Once upon a time, a long long time ago in France, there lived an incredibly lonely boy. He lived in a cottage with his father in a village full of people, but even though he was surrounded by others, he felt incredibly alone.

You see, he was different.

Adrien Agreste was handsome enough. He was rather dashing with his golden hair, large green eyes, smooth olive skin and pleasing appearance. Gentle hands, straight and strong back, well-formed physique and kind expression. His father was a wealthy business man, and often times far away with his merchant ships from afar. But what made Adrien so very different, is that he loved to read.

He read too much. Gobbled up books as though they were candy. His mind was filled of adventures in India with the elephants and the bandits and mighty kings. His eyes imagined the wonders of China, and the impressive Great Wall. He could practically see the market places, the hidden heroes, and the imprisoned damsels in distress in their lonely towers, waiting for him.

He adored flying on the backs of dragons, delving into the pages of each book, wether it be fiction or real. He would get lost for hours, far away from the separation he felt from others, and far from the manipulative home where he lived.

Many loved him for his looks. But after talking with him, they began to dislike the passionate love for far away lands and strange customs.

"He is strange," commented one rich young heiress, Chloe Bussoi. She had her blue eyes on Adrien as he walked past innocently, on his nose stuck in another book. While he never seemed to notice her, she however viewed him as a possible husband.

"He is so handsome. I must have him!"

"But like you said," said her friend, Sabrina, eyeing the boy as he walked past them to the market. "He's so…strange!"

"Hello Adrien," said the baker, pulling out his bread for the day. "How is your father holding up?"

"Still away," said Adrien with a sad smile. "Hopefully he's back soon. My birthday is in three days, and so I'd like to have him here for it."

"Of course," said the baker. "Have a good day!"

Adrien turned and ran right into Chloe, who'd been standing behind him. "Oh I'm sorry - " he began, then saw who it was and sighed. "Oh. Hello, Chloe."

"Adrikins," said Chloe, grinning, voice low and seductive. "You haven't replied to my question yet."

Adrien sighed and looked at her pretty face. She was pretty, but pushy. "I did," he said in a tired way. "You just didn't like the answer."

"Why Adrikins," she said, blue eyes wide with baby-like innocence. "I am the most powerful girl in town. I would never miss your birthday," she added slyly.

He stared at her for a moment, a disgusted expression on his face, knowing that she'd been eavesdropping. "I said no, Chloe. You are just a friend."

"Oh come ON, Adrien!" she snapped, grabbing his arm. "Don't be a downer! I see love in your eyes when you look at me!"

"You see what you want to see!" said Adrien, yanking his arm away and running away from her.

"He's so…un-touchable," sighed Chloe. She watched him as he ran off, running to that cursed library, blonde hair blowing as he raced away, athletic body moving so fluidly and with such speed and agility…

"Wait for your chance," said Sabrina. "Maybe you can blackmail him somehow."

"Perhaps," said Chloe, and they walked past the crowd of young men trying to get Chloe's "divine" attention.

Adrien ran into the library, slamming the door behind him. He leaned against it, panting and feeling trapped.

"Hello, Adrien," said a familiar voice. Adrien smiled up at Monsieur Fu. He was a Chinese man living in the village, and had come a great distance. He was kind to Adrien, and allowed him to read his books - those in French, but also those in Chinese.

"Oh Monsieur Fu!" said Adrien, smiling brightly at his friend. "Please - if Mademoiselle Chloe enters trying to find me, lock her out!"

"I see that little tyrant is trying to order you to love her," said Fu wisely.

"Yes," said Adrien. "I have to escape. I think I will beg Father to take me away when he returns."

"And leave everything you know?" asked Fu, surprised. He pulled up a chair and gestured for Adrien to sit down. He did so, and they began to talk.

"Yes," said Adrien, fingers idly playing with his sleeve. His green eyes looked imploringly at Fu, begging him to understand. "This is my home, but also my prison. No one here but you understands me, and all these books - they are my friends. They speak to me about other places far away that I could actually visit! Places that I could see with my own eyes as my father does."

"And you want to be like your father?" asked Fu quietly.

"No!" Adrien cried sharply, then blanched at the harshness of his own tone. "Forgive me. No, I do not want to be anything like him." He looked down sadly. "I want to be there for those I love."

"And so why would you travel?" asked Fu, laying an old, wrinkled hand on Adrien's smooth, young one.

"To escape," said Adrien softly. "To run away from an empty house, a father who's never here, and people who don't understand me."

"And did any of your heroes in your stories run away?" asked Fu gently, proving his point.

Adrien tried to think of how to answer, then sighed.

"No."

"Did they not confront the enemy?" asked Fu. "Did they not run into the trouble and chaos?"

"Yes, they did."

"Do not be sad, my friend," said Fu. "There is much to see and much to learn in the world - perhaps your father will let you go this time. But do not go in order to run away. A real man does not turn his back on his problems. He confronts them, and then moves on with his life."

Adrien made eye contact with his friend, and saw the tender kindness in his eyes. With a smile he said, "Do you have any new books on Australia?"

"This way," said Fu, leading his your friend to his new source of hope and life.

—

Gabriel Agreste stretched his back, trying to move a bit. His horse walked along in the dirt path, and Gabriel tried to kick the pony into a faster gait. It ignored him, paying heed only to the chill and it's own exhaustion.

Gabriel pulled his coat collar up and shivered. It was going to be a cold autumn night.

Gabriel thought of his destination. That cursed little town. And Adrien. His only joy in this life. Though it was a bittersweet reunion every time. Adrien was unknowingly taking more and more after his mother, and seeing bits of her in their son was very painful to see.

The night's chill seemed to reach into his very coat. He shivered again, and urged his pony on. It snorted at him as if to say they should change places, but all the same obeyed.

A soft noise to the right startled them both. The pony jumped, but instead of bolting, sniffed the air, then tentatively took a few more steps forward, as if testing the snow. Gabriel scanned the underbrush, gray eyes wide and alert, mouth parted slightly in apprehension.

Nothing. Just the wind, he thought to himself.

Suddenly and without warning the horse bolted. Gabriel gasped and instinctively grabbed the saddle as the reins were yanked out of his hands. The pony dashed through bushes and underbrush and was soon far from the path.

Gabriel let go with one hand and groped for the reins.

"Stop!" he yelled. Then he heard a terrifying sound that told him what had made the pony half wild with fear. A sudden chorus of howls and barks of wolves reached his ears, and he corrected his previous order with "GO! GO!"

Suddenly the pony tripped. Gabriel was thrown from the saddle and landed heavily on the ground and knew no more.

—

He came to slowly. His head ached, and he wanted to vomit. His vision was blurry, but slowly his eyes were able to focus on the scene before him.

Dead wolves lay about, torn, broken, and still. In the moonlight, his white pony seemed to glow. It stood still about five feet from him, looking reverently at the black shape to his right. My rescuer, thought Gabriel, and he turned his head slowly to gaze upon his savior.

It was a…thing. There was no explanation! It had two large horns, a snarling mouth, large shoulders and muscular limbs, a lion's tail that swished dangerously, and claws and teeth that made him shudder. It was ugly, and cruel looking. It's black fur gleamed in the moonlight, and it towered above him.

It had torn the wolves apart.

Gabriel stared, unable to turn away from the grotesque beast before him.

It turned to him, it's great paws covered in blood, it's steamy-breath blowing from it's flat snout like a geyser. It stared deeply at him, and suddenly he thought that the blue-bell eyes looked almost human as they gazed into his very soul.

It turned away, and disappeared into the fog.

Gabriel let out the breath he had been unconsciously holding. He stared at the dead wolves, their red blood staining the ground. The giant paw prints of the creature remained, assuring him of the veracity of what he had seen.

He slowly got to his feet. His numb fingers reminded him that he needed shelter for the night, and his pony, though standing and miraculously alright, couldn't take him all the way home tonight.

Gabriel mounted the horse and wondered in what direction home lay.

"You choose, Nathalie," he said to the pony.

The pony sniffed the air, and turned right. They wandered aimlessly in the fog for a bit, and right as Gabriel lost all hope of ever seeing a bed again, they came around a bend and a castle tower came into view. Spurring the pony on, he soon was passing through the large, ornate silver gates, and passing through the lawn of the huge house.

"Stay here Nathalie," he said, tying his pony to the post next to the steps to the front door. The castle was large and dark, and not a light shown from the windows. "I must find my host."

"Surely a wealthy family lives here," he said to himself, pushing open the unlocked door. "Perhaps they can give me shelter, and a fresh horse!"

He rushed inside, not even caring to notice the silent surroundings, nor the darkened windows. All he could think of was the food and warm bed and the kind welcome -

He stepped inside. "Hello?" he called. The hall was dark. Even in the darkness, Gabriel could see the elegance, the prestige, the class of this fine house.

But everything was dark. Where was the family? The lord who lived here?

"So, you entered uninvited into my home?"

He whirled, but the door was already slamming shut. Drawing itself up to it's full height, a creature stood before him, towering over him. Gabriel froze, then began trembling violently.

"Its you!" He gasped, falling to his knees, trying to appease the beast. The creature no longer had blood on it's paws, but he remembered the wolves and wondered if being torn apart was also his fate.

"I didn't know!" he swore, voice barley above a whisper. "I…I was cold and hungry! Please, spare me!"

The beast grunted, then said, "If I had not just saved your pathetic life, I would throttle you. I suppose you would give me anything to be allowed to spend the night and leave freely unscathed in the morning?"

"Anything! Anything!" cried Gabriel. "Please don't kill me!"

"What do you have that could possibly bring me happiness in this life?" demanded the beast.

Gabriel stammered, trying to think quickly. "I…I have money and gems," he offered.

"So do I," snorted the creature, gesturing to the grandeur around them.

"I have…I have…things from other lands. Trinkets, doo-dads," he said earnestly.

"As do I," snarled the creature angrily, patience fading.

"I have…I have…nothing else!" moaned Gabriel. "I have nothing else to offer. Oh please, do not take my life!"

"How about your time," asked the creature. A sudden gleam came into it's eyes. "I lost all my time because of a curse. Why not join my fate?"

Gabriel paled.

"You shall be my prisoner," said the beast, seizing Gabriel by the leg. He screamed in terror as it dragged him away.

"Please, no!" He cried. "I have a son! He needs me!"

The creature stopped, then looked down at the terrified man. "How old is your son?" It asked, a softness to it's voice.

"He has just come of marrying age," said Gabriel. "But he is still alone."

"And he shall learn to be alone," it said, and dragged the screaming man into the darkness.

—

It was customary for Adrien to wait expectantly for his father, only to be disappointed. Gabriel would sometimes spend longer time than planned away from his son, and so when Gabriel did not arrive promptly, Adrien did not fret. He went about his normal life, reading and keeping house until his father returned. But when Nathalie, his father's pony, returned alone, Adrien knew something was wrong.

She trotted up to him, seeking attention. He gently pet her nose and rubbed the dirt from her scraped knees. "You fell," he whispered, and looked to her empty saddle. "Nathalie, take me to Father!"

Nathalie refused to move until she received the proper attention. Her nerves were shot, and Adrien fretted over her as she ate her oats and drank great gulps of water, and then demanded to be brushed. "What could have happened?" he wondered, when he noticed the scratch marks on the saddle. Right behind the stirrup on the cinch. He traced the marks with his fingers, then quickly threw on a jacket, packed a days worth of food, and then tucked his book into his shirt, in case this was the last time he was leaving this town. Mounting Nathalie, he spurred her on to go into the woods when a cry reached his ears.

"Adrikins!"

"GO NATHALIE!" he shrieked, and Nathalie took off.

Chloe and Sabrina stared as he rode into the dark woods. "Where is he going?" demanded Chloe.

"I don't know," said Sabrina. "Maybe someplace from in his books?"

"Hmph. I'll have to look for that blackmail you mentioned. I'm pretty sure he hates me."

Sabrina looked at her friend in shock. "Then why would you want him?"

"Silly!" laughed Chloe. "You don't marry for love. Once I'm done with Adrien, I'll move on to my next one. It's how my father has lived this whole time. Adrien will have an accident one day and I'll marry my second but not last husband."

Sabrina felt a chill come over her. Perhaps Adrien would be safer in the woods.