𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐓 was surrounded by the dark. Even with his enhanced vision, he couldn't see anything but the solid dark shade of despair. The silence was unbearable, but only because it amplified the beating of his own heart.

He turned in every direction, searching for some sign of life or a flicker of light to prove he wasn't alone, but his request was denied. The darkness instilled melancholy while the echo of his heart intensified.

He shrunk inside himself, cowering into a curled position close to the ground as he squeezed his eyes shut and lifted his hands to his ears. However, the noise faded and his blood ran cold at the soft flesh he'd forgotten the feeling of. He slowly lowered his hands and his eyes widened at the lack of fur and claws. They were normal, human hands.

A joyous laugh of disbelief escaped his lips, which he quickly covered once he heard the foreign sound. No longer was his voice gruff with a constant growl clinging to the back of his throat, but softer and gentle. He couldn't help but look himself over, turning to capture every angle while fearing a cruel trick of the mind.

That was when the beast stepped out of the shadows, confronting the prince while shattering his hopes. The prince deflated and took a cautionary step back, holding out a hand to ward off the monstrous creature.

"Stay back."

The beast snorted, hissing hot steam from his nose as the temperature around them changed. If he looked closely, the prince could see the remnants of his own breath from his warning just a moment ago. A warning that the beast ignored as he took a step forward, paws crunching in the snow underfoot that had suddenly appeared.

The prince's breath grew shallow. He could feel the pull of something trying to put them back together again, sew them permanently as one, but he refused to willingly allow it.

He turned, boots sliding against the slick slush, and ran. The calm of the snow was fleeting as the storm swirled around them. The white flurries blinded him, blocking the path ahead in an attempt to distract the prince; however, the young royal was far more desperate than the storm. He pushed forward against the wind that made it almost impossible to move.

He only stopped when the sound of bells echoed around the inside of his head as he collided with the metal gate that marked the edge of the forest. The brief pauses of wind were just long enough to provide a glimpse of the palace just beyond the iron bars. In its golden glory, he recognized the structure he once called home, now prison.

The beast's snarl somewhere behind him snapped him out of one moment of fear into another that pushed him to take the next step and close the gate as he sprinted toward the marble steps. His now human form didn't stop him from slipping disgracefully then landing in a clumsy heap at the bottom of the steps.

The sound of sobbing he had presumed to be his own stopped. Slowly, he looked up and tilted his head in confusion to see a small girl, wiping a few frozen tears from her swollen pink cheeks. She sniffled then sneezed, clearly catching a cold from the soaked garments that failed to keep her warm.

A solemn smile graced his face as he looked down at the child with sympathy and a touch of pity. He was hesitant to speak, fearing that the beastly grovel had returned and he'd scare the child away. "What are you doing out here all alone?"

The girl skeptically scooted backward, retreating back into the bush that she'd previously been hiding within before the prince had collided with the stairs. She pulled her cloak tighter around herself as her body violently trembled, shivering to avoid frost-bite. The prince looked down at his own hands, fearful that the cold no longer bothered him because the hair he'd grown accustomed to had returned. He breathed a sigh of relief as his eyes cherished the pale skin, pink from the freezing temperature of the snow. Slowly, he pulled the ornate shell of his suit jacket off his own shoulders then draped it around the small child.

"See?" He asked softly as her trembling ceased with the additional warmth. "I just want to help."

She slowly nodded her head before wrapping her arms around his waist in an appreciative gesture. He was startled by the sudden hug, but allowed his arms to gently fall down at his sides before embracing the child, protecting her from the cold. He felt her little button nose nuzzle against his side before her large kind eyes looked up at him through strands of her own golden hair.

He froze.

Not from the cold, but the large round emeralds staring up at him. He'd seen them before, just the other night at dinner in fact, but he refused to accept what he already knew to be true. It simply didn't make sense why the visions of his sleep had suddenly changed to include her... especially since he finally recognized the events destined to unfurl that very night.

A blinding white light flashed overhead and briefly lit up the night sky. The world seemed all the darker once the light receded. The girl's comforted expression shifted and he could sense her fear as even the hair on the back of his own neck rose. She squirmed and gently pried herself from his arms before pointing toward the balcony.

"My mother is in there..."

It was the first time she'd spoken since they'd met. The palace was the last place he wanted to go, but he knew he wouldn't wake from the nightmare until he followed the direction of the memory, another lasting side effect of the curse. Over the years he'd slept longer believing that the nightmare he lived was far worse than the ones trapped in his mind; however, he'd never been forced to relive the moment the nightmare began and now he wanted nothing more than to wake from his slumber.

That option wasn't offered. Instead, the small girl sprinted up the rest of the stairs and pushed through the crowd of aristocrats and nobles that fled past the pair of doors that would have certainly been too heavy for the girl to open on her own. His own eyes widened, suddenly concerned for the fragile creature's well-being. He clambered back onto his own feet, pulling his knees up from the snow, leaving behind an imprint... the last indication of his humanity.

He sprinted down the halls, ignoring the golden trail of the stairwell railing and the high-relief marble carvings that separated the walls from the ceiling. His eyes hardly glanced at the vibrant crimson hue of the drapes that hung along the windows larger than the wooden doors that had kept him trapped within the palace walls of his youth. Nor did he listen to the sound of his boots clicking against the glistening tiles that had recently been polished. However, the smell wafted up to his nose, threatening to stop him in his tracks to reminisce and focus on nostalgia. But the bitter memories of his youth quickly followed, and those were more unwelcome than the horrors of the ballroom that the small child led him toward.

She wasted no time pushing open the tall doors and the prince was hesitant to follow, blinking his eyes to adjust to the bright light emanating from the enchantress within the center of the room. The girl stopped and her posture slumped while her head tilted as if confused. The prince assumed she was curious by the enchantress's presence, but then he noticed one small detail that was incorrect. Forcing himself to look away from his younger self, transforming into the beastly appearance that matched his upbringing, he saw a small girl standing off to the side. The feathered mask on her face concealed her identity until she turned and met his eye. The light caught her eyes and their emerald color almost looked as if they were glowing. He glanced between the two girls and like a trick of the mind, they were suddenly one, reflecting features from both.

The girl no longer wore the feathered mask, but her pure white gown had transformed into scraps of cream fabric, clumsily stitched together to form a rag-dress similar to that of the girl when she'd hidden in the bushes outside. Her golden locks were pulled away from her eyes, held back by a spare piece of cloth that acted as a kerchief atop her head.

Although intriguing, the girl shouldn't have been there if he was really just reliving his memories... right? Surely he hadn't missed her presence that evening. He'd lived the event over and over again. It wasn't possible that something new would appear out of the blue without warning nor reason. But as he looked at that small girl, he knew he was only lying to himself.

Suddenly, the girl opened her mouth and released a scream, lifting her hands to cover her eyes as the blinding light flashed again as the enchantress continued bestowing her curse upon the boy. Golden sparks that matched the color of her hair flickered and stained the girl's eyes, drawing her closer to the enchantress and the curse. The woman turned and a look of horror contorted her celestial features as the girl's small form crumpled and collapsed. The cursed boy was forgotten, left writhing along the ground as his nails elongated into claws while his hair grew into an untamed mane. He mattered no longer as the enchantress released a wail, cradling the girl within her arms. The child paled and her lashes fluttered, closing as her breath grew shallow.

"Je suis desolée," the enchantress muttered under her breath, slowly rocking as tears streamed down her face. "Mon petite ange... I meant to protect you, this was to protect you."

The prince curiously tilted his head. He'd never seen this side of the witch, nor had he imagined she possessed an inch of compassion. He'd only focused on his own misery, but looking at the event through this out-of-body experience forced him to see the world from another perspective. He was intrigued, the same uncomfortable feeling that had ailed him earlier that evening at his own table. However, just as the enchantress lifted her head as if struck with an idea to save the girl she had incidentally placed in harm's way, a low-emitted growl echoed around the room. The prince turned his head and his blood ran ice cold.

The beast prowled on the outskirts of the room, stepping over the boy who continued to tremble on the floor. The beast eyed the prince as if already determining the best way to devour him, not a single glimpse of humanity sparked in his eyes. It was the very thing he feared he might become one day, a day that was quickly approaching.

"Stay back."

The beast ignored him. As the creature drew closer, the light receded and the darkness immediately replaced it. Just as he had entered the dreamscape facing the beast, he would leave it the same way. With the light, the image of the girl and the enchantress also receded. His eyes widened with panic and he reached out a hand, clawing to hold on to the memory just a second longer.

"Wait!" He shouted hysterically. "I need to know what happens!"

Whatever demon presided over the dreamscape ignored him while forcing the beast and prince to occupy one form once more. He hadn't expected the process to be painful, but as his screams of anguish tore at his vocal chords, the sound morphed into an animalistic howl that shook the ground.

His sapphire eyes flashed open and his breath was heavy. He almost considered rushing to find a mirror before remembering that he'd smashed every reflective surface found within the palace. He didn't need one though as he looked down and noticed the fur that concealed his once human hands. He released a tired sigh as he slowly stood from his bed before slinking out onto the balcony.

The sun was beginning to set and the wind blew, signaling that another snowstorm couldn't be far behind. Winter was coming, that much was clear, meaning he had a matter of months before the last petal fell. He cast a look over his shoulder at the rose encased in glass. He'd long lost all hope, but there was a glimmer of something that swelled up in his chest. He couldn't explain the feeling, but as the pink sparks that floated around the rose transformed into an iridescent green, he knew it had something to do with his dream.

A small hand, or something representing as much, knocked against the wooden frame of the door. With a gruff grunt, the beast granted permission to the clock that quickly entered the room without delay.

"I hope you're feeling well, Master. The staff couldn't help but notice—"

The beast was quick to interrupt the head of household. "What time is it?"

"A quarter 'til eight," the clock replied, flinching only slightly at the brash interruption. "Shall I have the kitchen whip something up?"

The beast shook his head, but paused remembering he wasn't the only one that was to be served within the castle at the moment. "The girl might like something..."

"The girl?" Cogsworth questioned, raising a brow while the minute and second hand also conveyed his confusion. "Oh, the girl! I suppose you didn't hear... no, no I suppose you wouldn't have..."

"Cogsworth." The beast's thin tone was one of warning that implied his patience was running out.

The clock gulped and scrambled to break the news as delicately as he could. "She left this morning, Master... You did say she was free to go once the storm stilled."

He was silent. His brows knit together deep in thought. Sure, he'd certainly been annoyed when she first stormed through the halls and stood up to him, but she'd also been fearless. Perhaps it was her striking resemblance to the enchantress herself that had drawn her to him; however, she quickly defended her intellect over dinner proving she was more than just an angelic face. Now... he was almost disappointed that she'd gone. It made sense though that she would want to return to the village. A creature of such delicate beauty had no business surrounding herself with mangled souls like himself.

Lumiere interrupted the silence, hopping through the door entirely out of breath. The flame above his head flickered on and off with each deep breath he exhaled. "She has returned!"

Cogsworth clicked his tongue and waved Lumiere away. "Pay no attention to this inflamer, Master. He has no idea what he's talking about, besides I hardly think he's capable of keeping the intruders of the castle separate from the invited."

"The girl, Celine," Lumiere huffed again, pushing Cogsworth out of the way. "She has returned, Master."

The beast's spirits lifted and he quickly sprinted down the hall, eager to see if the candelabra had spoken the truth. He hardly managed to regain his composure as he reached the top of the stairwell, skidding to a stop as the girl entered the castle for a fourth time: first searching for her friend, second coming in after the storm prevented her from leaving, third after the wolf attack, so this made it her fourth visit... albeit perhaps the only one that was voluntary.

He cleared his throat and slowly descended the stairs to greet her as she hung her cloak on the coat rack. "You came back?"

She looked up in surprise. Her emerald eyes met his sapphire, each equally unnerved by the recent revelation of colors. She looked away, tucking a fallen piece of golden hair back into her braid, then nodded her head to acknowledge his question.

"Yes... probably against my better judgement," she gently admitted, "I hope it isn't a problem."

The beast quickly shook his head, perhaps a bit too eager. Recognizing his error, he slowed his movements to avoid frightening her away. "It's no problem at all."

"Good... good." She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and inhaled before opening her eyes as if she had a dirty little secret to confess. Without hesitation, she opened her mouth, speaking what felt like a hundred miles per hour, "I think this place has the answers to my past that I've been searching for. I don't understand everything I've been through over the last few days, but I'm strangely called back to this place and if given the chance I'd like the opportunity to learn why... I—I think it had something to do with your curse."

The beast was quiet. He turned his head and looked around the staff of his enchanted castle who all appeared equally as shocked. "Curse? Who... who mentioned a curse?"

"Well, no one," she sheepishly admitted as if believing herself foolish to have jumped ahead with her assumptions. "I originally thought the whole castle was simply enchanted, but I think it's some sort of magic far stronger than that. No one had to tell me because I saw it for myself."

"I don't understand." The beast was cautious as he spoke, also unwilling to make any preconceived assumptions. Such decisions had landed him in deep trouble before, he wasn't willing to face anymore consequences.

"I don't know how... but somehow, I think I entered your dream last night," Celine explained, "that or a memory. I was at some sort of ball during the winter season several years ago."

"How could you know that ball took place here?" Cogsworth asked skeptically, unwilling to simply accept the explanation without proof.

"Because she was there."

The room turned to face the beast. Celine's eyes widened as she slowly connected the dots. She wasn't the only one to cross the dreamscape into the memories of another the night before. It was as if the two had a brief understanding of one another without actually realizing why.

"You were there that night, mon cherie?" Lumiere questioned, thoroughly intrigued.

Celine gently nodded her head, biting the edge of her lip as if nervous to admit something she didn't quite understand. "I think so... and I think it has something to do with the curse."

"As Lumiere said," the beast quoted the candelabra having been briefly caught up earlier on what he'd missed, "you're welcome anytime."

"If I'm somehow involved, I want to fix this," Celine almost promised; however, she whispered the next part inaudibly to everyone but the beast, "and maybe just find myself in the process."

He remained quiet, ignoring the comment that was meant to be private. "The resources of the palace are yours to explore... with the exception—."

"—of the west wing," she filled in the blank with a soft smile. She nodded her head, implying she understood and respected his wishes. The beast turned to walk away, but she reached out a hand and called after him. "Just one more thing."

"Oui?" He turned his head, raising an eyebrow.

"I've spent practically two days in this castle and I still don't know your name," she replied. She offered a graceful curtsy as if the two were starting over, "Bonjour, je m'appelle Celine."

He hesitated. It had almost been eleven years since he'd heard his own name uttered aloud. He'd gotten so used to the staff solely referring to him as the master of the house that for a brief moment he'd forgotten he was anything but the beast.

She continued to look at him expectantly, a fresh look of hope shining from her eyes that put his own discomfort at ease. He took a deep breath and looked up from the ground to complete the first humane interaction he'd had in over a decade. "Adam... My name is Adam."

He swore her smile grew just a glimmer brighter and her eyes actually sparkled with magic for a split-second. He didn't linger on the expression for too long though, it didn't take much persuasion to lead the girl toward the library where their research could begin. However, for just a brief moment, he'd felt less like an animal and cherished the moment of simply Adam and Celine.