, oui," I heard them call out simultaneously.

      I sighed happily. I was worried someone was hurt, luckily they're all okay.

      "Prince!" I hear Preston call. I shook my head, regaining my attention, and looked at him.

      "Oui, Preston?" I questioned.

      "You were staring off into space."

      "Oh, thank you for worrying, but I am fine."

      "Bon, I'm glad." he smiled, the flame burning on his, what seemed to be, hair grew as he became less anxious.

       I walked out into the garden, where I found a blunt ax. The fifteenth one, I thought worryingly, one more. I always had many axes, because I loved them; they gave my relief in a hectic world. Their sharpened edge, wooden handle, and perfect curvature gave me a sense of balance.

      The cold breeze blew on my fur, leaves swayed calmly. Humans will never experience this again; no one ever comes to the palace. They fear me, and those who don't, aren't near. One person is all, they would help me.

     I re-entered the large building, a knock echoed throughout the darkened room. Is someone here? Non, no one would come here; they all fear me, and those who don't are not near. I swallowed. Three more knocks echoed in the castle. Why now?

      I slowly made my way to the large entrance. I reached towards the bronze handle; my hand tensed as the cold metal touched my furry palm. The unsure feeling of opening the door stressed me out; then, I knew I either opened the door or wait for one of the other castle members to open it.

      I overcame my anxiety, took a breath, and opened the door. I did not stay for long, as soon as there was a small crack of light, I sprinted off into the shadows, hiding from all who entered. I stared at the fragment of light waiting for a silhouette to cover the illumination.

      "Bonjour?" a high, danish accented, male voice called out.

      "Oui?" Preston called out, "Bonjour, bonjour! I am Preston!"

      "Who said that?" The voice echoed throughout the palace.

      "Me, Misour," Preston hopped out of the shadows, the flame of hair flickering as he moved.

       "You? Non, I cannot believe such nonsense, you're a candle. This must be some sort of trick!" The man exclaimed in disbelief.

      "Non, I am the one speaking to you; there was a sorceress who put a spell on everyone who worked and lived in this castle," Preston explained, trying not to sound psychotic; however, the man did not believe him.

       "An enchantress did this to you, you say, oui?" The man questioned with great concern.

      "Oui, please come in, I'll explain everything!" Preston said, hopping back into the obscurity as the man followed. I noticed he was older than I thought at first. He was taller than I was before the spell, but not by much. The blond hair added color to the darkened room. Preston's flame shimmered in his eyes revealing a dark ocean blue.

      "Why should I trust you, I just met a talking candle for the first time. All of this could be false."

      "Oui, but if you did not trust me, you would not follow me, oui?" Preston pointed out. He looked towards my hiding spot as I tried not to growl or move. It was too late, though, he noticed my eavesdropping. There was no explaining this.

     I should stay hidden so not to frighten the man, I thought, but if I do stay here what will Preston think? Now isn't the time for this, I must not scare this visitor.

      Preston had ignored me; continuing on he hopped down the stairs carefully so not to let his hair go out.

       "I guess you are correct, I would have to trust you at least a little in order to follow you into a castle of someone I do not know," the man finally replied with a voice crack.

      "What may I call you, Misour?"

      "Most call me Mr. Crainer; to whom am I speaking?"

      "I am Preston, I am," he stopped momentarily, "was the butler of the prince here, until the hex was cast."

      "I apologize, Misour Preston," Mr. Crainer started, "do you know how to contradict the sp-" I couldn't handle it anymore, I ran out howling like the beast I've become.

      "Get out of my castle!" I screeched.

      "I-I am so sorry, Misour" Mr. Crainer spoke with a shaky voice.

       "Get out, now!" my voice grew boisterous as my animosity at the world advanced to the pinnacle of all anger in my life. I always despised yelling. Even if I did unspeakable things my parents always had calm voices; once I was punished, they would remind me, screaming does no good. It just causes terror.

       "Misour Jerome?" Preston commented, "Is everything alright you never yell."

     Tears rolled down my fur and muzzle "No-no everything is not alright; I've tried and tried to find an extraordinary person who will fall in love with me. I've failed every attempt," I stuttered with a softened voice, "there isn't going to be anyone who is brave enough to stay with me before the last ax is dulled." Shocked Preston stood silently; as, I refused to tell anyone that there was one more ax. I should have told them all, I know, but they would make a big deal of it. I was just going to conceal it and make sure that no one could ever find it.

     "Th-there's only one more hatchet?" Preston whispered in fear, "Why didn't you tell us? Did you even think about telling anyone?"

     "Yes, of course, I did," I started, "but, you guys would make a gigantic deal of it. I've concealed it, hidden it away."

     "Misour," Preston whispered with pity.

     "Don't try to say you would never do that, you always do!" in a sotto voice, I ran to the forbidden room. Jen blocked the door, she had been transformed into a wardrobe, "Jen, move, please."

     "Yes, Misour," Her soft voice rang in my ear as she moved slowly from the entrance.

     A minute later I was able to enter. I haven't been in here since I was altered. I clenched my hand around the doorknob, twisted it, and pulled the door open.