When Beauty is the Beast (SilentKnight x Sin-Claire)

[Sin-Claire]

Annabel

couldn't escape the dread that welled up in her stomach from the moment she woke that morning. She instinctively knew something was wrong, the feel of change riding the air like an acrid scent that made her nose wrinkle.

When her mother opened the door, making sure that Annabel bathed properly and then secured a metal collar around her throat, the dread became heavier like an iron ball in her stomach. "Mother?" she questioned hesitantly, wringing her hands as the woman began to comb through the long mane of hair on her head, taking care to avoid her sensitive ears and curving horns.

"Quiet Annabel," her mother replied tersely, letting out a huff when Annabel's tail swished nervously against her legs. "You are to be a good girl today. There is someone who wants to meet you. Maybe someone who can fix you if you're good." The hope that bloomed at those words was immediate and Annabel's large blue eyes widened to look at her mother in the mirror.

She was a beast, plain and simple, cursed from within her mother's womb and forced to live in hiding so that bad men didn't come to take her away. At least that's what mother and father always told her. She had been skeptical when mother had taken those pictures of her last month, telling her it was for a cure but it seemed she had been wrong to doubt her.

Mother refused to let her wear proper clothes, forcing her into nothing more than a large black cloak and affixing a leash to her collar. It rubbed at her neck but she didn't dare argue, knowing it would only lead to more confinement or a sharp cuff to the head.

Her confusion mounted but she felt a thrill of excitement in her veins when mother led her to the front door, undoing countless locks. Annabel had never been outside before, only seen it through the window. Adrenaline flooded her veins and her tail now twitched and swayed more eagerly making her mother hiss and slap it away.

"Control yourself Annabel," she chided, turning to pull the hood of the cloak over her face and tie the front of the cloak shut, covering her from head to paws. "You will get into the black car out front. Don't speak and don't move. Do everything they tell you, understood?" Annabel nodded mutely, a strange fear working into her excitement.

She was leaving? Without mother or father? She nibbled her lower lip with one of her small fangs as uncertainty plagued her. Looking out, it was still dawn outside, the light just peaking over the horizon and surrounding houses. With a push from behind, Annabel stepped outside feeling herself gripped by a sudden fear.

Forcing her legs to move, she padded forward, claws gripping the inside of the cloak tightly as she approached a man who held open the back door of a shiny posh car. His free hand gestured inside and he barely looked as she climbed uncertainly inside, nearly tripping over herself. The air inside was clean, the leather interior a pleasant smell and the seats themselves quite comfortable. A man climbed into the front seat and she almost tried to speak until her mother's words echoed in her ears. Don't speak, don't move.

Staying dutifully quiet, Annabel looked out the heavily tinted window, gazing with rapt attention at the passing landscape as the car pulled forward. It was all new to her and time quickly passed by as she took in each new sight.

 

[SilentKnight]

Duke flicked his vision over the computer screen from time to time. That red dot moving across the webs of lines drawing his attention whenever the image brightened at any change and then dimmed below again. The car was making good time he noted, even though just behind him dusk had already fallen. It had been a long trip planned in advance with her parents. Of course there had been misgivings about the risk of such a mundane method of travel and one that risked the cargo being seen to their shame. But with the calm signing over of one and a half million dollars, along with a writ of his own secrecy, any objections quieted nearly instantly.

His driver was not cheap either. Another mouth to silence, and work to be paid for. But with the luxury car and the closed back cabin the man wondered if she was being treated correctly. There were only two stops on the route, one for gas and the other an unknown reason, but neither very long. He was tempted to call and make sure, but they were less than a half hour away and resisted that urge.

Duke couldn’t stay still any longer. With a few clicks of the keyboard he set the system to alert his phone when they pulled into the quarter mile long driveway and stood up to stretch. For a man in his mid thirties, he was incredibly fit and could pass himself off as someone a decade younger if needed. Dark muddy black brown hair was brushed neatly even if it descended to his ears. The man’s sun tanned skin was just hidden beneath the clean and pressed grey button up and black slacks.

Walking from his office space towards the kitchen near the center of the country manor, Duke bided his time by picking a bottle of red wine to open and setting a lasagna leftover from the previous night in the oven. It was then that the phone beeped, and with a haphazard toss of the mitts to the counter he headed for the door.

The plain brick exterior walls accented with manicured hedges and vines couldn’t hide the extravagance of the home. Which was not helped at all by the glowing fountain out in front of the awning covered driveway. A moment of worry struck in his chest. Had he been duped? He had demanded pictures of the beast without a scrap of clothing and from many different angles, but there was still a chance it was a hoax. Shoving that feeling aside he stood with arms cross behind his back and waited for the car at the top of the steps. Bright, cold, green eyes watching the road.

 

[Sin-Claire]

The ride seemed to drag on and on, but she couldn't find it in herself to be bored as endless sights she'd never seen before flashed by. Once the driver had stopped to do something to the car they drove in, but then he quickly took back his place in front of her, not giving her so much as a passing glance. She used some of her time to try to pull off the collar and attached leash but the clasps were too small for her claws or finger pads to manipulate and she soon gave up trying. As the hours wore on, she felt hunger gnaw on her stomach but it wasn't until her full bladder became insistent that she finally spoke.

"Uhm... Excuse me?" she asked, trying to catch his eye in the little mirror on the front glass. She squirmed in place when he didn't answer, reaching a hand up to scratch beneath the metal collar she wore. "Mister?" she tried again, shifting in place to squeeze her thighs together. "I sort of need to use the bathroom," she finally admitted and was relieved when he finally met her eyes, giving a curt nod to show he had heard her. When they continued to keep driving, she chewed the inside of her cheek and was about to voice herself a little more forcefully when he finally, mercifully began to slow the car.

The car turned down an abandoned gravel road and he pulled behind a copse of trees before coming to a stop. Did he mean for her to use the bathroom here?! The thought filled her with dread, but she was so desperate that the moment the door opened she shot out, clutching the dark cloak around her and moving to the other side of the car so he couldn't see her. Embarrassment flooded her veins as she finally found relief, the sound of it sounding painfully loud in her sensitive ears. When she finally rose, it was apparent that he hadn't moved from his place and she worried her lip with one of her fangs as she slowly walked back around to where he held the door open. "Thank you," she mumbled ever so quietly, ducking back into the shelter of the car. Although it intrigued her, the outside world felt a little daunting. The enclosed space of the car soothed her worry and instilled a bit of calm.

The rest of the drive passed by much the same and without being aware of it, she drifted off, curled up on the leather seat. It was the sudden lack of movement and the lack of a purring engine that woke her. Blinking open her big blue eyes, Annabel groggily sat up, looking around in curiosity. It was dark but she was still able to pick up some details of the surrounding countryside, eyes widening when they panned to find the rather large impressive manor. The door opened and her eyes hungrily drank in the beautiful sight of the glowing fountain, momentarily mesmerized.

She would have continued to stare if not for the sudden pull at her neck. Turning quickly, she felt a sudden bout of anger when she caught sight of the driver holding the end of her leash, tugging her toward the manor's front steps. As quick as the anger came it fled and she schooled her features, keeping the urge to snarl or growl repressed. Mother would not be pleased if she behaved like the dirty little beast she was. Following, her bare paws crunched over gravel before smooth steps soothed her pads.

A man stood, tall and foreboding at the top of the stairs and the beast within shrank beneath his cold green eyes. Eyes that were firmly fixed upon her form as she approached. Was this the one who Mother said would help? Feeling more than a little self conscious, Annabel curled her claws into her palms and swallowed hard, coming to a stop a few steps below. He was tall and broad, the stairs only emphasizing how much bigger he was than her petite frame and it made her tail swish anxiously, the black cloak swaying from side to side with every flick.

 

[SilentKnight]

Past the fountain of light and crystalline water the yard and land beyond grew ever darker. Only the sight of an oncoming headlight graced Duke with a warning that they were this close. He shuffled his feet to keep the blood flowing as a chilled breeze kicked up for a moment. Winter was not yet behind them and while it was clear now, snow still threatened for another month. Trees to either side of the driveway swayed lightly and made the already sparkling stars that direction waver in and out.

And then the car parked. Now the excitement swelled within him. Made his heartbeat throb in his human ears. He may have bought this young creature and he may have as long as he wished to be her owner, but Duke wanted to hurry down those steps, tear open the door and drag her out to examine. Only his reputation kept him from doing just that, waiting for the chauffeur to bring the girl out by her leash and then with a silent nod, leave her standing on the steps to move the car.

For a few quiet moments he stared down at her. The only thing he heard were his own heartbeats and the wind picking up through the leaves once more. Those cold eyes softened somewhat as he held out a hand. Even that stuff demeanor broke as Duke opened his mouth to speak low and direct. “You must be famished. I am just heating up dinner now. Would you like to come inside?”

While the words were kind his tone had an edge to it. Not a man used to being told no. Maybe that would be clear. “It is also quite warm in the kitchen. So you will not be needing that cook anymore, just hang it on the rack to the side of the door.” Her owner instructed without knowing the state of undress she had beneath that cloak. Yet he waited to aid her up the rest of the steps before turning and heading to the kitchen. “Now hurry up. I don’t want you getting lost. The house is quite large and there are a few rooms you do not want to enter without my permission.”

Behind her the driver rolled the car away to park it. He would be staying in the guest house at the edge of the plot of land tonight as per their agreement. Had the beast any inclination to flee, this would be her best moment. Freedom in that solid darkness beyond the lights of the house and of the fountain. A darkness her eyes could not cut through from here. Towards the unknown light in the home, or the unknown darkness, both worlds she has never experienced before. The master of the house stood at the door and waited, wondering just which of those two choices she would make.

 

[Sin-Claire]

The moment of silence filled the space between them and she shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other, unsure what she should say. Interactions with other people in her life besides her parents were few and far between, the secret of her existence known only to a select few. It made her people skills a bit uncertain and she was normally fairly quiet and soft spoken because of it. Not to mention this man exuded a harsh dominating air, her latent instincts warning her to step lightly in his presence.

He held his hand out and she spent a moment just staring at it. She looked up and something changed in him, his demeanor less threatening, less predatory and her body relaxed minutely. Then the addition of his voice, the words inviting and soothing made the knot in her stomach uncoil and she gingerly released the tight curl her hands had been holding, extending her right hand forward in a tentative manner. She paused before she reached his hand, her eyes darting up to check for disgust or perhaps give him a moment to pull back away from her. When no such reaction came she let out a gentle exhale, sliding her smaller hand in his, mindful of her claws and appreciative of the warm physical contact of the slight touch. Not many touched her other than the doctors.

"Yes, thank you," she answered softly, the reminder of food making her hunger pangs reappear with a vengeance. He spoke as he led her up the steps and his mention of her cloak made her stiffen just as he pulled his hand away to continue to the door. It seemed rather crass to admit her strange state of undress beneath the material. She still didn't know why Mother hadn't allowed her to dress properly before she'd been shoved out the door. That thought sent a tremor of unease down her spine and she couldn't help but glance back over her shoulder into the dark, past the fountain. Despite her appearance and some of her more animalistic tendencies, she was no wild beast and held only fear for the wildness of the world. It was too big, too much for her. Better to be safe and warm inside, away from those who would hate her and hurt her.

With that in mind she turned and followed her new host, the stranger that now seemed to hold her future in his hands. The moment she stepped inside to the warm lavish interior, she clutched her cloak tighter around her shoulders and glanced down at the floor and to the side. "May I keep the cloak sir?" she asked, her tone soft, her heart hammering.

 

[SilentKnight]

Duke watched her hand come forward and pause, so he gave her some time until he could feel it in his. There was something foreign about the fur that drew his attention to them and as he helped her his thumb flicked back and forth across the back of her hand. He never shied away, never looked surprised. She was his to do with what he wanted and there was no time to for trepidation. “Wonderful. I have lasagna, fresh bread, and wine for this evening. So please, eat your fill.” He explained as the man squeezed her hand with his. Even her hands were so much smaller, something he took time to compare before he let her go and turned towards the house.

Inside the grand foyer the floor was a silver flecked black marble with very simple furniture scattered mainly for decoration. The interior Duke had painstakingly upgraded over the years, to the chagrin of the few surviving members of his family. Industrial Age electrical and gas lights replaced with the most modern amenities. Walls torn and replaced with better insulation and an actual full air conditioning system. The end of the western wing was reserved for keeping things how they used to be in show at least. The rest? A mixture of rustic nobility and modern amenities.

He never stopped walking once inside, and her more sensitive ears would pick up the whirr of gears and click as the door locked itself behind them after a few seconds. At the end of the room, Duke stopped and looked back with a twist of his body. “No. Of course not. There is no need for something like that in here Annabel.” As he simply dropped her name. “Nobody will judge you for your curse, so please. Feel at ease with it. Lose the cloak and come eat. I will not be telling you again.”

Another second and he vanished through a doorway. She wouldn’t have very long to decide before the twisting halls could confuse her. Duke never slowed his step as he fully expected any he insisted to fall in line with his wishes. Did she think that it would be stolen? Like this was the home of some purveyor of thieves or miscreants. A quiet huff as he entered the kitchen and immediately busied himself. The lasagna in its glass container was bubbling as he pulled it out, and the bread still warm with butter placed beside it. And wine. Was it wrong to serve wine to a girl in her teens? No. Not a girl he would rethink. A beast. A pet. So this little luxury he would dote upon her now, and tonight she would be shown her place.

 

[Sin-Claire]

He continued walking even when she stopped by the coat rack he had mentioned, not seeming to comprehend the distressing dilemma she faced. Her ears flicked back as the locks whirred and she suppressed the urge to turn. It seemed insignificant in light of her current predicament. When he answered, she felt her tail pull between her legs at the firm words, her body reacting to his tone and near reprimand. With that he vanished into a doorway and any hope of a rebuttal vanished from her tongue. His sudden disappearance made her insides twist and she reflexively stepped forward to follow then stopped, looking back at the coat rack.

With hesitant fingers, she reached up for the clasp at her throat and flicked it open, catching the black material in one clawed hand before it could fall to the floor. She looked down at herself nervously feeling a mixture of self disgust and nervousness. He had said he wouldn't judge her for her features but would he judge her for her nudity? Did he even expect her to have on clothes? Mother had always said she was lucky to wear clothes, that beasts never wore clothes. While the mane of hair on her head that extended down her back was longer and more coarse, the hair everywhere else was short and delicately soft, particularly on her breasts and abdomen which matched the lighter color of her face.

Resigned to the situation, albeit uncomfortably so, Annabel hung up the cloak and hurried to where she'd seen him turn. Once she reached the doorway she paused, peering around the corner in trepidation, her stomach an absolute mess of nerves. She wore only the metal collar, the short leash still dangling to hang between her breasts. It was the kitchen area and her nose was assaulted with the most wonderful of scents and it pulled her to step cautiously into the room, the nails on her paws clicking quietly against the floor with every step.

He stood near the food which her eyes were drawn to. Lasagna. Her stomach rumbled and she walked meekly closer, her eyes averted from his and her ears tucked in close to her head as she all but slunk into the room like a pup expecting punishment. She braced herself now for the disgust or laughter, despite his assurance. Her hands were held close to her chest, gripping the leather of the leash tightly. Her nose continued to twitch in interest despite her emotions, the fresh hot meal smelling decadent.

 

[SilentKnight]

Heat filled the large kitchen as Duke set the food upon the central island that he normally sat at when on his own. Something that was very often given his poor relations with the rest of his family, and the eccentricities that the rest of the world regarded him with. Taking a metal spatula he was already separating a healthy slice of the meal onto a plate when his beastly pet made finally followed her way in. Her state of undress caused him to freeze. He had asked her parents for pictures to verify that she was indeed the genuine thing. What the man didn’t expect was for them to send her here with only the cloak. Granted there was no luggage either so that probably wasn’t a very hard leap of logic to make.

As the gears greased themselves in his head and got back to working order, Duke found his eyes drawn from her newly uncovered face and further down. The pictures taken from that house hadn’t really shown the more intriguing appeal of her. He found his eyes most drawn towards that tail that barely could be seen behind her and the lighter colored, soft looking fur of her face and torso. She must be used to this, his logic continued. Clothes were probably a rarity, and most would catch on the fur as well so maybe this was easier. Pants and underwear would have had to be custom made for her tail too. Duke cleared his throat and started moving again. “At least this will make examining you easier. If you had just stated that you were not wearing anything beneath that cloak I would have let you keep it for dinner. To late now.” He said placing the meal and a half glass of wine in front of her.

“Go ahead and eat up.” He spoke clearly, motioning to a stool by the counter. “I’m going to ask you a few questions over dinner. Just answer them when you can.”

Duke then took a seat just next to her, leaning one arm on the table with wine right next to his hand. “Do you have any food allergies? And what sort of food do you really enjoy? I just want to know if your tongue is any different than ours.” He asked first. Eventually he would need to know what she was told she was here for, but for now some preparations were in order.

 

[Sin-Claire]

She could feel his eyes and silent assessment as he took in her features. It was unnerving and if she were capable she would be blushing. Her eyes finally looked up from the floor when he spoke, his tone neither mocking nor angry. A strange relief flooded her and, although it wasn't enough to make her forget her state of undress and vulnerability, she relaxed enough to release her hold on the leash.

Examining her. That felt clinical. Detached, like one of the many doctors she'd had poke and prod at her. Mildly uncomfortable but it was something she was accustomed to.

He pushed close a generous portion of the lasagna and a round glass of dark red liquid. Her ears lifted off her head and Annabel took the offered seat, quelling the desire to scarf down the food. Instead she picked up the fork, cutting into the warm meal and bringing it to her mouth. It was nearly too hot but a pleased purr rumbled through her chest at the taste and her tail swished behind her chair in appreciation.

"Thank you," she finally spoke after she had swallowed, going in for more to quell her hunger. She was pleased when he sat right beside her rather than keeping his distance and tried to do her best to mind her manners but it was just so good.

His questions seemed normal and she felt her ease growing the more he coaxed her to talk. Shaking her head slightly she began, "I don't have any allergies, although I don't like onions very much." Her nose curled at the thought as she looked down at her plate she continued, "I like meat and cheese." Meat had been the main thing her mother had fed her. Once father had given her chocolate cake on her birthday and it had been wonderful so she added, "And chocolate cake, that's my favorite."

Taking another bite of food, she felt her hunger beginning to abate and reached for the glass she'd been given. It smelled odd and she held the cup portion of the glass with both hands as she tentatively lifted it to her lips. It could be difficult at time for her to drink from cups with the shape of her mouth if she wasn't careful. Tilting the glass she hesitantly let her tongue lap at the liquid and the way it tingled on her tongue was quite unexpected as was the slight bitterness. However, it felt warm and the smell was pleasantly sweet so she took another lap of it before tilting the glass further to pour a measure into her mouth. She was pleased when none escaped her mouth and set it down gently. Mother didn't normally let her use glass.

"Will these questions help you to fix me?" she suddenly asked, wondering what else she would have to do and how long it would take. She'd paused from eating turning her blue eyes to see what he would say, the slight hope her mother had instilled flaring just a little brighter.

 

[SilentKnight]

There it was. She did have some very pretty eyes Duke found out as she looked up where he could see them unabated in the warm interior light. Actually, he found her quite cute in appearance. It was a strange mixture. The enticing body of a young woman he could see with a careful glance towards her waist and chest as her eyes were on the food. But the adorable features of a feline of sorts as best as he could tell. And she purred! Of all the pets he had owned over the years, from dogs to tigers, a few rare birds. She was by far the most unique. His first true otherworldly pet.

“You’re very welcome.” He said marking a section of his brain to make note of this. But that was easy enough to remember. “I think I’m going to have to show you more of a variety. There are so many good things out there to try.” *He pauses to take a drink, barely even registering the taste of the wine as he’s focused purely upon his observations of her. “But I think we can manage some cake every now and then as a reward.”

It was her caution with the glass that kept him curious next as he saw her tongue through the transparent goblet. “Are straws easier?” He asks as his next question rather quickly. With the way she used her tongue he didn’t have to worry about it even if he had her drinking from a bowl. An idea he was thinking of doing anyways as part of her initiation. Show luxuries. And then the lows of being an animal. And see where in between all of that the dust settled. Or the collar tightened as it were.

Her question was warranted but Duke wished he had a little more time to answer all of that. “No.” He said flatly. Should he lie? He mulled over that idea for a few seconds. “Annabel. Finish dinner and we’ll continue this conversation in the drawing room where we can get more comfortable. It is going to be a long chat.” He settled upon, but to try and ease her worries he leaned over and placed his palm flat in her head between her horns and rubbed the mane. “Would you like more wine? More food? I do have gelato in the freezer, but I tend not to keep sweets around until now.”

 

[Sin-Claire]

It was another one of those moments that if she could have blushed, she would have. She'd known better than to use her tongue, mother said it was beastly. Smiling with a bit of chagrin she nodded before replying, "Straws or small mouth glasses tend to make it easier." She tipped the rest into her mouth as if to show she could before setting the glass aside. It sort of tasted a bit funny but she liked the warmth.

Getting back to the food, she felt a surge of disappointment at his answer. Well it probably wasn't as simple as what food she liked, she reasoned to herself. He seemed stern but nice. After all, he'd given her good food and he wasn't openly put off by her appearance. And he said there could be cake.

Annabel had just taken another bite of her food when she felt his unexpected touch at the top of her head. There was a moment that she froze, the move so unexpected and foreign since people rarely touched her that she was stunned. And then she melted. It felt good.

She swallowed down the half chewed food in her mouth with a gulp before her eyes shut and she slowly leaned into the caress. She was somewhat starved for physical touch. Her chest rumbled with another pleased purr and without thought she tilted her head to feel his touch at the base of her horns near her ears. Oh... Her purrs got louder. What had he asked?

Opening her eyes, she straightened a bit when she realized how close she had gotten to him before she answered softly, "No, I'm quite full." She wasn't sure what gelato was but perhaps he would let her try it later. The portion of lasagna he'd given her had been more than enough for her small stomach and she licked her mouth clean with contentment. Plus nothing could have topped the feel of his hand in her mane. It made her spine tingle and her tail flick side to side in pleasure.