La Bella E La Bestia: Could He Be Saved?

To Give Another Chance

When Florian called Leon out of his peaceful but short sleep, he was irritated. He felt Florian's hand over his shoulder. "My Lord, my Lord. Someone is here for you." Leon told him so. "Tell them to go to hell." He stated.

Florian knew he had to tell him who wanted to see him. "My Lord, it's actually Bella."

Leon tilted his head, opening his eyes to look at Florian briefly. He placed his drinking glass on the table nearly, pulling himself up in the armchair, choosing to be presentable. He saw Bella walk in, Florian was in the entrance of the doorway.

Leon could not tear his gaze away from. She moved her head, waiting for Florian to leave. She brought her head back to it's proper angel as she heard Leon, who had remained seated, "What else do you want?" He asked her. How could this young woman of whom he loved so deeply want him to suffer by running from him?

Bella couldn't stare in his eyes anymore, she moved her gaze around. Why? Could she see how badly she had hurt him? Perhaps she saw how much her rejection, her inability to forgive him made him feel. It was then that she spoke to him. "I couldn't leave." She announced, bringing herself to look at him. He glared at her right then and there. Why did she return? Was she trying to prove he didn't mean a thing to her? She had chosen to ignore his love for her. "I can see that." Leon acknowledged, darkly.

Bella glimpsed around the room once again, unable to bare what her reappearance might make him feel. But she continued. She was on a mission. To help the people of the village. "The thought of still being useful here kept me from leaving." Bella explained to him, her voice was softly spoken.

Leon couldn't contain himself any longer and let out a sigh followed by a sarcastic chuckle. "Useful?" He questioned her, casting his glance else where. Suddenly he stared back up at her, with fire in his eyes. "I can manage perfectly well without you or anyone else." Leon insisted knowing in his heart he had deceived himself once again.

Bella approached him right then and there. "I-" She began. "I would like things to be different." She had to be headstrong in his presence. "And to have another chance."

With a persistence, Leon stared up at Bella. Was this her vengeance? She had to have known he clearly loved her, despite what led him to her in the first place. A rotten idiotic bet! Hearing her speak the last words, he wanted to throw his arms around her. Not failing to mention how he would, at this second, forgive her if she would never leave him again. Instead, he chose to remain indifferent. "I gave you another chance and you chose what was closest to your heart." He informed her. Leon wanted to despise her, she demonstration how little she thought of his heart. There was a possibility she would never allow herself to realized he was genuine and dedicated towards her.

Bella locked her eyes to his. "Yes." She admitted, "Yes, to leave." She moved her gaze down for a moment. Why was she nervous? She wanted him to witness her perseverance.

Leon tilted his head upward, observing and challenging her. He wanted to ask her why he wasn't good enough for her. Bella refused to be defeated in this circumstance. "But that was a small wish." She stated to him. Leon squinted his eyes quickly, not interrupting her this time.  "And selfish." She professed delicately.

Leon glanced at her. An understanding, he imagined, could be seen in his blue orbs. She chose to return to him. In this particular moment, it finally dawned on him. She had chosen to exonerate him. He forced his eyes to drop from the vision of this beautiful young woman before him. He inclined his back in his arm chair. "And?" He inquired, no longer annoyed.

Bella advanced to Leon, kneeling down before him; her gaze meeting his eyes with determination. He continued to stare at her. He couldn't accept she was back at the chateau. Bella proceed in what she needed to ask him. "If I had another wish," She began. "Just one more. Would you still be willing to grant it?" She refused to lift her gaze from his.

Leon wanted to be lost in her. "And balance will be restored?" He asked her as calmly as he could muster. 

Bella nodded her head. "Yes. I will continue to work for you but not for my father's debt." She informed him as she stood up. "And nothing else. Please respect that." She told him gently.

Leon he refuse to remove his gaze from her. He understood what she wasn't saying. She wanted to pretend, to ignore the possibility he adored her. "This won't be the last conversion about this, Bella."

Didn't she have the knowledge to realize how important she was to him? With her, the answer would always be yes! He knew she wouldn't change her mind to accept him. Bella made it clear he was not a decent man, a man worthy of her love. While they were in the forest, Leon recalled how insensitive she had been when she declared, "I could never love you." He knew he had acted irrational. Bella chose the words which reciprocated, shifting the pain she felt towards him, the one who caused it in the first place. When those words left her lips, he couldn't deal with her retaliation. Not only did she use his own actions against him, she brought out his weakness and greatest fear. 

Bella stayed with him for what seemed to be a small amount of time. He adored how intelligent, and righteous she was. She went into detail with this wish. He would grant it in a heartbeat with the smile she was displaying. Actually, he would help her in anyway he could to make sure she achieved her wish.