Home Is With You

"Silas? What does Silas have to do with any of this?"

She froze, eyes wide and panicked as though she couldn't believe she'd let his name slip from her lips. She took a step back, mortification drenching every delicate feature. I was alarmed at the change, but watched with morbid fascination as she slowly stumbled away from me.

"Nothing. I shouldn't have said anything. Forget I mentioned him. I should go." She rambled, face to the floor, hands quivering, retreating pace by pace. She was terrified.

"No!" I protested, the shout echoing throughout the empty forest. She cringed, but didn't halt her retreat.

There was only one reason I could think for her panic, she still didn't fully trust me. She still questioned my loyalty, and I couldn't say it didn't hurt. After everything I had confessed this morning and there was still doubt in her heart. But looking into her watery, petrified eyes, I knew I had to convince her, because her fear was truly heartbreaking.

"Belle," Forcing my voice to soften, I approached her as though she were a wild animal; slowly, cautiously, giving her all the control.

"Belle, please. You can trust me. Remember what you said, when you told me your secrets, that I should never let it leave the room?" I questioned gently. She slowly bobbed her head, though her shaking didn't cease. "Well, the same goes for right now, anything you tell me, stays with me. I promise." I pledged, "Trust me."

She was biting right through her bottom lip, so much so it had turned an angry shade of red. Her shoulders were hunched painfully tight, and her fingers wouldn't still for the world. What had Silas done to instil such fear in the same girl who faced down so many opponents so gallantly? Remembering how fiercely she'd defended herself against Edward, and looking at her now, it was like I was watching two completely different people. Watching her abused lip tremble, I made one final plea, "Trust me."

Her deep soulful eyes were darting all across my face, scrutinising every inch of me. I knew she was afraid, but she didn't need to be. I could keep her safe.

And for whatever reason, she seemed to understand that, because her footsteps abruptly stopped. Her body seemed to sag as though exhausted by our dance, but her fingers didn't cease their quiver.

When she spoke, Her voice was cracked and hoarse.

"He hates me, Adam. We can't be together. He'd never allow it."

"Why?" I questioned, wrong-footed by how strangely bleak her explanation sounded. Her gaze was softly piercing and her voice trailed as though she were an author narrating a story.

"Pride. Ego. The fact that his son refused to get rid of me, even though he ordered him to on more than one occasion. He hates the fact that Gaston disobeys him, that he's not a perfect, obedient son. He's always wanted the perfect son, but Gaston always goes out of his way to be a disappointment. He hates appeasing his father, and somehow, the responsibility for that behaviour got dumped on me. The king has wanted us out from the day we got here, but Gaston always found a way to placate him. I don't know how, maybe Silas was just humouring him all this time, keeping him appeased, and keeping someone around who could take the brunt of his son's anger."

Her face turned sour, and my body near convulsed at the accusation. But I wasn't given much time to dwell.

"I always knew that would change after Gaston came of age. After he chose a wife, and the coronation ceremony was complete, I knew I'd be forced to leave. I wouldn't be needed any more, after all. I've begged to stay, told him I could be a maid or... anything, so long as my father kept getting treatment. But Silas... he's always seen me as nothing but a whore, and there was no way he would let a whore be a stain on his respected family name. I was always going to be forced to leave once Gaston became king. But that all changed... after Edward."

Listening intently, a deep frown suddenly settled on my face at Edwards name. What did he have to do with any of this? She must have seen my confusion because her next words stumbled out in a haste.

"Silas told Gaston what happened in that room, what Edward nearly... how close he came. He told me... Gaston's reaction-"

"Belle, slow down," I requested anxiously. She pursed her lips, teeth clenching as though recalling something vile. Her eyes, once watering in fear, seemed to seethe with a deafening rage. For a moment, I was distressed to think her rage was directed toward me, but then she continued.

"He told Gaston what Edward did, Adam, everything you told him, he told Gaston. And he said... He said the way Gaston reacted after hearing how close I came to getting killed..." She shook her head. Something in my own clicked into place.

"He doesn't think Gaston will let you go," I said, more as a statement than a request for confirmation. It wasn't that surprising, really. I'd seen how possessive he was over her, it would be foolish to believe that those feelings would just vanish the second he named his future bride.

She grimaced. "It's more than that. Silas didn't expect Gaston to care for me at all, let alone... He thinks that if he sends me away, Gaston will come after me. And he knows that if I'm in the castle, I'll be nothing but temptation. So, in order to fix both these problems... he's... made me an... offer."

The word was spat, contempt distorting every gentle feature. A raw lump of dread slowly scraped down my throat.

"He said that I could stay. Even that my father could continue receiving treatment. But of course, this generous offer does not come without a price."

"Wha-" the question slipped right off my tongue as I took all of her in. Her obvious disgust, her loathing. Her fear for the powerful king. Suddenly, everything clicked into place.

"Belle," I breathed, almost in desperation, the cold of the air nothing to the ice-cold terror sinking through my stomach. "No."

"Adam, what choice do I have?" She whimpered. Her question stung like a poisonous bite. "I can't take Papa back to that village, they'll kill him. And I can't look after him on my own, I already tried and I failed. This... this is the only option I have left."

"No, Belle you... you can't! You can't just-"

"Adam, I have to!" She screeched, birds fleeing from her cruel tone. Tears dripping down her pale red cheeks. Her whole being deflated, collapsing in on herself like an ancient ruin. She wrapped her arms around her stomach as though that one action were the only thing keeping her from falling apart.

"I have to." She repeated, weakly, without conviction. "For him."

I was absolutely... livid.

Silas, how could he demand such a thing?! Belle was less than half his age, how could he..?

"How?"

She let out a bitter little laugh.

"It's got nothing to do with me, Adam, that's the worst part. It's all about Gaston. Silas... I don't know why but... he hates his son. Hates the idea of Gaston having something he doesn't. Silas doesn't want me because he wants me, he can have anyone, he wants me so he can parade me in front of Gaston and prove to him he'll always be the one with the power. Even if Gaston takes the throne, Silas will never let him have full control. It's like a game to him, and I'm just another pawn."

I couldn't believe this, almost couldn't comprehend the words coming out of her mouth. How could this... be? How could the man I'd admired so reverently, worshipped almost like a second father, become so repulsive?

Belle... he was manipulating her. She was vulnerable and desperate and he was taking advantage of that, just like Gaston had done.

Of course, the apple never rots far from the tree.

Suddenly, I was accosted with images, images of Silas touching Belle, Belle crying and trembling but submitting nonetheless. It was vile, and I'd never held such hatred for anyone in all my life. The man I used to aspire to become, had himself become just another disappointment. Another perverted old man who would blackmail a helpless girl into his bed.

But no, I scolded myself; Belle wasn't helpless. She was trying to save her father, and she saw Silas as her very last choice.

I wanted to say something, anything, I couldn't just stand there and watch her fall apart, but no matter how hard I tried, no words would come out. I was too numb, to shocked to think of a single encouraging thing to say. I could only stammer,

"When... when did this happen?"

"Christmas day." She sniffled, rubbing the back of her hand over her red raw eyes. She wouldn't look at me. "After you left, his guards came. I thought he just wanted to know what happened with Edward, but... his intentions... soon became clear."

My eyes bulged in horror. Launching forward, I snatched her tiny frozen hand in mine. Her eyes bolted upright, true fear flashing in the paralyzed orbs.

"He didn't... tell me he didn't...?" I couldn't even wrap my mouth around the question, so desperate was I to deny. She tried to pull away, but I held her tightly, tugging her closer, needing to know she was here, she was safe. Disgusting images besieged my mind as I battled to force them away. Finally, she gave me mercy.

"No." She whispered softly, vulnerably, as I sagged in relief, "But," my gaze snapped back to hers, "It was close. He was... demanding. I barely made it out of his office unscathed." Her whispered words held so much weight. No wonder she hadn't been able to sleep. I began to question if the story she told me about her parents was really true, or if it was just an excuse to keep the truth concealed. I hadn't even noticed anything was wrong. How could I have been so blind?

I was so lost in my agony and self-deprecation, that the gentle tug on our entwined hands barely brought me back to her. Her lip quivered as she peered up at me guiltily.

"Adam, don't you see, this is exactly why we can't be together. Silas, he swore he'd gut my father alive if I didn't agree to his terms. He wants me to be with him, and he wants Gaston to wed a noblewoman of title, and erase the embarrassment of a prince being intimate with a peasant. I think the only reason he'll give Gaston the title is to avoid casting shame on his name. He wants Gaston to be king, but he still wants all the power, and he thinks, that by using me, he can manipulate him." The bitter whisper lifted sharply from her tongue, and she squeezed my hand as hard as she could. But I let her, I had no idea what other comforts I could offer in that horrifying moment.

I couldn't let this happen. I wasn't here when Gaston did this to her, I couldn't stop it, but I could stop this. I had to stop this. She looked so defeated, so resigned to her fate. She broke my battered heart.

"There has to be something I can do." I whimpered, almost completely to myself. She shook her head weakly, eyes downcast and miserable.

"There's nothing. This is what he wants. What he's wanted from the beginning. It's not the first time he's propositioned me, but this time, I've got no one to hide behind," She told me, then almost as an afterthought added, "King's don't get rejected, Adam. He's not going to make this easy. But I'm all out of options."

And suddenly so many memories finally slotted into place. The king's clear resentment of her, how scared she sounded when speaking to him in the boiler room, how vulnerable. Silas, he had been waiting for this. Waiting for the moment he could have her all to himself. Perhaps she was right about him wanting her to leave, maybe he simply couldn't stand the bruise to his ego, if she'd indeed rejected him before; but for whatever reason, he'd decided to force himself on her, if only to spite Gaston. And Belle was right, I had no doubt in my mind that Silas would be cruel. She knew this, but as she said, she had no other options left.

But that wasn't true.

"No, you're not," I said, my newfound conviction startling the tears straight out of her.

"What?" She stammered breathlessly, staring at me with crippling confusion. I stared right back, eyes alight with purpose.

"He is not your only option," I repeated, explosions in my mind at how simple it all seemed; the smartest idea of my life.

"Come with me."

Her shivering body suddenly stilled, goosebumps rising on her arms that I was sure had nothing to do with the cold. She gaped, completely dumbfounded.

"What?"

My heart was practically humming: excitement, anticipation, joy; so many powerful emotions colliding violently as I grinned down at her baffled face.

"Come with me. To my kingdom. You and your father. Come with me!"

"I... I don't," She stammered, seemingly alarmed by whatever she was seeing, "Adam, I don't-"

"Belle, come with me! I can protect you, and your father. He'd get the best treatment, my staff would care for him just as well as they do here if not better. And... and you wouldn't have to do anything in return. I wouldn't make you do anything you didn't want to do. You would have a place in my kingdom, no matter what, and they wouldn't be able to get to you. Just come back with me!"

I pleaded, begged. I had no idea why I hadn't thought of this before! It was perfect! She and her father could live in my castle, and neither Silas nor Gaston would ever be able to touch her again. Sure, they both may end up resenting me, but Belle was so much more important than their pride. Her father would be safe, cared for by the nurses who already nursed my grandmother, and Belle could live right alongside him. Right alongside me.

Just thinking about it sent shivers of pleasure shooting up my spine, straight through my whole body like I'd been struck by lightning. Belle, in my castle. Lighting the dingy hallways with her unrivalled spirit. Spreading her joy and beauty to every room, every corner. Erasing every painful memory and helping me make new ones. The thought of her being with me made every single ounce of dread I felt at returning completely melt away. Every fear and insecurity at becoming king, of taking back control of my kingdom, vanish.

If she was with me, I could do anything.

I saw the doubt, the hesitation, but I just couldn't stop myself. Moving both hands to the sides of her face, I cupped her cheeks, leaned my forehead against her own and stared deeply into her forest eyes. "Come with me, Belle. Don't think of all the reasons you should say no, just close your eyes and say yes."

And gazing right back up at me, body trembling, knees bucking, light twinkling like the clearest midnight sky did she faintly whisper her answer.

"Yes."