The Secret Diary of Belle (Grimmoire Series)

Entry Forty Four

"She was cursed. Of course, I did not know at the time, nor would I have been able to comprehend the enormity of such a thing, until I became cursed myself. You see, she thought we were meant to be together. That I was the one for her and she was the one for me. Now, although I had strong feelings for her, I knew in my heart that it was not true."

"She felt that you two were soul mates, but you did not?" I asked for clarification. Geroux nodded and continued.

"Josette knew that I did not feel deeply for her and realised there was one big factor separating her and I - the curse. She thought that if I were cursed too, I would see not only the world differently, but her too and then would be able to feel as connected to her as she felt to me."

"So... she cursed you?" I asked, feeling somewhere between intrigued and mortified.

"Yes, she did," said Geroux. "With my permission, of course. I so wanted to believe it to be true. That there was some cosmic, magical puzzle-piece that would suddenly fall into place and open my heart up to feel the love of my life."

I had a range of emotions swirling at all these revelations including, to my surprise, jealousy. But, I let Geroux continue talking uninterrupted.

"After the painful, almost deathly process that one must endure to become cursed - nothing changed. I mean, my body changed but my heart remained the same - she was not my true love."

"What happened then?" I asked.

"She fell to pieces. Josette felt guilty over turning me for no reason at all," Geroux began.

"Turning you?" I asked, but Geroux did not hear me.

"And she felt an unrelenting sadness, the depths of which I never wish to know," Geroux said, clearing a low hanging branch out of our way. "I told her that I loved her and would continue to love her, but it was futile. She said she could 'feel' my love and that it was no match for her love of me."

"She succumbed to the sadness..." said Geroux, letting the words hang in the night air. "But, in her death, she granted me a gift. I cannot say what the gift is, for I do not wish to jinx it."

I did not understand the relevance or significance of whatever the "gift" was that Geroux spoke of, nor did I wish for my mind to juggle another cryptic clue about his past life. Besides, I was not sure what to say.

"While there always will be a part of me that will love her with a warm reverence and respect, I can assure you that I have moved on," he said, almost pointedly.

"Geroux," I began, looking at the ground as I spoke, "if there is something you wish to say, please do say it."

Geroux took a deep breath.

"I wish I could take that night back, Belle. I wish I had not been consumed with rage and greed and used you as a bargaining chip. But if I had not acted so foolishly, our paths may never have crossed. And from the moment I met you on that godforsaken night, I finally understood exactly what Josette was talking about," he said, looking up at me, his eyes glowing in the night sky.

"What do you mean?" I asked. Geroux came close and took my hands in his.

"I have never felt for anyone the way I feel for you, Belle Desrosiers," he said, gazing into my eyes. "And I believe you may feel the same way."

He was not wrong.

"I find myself drawn to you in a way like I have been drawn to no other," I said. Since we were being honest about ourselves I felt it only right to speak my truth.

I turned to face Geroux.

"This may be very forward of me, but under the light of the moon, on this wondrous night, would you afford me the absolute pleasure of a kiss?" I asked with a hint of softness.

"Oh Belle, my most beautiful Belle, I have waited so long for this moment," he said, leaning in closely.

One arm moved around my waist, while the other made its way up my arm, cupping my shoulder. He closed his eyes, while I kept mine open. Our lips were merely an inch away from meeting...

When, all at once, Geroux stopped. His eyes opened wide, like a crazed animal. The mood changed instantly.

He sniffed the air, rapidly inhaling.

"Geroux? Geroux? What is it?" I asked, concerned. My entire body was covered in goosebumps.

For a moment he was very still, completely calm.

Then his head snapped to the left, as if he suddenly saw something - only nothing was there.

I could hear the distant sound of bushes rustling.

He turned to me and yelled with dire urgency.

"BELLE - RUN."

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