THE FIRE OF PASSION, CHAPTER FOUR
Warning: The chapter contains sexual situations.
Three days had passed. Yvette stayed close to Quasimodo and embraced him whenever she could, but if the bellringer tried to approach her intimately, she rejected him, unable to give an explanation. Quasi was depressed. "What on Earth is the matter with you, my love?" he asked, smoothing down Yvette's shoulders and back. "Have you come to the conclusion it was wrong we made love before getting married? Or did I do something wrong? Does this have something to do with me keeping you in the belltower?" .
"No, Quasi dear", assured Yvette, but then she got tears in her eyes. "Please, don't ask – this is in no way your fault, but I don't want to talk about it!" She turned away and tried to leave the room, but the young man didn't let go of her.
"Can't you leave me alone even for a few days?" the girl exclaimed, "I know you have your passion, but I don't want anyone to touch me!"
Quasimodo folded her in his arms, carried her to the bed, lay her down and came beside her. He tenderly drew the girl against himself. "Yvette, my love, you know I would never force you to do anything." It was hard work for Yvette to control herself when hearing those words. "But you must tell me why you don't want to be with me – I do have the right to know that, no matter how painful it may be for me to hear the truth."
Yvette started to cry. She pressed herself to her beloved who said, after smoothing down her body for a while: "If you don't want to tell me, could you talk to Esmeralda? She is our friend and a wonderful person, and besides, both of you know how it feels to be threatened by lust."
Yvette shuddered at the thought that actually, her experience was even worse than what had happened to Esmeralda – after all, the dancer had not been raped! Still, she felt somehow abated she could confide in a female friend. She hugged Quasi. "All right, when we meet I'll try talking to her."
At the same time when the lovers had this discussion, Clopin was watching Élodie inside his caravan. He wanted her and was deliberating for the best way to approach her. They hadn't spoken a word about the Gypsy leader's desire for Yvette after Élodie had moved in, but she had several times seen him look at her intensively.
Clopin drew the young woman to himself and asked, fingering at her shoulder: "Élodie, what do you think about the possibility to sleep with me?" At first, he had seriously planned using force with her, but that would make the girl detest and despise him. Besides, he was curious to know what her desires were like. Maybe he could do the things he had done with Yvette, and hopefully, this girl wouldn't resist.
Élodie responded, after hesitating for a moment: "I am curious to know what you are going to do with me."
Clopin started to finger at her breasts. "I am a rather demanding lover", he confessed. "I don't actually want to hurt my partner, but it's possible I will do that, after all."
Élodie thought about how Yvette had behaved when they had talked about Clopin. She was afraid the vagabond leader had actually assaulted Yvette – she had said he could just take what he wanted – but of course, she couldn't ask such a thing. To be honest, she did want to know what it would be like to give herself to Clopin – and if the experience turned to be a disappointment, she did fortunately have the possibility to end the affair and to move out.
"All right, Clopin", she said, blushing a little, "we can do that – but I don't know what's going to happen after the experience."
The Gypsy man smiled to himself. The girl thought she could leave whenever she liked. Well, he would show her for what purpose he had taken her to live with him!
He pushed Élodie against the wall and started to open her clothes. The young woman felt confused as her body was revealed little by little, and she saw how Clopin's eyes glowed.
Clopin smoothed down Élodie's bosom, patted her buttocks and brought his hand between her legs. The girl began opening his clothes in turn, and Clopin smiled.
When both of them were naked, the vagabond man lifted Élodie on his bed and lowered his head between her legs. The young woman panted, smoothed down his hair and fingered at his cheeks. She laughed a bit while Clopin caressed her secret parts. "By the way", she remarked, "you don't seem to be particularly demanding."
The Gypsy man grimaced. "Would you like that?" He lightly slapped Élodie, crushed her to his body, and in a while, the girl exclaimed as she felt him inside her. Clopin got more and more agitated, and Élodie felt a little pain, but she did not care about that. She tapped Clopin hard on his back, and he laughed as he drew back. "We'll see, probably I am going to take you again some other time", he said mischievously.
The next day, Yvette saw Élodie and Clopin leave the Court of Miracles together. She observed the young woman and noticed she often furtively glanced at the vagabond leader, as if they had had a mutual secret. Clopin did look at Yvette once; first, his eyes were eager, then he seemed to be ashamed, after which he turned to Élodie, lightly touching her arm.
Yvette was abated at being free of Clopin's lustful staring. When she stepped out of the catacombs, the Gypsy man was already starting his puppet show for the enthusiastic children. Élodie was talking to two young Gypsy girls, but then they left her alone at the street corner. Yvette hastened toward her, for she was afraid some men would harass her.
Élodie smiled at Yvette, but she looked at her seriously and restlessly. "How are you getting along with Clopin? How does he treat you?"
Élodie blushed. "You were right, he is lustful", she admitted. "Did he hurt you?" exclaimed Yvette. Élodie hesitated a little. "No, I liked what he did – but I guess he would have used force if I had been reluctant."
Yvette was startled and turned away to hide her tears. Élodie turned pale. "You mean he actually did…? Good gracious!" She put her hand on Yvette's shoulder. "Does the bellringer know about this?"
"No, I haven't had the courage to tell anyone", whispered Yvette. "You must be careful with Clopin!"
Meanwhile, Esmeralda was talking to Quasimodo in front of the Cathedral. "How is Yvette? She has behaved a bit oddly after she returned to our hideout."
"I shouldn't talk about this", said the young man in embarrassment, "but Yvette doesn't let me touch her. Before retiring in the belltower she both told and showed to me she enjoyed being an object of passion, but now, she rejects me, and what's worse, she doesn't agree to tell me why. You surely understand her behaviour makes me think she is somehow changing her mind about us! I just love her so much it's impossible for me to accept the thought she wouldn't be for me." He turned his head away.
Esmeralda patted his shoulder. "Quasi, I am absolutely sure Yvette would never break up with you. Something has upset or hurt her. By the way, look, there she stands talking to the new woman whom Clopin has his eye on. Maybe Élodie knows something we don't. But believe me now, Quasi: Let Yvette decide when she is ready to be with you and to talk about whatever is in question. She needs to trust you completely to be able to talk."
Quasimodo nodded and started to walk toward Yvette and Élodie. When he was very near Élodie whispered: "You have to tell him, particularly since what Clopin did is most likely going to affect your married life and his possibility to use his rights."
"To use his rights!" Yvette exclaimed. "You are not the right person to talk to me about Quasi's rights!" She threw herself in the bellringer's arms and burst into tears. Quasimodo tenderly embraced her. Yvette cried for long. The young man said: "If only you told me what makes you unhappy – I am not asking for anything but that."
Yvette was just going to say something when Clopin approached them. He was going to talk to Élodie. Yvette detached herself from her beloved and rushed to Esmeralda. Élodie looked chillingly at Clopin and fended off his touch. Quasimodo glanced at the vagabond leader in an inquiring manner, and for a little while, it seemed to him like Clopin was ashamed of something. The bellringer clenched his fist, but instead of saying a word he went to Esmeralda and Yvette.
Esmeralda put her arm round Yvette's shoulders. "Why did you run away from Clopin? Did he do something to you?"
"Yes, he did!" said Yvette in a low and quiet voice. She approached the house where Quasi lived, and motioned him and the dancer to follow her. All of them retired inside, and Yvette said:
"It's difficult for me to talk about this. The night I left the belltower I met Élodie in the catacombs, and when I was making her acquaintance Clopin joined us. I tried to reject him, but finally, I shortly told Élodie my dilemma was not the first time someone from the Court of Miracles was being lusted after in a forbidden way. I agreed to leave with Clopin – yes, I really did!"
Quasimodo stepped back and exclaimed: "Yvette, how could you?" Esmeralda, in turn, said in agitation: "Yvette, you were not bound to give yourself to Clopin because of what happened to me! The fire in the city was not because I did or didn't do something, it was because of Frollo's obsession. Besides, I am absolutely sure he would have treated me in a very brutal manner even if I had chosen him instead of the pyre."
"Clopin did tell me the same", exclaimed Yvette. "Namely, I did try to interrupt what was happening between us, and I told him no-one but you, Quasimodo, was allowed to…" She grasped the bellringer's hand. "But then he…" She turned to Esmeralda, with her eyes full of shame and despair.
Esmeralda hugged her, whispering: "Good gracious, Yvette!" Quasi, in turn, clenched his fist, and Yvette heard him say in an undertone: "I'll kill him for what he did to my love!" Hesitatingly, she turned to look at the bellringer – and she shuddered; never had she seen an expression of such fury on his face.
When he was able to talk again the bellringer smoothed down Yvette's cheek and said sorrowfully: "I've been selfish and foolish. I've only been looking forward to sleeping with you, my love, and at the same time, you have been carrying this burden on your mind! You have surely suffered every moment. Forgive me, dear – I promise you'll never need to do anything you don't want to."
"Oh, Quasi", exclaimed Yvette, putting her arms round him, "you have been tender and tactful, and it was wrong I didn't tell you before. It was painful to know I had to tell you sooner or later – painful because I did visit his caravan on my own accord, even though he ended up forcing me. Besides, Élodie reminded me of your marital rights. When we are married I actually won't have even the right to refuse…Then how could I explain to you I would be reluctant because another man disgraced me – and you?"
Quasimodo drew her against himself. "No matter which rights I will have, you will never more in your life be forced into anything – only over my dead body! But now, we'll have to think about what can be done to prevent Clopin from doing the same to other women. If no-one knows about this he can assault any woman whenever he wants!"
"I don't want my parents or most townspeople to know", said Yvette restlessly. "I know he should get punished, but if the Parisians found out about this they would say it's all my own fault and would treat me as a whore. Actually, I don't care what's said about me, but I don't want you to suffer from your wife losing her reputation – your life is hard enough without that!"
"But we can't keep this hidden", assured Esmeralda. "At least, Phoebus, Élodie and the Archdeacon must be told about what happened to you. I am sure you are going to be abated if you confide in the priest."
"You are right, I will have to confess and be ready for penance – I did betray Quasi, after all", Yvette admitted. "What Clopin did was his crime, but my mistake was mine, and I am responsible for what I did or, at least, was ready to do. Élodie knows, by the way, and she was very upset when I told her, but she did also say I had to tell you, Quasi."
She hugged the bellringer and the Gypsy girl, after which she went to the Cathedral and asked to speak to the Archdeacon.
"Father, I have sinned", she said. Then she shortly told everything that had happened the night she had left the belltower. The priest listened to her seriously and benevolently.
Yvette continued: "I knew exactly what he wanted, and the truth is I wanted to know what it's like to be lusted after, even though Captain Phoebus had warned me. Above all, I voluntarily offered myself to Clopin, which meant I was ready to betray the man I love. So, I am in no way innocent."
"Yes, my child, it was wrong what you did", said the Archdeacon sorrowfully, "but still, he had no right to touch you. It's not allowed to assault anyone the way he did, not to mention that you are going to become Quasimodo's wedded wife. I am just afraid you will lose your reputation in the city, even if he gets punished – and it is even possible his community will not believe he is guilty."
"Your Eminence, what must I do to atone for what I did?" Yvette asked.
"You will have to pray and abstain from physical connection with Quasimodo before the two of you are married", advised the priest. Yvette nodded, thanked him and walked out of the church, thinking she most likely wouldn't agree to give in to the bellringer even after their wedding, at least not for some time.
When Yvette arrived at the Cathedral square she paid attention to a small group of people standing together – Esmeralda, Phoebus, Quasimodo, Élodie and a young man she didn't know. When the young man saw her approach he started to talk angrily to Élodie. Yvette hastened to Quasi who put his arms round her.
Phoebus came to Yvette and said seriously: "I am very upset by what you have been through. Still, I'm sure you understand you would have avoided the accident if you had listened to my warning."
The girl lowered her head, and Quasimodo snapped: "You mustn't blame Yvette! Clopin lusted after her, and he was only waiting for a suitable moment to take what he wanted! He would have done that in any case, sooner or later."
The young man in Élodie's company said severely: "You heard what the hunchback said. The man with whom you live is a rapist and a scoundrel. I don't tolerate him treating my sister like a worthless thing!"
"Rémy, I know what I am doing", assured Élodie, "I don't accept what he did to Yvette, but what happens between him and me is completely consensual."
"You are disgracing me by your licentious life with him", Rémy said harshly. "No honourable man is ever going to accept you as his wife after you let that scoundrel take advantage of yourself!"
"Well, should I rather let him repeatedly force himself on the fiancée of the bellringer of Notre Dame?" asked Élodie in an agitated but more quiet voice. Yvette was strongly startled, and Quasimodo pressed her head to his chest. Phoebus exclaimed: "No, that's not going to happen ever again!" Rémy sneered: "It's not our concern what happens to that wench – but you, Élodie, will leave that Gypsy immediately, or I'll whip you with my own hand!"
Yvette stepped forth. "I am not a wench. I am from a bourgeois family, but I temporarily live among the vagabonds because my parents objected to my wish to marry Quasi. That has nothing to do with me becoming the object of Clopin's lust."
"I see", said Rémy. "In any case, Ëlodie, take care I won't hear more about your debauchery with that man!"
"Quasi", Yvette whispered, "the Archdeacon said I must abstain till we are married. Actually, I am abated, for after Clopin took advantage of me I have been appalled even by the thought anyone, even you, would sleep with me."
"I understand that, my love", assured the bellringer, amoothing down her hair. "And I will agree even if you are not ready for that right after our wedding either."
Yvette hugged him, after which she left the others and walked toward the Court of Miracles. A while later, Esmeralda and Élodie followed her. Phoebus stayed near the women, ready to warn or defend them.
Rémy and Quasimodo, instead, stayed in the square, and the bellringer said, after hesitating a bit: "I should avenge for my sweetheart, and honestly, I would also like to do that! When Yvette told me about Clopin's crime I thought at first I wanted to kill him! That I am not planning to do, but he will have to suffer – and I want to make sure he will never do the same again – to anyone."
Élodie's brother nodded slowly. "I do also want to punish him for seducing my sister, even though she says she is with him voluntarily. She has never truly understood unchastity is a serious matter. But I won't tolerate her becoming a harlot here, least of all after what the Gypsy did to your future wife."
"Definitely not", assured Quasimodo. "We have to plan carefully what we are going to do to him. Come to meet me tomorrow evening – I live in that small house beside Notre Dame. If we meet in there no-one is going to find out what we are planning."