Beauty and the Beast Read online

  When Vincent was finished eating, he took one of the journals out of his backpack. This was the one that included dates immediately preceding the one on which, according to his marriage certificate, he had married Catherine. Vincent settled back on the boulder and, with his back against the concave surface of the cavern wall behind him, took a deep breath, and opened the journal. He started to read, and a seemingly magical doorway to his lost memories swung open. Vincent stepped through it as the vision opened.

  As Vincent’s memories were unlocked, he was taken back in time to nearly a year-and-a-half earlier:

  When the justice system in the world above released Cameron Benson and Dale Mercer to continue their coldblooded murdering spree, Vincent took it upon himself to protect the young prostitutes they were hunting. Instead, the two men became the hunted, and Vincent frustrated each subsequent attempt they made to lure those young girls to their deaths. After watching them slash the throat of their fourth victim in Central Park, and seeing the gleeful pleasure they took in killing her, Vincent had been sickened. The murder had taken place so quickly that Vincent had been helpless to stop it. Their wealthy families had seen to it that Catherine’s efforts to get them off the streets, after they killed their fifth victim, had failed.

  Vincent was returning above for another night of patrolling when Mouse ran up to him completely out of breath. “Vincent! Caught you! Good! Going above again to protect the girls?”

  Vincent gave Mouse a grim look. “Yes, Mouse, I am. I must until Catherine’s world can stop those murderers permanently.”

  Mouse nodded at Vincent. “Got something for you.”

  He held out an huge Kevlar vest, and Vincent took it from him.

  Vincent looked at Mouse with a questioning expression. “Where did you get a Kevlar vest, Mouse?”

  Mouse was firm. “Found it! Didn’t steal it! You needed. Mouse found!”

  Vincent raised his eyebrows and tried to look stern. “You just found a really big Kevlar vest?” Mouse nodded.

  Vincent smiled at him. “Thank you, Mouse. This will come in really handy. Why don’t you help me get it on?” He gave Mouse the vest, took off his cloak and outer shirt, and handed them to Mouse to hold. Then Vincent put the Kevlar vest on under everything.

  “Well, Mouse, thanks to you, I’m all set to stop those madmen.” Vincent suddenly stopped talking to Mouse, and his head flew up as he felt the danger Catherine was in. Cameron Benson and Dale Mercer were hunting his Catherine, and she was terrified. He left Mouse without another word, and raced out of the tunnels and into the night air above.

  Vincent ran across the rooftops to get to the old movie theater the men had lured Catherine to. They knew that Catherine wasn’t going to give up her case against them, and they were sure she was behind the mysterious cloaked figure who kept interfering with their murder attempts, so they had paid a young black prostitute to call

  Catherine with a promise of information about the killings. When Vincent went through an upper story window and found Catherine in the movie theater, Dale Mercer was holding her helpless, and Cameron Benson had a gun pointed at her. Vincent quickly intervened by leaping down out of the balcony with an angry roar, distracting both of them. He quickly slashed Dale Mercer, freeing Catherine, and then planted himself between her and Cameron Benson with his gun. Cameron Benson shot Vincent in the chest, and Catherine screamed Vincent’s name in fearful panic, as she saw him stagger from the impact. Then Vincent charged at Cameron Benson and killed him.

  Catherine ran to Vincent and grabbed his arm as she said with desperation in her voice, “We’ve got to get out of here!” As Vincent and Catherine ran out of the theater, she couldn’t keep up with him and called after him, “Vincent! Vincent! Are you all right?”

  When he finally stopped in an alley, and she caught up with him, she searched frantically for the wound in his chest. Vincent leaned against a building, looked heavenward, and cried out in the anguish of his soul, “Nothing! Nothing but madness! Nothing but blood!

  When will it stop?” Catherine was silent as she hugged him, trying to comfort him, as he struggled to recover from the necessity of killing again in this violent world to save her from death.

  Vincent finally looked down at her. Catherine had a

  stricken expression on her face and had begun searching again for the wound she knew he had to have from the gun shot. Vincent put one giant hand over both of hers against his chest. Then he put his other hand under her chin, and he lifted her face so he could see into her eyes. Next came his impassioned plea, “Catherine, marry me before this world kills you, and I lose you forever!” The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. Catherine watched in wonder as a myriad of emotions passed over his face ending with an expression of shock that he had actually voiced what he had always dreamed of, but he had never dared to utter.

  Catherine’s reply was equally fervent. “Don’t you dare take that back! Yes, Vincent, I will marry you!”

  Vincent smiled tenderly at her. “How could I ever take back what has burned in my heart unspoken for such a long time?”

  Catherine’s expression then changed back to fear again. “Vincent, are you hurt? I saw you take a bullet!”

  Vincent replied, “No, Catherine, I’m not hurt, and 111 show you why as soon as we get out of here. We need to get your car away from here, so no one comes looking for you when they find those dead men. Ill take you back to your car, and 111 meet you at the Central Park tunnel secret entrance. Then we can talk where it is quiet and safe.”

  When Catherine arrived in the Central Park tunnel, she opened the gate and tapped on the door. It slid open. Vincent took her hand as she stepped over the threshold, and he shut both the gate and the sliding door again. He laid his cloak on the tunnel floor, and they sat down together against the wall. They had often spent time with one another here, because it was far enough away from both worlds and from the nearest sentry on duty to be private.

  Catherine still looked worried. “Vincent, how is it that you are not hurt?”

  Vincent opened his shirt and showed her where the bullet had been caught in the Kevlar vest. “Mouse came to me tonight and said that he had found a Kevlar vest for me, because he knew that I was going above again after the girl slashers.”

  Catherine giggled, “He found it, huh?”

  Vincent laughed too, “That was his solemn statement.” Catherine was still smiling. “Thank goodness for Mouse and his timely scavenging. I don’t even want to know where he managed to find a Kevlar vest that would fit you!”

  Vincent’s expression became very serious. “Catherine, what I asked of you was supremely selfish. Before we start planning a wedding, I want to be sure that you understand what it would mean in your life.”

  Catherine was equally serious as she answered him. “Remember when I told you that it wasn’t wrong for you to want that kind of happiness for yourself? I told you that

  you deserve everything. Well, we deserve everything!” Vincent sighed and smiled at her. “Do you remember when your father passed away, and you came below to me to grieve? You asked me then if we would ever truly be together. I told you, We can truly be together only if and when we understand how great the price is we will have to pay, how great the sacrifices are that we will have to make, and we are able to accept those and move beyond them.’ Do you really think that you are ready to pay that price and leave your life above behind?”

  Catherine smiled at Vincent and answered him.

  “When I had my crisis thinking that I couldn’t manage my relationship with you together with my responsibilities in the world above, I wanted to run away to you. I wanted to hide from everything I thought was impossible in my life; hide from my fear, hide from my confusion, and hide from my pain. You wouldn’t let me run away to you then, because it was the wrong reason to go below. Then, I found a balance and learned to enjoy both worlds simultaneously, and it was worth the sacrifices we made to keep building our relationship w
ith one another during the small snatches of time we had. The fear, confusion, and pain are part of who I am, and I accept that now. I don’t need to hide from them anymore, Vincent. Now, I choose to be yours in your world, not to run away, but because I am incomplete without you. I cannot grow any more as a person or be an happy contributing member of society without you. You are the other best half of me. I

  don’t want to be making any more cameo appearances in each other’s dreams, Vincent. It is time to live our dreams and be with each other completely.”

  Vincent looked both happy and relieved. “I have been waiting so long to hear you say that, but I didn’t dare to think that it might be possible. I didn’t want you to ever feel that you had sacrificed an important part of your life to be with me.”

  Catherine smiled softly at Vincent. “I think I was waiting to even broach the subject again for you to realize that wanting your dream is not selfish. We have earned this happiness, Vincent, and we are better people because of it. Our relationship reminds me of one of my favorite pieces of classical music, Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony.”

  Vincent smiled as he remembered the concerts they had attended in the drainage tunnel under the concert platform. “Yes, you and I have enjoyed hearing it performed a couple of times now by the orchestra in Central Park when we have attended in the tunnel under the stage platform. With the acoustics there, we always have the best seats in the park!”

  Catherine nodded and smiled as she continued. “It was Austrian composer Franz Peter Schubert’s eighth symphony, which he wrote in 1822, but it wasn’t even performed until 1865, thirty-seven years after his death. He wrote only two of the customary four movements, and then he set the work aside and never touched it again. It

  is still an unsolved historical mystery whether he had actually intended for it to be complete with only two movements.”

  Vincent smiled softly at Catherine. “You think it is time for us to complete our symphony.”

  Catherine nodded, “It is long past time, Vincent. We are best friends, and we are in love. What remains is marriage and living happily-ever-after together.”

  Vincent spoke carefully. “Catherine, there are other factors to consider, though. I am something that has never been—an anomaly. I don’t even know if I am altogether human. For one thing, I might not be capable of giving you children.”

  Catherine took Vincent’s face in both of her hands, and looked into his eyes as she replied. “Vincent, if we don’t have children of our own, there are plenty of children who need us in Father’s world that we can be parents to. That and my relationship with you is all I need.”

  Vincent looked down, sighed, and then looked back into her eyes. “And if you should become pregnant with my child? What kind of a child would it be? What if that child looks like me?”

  Catherine wrapped her arms around Vincent’s neck and whispered in his ear. “Vincent, it would be an extraordinary child! I pray that I can bear your child, and that it is just like you! That child would have all of our love and support as well as the love and support of your world of wonderful people. I would be blissfully happy to

  have your child!”

  Vincent smiled but then went on with his concerns. “Catherine, another thing that worries me is the part of me that isn’t human. That part can be unpredictable and violent. When my inner Demon surfaces to protect those I love, it nearly consumes me, and I have difficulty submerging it again. It would destroy me if I ever harmed you, even accidentally.”

  Catherine assured him. “Vincent, I know you, every part of you, and I am not afraid! You would never hurt „ _ » me.

  Vincent reminded Catherine of a conversation they had long ago. “Remember when we were chasing the ‘Subway Slasher,’Jason Walker?” Catherine nodded her head, and Vincent continued. “I worried that I wasn’t any different from that vigilante. Jason Walker felt that he was protecting the weak and elderly from the young thugs who mugged them on the subway. You assured me that I was different, because I would never hurt an innocent person who got in the way like Jason did, and that I was gentle. Then I told you that even the gentlest man has a demon locked inside him. The Demon inside me wants to protect you and would only harm those seeking to terrorize or destroy you. The Beast inside me, however, is purely selfish, is violent, is consumed by passion, and he wants desperately to seize and possess you. I am more afraid of the Beast than I am of the Demon. I never want to cause you fear, pain, or anguish of any kind.”

  Catherine put her hand over Vincent’s heart.

  “Vincent, this woman likes a little Beast in her man, and she loves you, not just the gentle part on the surface, but all of you, even the parts you carefully control. I feel safe and protected by my vigilant Demon. I’m thrilled and excited by my passionate Beast, and my cultured, gentle, and intelligent man makes me feel comforted, adored, and beautiful. Believe me, Vincent, it is very sexy to know that I am that desirable to you, and it is even sexier to know that you are the master of your Beast. You are not just some hollow-imitation-man. You are the real genuine article, a complete man, with wonderful complexities, and new depths of personality for me to enjoy discovering. I could never be afraid of you now, not ever!”

  Vincent covered her hand with his. “Your confidence and love have made me a better man, Catherine.”

  Catherine smiled at him. “And I am a better woman because of you, Vincent. You were deeply hurt by what happened with Lisa when you were a teenager, and you have never fully forgiven yourself for that. When she was practicing her ballet steps for you, it was a natural reaction to try to embrace her when she danced to you and then kissed your cheeks. It wasn’t your fault when she became alarmed, abruptly pulled away from you, and you couldn’t release her quickly enough to avoid scratching her back. Lisa didn’t even think that accidental scratch you gave her was important. She didn’t have the same desire for you that you had for her. You were just a playmate to Lisa, and she was too self-absorbed to realize what she was doing to you, and how you were affected by her teasing. I do desire you so very much! It has never even occurred to you that a part of me might want to be seized and possessed by you, has it?” Vincent looked shocked. “Never! Doesn’t that frighten you?”

  Catherine shook her head and replied emphatically, “No!”

  Vincent looked at her in wonder. “Why not?”

  Catherine explained to him, “Because I can feel how much you love me, Vincent.”

  Vincent still looked unsure. “Be that as it may, and it does relieve me to hear you say it, I want to make love to you, Catherine, not just have sex with you when we are married. In order for that to happen, I must keep the Beast within me tightly leashed.”

  Catherine smiled softly at him. “That is why I am in love with you, Vincent, and why I’ve never allowed any other man to ever lay an hand on me. Fortunately, they all showed me their true colors before I was ever even tempted to let them seduce me.”

  Vincent’s heart leaped for joy, but then as the full meaning of her words dawned on him, he became very concerned. “Are you telling me, Catherine, that you are also a virgin? I had just assumed with the other relationships you have had before me, and having been engaged twice—“

  Catherine told him, “The fact is, my attitudes about sex are very old-fashioned, thanks to my parents. I believe in premarital chastity.” She studied his face.

  “That worries you, Vincent. Why?”

  Vincent looked deeply into her eyes with loving concern. “I feel a great responsibility to be sure that your first sexual experience is warm and wonderful, in no way painful, either emotionally or physically. Father was very thorough in our sex education classes, and he warned the boys about being careful in order to avoid virgin injuries when we married.”

  It was Catherine’s turn to look shocked as she finally realized what it was that Vincent was anxious about. “Vincent, are you afraid of physically hurting me when we make love?”

  Vincent nodded, “I’m terrified
of that.”

  Catherine hugged him and said, “Poor Vincent! Please don’t worry about that. I’m not a teenager. I have been having gynecological exams for years now. You can’t hurt me that way!”

  Vincent closed his eyes in relief, opened them, and finally asked her, “Have you thought about how long you want to be engaged?”

  Catherine was very firm as she answered. “I don’t want to wait, Vincent. As far as I’m concerned, we have been engaged for over two years now. That is more than long enough! Let’s get married Saturday. Just tell Father that we only want a simple ceremony. We don’t need to

  have your world making a fuss over us. I just want to be yours forever as soon as possible!”

  Vincent nodded his head and smiled. “Well, since you are sure, now let me do this the right way.” He stood up, took both of her hands, and pulled her to her feet in front of him. Then he dropped to one knee, and pulled her down to sit on his upright knee. Vincent looked deeply into her eyes, which had turned bright with unshed tears and said, “Catherine, I’ve wanted to marry you and make you mine since the moment I laid eyes on you. Will you grant my fondest wish and the greatest desire of my heart, and marry me?”

  Catherine was completely overcome. “Oh, Vincent, yes! I want you more than anything else in my life!” She threw her arms around his neck, and cried softly with joy.

  Vincent whispered in her ear, “Then, my Love, there is just one more thing I must do.”

  Catherine pulled back, and looked at him through her tears. “What is that, Vincent?”

  Vincent took the ceramic rose out of its pouch and said, “Hold this for a moment,” and he placed it in her open hand. Then he emptied the pouch into his own hand, and took the rose from her, placing it carefully back in its pouch. She looked with curiosity at the little black velvet pouch in his hand, and he emptied its contents out into his hand. She stared at the two beautifully crafted crystal rings, and laughed with delight. He brushed the tears off her cheeks, and put the larger ring into her hand.