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Grim Fairy Tales: Beauty & the Beast
Chapter Three: Legacy of the Damned

Chapter Three: Legacy of the Damned

It appeared as if a rift had opened throughout the skies that very faithful night when the swarm of harpies emerged from the heavens. They flew through the clouds and among the stars towards the castle that was high elevated to the heavens while more rifts opened from which humans and elves emerged. The humans and elves alike cackled and laughed as their lycanthropes brought with them the bodies of many deceased elves and humans along with them. Belle looked back as she saw the three elves that she spoke to at the ball standing behind her.

“Where is my father?”, asked Belle at once. “You shall be reunited with your father shortly, little ranger, for the master wishes for you to see the glory that you had once left behind.”, the brown gorgon explained and Belle turned to face the castle once more.

The castle had many levels of hills and cliffs on which sloops of waterfalls fell into river beds one after the other. The castle had one large path leading through the very same mountain pass that her father fled on with horse that she fondly remembered due to the sound of waterfalls and the galloping horse. The many stone walls of the castle structure were in a bad sorry state as well as disarray with water moving and traveling, making its way through its many open cracks. On this faithful night there was thunder that could be heard from the heavens and lightning that seemed to signal the coming storm as bats returned to the many cracks and openings within the mountains that the castle sat upon. There was a great tree whose roots grew throughout the castle structure that was hidden by the waters of the waterfalls and its many lakes as well as rivers, and finally there were branches that reached from the tower to the heavens. It is then that the harlefi stepped forth and her claws reached over the shoulders of Bellindia Frankenstein that felt an immense cold before her body as well as soul was transported through space and time. At that same moment, an elven gorgon walked into a room with a pool in the center surrounded by a garden of red roses and in the center there was a pedestal where the black rose was placed as its roots then reached deep into the soil as Victor took a deep breath as life once again breathed into his body. The old man coughed and turned over as he then stood up only to see that through his cell’s door was the rose that levitated above its own garden pedestal, and before the pedestal stood an elf that then lowered her right claw upside down as the water itself moved around her that took on the form of a what appeared to be a creature with horns that placed its chin over her claw. The elf appeared to be happy to see him before she looked to the cell and Victor himself stepped back, turning his head and gazing away from her as he worried deeply for his daughter. Belle appeared in a room and then she was pushed forward.

“Your brother will be expecting you shortly for dinner.”, said the malfhi. “We’d hate for you to miss it and therefore we insist you are properly dressed.”, said the ebony harlefi before they then walked through what appeared to be a mirror that had no reflection of them and only reflected the image of none other than Bellindia Frankenstein herself.

Bellindia looked to the mirror to see her green eyes and long blonde hair that hung down to half her waist on both sides. She felt the collar around her neck that was a belt buckle for she never could afford a real one and she smiled before she lowered her head, placing her right claw over her face and covering her eyes as a tears poured from her eyes that she wiped immediately. She then opened her eyes and to her horror she saw a man standing behind her.

“Good evening, little beauty.”, the man said and then smiled before she immediately turned only to see that the man was gone, nowhere to be seen and nowhere to be heard.

She then turned to look back to the mirror and raised her right claw to touch it but there was nothing magical about it, it was just another ordinary mirror. She took a few steps back from it and kept gazing at her own reflection as she kept wiping her tears away. It was in that moment that she then heard something and her ears twitched to see a white lycanthrope crawl over the ceiling above her as she then screamed only for the creature to turn its head only to roar before it let go. She got up from the bed and it landed before her as it then stood tall in front of her and approached her to sniff her as she was pushed against a wall. It then proceeded to lick her cheek and appeared to like the taste as her tails then snarled and growled to communicate with him.

“Stay back, beast.”, they said to him and he then growled loudly before the tails translated. “My master said I am to do with you as I please, little beauty, and do with you I will as I will.”, the beast said to her before grabbing her neck and her tails then bit at his arm while she growled.

He then clenched his left claw and punched her so hard that her tails dropped. He then pushed her over onto the bed and grabbed her little red cloak he pulled down from her head. He then pressed up against her from behind and pulled her by the hair as he then licked her once again over her cheek as she then opened her jaw. All elves had an extended jaw hidden behind their cheeks that they naturally concealed from others and this time she exposed it in order to attempt to bite the lycanthrope that instead placed his right claw between her teeth that she bit on.

“Try that again, little beauty, and I will make sure I slit your father’s throat myself.”, the beast said to her and she then looked into his eyes with desperation as she could see nothing but anger coursing through his eyes, the glare that he gave her was personal and she recognized his fur.

The memories he had repressed had came back to her. The white lycanthrope was the one that had slain her uncle, William, and that the monster was left to fight when her father escaped the castle with his daughter in his arms. The white lycanthrope then reached for her robe with both of his claws and pulled on it from both sides as he ripped it in two to expose her body. He would then proceed to grab her by her breasts and squeeze them together, continuing to lick her and he then reached down between her legs before he would press over top off her. He pinned her down over the bed by pushing her down before tearing her leggings off. It was in that moment that she tried to push herself away but he had none of it as he roared towards her head.

“Beast!”, the white lycanthrope then turned his head and Belle slightly turned her eyes to see the three elves. “The master is expecting her for supper and she should have been dressed by now.”, the malfhi implied and then the beast breathed in and out heavily. “Can’t he wait?!”, he asked and then the brown gorgon said. “No.”, followed up by the ebony harlefi. “He can’t.”

The white lycanthrope then pushed Bellindia down but got off from on top of her. He then made his way someplace and the three elves looked to the gorgon that was so relived.

“This won’t do.”, said the malfhi. “Let’s help get her dressed?”, said the brown gorgon. “Yes, let’s.”, added the ebony harlefi and that’s exactly what they did.

They dressed her in a fine velvet dress, removed the belt from around her neck and replaced it with fine jewelry, combed her hair and all the while they did so she could not see their reflection in the mirror that petrified her. It was as if they were ghosts and her heart beat fast because of it. It was then that the brown gorgon and the white malfhi stood beside the mirror that she had faced and the ebony harlefi leaned down to whisper into her ear.

“Go on, the master awaits you.”, she whispered and then Bellindia stepped forth only for her body to enter the mirror this time, once again moving through time and space, as her body and soul were then transported into a large round room surrounded by columns.

It seemed to her as if she was located in a giant Ancient Greek temple of sorts and there was a tree behind it along with a massive garden where there were many lakes. The tree had two blue eyes of its own that peered into the field below and there was a particular blue light shinning across the entire room. The temple was overgrown with natural flora and fauna that grew and entangled all over the structure of the room. There were torches set before each column and a large round table in the center surrounded by chairs with only one that stood out from the rest that was nestled in between the mighty tree’s roots. The throne was made out of stone and its seat was imbued with a blue glowing crystal upon which the monster sat holding his claymore beside him. It was upon her arrival that he raised his left hand to gesture towards the table.

“Please, my esteemed guests, take your seat.”, Belle stared towards him before two women walked past her right with another woman and a man then walking past her left side. “Father, just in time.”, said the monster and then Belle turned to see her father whom she immediately ran to as they both rejoiced in their reunion as they embraced in each other’s arms.

“Father, sister…”, the monster called as he pushed himself up to stand while the claymore lay impaled in the ground with the malfhi and the gorgon flanking his throne while the harlefi sat upon the top of his throne with her legs hanging over on the side as she enjoyed a drink.

“I have the honor to introduce to you Lady Talia Carabosse and her niece, Briar Rose, and the niece’s husband, Jour Spriggins.”, the trio that he introduced all turned and bowed their heads with a smile on their face as both Frankensteins noticed something unusual about them. “They too are a family like our own that were divided for far too long.”, explained the monster.

“But they are relatives by blood, you’re just a monster that my father had created.”, Belle spoke out at once and a silence ensued while the lady in red smirked at the table but covered her mouth. “Ah, yes, how could I forget…”, said the monster before raising his hand towards her. “May I also have the pleasure to introduce Lady Rose Red.”, the lady turned her head and smiled toward the Frankensteins before she too would bow her head. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”, she replied.

The Frankensteins noted that every individual at the table was pale while Belle not only observed but felt that she could not hear their heartbeat and she could not sense or hear them breathing. Jour Spriggins reached for a pocket in his jacket for a pack of cigarettes and then offered one to Briar that had declined it before he placed it in his own mouth. The monster then stepped forth…

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“I am Rendfield Frankenstein, my friends, and before you is my family. My beloved sister, Bellindia, and our father, Victor.”, Rendfield spoke yet again and Belle then spat on the ground. “You mean your creator, you murderous abomination.”, she couldn’t hide her hatred despite how much she thought what sort of punishment may await her once she returns to her room.

“Belle…”, Victor whispered as she grabbed her by her arm and she shrugged him off. “Please, take your seats…”, Rendfield took a brief pause before saying that and Victor sensed that what Belle was doing would only serve to anger the monster despite how stubborn Belle is.

Victor and Belle both grew up to be observers. Victor grew up to be a professor and scientist while Belle grew up to be a ranger that always kept cautious and aware of her surroundings. They both observed that the figures that were in the room cast no shadow and how the humans at the table had sharp teeth that protruded over their lips, which were a vibrant red, and their hands were also strange as they had long nails sharpened to a point. If they would exhale, such as when Jour did when he exhaled smoke from his cigarette, their breath was rank and caused them to feel nauseous. The two quickly deduced that what must be standing before them must be the undead or necromancers but they did not know. All they had was that uneasy feeling and that feeling grew once they were served only bottles that the human guests reached for to pour into their golden chalices that had a skeletal like hand holding them.

“There is no need to stand on ceremony to impress anyone. You both must be hungry and thirsty.”, said the monster as the waiters wearing a black tuxedo served raw meat that wasn’t even cooked. “Is this a joke?”, asked Belle and Rendfield smirked. “No, it isn’t.”, he replied. “Dig in.”, he added and Belle looked down to the meat while Victor stared uncomfortably.

“So it is true…”, said Talia Carabosse. “You are a civilized little elf, aren’t you?”, she asked. “If by civilized you mean that I didn’t grow up among my savage and wild kin, then yes, I am.”, she replied and then Jour Spriggins chuckled while Briar seemed to look at her aunt rather unusual.

“Do you mean to tell me you’ve never eat raw meat from the flesh of another or tasted their own blood while or after killing them?”, Jour asked and Belle smirked. “No, did you?”, Belle replied, asking the question in the form of a joke. “Of course I have.”, this response disturbed Belle.

“By the gods, Rendfield, you brought the living to our table and yet we expected one of them to at least share our ways with us, but instead she is no better than we were when we were alive.”, Jour added and Briar then punched his shoulder as he didn’t even seem to flinch. “I beg your pardon, did you just say ‘when we were alive’?”, Victor immediately asked the very important question that was on the mind of both Frankensteins and Jour turned to face them.

“By the gods, Sir Victor, you must of suspected something considering your son is not of the living but rather the dead.”, Belle’s ears then raised as she turned her head to face her father. “Oh, he did not tell you?”, said Rose Red as an evil grin then formed on her face. “I suppose you will learn a lot the longer that you remain here in this castle and I cannot wait.”, said Lady Red.

“This is all nonsense. I have hunted undead as well as lycanthropes for as long as I am able to remember. The undead are nothing but ghouls, skeletons, zombies, wights, spectres, and wisps but none of them and I repeat, none of them, are like you. And while some do retain a mind of their own, they do not appear among the living as you do.”, Belle shared her thoughts and Briar Rose then reached out with her right hand over Belle’s left claw as she felt an immense cold, Briar’s touch caused Belle to shudder and she immediately withdrew her claw from the table.

“Have I ever told any of you about the history of Castle Perrault? No? Well, then allow me to begin…”, asked Rendfield while Briar kept staring coldly towards Belle. “A century ago, there was a man called Vlad who hailed from the renowned House Dracula that were the first human settlers of the world of Perrault and founders of the castle of the same name that they would only discover later that they had built over top of ley lines.”, Rendfield would tell them about the history of the castle but Briar, Jour, and Belle were seemingly confused as to what ley lines were.

“Ley lines are the source, the center, of all magic of a particular world, my beloved niece, I had hoped that your mother would have taught you better than this.”, said Talia. “Maybe she would of if my aunt hadn’t cast a curse that involved me sleeping through most of my childhood years that I wasted away inside of a coffin.”, replied Briar and for the first time Belle could see some kind of emotion coursing through her eyes as the two had a brief heated exchange of words.

“The members of House Dracula soon discovered that they would bear witness to dreams and nightmares that would show them the past, present and even the future that was so far and yet so very close to being. In one of those visions, however, Vlad saw that his house had all but died out and their legacy came to an end. He knelt down before this very tree and begged for the tree to grant him and his house immortality and in exchange he and his house would do anything that the great spirits of the tree asked of him.”, Rendfield stood before the tree where he told the tale of the castle and the legendary house for all to listen before he would turn to face Belle.

“It was then that Vlad and House Dracula became first of the undead, the first of the vampires, with an unending hunger for souls and unquenchable thirst for blood. They were bestowed with the gift of undeath and therefore immortality, and they were handed the gift of necromancy and therefore the members of their house would forever be eternal. The Draculas soon realized that the more souls that they stole that their drink, other than that of blood of their victims, would not satisfy and that food soon turned to but mere ash in their mouths, and that all of the pleasurable company in the world could not slake their lust and in their greed they gave birth to the greatest plague that had roamed this once great world until there was nothing left to consume other than themselves.”, this gave everyone the thought of the dark fate that befell House Dracula and for this reason Jour would then reply. “The same fate that awaits all of us here, with the exception of the living, should we run out of things to consume. Is that why you brought us here? That still doesn’t explain why you brought them.”, he gestured to the living as Rendfield then smiled.

“For the same reason that I had brought all the others that are still alive and lingering within these castle walls; fresh souls and blood for all of us to consume.”, Rendfield then looked to the Frankensteins as Briar then looked to her aunt and vice versa as she was then the first to stand.

It was then that Victor stood up and impaled a stake into the heart of Briar Rose herself. Belle could not believe her eyes as Briar simply stood there with a smile on her face and saw how shocked Victor was before she then leaned her head down to grab the wooden stake that she pulled out from her heart. She then held it up and the fresh blood could be seen coated on it.

“I’m curious. After killing me what is it that you are planning on doing next?”, she asked before winking towards him and Victor ran to the opposite side only to grab Belle by her claw.

Victor then pulled on Belle before he leaped through the same mirror that they came through. Belle then appeared on the other side to wherever her body and soul were transported, but her father was no longer there and she nearly fell as she was then horrified by what she saw. She saw zombies with their mouths sown shut playing violins before she saw statues that turned their own heads to gaze towards her before they quickly turned and hurled themselves towards her like a swarm of bats as they knocked her off the walls of the castle. Belle soon found herself falling to her death only to be rejoiced once she fell into a lake below and then she opened her eyes under the water only to see the kazari that appeared to take on the form of wights as she screamed under the water when one of them swam towards her. The wights underneath the water seemed to be feasting on the living as if they were piranhas underneath the waters of the lake while beside them there were a massive piece of stone tied to a rope line, and then Belle was lifted by one of those rope lines only to soon discover she was being lifted by a crane that the skeletons were controlling by spinning a large wheel. The wights then emerged from the water and one of them climbed the stone only for her to kick him down before she saw a nearby cliff where she leaped onto only to stop yet again when she saw the elven present there who appeared as pale aberrations with the skin over their cheeks missing and fully exposing their Glasgow smile while their tails appeared to be skeletal in nature rather than being covered by any fur or flesh. They leaped towards her with their claws upward and she turned to attempt to leap over the stone that was being craned up behind her only for a female haru, a harpy, to snatch her. The gargoyle carried Belle all over the open field where the elves leaped and attempted to snatch her as they bit and clawed at the air only for the gargoyle to drop her off on top of a wall where she would then proceed to run only to see a human skeleton that seemingly appeared to observe her without any ill intention to harm her. It pulled out a cork from a wine bottle and then spat it out of its mouth before lifting it to its mouth as the blood red wine poured down its throat and over its exposed skeletal parts that horrified Belle to her very core. She then turned to run only to see the now pale vampires before them whom the moonlight shinned upon as it then enlightened the wounds on their bodies for how they died. For Jour it was a wound in his heart, for Briar it was the prickle on her finger, for Talia it was the bite mark on her neck and for Rose Red there was nothing but a radiant glow that symbolized she died by electrocution. Belle would then turn to see the three elves that she had first met at the ball whose teeth were exposed by the moonlight along their eyes that turned gray that symbolized their eyes that had died a long time ago. The three elves held their father on both sides with their claws while the harlefi held him by his neck.

“Look…”, said Rendfield and Belle turned in fright to see him. “The moonlight shows them for what they truly are. They, like me, are not among the living and so we cannot die, but neither are we dead. For too long have we been parched of thirst and we haven’t been able to quench it. For too long have we been starving to death and we haven’t died.”, Rendfield said to Belle before he stepped closer and closer. “We feel nothing; not the wind on our face or the spray of the waters of the lakes, nor the warmth of another’s flesh.”, the moment that Rendfield had finished his sentence he dragged his right hand over his sister’s cheek, revealing to her it was for naught.

“It is only by the consumption of blood and the unending hunger for souls that we are able to feel anything. I shall make you understand how this feels, my dear sister, so that you also may truly understand our plight.”, he then grabbed her by her hair and turned her to face Victor who was paralyzed by the harlefi before Briar and Jour leaned in to bite Belle’s neck from both sides.

Both vampires then drained Belle from her blood while Rendfield held her. The vampires kept draining Belle off her blood and then Victor raised his head, shouting.

“Enough, that’s enough, monster, you are going to kill her!”, shouted the father. “Rendfield! My name is Rendfield, say it!”, the monster shouted back like a son wanting his father’s recognition. “Rendfield, please!”, Victor then raised his voice. “I beg you, they’re going to kill her!”, Victor stated and then thought quickly before he would add. “They’re going to kill your sister!”, the father’s words worked as then Rendfield looked down towards Belle who was passing out.

“That’s enough.”, said Rendfield but the vampires were consumed by bloodlust. “I said that’s enough!!”, he pulled on Belle so hard that he threw the vampires away and then hurled her towards a mirror as her body and soul were once more transported through space and time.

She appeared once more in her head but this time shaking rapidly and out of control…