The Spell Never to Be Broken
Maurice held his little girl as she sobbed against him. He had but to glance at the Beast to know that he was dead. And he now understood that his daughter had cared deeply for said Beast. He let her cry out her broken heart on his shoulder, doing the only thing he could do, rubbing her back in soothing circles like he did after a nightmare.
The objects were beside themselves in their grief. Chip however could only look on. He didn’t understand. He had never seen anything like this and it was confusing in his mind. He hopped quietly over to the Beast.
“Master?” He asked. His childlike mind said the Beast was only asleep. “Master?”
Mrs. Potts came over to her son. “No son, come away.” She told him, and she led him away from the body.
“But Mama, he’s only sleeping right? We should wake him up so he can go to his bed.” Chip suggested.
Mrs. Potts looked down. “Chip, I know you don’t understand yet, but the Master is not going to wake up. He’s not there anymore.”
“Yes he is Mama, see, he’s right over there.” Chip knew his mom was right, he didn’t understand. Why wouldn’t the Beast wake up anymore? Why did his mama say he wasn’t there? He wasn’t blind after all. Or stupid. Why did no one ever answer his questions? “Why won’t he wake up anymore Mama? What happened?” He finally asked her.
Mrs. Potts sighed. She didn’t want to tell him. He was too young for such things, and saying it, well, saying it would make it all too real for her. But the look he was giving her told her that, all of a sudden, her boy was no longer a boy, he was growing up. He was growing up and it was time that he learned the facts of life. Death was something he was going to have to experience more than once in his life and he had the right to know what was going on. “Chip…..son….the Master….the Master is dead…” She choked back her sobs, she needed to be of her right mind to help her son understand.
The other objects gasped and Belle, in her father’s arms, jerked slightly. To hear it put so plainly was….extremely difficult.
“Dead? What does that mean?” Chip now asked. He was finally getting some answers and was now unsure if he really wanted them now. But he had asked.
“Dead is when…..” Mrs. Potts paused, she needed to explain this properly, simply, so that he could understand with his young mind. She couldn’t sugar coat it either. Death was not a pleasing topic. “it’s when….your body just stops. The Master just was hurt too much tonight, and his body just couldn’t take the pain anymore. There’s no more breath or heartbeat.”
Chip hopped back over to the Beast and tried to listen for breathing. But there was none. And heartbeat, well he didn’t even know how to go about looking for that. “Mama, what happens when a person is dead?” He asked. He had to know.
The old teapot sniffled. “Well, they go to Heaven of course. Don’t worry son, the Master is better where he is. There the spell is broken and everything and he’s happy. And he’s not hurt anymore.” Tears fell as she tried to explain these things to her son.
Belle looked up from her father, her sobs having slowly died away due to lack of strength. “Spell? What spell?” She asked, a sick feeling pooling in her stomach.
Cogsworth and Lumiere regarded each other, remembering the time when she’d stated she knew there was some sort of enchantment over the castle. She had never asked the details and it had been easy to resolve never to tell her. But now, she was asking, and they could never lie to her.
And so Cogsworth pushed back his own dignified sobs and cleared his throat. And taking up the better part of ten minutes he told her all about the prince, his selfishness, and the enchantress’ curse.
“You mean….if I only I had been quicker….he would be alive?” The news sent Belle into a further fit of sobs. “This is all my fault…..” She buried her face once more in her father’s shoulder.
Meanwhile, Gaston was running through the forest, back towards the town. What had he done? What had he done? Normally he wouldn’t have even cared. But now…this time was different. Belle hated him. The only woman he felt worthy of his greatness. But now…..he wasn’t entirely sure that greatness wasn’t imagined. Running was now his only wont. All he wanted was to run away from he’d done. He wasn’t even sure he was headed towards the village. He didn’t even care. As long as he could get away. Finally in his haste, he tripped over an unearthed root and fell face first into a puddle of rainwater. Pulling himself out he stopped when he saw his reflection. Normally this was sight that gave him great joy. He loved to look at himself, but now…now he no longer saw what pleased him so. Now the face he saw, he despised. What was he going to do?
AN: And here my friends is where I leave it for this chapter. Will Belle ever get over her guilt. Will Gaston change his ways? Will anyone get to live happily ever after or is that too much to hope for.
Next Chapter: Belle refuses to leave the Beast’s body. Is there anyway to snap her out of this?