So this is Love ● The Beast

{12}

  I watched as she went through the doors, her steps fluid and elegant despite the way her shoes seemed to clasp around her ankles. Her dark curls bounced lively on her shoulders as she held the little teacup delicately in her fingers, a small smile on her lips, making her face brighten visibly.

  I hardly moved from my seat as she turned towards me, looking over her shoulder at the beast who had decided to lock her inside of his home, and she smiled at me. She thanked me. And then, when she looked into my eyes, I could see the hazel color of her orbs, pierce me like an arrow.

   Then, she turned. Engaged by the teacups excessive chatter, her attention diverted and I could finally breathe.

She's gone, with Chip and Mrs.potts in tow before I can gather the will to say anything. As the door shuts silently behind them, I let out a long breath, my large hands coming up to run through my mane. "What's wrong with you?" I hissed to myself, my claws raked through my knotted fur.

"Why didn't I say anything? I could've said something, I should've," I scolded myself as I pushed myself up from the table and stood up from my seat, the large chair skidding back a few inches. "What's wrong with me? I just sat there like an idiot!" I sighed as I paced around the room, growling to myself. "What she must think of me already," I felt my ears flatten to my head, my hand coming up to rest on top of the mantle just above the fireplace.

A puff of air escapes my muzzle and the flames remain whipping around, it's embers creating an aggressive flicker of light, burning the wood to ashes beneath me. As I stare into the flames, I suddenly thought of her, how she smiled at me despite her fear. How she took my hand despite her hesitancy. How she laughed in glee despite her sorrow.

Josette...

That's what her sibling had called her: Josette.

As I thought about it, it was so uncommon and yet, such a beautiful name. It made my lips curve upwards unconsciously as I sucked in a breath, the warmth of the flames reaching through my fur. "Josette," I whispered, my heart fluttered and I couldn't help how my eyes softened and my mind wandered to her in fascination.

Oh, how lovely she is.

That's when the doors opened once more, a tea cart rolling in hurriedly making me turn in confusion before finding Lumière and Cogsworth on top of the metal cart. The cart skidded to a stop at the side of the dinner table, they both hopped off before the cart wheeled off on its own.

Lumière was the first to speak, "Master," he had a large grin on his face, his metal arm's spread out his candles flickering. "I have heard the fantastic news! She had enjoyed your company, she was quite pleased with the dinner." He smirked knowingly, "How do you feel, Monsieur? We've never seen you so," he chuckled as he thought of a word. "Speechless, especially from a woman. But, our dear, Josette is the perfect one, is she not?"

My ears perked up at his words before I turned just as Cogsworth began speaking, "Oh, you should've seen the way she danced down the hall with Mrs.Potts. Truly magnificent, master." I paused as I opened my mouth to interrupt him, the images running into my head. Her dress twirling with her movements and a simple, bell like laughter escaping from between her full lips. "You've done splendidly! All there is now, is to fall in love."

Lumière rubbed the candle wax against his golden, metal body as if shining it as he nodded, smirking as if victorious. "With such a beauty as Josette, it wouldn't be a problem for you," he chuckled confidently.

"She was...happy?" my voice was soft, almost a whisper as I wondered if they were just speaking to me me feel better. No one could be happily trapped against their will, no one could dance around the hallways of the beast who had engaged them. "Impossible."

Lumière hopped off the side of the table, making a loud clang sound against the marble floors. I didn't bother to look his way as I stared into the flames. "Master, I can not tell you that she was bursting with the most vibrant of happiness," he said honestly, I let out a long breath through my muzzle miserably and the flames flickered. "She will miss her family, her loved ones. As you miss yours," he said, placing his candle on my right arm comfortingly. "But, I know what we saw, Monsieur."

Cogsworth was next to walk up, his wooden feet carrying him side to side. "You did something right, Master. She wouldn't be acting as she is now, if you hadn't." He clasped his hands together with a supportive grin. "At least, you're making valuable progress to becoming a gentlemen."

I looked at Cogsworth and Lumière then, my ears lifting from my head ever so slightly. "If I...If I can find a way to make her happy, everyday," I said with a growing grin, they perked up as I spoke. "Do you think she'll stay, with me?"

"Most definetly, Master!" Cogsworth grinned in response.

"No woman can resist a man who can satisfy her needs." Lumière confirmed.

I and Cogsworth than looked at him strangely, before I shook my head. "I don't think that should be on my mind now," I swallowed thickly, Lumierè snickered and I already knew he was plotting something in his head.

"I guess, that's my one goal now," I said, mostly speaking to myself as I began to leave the dining area. This wasn't about me, not anymore. I could see now that the only way I could ever get this spell to leave was to focus on the woman I was destined to love, not the other way around.

"And what is that, sire?" Cogsworth asked curiously.

"To make her happy."

And then I left, my steps echoed through the empty halls. The ones where she had once had filled with her laughter. The laughter that I would someday be the one to cause and hear with splendor.