She quickly got back on her feet while the door opened with a creaking squeak.
Her eyes were momentarily blinded by the glow of the torch that stood on the wall right in front of her cell, but soon a tall silhouette got in the light's way and her eyes could adjust. She took a step back while cleaning her cheeks rapidly. She didn't want to show any weakness in front of that man.
He muttered something to the guard, which handed him another torch and then left, his footsteps reverberating in the humid stone walls.
He entered the cell and closed the door behind him. Turning towards her, he lifted the torch in her direction to get a better look. The gypsy stood as far away from him as the small room allowed, with a defiant stare in her face and clenched jaws. However he could see the redness in her eyes, and the swollen lids that gave away she had been crying. That caused a nasty pinch in his stomach, which he quickly discarded. Raising his nose in a prideful condescending gesture, he walked towards the other side of the cell, like a lion walking circles before its pray, never taking his eyes away from hers.
- So... - he began, in a soft, smug voice. - It seems you're not pleased with your accommodations. One would think you'd feel at home in damp, dark tunnels.- he said, gesturing with his hand around the cell while he placed the torch in a metal ring by the wall.
Her nostrils flared up.
- What do you want? - she bursted hastily.
His smile vanished instantly, and a darkness took over his expression giving him a rather dangerous look. She felt her knees tremble and her stomach twist, but she didn't move a muscle. He was going to take away her people, and even her life… but for God's sake, he would not take her dignity.
But in a second his victorious, smug smile was back, when he answered, placing his fingertips together.
- I already have everything I could possibly want, gypsy.
A chill went down her spine, almost as if she could read his mind and the horrendous plans that were cooking inside of it. But she took a sharp breath, and answered calmly.
- Then why are you here? Did you came to gloat? Well, congratulations, Your Honor! You won. - she said, faking a reverence. - Let's just hope there's still someone in the city who will celebrate with you. - she added venomously, with a casual movement of her hand.
- I'm not concerned with popularity among the vulgar crowd. Never have been. I don't expect them to appreciate whatever efforts I put into saving their immortal souls from vice and sin, nor I need them to. Knowing the right thing is done is enough celebration to me.
She snorted, turning around in her heels and throwing her hands in the air, with a bitter laugh.
- Is this what you call the right thing? Massacring a whole people just because they're different?
He lifted one eyebrow, as in wondering if she really thought it was that simple. He deemed unworthy trying to explain his motivations, so he remained silent. She grew restless again. She wanted to poke the man, to make him reveal his intentions.
- Anyway – she added. - That's not what I was referring to. I know you don't care about the… vulgar crowd, is it? But what about Quasimodo? What will he think of your betrayal? Of your manipulations and your lies to use him as a mere pawn in your murderous game? Do you even care? Or am I reuniting with him at the pyre later today?
There. She had hit a tender spot. She saw his fists clenching and his lips thinning.
- Quasimodo was safely escorted to his chambers at the cathedral and will remain there, unharmed. - he replied hissing, putting a special emphasis on the last word. - And I'm sure he will eventually understand the decisions I was forced to make. - he added, in a firmer tone.
- Sure. - she scoffed. - And I'm sure Captain Phoebus will also understand that you were forced to drive an arrow through his heart in order to stop him from saving an innocent family, won't he?
The judge suddenly grinned, the fire from the torch making his white teeth glow in a blood-curling way.
Her heart skipped a beat, fearing the worst. What had he done…?
- I'm so glad you brought your beloved captain up, witch. I just had the most interesting conversation with him on my way here.
- Conversation? Is that how you call what goes down on this dungeons? - she asked, within her gritted teeth. He ignored the accusation, and started walking towards her with very slow steps.
- You see, he disobeyed my direct orders, and that is enough to send him to the gallows. But he is also a war hero, and has served the king honorably for many years… So I offered him a bargain. Seeing his life was of certain value, I gave him the chance of trading it for that of another prisoner… which I think we both know would've been you, given the spell you've placed upon the poor bastard. He could die in your place…
- You sadistic monster… - she started with a growl, but he lifted a finger and stopped her mid-sentence.
- I'm not done yet. - he said, coming closer. - He could die in your place… or he could save himself and go to exile, to leave all the king's territories and never come back.
She stared furiously at him, for putting Phoebus in that impossible position, for playing them all like a puppeteer, for delighting himself in the fact that he controlled their lives and deaths.
- They're setting up a horse for him as we speak. - he announced very matter-of-factually, as if commenting on the weather.
Esmeralda felt like a bucket of iced water had been poured over her. Could it be true? Maybe it was all a game, a strategy to see her break. But the look on Frollo's face was so victorious that she could tell that, for him, that truth was juicier and more satisfying than any lie could possibly be.
Phoebus was gone. He had abandoned her, abandoned all of them to save his own skin.
Perhaps it was naive of her to think someone would, if it came to it, give away his own life for hers, or whoever's. But she had always thought that the sun god soldier would be there with her until the very end, and his act of self preservation felt a lot like a coward betrayal.
However, she tried to remind herself, this wasn't Phoebus fault. He wouldn't have had to make that decision unless the cruel man, standing before her, hadn't forced him to. So she might as well channel all of her rage and hurt towards him.
- This is insane! - she cried out, pushing him away with a sudden strength, and retiring to the opposite corner of the cell. - You find amusement in toying with everyone around you? Well this little game of yours has gone way too far!
- You're right. - he answered, to her very surprise, while regaining balance and accommodating his robes. He stared at her with an indecipherable look, that made her even more tense than his previous evil grin. - This has gone too far. That's why I'm willing to put an end to it, right here and now.
The hair of her skin rose. Was he about to murder her, in the darkness of that cell, in no company but his own despicable one? Would she never see another day, or take a final breath in the open air? She tried to reply something but her mouth was so dry, no sound could emerge from it.
Seeing she didn't react, he carefully readjusted his chaperon, and crossing his arms he looked at her and lifted his frown.
- I'm here to offer you a bargain, too.
- My life for someone else's? - she asked, while her mind quickly started flashing her family's faces before her, in an impossible attempt to determine who she should save.
- No. The Captain's life was worth something for his past heroic deeds...
- Oh, I see. - she interrupted. - But I'm a vulgar gypsy street dancer, so my life is worthless.
- Au contraire, witch. It's worth much more.
She looked up into his eyes, so surprised that her mouth was left mildly open. But he had an impenetrable expression, so whatever reasons he had for affirming that, remained hidden in the depths of his twisted mind.
- So, what do I get in exchange for my life?
- Those of your people.- he answered simply.
The shock washed down her whole body for the second time like a bucket of water, only this time it didn't felt freezing but almost… warm. As if the sun was bathing her skin after a long, long cold night, she could feel her heart coming back to life. But it was too good to be true.
- Are you serious? - she asked, almost certain this was another one of his mean tactics. - If I die, you'll let them live? All of them?
- No. - he replied quickly, and her heart sunk again in her chest like it had been punched by an iron fist. But he uncrossed his arms and walked near her again, with his palms extended towards her as if he was trying to explain the obvious to a little child. - Your death is worthless to me. It's your life what I'm willing to negotiate with.
She took a step back, finding the stone wall behind her.
- What do you mean? - she asked tentatively, with a different kind of fear crawling up her back.
- I'll let all your people go unharmed, with a warning of course, to not disturb the city's peace any further… if you pledge your life to me, and stay here in the Palace of Justice, under my protection, as my… guest. - he chose the word carefully, after a meaningful pause.
She felt she was gonna be sick. Up until that point she had thought that dying burned alive at the execution pyre was the worst thing that she could have imagined for herself. And still, when she thought she could save her people with that, she felt strong enough to face it.
But that meant a few minutes of torture and indescribable pain, and then she'd be done with it.
He was talking about her whole life. Years ahead of confinement, giving up her freedom, and existing at his complete disposition. Who knows what he had in mind for her, what kind of physical, mental and emotional torture without anyone to stop him. Her nausea grew volumes, and she yearned for the fiery fate that moments before she had dreaded.
He was patiently waiting, or so it appeared on the outside.
Inside of him, a crazy swirl of emotions threatened to eat him alive. There was anger, confusion, hate, desire, and most of all… fear. Fear she would say no. Because, truth be told… he knew he wouldn't be able to execute her. There was something in her he needed, even if he wasn't able to figure out what. He only knew he needed more time, he needed to know, and when he knew he'd put an end to his inner torture. But in order to do that, he needed her alive and near. If she said no, she would expose his weakness to the entire crowd, and then everyone would know he wasn't able to follow through with his threats, and they would lose all respect for him, inviting chaos into the city.
So he had decided to give up his juicier prey so far, the entire gypsy crowd, finally behind his bars... trusting that her compassionate heart would not walk away from such a generous offer (unlike her beloved Captain).
And, before she even said the words, he could read in her eye's determination that he had been right.
- So be it. - she said, defeated.