Runaway

Chapter One

By Katrina Chance

Night of the Masque

            Danielle ran from the palace as fast as her feet could carry her back to the Manoir du Barbarac.  She couldn't believe her stepmother.  She couldn't believe how cruel she truly was.  Stealing her one chance at happiness, she believed.

            Danielle arrived outside of the manor and immediately ran up to her room.  She stripped out of her mother's dress and dressed in her usual servant's dress before quickly packing a bag.  "I'm not staying here.  I'm leaving and running as far as I can.  I don't want to be here to see Marguerite and Rodmilla gloating over their victory," she said to herself as she packed.

            She finished and shouldered the bag.  She then wrote a quick letter for her friends and for Jacqueline, to try to assure them that she would be alright.  She then left her room and ran down the back stairs as fast as she could.  She ran out the back door and headed for the stables.  She ran inside and saddled her father's old horse and climbed on his back.  She said a quick prayer and spurred the horse and took off as fast as she could.  She headed away from the manor and didn't look back.  She said good-bye to her old life and headed for a new life away from her old home.

                The carriage carrying Rodmilla, Marguerite, and Jacqueline arrived back at the manor a few minutes after Danielle had left.  Both Rodmilla and Marguerite had smiles on their faces, while Jacqueline had a frown on her beautiful face.  She hated what her mother and sister had done.  She hated that they had stolen Danielle's one chance at happiness away.  She believed that her stepsister deserved everything that they did, unlike her mother.  Her mother believed that Danielle deserved nothing because she was not of noble blood.  But Jacqueline knew that was wrong.

            The carriage pulled to a stop in front of the manor and Maurice stepped forward to help them out.  Jacqueline turned to her mother and said to her spitefully, "How could you be so cruel?"

                "What was so cruel about what I did?  I told the truth!" Rodmilla exclaimed.

            "No, you did not.  Danielle is not just a servant.  She is my stepsister and should be acknowledged as such!  She deserves happiness like we do!  And now, because of you, she will never have it!" Jacqueline shouted at her mother as she was helped out of the carriage.  "You deserve nothing more than eternal damnation for what you did, you do realize that?"

                "I don't believe that, my darling.  You will understand that what I did was for the good of our family.  Marguerite will be the Prince's bride and we will soon be residing in the palace," Rodmilla told her.

                "I can't believe you believe that Danielle deserves the same happiness that we are entitled to.  She's not of noble blood like we are," Marguerite said as she looked at her sister before Maurice reached to help her out of the carriage.

                "You don't know that for sure, sister dear.  For all you know, her mother was a noblewoman.  We never got the chance to learn either way before our stepfather died," Jacqueline said with contempt.

                "It doesn't matter now.  Danielle lost, I won," Marguerite said as she made her way out of the carriage.  She headed into the manor and Jacqueline glared after her.

                "Not according to me," Jacqueline said under her breath as Maurice helped her out of the carriage.  She looked at the servant and saw the sadness in his eyes.  Sadness for his young mistress who had just lost her chance at happiness.

                Maurice had listened to Jacqueline defend her stepsister and was glad someone had the strength to oppose the Baroness.  "Don't you worry, mistress.  Everything will work out right."

                "I hope you are right, Maurice.  Danielle deserves to be happy," Jacqueline said before she headed into the manor herself.  She headed up the stairs toward her own room, but changed her mind on the way up the stairs and headed up for the attic to where the servants slept.  She walked into the small room that was Danielle's and found out that her stepsister wasn't there.  She turned and headed back to the door when she noticed a note sitting on a chair near the door.  She picked it up and began to read.

My dear friends,

                I'm sorry about this, but I cannot stay here.  Not after the masque and how everything turned out.  I can't stay around and survive Rodmilla and Marguerite's gloating.  Not after they probably won.  Marguerite will be Henry's bride and I will not stay around and see that happen.

                I know you will be worried when you realize I'm gone, but be happy for me.  I'm finding a new life for myself.  It's what I need to do now.

                I love you all and I always will. 

                Danielle

                Jacqueline was crying by the end of the note.  Poor Danielle!  I'm glad she got out of here though.  I don't know how I will get through this myself.  I guess I'd just better spend as much time as I can with Laurent and avoid mother and Marguerite.

                Danielle rode through the night, passing forest after forest, manor after manor, each grander than the other as she continued her trek away from her old life to begin her new one.  She wasn't going to stop.  She wasn't going to look back, she would only look forward, forward to the life that was awaiting her.

For all those who are interested in General Hospital fanfiction you may want to visit my website at www.angelfire.com/nd1/katrinachance