Dear readers, I didn't realize how long its been until I looked at a calendar. I'm so sorry iv been away so long but the chapter is here now and I hope everyone enjoys it. I will try to start posting these more regularly and to incorporate the great constructive criticism iv received thus far. My deepest love to all the usual suspects (you know who you are) And to all my other readers. please review and critique freely Sincerely -Mr. Gatsby
Jules shivered as he sat in his bed next to a candle trying to read his new book Adeline had given him. He had a fire burning in his fireplace but it was enough in this stone and marble castle that only amplified the freezing winter outside.
Snow still covered the grounds and the howl of the wind could be heard for miles around. Jules held the books as close to the candle as he dared for fear of lighting it affire. Jules was enjoying this new book, it told the story of some man named Odysseus and his travels across the sea's. All to return to his wife...
(i wonder what that must be like. To love someone enough to fight a cyclops or take on 200 men, to do something that sounds impossible just so you can see her again)
Jules clapped the book closed and laid back against the pillows
(I've always stayed inside my house reading or something...i've never done anything ...big)
Jules thought on this until he eventually drifted to sleep. He was woken by Mrs Potts as usual and he yawned loudly before sitting up his hair tumbling down his head before he went to get dressed.
It had been a little awkward at first since madam Armoire was a girl and he wasn't but they had worked out a system where Jules would stand behind the tall floral covered dressing screen and Madam Armoire would hand him the clothes he would be wearing for the day.
She always seemed to have some nice clean suits or sometimes just a shirt and vest to wear. He got dressed and went down stairs to have breakfast with Adeline.
He walked into the dining hall and saw she wasn't there yet, he took his seat at one end of the table waiting. Some candles sticks -no doubt colleagues of Lumiere-had just finished setting the table but still no Adeline.
He didn't want to be rude and start without her so he waited...and waited..and waited. She was running close to an hour late which made Jules start to worry a little. He looked around for Cogsworth or Mrs Potts or anyone but he couldn't find them. Jules Decided it was best he go and check her room real quick, of course as he was about to knock on the door he was reminded of what happened the last time he visited this room and started having second thoughts-
"Argggghh! stop!"
Jules heard Adelines scream. His his eyes widened and he threw the door open.
"Adeline?! are you...alright..."
Jules froze , Adeline was standing in front of a mirror wearing a white corset and well...nothing else. She clutched a chair as a coat rack tightened the drawstrings at her back, Adeline was equally frozen for a minute that seemed to never end. then she snapped back to reality and her eyes glowed with rage
"AHHHHH! GET OUT! " She screamed
Jules quickly slammed the door closed before the chair she had sent sailing through the air could make contact. It thudded against the door ,Jules Backed away feeling so guilty and embarrassed
"My fault..." Was all he could say to himself as he turned and hurried away back to the dining room. When he got there he paced some debating whether to stay or go when Adeline slammed the door open in her usual dark pants and white shirt.
"Why were you in my room!? AGAIN?!"
"UH-umm you were running kinda late so i thought i would just check on you and i heard you scream-"
"So you thought you should just burst into my room!?"
"Well i didn't know you were getting dressed i swear...why were you putting on a corset anyway? Aren't those for dresses?
Adeline looked thrown off "NO! i was just...wondering if it fit or not.."
Jules Waited a moment for Adeline to say something else but she seemed to be struggling to choose her words
"Just...Knock or something!" She quickly turned and stormed away leaving Jules alone in the dining room
meanwhile miles away Aimeé and Aurore were trudging through a dark wood, the snow buried their feet , the cold burned they're cheeks. Aimeé pulled her cloak tighter around her and tried to stop her quivering lip.
"Aimeé i-it's fff-reezing-wh-where are we going!" Aurore asked getting pretty fed up with walking through the snow and cold.
"To the Asylum de lune..."
"...WHY?"
"So i can get Julian to come to his senses! Now stop complaining "
They exited the woods and saw the large stone fortress that served as the asylum
"How is this gonna help you with Jules..." The building came closer and closer as they spoke
Aimeé didn't answer and reached the entrance. Giving the thick oaken door three hard bangs with her fist. A short grimy looking guard answered, Aimeé scrunched her nose at seeing him but was too determined to care right now.
"I wish to speak with Le gardien des fous" She told him and the man scowled before turning and walking down the hall, leaving the door open as what the girls supposed was an invitation to enter.
They walked inside, the stone structure if anything feeling colder than outside. They hurried and followed the guard through the maze of hallways and corridors and stairways. they seemed to be no light aside from the all too rare torch perched on a wall sconce.
It was a marvel how this man knew where to go, as the followed him the passed many doors most were dead silent but some the girls heard sounds of hysterical laughter others had screams of pain, but the worst were the ones that made sounds they couldn't even place.
Aurore was clearing unsettled by all of this. The guard stopped at a lone door which Aimeé supposed was at the top floor. The guard knocked loudly and after a slow minute the two girls heard a voice
"Entrer"
The guard opened the door and left, the two girls walked inside what looked like this mans office. It was lit by a small fire in the fire place, there was a well worn desk and some matching seats.
The man sitting at the desk was looking over some parchment and was accompanied by the bottles of wine littering his work space and a lone glass that rested precariously near the edge , half filled with the red drink.
The man was old , his skin was gray and filled with the wrinkles that come with excess amounts of experience in unhappiness. He was no thicker than a skeleton and his suit was threadbare and worn.
Aurore was feeling worried about all of this but before she could tell Aimeé this the man spoke up
"How can i help la demoiselle?" He asked not looking up from his papers
Aimeé swallowed any doubts and sat across from him,
" Are you familiar with Monsieur Maurice Belrose?"
"The inventor? Yes i heard him"
"I wish to marry his son, but he refuses to accept my advances, i want you-"
"You want me to threaten to throw his father in here unless he agrees to be your husband.."
Aimeé was surprised Aurore was horrified
"How did you..."
"My Dear iv done this job for many many years, you are not the first to come to me with a similar business proposal" He finished off his glass " of course i do not do this service for free.."
Aimeé was prepared for this and placed a heavy coin pouch on the man's desk. Aurore's mouth was hanging open
"Aimeé! You can't do This!"
Aimeé turned toward her friend scowling "why not?"
"Its wrong! you know Maurice isn't REALLY insane and you're gonna send him here just so Jules will do what you want?"
"Its for the best! Julian will only be happy with me!"
"Will He? Or is your ego so big that you would send an innocent man to a prison just to have your way! This is despicable! you should be the one locked in here"
Aimeé Stared at her friend (NO one speaks to me like that!.. Especially Aurore)
"Monsieur...My dear friend has taken leave her senses , please help her.."
Aurore couldn't believe her ears
"WHAT?!"
Two guards suddenly appeared in the doorway
"NO!" Aurore tried to run but they were two quick "LET ME GO!"
"take her to cell 9"
"Aimeé! Aimeé! Tell him to let me go!" Aurore was started to hyperventilate
Aimeé just sat in silence as Aurore was taken away, her screams of fear echoing in the hall
"we shall come for Maurice in one week's time" He said, having not looked up from his papers once.
Aimeé Returned to the town in silence, the cold no longer bothering her. She went straight to The house of Jules and Maurice hurrying up to the door and knocked loudly but there was no answer. Growing frustrated be banged harder before finally just opening the door and letting herself in.
"JULIAN?! MAURICE?! " She called but she soon learned she was alone in the house