When Esmeralda opened her eyes, her chamber was in complete darkness. She felt confused for a moment. What had happened?
She got up from the bed. She must have fallen asleep without realizing it, after torturing her brain for hours. The sun had set and the night had fallen over the city. It probably was dinner time already.
So she fixed her clothes and combed her hair with her fingers, getting ready to go downstairs and hopefully get some clarity on what the hell was going on with Frollo. But when she opened the door, she found her maid right on the other side of it, holding a silver tray with a bowl of soup, some bread and cheese, and some scrambled eggs.
- Oh, miss, you scared me! - she said, almost dropping the tray to the ground.
Esmeralda quickly reacted and helped her grab it before it fell down. The maid walked into the chamber towards the table.
- What's going on? - Esmeralda asked her impatiently.
- I'm bringing you dinner, miss. - the maid answered, as if stating the obvious.
- So Minister Frollo hasn't returned yet?
- Well… yes, he has. - she replied hesitantly.
Esmeralda didn't want to be rude to her, but she was getting annoyed by the minute.
- Then why aren't we eating diner at the dining room?
The maid made a complaining moan, apparently torn between the wish to answer and the obligation not to.
- Tell me – Esmeralda urged her, daring to gently touch her arm, in an attempt to gain her complicity.
- Well, miss...- she finally gave in. - He is eating at the dining room. But he ordered that we bring you your supper here, to your chamber.
The words were like a punch to her stomach.
- Do you know why? - she asked, hoarsely.
- He has a guest. - the maid revealed.
- Who is it?
- I don't know him, ma'am. - "him". As much as it pissed her off, Esmeralda couldn't help but feeling relieved that it wasn't a woman. - I think he's an important man here in the city, he's been here some times before. But that's all I know, I swear.
Esmeralda briefly smiled at her with gratitude, and the alleviated woman quickly set out to light the fireplace and bring some light and heat into the room, before leaving with a small nod in her direction.
Once she was alone, the mental rambling began again. Why would have he excluded her from dining with his guest? Wasn't she another guest (his words, not hers) at the palace? Was he still avoiding her because of that brief moment of interaction at the stables? Or did he wanna hide her away from any other men like a dragon guarding its precious treasure chest?
The more she thought about it, the more indignant she became. Whatever his reason was, she didn't like it. For a second she considered going downstairs anyway and play pretend she didn't know that she wasn't supposed to be there.
But then she would be putting the maid in a bad position with her master, and Esmeralda suspected it wasn't pretty, getting on his bad side.
So she sighed and proceeded to eat dinner, though her appetite was gone.
A couple hours later, the softest knock on the door announced the maid's return to gather the empty tray and ask her if she needed anything else for the night.
- I'm good, thank you. - Esmeralda replied distracted, but then she gave it a second thought. - Actually, do you know if the judge's guest is still here?
- No, miss. He left a few minutes ago. He seemed quite… tipsy, if you ask me. I believe master Frollo offered him one of his finest bottles of wine. They must have been making business.
Her sudden disposition to talk made Esmeralda think that the maid had probably sneaked out a glass of wine herself once the dinner service was over. So she decided to seize the opportunity and asked further.
- And do you know where I can find Frollo now?
- He's probably at the library. He always likes to go up there after dinner, have a glass of wine and unwind in between his books.
- And the library would be…?
- It's on the second floor miss. I can take you if you wish. - the maid answered readily, but suddenly her expression shifted, as she absorbed what she had just said. - Although I don't really think you should go up there, miss. Master Frollo doesn't like to be disturbed. I don't think he would be very happy with me if I…
- Don't worry. - Esmeralda quickly interrupted her. - You don't have to take me. You're probably right, it's better if we leave him alone.
The maid smiled relieved and wishing her goodnight, she took the tray and disappeared down the hallway, clumsily tripping a little.
Esmeralda waited until she was gone, and then started the walk upstairs.
The flames were reflecting on the dark garnet surface inside his glass. He had been fascinated by fire for as long as he could remember.
Everything about it was hypnotic. The changing colors, dancing sensually like lovers around the trunks. The soft crackling sound, more pleasing to his ears than any kind of music he'd ever heard. The smokey smell that made him feel so relaxed, safe, at home… 'cause it brought him back to his childhood nights, before everything had been ruined.
And the heat. God, he loved the heat. He didn't know if it was due to his slender complexion, or his chronic repression of his own energy, but Frollo had felt cold his entire life. His skin was always cold, his hands were always cold. Even his heart was always cold.
But that had changed when he had met her. An unknown, uncontrollable heat had come over him like a fever, invading his body, his mind and his soul. He had turned to fire, his eternal loyal companion, to try to overpower and consume the source of his illness. But he had ended up saving said source from the pyre, and keeping her under his same roof. And now he feared the illness would rise again, and this time it would destroy him.
But… what if it wasn't an illness? What if he only considered it to be so, because he had been repressed and restraint his whole life? What if that was the real illness and this was actually the cure?
Though, a voice in his mind asked, how could he consider healthy the same thing that had driven him to destroy part of the city under his care?
Well, at least he was making amends for that, he reassured himself. Just tonight, he had secured a safe accommodation for the innocent families affected by his pyromaniac actions. Monsieur Flamcourt owned a few properties on the city, and Frollo had convinced him that it was the christian thing to do to provide free housing for those poor families in need. Granted, it had taken a subtle but clear insinuation that in doing so, Mr Flamcourt would be gaining the Judge's favor, if he ever found himself in a position of needing a friend in court.
However, Frollo had been smart enough to imply that without getting his fingers burnt with any formal promises, for he wasn't willing to compromise his integrity for the sake of some unfortunate commoners, even if he was the cause of their misfortune.
So he was quite pleased with himself, and he took another sip of wine as a reward. But he almost choked on it when a voice broke the silence just behind his back.
- So here's where you've been hiding. - Esmeralda said, mockingly.
- What are you doing here? - Frollo asked, still coughing from the wine going down the wrong pipe.
- Oh, I'm sorry, am I not allowed here either? - she asked, faking concern.
He stood up from his seat, leaving the glass on a small table beside it, and facing the woman that stood with her arms crossed staring at him.
- I beg you pardon?
- Oh, come on. - she said frustrated, dropping her arms. - I know you had me banned from the dining room tonight while your guest was here. I thought I was a guest as well, am I not?
Frollo's face darkened with a frown. Esmeralda realized she had revealed too much, and internally scolded herself for betraying the maid's trust. But it didn't matter now. She wanted an explanation.
- Tell me – she insisted. - Why must I eat alone while you enjoy a fancy dinner in company?
- I just didn't think it was appropriate. - the judge answered carefully.
- Appropriate? What do you mean? What can possibly be inappropriate about having me join you two for dinner? - she inquired, before quickly adding – Is it because I'm a woman?
- No – he quickly assured.- It's because you are… you.
- And what the hell is that supposed to mean? - she exploded, raising her tone irritated.
Frollo threw her a meaningful look, that she didn't understand. With a sigh, he proceeded to explain.
- Well, for starters, that language isn't adequate for a formal dinner.
- Oh, come on! You don't think I can hold my tongue if the situation calls for it?
- It's not just that.
- What else, then?
The judge looked uncomfortable and upset. He gave her whole outfit a passing glance, from her loose hair to her naked feet. Esmeralda followed his eye's direction and understood.
- Oh… I see. It's not because I'm a woman. It's because I'm a gypsy.
Frollo made a grimace, as if the mere word tasted bitter on his lips. This infuriated Esmeralda even more.
- You're such a hypocrite. - she spat, resentful. Frollo stiffened and she could see his fists clenching. But her anger exceeded her caution. - You detest gypsies, yet here you are, keeping me hostage for God knows what depraved motivations, but hey… as long as no one is watching, no harm done, right, your honor?
Frollo exhaled violently, his eyes burning with rage, and he walked towards her with a strong determination. But she didn't back down. So there they were, face to face barely inches away, again in a staring contest for the upper hand in their power fight.
Frollo wanted to hurt her the same way she was hurting him with her poisonous, yet truthful words. So he counterattacked:
- Yes, how did I dare keep such a polite, gracious lady away from dinner with a worthy gentleman?
- You don't know me – she whispered between her gritted teeth.
- You're right. I thought you were different. But you're just another street rat like the rest of them.
Esmeralda's hand flew towards his face instantly, but the slap never happened, for he had been ready for it and caught her wrist in the air.
- Let me go! - she shouted, pulling away with all her strength. But he was surprisingly stronger, and kept an iron grip on her arm.
- Are you sure that's what you want, witch?
- Are you mad? Of course it's what I want, let go of me! - she ordered, twisting her arm violently trying to force him to release her. But she was unsuccessful, so she tried pushing him away instead with her free hand.
Big mistake.
He grabbed her other wrist as well, pulling her towards his chest. She had never been this close to him, and she realized how tall he was. She was a tall woman herself, but her eyes were at the level of his neck. It was then when he unknowingly hit her with his most powerful weapon thus far, even more than his low baritone voice; his smell.
It hit her unexpectedly while she was inhaling sharply, trying to defend herself, and abruptly left her mind totally blank.
He smelled like all her favorite scents had been meticulously mixed into one. There was wood, and smoke from the fireplace. The rich, soft smell of the velvet robes he was wearing. And the sweet, sharp smell of wine coming out from his lips. But there was something else, something that belonged only to him, emanating from his skin. He smelled like a summer storm, like rain falling on the warm fields and lifting all kinds of comforting but exciting smells from the ground. He smelled like feeling alive, wild, and free.
Her brain started sparkling as if she had been the one drinking, and it sent waves of electric pleasure down her neck, through her back and legs to the soles of her feet. It was so intense, and magnetic, that everything else disappeared for a second, and all the emotions that were raging in her chest just seconds ago, vanished without a trace.
Frollo felt the shift in her energy; she had stopped resisting, and she was frozen still, as a prey facing its predator.
He didn't know what had caused the change, but it was so obviously related to him that it provided him with enough confidence to lean into her ear and whisper:
- You seem so eager to leave, for a woman who complained this much about not having dinner with me.
And just like that, the spell was broken. Esmeralda snapped back into reality, and with a final pull, she managed to release both her wrists from his grip. Without looking up, she ran towards the door, so he wouldn't see her eyes filling with tears.