"Well Don't say I didn't warn you." The enchantress spoke.

Belle nodded once and walked over to stand by the Enchantress.

"What's your name?" Belle asked.

"Reynoka" The fairy replied.

"Well, lets do this Reynoka!"

The fairy took Belle by the hand and walked over to the sign.

"Are you sure about this Belle?"

"I have no other choice."

"Well that doesn't inspire much confidence. Mind you I'd rather take my chances with you then wait another 65 years..."

"What do you mean?" Belle gasped. 

"As long as the prince is a beast I cannot return home. All magic is costly, and this was the worst spell I ever conjured." Reynoka admitted sheepishly. 

"So he is why you're banished?"

"Yes."

"I see."

"So," The fairy said, clapping her hands together again, "I'll take you through the portal but I must leave you at the castle gates."

"Why?"

"Let's just say the beast is still mad at me..."

"I'd say that's fair."

"Oh but my dear you don't know what he did... And I won't tell you."

"Why not?"

"It's a very long story, and a very short trip to the palace... Come on now!" She smiled, stepping over the threshold past the sign and into the enchanted forest.

Belle chewed her lip and followed after her, listening in fear for the sound of the beast that got her father. Until suddenly the fairy stopped. Belle lightly bumped into her.

"Sorry." Belle muttered. 

Then she stepped around her to see what had stopped the fairy.

There on the ground, was a circle of mushrooms.

Reynoka gulped.

"This never gets any easier..." She said softly, as she extended her hand to Belle.

Belle took it and she and Reynoka stepped into the circle.

The cold air hit her like a tonne of bricks.

They were the forest... but it had changed. It was now wintertime.

Reynoka shivered and turned around, her hair blending into the white snow.

"Wow... its so beautiful!" Belle breathed. 

"You won't think so for long." Reynoka warned.

Belle turned around, and her eyes widened.

They were standing in front of a massive black gate, and behind the gate was an even larger, foreboding castle.

Thorns crept up the castle and slithered into windows. The stones of the castle were black and grimy. It looked like the castle was millenniums old... Like it should not even be standing.

Chills crept up Belle's arms, and she gasped as a howling wind shuddered through the forest. She took a moment to calm herself, then boldly walked up to the gate attempting to tug it open.

"It's locked." She remarked. "I wonder where they'd keep a key?"

But Belle was unable to begin a search. For as she stood with her back to the forest, the hair on the back of her neck stood up. Very slowly, she risked a glance over her shoulder. Reynoka was as still as a rock. Belle followed her eyes to the giant, hulking, monster of a hound.

"This is where I leave you." Reynoka whispered, disappearing in a cloud of grey dust.

"Wait!" Belle cried out in fear.

Then, as if spurred on by her words, the beast bounded towards her!

It's red eyes were inches away from hers as Belle's mouth hung open in silent terror.

The beast's mouth opened to reveal several rows of sharp teeth and Belle screamed as he picked her up in his mouth.

Belle froze, her eyes shut as she waited to hear her bones crunch, but then she realized that the hound was cradling her softly with its mouth.

"T-there there, g-good puppy..." Belle stammered, gently stroking its nose.

The hound's ginormous tail wagged back and forth knocking snow off the trees.

Belle let out a relieved giggle. "There now boy, are you going to let me down?"

The hound crouched down low but to Belle's surprise it did not release her, instead it bounded over the gate with it's powerful hind legs. Belle squealed and held onto the creature's fur.

It landed on the other side of the gate, and continued towards the castle heading towards what appeared to be a back entrance. 

A back entrance to the dungeon. 

Belle held her breath as they plunged into the cavernous space. It was so dark she couldn't see the hand in front of her face. But she could here water dripping somewhere off in the distance... and something's labored breathing.

The creature's paws made soft padding steps toward the sound.

"Hello?" Belle called tentatively.  

"Belle?!" Papa gasped. 

"Papa!!" 

"Belle!"

The dog finally set Belle down gently on the floor.

How Belle wished her eyes would adjust to the light!

She stretched forth her hands and made contact with the bars of a prison cell.

"Belle you have to go... you have to leave now..." Papa spoke softly. 

"No Papa I'm going to make sure you get home safely." Belle replied dismissively. She tugged on the bars grimacing as the metal squealed on it's hinges.

"You don't understand he's going to find us... run Belle, run!"

"Papa, You're cold."

And Papa was cold, as if the wintry air had sapped all the heat from his body. Belle slung papa's arm over her shoulder and helped him walk towards the hopeful light.

"Belle I won't make it, run now!" Papa begged. 

"Hush papa. I won't leave you." Belle soothed.

They had reached the gate but Belle had quickly realized they had a new problem.

"Alrighty boy help us over!" Belle urged.

The creature cocked his head to the side as if thinking, then it took a massive step back. Shaking, cowering, it turned tail and ran back to the cells.

"Okay fine... We'll do this ourselves..." Belle's eyes scanned around her, and quickly found what she was looking for. A brick from the castle lay by her feet.

She hefted it up onto her shoulder.

"Stand back papa."

Papa's eyes widened, and he chuckled at the determination on Belle's face.

Belle charged the lock on the gate and swung the stone mightily at it.

"B-Belle!"

"What is it papa?" Belle panted. 

"Hurry!"

Belle turned around to see an ethereal black form floating down the stone steps of the castle. She turned around and swung the brick with renewed vigor.

Once.

The lock bent.

Twice.

It buckled.

Three times.

The brick was wrenched out of her hands by some unseen force.

"No!" Belle cried.

She spun around only to come face to face with the specter. It seemed to be watching her curiously.

"Whyyyyy shouldn't I killll youuu?" The voice was soft and airy, it repeated over itself and made Belle's head throb.

"I don't care what you do to me. Just let my father go." Belle demanded

With an evil chuckle, the murky green orbs turned to her father.

Belle was tossed to the side and into a heap of snow.

"Hey!" She yelped, struggling against an invisible force. 

She watched as the figure took a black key from off of it's neck and unlocked the gate. It opened the door and swung an arm out as a sign for papa to leave.

"I won't leave without my daughter!" Papa exclaimed. 

"That iss where you are wrong sir." The creature ground out.

Papa was tossed out onto the stone, the gate slamming behind him.

"Reynoka!" The Beast yelled.

She appeared in a poof of grey dust.

"See this man home." The voice demanded.

"I no longer answer to you prince." She sneered.

"Please." Belle begged, finally finding her voice.

"Very well, for you Belle. I hope you break the spell." Reynoka gently walked forward, helping papa up with soft hands. "And you Everard... give the girl a chance."

"She won't be the curse breaker." Everard growled. 

"You don't know that." Rey chided. 

"Belle!" Papa cried.

The force holding Belle weakened and she ran to the gate, reaching for her father's hands.

"Papa I know you don't understand this right now but you have to trust me."

"I do. But I don't trust him!" Papa snarled.

"Papa..."

"Help her! Please spare my daughter." Papa begged Reynoka. 

"Papa I love you!"

"No no let her go no stop wait!!!" 

Reynoka frowned as the grey dust took her and papa away. 

And then papa was gone. The only sound was the wind howling mournfully.

Belle turned back to the ghostly figure, she stood and looked it in the eye.

It looked back at her impassively. She tried to figure out what it was made out of but couldn't.

"I'm Belle." She said lightly. 

"I know."

And with that the creature spun around and floated back to the castle, not bothering to check if belle had followed him.

'Curious...' Belle thought. 'It's like he's a living shadow...'