Beauty's Beast Page 7

  "It's a family heirloom, lost these many centuries," the men smiled and the air seemed to grow colder.

  "Does it have anything to do with that?" she pointed at the sky.

  "The staff you hold is the key to opening that dimension," they held out their hands. "Let us take it off your hands."

  Beauty shook her head and grabbed the staff.

  "No -" one of the men ran for her but was caught up short by Oba who had an arm around his neck. His head rotated until he stared at Oba. "Let me go."

  Oba let the man go and backed up. "What spirit dwells in you?"

  Beauty opened her mouth to say something but burning pain shot from where her hand connected with the staff to every part of her body. Liquid lava followed by freezing snow caused her hand to clench and her jaw to hurt. She tried to let go of the staff but it was fused to her hand. Of its own accord her hand raised the staff and a light shot up and into the clouds. A loud boom rocked the area and the ship rocked as something hit the deck. A low menacing growl was the last thing Beauty heard before the world went black.

  Chapter Seven

  The beast felt the second his prison bars started to dissolve. He crouched low and waited for his chance to escape. The pained cry of Beauty caused him to ram his shoulder, repeatedly into the wall until he dropped. He hit the deck of her ship in a crouch and scanned the area. Her crew was huddled watching as two of their own stood with blackened eyes, smiling. Beauty was on the ground not moving. He moved to cover her and glared at the two men. "You have the smell of dark magic and a touch of my family. Who are you?"

  "Hi uncle," one of the men bowed. "I am a descendent of your brother. He was able to get to another village before everything was destroyed. How rude of me, my name is Jamal."

  "How are you able to travel across space?"

  "My family has had a long time to amass many different talents. I cannot send my physical form but these will do nicely." A ripple started under the men's skin. "I came to get that which belongs to our family, The Tree of Life. With it I can control the world in my time and for all times."

  The beast felt the hair on his body stand on end. Before him was a man who spoke as his brother use to. He had fallen for it once before and allowed the greed to overtake him. It had cost him his family and this time he was not going to allow it to win again.

  "I will not allow you to take it."

  "How can you stop me?" Jumal asked. "My magic is powerful. There are so many humans on this ship and you will have to kill them all to stop me."

  The beast felt his fangs grow and his claws dug into his palms. "You are still a young pup compared to me. I have lived for centuries and have more power in one of my fingers than you do in your whole body."

  "Maybe, but you are soft and will protect these humans. I have no problem disposing of them to get what I want."

  The beast stared at the men in front of him. "It seems the world has not changed since I have been in exile. Men, believing they are gods, are still seeking unlimited power."

  "Power I shall have and you will not be able to stop me." The men's arms raised, palms faced out, and they started chanting in the dead language of the Beast's people.

  The beast laughed as nothing happened. "Did you think I did not build safeguards to insure I was not spelled again? You may have had years to perfect your magic but I've had centuries."

  "No matter," both men drew their pistols. "I will kill everyone on this ship one by one until you give me the key."

  "Pup, you have a lot to learn but I do not have time to teach you today." He started chanting. "That which dwells in darkness by making it a friend. Watch for the light. Be banished back to the place you sprung from." As he finished chanting, the heads of both men went back and a dark smoke left their eyes and mouth before they slumped to the deck. As the smoke faded the beast yelled. "I will find you and stop you." A mocking laugh was his only answer.

  "What -" Beauty sat up rubbing her head. "What happened?"

  The Beast knelt and reached for her, afraid she would shy away now that he was in the real world. "You freed me."

  Beauty allowed him to help her to her feet. "So, we did it? What about the two men who," she pointed at the men now laying on the deck. "Who were possessed? What about a home for my crew and what do we do with that?" She pointed at the staff.

  "We can build a home here. Build in the ashes of my people." The Beast stared sadly down at the men. "They are lost to us and will not live out the day. Let them go to the next life with dignity."

  "What about those creatures? I cannot have my crew in danger every day." Beauty took a deep breath and picked up the staff. "You still haven't said what we are going to do with this. Can it be used to put you back?"

  "With the help of your witch, I can banish the creatures to the shadows where they belong. As for the staff," he gently took it from her. "I think it's time I got the tree and this staff to the tribe that can protect it better than I ever could."

  "So you are going to search them out?"

  "No, when something this important is used the family finds it. They will be here soon if they are not already." The beast smiled at the look of disbelief on her face. "Trust me."

  "I trust you," she smiled. "How can I not? You have given us a home like you promised."

  Home

  Chapter One

  Beauty stood watching as a few of her crew put the finishing touches on the temporary wooden cabins they had built along the shore. Hopefully, given time, they would be able to move more inland and build bigger and better homes. The crew not currently working on the housing were hunting for food or scouting out the area. So far they had not run into the demons or whatever they were, but there was no telling where they had gone. To her right the Beast stood with his feet in the water and his head tilted up to the sky. He seemed to do that a lot and the expression of peace on his face was breathtaking.

  "Captain, captain."

  Beauty turned and smiled as Jasmine came rushing toward her. "Slow down before you hurt yourself. You still need to get use to such a larger body."

  Jasmine laughed. "I have to get use to the fact that I am no longer eight but eighteen, in age anyway. I came to let you know that Johan wants to see you and the beast," she cut her eyes over to him. "She's in the hidden city."

  "Thank you," Beauty squeezed her shoulder. "Why don’t you see if they need any help getting the supplies from the ship."

  She watched as Jasmine took off at an awkward run toward a group of crewmen who were unloading supplies.

  "She will be fine."

  Beauty jumped when the beast spoke directly behind her. "I'm afraid she will have a hard time adjusting. Two days ago she was an eight-year-old girl and today she's an adult."

  "She will learn as children have for generation but you will all need to be patient with her," he put a hand on her shoulder. "I have faith that you will make sure she's taken care of."

  "Thank you," she turned from watching the crew and looked up at the beast. Even after the last two days she couldn’t believe that he was standing in front of her. His inhuman face so familiar that she hated to think that one day Johan may break the curse. "Johan asked to see us."

  "I heard," he smiled sadly. "I had hoped to avoid my old village."

  "If you don't want to go, don't. You can finally make your own decisions."

  "If I don't I am a coward," he moved his hand to her lower back. "Lead the way."

  Beauty started walking and made sure to acknowledge every crewmember they passed. Some had aged so much they looked decades older while others were hardly affected. "Why didn't everyone age?"

  "Some have stronger spirits or some magic in their blood," the beast answered. "The stronger the magic the less aging happened."

  Beauty nodded and continued walking until they came to the large hole leading to the hidden village. "We should build a ladder so we can always get down without rope."

  "I don't know if I want just anyone to be able to get down
there."

  "We can always set it up as a sacred place," Beauty grabbed ahold of the rope. "That should work to keep people away." She loosened her hand and slid down the rope landing and rolling so the beast wouldn’t land on her. When they were both safely on the ground Beauty lead the way toward the village. "So, was the village always underground?"

  "No. When I was young this was high above the waves, one of the highest points on the island."

  "I wonder how it came to be down here?"

  "The curse," Johan called as she waved them over. "This curse that your village put upon you didn't just trap you but it trapped them too."

  "So you can bring them back?" The beast asked.

  Beauty could see the hope in his eyes but it died quickly when Johan shook her head.

  "Nay, sorry. When they trapped you they shed their human form and became those things we saw. They survive only to keep you from getting out and anyone from getting the Tree."

  "So they are still here?" Beauty looked around and moved closer to the beast. She could fight flesh and blood but there was nothing she could do against the supernatural.

  "They are able to come and go from this plane of existence but I think I have found a way to release them to the next life," she pointed the ground and Beauty noticed there were faint lines under a fine layer of dirt.

  "What are those?"

  "This is the exact place the curse was cast. If I can fix the circle and cast a counter spell, I'm sure I can undo what has been done," she looked at the beast. "You will have your human body back."

  "But how? This was cast by blood and must be broken by blood." The beast frowned. "I will not sacrifice anyone to save myself, not again."

  "I see I'm late."

  Beauty turned and scowled at her best friend. "Amina, what are you doing here?"

  "When I heard Johan wanted to see you, I knew it had something to do with the curse. You can't think clearly so I am here to help."

  "I'm here to make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid," Oba spoke up and Amina glared at him.

  "Well now that everyone is here," Beauty turned back to Johan. "What do we need to do to break the curse?"

  "Before we go into that there's one small detail that you have to consider."

  "What?"

  "When the curse is broken, the Tree will once again be in our world. It will be a beacon to evil."

  "No," the beast backed up. "I will not allow it."

  Beauty grabbed his arm. "Don't you want to be free of the curse? To walk as a man again?"

  "I would rather stay a beast then welcome something so evil into the world. I've seen what the tree does to the mind of man, even those shielded against magic," he shook his head. "No, we can find another way."

  "There is no other way," Johan said. "This magic must be fought with magic and it will take everything I have. Do you remember how many were present when the spell was spoken?"

  "Everyone," the beast closed his eyes. "Everyone from the youngest baby to the oldest elder. As I stood defiant my village condemned me to walk forever as protector. I watched as the life was taken from them and used to hold the curse."

  "I may be able to shield the tree for a short time," Johan look off to the right. "This will come at a heavy cost that I'm willing to pay."

  "What cost?" Beauty asked.

  "No, did you not hear me," the beast snarled. "I will not allow you to do this."

  "You don't have a choice," Beauty scowled at him. "You have been punished enough for your past deeds. What is the cost?" She asked Johan.

  "I cannot know for sure," Johan looked at her before looking away. "When the time comes, I promise not one of you will die but you will be bound to the tree and your decedents too."

  "No, that has been my fate for centuries and it has only brought loneliness," the beast shook his head. "Just put me back in my cage and I will be happy knowing Beauty is safe."

  "That is not an option," Beauty said. "Why do we have to be bound to tree?"

  "This tree has great power. With one taste of its fruit a person can kill or save a life. It can cause the devourer to lose their mind and descend into madness. To keep it from the wrong hands, it will need to be bound to a pure heart but not just one. One person can become corrupted over time but with the power flowing through four different vessels, it can be tamed."

  Beauty shared a grim look with Amina before turning back to Johan. "What needs to be done?"

  "We need to clean this circle and find the temple. I'm sure there will be something left from the days of worship. I need five glass bowls to represent the five elements and something of each element in each bowl."

  "The beast and I will go to the temple," Beauty stated. "We need to talk and he will know what we are looking for."

  Beauty turned and walked deeper into the village. She tried to envision what would happen once the spell was broken. Would her crew be given a peaceful home to flourish in or would they end up a forgotten footnote in history?

  "Your thoughts are heavy," the beast said. "Do you want to share?"

  "I'm worried. Johan is a strong witch but you said it took your whole village to trap you. What will the real sacrifice be?"

  "Me," he put his arm around her and stopped walking, turning her toward him. "This is my curse to bare and I will give up my immortality if it means you will have the home of your heart."

  "No."

  "What do you mean, no?"

  "I want a home, aye, but not if you are not there."

  "You have not seen the evil I have done to those I loved," the beast moved a few steps away. "I do not ever deserve to be happy. These stolen moments with you are just that, stolen."

  "But haven’t you paid the price for your sins?"

  "I will never fully pay. I can still see the horror and shame on my tribe's faces. I can still hear the cries of the babies as their lives were sacrificed. Taken before their time."

  Beauty felt something warm slide down her cheek. When she wiped it her hand came away wet. Tears, she had not cried in years. "I cannot believe you are not redeemable. You saved me and my crew countless times."

  "The good deeds of today, cannot wipe away the evils of yesterday," he gently wiped her tears. "You and your people deserve a home without the shadows of my sins getting in the way."

  Beauty turned from him. "Lead on to the temple."

  The rest of the way they were both lost in their own thoughts and it wasn't until they were on their way back to where they had left Johan that Beauty realized she had, somehow, fallen in love with him.

  Chapter Two

  Trailing a step behind Beauty the beast didn’t notice the change to the village square, at first. When he did, his heart stopped before jerking to a start. He almost dropped the sacred glass bowls as his minds eye snapped to centuries ago.

  He stood bound to the tree he had tried to control. Around him the shouts of anger only deepened his resentment. If the elders hadn't interfered, he could have saved the village. He could have pushed back the darkness. His father's voice rose above the crowd and he turned his gaze on him.

  "My son, you have done a terrible thing. You have - "

  "I tried to save you. Do you not see the darkness at the edge of the village? Can you not feel it?"

  His father held up a hand and the air left his lungs, his voice taken.

  "You can lie to yourself and say you did it for us but you wanted power. Even now as you stand here, you can not admit you’re wrong."

  He struggled against his bonds as he watched the darkness creep closer at the edge of the village.

  "With the power of the gods and the purification of the sacred elements; water, fire, earth and air. I bind you my son. No more will you walk the earth. No more will you be remembered. Take the form of a beast and forever be banished to watch that which you tried to control."

  He struggled harder but it was no use. His body responded and he felt his form changing. The popping of bones was loud and hurt like nothing he had eve
r encountered.

  "We give up our lives to protect those who come after. May you find peace and forgiveness."

  He watched as those closest to the darkness melted and their energy raced forward. Tears started down his cheeks as his mother and baby sister faded. His father and the other three elders stood together facing him.

  "If in time you find redemption may the gods grant you peace."

  Each turned to light and shot up into the sky, leaving the beast alone.

  "Father, I'm sorry. Father." He screamed until he was hoarse. The ground trembled and a stream of light pierced the darkness and he saw the formless shadows of his tribe staring at him with shame. It was the last thing he saw before he blacked out.

  "Beast, Beast!"

  Beauty's frantic cries pulled him from his memories. He blinked and the past slowly faded.

  "What happened?" she asked.

  "This," he waved his hand. "This reminds me of before. Even the smell is the same."

  "That may be my fault," Johan called. "I have to use everything they did, including the herbs."

  "It's been many centuries since I've smelled home," he smiled. "Not all memories are bad."

  "Let’s see if we can start making better ones," Johan stepped into the circle. "I will be the focus point. Beauty you will face me and represent earth," she handed beauty a small plant placed in a green glass bowl. "Beast you will be across from her, behind me and represent fire," she waved for Oba to place two hot coals in a red bowl. "Amina you will be to the right of Beauty and represent water," she handed her a blue bowl with cold water. "Last Oba you will stand to the left of Beauty and represent air," she handed him an empty clear bowl. "You will-"

  "Wait," Hugos came running. "What can I do?"

  Johan cocked her head and studied him with a frown. "It's odd, I can't see you."

  "What," Hugos skidded to a stop. "What do you mean?"