Belle moaned as she came to her senses. Her head was throbbing and the room wouldn't stay still.

"Hold on Belle It's almost midnight." A familiar voice spoke gently.

It took Belle a moment to place the soft timbre of the deep voice. It was the Beast- no Everard. 

"Mid-What does that have to- Wait, midnight?! How long was I out?!" She gasped. 

"Too long, I was worried..." Everard admitted quietly.

Belle tried to get up, the effort making her head spin, "Urgh." 

"You alright?" Everard asked.

"No, my head it's..." Belle pulled her hand away from her head and saw it was wet with blood. "My head is bleeding!!!" 

"I know, calm down movement won't help any." Everard replied soothingly. 

"CALM DOWN?!?!" Belle Shrieked.

"Belle!" Everard sighed, using his powers to hold her down.

"No no! Get off me!"

"Belle stop struggling."

Belle whimpered, her bravado melting away as she cried.

"Hush now it's almost twelve. You're going to be alright, I won't let him hurt you."

Belle's sobs quieted and she slowed her breathing.

The room was still and quiet, the only sounds were her and the beast breathing.

Belle's eyes opened and she beheld the strange creature above her.

Floating above the bed and looking down at her intensely.

"Everard you're bleeding..."

The gentle pressure on her arms subsided as the beast lifted a 'hand' to his forehead.

He pulled it away and gazed at the inky black substance in confusion.

"Oh, Pan must have caught me with the knife... odd." He shrugged, still floating listlessly above Belle.

"Are you in pain?" She whispered. 

"No, I'm fine princess." he smirked. 

Belle huffed. "I'm not a princess! I'm just me. Why do people keep calling me that?!"

"Well, if you do manage to break the curse you'll be queen." He replied. 

"As in married to you?" Belle gasped. 

"Yes, is that alright?"

"Uh-It'll take some getting used to... And anyways that's if I break the curse, and let's be honest, the odds don't look so great." Belle smiled.

Everard chuckled ruefully. "Well you're not wrong."

The two of them startled as the grandfather clock chimed twelve. And all the candles guttered out. 

Everard pulled back with a smile as Belle sat up suddenly and stared at her arms. The hair on her arms stood up, as Blue magic crackled through the air. It sparkled and glowed enough to light up the room. The magic like vines slithered around Belle's whole body, undoing the scratches and cuts from her previous adventures.

She gasped as she watched years of scars fade off her skin.

"No way." she whispered. 

The magic seemed to sense that Everard too was in need of some medical care and the sparkling magic wound its way around him closing the wound in his head and then, much to his surprise dropping him on the bed.

The flames flickered back to life, lighting the room with a warm light once again. 

Everard smiled revealing his fangs, "Belle! I'm corporeal again!!!"

"What?" She panted.

"Look I'm sitting not floating!"

Belle had noticed when his weight hit the bed.

"How, why?!" She murmured.

"The curse is weakening!" Everard beamed. 

"That's great!" Belle smiled. 

He cocked his head to the side, "You don't seem to know just how great it is!"

Belle shrugged, "Well, has it ever happened before?"

"Yes but never this soon!!!" He beamed.

"Well that's great then!" Belle laughed.

Everard hopped off the bed "We have to tell the others!" he smiled, extending a hand to help Belle up.

"What others?" She asked, accepting his freezing cold hand.

"Well you've already met Violet, but lets introduce you to the rest of the household staff!" He replied pulling her up to him.

Belle was surprised at his strength, and had to put her hands on his chest to steady herself. 

She gasped.

"What?" He asked.

"You're ...taller than I expected." Belle blushed.

Everard chuckled.

"Come on Belle!" He chirped. 

Everard grabbed her hand and dragged her out the door.

Belle laughed and followed behind him.