The Gabrielle Series Boxed Set

by Zachary Chopchinski

  The sound was faint but her experiences taught her that when she heard that sound, things weren’t what they seemed. It was like the decorative piece of jewelry was warning her of danger.

  As though drawing a sword from its sheath, Madame Toinette took a step backwards and brought the switch to her side. Gabrielle didn't dare look away but she could tell that all the servants stopped to watch what was taking place.

  Gabrielle looked at the stone wall ahead of her that separated the two sets of glass doors leading to the large hall beyond. She’d always hated the sight of blood and couldn’t bring herself to watch what was about to happen.

  The faded brown coloring of the wall reminded her of the tree her father used to help her climb when she was younger. The very tree he was trimming the night he fell from the ladder and died. That seemed like a million lifetimes ago. Thinking of her father almost brought tears to her eyes, but Gabrielle batted them away.

  “This, you little heathen...” Madame Toinette paused and raised her hand high in the air as if she were staring in a play. “Is what happens to those who cannot tend to their duties.”

  Madame Toinette raised the switch and, with a sharp snap, brought it down on Gabrielle’s forearm. The pain seared through her as though she’d touched her arms to a hot oven and, with it, the rage that bubbled in her stomach threatened to explode. Her vision clouded with tears of pain and her legs began to tremble.

  A red welt began to swell from her arm and, still, she held them outward, knowing there was more to follow. Without hesitation, Madame Toinette brought the switch down again with surgical precision. The second wave of pain caused a single tear to roll down Gabrielle’s face and she let out a small whimper.

  Her thoughts were clouded by unfamiliar rage but Gabrielle let the anger fill every crevice inside her body. Feeling like she might throw up, she looked to the floor to steady herself.

  A sinister laugh of joy escaped the Madame. Forcing Gabrielle to look her in the eyes, she gave a half smile as she lifted one foot from the ground, reared up for the swing, and delivered the hardest strike of the three.

  There was no pain with this hit, only the crippling sensation of Gabrielle’s legs buckling underneath her, bringing her to her knees on the hard floor. The room spun and darkened at the same time.

  The remnants of food crumbs and flour felt like sand as they ground into her knees through her dress and apron. The jarring impact made her head jostle and begin to ache. Tears flowed down her cheeks and Gabrielle let her fifteen-year-old soul cry out in pain and fear.

  Her stomach churned at the sight of the blood and she looked away to avoid throwing up. Before she could take in all that was happening, a stinging sensation on her legs and on her back jarred Gabrielle. Her vision blurred as she stared at the floor, trying to will herself not to pass out.

  She brought her head up to look at Madame Toinette, who stood over Gabrielle as if she was a proud hunter and Gabrielle the prize.

  Slowly, she raised the switch over her head again, in dramatic effect. Gabrielle couldn’t bring herself to look away as Madame Toinette brought the switch down on Gabrielle’s face. She squeezed her eyes closed waiting for the blow, but it never came.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Gabrielle looked up at Madame Toinette as the color bled from her face. The head mistress’ eyes widened and she pursed her thin lips as she stepped aside, revealing the force that stopped the brutality.

  Gabrielle’s mouth hung open in shock as she saw her savior was an elderly woman. Her wrinkle-covered face displayed a look of disgust and her eyes bored into the Madame as if she could rip out her soul.

  Her white hair had specs of grey and was pulled back in such a pristine bun that Claudie would envy its majesty. Fire was burning in her brown eyes as she maintained her grasp on Madame Toinette’s wrist.

  “What in the hell do you think you are doing?” demanded the elderly woman as she wrenched the switch from head mistress’ hand. She then cast the Madame’s arm aside like she was swatting away a bug.

  “You will answer me, child! You will answer me this moment! What evil crept into your mind to force you to do this?”

  “Renée! She was punishing Gabrielle for sleeping in la…” Claudie trailed off as the old woman’s head spun around and stared her into silence. Gabrielle had never seen Renée before, though she hadn’t seen many people other than the servants.

  “Madeleine, you will answer me this moment! How dare you place your hands on a young girl like that! What has possessed your mind, girl?”

  “Mother, I…” Madame Toinette began, taking a sheepish step backward.

  Gabrielle’s jaw dropped open in both shock and excitement. This horrible monster of a woman was being scolded by her mother in front of the entire kitchen staff.

  Before Madeleine could finish her declaration, a sharp snap broke through the silence as Renée struck her on the cheek with the switch. Claudie and Hilde both gasped as the tables turned and Madame Toinette’s eyes welled.

  Gabrielle couldn't help herself; she allowed a small half smile to inch across her face as she watched her attacker being punished by her mother.

  The silence that had fallen upon the kitchen made itself apparent to Renée, as she snapped her attention from her daughter to the rest of the servants.

  “The rest of you, to your tasks!” she commanded, waving the switch around the room, pointing it at everyone in her immediate vicinity.

  As if nothing had happened, the servants returned to their bustling tasks. A wave of heat radiated down Gabrielle’s arms, forcing her to bring her eyes back to her wounds.

  A small stream of thick, sticky blood trickled from the welts on her arms to the floor, causing her eyesight to darken again and the floor to spin. She watched the droplets tap as they hit the stone floor and little flecks of flour remnants clung to them, turning them a darker shade of red.

  Discomfort overwhelmed her as Claudie brought the base of her apron to Gabrielle’s face, wiping the remnants of tears from her cheeks.

  Hilde wrapped her apron around Gabrielle’s arm to cover the bleeding. The pain was intolerable and her head pounded from the ordeal, yet she didn’t like being doted upon like this.

  “I am NOT a child! Leave me alone…you’re making me look weak…I don’t ne…”

  “Leave! The two of you. The last thing this young one needs is more of a fuss.” Gabrielle’s thoughts were interrupted by Renée, who was kneeling next to her and shooing the other girls away. “Let me look at the arm. Ah! That is quite a good one you have there, my dear.”

  Renée’s cold glare bore through Madeleine, her eyes even more piercing than her daughter's. She put one arm around Gabrielle’s shoulder and held the worse of the two arms high into the air. “Come girl, up now. We cannot have you sitting in the kitchen and bleeding. That is unacceptable and creating more of a scene than needed.”

  The old woman squeezed Gabrielle as they stood, causing her to exhale in pain. Claudie and Hilde ran up to either side to help walk her back to their room.

  “Leave her, girls. I may be old, but I can tend to this without your help. If you must help, grab clean cloths, a basin of boiling water, and some tea with two cups. Make haste!” Renée’s voice seemed concerned, yet she maintained a firm tone, unaffected by what had just happened.

  The searing pain in Gabrielle’s arms, the weakness of her muscles and the throbbing in her head forced her to focus on putting one foot in front of the other. She felt the hard wood of the doorway of her room as she brushed past it and relief washed over her as she felt the cool, comforting mattress.

  Claudie and Hilde came rushing into the room with a tray of supplies. Claudie put the water and cloths on the small wooden table at the head of Gabrielle’s bed. The girls then sat at the foot of the bed, talking over each other as they did.

  “That’s enough from the two of you for the time being. I am sure you have chores to tend to.”

  Claudie and Hilde continued talking
, ignoring the demand. Suddenly, Renée was on her feet with an ear of each girl between her fingers, leading them to the door.

  The old woman shook her head, gave a frustrated exhale and walked to the tray to prepare bandages from the cloths. The radiating pain from Gabrielle’s arms made a dull thumping sound as it reverberated through her body. She took a deep breath and squeezed her eyes shut, letting a cold un-shed tear escape and play its way down her cheek.

  “There is no need for tears, child. Those lashings were not as deleterious as they appeared. The switch causes more of a show than anything else.” Gabrielle could hear the light tap as Renée placed the scissors on the table at her bed side.

  Dipping the corner of a rag into the basin of water, Renée placed the cloth upon her arms and slowly wiped the area. Gabrielle flinched at the sudden stinging sensation that wrapped it tendrils around her arms. The hot water felt like ice when it met the burning that had set into her arm and a chill traced her spine as relief washed over her.

  “Thank you,” Gabrielle blurted, making a hiss as Renée moved to the other arm, “for doing—what you did…” She trailed off as Renée didn’t show any reaction to her statement. The two sat in awkward silence for a few moments before Renée broke through the quiet.

  “Thanks is not needed, my dear. One does not thank someone who stops wretchedness. It is the duty of all living things to cherish one another, not take enjoyment from pointless torment. Something she has never understood.”

  Renée continued as if she knew what Gabrielle was thinking. “She takes after her father. A harsh man. He was not always so crude, but he changed after we had Madeleine. I always loved him, but he was never quite the same. I left Arras and came to Versailles to work in the palace. It ripped at my heart, but I could not take her with me, so she grew up with her father. I think she never got over her disdain for me. He turned her into what she is today and I allowed it.”

  A tear fell from Renée’s face and Gabrielle was consumed with a sense of sorrow for the woman. “I should not have left her in charge during my absence. I thought a little responsibility would show her some humility. I was mistaken.” As if realizing where she was, Renée stood and straightened her apron.

  “Well, young lady, I must be off; with our Lord and Lady back from their journey they will accept little issue in the palace and I must ensure they are happy. I will forgive you of your duties for the day. Take this time and rest.”

  This morning had proven tiresome, so the relinquishment of duties was a large relief and she was very grateful for the reprieve. Renée turned on her heels and walked across the chamber to the door.

  As she opened the door, Claudie and Hilde came crashing down on the floor at Renée’s feet. Gabrielle tried not to giggle as the two struggled to their feet and brushed the dust and dirt from their dresses. Renée grabbed the two girls by their ears and lead them out of the room, yelling at them the whole time.

  Finding herself alone again, Gabrielle let a giggle escape her lips. The corners of her smile faded down as she thought about what she’d just endured. Why am I even here? Is this pain worth it? Gabrielle thought to herself as she remembered what Alexandra had told her.

  Gabrielle was here for a very good reason. The souls in the lives that were attached to this bracelet couldn't rest until their story was witnessed, and she was chosen to listen. Yeah, I guess it is worth it.

  Exhaustion poured over Gabrielle’s entire body like the releasing of a flood gate. She let out a yawn and stretched her arms above her head, wincing as they pulled at her bandages. Lying back on to her bed, another yawn preceded heavy eyes, which left her unable to keep them open. Soon, darkness had enveloped her and she slept once again. 

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Gabrielle cracked one eye and then the other as the room began to fade back into reality. She pulled herself up, blinking the sleep from her eyes, and peered around the room to see if her bedmates had made it back from the day. She was alone with only the company of the mess she’d made.

  The still air formed a ringing in her ears as she stirred herself from the bed and placed her feet on the cold floor. Feeling the chill climb up her legs like a monster, Gabrielle pulled up her feet and reached out to grab her slippers before daring to stand.

  The stinging in her arms was replaced by a dull aching as Gabrielle adjusted her bandages in the long full length mirror. She had the urge to throw Renée’s cautions aside and explore the palace. Chewing on her bottom lip, she took a deep breath and rubbed the bracelet around her wrist with a shaky hand.

  She turned and made her way to the door. With an eerie squeal, she urged the door open and peered out into the hall. Revealing her face to the hallway, Gabrielle scanned her head from side to side, looking for any signs of movement.

  With dedication, as though her feet knew where she was going, they drove her down the hallway towards the kitchen. Her steps echoed through the vacant hallway, passing closed doors and bare walls and, within a moment, she was in the kitchen doorway once again.

  A sea of young faces scuttled around, scrubbing all the surfaces and cleaning everything in sight. Many of the people she saw were those deemed ‘not pleasant enough’ to be wandering throughout the palace.

  “Gabrielle!” squeaked a young voice from beyond the kitchen. A young man hopped from his perch upon one of the counters where he was sneaking pastries and shuffled over to her. He had an ear to ear grin that reminded her of the clown her mother had ordered for her 8th birthday party. The youngster’s name was Jean-Paul. He was nine years old with brown hair that dipped low enough to cover the tops of his eyes.

  Jean-Paul’s father was one of the palace gardeners, and she found herself watching out for him when his father wasn’t around to keep him out of trouble. His face was dusted with flour from pretending to work in the kitchen. His oversized shirt almost swallowed him whole, even though it was held in place by suspenders.

  Jean-Paul ran to Gabrielle’s side and wrapped his lanky arms around her hips, his head barely above her waist, as a son might do to his mother.

  “Are you alright, Gabrielle? Did she hurt you? I wish I was here. I would have stopped her.”

  “I’m alright, Jean-Paul. Don’t you worry about me for one second!” Gabrielle anxiously allowed her eyes to wonder around the room. “You haven't seen Madame Toinette around have you?”

  “No. She hasn’t shown her face around any of us this morning. I’m happy Renée let her have it! She hit me once with her stick. I couldn’t sit all day!”

  Gabrielle took a moment to appreciate the uninhibited happiness and youth in the small boy that clung to her. She knew her spirit was only fifteen but, with everything she’d been through, she’d begun to think and act like an older woman.

  “Are Hilde and Claudie around?” Gabrielle asked, bringing herself out of her thoughts.

  “I think they went to dust. If Renée catches you out, she’ll box your ears for acting foolish.” With this, Jean-Paul’s eyes widened and a blush crept its way across the boy’s face “Or at least, that’s what she told Claudie and Hilde. You can stay here with me today!” His voiced rose higher and Gabrielle laughed, shaking her head.

  “If I stay with you today, then it is you that will not be doing chores and getting your ears boxed. I think I will walk around the lower gardens today.” Jean-Paul's face drooped. “But if you should finish your work early, you are welcome to join me for a little picnic at the far end of the grounds. How does that sound?”

  The young boy perked up at the notion.

  “I will get my cleaning done so fast that I’ll beat you to the lower grounds!” Then without even so much as a wave, he spun on his heels, dropped to the floor and began fervidly cleaning. A laugh escaped Gabrielle’s lips. She turned in place and headed to the back of the kitchen, where a small door led out into the vegetable garden.

  She paused as the sun and warm air baptized her in the glory of the day. It washed over her like a storm and Gabrielle stood mo
tionless, letting the nature around her fill her lungs. She allowed a smile to consume her face, making her cheeks hurt, and she had difficulty opening her eyes to greet the day.

  The beautiful colors of the garden were overwhelming. Fruits and vegetables shone with vibrancy and a sharp pain erupted in her stomach, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten anything today.

  Gabrielle knew picking food from this garden was forbidden, but there wasn’t anyone else around to see her. She plucked a perfectly round tomato and let the sweet juices run down her chin as she bit into it.

  Feeling confident in her latest cheat with trouble, Gabrielle picked several small berries as she walked through the garden. Popping them into her mouth and smiling as the tastes melted the trouble away. A warm breeze blew over the grass and made the lawn look like it was a flowing sea of water. The breeze whispered to her and she almost fell forward as the pleasure of the day washed over her.

  The groundskeepers toiled off in the distance, pining for the perfection demanded by the royal family. With the sun warming her skin, she stepped out onto the path parallel to the lawn and proceeded toward the lower half of the grounds.

  The soft grass made her feel like she was walking on clouds. Lost in thought, she wondered about what she’d gotten herself into. Her thoughts went from Alexandra, to Heather and Fionn, to her mother at home in Envisage, then finally to her father. Gabrielle found herself smiling and took a moment to look to the glass sky. I wonder if you can see me. Are you in heaven or is your soul trapped?

  Shaking off the morbid thought Gabrielle found herself standing in the center of the great lawn—which was not allowed. She broke into a jog toward a stone path that led to the lower garden. Her feet slapped the old stones that composed the path as she rounded another corner at full speed.

  She ran for few moments before she came upon a set of old stone steps. Attempting to take them two at a time, she tripped and stumbled the remaining four. She caught herself on the railing and prevented herself from falling to the ground, her face red with frustration.