Belle is dead

Chapter six

It was so fast, it seems like the sky recognizes the beast as the thunder makes a loud sound across the sky.

Lucas pulled to a stop immediately, alerted at the image of Ryder turning. He called the rest of the men to a stop and they both find themselves covers behind trees, with their swords raised in case Ryder finds them later on.

Lucas knew that whenever he turned, the beast in him wouldn't spare anyone five miles away.

Ryder couldn't conceal the anger building up in him, he didn't even want to. The only thing he had in mind was to break every bone in the woman that was squeezing Belle's neck.

His transformation seems so fast today. Within seconds and he was almost covered in that black coat.

But even when he wasn't done with it and only his legs and hands shows the beast, his face still shows who he was- the prince!

Ryder didn't even wait to think about the reason why he was still active during his transformation or why he could move when his transformation wasn't over.

He jumps up and kicks into the woman in the hood. The woman staggers back, releasing Belle in the process.

He moves nearer quickly and takes the woman off ground with his left hand. Then, he throws her away.

The woman struggles up and stares at him for a while before disappearing. Ryder couldn't believe what had just happened.

He knew there were witches but since he hasn't seen one, he believed there were none in Medgerpines.

Suddenly, Ryder finds himself in a fog, a thick one and he starts searching around, perhaps he would see something or someone.

Not that he didn't know what was happening to him.

Those moments whenever the beast takes control, Ryder would find himself battling to see in the fog and he wouldn't know what was happening in the mundane world.

But this time, Ryder grew desperate. He wanted to see Belle! Gosh! He mustn't harm Belle. The fear makes a large lump form in his lung and he struggles to swallow it.

If it was just this time! Can't God just grant his request? And let him see Belle?

His head was reeling just when a soft substance touches his leg. The softness touches his heart in a way he didn't know.

"My husband," a soft voice says around him and the fog cleared instantly. Ryder was back in the forest, with Belle holding onto his leg.

The coat on his arms and legs was fast disappearing. The fur was giving way for his light-skinned complexion to come to view.

Ryder bend and clutch Belle to himself, "Belle! Are you alright?" His thick voice echoes through the forest.

Belle smiles faintly, "I loved the clothes on you. I'm sure my brother wouldn't mind me borrowing it. He would be happy," her sad voice stabs a dagger through Ryder as he watches her.

He wouldn't be able to atone for his sins. He wouldn't be, no matter how much he tried.

He wouldn't even be able to forgive himself for killing Belle's brother.

Then, Ryder saw blood on his hands. He pulls Belle's clothes down a little so that her neck was revealing. Then he saw it, Belle was bleeding from her neck.

Did he do it? When did he do it? Ryder's head spark. He couldn't believe he touched the woman he wanted to protect.

Belle's handheld him again, the softness bringing sense to his head and for some reason, stopping him from getting angry.

"The witch did," Belle shudders uncontrollably, "She had the palette. She had it on me all this while as she held me by my neck," Belle's voice shook with tremor to it.

Ryder felt his heartbreak.

Ryder knew what the witch's Palette was. It was a cup-like thing that the witches uses to take the host's blood. Doing it that way would take the host's hans.

The blood would be used to get more powerful.

Hans is a power that you are born with. Something that mustn't be separated from you unless you have a death wish.

"Stop talking," Ryder says as he tucks his hands behind her, "I will take you to the physician."

Belle shakes her head slightly, "No, don't. I can't make it," her expression was sad.

Ryder felt his head squeeze again, " Why were the witch after you?"

Belle coughs and tries to breathe again, " She told me about you. She knew I was going to help you," the shivering was back and Belle couldn't stop it.

Ryder held her close to his heart as the tears comes running down from his eyes. He couldn't stop it, he didn't even have the time to.

He couldn't stop the weight that it has on him.

The fact that he would be losing the first woman he had ever loved. The first person that had ever taken him for who he was.

The first woman to make him laugh. No! He doesn't want it! He wouldn't take it! He would get Belle treated no matter what.

He had always loved in regret, live in anguish but there was nothing worse than this. Losing the one you love so much. The pains are like daggers attaches to your heart or nails attached to your feet.

Ryder scoops her off the ground and starts running forward. He looks at Belle's pale face, "I'm going to treat you, ok? You will be alright,' he says to Belle but in the real sense, he was only reassuring himself.

He only wants to believe Belle would be alright.

Belle was looking at him too, she once opens her mouth to say something but it looks as though she couldn't bring herself to do it. It looks as though the power to talk was finally leaving her.

The blood was oozing out in much quality now that Ryder press her palm against it, to stop the flow.

Looking at Belle, brought pure sadness to Ryder. Belle has suddenly gone paler within a few minutes. She wasn't like the bright girl she used to be.

That happy girl that believed she was destined for something so big. Why the heck must she call herself the prince's bride.

And why is being the prince's bride related to the beast?

His head was going to explode with questions. And annoyingly, there were no answers or anyone to supply them.

He felt he would go crazy.

Ryder stops suddenly when Belle tugs at his clothes helplessly. He looks at Belle again and realizes she was trying to tell him something

Her eyes have lost lifes in them and the face looks as though it wasn't created to smile. Everything has suddenly altered for her.

"I," she started with so much effort as her eyes closes, "Love," and she went still, her eyes finally closed.

"No!" Ryder almost screams his lungs out!

He drops to his knees and clutches her even closer, "I love you too! Belle! Wake up! I love you too, so much. From the moment I set my eyes on you!' He found himself saying as her heart rips into two.

The tears wouldn't even do justice to him.

And the sky also starts crying as if it was sharing his sadness.

The full force on his heart was greater. He felt very miserable.

He shouldn't have left her behind, he should have taken her along. He should have admitted to the fact that he felt something for her.

Why did he have to think she was too young for him?

Now! She has been killed. Now, he had lost her forever.

Ryder couldn't bear the pain, he couldn't bear the feelings. It felt like there were people sticking knives at his chest.

Why does it have to happen to him! Why does it always have to be him? Must he go through pains every time?

"Why!" Ryder raises his head and screams into the sky.

But he realizes that he didn't only scream, he actually howls.

He realizes that the familiar black coat has covered him again and the rain was making it stick to him like a second skin.

Suddenly, a blue flame comes out of Belle and fills the place around them.

Ryder looks at his claws, then back at Belle.

Surprised, yet still angry, he took her off the ground and race through the forest.

He wanted to feel her for the last time. He wanted to be alone with her for the last time.

He would reminisce about her for the last time.

He would never forgive himself forever.

"Move back!" He heard screams as he races forward.

People scarpers, looking so scared as they watch him move nearer, with Belle in his arms.