I watched from my hiding spot as Raoul paced through the drawing room again and again.

"Devil's creation… devil's spawn of sinful love! No one must know, no one must ever know…" I cocked my head to one side as the words echoed through the house.

"Devil," I whispered. "Devil…" A smile crept onto my face, and I scrambled out from the shafts in the house and back into my room. Seating myself at the powdering table, I gazed at the figure before me.

"Mirror, mirror…" I began, the words laced with a bitterness I couldn't control. "Mirror, mirror, who is the devil? Where is the sinful spawn? The horrid creation?" I paused, my hand lightly touching my cheek.

"It is most obvious that there is only beauty here, Mademoiselle. Only pure beauty-" Raoul then pounded on my bedroom door.

"Jade Isabelle! I would like to speak with you," He said loudly.

"Come in, father," I sang back. He opened the door and glanced at me, before quickly glancing away.

"You will be attending boarding school, starting on Monday. You should begin packing now. We leave on Sunday, and today is-"

"Friday, yes I know father. Does that mean we are missing church?" I asked, taking a tentative step towards him.

"C-church?" He said, puzzled. "Church?" This time he spat the word at me, recoiling his hand to slap my face. I retreated, whimpering.

"Church is all you can ever thing about! Church, church, and more church! You are to become a young lady. You're already fourteen!"

"Of course, father. I'm so sorry." I said, attempting to hide the bitterness I felt. But he heard it.

"Sorry, you devil child? Sorry will not save you from the horrible ugliness and reincarnation of sin that you are, my child! My own daughter, a pure and beautiful image of the imperfect Satan himself!" He began to strike me, my cheeks reddening at his touch. He pushed me and slapped me, my cries filling the room until he suddenly retreated. His eyes looked off into the distance, and I could almost hear him hum something quietly, eerily. He quickly turned back to me and snarled, before slamming the door behind him.

I curled up in a ball and sobbed. What had I done wrong? When the tears stopped flowing, I turned again to the mirror. Maybe if I looked hard enough I could see the flaw that is so obvious about me.

"Jade Isabelle, young Vicomtesse de Chagny," I sang softly. "There is horror in your eyes, there are pictures in your head. There is music that you cannot hear and visions that you cannot see. People dancing through your brain, beauty clouding up the pain- somehow you are flawed, I know. Somehow I am flawed… I know. Why else would he beat me so?"

I examined any damage left by my wonderful father. The deep red in my cheeks still stung, but wasn't still in the shape of a violent handprint. My eyes were a deep creamy yellow, my hair long and brown. After brushing it, I gazed upon the straight strands that framed my small face. Large red lips, dark curling eyelashes and eyebrows, a small nose, usually pink cheeks but an otherwise very pale complexion, with fading freckles still echoing around my jawbones.

"I think you're beautiful, Isabelle. No matter how your father beats you, no matter what he mutters when he believes he is alone, someone must think you are beautiful. Someone must see beyond the hideousness of… this life. Someone must see." In my mind, I finished the sentence with a quiet 'but no one answers'.

I then began to pack for boarding school. At least father could no longer beat me there. Perhaps I would make a friend who would let me know what flaw I have so I could finally apologize to father and make things right again.

There was a time, I think I remember, when father was okay with me- but only when I was very little. My mother died when she went into labor with me, but I have faint memories of a strange woman holding me. Raoul says that was my nanny, though none ever existed to my knowledge.

Glancing around my room, I saw my memories fade away as dresses were packed away, makeup stored and hairbrushes ready for travel. I kissed my mirror goodbye, and lay down to sleep.

"Until tomorrow," I whispered to the dark. "Until tomorrow, you and I will be friends, oh night. When the world cannot see my flaws but only hear my voice and listen with their hearts towards my actions- then they can see beyond the mistakes Satan granted me. They will love my beauty, I know it. Until tomorrow, you and me, Monsieur Night, will be the best of friends. The only friends. Until tomorrow."

Short, I know. But like little Jade Isabelle, I really must sleep. This idea came to me suddenly and I had to share it. I have plans for this one can't wait to write more of it, along with Addie's story and perhaps some more of my MoJo fanfiction. Good evening Monsieur's and Mademoiselle's, and I remain your most obedient servant… O. G.