Until The Last Petal Falls

Chapter 1

        What if your whole life, you were told a Disney lie? That Beauty and The Beast was a happy ending because it's not. The prince was really a princess and the beast was within her. Not a hairy, talking, two-legged walking beast. She was a werewolf. A girl cursed at night with a wolf who hunts humans and refuses to stop until time runs out. Human in the day, who cares and loves all of those around her. The only way to break such a curse is with true loves kiss. Or is it? What if the only way to break the curse, is to sacrifice yourself for another. Perhaps even for a stranger. A death for a life.....
        She awoke from the burning heat of the sun on her face. Her curtains once again ripped to shreds from the midnight episode she could vaguely remember. The door that was locked to protect her and the others, was broken but remained closed. The window shattered, giving her the thought that her curse must have broken it to escape. The way down would have at least broken a few bones but she felt no pain. She thought for a moment, asking herself if this time she hadn't escaped. If she hadn't used her canine teeth to rip and devour another living soul.
        A knock on the door, caused her to frown. A shaky voice sounded on the other side. "P-princess?"
        "Did I hurt anyone?" The sadness in her voice was what she tried not to show but she did not succeed. 
        "No, but we heard the window break. We feared you had gotten out."
        "I do not believe I did.  You may unlock the door now, Mrs Potts. It is over and done with. Whatever I did will be forgotten. Is that understood?"
        There was a hesitant sigh. "Yes, Princess. If that is what you wish."
        There was a long pause. The struggle to try and unlock the broken door had lasted a minute. The door clicked but did not open. The scuttling footsteps slowly grew fainter as Mrs Potts left. Mrs Potts feared her. She knew everyone in the castle did but only a few did not show it. Her trusted friends Cogsworth and Lumière were the only two who truly trusted her.
        As Belle remained in her room, she looked over the mess she had made. Her wardrobe was toppled over, making any access to her dresses nearly impossible. Only a pink fluffed out dress that was still slightly ripped, was all that was reachable. It wasn't exactly her favourite dress but since the others were buried in the mass of destruction, it would have to do.
        After changing, she slowly opened the door, only to have it jam half way. The dark hallway, giving no sign of life. Of course, for her and the others safety, they had her at the farthest and highest room to prevent anyone else from being killed. She walked down long sets of cobblestone stairs, reaching the entrance where a wooden door once stood. The only evidence left from the curse was small chips of wood and bent metal. Only a thin curtain covered the doorway.
        Lumière came over to meet her on the other side of the curtain. "Breakfast is ready."
        She let out a small sigh before following him. "Tell me, Lumière. Will I ever break this curse before the petal wilts completely?"
        He stopped, turning to meet her gaze. "You will when the time is right."
        "You know that's not what I mean."
        "Well, now. Everyone has the bravery to commit such an act but only few will care enough to sacrifice themselves to save another."
        "Please don't start with your spontaneous singing."
        His smile warmed her heart. He knew she disliked the random singing but sometimes he still did it to prove a point. She could use the reassurance but today, he chose to accept that she was not in the mood. She only had until the beginning of spring before her curse became permanent. She would be stuck as a vicious wolf forever.
        She followed Lumière to the main hall where they went through another entrance way. A small hallway, leading them to the kitchen. Mrs Potts was in the kitchen, brewing a kettle of tea and stirring a pot of oatmeal. Alternating between the two was never hard for her. She glanced at Belle, not saying anything. Lumière ushered Belle into the dining hall to avoid talking with the old woman.
        The dining table seemed big for just one person. It had enough room to fit thirty people. The royal family was huge decades ago. Belle's family only had six but now it was just her. She never knew what happened to her parents and three younger brothers but every night, she would be haunted by horrid visions of the curse. If she really had killed her family, she did not remember.
        She sat down at the end of the table. Mrs Potts appeared, placing a bowl of oatmeal and a cup of tea on the table. Once again the meal was just right for Belle. It did not matter to her if she ate the same meal for as long as she could remember. It was always good to her. It never changed.
        Belle took her time as she ate. She wanted the taste to last so the taste of dried blood would become a distant memory. A memory that was hardly a memory. There was no knowing what had happened. All Belle hoped for was that it was only the blood of a dear.
        She waited a few minutes after finishing her meal. Letting the silence sink in. She wished to explore the garden but she feared if she did, she would spend to much time there then the curse would sweep upon her without warning. She sighed as she stood, looking out the window. The view of the landscape was of nothing but trees without leaves and a ground full of rotting peat moss. The fields haven't grown anything since the curse had first begun. The sky had a dark gloomy twist to it. Only a faint light shone through the clouds. It was only in the early mornings and early sunset that you saw the Sun's full glow. The rest of the light was always covered by a thick layer of fog and cloud.
        Belle stood, beginning to walk down the halls, heading towards the library. A place where she could think and leave this world without actually leaving it. A place where she was at peace with herself.