Thank you for all the kind reviews so far!
I just had to put up a chapter today, seeing as it is... VICTOR HUGO'S BIRTHDAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Soooo a warning! This is a little RACY! Okay not too racy, but a little. If you haven't been able to tell, I am not a fan of Montparnasse. I see him as how I write him, I apologize if you do not enjoy this. I hope you enjoy everything else!
Disclaimer: Today is not my birthday, so I am indeed not Victor Hugo, so I indeed to not own Les Miserables.
Sooo with out further ado "Why Did I Do That?"
The next day I look for my family, or at least a face I know. I'm strolling through a dark alley when I hear Azelma.
"… Papa I do not want to," she cries out. "I'm tired and I want Mama. Let me sleep Papa." Her voice wavers and I can't stand to hear it. I rush through the alley to find my father and my sister arguing. She looks hungry, and I remember the meals that Enjolras family fed me with a watering mouth.
"Papa! 'Zelma!" I exclaim giving them both a hug. "Where have you been?" I ask holding onto my sister's hand.
"Where have you been 'Ponine? You are hurt!" Azelma says looking down at my hand.
"Nothing! I fell and some nice man wrapped it for me and-"
"Did you get money from him?" Papa says pulling me to face him. I fight the urge to scream for it hurt my body to be pulled like that. I shake my head and Papa becomes angry. "You should know better than that Éponine!" He says with a disapproving frown, and Azelma backs into the wall away from him.
"Thénardier!" A voice booms walking into our hiding spot. "Why Éponine, it's lovely to see you again!" Montparnasse says with a smirk. I rush over to him and throw my arms around his neck. I ignore the pain, and continue with my game.
"Oh 'Parnasse! I missed you!" I tell the lie with such ease I shudder inside. "You've always been such a sweet boy, did you know that?" He smiles down at me and strokes my hair. He is about to say something but I cut him off and turn to Papa. "Father, what is going on? Why is my little sister upset?" I say with a touch of anger.
"I have arranged a job for her. She is going to be a servant at a house of some woman. Do you remember doing that Éponine? This is a different one, and she has money. Lots of money." As always... Papa is worrying about money, and how to get it. No matter how he sells his daughters. "Your sister here doesn't want to-"
"I'll do it," I say quickly. "Let me do it. 'Zelma couldn't handle it. I can do it. And I'll even sneak her money and food out to you." This one is a lie.
"No. I just got you back, love." Montparnasse says taking me into his arms. Azelma glares in my direction, and I don't understand why her sudden anger.
"Let her go Papa. I do not want to." She says crossing her arms against her chest. Her clothes are filled with holes and I look down at my own dress, and she notices. "Where did you get that?" Her face is contorted in envy, and I feel a pull at my heart.
"The same man who fixed my hand." At least this was not a lie. My father mutters curses under this breath.
"Why do you get everything?" Azelma whines with a stomp of her foot. "Everything."
"Cheer up 'Zelm you'll get your turn someday." Papa says looking at me with a cold hard stare.
"You are going to do this then?" Montparnasse says turning to me.
"Next month is when I told them you would be there." Nothing else of the job is said for Montparnasse pulls out stolen bread and we have breakfast. It is a major contrast to eat black bread after the rich soups and white bread I was given at the Enjolras house.
Later that night, I am strolling the streets alone. I would be sitting down, but the pain in my chest makes it hard to be comfortable. During the day I split away from my family to try to find Marius. I couldn't find him, but I did find the remains of the barricade. It was in scraps and there were even blood stains on the stones. The National Guard was now nowhere to be found, and neither were the insurgents. The revolution had started with a bang, but only now it remains a hidden whisper. I walked away from the site and now I am walking near the garden. The woods that were inside of the garden used to be my favorite and now they helped to calm my down heart.
His smile, the way his eyes lit up when he talked… It's the only thing that brings tears to my eyes. There isn't any point of feeling like this… He doesn't feel this way about me, and he never will. All I do is torture myself in the name of 'love'... A love that only exists from one person. I need to stop acting like a fool.
Stop thinking Éponine!
The Baron Pontmercy doesn't care about you. He kissed you when you weren't even dead, he left you for dead. He never cared for you. Eponine! I'm such a silly girl. I talk to myself.
"Mhmh... I do like that dress 'Ponine. You wear it better then the boyish clothes you had on before." I hear before hands are on my waist.
"'Parnasse…" I warn pushing his arms away. He only laughs and pulls me closer.
"What happened to the Éponine I knew?" He asks playing with a lock of my hair. "You used to be a fun girl." I turn to him at this and frown. "Come on smile, love." He has that dreadful sneer on his face and I just frown.
"I'm not feeling well. Please," I plead as he toys with my hair still.
"I'm sure I can make you feel much better," He whispers into my ear. His hot breath tickles and I push him back. "What now?" He asks, his arms folded over his chest in irritation. "What is wrong with you Eponine?"
"You can leave me alone now," I demand placing my hands on my hips.
"And what if I do not want to?" He says stepping closer. I start to feel a pain in my chest, and a little wetness. Oh no. It can't be bleeding again... I must be making a face for he laughs as he saunters over. He cups his hands around my chin gently and I am almost surprised at his kindness. "Is something wrong?" He says gently
"We have gone through this before. Just leave me be."
"So nothing's wrong then," he says pulling close and kissing my cheek. Before I can say anything he is off kissing me and smiling at his own power. I start to lose my breath quickly as the kissing becomes intense. He goes to reach at the latches on the dress but that's when I slump to the ground.
"Can't... Breathe..." I say putting my hand to my chest. I looked up to see him just standing there, his arms crossed in fury. I try my best to just ignore him as I undo the dress, no longer caring what he sees.
"Dear god..." He says as the bandages, now turning red, come into view. "You went to the barricades didn't you? You were shot?" I excepted a little bit of kindness from him, but he is only angry. His anger is not at all towards me being shot, but me being at there. "How could you?"
"How could I?" I repeat with a low whisper. I turn my head away from him. "You wouldn't understand anything about love would you?"
"But I love you," He says his voice booming. His voice sounds anything like love. Anything but the wonderful feeling when I look into Marius's face.
"Love?" I shake my head with a laugh. The moon lights his face as I spit at his feet. "That's what your love is," I say defiantly to him. "Nothing." He bends his head back, his curls falling freely, and laughs loudly. He stands above me as I feel the bleeding began to slow down. It is just a quick moment of bleeding, it now it is done.
"Éponine, dear sweet Éponine..." He mumbles swooping down to my level. He is on one knee and he takes it upon him to examine the bandages. I hit his hands away, but he only takes my own hand by the wrist. Roughly he pulls me closer so that we are inches apart. My nose brushes against his and I recoil a little bit. "There doesn't need to be any love, when there is something else. A more lusting passion?" He says smiling. His eyes, which are moving all about my body, are filled with a blazing fire.
"Not if I-"
"Refuse? How would your father feel about that? He only wants what is best for you..." He says with a tone of desire in his voice. The desire... I feel it too. I crave for his touch, for those moments euphoria, for those breath taking moments, but yet I know I cannot receive from him anymore. His touch only becomes a brutal reminder of what once was.
"He only wants what's best for him," I reply turning my head from him.
"What about 'Zelma?" He says and I turn my head towards him as he mentions my sister. What could he be talking about? "Your father seems to be growing tired of her. Truly she isn't much help, all she does is open her mouth and say something is wrong-"
"You wouldn't dare to hurt my sister. Montparnasse, if you even-"
"I will not do anything if you just stay with me, and help to fulfill, this... hunger.." he whispers moving closer. I look around the wood, which is filled with darkness for the moon is covered by the moon. I nod, and he smiles and begins to fill his thirst with a kiss.
I awake feeling a light rain upon my face. I open my eyes slowly, and the aching I feel reminds me where I was, and what had transpired the night before. There is a slow, cold warm rain falling from the gray sky. No sun is seen, for all of the sky is clouded over. Sitting up I find the dress I was wearing a few feet from me, and he is also a few feet from me. His clothes and hair disheveled, and his shirt is open, reveling a light gold chest. Inside I feel an ache, but I turn my head from him and put the dress on. I stand up, slowly, and take a step to leave, but a hand shoots out and grips my ankle.
"Leaving so soon, my pet?" He says. He apparently did not get his fill of calling me that last night. His fingers gently move up my leg and I cannot help but to laugh. I gently kick his arm away, and turn about to face him. Forgetting myself, I smile at him as he dusts his trousers off. His shirt remains wide open and I fight back an urge to touch him again. I notice a few fingernail marks on him, and I check my arms and see a few bruises. He never was the one to be gentle.
"I have a few things to do," I say, although we both know it is a lie.
"Why don't we find your family," He says taking my arm into his. "You know, I once had a family. A brother and a mother. Awful people they were." I cock my head to the side. He has never mentioned a family before. "Or we could stay here..." He turns into me and nips at my ear with his teeth.
"No, no..." I say pushing him off now. "No more." His shoulders slump in defeat, and I roll my eyes and walk off. He follows whilst buttoning his coat. We find Azelma and Papa at part of Paris, that is nothing but a slum. Papa is talking to Patron-Minette, his fellow devils in crime. Claquesous was nowhere to be found; maybe he was killed during the revolution? At this moment my life restarts where I left off before, filled with crime, and nowhere to turn.
A few weeks later I'm hiding by some bridge. Its sunset and I am watching as the sun lights the sky with its brilliant reds, and dark pinks. I was finally alone at last. Papa and his band of convicts were on a spree tonight, and I cared not to be a part of it.
"I do not care Mama, please just let it be," I hear a voice above the bridge. A familiar voice, a voice I thought I would never hear again. "Now please, go back with father, I have been invited by..." I cannot hear the rest of his words as a carriage rolls by. There is a higher pitched response, and then I know he is alone. Do I dare to talk to him? To thank him? No. I wait until I think he is gone to leave my post. I hope I never see him again. I take a few deep breaths and stare at my ungodly reflection in the water. I realize my thoughts are all over the place, and I can never seem to focus on one thing.
Mon Dieu.... What I wouldn't give to be beautiful. I would love to just be... A normal girl. My thoughts are interrupted by someone above. Something falls into the water right before me.
A flower. A simple white flower. Its petals begin to fall apart from the core, and I can't help but to look up.
I try to stay within in the shadows, but my balance throws me out from under the bridge. I catch the look of the one I wished not to see. He must have seen me for I hear the shout of my name. I look about my surroundings quickly, but as I am about to rush off, and arm grips mine. His grip is neither gentle, nor rough, and I turn to him.
"Éponine!" He says gently with an inquiring look. He lets go of my arm, and I match my eyes with his bright blue ones.
"Yes?" I reply looking down at the muddy soil. His polished shoes now covered in mud, still shine in the dark. He opens his mouth, but no words come out. I put a hand over my mouth and laugh. "Do you have something to say, or may I go?"
"You ran out through the window," He states with a nod of his head. I cock my own head to the side, as to say, so? "I used to do that too. That was my room as a child." There is a long pause as I imagine his childlike self jumping through the window. "I'm sorry for keeping you there; you obviously like this life better." He looks around at the river and dirty ground. "If you enjoy your life here, then I am sorry-"
"You should talk less," I say quickly. He mouth drops open in surprise. "I think you need to talk less, because you don't always know what everyone else is feeling."
"I just thought-"
"You thought, but you didn't. You should learn not to say so many things." I say pursing my lips together. He just smiles a queer smile, and nods his head.
"Well I wish you luck on... well whatever you do with your life..." He says standing straighter and giving a curt nod. I smile and walk up to him, so that we are nearly touching.
"You should really try to be less formal..." I say laying a hand on his chest. He doesn't move my hand, he only stands less straight, and a strange look clouds his eyes. Looking up at him, I see that look of confusion, and disgust. I take my hand away, but he reaches out and takes it within his own. I shake my head and then with one swift movement I'm running away from that spot. Running and not thinking. Nothing comes to mind; only the address of the rundown house that has become my family's home. Slowing down my pace, I tiptoe into the room.
The walls were once white, but now they are brown, with many cracks in it. One window space is there, but the glass is gone. My father is sleeping next to the dirty fireplace, with his head upon the only pillow. I notice that the band of criminals are there also. In a corner they all sleep like dogs lying together in a heap. They have never done anything like this before... They must have lost their housing, during the time they were in Jail.
"Why did I do that...?" I mutter to myself whilst lying next to my slumbering sister. "What on earth made me do that...?" I wonder aloud. I lay there for an hour until I am finally able to fall asleep.
Dun dun duhhhhh!
So a lot when down in this chapter! But if you think that is where the drama ends, you are mistaken! Wait till the next chapter because (SPOILER) STUFF GOES DOWN!
Lots of love to you readers! Please review! Don't be afraid I'd love to hear from you!
