Jeanne's heart hammered as she leaned on the door. She was sure of what she heard—it was Hao talking to Lyserg! She knew it when he started referring to 'her'. She collapsed down the floor, confused. What should she do now?

"Jeanne, go to sleep. The floor is cold, and you won't be comfortable on it!" called a voice unmistakably Hao's from downstairs. "Unless I join you…"

"Perverted fiend!" she cried, getting up and gathering her skirt. Now she knew what to do…she had to get out of this place and find one that her abductor wouldn't know about. From there, she would just have to find a way to contact Lyserg.

Satisfied that she now had a concrete gameplan in mind, she headed to her bed and prepared herself to sleep.

+++

"Good morning, Jeanne-sama," greeted Opacho reverently the next morning. "Master Hao asked me to bring you downstairs to eat already."

"He did?" She frowned. "What a shame then. I am not in the mood to eat. Send my apologies for I won't be able to join him today."

"Master Hao never takes 'no' for an answer, Jeanne-sama," reminded the servant quietly.

"Then his ego is more bloated than I initially presumed." She sighed in exasperation.

"And you really know how to give one hell of a bloody blow to my sweet, sweet self-image, Jeanne-san." Hao appeared in the doorway, wearing his usual lopsided grin, which whether she would admit out loud or not, she had grown accustomed with already.

She eyed him in irritation. "Monsieur, may I inform you that a lady such as myself would not tolerate smart-alecky statements for breakfast."

"Great! So you're going to eat then!" he said cheerfully.

"If you will hold your tongue, I might consider—"

"You WANT to eat." He turned to Opacho. "Get the table ready. It's time for breakfast."

She blinked. "Why, I never said anything—"

"No need. If I wait for you to say ANYTHING remotely POSITIVE while talking to me, I might as well have waited for snow to turn into ebony." He shrugged. "Besides, why fuss over breakfast?"

"EXACTLY. Why are you fussing over breakfast?" she asked critically.

"I cooked!" he said proudly.

Her eyes widened.

***

"So how is it?" asked Hao eagerly as she sampled the fruit pancake he made for her.

She swallowed delicately and smiled. "It is edible."

"Shucks! I've heard that line somewhere before," he said. "Try another one."

"But it is." She took another bite. "I mean, you can most certainly cook better than I do."

"OK, that would do." He smiled sweetly.

"You seem to be in a light mood," she observed. "What's going on?"

"You have eavesdropped last night, so you should be aware of the reason."

Her face reddened. "I-It was an accident! Pray listen, Monsieur-"

"Young man Diethyl promised me that he would bring my brother over tonight," he replied. "And this would certainly make you happy too, for once I have my brother, I would be able to grant you your freedom."

She wiped her mouth with her napkin. "Um, not quite."

He paused, then chuckled. "Oh no, please don't tell me that you have grown fond of me already and you have already forgotten about Diethyl-san!"

"You are unbelievably supercilious, if you must know," she said smoothly, rolling her eyes. "I am just concerned about your brother. You must have something undesirable in mind for that poor fellow."

"Which you have no business to know."

"Perhaps." She shrugged casually. "But it won't stop me."

He looked curious. "What are you going to do?"

She inhaled shakily before meeting his gaze. "That's for me to know and for you to find out." She got up silently. "Excuse me," she mumbled.

He got up too. "I see no reason for you not to finish the meal. Sit down."

"Do not order me like I am some kind of a slave, Monsieur." Her eyes crinkled in anger.

"You are not a slave. You are a hostage." He grabbed her arm roughly.

"Unhand me, Monsieur." Her voice was even, but white-hot fury seeped through her tone.

He smiled. "Such poise! You know, Jeanne-san, one of the reasons why I find you very entertaining is that you are always so…prim and proper. It leaves me wondering if you remain like so even amidst…passion." His eyes glinted meaningfully.

Her cheeks turned hot. "I do not know of this…this p-passion…my passion is service to the church."

"You don't?" he asked, voice growing husky. "That's awful! Really terrible, sweet Jeanne-san, a lady like you not knowing what that fire is." His eyes glowed.

"C-Consider it blissful ignorance," she whispered. She was starting to get affected by this strange sensual awareness he was inducing into her. "P-Please…please let go of me."

"Diethyl Lyserg is unbelievable." He stepped back, chuckling. "But then again…you're so fragile. How old are you again, Jeanne-san?"

"S-Seventeen."

"And already you can set a man on fire." He laughed huskily. "I will burn the walls of the convent that hid your beauty all these years."

"S-Stop talking nonsense!" she snapped, face a bit too red and voice a bit too loud. She struggled to even her breathing again as she freed herself from his grasp. "You are not being funny anymore."

Amusement crossed his face. "Touchy." He stepped back and bowed mockingly before going back to the dining table.

She hurried back into her room, thoughts in turmoil. Her kidnapper was more dangerous than she thought, for he was as seductive as the devil himself, if he wasn't it.

And she knew that she was not strong enough to fight off temptation, as proven by awhile ago, when she nearly surrendered to his little game.

She hugged herself, confused. "Oh Lyserg…"

***

"You can leave me here, Opacho. Thank you again," she said softly.

The servant bowed before hurrying away. Jeanne sighed in relief. This was one of the few things she had to thank Hao for—the privacy he allows her whenever she takes a bath or sleep.

As she immersed herself in the calming hot water of the pool, she started to ponder on her current situation. Tonight, she would probably be set free already, so she need not worry.

However, she was a Christian first and foremost, reared to love her neighbors, even if they were strangers. And last nigh, based on the telephone conversation between her groom and her abductor, a certain person had to sacrifice his life and liberty in exchange for hers. And that was something she would not allow.

She then remembered that Lyserg would be here tonight.

"What if…" She fell into deep thinking. If she escapes now and try to find where Lyserg was and intercept him, she would probably be able to save the life of Lyserg's hostage.

She looked around the empty room. If she had to escape, she must escape now, while the guards were unaware.

Quickly, she got out of the water and searched for an open window or something to jump into.

****

"Jeanne-sama is taking much longer in the bath than she usually does," Opacho told Hao quietly, frowning thoughtfully. "Should I go in?"

He shrugged. "No need. She's not there."

"Huh?" Zinc looked puzzled. "Then where is the girl?"

"She jumped out of the bathroom." But Hao seemed more amused than concerned. He poured himself another cup of tea. "No problem. I could go after her myself. She wouldn't have gone too far. Her health wouldn't permit her."

"But what about Lyserg Diethyl?" asked the priest.

"Oh, you can just tell him of his girlfriend's foolishness." Hao smiled, relaxed. "It's no tragedy for me. It would give me more time to get to know Jeanne dear better."

"So Master Hao will be away…" Machi whispered sadly.

"Ah, I'll be back. I'm just going to pull the leg of our little dowser." He chuckled. "He gets really hot-tempered when we talk about the sweet, poised nun."

Zinc nodded, smiling. "It will give you better bargaining position, Master Hao."

"Yes, I suppose. But generally, I want to annoy the nun too." He waved. "Ciao!" He went for the direction of the woods, smiling cheerfully.

----

--to be continued