Fayre

 Another piece I used for my class from Beast. There is a flashback directly from the original part. It might be a little scattered, but I want to have this up, then put up my revision as a bit of a show of process.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I wondered to myself how I ended up here, backed into an ally up against a wall, rain running down the back of my neck and along my spine like ice. I was scared, but I wasn't terrified even though I was covered in goose bumps, fighting for breath. Clawed hands were bruising my shoulders, a low growl escaping through fanged teeth, and as a figure towered over me, casting me into darkness, I still wasn't worried about dying.



Axel was baring his fangs with his eyes again. And again, they were directed at me from across the circle of chairs. They glistened in the stage lighting, a strange effect considering the darkness of his more blue hazel eyes. It had been over a week. How many times did I have to say I would keep his secret?

Our secret. He would say. You're just as deep in this now as I am.

Maybe, but only because he forced me into it.

It's not like he wasn't watching me practically twenty-four seven anyway. He had even had the guts to try and follow me into the bathroom. I had to talk him out of that one.

I knew that mocking him would drive him crazy. Most didn't dare, not with the threat of his pissy temper, which I had to admit got nasty at times, but I'd had enough of him trying to rule me with fear.

I glared back, throwing all my skills of exaggeration into it, even moving forward in my peeling metal chair not caring when it screeched in reply.

The muscle in Axel's jaw jumped, the large vein on the side of his neck throbbing. His teeth appeared for a moment, but weren't the canines he wanted them to be. I knew his instinct was to snarl, and he would start yelling at me if we weren't in the middle of a class discussion.

Beauty and the Beast. Though most who were alive in the 90's know this basic tale, the theatre director, Professor Ashman, wanted to go deeper than the magical surface of songs and dancing candlesticks for The Art of Performing 304 class' production. It was a pretty big deal for the school. It was the easiest way for it to get any kind of funding and with a big and well known title as this we had to make it perfect. But funding wasn't all that was on the line, for me anyways. If this production goes well, if I make an impression as the star, as Belle, then this could be the ground under my feet as far as my career was concerned.

That was the guillotine over my head and Axel knew it and you could bet he was keeping his hand on the lever. He had been doing everything he could so far as my co-star to ruin this for me. It began with him throwing a tantrum when they changed the release date, then he refused to show up for practice for days claiming he was sick. Ashman had sent me to his place to try and work with him since Belle and the Beast couldn't really do their parts separately.

It's all about the chemistry!

Yes, Ashman, I knew the right chemistry makes the show. I didn't think the hate part would be an issue for us.

I'd tried to ignore his "everything revolves around me" attitude, but he made it very difficult, especially after I showed up at his…house. Actually "house" is morbidly inaccurate.



I'd 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 pass 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 9-1-1. 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 when I heard the beep as he hung up the phone. 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."



"Director, Axel looks like Fayre bit him in the ass and he's about to eat her again."

Joyce. She was really bored of everyone's issues but her own, yet she still felt the need to point them out. She flipped her fading dyed black hair over her shoulder, pursed her black lips and stared at her peeling nail polish. At least her black tank and jean skirt weren't faded, but her combat boots were getting close.

Axel probably could. I was small enough at a height of five-five and one hundred and twenty pounds for him to easily eat me, poop me out, bury me in the backyard, and piss on my grave just to show me he could.

A sinister smile crept up his face, like the Cheshire Cat, but with not quite as many teeth, for now. It was like he knew what I was thinking and was considering it.

"Someone needs to get princess here a Midol." I muttered. "On second thought, somebody run to the store and give him the whole box. He's too big for double the normal dose."

Big was another understatement. At six-four, and at least two hundred pounds, he was colossal, a monster.

Axel sat back in his chair, crossing his legs and folding his arms after brushing back his hair, the smile tamed to a thin line of lips. I felt like this look let me read his mind.

You'll pay for that later.

If I cringed I didn't realize it, but I must have done something to get Axel to start shaking with laughter, which turned into a near 'buahaha.'

"Okay okay." Ashman chimed in, cutting Axel off, but the sneer remained.

Ashman looked at his script avoiding our eyes, but it was clear he was amused.

Did he want us to hate each other?

I was rethinking wanting him as a reference when Chelsea stood up.

"Oh my God! Their compatibility is killing me! PLEASE can we have the angry sex scene?!"

A unanimous 'No' rang through the theatre and Chelsea sat down, trying not to let her lip quiver.

"Are we actually going to rehearse today?" Axel hissed through his teeth. He sat strangely still, a wall over his eyes.

"No." Ashman answered with disregard, continuing to flip through more papers that appeared out of nowhere.

Axel flew out of his chair, grabbing his coat from the back in one swift circular motion and strode off of the stage.

I rolled my eyes as I grabbed my bag. This was both of our last class for the day and if I didn't go with him now, he'd leave me here the rest of the night then yell at me tomorrow for not being fast enough.

"Sorry." I mumbled at the class. I felt bad when it came out sarcastic and snippy. They didn't deserve my reactions to how he tortured me.

The side door had just swung closed, a small sucking sound as it settled in the frame, the latch clicking into place in sync with the long horizontal bar handle retracting from the door. I pushed it open and was met with a wind chilling my face and ankles, the setting sun blinding me. I hurried out and scanned the back parking lot just as Axel's car pulled up at the sidewalk.

Just like everything else in his life, his new, red, sleek, silver rimed Corvette was absolutely ridiculous. He honked, his frowning clashing with his vehicle, the top was down despite the cold. I pulled my coat tighter around me trying to get my hair to warm my ears so there'd be less of a chance of having to cut them off later and hurried down the steps.

Axel was jumping the car forward impatiently every few seconds and only stopped long enough for me to put one leg in the door before he sped off, throwing me into the stiff leather seat.

"Door!" he barked.

I pulled in the door just before it would have collided with the twenty five speed limit sign on the sidewalk.

He shook his head, "If you ruin my car-" he started over the wind.

"If you were just more patient and drove the damn speed limit then there wouldn't be a problem!" I snapped, slamming on my seatbelt.

"You have serious anger issues." He chuckled, eying me carefully.

My jaw nearly hit the floor, I couldn't help it. I was the one with the anger issues?! If that son of a bitch thought I needed anger management, he was going to see just how managed my anger was.

Axel pulled out of the parking lot as I was about to open my mouth and not bothering to slow down, as always, he turned right when I expected him to go left.

"Where are we going?" Did he not realize he went the wrong way?

"Downtown." He answered, like it was such a bother to have to explain everything to me.

"Why?" I whined purposely.

He sighed quickly not bothering to look over his shoulder as he pulled too fast into the left lane to pass the car already going well over the speed limit in front of him, "Because cleaners are coming to my place today."

"So?" I twisted my hair behind my head in hopes the knots would be less severe. What did that have to do with anything?

"So, I make it a habit of not being there when they are. The less they know the better." He had gone from being annoyed to serious, his arms tense under his jacket, hands red on the steering wheel, his face blank, the only thing moving was his hair being whipped around his head in the wind.

I couldn't really argue with that, so I shut my mouth for the rest of the drive, finally capturing my hair in my hood and wrapping my arms around my chest to keep warm.

Night had fallen when he finally came to a stop in front of a small grocery store. It was wedged next to a gas station and an old warehouse with only a small alley way separating them. Axel was parked horizontally over top two parking spaces, though I don't think anyone would have given him a ticket considering the lines were hardly there and the pavement was so cracked and full of pot holes most would have to park diagonally to avoid the holes.

Axel unlocked the doors holding in front of me a fifty dollar bill and a slip of paper between his two of fingers.

"What?" I asked without taking them.

"Go in there and get the things on the list." He hunkered down in the seat. If he was meaning to relax or hide, I couldn't tell.

With a sigh I took the money and list, stepping out of the car on the lookout for holes, but still managing to nearly trip over the parking curb.

I looked at my suede boot that had scrapped on the cement and found a nice gash in the material.

"Great." I mumbled.

"Don't take too long." Axel chimed from the car his seat now laid back. One arm was over his forehead, his sunglasses still on his face despite the inherent lack of sun. "But don't rush either. They won't be out of there until seven."

"Okay." My voice had raised a few octaves. I wasn't sure how much more of him I could take. I mean, asking me to keep a secret and even threatening me a little is one thing, but keeping me pretty much captive in your house and making me do errands for you is another!

I nearly stomped into the store, the bell tinkling softly over my head, but was ripped out of my thoughts by the strange silence that only low service, low customer flow, and low…yuck, maintenance stores could have.

Hot dogs covered in a thick film of shiny grease were rolling in an automatic case, the machine making small whirring sounds as it turned, sizzling as hot grease dripped through the cracks. Short isles of chips, candy, and first aid lay out in front of me, closely surrounded by glass-doored refrigerators along the walls full of most kinds of drinks, but mostly liquor.

A man was standing at the counter laughing with the clerk. He was purchasing a six pack of Budweiser and three boxes of cigarettes even though it was clear that he'd already had enough of those. I could smell the smoke on him and saw the lingering alcohol in his droopy and out of focus eyes. That along with his wind leathered face and peppery grey hair that was more on his face than his head; he looked very much like an old blood hound whose drinking water had been spiked after a good hunt.

They both turned to me when I walked in after their laughter had died down. I nodded and gave them a small smile, then quickly walked into the first isle out of their sight. I felt they would want to watch me so I wandered about pretending to decide between the dozen boxes of bandages. Round or straight? Plain or pink ones with princesses?

When the man left, I concentrated on Axel's list. Oh look, he needed band-aids. I grabbed the princess box then took my time with the rest, using slow steps and concentrating on each item like I had more options to choose from than there were.

The clerk didn't say anything as I paid, his face set in a perfect "I could care less unless you pay me" scowl, but held Axel's fifty up to the light. His expression didn't change as he brought it down and opened the cash register.

I returned to the car, the top still down even though a light drizzle had started. I wasn't sure where the clouds had come from, but they glowed from the lights of the nearby city in a way that made me want to be walking its streets, even in the rain. I threw the bag down in the seat to find that Axel wasn't in the car. I threw a look around the immediate area. Axel wasn't in sight. No one was in sight. There was hardly any light around except for three dim, scattered street lamps.

I debated waiting in the car, but sitting in an expensive vehicle alone and completely exposed seemed like a very bad idea. There wasn't anywhere Axel could have gone anyway, not without his car. If he was trying to teach me some sort of "lesson" for mouthing off at him today, there was no way he could accomplish that by leaving his car behind.

I sauntered over to the alley trying not to make too much noise in case there was something, and by something I mean a fury Axel, to startle.

"Axel." I called softly, hoping I didn't have to be very loud for him to hear me.

The alley looked deserted and still, the only things in it being a big green garbage can that needed to be emptied (there are always big garbage cans in alleys) and a door to the back of the store. There were no monsters back there. I wasn't sure where to look next, but I was going to at least try. I turned around when a distinct slumping sound made me spin back into the alley. Did I think about running from the scary noise like a normal girl? No. I was looking for the beast.

"Axel?" I said again a little louder as I peeked around the garbage can.

Axel stood over a heaped body at his feet, blood soaking his coat sleeve. I couldn't see much, an arm, a foot, and the blood hound's face contorted, his neck bent at an angle I was sure wasn't physically possible if the neck was still connected to the spine. A high pitched, blood curdling scream would have been appropriate at this point, but all I did was gasp. That was all it took for Axel to turn on me. I could hardly see him, he was no more than just a dark blur surrounding me, grabbing me and throwing me against a wall. There was instant pain in my head and back, but I could ignore that with the throbbing ache that was quickly building in my shoulders. Axel's beastly clawed hands were tourniquets on my body.

His eyes, they were probably the worst part, yellow, fierce and animalistic. There wasn't a trace of human left in those eyes. Death, instinct, that was all they knew. A near purring sound rolled its way through his fangs as he parted his mouth around my throat. It was here that my mind bothered to notice that the drizzle had turned into a rain and was running down my back and dripping off of Alex's hair onto my neck making me shiver. Icy prickles were concerning me more than the creature with its daggers poised to strike my nearest vein.

"It's me Axel." I whispered, locking eyes with him, maybe I could find something in there. "It's okay."

I couldn't say what really happened next. Everything was eerily still and I could suddenly hear the rain over our breathing, falling soft, constant. It was like a piece of music that you could never remember the words to and I found myself calm, peaceful. Nothing mattered in that moment until abruptly, painfully I found myself alone.

Panic set in like a hot poker in my stomach. Where had Axel gone? What had he done?

I scrambled upright and ran out of the alley, water soaking my legs as I didn't bother to watch for puddles. I didn't care. The car was still there, filling with water, but again I couldn't see Axel anywhere. Who knows how far he could've gotten by now as fast as he was?

I ran to the car, praying that for whatever reason he'd gotten out of it in the first place caused him to be careless. Yes! The keys were in the ignition. I jumped in front of the steering wheel, cringing for a millisecond as the puddle in the seat seeped through my jeans, then fought with the driver's seat, I couldn't reach the peddles. I groped underneath until I found the metal bar I was looking for, slamming it against the bottom of the chair until I scooted the seat far enough forward without ramming my face into the steering wheel. Finally I was ready when I rose the seat so I could see through the windshield. I started the car, closed the top and speed out of the parking lot too fast. Damn touchy pedal. I rocked in the pot holes and prayed I didn't scratch anything, but I wasn't sure what would bother Axel more, me ruining his car or not finding him before he possibly bled to death.

I drove and drove looking down more alleys, up streets, in crowds. I couldn't find him. Not even a trace. I was worried out of my mind to the point that I could hardly keep my hands steady. For all I knew, he could be huddled in some rotten pile of trash dying and I wasn't there to help him.

Maybe he'd gone home.

It wasn't too far from here and I'm sure he could make it on his own.

I was out of options. Out of ideas. It was a whim, but I took it, driving back as fast as I could.

The rain was relentless when I finally pulled out front. I turned off the car, slammed the door shut and didn't bother to grab the grocery bag or lock it as I ran inside. I had dried a little when I was in the car though I'd still felt damp, but that didn't matter, I was soaked again.

It was dark in the entry way. Even though I had been in near darkness for several hours, I couldn't see much in front of me. I knew the whole place had just been cleaned. I knew the floor had to have been waxed. I knew I was dripping on it. I knew he was here.

I had no strength left to call for him so I went straight to his room, throwing on the light. Nothing stirred. I went to the kitchen, the bathroom, the back patio, the halls and I found no one.

I pulled my legs to my room, heavily, silently. I was so tired, but God damn it, Axel, where were you?

He had to come back eventually. He would be okay. I'd seen him heal before. He'd be okay. He had to be okay, because I couldn't be anymore.

I reached out for the door knob and it fell away from my lazy hand, opening with a slow, nearly earsplitting creak. Didn't they bother to oil the jams?

I leaned next to the door against the wall and nearly slid down it, but managed to stay up as I yanked off my boots. They make a sucking sound as I forced them off my feet, landing with a sploosh on the floor. My socks were next. They dripped like rain clouds of their own in my hands. I was slipping my coat off of my arms when two much bigger, much stronger arms than my own wrapped around me, trapping me against the wall.

"You're okay." Axel mumbled. It was hardly a whisper, he was panting.

"Are you okay?" I asked, still panicked trying to push away to get a look at his arm, but he would let me move.

His face was in my hair, then grazing my cheek. "He…almost…hurt you."

Was he talking about himself? The beast in him? Did it seem like a different person in his eyes?

"I'm…okay." I stuttered, the strain I'd just put my body under settling in. I ached all over.

Axel's arms were suddenly tighter and he lifted me against his chest, backing up into the bed. He turned on his side, letting me fall to my back, then laid his head in my lap.

"Fayre." He whispered, then almost abruptly, he fell asleep.