Montparnasse had a plan.
Creeping along the gloomy boulevards of Paris, with his dark glasses on and his scarf pulled around his face to conceal his identity, he felt so alive.
Night was the time Montparnasse loved best.
Going solo in his life of crime now; he was even more dangerous than before.
Approaching his destination, he drew a dagger from his belt and held it tightly in his fist. He knew the streets of Paris like a rat knows its sewer. Although there was no moon that night, and no street lamps, Montparnasse used his cat-like ability to see into the darkness.
He was just about to climb up a ladder leading to a balcony, when a firm hand clamped on his shoulder.
Montparnasse spun round, and there before him was Marius.
"So you've turned up!" Montparnasse laughed, "good!"
"Just get it over with," muttered Marius.
Montparnasse gave another laugh, and ascended the ladder with much agility. Marius followed.
Marius found himself in a small, shabby little room, the only light coming from a small candle in the corner. The only furniture was a small writing desk, a chipped washbasin and a bed.
"Now that I have you alone," said Montparnasse, "I shall tell you what you are dying to know."
Marius began to feel uncomfortable with Montparnasse's strange attitude.
"You see," began Montparnasse, "We are closer than you think."
Acknowledging Marius' stunned silence, Montparnasse continued, "We are brothers."
Marius shook his head with disbelief.
"No, honestly," said Montparnasse, "we are."
Montparnasse led Marius to a mirror on the far wall, and showed him their reflection. Marius felt a cold realisation grow over him.
For Marius and Montparnasse did indeed look alike. Same hair, same nose, same eyes…Montparnasse was a little shorter and thinner than Marius, but there was a definite resemblance.
It must be true. "But how………..?" demanded Marius of Montparnasse.
Montparnasse raked his fingers through his lustrous black hair. "We have the same parents. We were separated at birth. Our father could only afford to support one child. I was the younger child, the well-behaved one who did as he was told and smiled and laughed. You were the older child, who was a ragamuffin and a rebel. It had to be you who he let go."
Marius stared unhappily at the floor, distressed.
Montparnasse continued, "So our father got rid of you, and kept me. But how he regretted it! Every night he and our mother would cry, and mope, and wish for their Marius back. I was, in a sense, neglected, for they missed you more than they loved me. As the years went by, I became a vagabond, a rebel, just as you were. Eventually, aged 15, I left home and started my life of crime. I wanted money, money that my parents couldn't give me. I robbed, murdered…..and all for the sake of a few francs!"
Montparnasse broke off, trying to hide his tears from Marius. It was the first time he, a dreaded assassin, the terror of Paris, had cried in all his life.
Marius was in deep thought. Suddenly he stepped towards his brother, and held him by the shoulders. Looking him straight in the eye he asked, "Why are you telling me this?"
Montparnasse took a deep breath. "I don't know."
"How did you find out you were my brother?"
Montparnasse returned Marius' gaze. "I've always known. Our father told me that very day he gave to our grandfather."
-How will Marius react to what he's just discovered? Will Montparnasse explain more? Find out soon, when I update it!!-