Beauty's Beast- The Light Read online

  Acknowledgements

  My family and friends – You know who you are. I love you so much. Thanks for your support.

  Any readers, writer or not - Your support means everything to me. Thank you, all.

  Copyright © 2016 by Sebrena Merly

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof

  may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever

  without the express written permission of the publisher

  except for the use of brief quotations.

  Part One

  Abdication

  "One of the main weaknesses of mankind is the average man's familiarity with the word 'impossible'." -Napoleon Hill

  1

  Bella Sanders was an especially talented girl. Now, this could be because she had the simple will power to tap into her ability to encourage herself to try everything there was to try, or it could just be that she was entirely flawless at everything she did. She could do anything that went from cooking to drawing, singing to dancing, and telling the most amusing of adventures that one could never imagine accomplishing. She was selfless, loving, and the bravest of women in her land.

  Born and raised in the most proper of places, with whom was to be considered the most improper of fathers, she grew to be one of the most loved people. Though loved, she was thought rather odd, with her willingness to do some things meant only for men, and her habit of being so often distracted and awfully adventurous. After all, what could possibly be more fun than just barely escaping death?

  Her father, Johnathon, was an English man. His heart was set on science, the beauty of the world, and the things around it. He was always trying to invent things ever since he was a boy, and sometimes he even accomplished making them; but, they were always things that had already been created before, so he tried to make a living crafting something that had never before had eyes set on them. Lately, he had been building a machine that would cleanly slice wood in half once placed in the correct spot. Naturally, he kept failing, but he was determined to finish the device.

  Bella's mother was of Spanish blood. One of the most beautiful women, and the kindest. She had a heart of gold, some would say, since she was so priceless. It was she that Bella most related to, though the adventurous side came from her father—even if he didn't like admitting it. Bella was Spanish for beauty, pronounced Bay-a, though everyone had a habit of pronouncing it the way it was spelled. Johnathon never liked their wrong pronunciation, since it was the name his wife had chosen before she had passed, so he kept to calling her the way it was meant to be spoken.

  Bella took no offense when her name was wrongly spoken. She understood that people just saw things differently than others, and her name was one of those things. Even when she overheard them speaking of her behind her back, she merely pretended she hadn't heard such things, and went about her business, sometimes even giving the gossipers a sweet smile. To her, words were harmless. They never hurt, so she never bothered complaining about them.

  Though Bella was, quite often, the talk of the town—as all were interested in how different from themselves she was, especially considering the fact that Johnathon had not had her wedded off by her fourteenth age as so many of them did—lately they had been interested in something much different. Their focus had been turned to the wolves of the forests surrounding their town, curious about the activity that was going on regarding the creatures. It seemed that there had been more attacks. Although, fortunately, it hadn't strayed past a certain point that was still hours away from the borders of their town.

  Where the rest of the town was preoccupied with other matters, it just so happened that one man had his eye on Bella, and he had for quite some time. His name was Jared Ashton. Jared was a young man. Young, but he got around quite well. Everyone knew him, and he knew everyone. He wasn't the most pleasant of people, but he knew what to say to please everyone, and this got him whatever he desired. Though, it didn't help that his father was one of the wealthiest men in town.

  Adam Ashton, Jared's father, owned the town, which was called Ash. He was a harsh man, selfish in every way. He bought off land, even if it was not for sale. He fired anyone who displeased him in the slightest bit, even if it was merely the fact that they were poor. He was disgusted with anyone who was not of a high status, though he appreciated those with a big reputation. Take Bella, for example. She was fairly well known, even if her father wasn't rich, which was why he was perfectly content with the idea of his son proposing to her.

  Everyone knew about Jared's proposal, despite the fact that they had been paying more attention to news of the wolves.. They had been waiting for it to happen for months now, even if Bella didn't have the slightest clue about it. But they knew it would happen eventually. Some liked the idea of her living such a high life, but others secretly agreed that he wasn't right for her. How could such a selfish man deserve such a righteous woman?

  It was right there and then, in that morning of Summer's Eve, that Jared decided he was going to ask her that very next morning; but, first, he wanted to be sure that she hadn't heard of anything. Naturally, she hadn't. The folks may have spoken often to each other, and said their greetings to her, but she never stuck around to gossip, and they knew that it would displease not only Jared but his father as well if they gave word of any plan that came to mind. So they kept silent.

  Bella was walking out of a book shop, its keeper having just given her a book to keep permanently, and it was then that she decided nothing could ruin her day, nor any after that. She always felt happiest when she was buried in a book filled with adventures, one that pulled her out of her head as much as in. Though, she always did enjoy the company of her father, whom everyone was convinced was crazy but respectable. In most cases, she loved having him enjoy one of her freshly made pies--something she was very fond of making.

  This book was about a girl who had been stolen and locked away some place, and a Prince comes to save her. It was simple, but adequately detailed, which was just the way she liked it. Not only that, but she had probably read it ten times. Probably is said, because not even she could remember how many times she had checked it out, and that was why the keeper told her to take it. Though, it was that book that often frustrated her because it took the most unexpected turn. But whenever she read through it again and again, she found details that made that unexpected turn more and more obvious.

  As she walked home, she flipped through the pages, finding her favorite chapter, where the Prince battles a ferocious creature to save his love, and trailing her eyes along the pages as she read. Lately it took no effort to read, since she had been brought up with so many books. Even words she didn't know popped out at her and she pronounced them just right, relating them to root words she knew well and matching them with the sentence until it made sense. With this book, she didn't need to do that, since she already knew it so well.

  The only thing she didn't know was what the creature was, the one that the Prince was battling. It was always unclear, only being said to be the most horrifying and shadowy creature in all the lands. Since her imagination was so vividly wild, she pictured many different things whenever she thought about it. The possibilities were endless.

  It was right then, in the middle of her favorite scene, when she was all alone on the path that would lead her home that Jared stepped out, having been watching her from one of the shops he was lurking in as he waited. He had been with his closest of friends, someone even the wisest of people would consider his slave since he was so obedient to him, and three other girls that wanted nothing more than to please Jared.

  Jared's friend, Harmond, was a round man, someone most girls turned their noses at because they caught a whiff of just ho
w weak and ill-mannered he was. It wasn't just his looks that displeased them, especially since it wasn't the looks some were after in the first place, but the simple fact that he was malevolent and could bend under pressure. Most would think that someone would love to take advantage of this.

  The three girls were just as ill-mannered, though in a more cunning style. They were all so alike that one would think them to be sisters, or even triplets, but their blood wasn't even closely related. Their personalities linked like one person. If one of them hated something, they all hated something. If one liked it, they all liked it. In this case, Jared was their biggest interest, and Bella was their most despised object.

  Bella didn't even have time to look up before her book was being pulled out from under her nose, and she didn't have to look to know who those strong, well-built hands belonged to.

  "Jared." She said it softly, and most people would have known better to give the book back, especially with a voice like hers, very much like a concerned and disappointed mother. But Jared was...Jared.

  "What's this?" he asked, staring at it in distaste as he tossed the pages around with a carelessness that worried Bella, but she maintained her posture and only continued watching him. "You actually read this stuff? Wouldn't you rather be out here with the rest of us?" He was staring at her now, with a look that said she would agree with him.

  She didn't.

  "I find that being somewhere completely and utterly impossible is much more interesting," she replied, holding out a hand for her book, which was dangling from Jared's fingertips. "May I have that back?"

  The three girls watched her with distaste, wondering just how a girl like her could resist a man like Jared. In their eyes, he was a God, a beautiful being with all the power of the world. And Bella was just some silly girl who had nothing going on for her.

  Truth was, she had everything.

  Harmond stepped forward at that point, leaving the girls' company in favor of accompanying Jared in why he was so much more important than what went on in the minds of wonderful people. His sides just barely brushed the door frame as he stepped through, and he towered over the both of them, smiling like he owned the world; or, rather, like his closest friend did.

  "What've we got 'ere?" he asked, nodding at the book that was still in Jared's hands. "You doin' some readin', Bell?" He liked to shorten things whenever he could, and that often included names too. Some disapproved of this, but others found it rather resourceful. Of course, they didn't know whether he did it because it made things less complicated, or because he was the town's idiot.

  Bella studied him for a moment, having never had spoken to him before, though she had seen him with Jared once or twice, and she nodded. "Yes, actually. That was, before your good gentleman friend so rudely pried it from my fingers." At that, she turned back to him, not quite glaring, but still giving him a patiently crude look. "Might I have that back, Sir?"

  "No need for manners," Jared said to her with a wicked grin. "We know each other better than that."

  "We have barely spoken more than five minutes every other day," she informed him, not liking that sinister smile one bit. It was like he expected her to surrender to his wants, and supposed needs, right then and there, which disturbed her beyond all odds and ends. "Though, I'll admit, you have been especially nagging this past week." Normally one would wonder why this was, but Bella's main focus was on her new book, which didn't look like it was going to hold onto its spine anymore.

  "Isn't speakin' to such a proper man as Jared more important than some book?" Harmond asked, staring at her like she was the world's most alien of creatures.

  She stared at him, first in disbelief, then reminded herself that not everyone thought alike. "I hardly think any proper man would take someone else's property away without permission to do so." She held out her hands for her book, staring firmly into Jared's eyes. "Might I have that back now please?"

  This time, he tossed the book back and forth in his hands as he studied her, determining just how angry she would get with him if he ignored her. She was normally cheerful, and seemed to stay that way no matter how incorrigible one became. The thought of her being angry and showing it was as unsettling as it was fascinating. Of course, he did love violence at times; so, this could be why he was so infatuated. That and the fact that she didn't seem to want him the way other girls did.

  Just when he started to hand over the book, and she began to reach for it, he pulled back and crossed his arms. "Are you implying that I'm not proper?" This got him no reaction. Bella merely sighed patiently and crossed her own arms.

  "If you don't plan on returning my property anytime soon, then perhaps I am," she said finally, resisting the urge to tap her foot, which was something she had always done as a child. Though, one was quite young when considered a child. Say, perhaps, eleven was the last year of childhood. She was well into her sixteenth year, however, and knew she had to grow up no matter how much she didn't want to.

  He stepped closer to her, wanting more than anything, quite suddenly, to intimidate her, to let her know that he would not be treated in such ways. Fortunately, Bella was quite a stubborn girl, and so held her ground, not letting any trace of fear show through her features. Her heart fluttered the tiniest bit, in that way that let you know that some part of your mind didn't like what you were doing, but she stood firm.

  Disappointed with her lack of reaction, Jared handed the book back, clinging onto it for a moment when she grasped it before letting go. "Tell your father hello for me."

  Satisfied that the morning's stress had finally come to an end—because this was normally about what happened, and he always told her this when he finally left her alone—she nodded. "I will do so." Then she turned and walked away, leaving the five clueless people to watch her as she disappeared.

  The road she was on led to a dirt pathway that ran into the forest. Very few people passed through here, since very few had little reason to leave Ash, or little money to afford leaving in the first place. This path not only led to Bella's small house, but several other roads that ran in opposite directions. The West road took travelers to another small town that goes by the name Oakland, the East led to a greater road that would lead pretty much anywhere, and the North...well, the North was another story.

  Bella examined her book carefully once out of sight of the five unnerving people, being sure that no pages were bent or ripped in places they weren't before. After doing this two more times, she finally pressed it against her chest as she walked, thankful that it wasn't in poor condition after being treated so carelessly.

  The sky brightened as she walked, moving to that point between morning and noon, placing the sun at a point in the sky where it would tell whether the day would be hot or cold. Judging by the heat that was gradually growing, and the fact that it was practically Summer, it was going to be a rather warm day. This was the way it was for the town of Ash; hot in Summers, freezing in Winters, and in between the both during all other seasons.

  Often, the townspeople hated when it was either hot or cold, preferring it to be just right, but they always found good things from these two temperatures. Say, perhaps, the snow Winter had to offer, or the ice on the river that allowed for skating. It was always the most crisp of nights that held more stars in the sky, or even the hottest of them. There was always good with the bad.

  Bella enjoyed each day she was given, taking delight in every one of them. She regretted none of the little things every day had to offer, but bathed in the joys of them. There was simply no reason to think poorly of what the world had to offer.

  She wasn't the type to look down on things. You couldn't simply judge a book by its cover, otherwise you would never learn what it was really about. You had to look deeper, past its image, and decide upon what you found. Bella almost never found anything she didn't like. Aside from Jared.

  To her, Jared was a sniveling man, someone with a lot of experience in manipulation but none in courtesy. He was handsome, yes,
but he was horrid. Though she tried her best to contain her irritation around him, she didn't like him. She didn't hate him. In fact, she hated nothing because she didn't think he could ever do or say something horrible enough for her to feel that way, nor anyone else, but she just couldn't find herself to see any trace of charm in him. He was simply a bad man.

  Harmond was another story. Bella didn't know him all that well, so she thought herself to have no room to judge him at all. She only knew that he followed Jared's every footstep, and appeared to be a nice man. But she constantly reminded herself that just because a man appears one way does not mean that he is that way. And it was a very good thing she was still hesitant around him else she may be unable to expect any sort of ill will from him.

  The three girls were unknown by Bella. She hadn't even seen them when she left Jared and Harmond. They were always lurking, wherever Jared went, but they were sure to stay out of sight. They were like ghosts; there one minute and gone the next. Some people thought that, when they saw those three girls, they would earn good luck, since very few ever spotted them. Some even believed the three to be angels. However, Bella didn't even know they really existed. She merely thought they were just beautiful girls she had never gotten the privilege of meeting. Even so, she suspected that they were probably made up, since she never saw them in such a simple town as Ash.

  Aside from those unfortunate people, Bella knew just about everyone else. Whenever a stranger passed, which rarely ever happened, she would gladly say some sort of greeting. If it was a man, which it mostly would be, they would often try to charm her, and even sometimes stay in town for a while to earn her attention. But soon they would realize how odd she was, or that she wasn't in the least bit interested in marriage, and they would be on their way again.

  Sometimes Bella wanted to go with them, the strangers, or even leave town on her own. But, then, she would remember her father and his clear intentions to stay in Ash inventing things, and she would tell herself that she had to stay and support him. After all, who was going to do all the chores and make all the meals while he was working in his shop all day? Often she had to go to him to remind him that he needed to eat or rest, else he would stay in there all night without a bite to eat. Sometimes he even worked while he ate, but sleep never seemed to cross his mind until his daughter came in to pull him away from his work.