Beast

This is one of my newer ideas. It's just fun and interesting. A new take on the classic Beauty on the Beast. They are both college students, acting majors, and are working on the actual play. I love irony. :D Tell me what you think!!!

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My mother died when I was sixteen.

She had been ill and fragile for as long as I could remember, but I always found something elegant about it. The way she would seem to float above the ground as she walked and her soft, enchanting voice had me convinced that she was a princess. So, I wanted to be like her.

I would imitate all her features and behaviors as best as I could, but I could never imitate her eyes. Their soft brown color and their light were always beyond my reach. I was stuck with my blue ones, too light and wild. Other than that, I could become her as often as I’d like. I eventually learned to imitate others as well, especially characters out of books that she would read to me.

When the light faded from her eyes I knew what I was going to do from the rest of my life.

I was going to act and never be myself again.

It wasn’t long after that that my father, as her one true prince, followed her into the abyss. The doctor said that he’d always had a weak heart, but I knew that it was just broken.

I spent less than a year in a foster home and then was able to leave to the best acting academy in the country, the New York Filming Academy.

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I saw the shock on his face, the slight twitch of his jaw. His face was sunken in, his eyes nearly hollow. The expression terrified me. It seemed like he should be looking at me, but I knew he wasn’t seeing anything. It was like he wanted to leave, but wouldn’t allow himself to. Just like I wanted to run from his unseeing stare, but couldn’t move.

All of that just because opening night had been moved to the beginning of October?

Everyone started moving again. I guess Professor Tinley had said to continue.

I recognized everyone’s motions from the fifth scene of Act II and took my place on my right end of the stage though ready to move towards the left.

Axel hadn’t moved yet. I clutched my script a little tighter and walked towards him.

“Axel?” I said quietly before I reached him.

His head snapped up towards me, then quickly turned toward the ground again. I was still feeling the burn of his glare.

“Coming.” He grumbled. It seemed harsher than it should have sounded.

He took his place opposite me on the other end of the stage. From here I could see his knuckles, white as bone, as they crushed his script in his fist.
I waited for the right signals and began my wandering into the imaginary room. I stared, timid, but curious at all of the destroyed objects. Chairs, dressers, and paintings all in ruins. A small pedestal actually sat in the middle of the stage, post-it note with “rose MAGIC” scrawled on it in its center. I walked towards it entranced reaching towards the sparkling flower.


Axel, right on cue, nearly crashed into me turning his back to me in order to guard his enchanted life-line. The Beast turned his eyes toward me then, the anger, the pure hatred seething and burning me through his very gaze. I couldn’t remember where I was, what I was doing, who I was. The only thing I knew was those eyes and the fear that was building inside me at the very second.

It grabbed my arm and shook me roughly. I could see he was speaking with his fanged teeth, but I couldn’t hear him, only feel the vibrations of his roar. If I there were any lines I should I have been saying, I wouldn’t have been able to say them.

My panic was about to overwhelm me when something hot pierced into my arm. I gave a shaky gasp as I was tossed back toward where I’d come. My vision was blurry and I ran, just like the script instructed, off stage, but I didn’t stop there. I stumbled out the side door and vomited over the railing.

My good hand was holding onto my arm, hanging limp and numb, as cold sweat poured down my face warm blood escaping through my fingers.

A moment later I heard Axel’s car screech much too quickly out of the school parking lot.



Rehearsal had ended the moment I was found sick outside. Axel had left promptly.

That night I still felt ill, and could hardly sleep, and when I did I had nightmares of pupils like slits and claws, I’d wake sweating again.

The marks on my arm were gone the next morning and it was like nothing had happened at all.

Axel didn’t show up to class for the next three days, so there wasn’t anything I could do except make suggestions to the scenery or help edit the script some more. I tried not to let his absence bother me. They said he often disappeared like this when he felt like it, like we were meant to work around his schedule whenever he felt like it. He couldn’t be doing this because he was upset the dates had changed, could he?

Unless I hadn’t imagined it after all. No. That wasn’t possible.

It was the fourth day when Chelsea came up to me.

“Axel’s still not here, huh?”

“Nope.” I said, in what I hoped was an absentminded tone.

She put her hands on her hips and pouted.

“I think I’ve finally got down how I’d do The Beast costume with his face structure and body shape. I really need to try it before too long.”

I shrugged. “Nothing I can do about his PMS.”

“You can’t drag him down here as the leading lady and his co-star?”

“No.” I answered sternly.

“That’s actually not a bad idea.” Professor Tinley joined us. “Why don’t you go to his place and try to convince him to come back to class and if he’s ill at least get him to agree to let you rehearse with him there.”

“That’s not the best idea.” I complained, though tried to remain polite.

“Doesn’t matter. I’m requiring you to do it.” He left, seeming very pleased with himself.

“Yes, director.” I mumbled to his back. He’d heard me.

“That’s my girl!”




 I parked my car across the street from the address the professor had given me and I couldn’t believe my eyes. There was no way he lived here.

In front of me were at least ten foot tall iron gates that opened to a path that seemed to go on forever to a mansion. No, this wasn’t a mansion, no way. The only way I could describe this place was a castle. It was colossal with more windows than I dared to count scattered across all of its surface signifying who knew how many floors. I was about to turn back when I noticed his car parked in front of the place.

I came up to the gates not sure if I would be shot if I touched it. I tapped it with the tip of my finger and I didn’t fall to the ground so I pushed it open. It was surprisingly lighter than I had expected it to be, but it still took some effort.

I closed it behind me and began to walk down the barren path towards the house. As I walked I came up with a million and a half reasons why I should go back to my car and leave, but I just kept going, watching the castle loom taller and taller over me. I had two scripts in my bag in case his was too destroyed from last time for him to continue to use.

It seemed ages later that I finally reached the door after also climbing some steps. It was dusk and no lights had been turned on.

I rang the door bell and heard its tones echo through the place. So it sounded as though it was as large as I had guessed. I waited, but no one came to the door. I rang it once more and then it swung open harshly.

I took a step back as Axel faced me in the doorway, his breathing strained, sweat running down his bare, defined, chest. The kind you only saw on movie stars, but that you thought were CGI anyway.

He glared at me. His mouth set in a deep frown.

“What are you doing here?” he snarled.

It took me half a second to be able to respond. “Tinley asked me to check if you were sick since you never called and if you were, to rehearse with you anyway.”

One corner of his mouth turned up into a wicked grin as he turned away from me. He snickered. “Like I need to rehearse.”

I felt my temper rise as he walked away from me, but he didn’t close the door in my face. I swung the door shut and stomped after him.

“Well maybe you can consider gracing us with your abilities, so that the rest of us can actually get something done.” As much as I hated to admit it, even if it was only to myself, he was good and we needed him.

He turned and smiled at me like he knew it and I wanted to punch him.

“They don’t need me to get anything done. You do.”

“What?!” How could he say something like that?

He snickered again. “They can get plenty done without me, at least for the next few weeks, but you can’t.”

“That’s not true! I-”

He continued like I hadn’t spoken. “And I’m too ill to go to class.”

“You are not sick!”

He still spoke over me.

“That’s why you are going to stay here, take care of me, and rehearse until you get it right.”

“Until I-?!”

“Starting today.”

“I will not-!” I started as he grabbed my arm, dragging me farther into the dark crypt.

I tried to fight against him, but it did little on his grip, let alone his stride.

After a moment, a light flipped on and I had to squint for a second.

Axel sat me on a chair. I noticed we were in a kitchen as he tossed a cook book in front of me.

“Now you can cook some dinner while I get ready.”

“Excuse me!” I stood from the chair. I’d had enough. “I am not making you dinner. And I will not stay here and rehearse with the likes-of-you!”

I started to walk passed Axel and was in the doorway of the kitchen when I was swung back. Axel crashed me against the wall, pinning me there with his legs.

He didn’t speak, only seethed through his teeth while staring me in the eyes. I was back on the stage, unable to move, to speak, tearing from the inside out as fear consumed me. The animal in his eyes was so tangible I felt it as though he was stripping my soul with them.

I became light headed and could no longer stand though I didn’t go anywhere.

I could hardly tell, but it felt like Axel had picked me up.

We passed dark rooms through dark halls, unopened doors and bare china cabinets.

Something soft was under me. A bed? Then I heard a door shut.

My vision was back and I flew off the bed at the closed door. It was locked.

“You can stay in here until you calm down.” Axel panted from the other side of the door. I could practically see him leaning against it in that cocky way like he owned everything. “Now I’m going to call for dinner.”

I heard his footsteps fade down the hall. I pounded my fists on the door. “YOU BASTARD!” I hollered.

I fumbled with my bag trying to find my phone, realizing with horror that I’d left it in my car. There weren’t any windows in this room only a small lamp on the night stand next to the bed. My hands had already hurt from pounding on the door and I knew it was no use continuing to, so I sat on the bed.

I was frustrated, angry, horrified, scared.

Why is he keeping me here? He’s insane, that’s why. I had to get out of here.

I didn’t know how long I had sat there, but I had the lamp in my hand at the ready. I didn’t care if I was in the dark, the second he opened that door I was leaving.

“Are you civil yet?” I jumped at the sound of his voice, calmer than the last time I’d heard it, but thick with pride.

He opened the door and I threw the lamp. I had no idea if it met its mark, but I barreled my way out of what I thought was the door. I found myself in Axel’s arms instead. I didn’t give up. I hit, kicked, and screamed at him, but he didn’t seem to budge. I still managed to push through him and start down the hall when the light turned on, blinding me again and I stumbled to a halt.

I opened my eyes to see Axel in front of me. How had he gotten there? He grabbed my arms and held me against him.

“Finished?” he snarled.

“I’m not staying here.” I stuttered weakly.

“Oh yes you are.” He whispered evilly into my ear. “Or this production doesn’t happen, and we both know what that would do to your career.”

For once, I was absolutely speechless.

Then, without warning, Axel fell with a sickening thud to the floor, a thick stream of blood running down the side of his head.

I sank to the floor next to him, pulling his head into my lap, watching his chest rise and fall quickly, sweat breaking out on his forehead.

No, I couldn’t leave, not now, the risk to my career being the only reason I’d admit.



I was able to drag him into the bed and wrap the cut on his head. An hour later he still hadn’t woken up.

Panicked, I wandered through the house trying to find a phone, having to switch on lights as I went. I was almost shocked by how unkempt the place was. It was obvious he lived alone and that he didn’t bother to take care of much except his immediate needs.

I gave a sigh of relief when I found a cell phone on the kitchen counter. I dialed 911 and held it to my ear. It rang twice and someone picked up.

“This is 911. What’s your emergency?”

I opened my mouth to speak when the phone disappeared from my hand.

As I turned, Axel spoke into the mouthpiece.

“Oh, sorry. I pushed the wrong number on speed dial. Sorry to bother you.” His voice was so convincing, I almost believed him. I would have felt the need to give him credit if I hadn’t been terrified as I heard the beep as he hung it up. I meet his eyes and he glared at me, the color back in his face and redder than ever, the bandage gone, the only evidence of the wound being a bit of dried blood in his hair.

“That was really stupid.” He seethed through clenched teeth.

“I was only trying to help.” My voice was so weak it made me cringe.

“You’ve helped enough!” he spat.

“Well maybe I wouldn’t have thrown anything at you if you weren’t trying to keep me here!” I yelled back.

A pure wild roar erupted from his throat and I backed into the counter as he advanced on me. He stood less than a foot in front of me and the air seemed to swirl around him as he fell to one knee. He was changing.

His hair that was normally short grew at least two inches longer, hiding his eyes. His clean, shaven face, now visibly covered in a somewhat thick stubble. His mouth twitched and went from being slightly open to having fangs bared. And lastly, like I had expected, his fingers curved, the nails growing into thick, sharp claws.

Axel took three, deep, ragged breaths and then looked up at me with fierce, piercing yellow eyes. I gripped the counter as my knees went weak, but it didn’t manage to hold me up. His eyes followed me as I sank to the floor.

My heart pounded in my chest with what I was sure was fear. When Axel finally spoke, his voice was rough, harsher than I could have imagined possible, but maybe it was just the words he said.

“Now you can never leave.”

I knew death was potentially staring me in the face, but all I could think was how this all made sense.

He said he didn’t need to practice.

Everything fit. His manners and behaviorisms, his habits and disappearances. He was The Beast.

I couldn’t stop my curiosity.

“How old are you?” I stammered.

He chuckled. It was the worst kind of chuckle I had ever heard. It started from his chest and rolled its way out filling and chilling me to the bone.

“Twenty-three.” He answered, his eyes never leaving my face, bright and menacing, a wicked smile crawling through his lips.

“I’m not the original beast from the story, if that’s what you’re thinking.” He stood and the knelt in front of me, his hot breath flowing across my face. “I’m much different.”

He flicked my lips with his tongue and I shuddered. I closed my eyes, ready for the blow. I knew that this was it, one way or another. I could hear Axel as he sniffed me, his nose gently grazing the surface of my body.

“You stink.”

I was still breathing heavily when I understood.

“What?” I huffed.

I opened my eyes and Axel was still crouched, but a little farther away, the smile gone.

“You need new clothes.”

It took me a moment to answer.

“Well, yeah, do you think I had anything with me?” How long had I been here?

I resisted the urge to try and discretely sniff myself. I knew it wouldn’t work.

“Where do you live?” Axel asked, standing, and beginning to wander through the kitchen.

“In an apartment just off campus.” I watched him warily. He was starting to pace now.

“We’ll have to get your stuff.” He mumbled almost to himself.

“Why can’t I just go home and stay there?”

He turned on me, seeming to fill the room. “Because you can’t leave me!” he spat.

Somehow, the sentence didn’t seem to match his voice.

“Not now that you’ve seen me.” He finished, gravely.

“Why?” I asked, beginning to shake, and I couldn’t say why, but I was fighting the urge to cry.

“No one else can find out what I am.”

“I wouldn’t-” I began, shaking my head.

“I can’t risk it.” His arms were folded across his chest and he was still pacing.

“How long will I have to stay here?”

“As long as it takes.” There was a finality in his voice that I couldn’t find it in myself to argue with.

I covered my eyes as I choked, no longer being able to fight back the sobs that escaped me. I couldn’t feel his eyes on me anymore.

I couldn’t say how long I sat there, but I gasped when I felt Axel’s hand on my shoulder.

“Come on.” He said not looking me in the eyes. He laid my bag in front of me and started to walk toward the door.

He had pulled his hair back into a ponytail, though some hairs still fell in front of his face. It could have been very becoming on him if he hadn’t been looking so grim. He then pulled the hood over his head from the sweater that he was now wearing. I followed him out to my car and did as he said.

Axel sat slumped in the passenger’s seat, his hands stuffed in his sweater pocket and I drove to my apartment. I hardly understood what was going to happen to me, but I knew that I couldn’t change it.

I parked close to the stairs so we wouldn’t have as long to go like he told me to do.

“Less risk of being seen.” He’d said.

He followed me, like I’d expected, I could tell he more than likely wouldn’t leave me alone for more than a few seconds. I also knew that I wanted him to trust me.

I carefully packed my things and he mostly watched, though commented when he felt it necessary with things like.

“You won’t need that.” Or “That’ll be useless for a while.”

The only thing I was hardly able to handle was him watching me gather my clothes.

He looked around the room, uninterested, but watched intently with a one sided grin as I tried to quickly stuff my underwear into the suitcase.

I tried to ignore him.

I got everything he would let me that I could fit into the back seat and trunk of my car and then he drove back, not feeling like he could allow me to.

I wasn’t going to run. I strangely found myself wanting to help him. I knew it was going to be hard, but I wanted it to work.

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“Don’t stop.” I muttered, surprising myself by pulling him closer and he complied, straddling me, his arm twisting around my waist pulling our hips together.

My breathing quickened and in the next second he tore away from me.

“I’m sorry.” He mumbled.

“No, it’s okay…I get it.” I lied. It wasn’t okay. I was embarrassed and devastated by him rejecting me.

“You don’t get it!” he snapped. “I can’t sleep with anyone! They end up dead in my arms or running from me, screaming! Every damn one!”

He tried to control his breathing, swallowing hard. “I thought that maybe if I tried to get to know one first that it’d turn out better.”

“You were just using me?!” I asked, horrified, hurt, dying.

“No-” he sighed. “It might have been, at first, but-” he trailed off not able to say it. “I don’t think I’m brave enough to risk losing you now.”

I fought back the tears in my eyes. “I want you to try.” I whispered, ashamed of saying it, but more for how much I wanted him to.

He searched my eyes for a minute and I hoped he saw the pleading in them. He squeezed his eyes shut, still appearing to be frustrated, but he reached out and held my face with one hand bringing my lips to his. He stopped for a second breathing in my ear. “Promise me that you’ll stop me if I hurt you.” He pleaded.

“I promise.” I breathed and he kissed me again eagerly.

They were thick, deep, moving kisses that never seemed to be enough, but that were never going to stop. I pulled his face closer, kissing him harder and the sound he made was nowhere near human, but the hands tearing off my clothes at that moment were human enough that I didn’t stop him.

With my own hands I fumbled with his clothes, next finding myself on my back with him on top of me. I could hardly contain the passion that was building in me now; the one kind that I knew neither one of us couldn’t act. He kissed my neck, my chest, his hands straying around my thighs.

“Fayre.” He groaned and then I knew that this time, he’d conquered the beast.

His lips parted against my skin, his teeth gently grazing the side of my neck. A small growl rumbled through his chest and I froze, his breath scalding my flesh.

I realized too late that I had concluded too soon.

I tried not to panic as his claws flexed in my thighs. Axel must not have heard my gasp; either that or he’d written it off as meaning something else. He continued to rub his face from my collar bone, up to the hollow of my jaw and back again, his skin becoming rougher with each pass.

“Axel.” I said my voice hardly a whisper.

I was trying so hard to fight the pain as my blood ran hot to my hips. He cuddled closer against me making his claws go deeper. My back arched involuntarily, and it didn’t help.

“Axel, please.” I pleaded a little louder this time. I couldn’t fight the tears that fell out of the corners of my eyes and I reached down, wrapping my hands around his wrists, gently beginning to pull the claws out.

He reacted sooner than I expected tearing away from me again. I had expected him to run from the room, horrified with himself, but he stayed staring at me in horror as I tried to calm my breathing.

The blood was flowing worse now and I could tell I was beginning to lose consciousness.

With shaky hands, I tried to wrap the sheet around each of my legs, but I was suddenly lifted and set down again before I could even think. I heard a tearing sound and felt large hands tie the sheets over my wounds, tight enough to at least stop the blood. I turned onto my side getting ready for the blackness and I meet his eyes. My vision was blurry, but at least that much was clear. They were his eyes bright and human. I felt the blanket fall gently onto my shoulders as I finally gave in to the dark.


I began to wake to too much sound. It was loud and frantic and coming from so many directions, I had nothing to hold onto. I felt the pain next. My thighs were on fire and I was light headed. It was hard to breathe. I tried to cry out, but couldn’t muster a sound.

Voices…those noises were voices.

“Fayre? Fayre, honey, squeeze my hand if you can hear me!” I didn’t know the voice, but I squeezed.

“Okay, good! Good! You’re going to be alright we’re going to take care of you!”

Where was Axel? Why was I with these people?