Author's Notes:

I don't own Beauty and the Beast or its characters. It's the property of Walt Disney and all other versions of the story belong to their respective owners.

Rated M for the usual: language, adult themes, and other good stuff.

This is a one-shot that popped into my head thanks to my love for Moulin Rouge and one of my favorite Disney movies. I don't mean to screw up anyone's childhood, so be warned that this version of Beauty and the Beast is OOC & AU. Some dark themes are at work here as well. Hope you guys enjoy it.

The Show Must Go On

On the stage of Gaston's brothel, Feathery Desires,Belle walked along the very edge until she came to a stop and gracefully sat down. She bashfully waved at the crowd. It was something that she had practiced for quite some time, and a move that her multitude of suitors adored.

In the back of the room, unseen by the audience, Gaston held a flask in his fist and eyed his prized possession. He tilted his head to the side as Belle entranced the audience with her shy, but delectable performance. He took a swig of the hard liquor that sloshed in his flask. Her act was clean cut, but he saw through her games. Behind her innocent countenance held such a fiery temperament that he couldn't help but snicker.

Her headstrong ways often lead to severe punishment. It pained him only a little to discipline her in such a way, but he had no choice. In order to assert his claim over her, he had to claim her…repeatedly. Whether she was in the mood or not, it didn't matter to him. She had no other option if she wished to keep her job. Her father was plagued by crazed hallucinations and had been bed-ridden for weeks now. She had been lucky that Gaston had taken an interest in her. Heaven knew that he didn't need any more whiny whores ruining his show and getting on his nerves.

As the lights dimmed and slowly faded out, Belle made her way off the stage, behind the curtains. Once she was out of view, she slipped off her heels and made her way to her small vanity mirror. Her mascara had caked from her sweat again. She never liked having so much makeup on her face, but it helped hide her true face from the lusting animals waiting for her in the parlor.

She rushed over to her rack of clothes to change into a low-cut, clingy, pale-pink number that complimented her complexion. She hurried into the dress and knew she'd never make it out of the dressing room in time when she heard the footfalls of the hard soles that constantly harassed her. She had barely tugged the dress over head when Gaston burst into the room.

"Magnificent as always, my lovely." Gaston breathed as he tossed his flask onto her vanity. "Our guests are quite taken with you. Then again, you know how much you affect them with that reluctance bull-shit." He smirked down at her chaise. He hadn't looked up at her since he flung his flask down.

Belle hastily tried tugging down her costume while he was distracted. "I don't have a clue what you're going on about, Gaston." She murmured.

"Oh, don't you? Why don't you show our guests the little bitch you are to me? Hm?" He bellowed while lifting his gaze to hers, but not before admiring the rest of her. "Why do they get to have the Belle that I want?" He questioned to no one in particular.

Belle backed herself into the curtain, "Gaston….darling. Come now, your paying guests are waiting. Let's go make our appearance."

Gaston turned to her fully and dragged her away from the curtain. "Oh yes, my love. You'd surely jump at the chance to hump another man's leg in my presence. You know my eyes would be glued to your glorious body as you work another man over. And I'm forced to share you with every goddamned gentleman!"

Belle's calm demeanor melted away as she struggled against Gaston's harsh, groping hands. When he had backed her up against her vanity, her self-preservation kicked in. She straightened her shoulders and nearly purred at him, "then I've neglected you for too long, darling. Forget the other gentlemen. Let me see to your needs, hm?"

Gaston's twisted grin caused Belle to shudder as she realized her tactic hadn't appeased him this time. The lip of her vanity was unmercifully shoved into her lower back as Gaston lowered his mouth to her ear. He roughly bit into the lobe before stating, "Oh, you will see to my needs, love. Don't forget who owns this body." To emphasize his point, he cupped Belle's breast and twisted it like a doorknob.

Belle's cry of pain satisfied Gaston for only a moment as he pressed himself fully against her. His hands slithered under the hem of her dress and sought out the useless fabric that covered her. He growled into her chin as he felt her bare skin against him. "You dirty slut. You act bashful on stage, but you really just want to rile me up. You just want a good fucking once you're done performing. Is that it?"

Belle shut her eyes as her tears threatened to spill. She was determined to wait until after he was done with her to cry. Her throat constricted with regret as she whispered, "Yes, that's what I want," knowing that Gaston had demanded that she never wear undergarments.

His hands delved into her dry, and when a cry of pain escaped her clamped lips, Gaston pulled his fingers out of her. "Aw, is my star not feeling excited enough today?"

Belle turned her face away from him and didn't respond to him. She braced herself for the worst as she fixed her gaze on the curtains a few feet away from them.

Gaston's anger started to bubble over as Belle defied him. He grasped her chin tightly and turned her face to his. He bit down on her lower lip and smirked as a few drops of blood popped up. "Remember who you belong to after you are done whoring yourself." He murmured in a lustful haze.

His trance was broken when one of his flustered girls rushed into the room. Once she saw what was taking place, she lowered her eyes and remained in the doorway. "M-master Gaston, the gentlemen are becoming anxious…"

Gaston released Belle's chin and pushed himself away from her as he straightened his lapels. "Very well. Get out of here now, both of you. If your quota isn't met, there'll be beatings in store for each and every one of you. Feel free to pass along the message, Babette."

Babette nodded her head vigorously, causing her glossy black tresses to bob along with her. She adjusted her scandalously short maid's costume before rushing off to demanding crowd.

Gaston picked up his flask as he tossed Belle a dirty napkin. "Wipe your lip, would you? I know the men out there wouldn't give a rat's ass about your appearance since you're just easy entertainment, but we need to have class, don't we?"

Belle watched him saunter out of the room as she flung her hairbrush at the vanity mirror causing a crack that spider-webbed to the edges of the mirror. With a shaky hand, she fixed her hair and wiped away the smeared mascara under her eyes.

Before leaving the dressing room, Belle glanced at her appearance in the warped mirror. Her image had never seemed as accurate as it was at that moment.

...

Adam's eyes raked over the scantily clad females that poured in from every corner of the room. He didn't make it a habit to frequent shady venues such as this one, but his childhood friend, Lumiere, had talked him into it.

Lumiere sat next to Adam on one of the rickety bar stools. "Gaston has done well for himself, no?" He asked in his heavy French accent.

Adam sneered as the busty barista handed him another free drink. "Well is not the word that comes to mind for this place, but if this is how he intends to make a life for himself…more power to him, then." He sipped at his drink while taking in the stage.

Lumiere gestured a girl over and snaked his arm around her waist. "Oh, come now, Adam. Let us not judge the man over his business. You and he were once good friends, right? Let, how do they say… bygones be goodbye, right?" The blonde nestled against Lumiere giggled as he lazily rubbed her hip.

"That was a long time ago, I'm afraid. Don't get me wrong, Lumiere, I am not a saintly man by any means." Adam's dark eyes settled on a woman sliding herself onto a man's lap while whispering in his ear.

Lumiere kissed the blonde's collarbone before handing her a bill. He shooed her away as he turned his full attention to Adam. "Mon ami, we all possess a dark side. It is not only you. In every man there is a battle to succumb to one's selfish and even evil desires, but in the same man there is a side that fights valiantly to subdue his primal nature. You are not an evil man, Adam."

Adam's eyes hardened at Lumiere's speech. He caught sight of Feathery Desire's owner with a stunning woman at his side. Her hair hung in loose mahogany ringlets. Her chest deliciously spilled out of the top of her pink corset. The dress barely came down to her thighs and showcased her bare legs. She carried herself well in her ridiculous shoes and although Adam didn't care for high heels, he found himself oddly entranced by the way she walked in them.

The tight grip Gaston had on her wasn't lost on Adam. He just leaned forward on his elbows as Gaston made eye-contact with him.

Gaston's hand slithered up the side of the beautiful woman's face as he whispered something in her ear intimately. She seemed to have straightened her back as she turned away from Gaston and walked over seductively to Adam whose eyebrows shot up in surprise.

The brunette saddled up to his side and bent her back a bit as she placed her hand delicately on the side of his face. "There's no room for dejection here, sir. May I help lift your spirits?" She murmured softly against his lips as she slid onto his lap and grinded down on him. She wove her arms around his neck as he braced his back against the bar counter. He found that he couldn't help but wrap his arms around her waist as she placed tentative kisses along his throat.

Adam's eyes snapped up to Gaston who had planted himself in front of the two. He struggled to ignore the nips that the brunette on his lap was giving him. "Evening, Gaston. Impressive place you've acquired for yourself."

Gaston merely shrugged as his eyes bored into the back of the brunette's head before answering. "Yes, well. With so many willing harlots, who would be stupid enough to go into any other kind of business?" Gaston asked pointedly.

Adam's eyes narrowed as he grabbed the brunette by the hips and attempted to slide her off his lap. She only clung to him tighter so he continued speaking as if she hadn't just unbuttoned the top of his shirt to kiss his chest.

"I suppose those who loathe themselves and entertain sleazy ideals have no problem opening an establishment such as this. You're nothing like that, Gaston." Adam said in an icy tone.

"People like you, don't understand businessmen like me. You have to have heart to do what I do."

Lumiere interjected before Adam managed to have them both thrown out of the whorehouse. "Gaston, mon bon homme. I am utterly astounded at the large amount of gorgeous women you have under your thumb! You clearly outshine any brothels in this area. The men of this city are very grateful to you! Especially those with nagging wives!" Lumiere laughed heartily as he lifted his glass to Gaston.

Gaston smiled warmly addressing the entire room, "yes, this place is for men like me. Over-worked men who deserve a good once over! Gentlemen continue to enjoy yourselves tonight."

As he finished his announcement, he savagely pulled Belle off of Adam's lap and pressed her to his side.

Adam noticed deep purple-green marks on the woman's inner thighs as Gaston swiveled her around. When he looked up at her face, he also saw the impression of a hand on the side of her chin which she quickly hid with her hair.

"Help yourselves to anyone here tonight, gentlemen, but I'll have to take this jewel off the market for tonight. She's only for show." Gaston gestured to the brunette on his arm and hastily pulled her along by the arm.

None of the men in the joint cared that only one girl had been taken away from them. They continued to grope every other one that passed them by. Violence was something they had grown accustomed to and paid no mind to the bruises or scars they found on their playthings.

Adam, however, was unsettled by the fact that Gaston had claimed one of his whores so intimately. It bothered him that Gaston's brunette was unlike every other broad he had seen in brothels like this. Something about her screamed that she was either new to this or wasn't meant for it.

If Adam took anything away from his past experiences with Gaston, he knew that before long, Gaston would have her broken in and subdued. That thought infuriated Adam and he detested himself for allowing a wretch to cause these violent feelings to stir up in him again.

"Oh, no. I never liked that concentrated look on your face, Adam. I surely don't like it now. What has you thinking so much?" Lumiere slurred as he went for his sixth drink.

"Nothing, Lumiere." Adam said as his eyes wandered over to where Gaston was sitting with that brunette's legs wrapped around him.

"We're surrounded by willing women, Adam! Stop lusting after a woman that you cannot have." Lumiere shook his head and shoved another drink into Adam's empty hands. "Leave well enough alone and grab yourself a blonde or two. The best way to lose yourself is in a woman's curves, after-all!"

Adam absently nodded and took a long swig of his drink as he ogled the woman who he wasn't able to have.

...

Belle quietly slipped out of Gaston's sweaty hands and quickly threw on a sheer tunic. Gaston had once again fallen asleep in one of their back rooms after having his way with her.

She grimaced as she walked through the curtain. The ache between her legs was now a stabbing pain that nearly made her fall to her knees in agony.

She entered the stage room and breathed a sigh of relief since she only saw one of two men still lingering around. Normally at this time, men were gathering their trousers and contemplating some half-assed excuse for their wives.

Belle walked behind the counter of the bar and crouched down to retrieve a piece of bread and cheese. The only time she had for herself was this rare period of silence and shuffling. She sat on the floor, grateful for the cover the counter gave her. She nibbled on the stale bread and shut her eyes relishing the taste of the cheese.

"What type of hide-out is this?"

Belle opened her eyes quickly and sprang to her feet. She saw the only gentlemen she had entertained this evening leaning on the bar's counter addressing her. She hastily stepped out from behind the bar and tried to get around him. As much as she loathed Gaston, she was always nervous when he wasn't near. The men were usually gentler when they saw the owner lurking around.

"I'm terribly sorry, sir, but tonight my Master has forbid me from pleasuring any other gentlemen. I'd be happy to service you, perhaps tomorrow night?"

"Please. I am no gentlemen neither am I so important to have a title like sir. Call me Adam."

Belle shook her head and kept her eyes on the floor in front of her. She felt foolish for acting this way around this man. She had seduced, pleasured, and manipulated many a man before, but this man appeared very different from all the others.

Adam stepped closer to her and gripped her upper arm and urgently whispered to her, "You're no brothel girl. Leave this place and the abuse behind. Come with me instead."

Belle gasped as she ripped herself away from him and nervously replied, "I cannot do that, sir. I am bound to Feathery Desires and to Master Gaston. I…I wanted to work here. I will not leave with you."

Adam shook his head impatiently and tried to reach out to her again, but she backed away from him too quickly. She was about to run off, but he caught the side of her tunic and pulled her to him. He picked her up and slung her over his shoulder. When she started to scream and panic, he lowered her and pressed his palm to her mouth.

"Shut your mouth this instant." He hissed as he backed her to the nearest wall and out of sight. "I am taking you with me whether you like it or not. You may think I am crazy, but I don't care. I'll explain myself another time, but tonight, I want you with me. I can't promise you that I won't hurt you, but I certainly won't humiliate you like he has."

Belle's eyes watered uncontrollably as she took in his words. She didn't know what he wanted from her aside from a fuck. She could have easily done that for him the next night. He had to be mentally ill and planning to do terrible things to her. She had heard stories of men that came into brothels, seduced women, then kidnapped and killed them for the hell of it.

Her captor shoved a dirty rag in her mouth as he hoisted her over his shoulder and made his way to the back exit of the whorehouse.

Adam held the brunette tightly to ensure that she wouldn't try to struggle and hurt him in the process. His hand worked its way up to her rear as he held her. He absently caressed her upper thighs where he knew her bruises were. He didn't know what had possessed him or why he had kidnapped a whore. He debated tossing her to the ground and walking away, allowing her to go back to where she came from.

He didn't know why he wanted her so desperately or why he thought he could make a better life for her. He wasn't gentle or careful. He often chose words that he knew would cut into a person. His past still haunted him and he never thought he'd be able to be with a woman again because of his animalistic nature.

Despite all of his shortcomings… she awakened in him what he had tried to keep buried.

He trekked through the snow covered walkway to the carriage he had bought for the night. He dumped the woman inside and locked the doors. As he started to drive the carriage away from the infamous brothel, the voice of a woman who had long haunted the recesses of his mind slithered around his ears:

"You'll never be a good man…..you'll hurt all those around you who try to care about you.

Your gorgeous face will remain just that, but your heart will wilt away. Like a dying rose, your humanity will dry out. You say you want to know love? Tell me what love is when you find someone who could love what you are inside. A filthy beast!"

As Adam drove out of the city he had grown up in, he felt the familiar clench of his heart as it continued to harden. He bared his teeth to the snowy road and proceeded on to his home, ignoring the cries of the beautiful brunette in the coach behind him.

A/N:

Hope you guys liked the one-shot! Feel free to tell me what you thought about it; I'd love to hear it!

-Nightmarish Escape