Disclaimer: don't own the characters, or the original plot for Beauty and the Beast.

Rant: This came idea came to me randomly and I decided to make use of it. (Yes, I'm going to be working on two separate Lacie/Jack stories, honestly both stories were in my head at the same time and finally I grew tired of trying to write one while the other keeps popping up into my mind so I decided to try working on both of them).

This story will be a different take of both works, and the characters will be OOC for certain.

Introduction

Back during trying times when plague, disease, and famine claimed its victims in a sweet, deep sleep called death there was a young man who closed his heart off to the world. Though he lived in luxury and the people flocked to him bearing gifts and claiming their adoration of him. He knew it was all insincere flattery; these people never saw him for the man inside and only sought his company for his riches. Eventually, he cast himself away from the world deep inside his castle with only a few friends and servants for company. As time went on his friends grew more and more concerned with their master's behavior, but unfortunately whenever they approached him he sent them away. And now they watch with fear as their master's isolation continues to grow.

Chapter 1- A time for change

"Arthur, will you hurry up already," snapped the young red-headed maid, struggling to keep her skirts up as she hurried along, "we're already running behind and here you are moseying along like we're having a cup of tea."

The maid was an attractive woman with high cheekbones and a slender chin; her red hair provided a wonderful contrast to her slim gray eyes. She was slender in built and had a fine muscle tone from years of sorting out clutter and dusting the high ceilings in some of the castle's rooms.

"Yes Miranda, I'm going as fast as these legs will carry me so please shush," the slightly plump red-haired cook spit out between gasps. The poor fellow sounded as though he was about to suffer from an asthma attack and the woman still encouraged him to pick up his pace.

While she was muscular and narrow in built, the young man was of a decent height, but had some meat on his bones. Some considered him attractive in an awkward way, but he paid no heed to these rumors, he was a shy fellow compared to the woman's dominant nature. Arthur was also the elder brother to Miranda and possessed the same red hair and gray eyes as his sister.

But it was obvious as to who held the power.

"Arthur, please just shut up and get a move on," she hissed between teeth, her eyes trained far off into the distance.

"What has you so riled up this afternoon anyway?" Arthur stuttered out as he fell behind, his breaths came out with labor and he swore his ribcage was crushing his lungs. There was an odd burning sensation coming from this region.

Miranda shouted over her shoulder, "They captured some gentleman sneaking onto the land earlier today and now they're about to hold his trial. And I hear there might be a torture session and I just can't miss it!"

Arthur skidded to a stop and watched the black speck of his sister run off to watch the trial. He knew his sister had a slightly twisted fascination with pain but to get so excited about watching a man get tortured just wasn't his cup of tea. Soon enough he couldn't see his sister's black dress, that was required for the maids to wear, and he enjoyed the moment of relief for his lungs.

He hadn't heard about any men getting captured today, but then again he often had his nose stuck in a book. Miranda often scolded him that one day he was going to get stuck in the library and nobody would know where he was until he had withered away to bones because he refused to part from his lovely books.

Well, in his defense books were a better hobby to take part in than being a witness to the torture sessions as his sister had just proven the rumors true.

He gazed down the continuous grey hallway, the dungeons were quite a distance away and a person had to head outside in order to reach them. He took a glance out the window to his left and saw some leaves slowly falling from the trees. Lately, all the leaves had turned into bright color arrangements or reds and yellows. A chill could be felt around the castle as the temperature continued to drop, actually the castle was always cold, it felt like death himself resided here instead of the master who few had the privilege of seeing with their own eyes.

Arthur was sometimes granted this privilege because he grew up with the master, but as the years went by even he saw less and less of the master. Which was a shame because he used to bring such life to the castle until…

Arthur shook his head to steer off the negative thoughts. Bad vibes this castle gave a person if they lived here for too long.

Miranda continued sprinting through the castles, nearly tripping other servants as she paced. She took a deep breath and giggled as the pleasant smell of cinnamon filtered into her nostrils. She loved this time of the season when the fireplaces were lit up and pumpkins were placed around the castle.

But she did disapprove of the numerous hallways that she still got lost in if she didn't pay close attention.

If you go this way it's a left, then a right, then go straight.

Luckily, she knew this path pretty well and soon enough the brass door leading to the outside could be seen a few feet away. Her steps echoed down the hallways and she often questioned why the elite considered such high ceilings fashionable. Then again, it wasn't fashionable to have a master who refused to take part in banquets and other kingdom celebrations and instead chose to stay cooped up in his room.

She snickered as she threw the door open to sprint across the fields leading to the dungeons where the prisoner was being held. The master and his woe as me behavior could wait, this was much more exciting!

She had overheard the chimney cleaners discussing that this man had been caught trespassing in the cabbage fields, and was found trying to steal some food red-handed. He awaited his trial currently and luckily Miranda would be there to witness his sentencing. She personally found the act of stealing cabbage a stupid reason to lock someone up but then again the interrogator had been bored lately and was looking for someone to take his boredom out on. The interrogator enjoyed her company due to the false information Miranda fed him that she was as much of a justice seeker as him. She managed to earn the spot as witness to these trials because she had shared with the interrogator her love of watching evil get their just desserts and he liked her response. She failed to mention the part where she loved watching evil get tortured because she found the whole torture process fascinating.

Something about the sounds of someone screaming as their bones were being twisted to the point of snapping and their skin being ripped open to reveal the ruby red liquid contained within was just fascinating! She enjoyed studying the inside of the human anatomy, to think that all these bones and organs she had seen were currently holding up this bag of flesh was an interesting concept to her.

Some of the field hands waved at her as she passed and she returned the gesture with a tad too much enthusiasm. She really needed to work on her containing her eagerness or else her hidden love of these sessions would get out. Arthur may have caught on earlier since she failed to keep her intentions hidden, but then again he shouldn't have tried to follow her. If he wanted to discuss his latest story then he should have sought her out at a later time.

Finally the dark complex that contained the dungeons came into sight. It was a gloomy little fixture with limited lighting and a rat infestation problem since nobody wanted to get near this part. Which Miranda found strange since these quarters were hardly ever used since the master hated violence, it was all the interrogator's idea to torture the felons.

Miranda paused outside the brass door with chains over the front to keep intruders from entering; she slumped down to try catching her breath. She quickly glanced around and when she determined nobody was looking leaned down to the cobblestone pathway and lifted up a brown rock with scratch marks on it. Once the rock was removed she smiled as she found the tiny silver key, nestled amongst a spider-web that could be used to enter the quarters.

Taking the key into her hand and replacing the stone, she quickly fumbled with the lock until she heard the clasp unlock. After unlocking the door, she snuck her head in to glimpse around into the darkness. Sadly it was much to dark even when her eyes adjusted and she had to feel her way to the second door that led to the main dungeon room. The entrance room was really just some plain room with no furnishings that was never lit up to cause the prisoners unease before even entering the main center. When she finally found the latch that would lead her to the main room she opened the thing without a second thought.

This proved a disastrous idea as light filtered around her and caused her to shield her eyes from the brightness. She could feel her head pulsing in protest and silently cursed her stupidity for forgetting that her eyes would take moments to adjust from jumping from extreme darkness to fire light.

When her headache finally dulled down she removed her hand to glance about the room, the interrogator was not currently present and she pursed her lips in annoyance. She had been hoping to jump into the inquiring of the prisoner. She sighed and walked into the room to lean back against the cold wall to wait for the interrogator, he often did as he pleased so it was uncertain when he would make his appearance.

"Miranda, my dear, you came earlier than expected?" came the nasally voice of the interrogator from beside her. She smiled and closed her eyes; this guy always had a habit of sneaking up on people. A habit he needed to drop his appearance often made the more squeamish lash out in fear.

"Yura, you know that I live for these occasions and it would break my heart to be a second late in watching a man find justice," she coolly lied through her teeth. If Yura had noticed her placing a hand behind her back and crossing two slender fingers he made no mention of it.

She saw from the corner of her eye his thin lips form into a grave smile of sorts before he nodded his head in approval. "Why of course my dear, pardon me, if I came across as rude, it's not everyday that such a delightful woman as yourself would actually take interest in scenarios involving justice instead of silly romantic notions other women of your age seem to indulge their fantasies in. You, my dear," he leaned down and lifted her hand to brush his crinkly lips against, she frowned in discomfort, "are a rarity amongst women these days."

Miranda knew Isla Yura had a high respect level for her and often liked to carry himself in the manners of a gentleman, but she knew deep down he was toying with her mind. Even though they considered each other on friendly terms, Yura liked to make people uncomfortable as some way of easing his boredom and since Miranda hardly budged he found her a worthy challenge.

It would be a lie if she said she didn't find this fellow slightly repulsive. His grey eyes were sunken into his skull and gave her the impression of a goblin. His forehead was much too long to even be considered normal and his bones showed through his skin. He also had red hair and Miranda would be damned if she overheard one more person trying to claim the two were related by blood means. There were worse rumors, some claimed they had a romantic relation and Miranda quickly rebuked these rumors she had as much interest in Isla Yura as she had in polishing weathered shoes.

She stared down at the man who shot a grim smile at her; he reminded her more of a walking skeleton than a goblin if she thought more of it. She noticed the expectancy in his eyes then realized she had forgotten to curtsey; she lifted up her black dress slightly and did a small dip to please the man. He clapped his hands and giggled childishly.

"I thank you Isla Yura for your kind words, "she smiled with feigned warmness. Can we cut to the torturing part already I'm so bored.

"Ahh," he snapped his fingers, "I know what you're waiting for and give me a moment I need to find the key to his cell."

She glanced over her shoulder to where the seven cells stood in a straight line; she couldn't make out a figure from this distance. Perhaps the unfortunate fellow was lying in the shadows hoping to not draw attention to himself?

A wicked grin formed on her face, he would have to do better than that since there was nowhere to run in this hell-hole, Yura had wandered off to search the wall containing a vast selection of keys and she had to warn herself not to choke the skeleton man.

Since he was sure to take forever she called out to Yura with fake sweetness, "If you don't mind I wish to take a look at this prisoner, what cell is he in?"

Yura released a string of curses as a row of keys fell on top of his head. He gingerly rubbed the top of his scalp before replying the prisoner was in the first cell on the left. She thanked him and then hurried over to the cell. Before she reached his, she made sure to drag her nails against the bars along the way to scare him. She loved the screeching that each bar made as her slightly polished nails ran over the surface.

At last, she came across the last cell, she stopped her mind-games to stand in front of the cell. She leaned in to see if she could see the man, but all she saw was darkness. Yura had told her earlier that this fellow was rather calm in nature and besides a smart mouth did not struggle back too much after he knew for certain he was caught.

She kept trying to peer in and still couldn't make out anything, finally getting annoyed she gripped the bars and leaned in to get a better view. She jumped back when she happened to look down into the violet eyes of the felon. He stared back at her with tired eyes with a hint of boredom ringing in the centers as she chewed back a gasp. "You startle easily don't you?" the man asked in a deep voice that made her think of thick leather for some reason. His voice was laced with sarcasm, but there was a hint of desperation that he was bravely trying to hide. His response annoyed her and she bent down to rest on her ankles, she leaned in to whisper, "You talk big for someone behind bars you know that."

The man shrugged, "I'm innocent and I know this, that fellow over there misled me with fabricated information that the cabbages were under his possession and that I was welcome to have them."

Now this caught Miranda off-guard, Yura had purposely caused this man to unknowingly steal in order to arrest him? "Look," she said coldly, "Yura is a good man so don't try to tempt me with sweet lies about how you're innocent. You committed a crime and must face punishment simple as that."

"Do all you people here blindly listen to whatever lies that thing sprouts?" he looked over her shoulder to where Yura was still fumbling with the keys. The man gazed at Yura as though he was a disgusting side exhibit at a circus.

She stopped herself from chuckling since this must be the same look she showed to Isla Yura to his face. Suddenly the prisoner's words echoed in her head- Do all you people here blindly listen to whatever lies that thing sprouts?

Is he calling me daft?

The idea that some stranger was blatantly telling her to her face that she was a silly girl who blindly listened to the interrogator's claims angered her to the infinite degree. She leaned all the way into the bars to see the stranger and said in a voice dripping with ice venom, "Listen here scum, don't talk down to me when you're the idiot behind bars, Yura has worked here for a long time and surely we would know if one of the master's servants was unjustly arresting people He's a good man and for certain has no Un-noble intentions."

I think?

She peered in to see the stranger's feet were bare and covered in mud, they had cut marks from where he had been dragged in by the field helpers. His beige trousers were coated with mud along with his plain white shirt. While she was studying his attire, he leaned in to rest his head against the bars, too. Their eyes met and she noted his violet eyes were far prettier than she had realized earlier. Even if they were dark and shaking with anger to rival her cool look of intellect. His deep voice said with its own edge of fury, "Look I doubt you're as gullible as you're trying to portray yourself to be, so instead of watching an innocent man get beaten for simply trying to take back home some food to feed himself and his starving sister why not do the right thing and urge him to release me?"

Some of the candlelight managed to shine across his face and she choked back a surprise gasp at how handsome this stranger was. Despite his raggedy clothes, she could now see the strong physique of a man who most likely worked in a sawmill, his shoulders were quite broad and his chest followed a similar fashion. His arms were now griping the bars and when his fingers unintentionally brushed against hers she managed to keep an impassive face while her nerves were jumping with shock and electricity from simply touching him. Her heart rate had accelerated and she dumbly questioned why his touch electrified her so?

If she was trying to impassively hide her newfound interest in the prisoner, his face remained the same, except she failed to notice his eyes widening. His sharp jaw and slender cheeks were capturing her attention as she tried not to look at his lips.

Damnit, she had seen plenty of attractive men before, but why the sudden interest in this one?

She hadn't realize they had both sat there staring each other down in a silent battle of wills, finally the silence became awkward and she asked with forced boredom, "What is your name, Mister Innocence?"

He stared at her with suspicion before finally admitting, "Oswald."

Preferably, she would rather have just watched the handsome stranger get beaten and then sent on his way to this precious sister, but after learning that Yura may be making false claims and causing her master to earn a bad reputation she couldn't willingly ignore him. Despite the distance, she still considered the master an important childhood friend that she felt protective urges over.

She closed her eyes now finding this whole situation tiring since the prisoner had a name and a backstory. This was why she usually just taunted the prisoners and didn't ask for input, it suddenly made the whole torture process less entertaining because she began wandering about what the prisoner did in their daily lives.

When she reopened her eyes, Oswald was staring her down and she jerked back reflexibly. "If what you say is true then I must take action."

"Why?" Oswald asked with slight interest.

"Because," she failed to hide the sadness, "the master doesn't approve of things like torturing innocent men."

Actually he doesn't approve of torture in general but Oswald doesn't have to know this.

She kept her side-job secret for reasons other than earning a bad reputation; she didn't want to hear her master's disproval since she would end up being another disappointment to him.

She hated the thought of letting her friends down…

Taking a deep breath, she exhaled slowly with a very dramatic sigh.

Oswald whispered into her ear, "Listen you're not a naïve woman don't allow this man to talk down to you as such. Don't listen to his sugar coated words it'll do nothing more than lead to more trouble."

Miranda numbly listened in and found that he spoke the truth to a certain extent; she knew she wasn't naïve but did outsiders view her as such? She felt self-conscious suddenly and could not provide an explanation as to why.

One of the things she prided herself on was her ability to hold conversation with men and not be looked down upon based on her gender. There had been some incidences where a man would act uppity with her, but she always managed to prove them wrong through intellect alone.

And now this Oswald was saying someone she considered an ally in interests had been misleading her? And that Yura kept telling her insincere flatteries to appease her? Did he think her so primitive?

The more she continued to ponder over these developments the more infuriated she became. She was lost in thought when the candlelight danced across Oswald's face and she couldn't help noticing how lovely his skin looked as the fire made it have a slight glow…

She shook her head. Stop thinking like some love-struck teenager you're a strong, rational woman.

To hell with it all.

She stood up quickly and Oswald stared up at the determined expression she wore with interest. She clenched her fists to keep from wringing Yura's neck, how dare he misled her with false flattery as he lied to her face. She glared at the skeleton's head with a vengeance, she was seriously considering on how to dispose of a body without leaving behind any traces leading back to her.

She jumped when Oswald's cold fingers circled over her own; she stared down at the intense looking man with surprise. For some reason her heart began to race and she could feel a blush forming on her chest, which luckily the uniform hid. Who was this man and why was he making such an impression on her? His eyes held deep admiration for her along with some other emotion she couldn't pinpoint. She massaged her temple before yanking her hand away, suddenly feeling strange having some random man touch her with such intimacy.

"Mind telling me your name?" he inquired.

His question caught her off guard, and she was about to tell him before she thought better of it. She didn't need her name being traced back to Isla Yura's false claims or involvement with his torture sessions. If people asked about her work relationship with him she would lie through her teeth. Yes, she was selfish but in a survival of the fittest it was every man for himself.

She stared at him with fortitude, before saying, " Just consider me your guardian angel on a one time deal."

Oswald smiled at her and she found herself thinking he should do it more often. "So you will help me, angel?" he asked teasingly.

She stared intently at him before refocusing her gaze on Yura, who seemed to have found the key judging from the way he was giggling like a fool. I'm going to slice this man's head off if I find out he lied to me just you wait Isla Yura.

She said in a voice laced with malicious intent, "I'll do what I can."

Note: Everybody like so far? So whose going to get introduced next chapter I wonder...