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Justice for the Countess

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Violet Baudelaire was burning with fever when she entered room 540 of Hotel Denouement. Ever since her little adventures to Mortmain Mountains trying to find the formula to recreate the content of the sugar bowl, she felt sick.

Now, someone had left a message saying the formula was being tested here, in Hotel Denouement. But was the message written by a volunteer, or a criminal ? Impossible to know. But Violet was relieved to see the Hotel partly survived Count Olaf's fire. Fire she helped start… Shaking her head to help her focus instead of drowning herself in guilt, Violet walked further in the room.

The square room was full of shelves filled with bottles. In the middle a large rectangular table was covered with measuring instruments, incubators and a complicated installation fuming, distillating something that was dripping in a beaker.

In the middle of the sticky air, Violet felt dizzy. She felt her forehead with the back of her hand as a voice emerged from behind the shelves.

"Ah…There you are, Groom !"

Violet turned around and adjusted her cap in front of the hotel manager standing before her. There was no way of saying if this was Frank or Ernest. She heard one of the brothers got his hand burned during the fire and this was the way to differentiate them now. However, no one knew who was injured between Frank or Ernest.

"I…I just came to pick something for a client", Violet murmured.

The air was so stuffy she couldn't help a cough.

"You look unwell, groom,'' Frank or Ernest pointed out. "As you know, per regulations, we can't let you wander everywhere. Staff must stay healthy."

He walked past her and grabbed something on a shelf.

"This bottle contains a medicine that does miracle. Drink it, and in one or two hours, you'll be as fresh as new."

Violet took the bottle, feeling unsure.

" I never heard of this medicine…", she carefully said.

If she had Ernest in front of her, maybe he'd try to poison her.

"This is made from the oil of a Tibetan monk snake, and has been created by a famous, but now deceased herpetologist. It is really one of a kind."

The young girl uncapped the bottle and watched the hotel manager walking to the exit.

"Oh, I should tell you. The medicine cures you from many things. It is said you'll be confronted to your deepest, darkest corners or your mind. Once you fight them, you'll be cured. Good luck groom. And please, don't take long. Customers are arriving."

Violet was confused. What did he mean by that ? But he was already out. Should she be doing this ? She stared at the medicine between her fingers. She knew it could only be Uncle Monty's creation. Her past guardian was a nice man, a volunteer. He'd never create something bad, right ? So…this was safe, right ?

The eldest of the Baudelaire took a big breath and gulped the medicine.

The sour liquid burned her throat and she coughed many times, dropping on her knees to the floor. The dizziness was so violent she didn't realize she fell on the ground.

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Violet opened her eyes and found herself sitting on a wooden chair at the center of a dark room that was nothing like the Hotel's laboratory. An only source of light was pointed at her, and she could guess there were other people sitting in a semi-circle around her.

Letting out a groan, the eldest of the Baudelaires tried to move, but her muscles didn't move, as if she was paralyzed. Violet opened her mouth to call someone, but found her tongue surprisingly dry. How long had she been unconscious ? And where was she ?

"She's awake"

"It's about time…"

People around her in the dark were speaking. Violet felt her heart skipping a beat. She knew that voice .

Someone stepped in the light. The young woman felt her breathing grow faster as fear swallowed her. She knew that long skinny silhouette, this face with shiny eyes under that unibrow she hadn't seen for an eternity, although this person was still haunting her nightmares.

"What are you doing here, Count Olaf ?" she asked defiantly.

"I'm not Count Olaf. I'm Detective Dupin."

Violet realized that – strange fact – he was indeed disguised with the suit he'd worn years ago now during their short time at the Village of Fowl Devotees.

"But… Why are you dressed like that ?" Violet asked.

She tried to get up, but for some reason, she couldn't move. Another thing, colors were saturated and she had a sensation of… irreality. Something wasn't right.

"May the session begin !" Detective Dupin snapped his fingers.

He started to circle Violet Baudelaire, who was still struggling in her chair, but stopped right away when she heard :

"This is the final hearing opposing Violet Baudelaire and Count Olaf. After the final testimonies of both parties and the jury's deliberation, the sentence will be pronounced. I, Detective Dupin, am representing the defense for Violet Baudelaire"

Violet's mouth dropped.

"Wha…What ?"

"Miss Violet Baudelaire", Detective Dupin asked, "is it true that for a long, long time, you've been chased for your fortune by the infamous Count Olaf ?"

Was this really happening ? But it was impossible at the same time. The man in front of her was Count Olaf !

"You would know", she retorted, "because you are Count Olaf."

Loud cries of protest echoed in the room.

"See ? I told you this was ridiculous. This girl is completely nuts", another very familiar voice said.

"We shouldn't have been appointed as members of the jury" another voice that sounded very identical said.

Violet's heart skipped a beat.

"Wait a minute…", she murmured.

Something was wrong. And now she realized what it was and started trembling.

"I demand that…that the public come to the light", she stammered.

As per her wishes, the room became brighter. Violet's eyes widened with the shock. All around her, sitting in a semi-circle, there were seven other Count Olafs. Except they were all dressed differently. She recognized all the costumes : Stephano, Captain Sham, Shirley, Coach Genghis, Gunther, Detective Dupin, Doctor Mattathias Medical School, and of course… Count Olaf himself. Who retorted :

"See, this girl is definitely crazy. She's in no condition to ask for anything."

"Oh, but she can, Count Olaf. After all, she's a Countess."

Violet sighed with terror at this memory. They were all here. So this was not real. They were all here, in front of her. A true nightmare. She was under the influence of the medicine made from that Tibetan monk snake and like Frank or Ernest said, this would either cure her or confront her to the things happening in the deepest, darkest corner of her mind.

"This can't be happening", she whispered to herself.

"The wedding was proven invalid !", Count Olaf said. "I can't be accused of not tending to Violet Baudelaire's desires since she's not legally my wife"

"Wait a minute…what is Count Olaf accused of ?" Violet asked in a trembling voice.

The deepest, darkest corner of her mind . Now, she was afraid of what she was going to hear. No… she didn't want to hear it.

"See ?", Count Olaf said. "She doesn't even know. I ask the jury to dismiss the case, as Violet Baudelaire is definitely crazy."

"Oh, you won't get away that easily, Count Olaf.", Detective Dupin said. "I call for my first witness. Stephano."

Violet saw a silhouette dressed in a lab coat with a long beard standing up.

"Stephano, can you attest that you didn't tend to Violet Baudelaire's whims by the time she was under Montgomery Montgomery care ?"

"Well, I…"

Stephano glanced at Violet who was shocked at his sheepish look. She had never seen Count Olaf like this. But was it…Count Olaf ? And what was that question ? Her whims ?

"I'd say I…did my best ?" Stephano replied.

"He tried to force me and my sibling to go to Peru with him !" Violet added in protest.

"Yes, Yes, we're not talking about this case", Detective Dupin stopped her.

"What… ? Then what are we talking about ?". Violet was confused. Detective Dupin sighed and resumed his interrogation.

"Mr Stephano…can you recall what happened at dinner on the night Violet Baudelaire went to see a movie with her siblings and her guardian, doctor Montgomery Montgomery ?"

Violet shook her head in confusion. Stephano stammered :

"Well I… I had my knife out, under the table and… I was…stroking her leg and…."

The eldest of the Baudelaire suddenly realized what was happening. The deepest, darkest corner of her mind.

"NO !" she screamed as loudly as she could.

Her cheeks became red with shame. Now she understood everything. She didn't care if it wasn't real. She would NEVER confront that. Never !

"NO ! I demand the case to be dismissed, right now, I…please, don't…"

Voices around her started to rise.

"See ? I knew this was ridiculous…" Count Olaf murmured. "I shouldn't be subjected to this !"

"Maybe she just doesn't know her rights…"

"Well, we could end this…"

"Hold on a minute !" Detective Dupin shouted. "As the representative for justice here, it is my duty to see everyone getting what they deserve. So I declare that this hearing will continue."

"But…" Violet tried to intervene.

"The parties won't speak unless asked to, now !" Detective Dupin interrupted her. "Now, Stephano, what did Violet Baudelaire do that night ?"

Stephano saw Violet closing her eyes to avoid tears of shame rolling down her cheeks. She didn't want to hear it. But as a witness, he was obliged to tell the truth.

"Well she… she opened her legs."

"Would you say she was scared of your blade ?"

"Well… yes, she was…"

"Would you say that's all that she was ? Scared ?"

"I…I…mean, I don't know."

"Miss Violet Baudelaire, how did you feel that night ?"

Violet opened her eyes and tears fell down. Her lips quivered but she promptly replied :

"I don't know ! I don't remember and…"

"Violet Baudelaire, do I need to remind you that you took an oath to say the truth here ?"

She couldn't escape it. She knew it. This was all in her mind, and she could never escape her mind. The confession was a murmur hardly audible :

"I felt… I wouldn't know, it was suddenly…hot…I wanted him to…"

She looked away. Stephano sighed. He knew what was coming.

"Mr Stephano, you knew Violet Baudelaire was aroused by you feeling her up under the table. Did you do anything to relieve her from this tension ? Like inviting her to your room that night for instance ?"

"No…No I didn't" Stephano whispered in defeat.

Around her, Violet could hear gasps of protestation. Detective Dupin looked around as Stephano sat down, hiding his face in his hands, as if he had just admitted to a huge mistake.

"See ? What kind of man doesn't satisfy a woman's desire ? But Mr Stephano isn't the only one ! Captain Sham ! Something similar happened at the Anxious Clown Restaurant, right ?"

Another disguised count Olaf was smoking a pipe and tapped the floor with her wooden leg, since he apparently couldn't stand up.

"Well…I…I mean, I have a wooden leg, so I can't really feel anything…"

"Would you say, Miss Violet Baudelaire, that Captain Sham couldn't have felt his leg toying with yours under the table at the Anxious Clown Restaurant ?"

Violet gulped, but replied : "I…he did it with his valid leg. We were sitting across from each other and…".

She remembered it clearly. During the whole dinner, while Mr Poe was reading this awfully long contract, Captain Sham's valid leg was slowly going up her leg, until she blocked it by closing her legs tight... because she was ashamed. And yet, at the thought of it, Violet felt something tingling in her lower belly. She nervously wriggled on her chair.

"But…But I didn't want it, I mean, he was… I was… !" she tried to protest.

But this was useless. She couldn't escape this judgment. She couldn't escape how she was feeling. Detective Dupin, then declared :

"I call now for Miss Shirley. Miss Shirley, you said that you're pretty good with hypnosis, right ? What did Miss Baudelaire confess under hypnosis ?"

Violet didn't remember that. Yes, she had accompanied Klaus at Dr Orwell's cabinet, but she had waited for him in the waiting room…with Shirley. The two of them had argued and at some point…everything went foggy and…

"You hypnotized me ?", she said, horrified.

"Ah…Violet" Shirley sighed, "if you can say this, it means you knew what was happening, right ? A part of you remembered what we talked about… you told me you had this fire inside of you, growing between your legs. You showed me where it was ."

Violet exhaled and her thighs trembled. The tension between her legs started to feel unbearable. Something was growing, ready to explode.

"So, Miss Shirley", Detective Dupin asked. "Would you say that you also did nothing when Violet Baudelaire told you she was feeling…unsatisfied ?"

"Objection !" Count Olaf claimed. "Anything she could have said under hypnosis is irrelevant, since she wasn't in her right state of mind !"

"Men always find a way to avoid their responsibility towards us, women.", Shirley sighed. "But Detective, must I remind you that unlike everyone here, I taught Violet Baudelaire something to help her…release this tension ? I think Coach Genghis can attest that, right ?"

Violet whimpered.

"Well, before we get coach Genghis' testimony, we need to attest that Violet Baudelaire is indeed capable of doing what you taught her." Detective Dupin pointed out.

"Oh believe me, she can. She'd been a very, very diligent student ," coach Genghis replied.

Violet blushed. She knew what he was referring to, and she stammered :

"What…what are you talking about ?"

Coach Genghis laughed.

"As usual, Violet. If you're here, it means you already know I saw you and what you did in the showers , right ?"

Right…because this wasn't real. This was in her mind. Violet knew they weren't real, just fragments of her imagination. Which meant denial was no use. They knew because she knew everything . And now, she had to face them, face every of her sick feelings, sick desires she could never tell anyone.

"You should thank me,'' coach Genghis went on. "I mean, the thought of me watching made you actually come most times, am I right ? If this disgusted you, you would never have climaxed. You're welcome ."

Violet felt she was already wet down here.

"I call for a demonstration !" Count Olaf declared. "Let's see what Shirley taught her !"

"That's a fair request." Detective Dupin conceded. "Miss Baudelaire, show us."

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End of part 1

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Heibi, a.k.a Petite Pirate

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