A/N: Guess whaaaaat? I'm writing another RinxLen fan fiction... with multiple chapters! If you liked "The Perfect Duet" you'll probably like this one. This time, however, it's based on "Beauty and the Beast." Except you'll find that it's much darker than the version you're probably used to (and the fairy tale if you've read it). XD Enjoy! Oh, and see if you can pick out the song I'm referencing in this chapter-it's pretty easy, I'll be disappointed if you don't get it. XD By the way... this is a noncest RinxLen fan fic... because that's just how it is.

As far as updates go... I'm really not sure... it will probably be slow because the school semester is just passing mid-terms and beginning to wrap-up.

Curse

Prince Len Kagamine tapped a finger on the arm of his throne, resting his chin on a palm, while staring almost impatiently at the clock at the end of the room. The seconds clicked away as the pendulum gently swung back and forth, shining as it passed the light from the chandelier above. Len counted the ticks that passed away, watching the minute hand inch closer to the twelve. Then, with a sudden snap, the clock began to toll three chimes.

"Ah, it's tea time." He said haughtily, straightening himself in his throne.

He was not surprised when servants came through the doors before him rolling in trays filled with snacks and the finest, ornate tea sets—he expected it. Crossing his legs and cocking his head, he waited. The servants frantically prepared to pour the tea and present the prince his afternoon snack. However, a gasp followed the sound of a sudden crash sounded in the air. Len narrowed his eyes at a young girl who had dropped the tea cup and saucer. She was a new servant, he recalled—Yuki was her name. He stood up from his throne and slowly approached the trembling girl. As she gazed up at him, she met the most terrifying, cold eyes she had ever seen, and with that, Len raised his hand and smote her.

"Take her away!" Len commanded, returning to his throne as two servants quickly escorted the crying girl out, "I do not want a servant that can't serve tea!"

Sighing heavily, Len scanned the servants glancing back and forth between Yuki and him. He began to tap his finger again.

"Well? Where is my tea?"

With that the servants scurried back to work. After hurriedly cleaning up the mess that had been made, a new saucer and cup had been produced for Len. The finest Earl Grey tea was poured into it, it's fragrance flowing into the air. Len breathed in, taking in the smell, and smiled as he took the saucer that was presented to him. A sweet so fine and only fit to be looked upon by royalty was set at the table next to his throne. Len glanced at it and took one more sip of his tea before setting the saucer down. He didn't get the chance to take a bite of his wonderful snack, however, for his minister came through the doors with a grave expression on his face.

"What is it?" Len snuffed before eying his minister once more, "And where are your manners?"

The minister, a man clad in blue bent low to the ground, bowing his head before the yellow prince. Sensing that Len was satisfied, he lifted his eyes up toward his prince, still kneeling on the ground. The skin on his forehead was tightened and his eyebrows were arched up, as if he feared Len's coming reaction. His breath shook and his open mouth trembled as he stared into the dark, cold gaze of the prince?

"Well?" Len began to tap his finger again.

"I'm afraid the castle is short on money again..."

"If we're short on money, then squeeze it from the citizens" Len simply said.

"But the citizens say that they have barely enough to pay their taxes—"

"I said..."

Len slowly stood up and approached his minister, lifting his foot so that he raised the poor man's chin with the tip of his boot.

"...to squeeze it out of the citizens. Raise their taxes! Make it clear that anyone who opposes me will be punished!"

Len once again returned to his throne and simply took up his tea and saucer and began to drink again, believing he had completely solved the matter. The blue minister, Kaito Shion, simply stared at Len, as if he expected another response.

"Well?" Len was looking annoyed now, "Do as I say!"

"Yes, Your Highness." Kaito bowed his head low once again before quickly turning about and scurrying out of the throne room.

Once the click of the doors ushered in the silence, Len lowered the tip of the cup from his lips and smiled. And under his breath, he murmured,

"Now, bow down to me!"

The next morning, a beautiful woman of pink hair noticed a crowd of murmuring villagers gathered around a wall. Catching her attention, she slowly made her way over to them, pulling the hood of her cloak farther over her head. She pushed her way through the crowd to the front, where hanging on the wall, was an unrolled piece of parchment. Her eyes scanned over the words that brought up an air of mutual distraught.

"By Royal Decree,

Taxes are to be increased by tenfold. These demands are to be met no matter what. If any citizen fails to comply, they will suffer punishment in the name of the prince.

Long Live His Highness,

Prince Len Kagamine"

Upon reading this, the pink-haired woman scowled, gritting her teeth. She backed out of the crowd as more villagers pushed in front of her to read the decree. As she walked away, she could hear crying and several pleadings toward God. Looking to one side, she could see a homeless girl tending to her grandmother, covered in filth and mud. Looking to another, she could see a young boy pick-pocketing a young couple discussing the finances for marriage. The village she walked through had broken streets and houses nearly torn and mangled from the elements. All the animals were skin and bones and with what little crops there were, they appeared dried and exhausted from the sun's rays. The only things that shone brilliantly were the soldiers of the prince.

This wrenched the woman's heart. How could a prince do this to his own kingdom? These were perfectly innocent people non-deserving of the atrocity that they faced. A young girl had stumbled up to her and clung to her cloak. She gazed up at her with bony cheeks and eyes absent of light.

"Miss... do you have something spare to eat?"

The woman quickly began searching herself for a morsel of food, but to her dismay, she couldn't find anything on herself that she could spare. With a sorrowful gaze, she stared down at the girl, who was highly expectant and hopeful. As she knelt down and placed her hands on the girl's shoulders, however, a cry came from the crowd of people.

"What is this?"

The sorrowful silence of the village was shattered. A man, the blacksmith, lifted his head and turned to face his fellow villagers, "Why do we kneel to this man—no, this mere boy?"

Soldiers slowly stalked over to him. The villagers tried to silence him, but it was to no avail.

"What happens to our taxes? We slave day in and day out and give all that we earn to this prince of evil, and for what? To pay for his treasures from across the world?"

"You, there! Do not question the prince!"

"I will question the prince all I want—he's a pathetic excuse for—"

A sudden groan of pain had escaped the blacksmith's lungs. A soldier had taken his shining, silver blade and ran it through his stomach. A stream of crimson now stained the dirty road as the man fell dead. There was a horrible silence that hung in the air for a brief moment, and then not just one person stood up, but there were many that cried out in complaint and outrage. They had attempted to overtake the soldier that had killed the blacksmith, but they were quickly struck to the ground when more of Prince Len's soldiers gathered.

The pink-haired woman clutched the girl's hand when she saw more villagers gathering together to fight back.

"We have to get out of here—let's run... quickly!"

And with that, the girl frantically followed behind her and together they ran in the opposite direction of the mad mob that gathered. Passing out of the village, they burst into the forest just beyond. Hiding amongst the trees, the woman obscured the girl's gaze from the village.

"Where's Mommy? We have to go back for Mommy!" She began to get up to charge forward.

"No! It's not safe! You have to stay here!"

"But Mommy isn't safe!"

"Your mother would want you safe here!" She pushed down on the girl's shoulders, forcing her to sit down.

Tears streamed from the young girl's cheeks as she buried her head onto the woman's chest. The hooded woman wrapped her arms around the girl, holding her close. More terrible cries tore from the village now. Still keeping hidden behind a tree, the woman moved her head so that she could see the village in the corner of her gaze. Yellow light shone from the village and pillars of smoke rose into the air. They were burning the village?

Curse that awful prince... Had he no heart? Had he no love?

The woman could barely stand to look anymore. She clutched to the crying girl and held her closer and tighter as the cries loudened more and more. It was only a brief moment that the village was purged of rebels, but the time that passed seem to lurk by much longer, stretching to longer, painful hours. When silence finally fell on the village and the light vanished, the woman had stood up with the child. Everything was so silent.

The voice of the people had been stifled.

"Mommy..." The girl murmured.

Hesitantly, the pink-haired woman walked hand-in-hand with the girl back to the village, sneaking past the guards and being careful not to be seen. As they passed through the alleyways and came to the center square a chill had risen in the woman's spine. There were dead bodies everywhere, both man and woman. Splatters of red blood painted the roads now and the smell of burning flesh wreaked in the air. Soldiers walked from place to place, gathering any dead and threw them in a pile. The living were trembling and curled up, shielding themselves from the horrible sight.

"Mommy!" The girl had ripped her hand from the woman's and tore away, frantically looking for her mother.

The woman simply continued to stare. And as two soldiers passed her, she overheard the words,

"They opposed the prince, so they were punished."

The prince...

Not being able to bear any more, the pink-haired woman turned and left the village, finding her way to the road leading into the forest once more. Thoughts swirled in her mind—sadness, anger, confusion, vengeance. The people were unable to stand up and fight for themselves. They didn't have the power to. It was at that moment that the woman resolved to something. She could no longer keep herself and her powers secret anymore. The only one that was able to stifle the evil flower was herself. With one motion, she moved her hands to her hood and lowered it, unveiling her head. If she had to storm the castle herself, she would do it... She would stifle the heartless and loveless prince.

For she was an enchantress.

Determined to quell the pain of the people, the enchantress slowly approached the castle that rose from the middle of the woods. A brilliant castle that was decorated with the most ornate statues and constructed with the finest stone—it was the very icon of wealth. It was the product of the prince's selfishness and black heart. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward.

The soldiers at the front gate noticed her stalking toward them, her hair blowing wildly behind her. The image of it was enough to make them shiver a little, enough for them to say,

"Halt! What business do you have here?"

"I have business with the prince—out of my way."

And as she lifted her two hands, the soldiers were immediately tossed away, hitting the wall that surrounded the castle and thrown into unconsciousness. The enchantress continued on effortlessly into the courtyard where more soldiers ran to strike her down. With mere flicks of her fingers, a stream of glittering light passed through the air and shattered on the soldiers.

She approached the doors to the entrance hall now and with one motion of her hand, they were thrown open and she passed through. As she walked on the beautiful marble tile that spread all along the floor beneath her feet, she cast darkness with every step. It spread and spread as she made her way farther into the castle, distorting its shape, changing its from from a shining splendor to a dark and morbid form. The soldiers that approached her now were terrified and shaken even though they lifted their swords toward her. Effortlessly, however, the enchantress threw them aside. As she approached the throne room, the castle already engulfed in a strange shadow-form, she gripped one of the swords of the fallen soldiers that charged at her. Then with her own hands, she threw open the door to the throne chamber.

And there sat Prince Len Kagamine on his throne, tapping his finger, eyes narrowed and glowering at her. As the enchantress briskly walked forward, he gripped the sword next to him.

"Name yourself." He commanded.

The enchantress stopped for a moment, and shoulders back and head held high, she said boldly, "I am Enchantress Luke Megurine. I've come to hush the flame of your black heart."

"Oh, have you?" Len slowly stood up and approached her, sword at his side, "We will see about that.

Then with a quick motion, Len had brought up his sword to strike Luka, but it was too slow for her. Luka had easily knocked the sword away from Len's hand. As the young prince was in shock from the sudden movement, Luka brought down her blade and slashed the prince across his body. A cry of pain tore from Len's lips as he gripped his wound. Bringing his hand up, he saw a crimson liquid flowing down his fingers.

"B-blood..." He was suddenly now very pale.

"Prince Len Kagamine." Luka stepped forward as Len fell to his knees, "You have mistreated your people and you are devoid of any love in your heart—as punishment, you shall pass to the afterlife."

She raised her sword, blood dripping from its tip.

"Please!" Len cried, "I beg of you! Don't kill me!"

He crawled forward on his hands and knees and clutched Luka's leg, "Do not end my life! I'll do anything! Please!"

What a pitiful sight, Luka thought, as she stared at his tearful eyes and running nose. Yet, a strange thought had crossed the enchantress' mind. If she were to kill this boy that caused pain to the citizens—would she not be the same as him? But what a pathetic sight this was... for the first time, Luka pitied the prince, for there was no love in his heart. A cry of relief sounded from Len as he saw Luka drop the bloodstained sword to the floor. However, she slowly raised her hand and gripped the prince's forehead.

"Prince Len Kagamine," she began, her voice full and terrifying, "there is no love in your heart. To atone for your sins, I shall curse you with a spell—by day you shall take the form of a frail human, and by night, you shall take the form of your bitter heart."

"Huh...?" His eyes widened.

"And until you learn how to love and earn another's love, you shall remain a terrible beast—a twisted form of your existence." And with that, Luka pushed back on the prince's head and a light filled the room.

A terrible cry tore from Len's lungs.