Chapter 2

Janice - what exactly is Beta reader? I'm open to the idea. And as for her switching for first person in the end, what can I say, I'm an idiot. I fixed it. Also I'm going through my I am Satine story, so you might find it easier to read when I'm done.


Thirteen year old Juliet sat in a corner of the living room of her grandfather's house, shyly watching her cousins from the top of her book. Louise, who was fourteen, was knitting, and Pierre who was sixteen, was holding the yarn and unrolling it for her. Danielle, Pierre's twin sister, was practicing piano. It was a rainy, irratable sort of day and tensions were running high. They'd been living with their grandfather since the news of her Aunt Alice, mother to all her cousins, death. Her uncle Louis had been "in a state of discomposure" since.

Juliet didn't think much of Danielle's playing but she didn't tell her that. She liked Danielle best of her cousins and didn't want to hurt her feelings when she was working so hard. She could tell by the way Louise was clicking her needles and biting her lip that it was taking all her self control from showing Danielle how to do it properly. Louise always knew how to do everything best but since Danielle was the oldest she had to be respectful. So she vented her annoyance on an easier victim; Juliet.

"Are you reading Alice in Wonderland AGAIN." she rolled her eyes. "God you must have read it a thousand times. Look the cover's falling off." Juliet bit her lip and didn't say anything. Her book was the only thing left that linked her to her mother. True the cover was falling off and the pages were wrinkled but there was a small note on the first page of the book that said is a thin spidery script.

Christmas 1890

Dearest Juliet,

Growing up this was my favorite book, I know you're too young to read it now but maybe grandpa will read it to you or you can read it yourself when you're older. I miss you everyday and I hope to see you soon.

Love Mama

Juliet had read it so many times that she had memorized it though she had never shown it to her cousins. Unaware Louise had stepped onto off limit territory. To her own horror, Juliet felt her eyes growing wet.

"Leave her alone, Louise, we're all tired of being stuck indoors, no need to bother Julie," said Danielle. She had stopped playing and turned around to face Louise. Juliet could see a row coming on. When the sisters decided to fight there was little one could do to stop it. So Juliet pulled her legs up to her chest, reading her book and trying to ignore them.

"If you'd stop playing that dratted song over and over maybe I'd actually be able to knit!"

"Thanks a lot Louise; I don't bother you when you play!"

"That's because I know how to play," said Louise coldly. She sat at the piano bench and played flawlessly, without looking at her hands, the entire song that Danielle had been struggling with all day. Danielle blushed for there is nothing worse than being out done by your little sister.

"You played it to fast and this note is E sharp, not E flat." Said Danielle, still keeping up the haughty older air.

"There is no such thing as an E sharp," said Louise. "Just give up Danny." Ashamed and beaten Danielle left the room, slamming the door behind her. Louise wasn't done yet. She turned again to face Juliet.

"Why don't you do something useful Juliet? All you ever do is read! You're a burden." Louise looked shocked that she had said that and suddenly was quiet. She knew she'd gone too far. Juliet looked wounded and headed upstairs after Danielle. Louise sat down next to Pierre, taking up her knitting again. Pierre looked at her uncomfortably.

"I'm tired; I think I'll go to bed Louise." He said softly.

"Now you're mad at me too?"

He didn't answer her question just said simply, "good night, sister," leaving Louise alone to bite her nails and wish she could control her temper.


The next morning Juliet woke to the smell of food and opened her eyes to find her favorite breakfast on a tray beside her bed. There was a steaming plate of waffles with jam and milk and even a rather old looking orange which was never the less a special treat in the middle of winter. Juliette grinned and wondered who could have given her such a treat. She was halfway through when Danielle came bounding in slippers and a bathrobe.

"Someone brought you breakfast too!" she exclaimed. "Only mine was better, bacon and eggs."

Juliet wrinkled her nose. She hated eggs.

"Pierre had crepes. I wonder if there was some for Louise before she left."

"Where did she go?"

"It stopped raining early this morning and Rosa said she took off before the sun was up."

"Danielle, do think Louise could have done this for us?" Danielle bit her lip thoughtfully.

"That's an idea, it would be nice of her after yesterday-" Juliette glanced at her Alice and Wonderland book and realized it was nearly a foot away from where she had put it last night. She picked it up and examined and found that the cover was no longer falling off. Someone had sewn it back on with small, even, stitches. Danielle stitches were sloppy and big and Pierre couldn't sew to save his life. It had to be Louise.


Mr. Desmereges sipped his tea slowly, trying to calm his shaken nerves. He sighed and folded his unread newspaper. He had had, yet again, a disturbing dream last night. His sleep had been haunted for months. He lay back and tried to remember his dream. The harder he tried the more it slipped away, like water cupped in his hands.

Quite suddenly his thoughts changed directions to happier times. He remembered a day, nearly a quarter of a century ago, when Alice had been a toddling babe and his wife Mary was still alive. She had been beautiful, even when hugely pregnant. She had pink cheeks and golden hair. She was almost the spitting image of Alice except her eyes which were Satine's intense blue. He saw her sitting across the table from him, drinking tea with one hand on her stomach. She smiled and set down her tea cup. The tiny Alice was perched on her mother's knee and Mary played with the girls pale curls.

"Aren't you proud?" She said. There was a knock at the door and his wife disappeared. She was dead, after all.

"Martin, get the door."

The elderly Butler entered leading a man in a faded coat. The man was tall, with big, haunted eyes. Mr. Desmereges had never, in his waking life, laid eyes on this man yet he knew him immediately.

"Where is Satine?"