La Bella E La Bestia: Could He Be Saved?

Let Me Explain

Leon found himself racing towards Bella as they were in the woods. He pulled the rains of his trusted horse while he blocked her path. "Why are you running away?" He asked suddenly, condemning himself for sounding vulnerable.

Bella tried to contain her anguish and disdain for the man before her but she couldn't. She wanted him to see how much he had hurt her. "A Game? Is that what I am to you?" She asked pronouncing each word with venom.

Leon found himself looking away from her, ashamed at how his love for her started. Yes, it was rotten thing to do. But if he hadn't made that bet with Helene, he wouldn't be so in love with Bella now. He knew that. If she could find it in her glorious, pure heart to forgive him, he would do anything to make it up to her.

Bella felt the tears beginning. "I thought you loved me. Instead I was only a bet." That one phrase brought Leon out of his thoughts. He could hear her pain. The pain he bestowed upon her, this young woman who he had fallen in love with. This woman had the ability to heal his fractured soul. He leaped off his steed and stood in front of Bella. "No, it's not how it seems. Please. Let Me Explain."

Bella refused to listen to anymore of his lies, the ridiculous games he continued to play with her. "And Yesterday? Even Yesterday it wasn't what it seemed. Even Yesterday. Today everything is clear." Bella announced with those eyes he could drown in. Those eyes he couldn't even stare in at the moment. He could understand. He was angry at himself for agreeing to it. Why couldn't Bella see he wasn't the same person she had met those many weeks before?

Bella trampled her foot on the soil, emphasizing the meaning to the next words she revealed to him. "It's over." Leon bent his head, tossing it from side to side, his eyes closed. He swore to himself as he had no choice but to listen as she let out her agony and fury. Bella continued in her speech, refusing to show him understanding this time. "You've lost." She declared. Leon found the strength and glanced at her once more. "One more thing. I could never love you." She stared up at him as she willed herself into taking three steps away from him, wanting to cause him the same amount of pain as he caused her.

Leon had enough of this, of grief to last a lifetime. He refused to allow Bella, much like Juliet, to see how she tortured him. Bella made him want to be the better man. Much like the kind man he was before. With her guidance, he could go back to being that man but he needed her in his life. Instead, he was met with rejection! Worse yet, how she casually told him she would never care for him the way he wished.

Leon turned about and griped the back of Bella's elbow which caused her to turn and stare at him. She tried to show him the anger she felt with her eyes, her hair flowing as he pulled her back. "No, Bella!" Bella tried to fight his grip but he held on tighter, bringing his other hand up to to the nape of her neck and tipped her backward. "One, your father still has yet to pay off his debt to me, you are still mine, Bella. Mine! Two, it's my turn. By all means, blame me. It's the truth. I thought you were like all those other women who would dishonour their father when they felt something for a man. " He declared as he forced her on his horse. "I know I was wrong for this entire circumstance but I never lied when I told you I loved you. Never!"

Bella closed her eyes. If she had a choice she would have opened her hand wide delivering the hardest stroke she would muster to his face. Much harder then the last time when he had forced a kiss on her. Bella blocked herself from listening to anymore of his lies. Until her father came up with her sister's dowry and paid off his loan to Leon, she was the Beast's prisoner.