Chapter 9: Infection

It wasn't really a dream at first. Francoeur just felt warm and content in his dreamland. Happy emotions from the previous day had influenced his current state. Then it changed to a sunny day at a park. He, in his real, big flea form and Lucille beside him. They were, walking, chasing each other and laughing. Then everything began to change. The shadows, like a gloomy tendrils, reached out to them, made him slow down, made everything around him looked and moved like it was drenched in glue. Lucille was still running away from him and he couldn't reach her. He tried to shout, but one of the shadows sprang up to him and gagged him.

His surroundings became darker, the sun turned into the moon, the clouds into stars. Trees grew higher, more ominous. And then it wasn't a park anymore.

It was a room with dark red draperies on the wall, there was no bed, but pillows everywhere. The biggest pile formed in the center of the room and on it laid Lucille… He could swear his heart stopped for a second then, began racing at the top speed… She was different, her auburn locks tossed over the pillows, her eyes, half closed, burned him to the core with this dark look, her lips smiling seductively, all she wore was her corset and stockings on garter belt… this… this wasn't Lucille. Couldn't be…

She smiled at him lazily and winked her finger at him to come closer.

He felt different. There was a burning fire in the pit of his abdomen. His mind felt paralyzed, but his body moved. Fancoeur felt as if he wasn't a part of this, like he was watching a movie. His legs dragged him to the singer, his four arms wrapped around her, his mouth landed on hers and they kissed but not sweetly, those weren't chaste, innocent kisses. These were passionate, lustful kisses. The ones, which devoured him, sent a fire ablaze inside him, making him need and crave. Crave so strongly it hurt.

Lucille was spread beneath him, her lips swollen from their kissing, eyes dark with lust, hair messed up, skin glowing in darkness.

"Francoeur…" she half breathed half moaned his name.

He growled and dragged his tongue across her neck and down to her chest. She moaned louder, her blooded rushed, making her skin flushed. He used his upper set of arms to prop her up in his lap and the lower set to rip her clothes off.

The young woman arched her back exposing her neck to him, he growled even deeper.

"Francoeur… Francoeur… more" her needy whispers, the blood he could smell just beneath her skin… he was going crazy… and if she wanted more…

Simultaneously he entered her with one forceful thrust and bit down on her neck. Lucille screamed but it wasn't in ecstasy anymore…

Francoeur looked down in horror on himself. Drenched in her blood, with her dead body in his arms.

In a terrified gesture he threw it away, shaking violently. Then he saw them, all of them. Humans standing around him, whispering angrily:

"Murderer… Monster…"

Iron bars closed around him, caging him in.

"We trusted you" he heard Raoul's furious voice.

"Oh, Francoeur, how could you." Sobbed Maud.

"So, this whole time, you were a monster…" muttered disappointed Emile.

Suddenly he felt an arm touching his shoulder and jumped in fear. He turned and saw it, her…

She was tall and thin, clad in elegant black dress, long black hairs, three sets of arms, eight red eyes, ruby red lips and pointy teeth. Black widow-woman.

"You will never be like them" She hissed. "They will never understand you. You're mine."

The red of her eyes swallowed him and Francoeur woke up screaming.

~~00~~

Duchess woke up and stretched delightfully. Even though she spent the whole night in her armchair, she felt good, relaxed. It had been a fine idea to have some rest in the mind of Francoeur… Pushing her own mind into his and exchanging the emotions, she had sucked out the warmth of his dreamland. She knew he probably had nightmares; after all she was the parasite.

Then, again, she felt the pain in her legs. Sighing she reached out for a cane and dragging herself up, heavily resting on her support, she went back upstairs. It's going to be a busy day.

~~00~~

"He was acting really strange today, Maud." Lucille confessed to Maud. "All terrified, not letting me to touch him. I'm very worried."

"Do you have any idea, what could have caused that?" Maud cleaned her glasses and looked very concerned. They all loved Francoeur and if anything happening to him…

"I think it could have been a nightmare, a really bad one…" Lucille sighed heavily, flexing her fingers. "I'm not sure. He was so wretched… I'm sorry to ask you to look after him today… If I just could stay… I feel so bad about it."

"Oh, Lucille. Please don't worry. We are your friends and Francoeur's. This is nothing. I will be honored to help him."

The singer smiled half-sad, half-thankfully. The anxiety was still there too.

"Thank you so much."

Maud hugged her friend and smiled reassuringly.

"Don't mention it. I just wish Emile was here, but he suddenly got called to his aunt in the countryside. I know he would want to be here too… So where is my patient?"

After a couple of dozen of assurances later, nervous Lucille left for work, leaving the brunette with the singing flea. She felt so bad leaving him there, but she knew Maud would take good care of him.

~~00~~

Duchess strolled the streets of Paris with a cane by her side. She was whistling, although her legs were giving her extra pain. She but that was physical and her mind today was strangely at ease. So she smiled and bowed to people around her, and for the first time in a very long time, she meant those smiles.

The sun was high, the weather was good and Duchess didn't even know she was looking for something… someone, until she spot him. Raoul. Her smile widened as she approached the man.

"Bonjour" she said in a sing-song voice.

As always the man jumped a little startled by her sudden appearance. She giggled. Oh, how she loved to do that to people. Never expecting her, always surprised. To her advantage.

"Bon… Bonjour mademoiselle. You… I knew you were there" He quickly composed and leaned over Catherine the second, trying to actcool, covering his slip.

"But of course, monsieur." She bowed slightly with a giggle. "How is your day?"

"Oh, well… um… Great. It's great."

He's uncomfortable with me around. Duchess mused. Must be the yesterday's mishap with Daniel.

"That's delightful. Are you going to be at today's show?"

"No, actually, I won't." Suddenly he got all serious and stern.

"Is something wrong? Have I done something to upset you, monsieur?" she made a sad face.

"No! Of course not!" Raoul assured her quickly. "It's…"

"My brother, isn't it?" she interrupted him. "Had he upset you?"

Now that was a hard question. Had Daniel upset Raoul? No. Was Raoul unbelievingly jealous of Daniel? Yes, a millions of yes.

"Mademoiselle Duchess…" he started not really sure what to say. He was fond of the woman in front of him. She was beautiful, smart, strong, high class and actually paid attention to him. Sometimes it was as if she could read his mind. Understand him better than… better than Lucille had. The delivery man didn't want to hurt her.

"He did." The brunette stated as matter of fact.

"It's not… simple."

"Don't worry, Raoul" she smiled again at him. "Daniel won't be around here for long. He'll leave eventually. Besides you won't hurt me by saying what you feel about him. It's not like we are real siblings."

Oh, so they are… Raoul was surprised by this revelation.

"Are you busy?"

Once again she startled him with this sudden change of the subject.

"Um… a bit."

"I want to accompany you then. I'm tired of walking anyway and I really love this vehicle of yours."

With his ego flattered a bit, he opened the doors for her with a grand gesture inviting her in.

They drove around the Paris, Raoul doing his job, Duchess observing him and listening to him talking about his inventions. She loved that part of him, could listen to his ideas for a whole day. Of course she would suddenly change subjects or interrupt him half the sentence, because that was how she got used to be, everyone should listen to her, but apart from that, she enjoyed him.

Which was strange, really. Raoul wasn't her type. His hair… it was disturbing at first, but then she got used to it. He had this… warmth, curiosity and goodness inside of him. Not like Francoeur. But he seemed honest, although goofy. He made her laugh. And his ideas! Boy, if he could just let her give him some financial support…She had a soft spot for inventors. They reminded her a bit about herself. Misunderstood by the world, struggling with life, outcasted. Maybe that was the reason why she took some liking to him. But it would not change her original goal… Speaking of…

Before Raoul drove her home, they stopped by Lucille's place.

"Fancoeur's a bit unwell" Raoul said when they got out of the truck. "I want to check on him…"

"Oh, that's not a problem. What's more, I feel I should also check on him. After all he's my favorite!" she said, as the delivery man knocked at the doors and that other woman, Maud, opened.

She welcomed them, a bit surprised at the presence of Duchess.

"He's much better, calmer in fact, he seemed so agitated when I came at first." She informed them.

"Thank you, Maud." Raoul smiled warmly at the petite woman and went to see his friend.

Duchess stayed slightly behind, watching the scene in front of her. Friends… She wondered how would it be to have some… Nope, not gonna happen. She though after quick thinking about the usual crowd she mixed with.

The petite woman and Raoul fussed around Francoeur, who seemed slightly embarrassed by the attention he caused. When he noticed the woman hiding in the shadow, he felt very nervous, so Duchess sent him a simple wink and a lopsided smile. So the nightmare did happened and as she could feel by the waves of emotions coming from him, it affected him. Infected him. Duchess couldn't take her eyes of him. He would be ready soon.

"Would you like some tea?" Maud suddenly asked her making her take her eyes off the singing flea.

"No, thank you… Where is your husband? The small man… Emile?"

Maud's lips turned into a thin line, but she stayed calm.

"He's out of Paris. Family affairs."

"Oh, I see… Well, then I should better be going." She came closer to Francoeur and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure you'll be better soon."

She nodded her goodbye and waited for Raoul outside. Everything was going so well, until she reached her home.

She entered the estate and found Anton frozen in one place. He was standing still like a statue with a duster in his hand.

"Anton?" she asked carefully and waved a hand in front of the slave. No reaction. "Anton!" she shouted and shook him with the same effect.

Or actually there was some effect. The young man's shoulder crumbled under her touch, making her yelp and panic.

This shouldn't be happening! Not yet! He definitely had years before that would happen! Unless… she felt herself freeze, when the thought struck her. She was losing her powers. Losing her powers! But that was impossible! Not happening! How…?!

The next thought was mortifying. She couldn't be. No, that would. No, nonononononoNO!

She fell to her knees, sudden helplessness overwhelming her. Her eyes growing big as she listened to her quickened heartbeat… It wasn't only Francoeur who got infected… She felt nausea wash over her, at the thought… she, the Great Duchess, The Black Widow, The Witch… was falling in love.

Finally she vomited.

I wonder who's really infected here ;D I'll just... leave this here... Review please?