by Lily Wallis
“Ma belle,” Malvado begins. “What troubles you?”
“Nothing,” I say, my eyes peering down at my lap.
“You can tell me,” he says, his hand reaching for mine. “What can I do to make you more comfortable?”
What can he do to make me more comfortable? The obvious answer is one I know he won’t grant me after hearing why I was brought here. Then again, I’m still not completely sure why I was chosen in the first place. Letting out a deep sigh, my eyes make their way back to the woman.
“Why is she tied up?” I ask.
“Does that bother you?” he asks.
“Yes,” I reply, my eyes growing larger.
With a snap of his fingers, Lazare gets up from his seat, rushing to Malvado’s side.
“Yes, your highness.”
“Remove Claire from this room,” Malvado instructs, and for a moment, Lazare looks unsure, but does as he is told.
As he removes the rope from her wrists, he begins to walk her out of the dining room, and that is when all glances follow them, along with gasps.
“Better, ma chérie?” he asks and I nod, silently.
The courses continue to be served and if you were someone looking in, it would look like quite the extravagant dinner party…set back in history. That is one thing I’ve noticed since being here. It’s like taking a step back in time, entering an entirely different world. As the last course arrives, the woman next to me gives me a warm smile.
“We are delighted to welcome you here, and are looking forward to the ceremony,” she says, her eyes sparkling.
Giving her a half smile, my eyes go back to Malvado, and the jewel on his wrist. No, I don’t want to do this. I need to get out of here. They can’t force me, can they? While everyone devours the delicacies in front of them, I feel as if I am about to fall apart. Looking across the table, I see Theroux’s eyes on me, and in an instant, he looks away. God, I wish I had never met him, never spoken a word to him, never trusted him. Now I’m here, not able to trust a single soul sitting around me. Then my glance goes back to Malvado, the only person who has shown me an ounce of kindness.
“I’m scared,” I whisper in his direction.
“What troubles you?”
“I don’t want to do this ceremony,” I say feeling my breath quicken, and a tear rolls down my cheek. “Please don’t make me do this.”
He takes a deep breath, then another, and I have no idea what is going through his mind. His eyes return to mine, a half smile gracing his lips.
“Ma chérie,” he begins. “I want you to have every freedom you can. I want you to belong, to feel a sense of home. It is only then that you can exhale the past and begin to live.”
“I’m just so scared. What is going to happen?”
He stays silent, as if he’s thinking. Seconds later he gets up, and everyone takes notice, the room becoming silent.
“There won’t be a ceremony tonight,” he announces. “It is delayed until further notice.”
Shock is audible in the crowd, and their eyes grow large before whispers begin. Malvado grabs my hand, kissing the top of it.
“I will not force you,” he replies, letting go of my hand and disappearing through a door.
As soon as he’s gone, the whispers turn to conversations, and it looks as though no one can believe what happened. Madame Benoit gives me a disapproving look, tossing her napkin on the table.
“Remember what I said, Violet,” she says, before getting up from the table. “Just remember.”
I find myself back in the Rose Room, locked inside and on my own. Hours later I lie awake on my bed, sobbing uncontrollably. Nothing makes sense, and the more I think, it becomes more confusing. Spirits? The end of the world? The chosen ones? Suddenly, I hear a door open and my eyes make their way to it, but the door stays in place. Footsteps approach my bed and I turn to the other side to find a shadowy figure come my way.
“Don’t be afraid,” a familiar voice whispers.
“Malvado?”
“Yes, my dear. I’ve come to check on you.”
“How did you get in here? The door never opened,” I say, wondering if all of his talk about spirits could be true.
“There is a hidden door in the wall that leads to my quarters,” he explains, pulling up a chair beside my bed. “Sleep isn’t coming easy for you tonight, is it?”
“No,” I say. “I can’t stop thinking.”
“I can help you with that,” he offers.
“No!” I exclaim. “I don’t want to be drugged again. Please, no!”
“My love, you won’t be drugged,” he says, grabbing my hand. “I will sit with you until you fall asleep.”
The thought of it is terrifying, yet calming at the same time. Brushing my hand with his thumb, I relax, and look into his eyes since it’s the only thing visible on his face in this dark room. I wonder what he looks like without all of the paint, who he was before this so-called spirit came to him.
“Rest my dear, tomorrow is a new day and everything will be different.”
He begins to hum a song, a beautiful melody, and within minutes, I feel myself drift.
The next day, I wake to a beam of sunshine and I open my eyes. Searching the room, there is no sign of Malvado, and I wonder if I’ve made it all up. Getting out of bed, I make my way to the wall to search for the secret door, but can’t even find a hint of it.
“Good morning, Violet,” Elodie says as she walks into the room.
“Good morning.”
“How are you feeling today? Are you searching for something?”
“I thought there was,” I begin. “A fly. I kept hearing a buzzing noise and I thought I saw something on the wall.”
“A fly? Well, it’s possible. We are out in the middle of nowhere. Let’s get you dressed and ready for breakfast.”
Lazare and Thibodeaux are at my door, ready to escort me out of my room again, and just as yesterday, not one speaks a word. Entering the same dining room, it is filled with people, but not as many as last night. They take me over to the same chair, and Malvado’s remains empty. About ten minutes later, breakfast is served and everyone begins to eat.
“Are you not hungry?” Madame Benoit asks from across the table.
“Where is Malvado?”
“The King only joins us for dinner.”
A part of me is saddened by this. I was hoping to see him to ask if he came to my room last night, or if I made it all up. Picking up my fork, I move the eggs around on my plate before deciding to eat. Once breakfast is over, I’m taken back to my room, and the door is locked, leaving me on my own again. Sitting down on the sill of the window, I look outside and watch several people working, others taking a walk, and a few women standing around having conversations. What I would give to go outside and smell the fresh air. Letting out a deep sigh, I lean my head against the frame of the window and continue to watch a world I don’t have access to.
Chapter Ten
It’s been several days since I’ve seen Malvado. Even though Madame Benoit said he joins us for dinner, his seat remained empty. I’m starting to believe that him coming to my room that night was just my imagination. I’ve continued to search for a hidden door, but haven’t found a trace. A part of me longs to see him, while the other fights, telling me not to get lost.
“What is it, my dear?” Elodie asks. “Why so melancholy?”
“When can I go outside?”
“Soon, my sweet, soon.”
I detest that word. Soon. It seems to be the answer for everything, yet, it isn’t an answer at all. But what can I do? Nothing. I just pass my days, sitting in this room and my only contact is Elodie and the two men that escort me around the mansion. I don’t speak to anyone during our meals, they all look at me with eyes of hate. Well, except Madame Benoit. She seems overjoyed with my situation, but still manages to get a stab in one way or another. After Elodie helps me change into my nightdress, she says good night, and leaves the room, locking the door behi
nd her. I don’t go to bed, instead, I grab a book and sit on the sofa. It’s in French, but it has illustrations, so I flip through it anyway. A creaking sound gets my attention and my eyes peer up.
“Ma chérie. I’m sorry I haven’t seen you; I’ve had business to attend,” Malvado says walking toward me. “I hope you can forgive me.”
Not one word leaves my lips, and my eyes stay fixated on him. Kneeling in front of me, he takes my hand in his, kissing the top of it.
“Can you forgive me?”
I nod, because I’m at a loss for words. Seeing him in front of me relieves me, calms me even. He stands, letting go of my hand, and for a moment I think he is about to leave. Gripping his arm with my hand, I take him by surprise.
“Don’t leave me,” I say, tears building in my eyes.
Sitting down beside me, he takes me in his arms, his hand brushing my hair.
“Don’t worry, my love. I will stay with you.”
“Is this a dream? Am I making this up?”
“No, my dear, it is no dream. I am here and you are safe.”
For a while we sit just like that, his hand navigating its way through my hair, and my head resting on his shoulder. Once his hand moves down the side of my jaw, I look up at him.
“You are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen,” he smiles.
With two fingers underneath my chin, he lifts it, bringing his lips to mine in a slow, sensual kiss. In this moment, all rationale seems to leave me and I give in, letting his kiss become more dominant, his hand moving down my neck, gripping it in a possessive way. When he removes his lips, I’m left longing for more, feeling myself breathe hard.
“You should sleep, my love,” he smiles while my body is still trying to recuperate from a simple kiss.
Without saying a word, my hand finds the back of his neck, pulling him close to feel his lips one last time. I don’t recognize myself, but being starved from any warmth will make you do unthinkable things. With a groan, he gives in, his mouth devouring mine in a way I’ve never deemed possible. Soon, his tongue travels down my neck, and my head falls back while I close my eyes, enjoying every single moment. His hand runs up my body, cupping the curve of my breast, leaving me breathless once again.
“I want you,” I whisper, once I can find the words.
“No!” he says, removing his hands from my body. “Not yet.”
“What?” I ask, as he gets up from the sofa. “What did I do?”
“Nothing, my dear. I cannot succumb to temptation. There are steps.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, completely confused. “Steps?”
“As of now you are still an outsider. The ceremony hasn’t taken place,” he explains, taking a deep breath. “You will see, once that is completed, everything will change.”
Leading me to my bed, he pulls up a chair and takes a book out of the nightstand. As I lie there, he begins to read to me in French, and even though I don’t understand it, I get lost in words that fall from his lips, almost as beautiful as a lullaby.
***
“Violet wake up!” a voice says, sounding muffled in the distance. “Wake up, it’s just a nightmare.”
Ripping my eyes open, I see Elodie shaking me with her hands on my shoulders. What just happened? When did I go to sleep? Where did Malvado go?
“Are you all right?” Elodie asks, towering over me.
“What happened?”
“You were screaming uncontrollably, and when I got into the room, your entire body was shaking. You’re ok now. It was just a nightmare.”
Sitting up, I can feel my heart pound, and the encounter with Malvado runs through my head. Just a dream, just a dream. As the day progresses, this dream continues to reside in my mind. I want to scold myself for these thoughts, thoughts of wanting him. I must be insane. Where did that come from? Yet, it felt so real. Closing my eyes, I can feel his touch at my neck, his tongue at war with mine. Was it really just a dream? Maybe he could be the new connection the Voodoo queen was talking about, maybe this is my new beginning? While sitting on the sofa as Elodie changes the sheets, I turn to her.
“Elodie,” I begin.
“Yes, Mademoiselle?”
“What will change after the ceremony?” I ask, and she looks at me with surprise in her eyes.
“Well,” she begins, walking over to me to sit down. “You will reside in this room, yet, the door won’t be locked. You will have the freedom to roam around the mansion, to go outside…with an escort.”
“Not on my own,” I sigh.
“Not at first. You have to remember; everything will be new to you. It will take time, Violet.”
“I understand.”
As she gets up to continue making the bed, the defeated part in me wonders if should give in. I don’t believe in spirits, and if this jewel will be the beginning of my freedom, maybe it is what I need to do.
Chapter Eleven
More days pass, and I feel as if I’m on the verge of going insane. This solitary confinement is taking a toll on me, and I’m thankful for Elodie, even though I don’t trust her. I say days have gone by, but really, I have no idea just how long I’ve really been here. I swear they are drugging my wine at dinner. Each night, I feel hazy, and I have the most vivid dreams, most of them ripping me out of my sleep in the middle of the night. Malvado has appeared in them several times, the others, have plagued me my entire life. The loss of my parents, two people that were supposed to love and protect me no matter what. Truth be told, they never did. From what I remember, they were drunk, high, or both, and a little child had no room in their world. I came into the system when I was four years old, and even though I had shitty parents, I felt that loss. Over the years, it eventually lessened, but it’s the nightmares that take me right back into that small dirty house with my father on the couch while strange men were all over my mother. Those are memories that will always resurface, no matter how deep they have been buried. And now I’m here, trapped in another nightmare, one I still cannot comprehend. The more I try to make sense of everything, the more puzzle pieces seem to go missing. I have never felt like I belonged anywhere in this world, never found anyone that really cared. As demented as it seems, what if I gave this a shot? It’s not like I have anyone or anything waiting for me at home. I have nothing, I’ve never had anything. Tossing and turning in my bed, I hear a door open, and I know it must be another dream. I begin to pinch my skin, and the pain radiates down my arm.
“My love,” Malvado says as I hear footsteps come towards me. “How are you this evening?”
I don’t move, and my head remains on the pillow, facing the wall. Letting out a deep sigh, I hear those footsteps come around the bed, until he is in front of me.
“Why so desolate?” he asks, and my eyes move up to meet his.
“I don’t know anything anymore,” I say. “I want to disappear.”
“Oh, my dear, that would be utter tragedy,” he says, reaching for my hand. “You are so very special. A path of greatness lies before you.”
“At dinner,” I begin. “Everyone seems to detest me.”
“They fear you,” he counters, his stare intense.
“There’s nothing to fear,” I reply.
“You sell yourself short, ma chérie. Come with me,” he says, holding out his hand.
“Where?”
“You’ll see,” he replies.
As I get up, he drapes a robe over my shoulders, and hands me a pair of shoes. Again, with my hand in his, he leads me to the wall and when his hand touches it, a glowing outline appears in the shape of a door. Pushing it open, a set of stairs leads down, and I follow him without hesitation. Coming to another door, he opens it to reveal the room I was in when I first met him, his room.
“What are we doing here?” I ask, and his lip rides up in a grin.
“I’m giving you what you desire.”
Walking across the room, we come to a door and once he opens it, I can smell the outside air. Breathing in deeply, I
close my eyes, not wanting to ever forget the scent.
“Come,” he smiles, and it is then that I take my first step outside.
The night is black, only lit by a full moon and several stars. I hear the croaking of frogs, the chirping of crickets, and the howl of a wind even though there is no wind at all. I follow Malvado to a bench below an array of weeping willows and he bids me to sit. An eerie feeling hits me, the darkness awakening a fear that I do not want to have.
“What is it, my love?”
“It’s so dark,” I say, my hearing being the only guide of what surrounds us.
Placing his hand in his pocket, he pulls something out and tosses it into the air. An array of fireflies suddenly appear, lighting the darkness in front of us.
“How did you do that?” I ask.
“Magic,” he replies.
My eyes stay fixated on the tiny lights floating all around us. They are much brighter than any I have ever seen. I know if I ask, the response will be magic, so I don’t.
“When I was young,” Malvado begins. “I never knew love. I never knew what it was like to be loved or have anyone care for me. Unlucky beginnings, I suppose. I had to fight my way through life, overcome the odds, and even though I survived, I never felt as if I belonged. Do you know what I mean, ma chérie?”
“All too well,” I reply.
“It was after the Baron came to me that my entire life changed. Someone that was never shown an ounce of respect is suddenly worshipped and adored. Two words that never had a place in my life. The Baron gave me an opportunity, gave all of us an opportunity.”
“You said you were chosen. Why you?”
“That my sweet is something only the Baron knows. He had to find his double so to say, a person to embody him when he enters the human world. Just like you, Violet.”
Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out a heart-shaped locket, and with a wave of his hand, it begins to glow. Opening the locket, it reveals a picture of a woman, and immediately, I gasp.
