Chapter 9

The man blinks in disbelief. "It can't be..." he gasps, astounded.

"My mother never told me who my father was. I was just hoping that..." and my voice trails off. I'm unsure of myself, for claiming to be this man's child could be a huge mistake.

The man studies my face for a few more moments, then gently asks "Who is your mother?"

"Beatrice de Blanc, a prostitute."

He nods and says, " I knew Beatrice, many years ago. I was at a low point in my life at the time.". The man runs his fingers along the side of my face, then remarks "You don't look much like her."

"We're not close. I ran away from home several years ago, and I haven't seen her since. She probably thinks I'm dead."

"What are you doing here in prison?"

I sigh. "I've been charged with theft and high treason. I'm sentenced to hang."

The man's voice starts to crack "How old are you, sweetheart?"

"I'm 16."

Tears are welling up in this man's eyes, those eyes so much like my own. "Please, tell me your name." he whispers.

"Katherine de Blanc, though I go by Ketty."

The man takes my bruised, battered face in his calloused hands. "Ketty...my little daughter..." he says, his voice quavering. "I thought that I had nobody, yet you've been here all along..."

My heart is overwhelmed by the thought of having a father, a real, flesh and blood father, standing right before me. I've always dreamed of finding him someday, and now here he is, an angel in the most unlikely of places.

He holds me close to his heart, rocking me back and forth, like a baby. Shielding me from any and all harm. Bittersweet tears run down his cheeks, and I can feel his whole body trembling.

"We need to get you out of here, I can't lose you. You're all I've got." he says quietly. He pulls out a set of keys and unlocks my shackles, then tries to help me stand up. I can't.

Instead he picks me up and carries me out of my cell, down the dark hallways of the Palace of Justice, and into an office.

Frollo is sitting at a great wooden desk, signing papers with a feather quill. Guards stand on either side of him, keeping watch. The judge glances up as my father enters the room with me. He raises an eyebrow. "What's this?" he asks suspiciously.

My father clears his throat. "Sir, I believe this young girl is my daughter. I'm here to bail her out. Take it out of my wages, I just want this child safe and sound."

Frollo taps his slender fingers on his desk, keeping a steady beat. "I must say, the resemblance is striking." he says, surveying our two faces. "But Pierre, you know that I can't do that, it is against my duty and your own. That wretched creature is a traitor to every good citizen of Paris, she is no one that you would want to claim kinship to. She has been sentenced to hang for what she's done."

My father tightens his grip on me and backs away slowly. "I can't let you do that to my daughter..." he says softly, but there is a burning anger underneath that gentle voice.

Frollo rolls his eyes and snickers. He motions to his guards and commands "Seize her!" The guards rip me out of my father's arms and handcuff my father. I try to wriggle out of the guard's grip, but I am no match for the powerful man. My father looks up at Frollo with pleading eyes and says "Please sir, I beg of you, don't take her away from me."

The older man shakes his head. "It is my duty. Pierre, I expected more from you. You were one of my best guards, now you've become a simpering coward." He turns to his henchmen. "Pierre Mounteague will be held prisoner here until after the girl's execution, to prevent any other...problems." And with that, the guard holding my poor father drags him away and out of the office.

"Please, don't leave me!" I shriek, but the guard restraining me slaps his hand over my mouth. The only sounds I make after that are weak, muffled cries.

Frollo gets up and glides across the room, over to me. "Such a clever little demon, tricking Pierre into thinking that you are his own child." he scoffs, looking me over with disgust. "I haven't forgotten about this morning. Perhaps we can revisit our little confessing game, hmm?" A twisted, bone chilling smile spreads across the judge's face. "I'm still dying to know more about the Court of Miracles." He turns to the guard. "Hand her back over to Klaus."

I am passed over to my tormentor and dragged away to my chamber of agony. This time, I don't even try to fight back, I just remain still and silent.

The days and nights blur together, a horrific array of beatings, whippings, and brandings. Every day I am asked the same questions, every day I whimper and cry but don't say a word. I can't remember the last time I've eaten, or even slept. Each night I lie awake in bed, staring at the stone walls of my lonely cell, trying to remember happier times. The Harvest Dance, laughing with Grandmama and Esmeralda, the first time Gage kissed me... But these memories don't even seem real anymore, they're more like ghosts of some distant past life.

I pull the tattered remnants of my dress over my newly bony shoulders, as a desperate attempt to keep warm. Hot tears well in my eyes, and I let out an unexpected sob. Every inch of my body aches, every breath I take hurts. I honestly don't understand how or why I'm still alive. I have no reason to keep going, the only future that awaits me is swinging from the end of a noose.

I hear a rustling at my cell door. "Ketty?" hisses a whisper in the dark.

I turn my head to see a hooded figure standing beyond the bars of my cell.

"Don't be afraid, it's just me. I bribed the guards to let me in." Esmeralda's voice. I lift myself off of my cot and drag myself as close to the door as my chain will allow. In the dim light, I can see Esmeralda's pretty face peeking out from beneath the hooded cloak.

Esmeralda gasps at the sight of me. "Oh my God...look what they've done to you." Her voice is wavering on the verge of tears. "First Gage, now you..."

"I'm so sorry Esmeralda. This is all my fault."

She reaches through the cell bars and takes my hand. "Please don't give up hope."

"What hope do I have? I've been sentenced to die."

The gypsy sighs. "Look, I may be just an outcast street girl, but I do know that there's someone waiting for you on the other side. Be brave for him. Be brave for all of us." Esmeralda gives my hand a little squeeze. "Grandmama is doing better, the medicine saved her. I haven't told her about what happened, the shock could cost Grandmama her life."

I manage a small smile for my friend. "I'm glad to hear that." I glance around and whisper "Esmeralda?"

"Yes Ketty?"

"Can you promise me something?"

"Of course."

"Please take care of yourself and your people. Don't try to get revenge on Frollo, he is far too powerful. Just keep standing up for what's right, and make sure that nothing like this happens ever again. And...There is a man, Pierre Mounteague, who is a guard here. If you ever come across him...treat him with kindness. He is a good man, and he is my father. Promise me."

Esmeralda solemnly nods. "I promise." Her voice suddenly cracks, and tears that have certainly been suppressed for far too long fall freely. The gypsy's shoulders shake as she sobs, and she squeezes my hand tighter than ever.

I never thought I'd see Esmeralda, the bravest, strongest woman I've ever known, crying like this. I don't know what to do.

"I just miss Gage so much, and now I'm going to lose you too." she gasps between sobs.

I try to comfort her, but I feel that there isn't much I can do. The sight of Esmeralda crying causes my own tears to return. We sit together through the rest of the night, crying together, praying together, and sharing our sorrow.

Just before sunrise, Esmeralda and I bid each other a final, bittersweet farewell. The gypsy slips away into the depths of the Palace of Justice, leaving me alone once again.

I pray that she has a long and happy life.