Something was wrong. He knew it in his heart. He needed to see Grantaire. He needed to see the girl he loved more than his country.
"Enj, you need to calm down." Combeferre said in his best soothing voice. No, he didn't need to be soothed. He needed Grantaire.
"I need to see her. Where is she?" Enjolras demanded.
"She's asleep, Enj. She's so tired. And I know you are too." Combeferre stroked Enjolras's curls in an attempt to calm him.
"I thought you were asleep." Enjolras murmured as she entered the room.
She looked different this time. Her hair was tied back in a loose bun, she wore nothing but a bra and hospital pants and she was paler than he remembered her by. Her arms were crossed and she had an annoyed look on her face. But she stood in all her beautiful glory, the mere eye contact slowing his heartbeat.
"Enjolras who are you talking to?" He heard Combeferre whisper but if Combeferre simply turned around, he wouldn't have to ask obvious questions.
"I was asleep. Apparently, you needed to see me. You've seen me." Grantaire said exasperatedly.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you." He said.
She sighed. "I hate those eyes. I can't stay mad at them."
"My secret weapon." He smirked.
She laughed a little and walked over to him. She climbed onto the bed and looked him over.
"You look like shit." She commented.
"I got shot." He said indignantly. "I'm allowed to look like shit."
"I know that, dumbass." She shot.
He glared at her.
She laughed.
"I wouldn't let them do that." Grantaire motioned towards a nurse who was trying to inject something into his IV.
"No! No, I want to stay awake! I'm not sleeping!" He shouted, pulling the IV out of her reach.
"It is rude to put someone to sleep when they're having a conversation." She murmured.
"What she said." He agreed.
She snorted with laughter.
"By the way, if you die, I'm going to kill you." She shrugged casually.
"Wouldn't you be a bit late for that?" He cocked an eyebrow.
"No. Because I'd kill myself to join you." She smiled.
"I forbid you from doing that. You can't." He tried.
"Simple answer, honey. Don't die." He felt her hand run down the side of his face, brushing his curls behind his ears.
"I won't. I promise. I can't lose you." He wanted to touch her face, hug her, kiss her but he couldn't lift his arms.
She leaned down but didn't kiss him, as much as he wanted her to.
"Remember what I told you before. Keep away from the darkness." Her eyes bored holes into his soul with her words.
He nodded, unable to speak in the presence of such an amazing goddess. And she called him Apollo. She might as well be Aphrodite incarnate.
"Have you noticed the room is cold?" He asked.
She nodded. "Keep away from the cold too. Apollo wouldn't do well in the cold."
"I live Paris. I'm used to cold." He shrugged, or at least tried.
"Don't move, Apollo. You'll need your strength to keep fighting." She said.
"You said that the first time." He knit his eyebrows together.
"I was right the first time and I'm right now. Why don't you close your eyes and I'll tell you a story?" She offered.
He nodded and closed his eyes. Immediately, he began to feel lethargic. Then she began to speak. She spoke so clearly and so descriptively he could see everything as if he were watching a movie.
"Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess. She lived in a mighty castle, had plenty of alcohol to drink and had many people who cared about her. However, for all of this, she was so lonely. Of course, she hid it well from the people who loved her but she couldn't help feeling sad. She confessed this feeling to her closest friend, who suggested they throw a masquerade ball to see if any suitor could catch her attention and help ease her loneliness. The princess didn't think it would work, she knew her loneliness was not one easily cured, but she indulged her friend nonetheless. Her friends all celebrated, already planning how to banish the unlucky suitors who weren't lucky enough to win her favor and a few had even started with the wedding of the suitor she did like. To see her friends so happy, she humored them this planning. She doubted she would find anyone who could court her but her friends would not let her speak of such things as they were certain they were going to have to be turning away thousands. She did not see herself attractive enough for what they spoke of. They sent out invitations to every maiden and bachelor in the kingdom. When she asked why they would invite the maidens, they responded with the answer "Who are we supposed to dance with?" She laughed and every man and woman her age was invited.
But she didn't know there was one bachelor by the awful name of Maddox who sought more than her company. He wanted nothing more than to be King, to dominate the kingdom and its princess. He received the invitation and thought this could be his chance. He thought the princess a gorgeous woman and prepared his best suit for the ball. Along with something else of a more devious nature.
But there was another boy who received an invitation. A kind, stunning boy on the inside and out. His name was Jacob. At first, he had not wanted to go. You see, he was a revolutionary. He wanted freedom and equality for everyone, not just the rich. But a thought occurred to him. He might be able to convince the princess that a republic was something their country needed. So he resolved to go, though he had no interest of courting the princess as per what the invitation encouraged them to do (he didn't think the princess knew about that part of the invitation).
The night of the ball came. The princess was dressed in a royal gown that seemed to make her beauty untouchable. Her mask only covered her eyes and her friends, who had seen her for many years, were so overthrown with her that they were speechless. She waved them off, thinking their awe was some form of being a good friend and subject. She entered the ballroom and many men approached her, asking for dances. Jacob entered the ballroom and earned many looks of distaste. You see, he did not have money for perfectly tailored suits as others did. His parents were by no means poor, but they spent their money trying to give bread to the hungry. So his best suit was rather a loose but clean shirt, and pants that were slightly ripped but still usable. He made his way through the crowd, ignoring the scoffs and upturned noses of the others. He did not care for the remarks of others. He saw a great many men around one girl, and he stopped for a minute having lost his breath. The girl was more than beautiful. The word beautiful could be considered an insult to this woman. He couldn't tear his eyes off of her ebony hair, snow white skin, and blood red lips. Having noticed someone was staring at her from outside the circle around her, she turned to look at him. The world stopped. They saw nothing but each other. He felt her eyes go over his blonde curls, his own pale skin and pink lips. She moved closer to him, ignoring the protests of the other suitors and he found the courage to move to her. They met in the middle.
"Would you like to dance?" He whispered.
"I'd love to." She replied immediately.
He led her into a circle that had circled around them both. He put her hand on her waist and she grabbed his hand. He led her in a few dance steps, he knew nothing more but it seemed she did not mind. They did not break from each other's eyes the entire time. Only once the music stopped, did he remember his mission.
"Oh I meant to speak with the princess." He cursed himself.
"But you have been dancing with her." She smiled at him.
He returned it. The music swelled once again and they were in each other's arms, not so much dancing as swaying.
"My lady, I came here with a wish. And a dream." He said.
"And what is that?" She asked, slightly dreading his answer. If he wished marriage or a royal title, she wasn't sure she would grant him such.
"I came to urge you to drop your royal title and instill a republic. Your people suffer at the hands of the rich, they deserve an end to tyranny. I do not wish to accuse you of such things but I believe there is much that goes on outside your castle that you do not know." Jacob told her.
"If that is your wish, what is your dream?" She encouraged. She disliked being princess and promised herself she would not remain part of the snot-nose brat class forever.
"A kingdom of equals. Those who go hungry being fed. Those who freeze being kept warm. A kingdom where it does not matter if you were born a princess or a peasant. All have the same rights and privileges as the others." He had not noticed but as he spoke, their steps grew fancier and more complex. He did not know how he knew such things but he found he did not care. He was much too focused on the princess in his arms.
"I cannot guarantee anything but it is worth looking into. If we are to try it, we must have a leader ready, ways to stabilize the economy, and of course, the peoples approval." She thought aloud.
His face broke into one of the truest smiles he had ever felt. She was listening to him! Agreeing with him! There was hope for the kingdom. The music ended once more and they moved to sit outside, away from everyone else.
"My lady, I do not mean to interrupt, but I was bidden to give you this token by your friends." A boy neither knew approached them. He was black haired, had a sharp nose and chin, and held out a glass of wine it seemed.
"Ah, my friends. Always trying to look out for me. I thank thee, boy." She accepted the glass without question and went back to conversing with her partner.
"My princess, I must say I expected much more resistance from you." He commented.
"I don't have much resistance to anything, really. I remember when I first found out when two of my friends were secretly in love. My two male friends. My father would never have gone for it, but I thought to myself, if they are in love, who am I to stand in their way?" She recounted.
"That's a beautiful thing my lady." He whispered.
"I didn't get your name." Her eyelids fluttered of their own accord as they leaned closer together.
"Jacob. Jacob of the House of Musain." He answered.
A laugh escaped her lips and she quickly tried to recover but the moment was lost.
"I do not understand." He questioned.
"Your name. It means supplanter. I find it funny that a revolutionary has that name." She explained.
He smiled at her. "I'm glad I could cause you amusement, my lady."
"Do not call me such things. I grew weary of those terms when I was six. I have no love for them now." She muttered.
"Forgive me. I did not call you such things just because you are a princess. I call you such things because I wish you to be my princess." He said bluntly.
Her heart melted a little. She blushed and nodded.
He stroked her cheek, and she felt his thumb run over her mask. Her nimble fingers removed it with some grace. She reached for his, hesitated but he blinked in a way of saying 'go ahead'. She pulled his off and saw directly into his eyes. They leaned closer, their eyes closing as their lips sgrew closer together.
A chorus of 'My lady's came and they saw the group of her earlier suitors coming over with tokens of their own.
"Let us fly. I have no wish to explain to them I have already chosen my prince." She said and he nodded.
They started to flee and it seemed they would chase her forever, when the boy who gave her the juice saw them and called out, "This way, my lady!"
They followed him into what seemed to be a closet and he shut the door. He held two more glasses.
"For the girl you court?" The princess asked, gesturing to the new glasses.
"If she'd have me." He answered.
"What is your name, monsieur?" Jacob asked.
"Maddox." He answered, slightly glaring at Jacob. The princess did not notice.
"Well, if you would be so kind to hand me one." She asked.
Maddox handed it to her immediately. She turned and gave it to Jacob.
"A toast." She announced.
All three raised their glasses.
"To love, quick escapes, and my new prince." She smiled and took a long drink.
Her drink fell from her hands as she swallowed. Jacob caught her.
"My princess?" He asked, checking her forehead for a fever. What he found scared him worse than any fever. Her skin grew cold.
"Fetch a doctor." Jacob ordered and Maddox left.
"Oh. I feel strange." She murmured.
"Hush, my dear. Save your strength. A doctor is going to come and make you better." Jacob promised.
His heart broke as he heard her gasp for air. He swept her off her feet and carried her outside. He knew not where Maddox had gone, but he thought he might have better luck in the ballroom. A doctor must be there, or at least one who was training to be one. Her moans grew fainter as he ran faster.
Once he returned to the ballroom, he cried out "Somebody help me! Please!"
A young man rushed forward and beckoned him to place her on a couch. He started checking her over and then wailed in anguish.
"This is beyond any doctor's skill to heal. The princess has passed. What happened?" The young doctor asked.
"I do not know. She simply drunk from a glass of wine. Then she collapsed. The boy said he was bidden to give it to her by one of you. He said his name was Maddox." Jacob answered lifelessly.
"Finnegan, we didn't give her any wine." A girl chimed. Besides the princess she was clad in the fanciest cloth in the ball.
"Someone find the boy! Whether he meant to poison her, he must know something. What did he look like?" Finnegan asked and Jacob described him.
"I'm Evanna." The brightly clad girl said, coming over. "You were her partner all night."
Jacob nodded.
"I believe you've already met my husband, Lord Finnegan of Paris." Evanna gestured to the doctor who was still trying to do his best to bring his friend back. "His passion is medicine."
Two hours later, the guards brought Maddox into the room.
"Oh no!" He moaned but didn't seem to mean it.
"What have you done?" Finnegan asked.
"I haven't killed her, calm thyself." Maddox wrenched free of the guards and walked over to her. He pushed Jacob out of the way and kissed the princess roughly.
She did not move.
"I don't understand. This was supposed to work." He kissed her again but still nothing happened.
Jacob grabbed a fistful of his shirt, brought Maddox to his nose and punched him until the guards pulled him off.
"I apologize, lords and ladies. I forgot myself." Jacob muttered.
"Whatever do you mean? I saw nothing." Evanna shrugged.
But Jacob did not care. His beautiful princess was lost to him. He felt hopeless. His mission of a revolution gone. Everything he cared for was gone. He fell to his knees besides his princess and started to cry.
"That's a sad story." He murmured.
He got no answer.
He gradually opened his eyes to an empty room.
I know, I know, I'm just evil. And I do have a reason for including this. I always have a reason for everything. If you want, you can tell me what you think. And please want to. Reviews make my life so much better. And again, if you guys want to, tell me where you think this is going, where you want it to go, or even anything you think might be cool in here. Also, what you don't want to happen will be included. Adieu, mon chers. Until next time.
P.S. Jacob=Julien. Plus really does mean supplanter. Maddox=Montparnasse. Evanna=Eponine. Finnegan=Ferre(Combeferre)