Chapter Text
Beast let out roar as Gaston struck out at him, his knife slashing across beast's chest and drawing a long, thin line of blood which seeped into Beast's already rain-matted fur. Beast stumbled backwards as a flash of pain blinded him, his back colliding with the stone rail of the balcony and sending more pain to radiate throughout his body, causing him to sink to the ground. Gaston laughed, brandishing the knife like a wild man. He shouted something - not that it mattered. Belle was gone, and he was almost dead anyway. Might as well get it over with, and maybe the servants would be able to turn back into their human selves.
'Some of them might be able to escape...' Beast thought wearily, softly groaning at his pain in spite of himself. Gaston raised the knife to make the final strike, an mad happiness evident in his features. Beast prepared himself for the imminent blow - but not for what happened next.
"No!" Beast's eyes flew open in amazement as he and his tormentor both turned to see Belle charging towards them, screaming at Gaston. She ran at him, grappling for the knife. Gaston's surprise quickly passed, and he shoved her roughly away.
"Stay out of my way, Belle! This is between me and this Beast!"Gaston brandished the knife again, taking a step towards Beast and nearly being bowled over by Belle as she threw herself across Beat to shield him from harm, and thankfully avoiding the cuts already inflicted by Gaston's knife.
"I won't let you do this!" Bell's voice broke slightly as she attempted to hold back a sob. Gaston laughed, pulling her up by her hair and eliciting a screech of pain from Belle. Beast cursed himself for not fighting back and made a forceful effort to get back to his feet, attempting to use the balcony's banister for support. His body screamed out in protest as he fell against the balcony's banister, smearing a thick trail of blood across the stone.
"So you do have feelings for this monster!" Gaston cackled. Beast felt hope rise in his chest despite the circumstances, momentarily wiping the pain of his current physical state from his mind. If she only said the words..
"He isn't a monster!" Belle struggled to free herself, to no avail. Gaston gave her a twisted smile, shoving her roughly away and grinning as she smacked into the balcony, releasing a cry of pain. He leered down at her as she struggled to rise, kicking her back down and grabbing hold of her chin with one blood-stained hand.
"Careful, Belle, we can't go damaging that beautiful face of yours, can we?" Belle shot him a death glare, gasping as she wrenched herself from his grasp. Beast growled, his strength fading even as he imagined 1,001 ways to kill Gaston. Gaston rounded on him once more, punching him in the muzzle and slamming his head into the stone. Beast let out a growl of pain as Belle struggled to her feet.
"Don't hurt him!" Gaston ignored her, raising his knife for the final strike.
"Please! I'll do anything!" This stopped him. Horror flooded through Beast as Gaston's face changed into that of a wild animal who has just managed to strike down its prey. He rounded slowly on Belle, his eyes flashing malevolently from the flashing light of the violent storm raging around them.
"What was that?" Belle's eyes filled with tears as she avoided Beast's pleading gaze.
"Please..." She abandoned her attempts to stand, sinking once more to the ground. "Don't hurt him.." Gaston's smile widened.
"Belle.." 'Don't do this. Not now. We're so close...' Beast let out a soft moan, his strength ebbing away with his blood.
"Very well." Gaston leered at Beast, sheathing his bloodstained knife. He kicked out at Beast, knocking his weakened form to the floor and quickly crossed over to Belle, hauling her to her feet by her forearm and dragging her towards the doorway. Belle struggled in his grasp, her eyes wide and pleading as she fought to get back to Beast.
"No! Beast! I won't leave him! Stop!" There was a thunderous slam as Gaston dragged Belle away, her cries of protest becoming fainter as they neared the castle entryway. There was a triumphant cry from Gaston, and one last sob of protest from Belle before the castle fell silent, the victorious hunting party cheering somewhere too far away for Beast to reach... And somewhere among them was Belle.
Beast's world went black.