Beauté et le Fantome
Beauty and The Phantom
Chapter Two "What is inside the forest?"
Two Weeks Later
Father and I both adjusted to life here easily. Father bought livestock and seeds with the money we had left. He sold the cow's milk and the chicken's eggs in the village and was also paid to play his violin at parties and other places. Raoul and I spent a lot of time together during the day. After the first few days I had adjusted into a new routine: Wake at dawn, dress, make breakfast for Father and I, clean the cottage, meet Raoul, ride home, cook dinner for Father and I, read, then finally sleep. Today I was to meet Raoul at the lake near the beginning of the forest for a swim; it made me wonder even more about the forest. What was so bad about the forest? Who or what was le Fantome? Was there a monster so bad in that forest? A monster that everyone was afraid of? A monster, I thought to myself, Christine you have to get your heads out of the clouds…out of this fairytale world you have secluded yourself in! This is not one of your fairytales! My mind screamed, this is real life! There are no monsters.
"There are no monsters…" I murmured to myself. "Maybe there are bears or something in the forest that scared people." I continued this argument with myself as I walked down the path to the river to meet Raoul. We have become closer in these past couple of weeks and spent the days together, going on adventures like we had when we were little children. I smiled when I saw him waving gaily. I ran the rest of the way there. We embraced lightly when I reached him and he smiled down at me. Raoul took my hand possessively into his own (I thought nothing of it at the time) and began leading me the rest of the way to the river.
As soon as we reached the lake I stripped down to only my corset and chemise and Raoul to his trousers. We grabbed hands and jumped in! We splashed and swam for about an hour or so before sitting down on the grass to enjoy a picnic.
"Now, my dear Little Lotte, how long has it been since we have swan together?" Raoul questioned.
"I think, good sir, that we haven't swam together since the summer we first met and you rescued my scarf from the sea." I replied with a hint of sarcasm.
"Ah, yes, Little Lotte, I remember that day well…I was walking along the beach with my aunt while visiting my grandmother…"
"I was walking on the beach with my father when a gust of wind blew my mother's old red scarf into the sea. I had begun to cry, devastated to lose one of the last remaining things of my mother's that I had…"
From there Raoul took over again.
"I watched you drop to the ground sobbing and noticed how you grabbed for the scarf, but it blew to fast. I ran into the sea after it, wanting to make a new friend. I grabbed the scaf and emerged soaked to the skin!"
"We played together everyday that summer, from that day on."
"The story of Little Lotte." He added with a smile.
"Little Lotte thought of everything and nothing" I whispered.
"Little Lotte thought, am I founder of dolls or of goblins or shoes…" Raoul continued.
"Or of riddles or frocks..."
"Or of chocolates?"
"Father playing the violin." I said.
"As we read to each other dark stories of the North." He added.
"No, what I loved best, Lotte said, is when I'm asleep in my bed, and the Angel of Music sings songs in my head." I whispered excitedly.
'The Angel Of Music' I mused. I remember how I used to pray every night for the angel of music to come to me. I still do…but it is useless. He never came…he never comes…there must be no such things as angels…
I was shaken from my thoughts when a strange noise came from the forest.
"What was that?" I asked frightened.
"Nothing, Christine, 'twas nothing." He paused. "I don't remember you getting scared so easily, Lotte. You were always adventurous."
"Well, Monsieur's Andre and Firmin said to stay away from the forest, to beware of le fantome." I shivered at the thought of a phantom being in the forest, it reminded me of the stories of the north that I was scared of. I needed to know what was in the forest so I would feel safe. "What is in the forest, Raoul?"
"Well no one quite knows for sure. There used to be a kingdom where the forest is. One day, many years ago, the forest appeared and the kingdom disappeared. They say that the old castle is still there and it is haunted by a beast." My expression changed from a smile to a frown. I stared at Raoul with wide eyes as he continued with his tale. "People say, whoever goes into the forest never comes out; that they are never seen or heard from again."
I shivered again as Raoul pulled me into his strong and warm embrace. He leaned his head in towards mine, our lips becoming closer and closer with each passing second. Our lips were about to touch when I heard Papa call my name of in the distance. I pulled away from him abruptly.
"Christine!" I heard again, it was my father.
"Coming Papa!" I shouted in the direction of his voice as I gathered my things.
"Must you go?" Raoul questioned.
"Oui, Raoul. It sounds urgent."
"Okay, Little Lotte. I will come over tonight. Remember, I promised to show you the bookshop."
"That will be wonderful, Raoul. Thank you for today!"
" 'Twas nothing, Christine." He replied before taking my hand and placing a lingering kiss on top of it. "'Till later then."
I nodded in reply and ran up the path towards home failing to realize the gleam in Raoul's eyes and the way he stared after me longingly.
XX
I ran into the house completely out of breath. I found father sitting calmly at the kitchen table. 'What could possibly be wrong now?' I wondered to myself.
"Papa?" I inquired nervously.
"I received a letter today, from the city." He replied.
I pulled out the chair and sat down across from him. Taking his hands in mine I asked, "What did the letter say?"
"Some of my companies merchandise has been found. We must go to the city tomorrow."
"Oh, Papa that is wonderful!" I exclaimed throwing my arms around him and embracing him tightly.
"You must pack, Beauty, we are leaving tomorrow at dawn."
"Alright." I kissed his cheek and then scurried off upstairs to pack my things.
XX
Later that evening, a knock sounded at the door. I ran down the stairs and opened the door. Sure enough, Raoul was standing there smiling at me. I smiled back as he brought my hand to his lips in another lingering kiss.
"Papa, I am going out with Raoul for a while." I called pulling my shawl around my shoulders.
"Alright, my dear, but do not be home to late. Remember, we have a long journey ahead of us tomorrow morning." I nodded.
"Journey?" Raoul questioned as I closed the door.
"Oui, we must go to the city tomorrow, Raoul. Some of Father's merchandise has been located, we are staying in the city over night but we will be back home the next day." I explained as we walked down to the market place.
"This way." Raoul said pointing to a little shop. "That is good news." He added. "I will miss you."
I smiled up at him.
We spent the rest of the night telling stories under the moonlight and at the nest morning Father and I set out for the city.
