What We Didn't Say
“Beast! Beast, no, please, you can’t leave. You can’t.”
Beauty’s head fell to his massive chest, his curly hair framing his beastly features. She squeezed her hand tightly around his fur, hoping the sharp tug would stir him. She heard his shuddered breath, felt his chest rise and fall. Then nothing.
“No!”
Beauty buried her face against his warm, dark fur.
“I love you, Beast. I love you. Come back,” she sobbed.
Beast’s body became overwhelmingly hot. Beauty gasped but didn’t want to let go. She’d taken too long to return and now her Beast was dead. She clung to him more tightly. She shook her head as they sat in his rose garden just outside his enchanted castle.
If only I had listened to my heart instead of my sisters. Now I’ve lost him forever.
The heat was more than Beauty could take. She reluctantly drew back and temporarily forgot how to breathe. Beast was surrounded in bright, white light. Tears spilled from her eyes as she watched him hover a foot off the ground.
Is this how magical creatures are taken from the Earth?
She thought there would be more of a spectacle, perhaps a crater opening beneath him or celestial beings appearing to carry him away.
But he didn’t disappear. Beauty squinted through her tears and the stinging light. Tentatively, she reached out a hand and touched Beast’s paw as it dangled from his side. Beauty’s heart stopped mid-beat when his clawed fingers curled around hers. She expected him to look at her, to say something, but instead he was covered in the light even more and his hand drew away. New tears threatened to spill from her eyes. What was happening to her Beast?
In a flash of white, he vanished. Beauty cried out as she covered her eyes. When the light faded and her eyes stopped aching, she dared to look to where Beast had once lay dead among his roses. Instead of nothing, or better yet her Beast, she saw a bare-chested man partially covered by a dark red cloak. Beauty tilted her head to one side. Her eyes followed the slope of his forehead, the crease between his eyes, his wide nose, sharp jawline, and dark, almost copper, skin. His hair was long, longer than Beauty’s, and black as coal. He was handsome, but there was something about him. Something familiar.
Could it be?
She glanced at his hands. There were no claws there. His feet were also free of them. It was hard to tell with him lying down, but he didn’t seem eight feet tall like before. And yet . . .
“Beast?”
Beauty licked her lips, her throat suddenly dry. She edged closer to the man.
“Beast?” she repeated, a little louder this time.
Nothing. She nudged his shoulder with her hand. He groaned at that. She shoved harder.
“Beast!”
The man, Beast or not, gasped then gulped in air as if he’d been holding his breath. His eyes moved about wildly, focusing on everything and nothing. She didn’t catch their colour until he met her gaze. Then she knew it really was him. She’d know that golden gaze anywhere.
“It is you!”
Beast, or whatever his human name was, raised his eyebrows.
“You mean you recognize me? In this body?”
Beauty laughed as she wiped tears from her eyes.
“I’d know you anywhere, Beast. Even without the fur.”
Beast glanced down at his chest to find only a sparse amount of dark hair. The Beast gasped as he realized just how naked he was.
“Don’t stare!” he said, as a blush formed on his cheeks.
He grabbed at the unfastened cloak and attempted to cover his lower body with it but it was clear he wasn’t used to his human hands.
“Well, where am I supposed to look?” she teased.
Beauty untied her navy blue cloak’s clasp and tossed the cloak at his chest.
“It’s not as if I didn’t see you without clothes before.”
“Yes, well,” he said, clearing his throat as he spread Beauty’s cloak across his waist. “Fur hides a lot, as I’m sure you noticed.”
Beauty took one of his hands and Beast stilled immediately. He looked at her again, a blush still fresh on his cheeks.
“So, this was the big secret you were hiding,” she said.
He nodded.
“That’s a good one. I thought it was something far worse, like a dead wife in the attic or a witch for a mother.”
Beast chuckled.
“I think an enchanted curse is quite enough.”
Beauty took his other hand in hers and squeezed.
“I’m sorry, Beast. I never should have left you for so long. You died because of me.”
She dipped her chin, unable to meet his gaze. Beast placed his warm hand underneath her chin and raised her head.
“And I’m alive because of you, because of your love for me,” he said then shook his head. “How you managed to fall in love with a monster like me, I’ll never know.”
Beauty removed one of her hands from his and placed it over his heart.
“It’s simple, really. I didn’t fall in love with a monster. I fell in love with a kind, gentle beast. My Beast,” she said, smiling. “Although, I don’t think I can call you that now. It doesn’t quite work without a humped back and fur.”
She brushed his loose hair behind his ear.
“Do you remember your name?”
Beast’s brow furrowed. He didn’t answer immediately then shook his head.
“I was a beast for so long, I barely remember what it’s like to be human.”
Beauty smiled.
“Then you’ll have to pick a new one. Make it something good. You only get to pick your new name once!”
Beast sighed.
“I don’t even know what kind of name to pick!” he said, then his eyes lit up. “Why don’t you pick it?”
Beauty blinked in surprise.
“Me?” she said then put a finger on her chin and thought. “A name, a name, a name for my Beast.”
She snapped her fingers.
“How do you feel about Andrei?”
“Andrei . . . Andrei . . . I like it!” he replied, squeezing her hand. “Andrei it is.”
“A good choice, Beauty. I say it suits him much more than his old one.”
Beauty jumped at the sound of the strange voice. Beast – Andrei – pulled her close. She gulped.
“What was that?” she asked.
Andrei scanned the rose garden.
“Nothing good,” he muttered. “I should have known she’d come back.”
“Who?”
A flash of white light and there ‘she’ was. Beauty supposed it was a woman, but it was hard to tell with so much bright light and the jewels dangling from her gown. She was taller than Andrei and although her hair was pure white, she had no wrinkles and stood straight as an oak. She walked with a staff carved from a willow tree and her gown blew behind her as if a wind was gently fanning her.
The woman, or whatever she was, smiled at the pair.
“I’m glad to see you finally learned how to love, Andrei. It took longer than I thought, but these things usually do,” she said then glanced at Beauty. “You have a good heart, Beauty. It will serve you well in the years to come.”
Andrei got to his feet, one hand holding up Beauty’s cloak to cover his privates and the other holding Beauty’s hand. Beauty grabbed Andrei’s forgotten red cloak and tossed it over his shoulders.
Beauty narrowed her eyes.
“Who are you?”
The woman smirked.
“I should have thought it would be obvious. I am an enchantress, and I cursed your prince to his beastly state. He had to learn kindness and love. He had to learn how to see past outward appearances and find the beauty inside.”
Beauty’s frown deepened.
“You could have done that without uprooting his life and cursing him to years of loneliness and abandonment.”
The enchantress shrugged.
“It seemed like a good idea at the time and clearly it worked. Otherwise you wouldn’t be here and he wouldn’t be, well, human again.”
“What do you want?” Andrei asked, his voice dangerously close to a growl.
“Why, to take you home, of course!”
Andrei and Beauty exchanged a look.
“Home?” he asked.
The enchantress chuckled.
“Yes, home. An enchanted castle is all well and good, but it wasn’t created to be a home, just a stop along the road, if you will. As I said before, you were a beast longer than I expected, Andrei. Your world has changed a great deal in the last century.”
“Century?” Andrei exclaimed. “I’ve been this monster for a century?”
The enchantress rolled her eyes.
“Do calm down, Andrei, or I won’t be able to finish my story,” she said then cleared her throat. “You see, the country your knew as France has gone through many changes in the last one hundred years, especially recently. Isn’t that right, Beauty?”
Beauty slowly nodded.
“When I went home, I heard about King Louis’ execution and the poor queen’s death,” she said, making the sign of the cross. “Marie Antoinette was a kind woman.”
The enchantress shrugged.
“Monarchs aren’t known to be kind, but we’ll continue. The monarchy you knew is gone, Andrei. France is changing and your family has changed with it. Don’t fret, you shall still find the rich comforts of home, but being a duke will take on a new meaning in this country of yours.”
Beauty squeezed Andrei’s hand.
“What kind of meaning, exactly?” he asked.
The enchantress smiled.
“That shall be for you to decide,” she said then glanced at Andrei. “You’ve been given a second chance, young man. Don’t waste it dwelling on the world you left behind. Focus on the future and all it holds for you. France needs innovative young men now more than ever.”
She winked at Beauty.
“And smart women.”
Andrei bit his lip. Beauty ran her thumb over his knuckles.
“And my family? All dead?” he asked, his voice cracking.
“Sadly, yes. Your parents lived many happy years together, but they missed you terribly. Your brothers are gone too, but they have sons and daughters that grew up listening to them recount tales of their eldest, most spirited brother. I have no doubt they will welcome you both with open arms.”
“And what of my father and sisters?” Beauty asked. “What will become of them?”
The enchantress gently placed the end of her staff underneath Beauty’s chin and raised it so she met the enchantress’ gaze. Beauty startled at the gesture, pulling her head back as far as she could from the enchantress. Andrei squeezed her hand. He narrowed his eyes at the enchantress in warning.
“That’s for you to decide, my dear.” The enchantress lowered her staff. “Choose wisely.”
Beauty thought of her selfish sisters and their greed. She thought of her father trapped in the house with them, his floundering merchant business just barely starting up again after tragedy had struck, banishing him from Paris into the countryside. She nodded and squeezed Andrei’s hand.
“Are you ready to go home, Andrei?” she asked, a smile on her lips.
Andrei glanced at the enchantress then at the woman he loved. He adjusted the red cloak so it covered more of his back and tied the blue one more firmly around his waist.
“I’ve been ready for one hundred years,” he said.
He stood and wrapped an arm around Beauty’s waist, meeting the enchantress’ piercing gaze.
“Where are we going exactly?”
The enchantress raised her staff in the air triumphantly.
“Paris, 1796. It’s a bit crowded, but you’ll come to love it. Everyone does,” she said, with a wink. “Goodbye, Andrei and Beauty. It’s been a pleasure.”
“Wait!” said Beauty, as she pointed to Andrei. “I don’t think we’ll make a good first impression on his nieces and nephews in only cloaks.”
The enchantress chuckled.
“No, indeed!”
She waved her staff and magically dressed Andrei in a dark blue jacket with matching trousers, black riding boots that went to his knees, a pale blue waistcoat and a white shirt, tying his hair back in a blue ribbon. Beauty was glad the enchantress skipped giving Andrei a wig. She always thought they looked silly on men her age.
Andrei tugged at the sleeves, frowning.
“I forgot what it was like to be this constrained,” he grumbled.
Beauty pecked his cheek.
“You’ll get used to it.”
“Now, are we ready?” asked the enchantress.
Beauty smiled.
“Very.”
The enchantress raised her staff again then paused.
“One more thing, Andrei. Should you ever need a reminder regarding what your anger can turn you into, this castle will be here, ready to teach you that lesson again. Do I make myself clear?”
Andrei paled.
“Yes,” he whispered.
The enchantress pounded her staff on the ground three times then everything went dark.
Beauty’s head fell to his massive chest, his curly hair framing his beastly features. She squeezed her hand tightly around his fur, hoping the sharp tug would stir him. She heard his shuddered breath, felt his chest rise and fall. Then nothing.
“No!”
Beauty buried her face against his warm, dark fur.
“I love you, Beast. I love you. Come back,” she sobbed.
Beast’s body became overwhelmingly hot. Beauty gasped but didn’t want to let go. She’d taken too long to return and now her Beast was dead. She clung to him more tightly. She shook her head as they sat in his rose garden just outside his enchanted castle.
If only I had listened to my heart instead of my sisters. Now I’ve lost him forever.
The heat was more than Beauty could take. She reluctantly drew back and temporarily forgot how to breathe. Beast was surrounded in bright, white light. Tears spilled from her eyes as she watched him hover a foot off the ground.
Is this how magical creatures are taken from the Earth?
She thought there would be more of a spectacle, perhaps a crater opening beneath him or celestial beings appearing to carry him away.
But he didn’t disappear. Beauty squinted through her tears and the stinging light. Tentatively, she reached out a hand and touched Beast’s paw as it dangled from his side. Beauty’s heart stopped mid-beat when his clawed fingers curled around hers. She expected him to look at her, to say something, but instead he was covered in the light even more and his hand drew away. New tears threatened to spill from her eyes. What was happening to her Beast?
In a flash of white, he vanished. Beauty cried out as she covered her eyes. When the light faded and her eyes stopped aching, she dared to look to where Beast had once lay dead among his roses. Instead of nothing, or better yet her Beast, she saw a bare-chested man partially covered by a dark red cloak. Beauty tilted her head to one side. Her eyes followed the slope of his forehead, the crease between his eyes, his wide nose, sharp jawline, and dark, almost copper, skin. His hair was long, longer than Beauty’s, and black as coal. He was handsome, but there was something about him. Something familiar.
Could it be?
She glanced at his hands. There were no claws there. His feet were also free of them. It was hard to tell with him lying down, but he didn’t seem eight feet tall like before. And yet . . .
“Beast?”
Beauty licked her lips, her throat suddenly dry. She edged closer to the man.
“Beast?” she repeated, a little louder this time.
Nothing. She nudged his shoulder with her hand. He groaned at that. She shoved harder.
“Beast!”
The man, Beast or not, gasped then gulped in air as if he’d been holding his breath. His eyes moved about wildly, focusing on everything and nothing. She didn’t catch their colour until he met her gaze. Then she knew it really was him. She’d know that golden gaze anywhere.
“It is you!”
Beast, or whatever his human name was, raised his eyebrows.
“You mean you recognize me? In this body?”
Beauty laughed as she wiped tears from her eyes.
“I’d know you anywhere, Beast. Even without the fur.”
Beast glanced down at his chest to find only a sparse amount of dark hair. The Beast gasped as he realized just how naked he was.
“Don’t stare!” he said, as a blush formed on his cheeks.
He grabbed at the unfastened cloak and attempted to cover his lower body with it but it was clear he wasn’t used to his human hands.
“Well, where am I supposed to look?” she teased.
Beauty untied her navy blue cloak’s clasp and tossed the cloak at his chest.
“It’s not as if I didn’t see you without clothes before.”
“Yes, well,” he said, clearing his throat as he spread Beauty’s cloak across his waist. “Fur hides a lot, as I’m sure you noticed.”
Beauty took one of his hands and Beast stilled immediately. He looked at her again, a blush still fresh on his cheeks.
“So, this was the big secret you were hiding,” she said.
He nodded.
“That’s a good one. I thought it was something far worse, like a dead wife in the attic or a witch for a mother.”
Beast chuckled.
“I think an enchanted curse is quite enough.”
Beauty took his other hand in hers and squeezed.
“I’m sorry, Beast. I never should have left you for so long. You died because of me.”
She dipped her chin, unable to meet his gaze. Beast placed his warm hand underneath her chin and raised her head.
“And I’m alive because of you, because of your love for me,” he said then shook his head. “How you managed to fall in love with a monster like me, I’ll never know.”
Beauty removed one of her hands from his and placed it over his heart.
“It’s simple, really. I didn’t fall in love with a monster. I fell in love with a kind, gentle beast. My Beast,” she said, smiling. “Although, I don’t think I can call you that now. It doesn’t quite work without a humped back and fur.”
She brushed his loose hair behind his ear.
“Do you remember your name?”
Beast’s brow furrowed. He didn’t answer immediately then shook his head.
“I was a beast for so long, I barely remember what it’s like to be human.”
Beauty smiled.
“Then you’ll have to pick a new one. Make it something good. You only get to pick your new name once!”
Beast sighed.
“I don’t even know what kind of name to pick!” he said, then his eyes lit up. “Why don’t you pick it?”
Beauty blinked in surprise.
“Me?” she said then put a finger on her chin and thought. “A name, a name, a name for my Beast.”
She snapped her fingers.
“How do you feel about Andrei?”
“Andrei . . . Andrei . . . I like it!” he replied, squeezing her hand. “Andrei it is.”
“A good choice, Beauty. I say it suits him much more than his old one.”
Beauty jumped at the sound of the strange voice. Beast – Andrei – pulled her close. She gulped.
“What was that?” she asked.
Andrei scanned the rose garden.
“Nothing good,” he muttered. “I should have known she’d come back.”
“Who?”
A flash of white light and there ‘she’ was. Beauty supposed it was a woman, but it was hard to tell with so much bright light and the jewels dangling from her gown. She was taller than Andrei and although her hair was pure white, she had no wrinkles and stood straight as an oak. She walked with a staff carved from a willow tree and her gown blew behind her as if a wind was gently fanning her.
The woman, or whatever she was, smiled at the pair.
“I’m glad to see you finally learned how to love, Andrei. It took longer than I thought, but these things usually do,” she said then glanced at Beauty. “You have a good heart, Beauty. It will serve you well in the years to come.”
Andrei got to his feet, one hand holding up Beauty’s cloak to cover his privates and the other holding Beauty’s hand. Beauty grabbed Andrei’s forgotten red cloak and tossed it over his shoulders.
Beauty narrowed her eyes.
“Who are you?”
The woman smirked.
“I should have thought it would be obvious. I am an enchantress, and I cursed your prince to his beastly state. He had to learn kindness and love. He had to learn how to see past outward appearances and find the beauty inside.”
Beauty’s frown deepened.
“You could have done that without uprooting his life and cursing him to years of loneliness and abandonment.”
The enchantress shrugged.
“It seemed like a good idea at the time and clearly it worked. Otherwise you wouldn’t be here and he wouldn’t be, well, human again.”
“What do you want?” Andrei asked, his voice dangerously close to a growl.
“Why, to take you home, of course!”
Andrei and Beauty exchanged a look.
“Home?” he asked.
The enchantress chuckled.
“Yes, home. An enchanted castle is all well and good, but it wasn’t created to be a home, just a stop along the road, if you will. As I said before, you were a beast longer than I expected, Andrei. Your world has changed a great deal in the last century.”
“Century?” Andrei exclaimed. “I’ve been this monster for a century?”
The enchantress rolled her eyes.
“Do calm down, Andrei, or I won’t be able to finish my story,” she said then cleared her throat. “You see, the country your knew as France has gone through many changes in the last one hundred years, especially recently. Isn’t that right, Beauty?”
Beauty slowly nodded.
“When I went home, I heard about King Louis’ execution and the poor queen’s death,” she said, making the sign of the cross. “Marie Antoinette was a kind woman.”
The enchantress shrugged.
“Monarchs aren’t known to be kind, but we’ll continue. The monarchy you knew is gone, Andrei. France is changing and your family has changed with it. Don’t fret, you shall still find the rich comforts of home, but being a duke will take on a new meaning in this country of yours.”
Beauty squeezed Andrei’s hand.
“What kind of meaning, exactly?” he asked.
The enchantress smiled.
“That shall be for you to decide,” she said then glanced at Andrei. “You’ve been given a second chance, young man. Don’t waste it dwelling on the world you left behind. Focus on the future and all it holds for you. France needs innovative young men now more than ever.”
She winked at Beauty.
“And smart women.”
Andrei bit his lip. Beauty ran her thumb over his knuckles.
“And my family? All dead?” he asked, his voice cracking.
“Sadly, yes. Your parents lived many happy years together, but they missed you terribly. Your brothers are gone too, but they have sons and daughters that grew up listening to them recount tales of their eldest, most spirited brother. I have no doubt they will welcome you both with open arms.”
“And what of my father and sisters?” Beauty asked. “What will become of them?”
The enchantress gently placed the end of her staff underneath Beauty’s chin and raised it so she met the enchantress’ gaze. Beauty startled at the gesture, pulling her head back as far as she could from the enchantress. Andrei squeezed her hand. He narrowed his eyes at the enchantress in warning.
“That’s for you to decide, my dear.” The enchantress lowered her staff. “Choose wisely.”
Beauty thought of her selfish sisters and their greed. She thought of her father trapped in the house with them, his floundering merchant business just barely starting up again after tragedy had struck, banishing him from Paris into the countryside. She nodded and squeezed Andrei’s hand.
“Are you ready to go home, Andrei?” she asked, a smile on her lips.
Andrei glanced at the enchantress then at the woman he loved. He adjusted the red cloak so it covered more of his back and tied the blue one more firmly around his waist.
“I’ve been ready for one hundred years,” he said.
He stood and wrapped an arm around Beauty’s waist, meeting the enchantress’ piercing gaze.
“Where are we going exactly?”
The enchantress raised her staff in the air triumphantly.
“Paris, 1796. It’s a bit crowded, but you’ll come to love it. Everyone does,” she said, with a wink. “Goodbye, Andrei and Beauty. It’s been a pleasure.”
“Wait!” said Beauty, as she pointed to Andrei. “I don’t think we’ll make a good first impression on his nieces and nephews in only cloaks.”
The enchantress chuckled.
“No, indeed!”
She waved her staff and magically dressed Andrei in a dark blue jacket with matching trousers, black riding boots that went to his knees, a pale blue waistcoat and a white shirt, tying his hair back in a blue ribbon. Beauty was glad the enchantress skipped giving Andrei a wig. She always thought they looked silly on men her age.
Andrei tugged at the sleeves, frowning.
“I forgot what it was like to be this constrained,” he grumbled.
Beauty pecked his cheek.
“You’ll get used to it.”
“Now, are we ready?” asked the enchantress.
Beauty smiled.
“Very.”
The enchantress raised her staff again then paused.
“One more thing, Andrei. Should you ever need a reminder regarding what your anger can turn you into, this castle will be here, ready to teach you that lesson again. Do I make myself clear?”
Andrei paled.
“Yes,” he whispered.
The enchantress pounded her staff on the ground three times then everything went dark.