-----Disclaimer: I don't own the book Count Of Monte Cristo. Notes:
^^Thinking^^. -----
Chapter Five: Zatara's Son
When Claudia awoke, she heard yelling from across the hall, and Albert listening in. From what she could hear the countess was not leaving with the count. That was when Albert stopped listening in on his parents' conversation. Albert walked toward the bed, he gave Claudia a smile, and then he did something that made her blood boil. Albert was twirling his hair, which was not something to get all worried over. But as she watched the boy she couldn't help but see the similarities between him and her friend Zatara. Now that she thought about it she could see so many, the shape of his eyes, the length of his nose, and Zatara's annoying habits.
Albert was quickly getting dressed. His father had left a moment ago, and he was going after him. When he was dressed he smiled at Claudia and gave her a kiss. As he withdrew she grabbed his wrist, to his surprise she had much strength.
"Where are you going?" Claudia questioned. She knew that this was the day that Zatara had planned for many years, and now there were so many glitches.
"To help my father." He told her, and she let go of his hand.
"That is not a wise decision my love." She replied.
His expression curious he asked "Why do say that?"
"Nevermind." She gave a smile. "Just be careful."
"I will." He smiled, happy that she cared for him. He gave her another kiss goodbye and exited the room.
In a hurry she put her clothes on and ran out of the room, she called for the countess. No answer. She ran down the large flight of stairs and into the dinning hall where she saw the countess crying. Claudia ran up to the woman and gave a firm look in the eye. The woman's eyes were red from her tears, but Claudia did not have time or womanly emotions.
Firmly and without hesitation she asked. "Albert, who is his father? It is Zatara is it not?"
Mercedes looked at the girl in surprise "I do not know anyone by that name."
Claudia rolled her eyes, "Edmond, the Count of Monte Cristo, Zatara is one in the same." She sighed wishing that she could have remembered to say the right name. She gave the countess a hard look "Please I must know, for both their sakes."
The countess was not sure if this girl should be told. She knew that Albert loved her, but she hardly knew her. "I do not know wha-"
Claudia was becoming angry "There is no time for foolishness, now tell me!"
Mercedes nodded. "Edmond is his father."
"Then we must hurry." Claudia replied; she grabbed the woman by the arm. She called for a coach, and she told the driver to go to the Monte Cristo residence. Claudia knew that Zatara was not there, but she prayed that Jacopo still was.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
When the two women arrived at the Monte Cristo house they entered in a hurry. Claudia began to run up the stairs, and Mercedes followed. When Claudia saw the woman follow her she shook her head. "Go, and find Jacopo."
"I do not know who-" This was all going so quickly for her.
"Just yell and he will hear you. I must get changed." Claudia knew that if she was thinking correctly Albert would most likely fight the count, and Claudia would prevent that.
Mercedes nodded and went to find Claudia's brother. Claudia headed to her room; she put on a pair of black pants, white silk shirt with red and gold trimming, boots, and a red velvet robe that buttoned at the stomach. When she was dressed and ready she ran downstairs to find the countess. To her surprise and delight Jacopo and Mercedes were waiting for her at the door. She nodded to her brother and the three left the house. Jacopo took a carriage and they set off for where Edmond's 'gold' was located.
Inside the coach Mercedes eyed the girl curiously. "Who are you, truthfully?
Claudia was looking out the window, and her gaze turned to the countess. "I am Claudia Bedeau; also know as the Seductress of Le Chaffaut-Saint- Jurson."
"Seductress?" Mercedes arched an eyebrow.
"You are an educated woman; I do not think I need to inform you of the meaning of the word. But, when one is not born wealthy one does what she can to help her family survive." Claudia told the older woman.
Mercedes nodded. "I understand."
Claudia gave the woman a questioning look. Never had Claudia expected the woman to understand, a small weight lifted off her shoulder. She turned her attention back to the window.
Mercedes could understand the girl, she could tell that the girl had gone through a lot, and Mercedes did not condemn her for it. But there was something she must know. "Do you care for my son?"
Claudia looked hurt by the question, and Mercedes could tell by her eyes that the girl did. Claudia gave the woman a truthful expression. "More than I should."
Mercedes nodded, and sat back in the seat of the coach. She was worried if they would make it in time before her son, or her love did something they would regret.
-----Please review. Thanks! ~Alana-----
Chapter Five: Zatara's Son
When Claudia awoke, she heard yelling from across the hall, and Albert listening in. From what she could hear the countess was not leaving with the count. That was when Albert stopped listening in on his parents' conversation. Albert walked toward the bed, he gave Claudia a smile, and then he did something that made her blood boil. Albert was twirling his hair, which was not something to get all worried over. But as she watched the boy she couldn't help but see the similarities between him and her friend Zatara. Now that she thought about it she could see so many, the shape of his eyes, the length of his nose, and Zatara's annoying habits.
Albert was quickly getting dressed. His father had left a moment ago, and he was going after him. When he was dressed he smiled at Claudia and gave her a kiss. As he withdrew she grabbed his wrist, to his surprise she had much strength.
"Where are you going?" Claudia questioned. She knew that this was the day that Zatara had planned for many years, and now there were so many glitches.
"To help my father." He told her, and she let go of his hand.
"That is not a wise decision my love." She replied.
His expression curious he asked "Why do say that?"
"Nevermind." She gave a smile. "Just be careful."
"I will." He smiled, happy that she cared for him. He gave her another kiss goodbye and exited the room.
In a hurry she put her clothes on and ran out of the room, she called for the countess. No answer. She ran down the large flight of stairs and into the dinning hall where she saw the countess crying. Claudia ran up to the woman and gave a firm look in the eye. The woman's eyes were red from her tears, but Claudia did not have time or womanly emotions.
Firmly and without hesitation she asked. "Albert, who is his father? It is Zatara is it not?"
Mercedes looked at the girl in surprise "I do not know anyone by that name."
Claudia rolled her eyes, "Edmond, the Count of Monte Cristo, Zatara is one in the same." She sighed wishing that she could have remembered to say the right name. She gave the countess a hard look "Please I must know, for both their sakes."
The countess was not sure if this girl should be told. She knew that Albert loved her, but she hardly knew her. "I do not know wha-"
Claudia was becoming angry "There is no time for foolishness, now tell me!"
Mercedes nodded. "Edmond is his father."
"Then we must hurry." Claudia replied; she grabbed the woman by the arm. She called for a coach, and she told the driver to go to the Monte Cristo residence. Claudia knew that Zatara was not there, but she prayed that Jacopo still was.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
When the two women arrived at the Monte Cristo house they entered in a hurry. Claudia began to run up the stairs, and Mercedes followed. When Claudia saw the woman follow her she shook her head. "Go, and find Jacopo."
"I do not know who-" This was all going so quickly for her.
"Just yell and he will hear you. I must get changed." Claudia knew that if she was thinking correctly Albert would most likely fight the count, and Claudia would prevent that.
Mercedes nodded and went to find Claudia's brother. Claudia headed to her room; she put on a pair of black pants, white silk shirt with red and gold trimming, boots, and a red velvet robe that buttoned at the stomach. When she was dressed and ready she ran downstairs to find the countess. To her surprise and delight Jacopo and Mercedes were waiting for her at the door. She nodded to her brother and the three left the house. Jacopo took a carriage and they set off for where Edmond's 'gold' was located.
Inside the coach Mercedes eyed the girl curiously. "Who are you, truthfully?
Claudia was looking out the window, and her gaze turned to the countess. "I am Claudia Bedeau; also know as the Seductress of Le Chaffaut-Saint- Jurson."
"Seductress?" Mercedes arched an eyebrow.
"You are an educated woman; I do not think I need to inform you of the meaning of the word. But, when one is not born wealthy one does what she can to help her family survive." Claudia told the older woman.
Mercedes nodded. "I understand."
Claudia gave the woman a questioning look. Never had Claudia expected the woman to understand, a small weight lifted off her shoulder. She turned her attention back to the window.
Mercedes could understand the girl, she could tell that the girl had gone through a lot, and Mercedes did not condemn her for it. But there was something she must know. "Do you care for my son?"
Claudia looked hurt by the question, and Mercedes could tell by her eyes that the girl did. Claudia gave the woman a truthful expression. "More than I should."
Mercedes nodded, and sat back in the seat of the coach. She was worried if they would make it in time before her son, or her love did something they would regret.
-----Please review. Thanks! ~Alana-----
