A/N: Hi, y'all! I deeply, fullheartedly, profusely apologize for being so late in updating. A combination of NaNoWriMo in November and college applications these past few months just sucked me away from writing out my fic. But that's over for the most part now. All that's left are the scholarship apps. *sigh* Finals are this week, but I will almost without a doubt end up working on the next chapter in between studying and other assignments I have no desire in doing. So without further delay, here's chapter 4! Hope you like it!
Also, as of March 1, 2011, I have re-uploaded chapters 1-3 with small changes. Nothing major, just a few tweeks here and there.
Évelyne released the curtain and stepped back from the window, letting out a breath that she hadn't even realized she'd been holding. What did they want with her and Luc? The Léons had never done anything wrong. Her father was a court justice for God's sake. The reason why Father had sent her out here in the first place was to avoid this entire mess that was the war. But now here it was, right on her doorstep, clad in black like slick death. She didn't need to ask why they were here. It was more than clear now why Luc had been so cryptic. Five minutes ago, he had said the Germans would be arriving any day.
Why hadn't he told her about this sooner? She could have been more prepared. There wasn't much to do in the way of readying the house, but at least she could have mentally composed herself. Seeing those sharply uniformed men in front of the house made her stomach tighten into a desperate knot. Surprisingly though, her breathing was already returning to normal. The initial shock had worn off – had it even arrived? No, she wouldn't let it overwhelm her yet – at least not until those damned soldiers were gone.
"This way, Colonel." Luc's voice was just outside the doorway. Évelyne turned toward the entrance and stepped sideways until her hip met the edge of the sofa. Her hand steadied her body against the cold, mahogany frame as she stared at the entrance. There was nothing to be afraid of. Évelyne and Luc had done nothing wrong. They had nothing to hide, but the presence of these German devils was making her feel guiltier than she should feel – and over nothing. That was the worst of it. If there was something worth hiding, Évelyne would feel justified in being this anxious, but there was nothing – nothing at all.
Luc's words pulled at the back of her mind: "It's just protocol… We have to keep our heads up."
They failed to calm her.
"Thank you, monsieur Adelard." When had Luc told the German his name? She must have missed it. That was how frayed her mind was; she couldn't even pay attention properly.
Évelyne stayed where she was, her bloodless fingers digging into the sofa's soft arm as Luc led the colonel into the living room. Although she had heard of this "S.S. Colonel Hans Landa" and was aware of his relentless success, she had never seen him before. Now, he stood in her family's living room – her father's living room – finally putting a face to the notorious name.
To Évelyne's discomfort – and disappointment – he was less austere than she had imagined. Perhaps she was far too childlike, but she had imagined a tall, thin, steely, middle-aged man with harsh, ugly features on a rectangular head. Well, the man was middle-aged, but the term had feeble connotations. Col. Landa looked far from feeble. He was about the same height as Luc, but his posture was unforgiving. This, coupled with the sleek, grossly black leather trench coat, seemed to create the illusion that he was, in fact, taller than Luc. He held his S.S.-marked hat at his side. His face was far softer than she had pictured in her head, with a smooth and – dare she admit it – almost warm look. Almost. It was his eyes that caught her attention most. Those eyes, with false crinkles sidled along the corners, were the most unnerving features on his face. Évelyne tightened her jaw and very slowly pulled her fingers away from the victimized arm.
He smiled at her. She straightened herself and thoughtlessly smoothed her dress down. The smile did not fade from his lips as he watched her for a moment longer than was necessary. She wanted to scrape that filthy, German grin from his face, but contented herself with only nodding at him.
As he approached her, gliding like a snake across the living room, Évelyne swallowed and raised her head in trepidation. She was tempted to step back as a reflex, but stood her ground as the colonel took up her hand in his cold glove and raised it to his lips.
"Colonel Hans Landa of the S.S. at your service, mademoiselle Léon."
A string of nettles shot through her arm and settled in her chest as she resisted pulling her hand away. It was disgusting, being greeted like this by one of them. How dare he? French seemed to flow easily on his tongue, which annoyed her. Her language suddenly sounded ugly from the German's mouth. And the way his eyes fixated themselves on her, looking up at her as if he had the right to. This was her father's house. This was a French house. These men, especially this man, needed to leave. Now.
To her relief, his hand finally released hers, but his gaze maintained its intensity: equal parts silent and powerful. Évelyne held his gaze, not even hiding the frown lining her jaw.
"Mademoiselle Léon-" She started at the sound of her surname. She hadn't noticed it when he had said it previously. It hadn't really sunk in until the second time. How had he known who she was? Was it just an assumption or had he already looked into her? It was unsettling. How much did he know about her? How much did he know about the rest of the family – even Luc?
"Thank you for welcoming me into your home." Évelyne raised a brow. She had done nothing of the kind. If anything, she wanted him gone along with the rest of his German rats. At the very least, she wished he was still standing on the other side of the room. His presence was nauseating. Fortunately, he finally decided to step back so that he could also address Luc, who had moved defensively closer to her with a steady look on his face. Évelyne gave him a darting glance before looking at the colonel again.
"17 days ago, during a military procedure conducted through this area, one family went unaccounted for. Under the orders of the Third Reich, I am obliged to disturb your lovely afternoon and have my men search your home. Once we are certain your house is clear, we shall leave as we came and our paths shall never meet again." During these final words, he glanced at Évelyne with a widened grin. She was not sure what that was supposed to mean nor did she feel that she truly wanted to know. The sooner he was gone, the sooner she could feel at ease again.
Col. Landa turned leisurely to the window and made a short, quick gesture to the two armed men outside. They nodded and swiftly made their way through the front door. Évelyne looked at them with unhidden disgust. They didn't seem to notice her.
A brief command in German – such an ugly language – and the soldiers split. One went up the stairs as the other made his way to her father's study. Évelyne made to go after them, but was stopped by Luc's cautionary glance. He was right. Just stay put and wait. And wait. And wait. Her blood boiled at the sight of the German uniform rummaging through her father's desk, opening and closing the drawers carelessly. Évelyne mentally scoffed. No fugitives hiding there, you idiot.
Turning back toward Luc and Évelyne, the German colonel gestured to the living room chairs around the coffee table. "Now, may we make ourselves comfortable? I have only a few questions to ask and then our business will be done."
Luc nodded solemnly before taking a seat on the sofa. Évelyne looked at the colonel cautiously for a moment, seeing the commanding look in his eyes. In those hard-as-bark irises, she saw that she really had no other choice, so she sat at the other end of the sofa. The colonel seemed to immediately make himself comfortable, setting down his black leather case and leaning into the back of the chair – his posture was still impeccable – with his legs crossed. The leather groaned beneath him as he sat and he set his hat respectfully on the table beside him. Even though Luc was only a few feet from her, she felt isolated. With a brief attempt at a reassuring glance, Luc returned his attention to the colonel.
"Now," he slipped off his gloves and placed one hand on his thigh and the other one on the arm of the chair. "Do you know the family in question?"
"The Bassets, oui?" Luc spoke confidently and nonchalantly.
"Very good. What can you tell me about them?" He leaned over the side and retrieved a packet of papers and a folder along with a gleaming fountain pen. He unscrewed the cap of the pen with the care of an artist and smoothed the paper down on his lap. Évelyne watched, as if in a half-trance. Her eyes rose back to meet his when he finally settled himself.
"Well, there were –" Luc glanced at Évelyne in thought, "—three people, if I remember correctly. I- I don't remember their names."
There was a scatter of thuds upstairs. Évelyne glanced nervously upward and scrunched a section of her dress in her hands.
"So you do not usually live here, am I correct?"
"Oui. We only recently arrived."
Col. Landa nodded and made a few marks on his paper. Évelyne found herself sitting very still, struggling to regulate her breathing. The anxiety was building up within her again, but she fought it back. Not now. It will be over soon. Then I can breathe normally.
"In need of the country air, no doubt. It is quite refreshing, is it not? Although I miss my Austrian Alps, I must say that the French cow country isn't so terrible, especially in the summer." She didn't trust the casual vowels and languid air in his voice. It was like watching a seasoned actor on stage, except the motions and gestures were much subtler and far more dangerous.
Luc smiled tightly and nodded. "It is nice. I wouldn't mind spending the rest of my life out here." Leave it to Luc to be able to pretend to be at ease. He was good at these things – but not around her, not when it mattered anyway. When he had been talking to her just outside, he had been nervous and uneasy. But now, in front of this German official, Luc was easing back into his usual self.
She and Luc watched as a soldier clambered down the stairs. The other exited the study. They then headed toward the kitchen.
Luc continued, "We're out here for the fresh air, as you said. Give us time to relax and enjoy ourselves and appreciate the wide open space around us. Évelyne," Luc turned toward her, "could you please boil water on the stove and make some tea for the colonel?"
Évelyne was confused by Luc's sudden change in behavior. He was talking to her as if he were above her. They were equals. It had been that way since childhood. What had gotten over him? The order, however politely said, angered her even more, but she wasn't willing to make a scene in front of the German.
She nodded stiffly and rose, not looking at the colonel as she made her way into the kitchen. One of the soldiers was still there, making a last scan around the room. He looked up at her, acknowledged that she wasn't a threat, and then made his way into the dining room. Évelyne poured the water from a pitcher into a copper kettle. She opened a drawer and pulled out a match, lighting the old stove. The small flame flickered once as she breathed on it. She could feel the heat as she placed the kettle over the fire. A rude clang made her turn around against the kitchen counter.
The soldier shuffled around the dining room, trudging around in his dirty boots, opening and closing doors. She almost laughed when he opened a low cupboard in the back of the dining room. No full-sized person could fit in there, but she stayed silent. It was a relief to want to laugh. It skimmed some of the stress off the top of her mind. When the soldier left the dining room and went outside, Évelyne exhaled freely. It was good to be left alone.
In a fleeting moment, Évelyne understood why Luc had sent her to boil water. He was just as uncomfortable as she was, but he was braver than her. Out of a sibling-like stubbornness, she would never admit that he was braver than she was. He was like her big brother, sending her away for her own comfort and protection. It annoyed her slighty. She was a grown woman, who could take care of herself. However, there was no denying that it was a sweet gesture. She tried to listen to the conversation between Luc and the colonel, but she could only hear soft consonants and vowels above the gurgling water.
The kettle hissed. How long had she been standing there, white palms pressed against the countertop? She moved the kettle and blew out the stove. She got out two cups and mechanically made the tea. A wicked idea popped into her head. It would be so easy to slip something into the colonel's mug, something that would make him disappear forever. But she quickly shook that out of her head. It was foolishness. That's all that was.
When she made her way back to the living room, Luc was speaking.
"— Like I said, this place is large and beautiful. The back country of Le Havre is a perfect place for a retreat."
Évelyne handed a cup to Luc, who smiled warmly. She begrudgingly handed the other to the German. "Merci beaucoup, mademoiselle Léon." She nodded coldly and sat back down, leaning against the plush back of the sofa.
"Interesting word choice, monsieur Adelard. 'Retreat' makes it sound like you are running from something. What are you running from?"
"We are not running from anything."
The colonel only nodded and took a drink from his cup before shifting the conversation back again. Évelyne could hear the cupboards opening and closing, followed by chairs scratching against the hardwood floor. "The Bassets ran. You understand that, non?"
"Oui."
"Of course, it's not difficult to understand. Do you know why I am here today?"
"You are looking for a family."
Col. Landa smiled. It was like an adult's smile directed at a naïve little child. "Yes, but do you know why we are looking for this family?"
Luc hesitated a moment.
"Because they are Jewish."
The two men stared at Évelyne, one with alarm, the other with amusement. She had to say it. She had to say something or else she would have burst with anxiety and irritation. The words simply came out. She could have outright insulted the colonel in his face and it would have sounded less accusatory than her answer to his question. A small dread wormed into her stomach.
The colonel made to speak, but the sound of heavy boots in the hall averted his attention.
"Standartenfurhrer." All eyes turned toward the soldier standing at the edge of the living room, lifting some of the pressure from Évelyne's chest. He spoke quickly, nodding his head once in the direction of the kitchen. The harsh strangeness of the language angered and confused Évelyne all at once. However, the colonel's syrupy French still angered her more. The colonel responded and turned toward Luc. The soldier stayed where he was.
"I'm sorry to have to interrupt our conversation, but I understand that you have a cellar? Well, we need you to unlock the door, s'il vous plaît." Luc nodded and rose from the couch, putting his barely touched tea on the table. Évelyne started to get up as well, but a noise from the colonel made her stop.
"If you will please stay, mademoiselle Léon. I still have questions to ask." He smiled over at her before making a commanding gesture to the soldier. She exchanged a glance of apprehension with Luc as he reluctantly left the room.
Don't leave me. Not with him.
But Luc had to leave and in the next moment, she was left to deal with the man alone. She was a grown woman. She could handle anything. It was not a very convincing mantra. The colonel breathed out easily with that unnerving grin and casually brushed at one of his many medals on the front of his uniform, awarded for loyalty and bravery to Germany – for a despicable cause and ideal.
"Where were we – ah yes. So it is clear you understand why I am sitting in your living room at this very moment." He breathed in with a smile and rested his hand holding the pen down on his papers. "This isn't what your father wanted for you, is it?"
There was no way she could have hidden her surprise. His knowledge was so abrupt and unexpected that Évelyne had not prepared for it. So he had looked into her and her family already. Again, she had to wonder – how much did he already know?
The colonel chuckled to himself. "There's no need for alarm, mademoiselle, it is my business to know these things – people, specifically. It is part of my duty to familiarize myself with the more significant individuals in society, such as Justice Grégoire Léon and his two daughters – mademoiselle Nadine et Évelyne."
All breath in her lungs ceased to flow for two seconds as Évelyne fought to restrain herself. She wanted to stand and berate the colonel – but for what? It was personal. He had an indeterminate amount of knowledge about her family. It was perverse. She felt violated somehow. It was unnatural for someone – a stranger, no less – to know so much about her already. Évelyne was on the defensive.
"I thought you wanted to know about the Bassets. But since you seem to know so much about my family and me, you probably already know all that you need to know."
He breathed in and out slowly. "Not quite. You see, I am only human and being human, I only have limited means available to me. I learn what I can, but I need people like you to fill in the gaps for me. The Bassets were your closest neighbors in this area for the past three generations, even before you were born. You don't expect me to believe that you know nothing of the Bassets."
"Whether or not you like it, I don't know anything. I haven't been here in years – not since I was a child." Her focus was interrupted by a soft mewl under the table. A black head appeared, the green eyes showing that he was ignorant of Évelyne's discomfort. The colonel made soft clicking sounds with his tongue. The cat eagerly approached him and sniffed his outstretched fingers before pushing his head into the colonel's knuckles. Évelyne grit her teeth as she glared at the cat. Traitor.
"So I can't help you."
The colonel looked up at her with an amused glint in his eye, all the while rubbing the non-partisan cat's pleased back.
"We shall see, won't we, mademoiselle Léon?" To Taquin's dismay, the colonel stopped petting him and instead picked up his mug, finishing its contents. Évelyne's eyes were slow to connect with his, taking her gaze away from the disloyal animal.
The re-arrival of footsteps in the hall made her chest collapse with relief. The happiness she felt at seeing Luc round the corner was so far unmatched in her life. He could read the pleas in her eyes and he remained standing, in front of where he originally sat.
The colonel had turned his attention to the soldier. The other soldier had come back, as well. All three spoke. She couldn't tell whether or not the colonel was pleased. Hell, she didn't care if he was pleased or not. She was finished. They just needed to leave. Now.
After a few final words, the soldiers exited the house. The room felt lighter already.
"Well," he looked straight at Luc and then at Évelyne, "it seems the alacrity of my men is to be commended. Our business is finished here." He rose, meticulously screwing the cap back onto his pen and putting the papers away before picking up his leather case. Collecting his hat and placing it on his head, he resumed speaking, "Thank you for your cooperation today. Your compliance has been much appreciated. I wish you good day and will be out of your hair now as promised."
He held his gloves in the same hand as his leather case. With his other hand, he reached for Évelyne's, which she drew back involuntarily with a look of flight in her eyes. She hadn't meant to. Even though this man scared and infuriated her, she hadn't meant to show it so clearly. Évelyne was unsure of what to do and watched as the immaculate colonel's face responded in slight surprise, brow raised. He was clearly amused and instead of saying anything else, he took her hand and placed a kiss on it.
"Merci for your delicious tea and hospitality, mademoiselle Léon. I hope we may meet again in the future." When he let go of her hand, she pulled it back gingerly into a fist near her waist. She was going to need to wash this hand with boiling water to get the slimy feeling off.
And with that, placing his hat on his head, he left. The harsh engines rumbled and then faded away down the road.
"Finally, they're gone, Évelyne. It's over now."
She smiled at Luc weakly before her gaze traveled past him. They had left Papa's study wide open. That was one of Papa's pet peeves. She crossed the foyer and closed it. Luc was behind her and turned her around by the shoulders. His arms wrapped around her soothingly and she sighed against him, the brother she never had.
"It's over now."