Belle and the Demon

[Perplexia]

It was a dark stormy night when Gerald McCloud a fishermen of 45, found himself lost at sea in his fishing boat. Normally he didn't go this far out, but the fish hadn't been biting in his normal grounds.

His family was starting to starve. He had to find a way to feed them so he wouldn't have to send any of 8 children away, or worse yet send them to work camps to pay his debt. To him that was the worst possible thing. He scratched his salt and peeper beard and tipped his fisherman's hat. The rain started to pour like an earthquake in the sea. Waves began coming down on his hull like a tsunami.

His boat once was pristine, but now it was as old and wrecked as the man that steered it. Before he knew it he was knocked off his feet. He knew he should have spared the expense and hired a crew. But that was more money out his children's mouths.

Grabbing on to the mast pole for dear life, the ship bucked and dunk into the freezing ocean. The tremendous pressure of the waves began to knock boards loose like twigs being stepped on. "hale Mary full of grace" he started saying his green eyes looking up at the sky begging the god he believed in to save his life, for that would be the only savior to his family.

Suddenly there was a crash and Gerald McCloud was knocked unconscious, the boat began to shred into pieces as the rocks tore it apart.

 

[BiSmiley]

I watched it all, I saw the will of the sea rip and shred the wooden beams, such a display of power was always something to witness pitty it ended so soon. The wreckage stained the shore of my Island prison littering the white sands with bodies and debris I'd have the servants clear it away after when the sky cleared, as of now the winds still twisted and the rain was relentless. I wonderful time to take a stroll down to the beach.

And here I came upon an old man, whether or not he saw me very clearly was a coin toss, still one thing was sure he saw a pair of white eyes glowing from above. I love that little tremble humans have when they see me its cute in a way, and does wonders for ones self image. Kneeling down next to the pinned man I shielded him from the rain with my left wing "Captain?" My eyes bore into his mind skimming what I could from frantic thought "Yes you're the Captain and hard up for luck aren't you?"

My black taloned hand reached out and patted him on the head "No need to answer me, I already know but what I don't know is what you want and what you're willing to pay for it?" I let my words sink in for a moment before spinning my webs.

"Unlike god I'm very real and I'm here sitting with you in the sand of this god forsaken beach in this story shielding you from the elements, should you wish it I can even free you from under the timber that has you pinned..." Then I leaned in ever closer "I can do anything...for a price."

 

[Perplexia]

Gerald shook at the sight of the demon, pinching himself to be sure he wasn't dreaming. "Please have mercy, i have no money, i will work for a month if you will only set me free and have my leg wrapped i think it is broken. Please don't leave me stranded here. I will die, and then my family will be sold off." he found himself begging to a demon, a creature so hideous it would stay in his mind and haunt his dreams.

Gerald had nothing to offer but his services. Or so he thought. "Please i beg of you, i'm a good worker, i can fish better then anyone i know, i can help supply your food source. I can help you grow crops if you wish."

 

[BiSmiley]

How pathetic...it was kind of endearing how quickly his 'god' became irrelevant "Oh I can do so much more for you than that." I stood back, letting my tail snake beneath the wreckage that pinned him and threw it aside as if it were some child's plaything.

"For the right prize, I would give you so many things, Captain," teasing him with the possibilities "a new ship, an able crew, I would even allow you into my vault, I will even provide you a chest to carry away your pick of the loot." I was treating him as if he were an old friend.

"But it is not your services that I want, my tastes are more refined I want something pretty, something young...something...untouched." I was very careful with my words lingering on that last word so delicately "Do you my dear captain possess such a thing?" Gripping the collar of his jacket and hefted him onto his feet so very easily, an arm around him and a wing over his head I began to walk off the coast.

The lightning cut the silhouette of my home up above the rocks ahead.

 

[Perplexia]

Gerald watched as the wreckage seemed to just dissipate over the water and then he was free. He thought for a moment, money a new ship a way to provide for his family for something pretty and untouched. The demon seemed to walk him effortlessly to the rocks where he took flight with him up to the entrance of the dismal looking castle. He set him down and walked him in. The place was dark and dreary.

The love of one child versus the other seven. His non selfish princess he called her. Always helping others and her family without complaint. Would she be willing to do this for him if he asked. Would he be willing to submit her to some unknown hell for the sake of the rest of his family. His ship was now in shreds and he had nothing left to provide for them. What would be worse dragging them all down to hell with him, or sacrificing one to save them all.

Gerald pondered over this for a mere moment, the confusion and anguish crossing his sun-beaten features. "yes" he said reluctantly. "my youngest daughter is a beauty, and she is untouched. She is kind and intelligent, and willful and of independent thought. I will give you her for all that you offered, if only to save the rest of my children and wife. She is but eighteen, and knows not the ways of the world, but she will serve you well as a maid."

 

[BiSmiley]

"Good choice, Captain good choice." I patted him and the shoulder as we came to the red carpet of the main hallway, I waved my hand and the torches came to life.

"Garmelle!" I bellowed, my shape black majestic form bleeding away into shadow into a more accomadating human shell, little Garmelle was my butler head of the household, short round and well groomed little man the years graying him and but despite being under my service a very noble sort, he came with fresh clothes and two of the maids in tow. "See the Captain is well taken care of," I released him to the care of the maids "I want him cared for as you would me, tomorrow we will settle up on our arrangements." I nodded to him as Garmelle helped me dress.

"Garmelle prepare the north hall for a 'lady' we will be having a new resident soon."

"Yes, milord, shall I have Elizabeth and the staff prepare dinner?"

"Ofcourse, I'm famished."

 

[Perplexia]

Gerald looked amazingly at the demon as he became a human form. A rather catching fellow with his blond hair. Perhaps this wouldn't be so bad for his Belle he thought trying to justify his decision to sacrifice his daughter to this beast.

Gerald was led away and up a giant marble staircase into an enormous room. His eyes gaped in amazement at the luxurious furniture he could only have dreamed about seeing. The maids quickly stripped him of his clothes not giving him time to be embarrassed and let him to a tub filled with hot water and rose petals. They washed him as if he were a prince. When they were done they dressed him in clothes of a gentlemen and tended his wounds. His leg although sore was not broken.

A meal was brought up for him, that was fit for a king, roasted pheasant, potatoes, bread, fruits, wine, and silver utensils. He ate until he could eat no more and sat in front of a roaring fire where his feet were massaged and he was given a pipe with the finest tobacco money could bye. This was the life him and his family would have, this is the life his Belle would have as well. That's what he had to keep telling himself.

 

[BiSmiley]

Morning came I'd hoped that things had gone well with the Captain , by now the luxuries afforded him would guarantee his follow through with his side of the bargain. I had Garmelle bring him to the docks on the north side of the island.

It was a busy day this being a short stop for many vessels it was a busy day for sure, andI'd already had Dyson prepare to serve under the next Captain though he wasn't happy he knew better than to question my orders. An african gentleman a capable captain and skipper, but he too made a deal with me.

"Good morning Captain." I greeted him still dressed to impress, Garmelle at his side "I'm sure you've had a wonderful night."

"Are you prepared to follow through with our arrangement? If so Dyson here will show you to your ship where your treasure has already been loaded."

 

[Perplexia]

Gerald nodded "yes i'll follow through with the deal i made, i am a man of my word." He followed the man to his new ship, his eyes grew wide at the luxurious boat, and the crew already assembled. Stepping aboard he walked around to inspect the finest equipment he'd ever seen, he walked below to find a gold chest as he opened it, he saw tons of gold coins, enough for a million life times. His eyes were wide with greed and lust for all that he would have.

Stepping back up he looked at the shell of the demon. "how do i get her to you?" he asked not even sure where he was. "Do i send her tonight or in the morning?"

 

[BiSmiley]

I would've preferred to have her here as soon as possible but due to my needs my words spoke otherwise "Give her one day." I was very serious at that moment my eyes burning as I spoke, I wanted her not shocked but angry the more she hates her father the better the angle works.

"Fail me and I will personally come to your home to get her, and then I will proceed to rip your life apart around you." It would be rather messy, and the poor Captain would be broken... a fun night for sure...if he failed me.

"Now go, Dyson will take good care of you." I watched as Dyson saw him to the boat and I went back to the castle with Garmelle.

"Lord Raum?!"

Another voice from the port reached my ears "Yes Lizabeth is this about the dress's you were commission'd to make?" A seamtress down on her luck I figured now would be a good time to prepare.

"Yes we need proper measurements, the designs have been drawn out."

"She will arrive soon, be ready, until then see to your daily routines." I liked my little town of damned souls, but it really came to life in the moonlight, when my kin rowed to shore, prices paid to live on my island.

 

[Perplexia]

Gerald was overcome with his good fortune as the ship sailed effortlessly through the sea to his home. As it pulled up to the dock his family came running from their small house. As usual Belle was the last letting the others get their hugs in. Her red hair glistened in the sun and she smiled "welcome home father" she said her eyes going to the ship. "What is that?" she questioned to the magnificent ship.

"I had some good luck my family, he said smiling with pleasantness. "i met a man and he bestowed upon me a great ship and a great fortune" "he just gave it to you?" his wife a busty woman asked. "yes well, enough talk, Belle my love come for a walk with your father.

Belle waited for everyone to go in the house and then she walked beside him. "To you my princess i must always tell the truth." he started out. "I was shipwrecked upon an island in a great storm. A man pulled me from the wreckage, for if he hadn't i wouldn't be here today. So i owe this man my life." "I would say so father" she said softly nodding.
"This man offered me the great ship, and upon it a treasure. But for one thing that i love the most to give to him in return." "you're giving him mother?" she asked innocently. "no my child..i'm giving him you." Belle was shocked it made sense but she didn't want to leave her family. "He will furnish you with the best, and you will simply have to do minor tasks for your keep. You'll live in a castle as you should. If not then we will all perish, for he'll take back his gifts and i'll have nothing left to take care of your brothers and mother."

Belle walked a little thinking. "ok father, when do i leave?"
"tomorrow to give you time to have with your family." Belle nodded and continued to walk back to the house with her father.

 

[BiSmiley]

"Milord, are you sure this will work?" Garmelle was brave to ask, the only human that stayed because he 'wished' to, could never understand him too well trained at hiding his thoughts.

"Aren't I always?" I never did anything without a purpose, and I could never leave this Island for very long, with a 'partner' on the other hand I could be free of this tiny little kingdom on the sands.

"Indeed milord, and the bedroom in the north hall has been prepared as per your instructions."

"And the dungeon items?" I raised an eyebrow, personally I prefered my true form but in daylight I was locked in such a shape...it was irritating.

"Yes milord." Garmelle was so well organized, maybe that's why I spared him.

"Please instruct the maids to wear more than their collars for now, I do know how they despise the uniform but we have appearances to keep up." Now all that remained was to organize my wardrobe and prepare for 'her' arrival.

 

[Perplexia]

Belle walked in behind her father and he made the announcement that Belle was given the opportunity to live abroad, and tutor the man's children to whom he received the ship from. Belle's mother cried and her 7 brothers fought over who got her room.

She stepped away and went up to the attic where she slept and looked out her window across the sea. Belle wouldn't contradict her fathers story, but she was a bit worried of what would be expected of her. Pulling out a ratty bag she put her few belongings in it and what books she could.

The next morning she said good bye to her family, her mothers cried and hugged her tightly. "remember yourself, be a young lady" she preached. Knowing full well that sometimes Belle's mouth would get away from her.

 

[BiSmiley]

I wondered what the Captain would send me, perched in natural from atop the Lighthouse the fire burning below as it always had. I was keeping the whether calm the cresent moon gleaming off the water below. I prepared to be disappointed but my instincts told me otherwise.

I spent many nights in this spot it reminded the port village that I still ruled this Island the black demon perched like a living gargoyle overlooking the sea. If only the captain knew that I shipwrecked him on purpose, simply because of the deal I struck with Dyson, his new first mate. Dyson didn't like competition I agreed to let only his ships to pass through these waters, problem was he agreed to serve me and now he served the new Captain.

The horizon began to burn as morning came, this would be the day of her arrival, and I would waiting at the docks for her, dressed in my finest human skin.

 

[Perplexia]

Belles long red hair floated in the breeze as she stood on the bow her hands held out like she was flying. Her dress was a bit worn, but fit her 5'5 frame well, the wind pushed it against her curves. She had her emerald eyes closed to imagine she was sailing through the clouds.

None of the ship mates would talk to her, they would simply answer yes ma'am, or no ma'am. They also suspiciously averted their eyes from her. As if to cast them upon her would make them ill. Her father had said good bye to her at the dock. He had his men take the treasure inside, as he prepared how to best go about making his fortune greater.

Ahead she could see land, and rocks, and a dreary erect castle upon it.

 

[BiSmiley]

"Milord!" Was called out, over and over again throughout my sacred halls, it was Garmelle in quite a hurry.

"Yes Garmelle?" I asked eating my lunch, even a demon needs to eat, especially when maintaining human form, its fairly draining.

"The ship is on the horizon milord." Garmelle stopped to catch his breath, whilst I wiped my mouth with a handkerchief and stood patting him on the shoulder.

"Then let us not keep her waiting." It was a touch cruel to make Garmelle walk all the way back down to the docks with me, but he needed the exertion, it was good for him, and amusing to me.

Soon I was down at the port many of the island residents gathered to meet their new 'lady' hoping she was a gentle sort as opposed to my iron will, didn't make a difference things wouldn't change if I had anything to say about it.

The Ship drifted into dock and I approached waiting for her to disembark the vessel, and their she was; the Captain did not disappoint me a fine woman, but her state of dress left something to be desired "Welcome the White Isle milady, I'm afraid your father neglected to give me your name." I took her hand and lightly kissed it as any gentleman would.

 

[Perplexia]

"thank you" she said softly giving a light courtesy. after he kissed her hand. "my name is Belle" she said looking around at all the people who were staring at her then her eyes went back to his. "Pray tell me sir where your servant quarters are and what tasks i'll be assigned, i'd like to get started."

 

[BiSmiley]

"I'm afraid that your father misinformed you my dear." The Captain either wasn't too sharp, or flat out lied to the poor girl either way I could use this "He sent you here so that I could court you?"

I tried to be as charming as this flesh allowed and to most the blonde blue eyed prince was quite the sight to behold, "I am trully sorry for the mistake but please come with me we discuss this over a meal, certainly you must be famished."

 

[Perplexia]

Belle's eyes widened and she took a step back. "But you do not know me sir, nor i you. Why would you wish to court a stranger?" Belle continued to back up till she hit a brick wall which was one of the ship mates.
Obviously she was stuck here. He wasn't bad looking, he was actually quit fetching. "As you wish sir" she said lightly preparing to follow him.

 

[BiSmiley]

"I unfortunately cannot leave the Island being responsible for this place," it was the truth but the whole truth "and I am not inclined to take one of the residents here as the new 'lady' of my castle, seeing as most are either to old or rather unsightly, despite their good natures." I took her hand gently and led her up the winding path to the dark stone gates of my castle.

"I'm the Steward of this place, a caretaker with a title if you would wish me to simplify it, but the business I do here is almost at a constant so I'm rarely able to travel to the mainland to court beauties such as yourself." I kept talking as if to comfort her with simple sound of my voice "Luckily we are very well off even this far away from civilization and I have prepared a much more extravagant means for you to live by."

Garmelle had rushed ahead to fix another platter for lunch and to warn the maids of the Lady's arrival, I walked her into the main hall and turned into the dinning hall both massive stone rooms with long red rugs and polished stone floors and pillars. The Dining table was laid out with fresh foods as expected and I pulled out a seat for her then moved to sit to her right "But I've neglected to introduce myself...I am Lord Raum Colva, you may simply refer to me as Raum."

 

[Perplexia]

Belle listened silently and looked around at the large castle. She took into note that everything was immaculate. She could appreciate a man that ran a tight household. But to go to such extremities to find a woman. Surly her father would have mentioned such thing to her. For this would be any woman's dream, except her own of course. She preferred the country, the feeling of fresh grass under her feet, and miles and miles of running to no where.

"thank you, Lord Colva" she said as he pulled out the chair for her. She had heard all he said, and all though the sound of his voice was calming and quite charming, she found the idea of living on this island forever a dreary existence.

"excuse me i'm sorry..what if after this time, and this courting i do not wish to marry you Lord Colva, what if i wish to go back to the mainland?"

 

[BiSmiley]

I held my tongue and the slight flare of rage deep within as she mentioned the mere possibility of her refusal, but still I maintained my illusion for now "I will not hold you against your will, but know that I expect ateast two summers of you exquisite presence, but first we, eat, and next we see you to your room during your stay."

I tried to sound a little more endearing "I do wish you'd give this a fair attempt but I will respect your wishes, its not easy to leave ones home...I haven't been to my own home in quite some time." True but I was using the fact for empathy, pulling the food closer to us and offering it to her "I was never given a choice to live here either and I'm sorry to have to place the same burden upon you, but I promise that I will try to make this stay as painless as possible."

 

[Perplexia]

Belle nodded to his statement about wishing she would give it a fair attempt. She took some of the food he offered and continued to listen to him. "are you?" she questioned to his statement about being sorry for placing the burden on her as well.
"If you were sorry, and knew how it felt to be placed here without your consent, i find it difficult to believe you could pass that on to another. Especially one you hope to make your wife." She rose from the table.

"If you'll excuse me Lord Colva, it has been a long trip and i find myself quite weary. I wish to be shown to my room now."

 

[BiSmiley]

"I am sorry, but try spending a few years here without an equal and see if you feel the same." I had to point that out before helping her to her room. It was in the North halls, I on the other hand occupied the east end of the castle the tower balcony appealed to my nature and an unrivalled view of the island...perhaps I could show it to her.

Again taking her hand in mine we scaled several staircases rounding into the North hall, a much brighter decor than the rest of the castle scarlet curtains draped about the stone pillars and the white marble accenting the lines in the polished floors "We are lucky enough to have a steady supply of hot water seeing as a hot spring funnels into the castle depths " He wasn't going to tell her that the heat was from the pit there filled with motlent rock and endless caverns...He'd save that for much later. "I've had our best engineers construct a bath not far from your room but be mindful it is not a private bath, those are further down into the next hall, a long walk in a towel I assure you."

We turned toward a pair of giant oak doors, and I pressed them open to reveal a bedroom like none other "This is where you'll be staying, my lady Belle."

 

[Perplexia]

Belle felt she should be more appreciative. But she didn't feel that being traded like meat was how she wanted to spend the rest of her life. She observed the stair cases and the grandeur of the place in general. She should try to accept it, i mean being a lady of this house couldn't be all bad. But that was just it, for the rest of her life she'd be in this house. The island didn't seem that large, couldn't offer much to do other then swim in the ocean.

To her the lord seemed a bit arrogant, sure of himself. She remembered as a child that her friends would all wish to be lords and ladies. But not her, she just wanted to be free.

He opened the doors. "I understand" she said referring to the bathes. She looked at her room and nodded. "thank you its quite lovely good night." She gave him a slight curtsy and shut the door.

Her room was larger then her entire house, the furniture antique and luxurious, she doubted even the King slept on a bed this fine. Her window over looked the ocean, she stuck her head out to feel the rush of the ocean breeze upon her face.