THE FIRE OF PASSION, CHAPTER TWO

The next morning, Yvette woke up and was unintentionally startled by Quasimodo watching her. The bellringer put his arms round her and whispered: "Today, we are going to Notre Dame, and if the priests agree, you may stay in there for a few weeks, to be safe from Clopin's obsession. But before that, Yvette…!" He passionately kissed his fiancée's neck and shoulders, then caressed her from all over her body. Yvette patted his hump, repeated his name with her face pressed to his cheek and finally caressed him between his legs. When Quasimodo covered her with his body she exclaimed: "Ah!" Again, she was aware of his enormous strength. She was disappointed because Quasi wouldn't be allowed to touch her during the time she would spend in the Cathedral, so she said quietly: "I would rather like to stay here with you. I know you will be able to protect me. Besides, Phoebus does also know Clopin wants to seduce me."

Quasimodo understood why Yvette didn't want to leave him. "Darling, we must agree to be without physical love for some time, hard as it is", he said, fondling Yvette between her legs. "Only inside Notre Dame will you be completely safe, for Clopin wouldn't come there to harass you since he remembers Frollo didn't respect Esmeralda having a sanctuary there."

When the lovers were on their way to Notre Dame, Phoebus and Esmeralda joined them. Quasimodo explained to the Captain in a quiet voice that Yvette needed protection, and Phoebus understood that the threat was related to the thing he had warned Yvette about. Esmeralda, in turn, was delighted to meet her friend. After Yvette had found out Clopin had a desire for her she had avoided talking to the Gypsy girl because she was afraid Esmeralda wouldn't believe her.

Yvette and the bellringer appealed to the old Archdeacon. "Your Eminence, my chastity is endangered", said the young woman, "I won't tell you who is threatening me, but a man I have trusted told me recently he would like to seduce me. He also made advances to me. Could I please stay here for some time? It's very difficult for me to avoid this man both in the city and ín the hideout of the vagabonds."

The priest understood the situation was worrying. Of course he had noticed it was hard work for the lovers to keep apart, but obviously someone really did have illicit thoughts about Yvette. The Archdeacon shortly negotiated with two other priests, after which he turned to the couple and said:

"My child, you are allowed to stay here. But you, Quasimodo, can't live with her in the belltower or anywhere else in this house of God. So, you will have to return to the city and visit here only to fulfill your daily task of ringing the bells."

Esmeralda heard some of the discussion. She put her hand on Yvette's shoulder. "Who is threatening your chastity? Is it one of the guards?"

"No, not a soldier. Don't ask, you wouldn't believe me", snapped Yvette. Esmeralda greatly respected the leader of the vagabond community, so it wasn't suitable to tell her Clopin harassed her friend.

"Is he a Gypsy man?" Esmeralda asked. Before Yvette had time to respond, the bellringer turned to her, saying: "My dear, it's best if you move to the belltower for some time. After all, you have always wanted to experience what it's like to live there. I'll come to ring the bells and to meet you every day."

"Sanctuary…" smiled Yvette. Then she happened to think of the gargoyles. Now she would finally find out if they could speak or not! "By the way", she suddenly exclaimed, "Esme, would it be possible you would stay here with me? Then I wouldn't feel lonely, and Quasi and Phoebus would both think, 'Oh, darn it, our sweethearts are in a sacred place and forbidden from us!'"

Esmeralda laughed a little and was just going to agree when the Captain noted: "Actually, Esmeralda is still forbidden from me in that way, regardless of where we are."

The dancer blushed, and Quasimodo looked at her and Phoebus in surprise. Then, however, he happened to think of something that would make Yvette stay inside the Cathedral. He furtively winked at Esmeralda, put his arm round Yvette, let his hand wander over her bosom and said in an undertone: "You may believe I'm going to seduce you the very day you step out of here."

"What did you say?" exclaimed Esmeralda in a tone of confusion and cheerfulness. Yvette sparkled of joy, for she understood how touching it was that Quasi was ready to try talking like his guardian just to delight her. She grimaced at the Gypsy girl: "For me, that was a promise, not a threat."

Yvette and Esmeralda spent the day in the belltower, and Quasimodo met them when it was time to ring the bells. "Of course, I could have returned back to my parents", said Yvette, "but I couldn't possibly let them know I am harassed by a vagabond man – it's hard enough for them to accept me wanting to marry Quasi."

When the townspeople heard rumours about the bellringer bringing his sweetheart to Notre Dame they thought at first that the lovers would disgrace the sacred place with a licentious life. Fortunately, they often saw Quasimodo in the city, and he never climbed to the tower for the night. Still, the townspeople gossipped a lot about why Yvette and Esmeralda stayed in the Cathedral.

Clopin heard the news when Yvette had been in her sanctuary for a few days. He was the only person who perfectly understood the solution. Nothing could change his mind: he knew he would embrace Yvette sooner or later, but Quasimodo had been right – he wouldn't touch the girl as long as she stayed inside Notre Dame.

One morning, about two weeks after Yvette had retired in the belltower, Esmeralda said to her: "I'll return to the city and in our hideout tomorrow. I don't do well here, as you know, and our community needs me. Hopefully, you can return amongst us soon as well."

As long as the girls had stayed in the belltower together Yvette hadn't said anything to the gargoyles, not even in Quasi's presence, for the bellringer had never revealed his secret to the dancer. But now, she furtively glanced at the gargoyles and smiled at them. Then she asked her friend: "Please, could you observe Clopin's actions and talking and tell Quasi if he asks about me and how he is influenced on hearing about me?" She had deliberated for many days and finally decided to mention the name of her harasser to Esmeralda.

The Gypsy girl looked at her, thunderstruck. "Is it…Clopin? Did he suggest or do something to you? Why were you afraid I wouldn't believe it's him?"

Yvette got tears in her eyes. "He is your leader, and you, as well as the rest of the young Gypsies, are expected to respect him! Besides, I didn't want to remind you of how Frollo lusted after you."

"Does Clopin lust after you?" Esmeralda was horrifed. Yvette assured, quickly: "He does say he wants to be with me, but still, it is different from what happened to you, for…" She hesitated. "I somehow enjoy him caressing me, and Quasi knows what he would like to do."

Esmeralda grasped Yvette's hand and looked seriously at her. "You are right I shouldn't talk about affairs of an older man, but, dear friend, it would be despicable of you to betray Quasi. Promise me you won't let Clopin seduce yourself, no matter how persistent or attractive he tries to be!"

Yvette felt cold. She was near telling the Gypsy girl what Quasi was afraid Clopin could do. Instead, she said anxiously: "I don't want to betray Quasimodo. Still, when Clopin touches me it's really difficult to resist…"

Esmeralda was confused, although she partially understood her friend – she had seen many young women having a crush on Clopin. Still, for her, the word lust was so strongly connected with Frollo and the threat of death that had been reality for her that she wasn't able to see such a feeling as flattering or fascinating. On the other hand, she knew Yvette wouldn't accept Clopin or anyone being compared with Frollo, even though she had never seen the Minister.

Before the Gypsy girl knew what to say, the door of the tower was opened and Quasimodo entered. Yvette smiled gladly at him and then grimaced mischievously, looking at the gargoyles, hoping the bellringer would perceive she was planning to try talking to them. Quasi did glance at them as well, but then he approached his sweetheart and folded her eagerly in his arms. Only when Yvette turned to Esmeralda trying to say something to her, the young man seemed to notice the dancer and greeted her.

Yvette pressed herself to Quasimodo, abated of that she didn't need to think about Clopin's illicit wishes. She smiled at Esmeralda: "Now you see Quasi does have a passion for me, although you didn't even realise what I meant when talking about his strength!" Esmeralda smiled a bit, in confusion. "Yes, he does seem to be enthusiastic to embrace you – he doesn't even remember we are in a sacred place!" When hearing this, Quasimodo drew back, but he didn't detach his hold of Yvette's hand. Only at the moment did his fiancée happen to think of something. She whispered to the bellringer: "This time, you are showing affection to someone else and she sees that!"

Quasi looked melancholic. "I didn't do this because of that, I just wanted to hold you a little."

"Quasi", admitted Esmeralda, "I never really thought you could actually be lustful. Even when Yvette talked about the topic when she confided in me after your first night together, I found it impossible you would lust after her the way I understand that feeling. But today, Yvette told me about the man who does aspire after her in an illicit way." She quivered.

Yvette was delighted at having the opportunity to enlighten her friend. "Esmeralda, there is nothing to be afraid of if your own beloved has a passion for you. For Quasi and me, lust means the way he acts when wanting to be with me. Believe it or not, before I retired in here Quasi even said it's he and nobody else whose wishes I should be ready to fulfill! I understand you are depressed by the memories about being lusted after, but believe me, one day, Phoebus is going to show you lust is not always threatening."

Quasimodo drew her to himself. He was abated that Yvette thought of him instead of Clopin. Esmeralda, in turn, blushed and lowered her head. After a while, however, she said: "I thought I'd better return in the city and in the Court of Miracles. It was nice to stay here with Yvette, but it's a little disturbing to be separated from people."

"I understand that, dear friend – I hope as well that I won't need to stay here for a very long time", said Yvette, hugging her. "Remember to observe how Clopin talks about me, but you definitely mustn't let him notice you know."

So, Esmeralda left the Cathedral. Quasimodo rang the bells enthusiastically, with his ears sheltered. Yvette approached the gargoyles and said, after hesitating for a while: "I am really curious to know if you really can talk. Could you please show it to me when Quasi leaves me alone with you?"

The bellringer saw she was talking to the gargoyles, and he found it touching. When he returned to his sweetheart she gave her hand to him and said, watching the view over the city: "Maybe I'll feel lonely here."

"So did I when I was bound to live here – and that was 20 years, remember that", remarked Quasimodo. "You will need to stay here only for a few weeks."

"I am not comparing your isolation with myself being protected here…" started Yvette. Then, however, she suddenly realised what she was saying, and she looked seriously in Quasimodo's eyes.

The young man put his arms round the girl. "My love, I miss you every evening in the hideout, so I really do not want to keep you in here. We can't live together in the city until we are married, so we can only hope that Clopin gives up his desire or finds some other woman, so you can return to the Court of Miracles."

That night was the first Yvette spent alone in the belltower. She stayed awake a long time. The Cathedral was silent; a few times, she heard only a rat rustle below herself. The wind blew behind the windows, and Yvette felt melancholic. She thought about the long, lonely years her beloved had lived in this dark, stony place. She also thought about the people sentenced to death who actually did have to stay inside churches for the rest of their lives if they had succeeded in claiming sanctuary. Her situation couldn't be compared with what those people had to experience.

Finally, Yvette fell asleep. In the morning, she was awakened by bright sunshine. She sat up and looked around. Unexpectedly, she heard a cheerful voice say: "She is awake! Mademoiselle Yvette, we are glad to reveal our secret to you!"

Yvette jumped out of the bed and rushed on the balcony. She saw the three gargoyles had come to life. "You do speak!" The gargoyles laughed benevolently, and Laverne, the female one, noted: "Actually, Quasi forbade us to respond if you addressed us – he wanted you to see how boring and lonely his life up here would have been if he hadn't made friends with us. But we knew you wanted to find out how things really were."

Yvette looked down and saw Clopin's caravan that was surrounded by a group of enthusiastic children. "I just hope he won't pay attention to me being alone here now", she said quietly to the gargoyles. She also saw women and children who were walking in the streets or entering the Cathedral to participate in the Mass. Besides, she paid attention to the guards watching over the safety of the townspeople. "Hey, Phoebus is there!" Victor exclaimed.

At the moment, they all heard the heavy door being opened. "This is going to be fun!" Yvette whispered, as she began to climb down.

"Good morning, my love, how are you after your first night alone here?" Quasi embraced her. Yvette sighed. "As long as it was dark it did feel a bit depressing to be alone", she admitted, but then, her eyes began to sparkle. "They did already talk to me!"

The bellringer couldn't help laughing. "I should have guessed that, although I said to them they shouldn't speak", he said. The gargoyles cheered, and Quasi put a basket of food on the table before he hastened to ring the bells. Yvette returned to the gargoyles. "I wouldn't agree to stay here any longer without the three of you to talk to."

After ringing the bells Quasimodo joined her and their stony friends. Yvette smoothed down his shoulder. "I wish you would stay here with me", she sighed, "but then, I'm afraid either of us would feel like being kept here in that way."

Her beloved was startled and put his hands on her shoulders, saying in agitation: "Yvette, you'll have to stop that. I've never truly understood why you think it's so fun to jest about Frollo. Think about it: All my life he made me believe I was ugly and worthless and would be treated as a monster if the townspeople saw me. He slighted everything I did and talked to me as if I was an imbecile when he heard me say anything to the gargoyles! When I came to you in the evening we spent our first night together and I asked if you were afraid, you took my face like this and grimaced exactly the way HE did when demanding my faithfulness and gratitude. I won't accept that one single time more! Remember that – and never remind me of HIM when I say something about my desire for you!"

Yvette looked sadly at him and embraced him for long, unable to say a word. Finally, however, she did say: "Quasi, I am really sorry if my joking made you feel miserable. Actually, I talked like that because I tried to make you stop thinking about how nasty Frollo was… I thought the memories about your upbringing would be less serious and depressing for you if I joked about HIM. Besides, you did the same when I was bound to stay here." She didn't dare to look at Quasimodo; she had decided not to smile in her peculiar way.

Quasimodo touched her cheek. "My dear, I understand what you mean. But I don't want you to smile mischievously with your face near mine or to remind me of what staying in here meant to me when HE was alive. Those memories still hurt me."

"By the way, how does Clopin behave when the people in the hideout talk about me or that I am in here?" asked Yvette after a while, holding the bellringer's hand.

"He never mentions your name to me", said the young man, "but a few times when he has heard someone talk about us he has looked restless and agitated. Once I saw him make rough advances to one of the young women living in the Court. That was one evening when Phoebus, Esmeralda and I had just returned from the city after the day."

Yvette quivered, and Quasimodo drew her agsinst himself. "Maybe I'll need to warn her when I'm back in the hideout", the girl said. "How soon do you think I could return?"

The bellringer thought carefully. "We'll have to be sure you won't get into danger at once when you come back there", he noted. "You won't be able to completely avoid meeting Clopin in his own community. I would never forgive myself if he…"

"Besides, many people would surely regard that as my own fault", said Yvette anxiously. "They would say I've seduced him – after all, it is true I gave up my virginity before getting married, and I left the city to live in a community of people who are not regarded as honourable."

"My love, we are not going to stay in the Court of Miracles for the rest of our lives", remarked the young man. "Without eloping there we wouldn't even be allowed to marry. Besides, it was I who seduced you although I knew that was sinful. Of course, I would have waited if you had refused. It is not your fault I have been aflame after our first time. Besides, now that you live here for a few weeks the townspeople see you are not a sinful temptress."