~* Chapter 17 ~ Wildfire *~
If any of the hotel staff or guests had chanced a glance out of a window, all they would see is what appeared to be two young lovers and a brother stepping out of a car parked just outside reception, and thought no more of it.
"Just you keep your mouth shut" Two warned Estelle as he wrapped his arm round her shoulders.
Estelle gazed with frightened eyes at the albino against her hips. Obediently, she walked forward into the reception of the hotel with One following close behind.
"Ah monsieurs!" The receptionist beamed as the twins entered. "Room seventeen, was it not?"
"Yes." Two said plainly as the receptionist handed him the key.
"But who is zis? I am sorry monsieurs, but our policy about 'night company'."
"This is our sister." Two pretended to look offended while One and Estelle followed suit.
"Oh, excuse-moi! I am most sorry. I not realise she is your sister."
Two nodded
"Apology accepted."
"Is there anything I can get for you?" the receptionist put on his irritating grin again.
"Just some privacy, thank you."
"Of course, monsieurs. I shall make sure you are not disturbed."
The receptionist walked hurriedly off into the main restaurant where the kitchen staff were preparing the tables for the morning.
~*~
"That was close" said Two sharply as they entered their room. "Too close."
"What are you worried about? The guy said he'd leave us alone didn't he?"
"Yes. Just thank your luck neither of you blew it."
Two turned to Estelle.
"It's just you and us now, love. Sit."
Estelle sat nervously down on the single bed, the colour draining from her face.
"Lock the door and windows, One" Two said, throwing his brother the keys.
For a moment, Two just stared at the pale, quivering young woman now seated on his bed. Finally, Estelle spoke in a quavering voice so unlike her own, confident speech.
"What do you plan to do with me?"
Two took a long breath before he replied.
"Under normal circumstances, you would be dead as soon as we got you in the car."
"However" continued One, coming to his brother's side "You are not a normal circumstance for us".
"Now, we are going to ask you a couple of questions, and it is in your interest not to lie. Trust us, if you lie, we will know" said Two, a bite of danger in his voice.
"Firstly. Why are you in Paris?"
Estelle looked up at the twins, glaring down at her from behind their glasses. "I am here on business"
"What kind of business?"
"It's private"
"Not here it's not." Two's voice became more cold as Estelle glared up at him, stubborn in what she would reveal.
"Tell us"
"No"
Quick as a flash, Estelle felt cold, sharp metal against her neck. No sooner had she uttered her second refusal, One's blade had flew to her throat.
"You will answer our questions. Or trust me, your neck shall feel the bite of my blade" One whispered, his nose inches from Estelle's face.
Estelle gulped and then she nodded. One removed the blade. "Last chance" he said.
Just as before, Estelle swallowed hard before giving her answer.
"I am here on business regarding the Merovingian. As you know, I have information about your boss that the courts would be most interested in. I was planning to go today, but the bureau was shut. So I rescheduled for tomorrow and that is when you two caught me."
"Why were you beside the river when we found you?"
"I was just thinking."
"About what?"
"Whether I was making the right choice. I knew I wanted the Merovingian to be brought down and all his associated with him, but I didn't know if it would make the situation harder for me."
"Why would it?" asked One
"Why? If they had judged in his favour, then I would be damn well worse off!"
The twins looked at each other, and then One continued.
"Is that what you were planning to do? Uncover the Merovingian and get him turned in?" One managed a hollow laugh "I would have thought you knew him better than that."
"What do you mean?" Estelle said, surprised by One's revelation.
"He covers his own back wherever he goes. He can bend people to his will. There was not even a snowball's chance in hell you could have been successful."
"You don't know that!"
"Believe me, I do."
Estelle stared agape at One's stern, cold face then to Two's equally icy gaze and back to One's again. A tear rolled down her cheek and she fell silent.
Two turned to his brother and motioned him over to the window.
"We've got all we can out of her, One. She clearly can't tell us any more, nothing of any value at any rate."
"I agree, Two, but what now?"
"I think you know the answer to that." Two raised an eyebrow.
The twins walked back over to the bed where Estelle was sitting bunched up, silently sobbing.
Two was about to reach inside his coat for his blade when he stopped.
"What is that?"
Estelle looked up, tears still coursing down her cheeks. "W-What?"
Two didn't reply. Instead in one swift movement he pulled Estelle's coat from her shoulders before she could make a grab for it.
"What are you doing?" Estelle made a frantic grab for the coat but Two held it out of reach. He dove inside the inside pocket and pulled out a large brown envelope, then threw the coat back to Estelle who caught it and clung to it as though it was her newborn child.
"What's this?" Two inquired.
Estelle remained silent but she grew, if possible, even paler.
"I'll find out for myself then". Two ripped open the envelope and pulled out a significant wad of documents. He scanned the first few pages, eyes widening as he read further.
"This is what you were planning to use against him?" Two looked at Estelle, a surprised expression playing over his lips.
"Yes." Estelle murmured.
"In that case, we better get rid of these."
Estelle leapt up from the bed and grabbed widely at the papers. One shoved her roughly back down upon the bed and held her still.
"Even I had no idea of his business to this extent" said Two "Indeed, had I not found this, you may have had a small chance of doing some damage to the Merovingian with this kind of information."
With that, he fumbled around inside his pocket of his trench coat and pulled out a small, silver lighter. Upon the bed, Estelle struggled frantically against One's strong grip. Suddenly she let out a shrill scream. Following this outburst, two things happened simultaneously. Two stunned by her scream, dropped the lighter and One shoved Estelle onto her back and covered her mouth.
"Try that again, and I'll cover more than your mouth" his voice falling like callous silk upon her ears.
Estelle stared at the albino, kneeling over her. Fear like she'd never felt in her life, surged through her veins. He was in control now and she was powerless to stop him. As thoughts of what could happen floated across her mind, she shivered underneath One's hand, still clamped firmly over her mouth.
Two looked over to make sure that One had Estelle under control and then picked up his lighter. Luckily, no one had heeded her scream for One had acted too quickly for anyone to do so.
As he flicked the lighter open and lit a spark onto the papers, he heard Estelle whimper slightly as she witnessed her last lifeline falling into ashes upon the pale carpet as the flickering flames devoured the paper like a starving creature, unrelenting in its quest for nourishment. As the flames neared the last corner between Two's finger and thumb, he let go, letting the tiny burning ball fall to the floor, before deftly stamping out the flames with his foot.
He looked up and saw One still kneeling over Estelle's shaking form, his hand still covering her mouth. As he stared at her, lying there, so fragile and defenceless, various thoughts of turning the situation even more to his advantage entered his mind and he felt a slight stirring in his loins. But he banished these thoughts from his mind before they could get a good grip, and forced himself to concentrate on the reason they had brought her here in the first place.
Suddenly a shrill sound echoed through the silent room as the phone beside Two's bed began to ring. The twins looked up at each other.
"Answer it then" hissed One.
Two hurried over to the phone and picked up the receiver.
"Hello, is that Mr Twine?" The woman's voice asked.
"Yes" replied Two
"I would like to inform you that a Monsieur Merovingian is here to see you sir. He's on his way up now."
If any of the hotel staff or guests had chanced a glance out of a window, all they would see is what appeared to be two young lovers and a brother stepping out of a car parked just outside reception, and thought no more of it.
"Just you keep your mouth shut" Two warned Estelle as he wrapped his arm round her shoulders.
Estelle gazed with frightened eyes at the albino against her hips. Obediently, she walked forward into the reception of the hotel with One following close behind.
"Ah monsieurs!" The receptionist beamed as the twins entered. "Room seventeen, was it not?"
"Yes." Two said plainly as the receptionist handed him the key.
"But who is zis? I am sorry monsieurs, but our policy about 'night company'."
"This is our sister." Two pretended to look offended while One and Estelle followed suit.
"Oh, excuse-moi! I am most sorry. I not realise she is your sister."
Two nodded
"Apology accepted."
"Is there anything I can get for you?" the receptionist put on his irritating grin again.
"Just some privacy, thank you."
"Of course, monsieurs. I shall make sure you are not disturbed."
The receptionist walked hurriedly off into the main restaurant where the kitchen staff were preparing the tables for the morning.
~*~
"That was close" said Two sharply as they entered their room. "Too close."
"What are you worried about? The guy said he'd leave us alone didn't he?"
"Yes. Just thank your luck neither of you blew it."
Two turned to Estelle.
"It's just you and us now, love. Sit."
Estelle sat nervously down on the single bed, the colour draining from her face.
"Lock the door and windows, One" Two said, throwing his brother the keys.
For a moment, Two just stared at the pale, quivering young woman now seated on his bed. Finally, Estelle spoke in a quavering voice so unlike her own, confident speech.
"What do you plan to do with me?"
Two took a long breath before he replied.
"Under normal circumstances, you would be dead as soon as we got you in the car."
"However" continued One, coming to his brother's side "You are not a normal circumstance for us".
"Now, we are going to ask you a couple of questions, and it is in your interest not to lie. Trust us, if you lie, we will know" said Two, a bite of danger in his voice.
"Firstly. Why are you in Paris?"
Estelle looked up at the twins, glaring down at her from behind their glasses. "I am here on business"
"What kind of business?"
"It's private"
"Not here it's not." Two's voice became more cold as Estelle glared up at him, stubborn in what she would reveal.
"Tell us"
"No"
Quick as a flash, Estelle felt cold, sharp metal against her neck. No sooner had she uttered her second refusal, One's blade had flew to her throat.
"You will answer our questions. Or trust me, your neck shall feel the bite of my blade" One whispered, his nose inches from Estelle's face.
Estelle gulped and then she nodded. One removed the blade. "Last chance" he said.
Just as before, Estelle swallowed hard before giving her answer.
"I am here on business regarding the Merovingian. As you know, I have information about your boss that the courts would be most interested in. I was planning to go today, but the bureau was shut. So I rescheduled for tomorrow and that is when you two caught me."
"Why were you beside the river when we found you?"
"I was just thinking."
"About what?"
"Whether I was making the right choice. I knew I wanted the Merovingian to be brought down and all his associated with him, but I didn't know if it would make the situation harder for me."
"Why would it?" asked One
"Why? If they had judged in his favour, then I would be damn well worse off!"
The twins looked at each other, and then One continued.
"Is that what you were planning to do? Uncover the Merovingian and get him turned in?" One managed a hollow laugh "I would have thought you knew him better than that."
"What do you mean?" Estelle said, surprised by One's revelation.
"He covers his own back wherever he goes. He can bend people to his will. There was not even a snowball's chance in hell you could have been successful."
"You don't know that!"
"Believe me, I do."
Estelle stared agape at One's stern, cold face then to Two's equally icy gaze and back to One's again. A tear rolled down her cheek and she fell silent.
Two turned to his brother and motioned him over to the window.
"We've got all we can out of her, One. She clearly can't tell us any more, nothing of any value at any rate."
"I agree, Two, but what now?"
"I think you know the answer to that." Two raised an eyebrow.
The twins walked back over to the bed where Estelle was sitting bunched up, silently sobbing.
Two was about to reach inside his coat for his blade when he stopped.
"What is that?"
Estelle looked up, tears still coursing down her cheeks. "W-What?"
Two didn't reply. Instead in one swift movement he pulled Estelle's coat from her shoulders before she could make a grab for it.
"What are you doing?" Estelle made a frantic grab for the coat but Two held it out of reach. He dove inside the inside pocket and pulled out a large brown envelope, then threw the coat back to Estelle who caught it and clung to it as though it was her newborn child.
"What's this?" Two inquired.
Estelle remained silent but she grew, if possible, even paler.
"I'll find out for myself then". Two ripped open the envelope and pulled out a significant wad of documents. He scanned the first few pages, eyes widening as he read further.
"This is what you were planning to use against him?" Two looked at Estelle, a surprised expression playing over his lips.
"Yes." Estelle murmured.
"In that case, we better get rid of these."
Estelle leapt up from the bed and grabbed widely at the papers. One shoved her roughly back down upon the bed and held her still.
"Even I had no idea of his business to this extent" said Two "Indeed, had I not found this, you may have had a small chance of doing some damage to the Merovingian with this kind of information."
With that, he fumbled around inside his pocket of his trench coat and pulled out a small, silver lighter. Upon the bed, Estelle struggled frantically against One's strong grip. Suddenly she let out a shrill scream. Following this outburst, two things happened simultaneously. Two stunned by her scream, dropped the lighter and One shoved Estelle onto her back and covered her mouth.
"Try that again, and I'll cover more than your mouth" his voice falling like callous silk upon her ears.
Estelle stared at the albino, kneeling over her. Fear like she'd never felt in her life, surged through her veins. He was in control now and she was powerless to stop him. As thoughts of what could happen floated across her mind, she shivered underneath One's hand, still clamped firmly over her mouth.
Two looked over to make sure that One had Estelle under control and then picked up his lighter. Luckily, no one had heeded her scream for One had acted too quickly for anyone to do so.
As he flicked the lighter open and lit a spark onto the papers, he heard Estelle whimper slightly as she witnessed her last lifeline falling into ashes upon the pale carpet as the flickering flames devoured the paper like a starving creature, unrelenting in its quest for nourishment. As the flames neared the last corner between Two's finger and thumb, he let go, letting the tiny burning ball fall to the floor, before deftly stamping out the flames with his foot.
He looked up and saw One still kneeling over Estelle's shaking form, his hand still covering her mouth. As he stared at her, lying there, so fragile and defenceless, various thoughts of turning the situation even more to his advantage entered his mind and he felt a slight stirring in his loins. But he banished these thoughts from his mind before they could get a good grip, and forced himself to concentrate on the reason they had brought her here in the first place.
Suddenly a shrill sound echoed through the silent room as the phone beside Two's bed began to ring. The twins looked up at each other.
"Answer it then" hissed One.
Two hurried over to the phone and picked up the receiver.
"Hello, is that Mr Twine?" The woman's voice asked.
"Yes" replied Two
"I would like to inform you that a Monsieur Merovingian is here to see you sir. He's on his way up now."