Belle gazed around the room although she couldn't make out much. When the Prince had slammed the door he took all the light with him, and the heat too...

"Brr. I guess it would be too much to wish this palace had some proper heating huh?" Belle laughed to herself.

She jumped as she heard the clatter of something rolling across the floor.

"Hello is somebody there?" Belle shivered, straining to see anything in the dark room. 

Skritch... whoosh

Belle gasped in astonishment as she beheld a floating, lit, match.

"What in the world?" she breathed.

But before she could question her senses, the match flung itself into the old cobwebby fireplace.

And as if enchanted, or lit in petrol, the fire whooshed into life, breathing heat into the room.

Belle blinked hard as she looked furtively around the room.

"Empty..." She muttered to herself. She got off the bed and dusted herself off with her good hand.

"My, what a charming room." She remarked.

Despite the years of obvious disregard the room managed to look beautiful. Whether that was due to the antique furniture or the freedom from the beast Belle didn't know. Or frankly care. All she cared for was the fire, by which she now warmed her hands.

"That's much better." She sighed, as the warmth filled the room.

"Amazing, all this furniture must be from the 16th century!" She smiled as she ran a fond hand over the dusty bed-frame.

She walked over to the fine pine desk and opened some empty drawers. "Marvelous."

"Beautiful." she grinned as she inspected the large wardrobe.

Belle sneezed. "It could do with a dusting though!"

As she said that, a window blew open, and a wind, like a small dust devil whirled around the room, picking up all the dust and cobwebs as it went. Belle ducked, as the dust flew over her head and out the window again.

The window closed behind the dust with a resounding smack!

"This can't be happening." Belle gaped. 

"Oh but it is!" A sweet feminine voice sounded in her ear. 

"Who said that?!" Belle jumped, turning around and scanning the room.

"I did!"

Belle looked around wildly for the source of the voice but was unable to find it.

"Don't bother looking for me, I'm invisible!" The voice replied cheerfully, "In a way I suppose I always have been..."

"The curse did this to you?" Belle asked softly, understanding dawning on her. 

"Yes, but at it could be worse! I'd rather have no form than be looked upon with fear." The voice shuddered. 

"I suppose that makes sense." Belle replied. 

"Well, unless there is anything else you need, I'll get out of your hair." The voice sounded as if it was headed to the door. 

"Wait!" Belle called out. 

"What is it miss?"

"I... I hurt my wrist. I landed on it funny..."

"Oh don't worry about that. The castle works its repairs at night." The voice replied proudly. 

"I'm sorry I'm not quite following."

"It's part of the curse you see, every year, on the night the castle was cursed. the castle resets itself and everything in it."

"And today is the anniversary of when the castle was cursed?"

"Yes. So your wrist will heal tonight. Also there will no more harm come to you, since the castle will accept you as part of it!"

"Now, breakfast will be ready when you awake so I'd suggest that you get to bed. You'll have to eat with the prince in the morning."

"That's not likely to happen!" Belle replied obstinately. 

"You may as well get comfortable with the prince... If you do not break the curse you cannot leave." The voice sounded saddened. 

"What do you mean?" Belle asked uncertainly. 

"The window in the wall by the fireplace. Head over to it and pull back the curtains..."

Belle stood obediently and quickly did as the servant bid her. The sight stole the air from her lungs.

Rows upon rows of black crosses, stood silhouetted in the moonlight... a graveyard.

"Those are all the Belles that came before you."

"It can't be!" Belle gasped, the air in the room growing hot.

"I'm sorry Belle." The woman's voice replied sadly. 

There must have been thousands of the small black crosses, the bare trees hung their heads in sadness, as a howling wind cried through the eaves.

Belle's hands trembled, the fire grew brighter and she stumbled backwards. 

Her vision swam, 

and the world went black.