Here it is: chapter four! Finally finished, ladies and gents. More to come in a short while! Want to also thank all of those who have reviewed my work so far. Your words have been very helpful to me and I'm glad you're enjoying the ride so far! Thanks again!

Child of Two Worlds

Chapter Four

"Why Étienne Rieux, why on Earth do you come here?" She shouted as she approached him.

"I couldn't stand to not see you this day my love." He whispered to her as she slided into her arms.

"Not here," my mother whispered back. "Not in-front of my daughter. She won't understand."

Étienne looked over my mother shoulder at me. He smiled as he turned his attention back to my mother.

"Is Aubert near?"

"No and thank God he is not, or else he would murder us both if he saw me in your arms."

"For God's sake Felicite, come away with me," Étienne pleaded desperately. "We'll go inside and gather a few things for ourselves. We'll take Maria Antonia with us."

"No Étienne, please-"

"We'll go to Calais, and catch a ship to England or to America. But we must leave now, or we may never leave this place!"

My mother burst into tears as she withdrew from his arms and rushed over to me. She knelt down so she and I were at the same eye level.

"Do you deny yourself true happiness. Does your child not deserve a father who will love her as I do?"

"What is going on Maman?" I asked. "Why are we leaving our home. Won't Papa be angry if we do?"

"Please, not now Poppette." My mother begged me.

"Felecite, we will have to leave sometime soon, my-"

"But not today,"she said calmly as she rose and turned to Étienne. He came to her and they shared a passionate kiss. "Perhaps in a few days, but not today."

I watched the scenario in horror. Maman wasn't supposed to kiss anyone, except Papa, though she rarely did anymore.

Maman broke from their kiss and approached me. She held her hand out to me and I lovingly took it in mine. "Come Poppette, we must take a walk." She said quietly.

We walked across the meadow and into the woods that surrounded it. As we walked, I could hear Étienne call out after us; "I shall come for you, my love and your child in a week! And if I come across Aubert, I shall give him no less than he deserves!"

Ccccccooo, ccccccoooooo, ccccccooooo, cccccrrrrroooooaaaaakkk, hhhhhooooo, hhhhhooo. These were the sounds I awoke to. I could feel the tiny legs of the insects of the night crawl around my arms, my breasts, my thighs.

I slowly opened my eyes and stared toward the sky. The sky was a darkish blue shade with grayish blue fluffy clouds racing across the world. It must have been near dawn. The moon was faintly visible through the clouds. A faint breeze floated through the trees, and I shivered under my wool coat.

My wool coat? I carried with me no wool coat. I stared at it quizickly, before I threw it off. There was some rustling close to me and two rugged, scratched masculine hands placed the coat back over me.

"It will keep you warm tonight," a man soothed. "You will need as much strength as possible for your journey."

With horror, I raised my head to come face to face with a man, not much older than I, with light blue eyes and reddish blond hair, smiled at my shocked expression. I screamed and leaped up, searching vainly for my bread. It had completely vanished from my sight.

I stared accusingly at the man with the coat. "Where did you put my bread? I know you stole it, now give it back."

The arrogant idiot just gave me a fool's smile, as if my anger was more amusing than frightening. "What, no thank you?" He asked mockingly as he pulled the coat over his own shoulders. "No medal for the hero?"

I smirked. "Hero? What makes you a hero?"

"Well I was watching over you. It's not exactly wise that a girl-" he uncomfortably cleared his throat, "with your likeness sleep alone in such a dangerous surrounding. So I'm keeping you safe. I'm your guardian angel, so to speak."

I looked away, setting my sight on the gravel road. The road lead to my new life. I only wished that the end of the road was in my sight. I stared back at the man and folded my arms. He mockingly folded his.

"Where's my bread monsieur?"

He laughed. "What, that disgusting loaf of garbage. With maggots and ants and worms crawling around, and taking it as their own. Is that what you call food?"

I gave him a cold stare. "That monsieur is the only food I have until I earn some money. Now where is it?"

"I threw it away." He said matter-of-factly and gestured to the forest. "It's probably somewhere in the branches of the trees where it belongs. I would have given it to my horse" he then gestured to a gray horse, grazing nearby, it's reins tied to a tree, "but no creature deserves that waste of grain."

I let out a wail which startled both of us. "How could you? You had no right- That was my only food. I shall starve before I make it". Without another glance at him, I swiftly picked up my bag and started for the road. It wasn't long before I felt the man's hand roughly grab my arm.

"Now hang on mademoiselle. Where exactly is an unescorted lady such as your self going at an hour like this?"

I glared at him defiantly. "Paris." I then took another step before he pulled me back to face him.

"Why on earth do you want to go to Paris by yourself?" He inquired. "Doesn't your family want to go with you?"

I lowered my gaze before I replied in a low voice "I have no family monsieur."

His grasp on my arm softened as he placed his other on my shoulder. "Will you not rest awhile? Must you leave now?"

I nodded my head meekly. "I want to get to Paris as quickly as possible."

"Then let me take you."

I looked up into his bright smile, brighter than the dawn, his eyes which held no danger in them but only concern. "You? Take me to Paris?" I asked, wishing I could scoff at his so-called kindness. I stepped out of his grass. "But you are but a stranger and I am a virtuous maiden. How do I know you will not use me? It is very likely you will."

His smile didn't waver. "Well, I suppose you'll have to trust me, or die on this roadside of hunger and exhaustion."

This did make me scoff. "Die? Why I have ambition in me, which in itself will lead me there, and-"

"Ambition will not make food magically appear in your stomach nor on your grass plate." He said firmly. He then stared up into space and I followed his gaze. We both watched the clouds go by for what seemed like forever.

"Listen," the man sighed. "At least let me take you to Avignon. It is but a short distance by horse, but an even longer distance by foot."

I continued to stare at the sky while he continued. "I know a kindly innkeeper who always keeps an extra bed for me this time of the year. I'll take you there so you may have a proper rest and in the morning, you may choose to continue your journey alone or I can take you to Paris, free of hunger or ache."

I stared at him and considered his offer. It was true I did want a nice bed and something perhaps a bit nutritious to eat. But I could endanger myself by putting my life in his hands.

"Of course mademoiselle, if you doubt my honesty, you can go back to your bed of earth or begin your long walk, but I must warn you I will not leave your side till I know your safely in Avignon."

I tried to glare at him for harrassing me so, but I could not admit that I was touched by his concern. We gazed at eachother for a moment before I breathed "I know not your name Monsieur."

His grin widened. "Remy Dechaume. What's yours maiden?"

I returned his grin. "Maria Antonia."

Remy laughed. "What, no last name?"

"Aye, a last name have I," I said with a light heart and a glimpse at the sky. "But 'tis a name that comes from a man that loved me not." I looked proudly at Remy. "I shall take the name of a man that does."

Remy nodded. "Well, than Maria Antonia, will you let a poor mortal like me take the likes of you to Avignon, or do you prefer to walk among Mother Nature and I for the rest of your life?"

I smiled proudly in the distance of Avignon and Paris. "I've changed my mind. Monsieur Dechaume, I would appreciate it greatly if you would take me to Avignon so I may stay in your inn. I fear all this exhaustion has made my stubborness disappear."

"Gladly Mademoiselle." With that Remy took my hand and lead me swiftly to his saddled grey horse, he helped lift me onto the creature's back before he expertly leaped on behind me. Without him asking it of me, I quickly untied the reins from around the tree's thin bark. Remy wrapped his arms around my own and took the reins from my hands. I swiftly pressed my small bag against my chest.

"Are you ready Maria Antonia?" Remy asked from behind.

"Eagerly ready Remy." I replied with a slight yawn as I eased into his muscular chest.

One flick and the horse trotted in a circle around the field before he broke into a gallop and made for the road. We burst through the trees and onto the gravel trail and sped through the French countryside, leaving behind a thunderous sound to wake the forest from its lonely bird chirps and insect calls.

Well, exciting chemistry between Maria Antonia and Remy. Much more between them and a certain phantom:) to come soon. Please read and review.

Regards