First off I'd like to thank Becky Belle & Clopin's Gypsy Dancer for the review! You guys rule!
It took a few minutes to adjust to the light around me. The ground beneath me was soft and fluffy...what in the world? Sitting up, I looked at the blankets in surprise. Who had placed these on me? Oh right…that clown man…What was his name again? Clopin!
Attempting to stand, I fell to one knee, holding my head in pain. If a headache was the price of sobbing uncontrollably, I refused to ever do it again. Suddenly the events that took place yesterday came flashing in my mind, bringing tears in my eyes.
Shaking my head, I stood slowly and locked away my emotions. Father did it, so why couldn't I? Of course he had basically committed suicide to ensure my safety but still. "Wait…why did he do that? I don't understand!" Rage weakly ran through my veins but I quickly calmed down. If I was to escape, I would need a clear head and mind.
Sticking my head out the tents opening, I saw a child or two run by laughing but no signs of any other life. Wasn't it daytime already? Why wasn't anyone up? Glancing around suspiciously, I saw tons of candles a few yards away from each other.
I could have slapped myself for stupidity; we were underground so of course they would light up candles during the nighttime to give some light to the paths. So I had slept nearly the whole day…Where was Clopin? No matter, I would worry about my captor's whereabouts once I'm free.
As I quietly walked around this small village called the Court of Miracles, my mouth dropped in awe; all sorts of dark and light colors decorated the gloomy underground place. This made me laugh, the thought of a circus underneath a graveyard.
While walking toward the huge gates, I wondered where I would live. I was an orphan now…faintly I remember my father telling me to go to Frollo if I needed help. Would he even recognize me? It's been so long since we've seen each other. My heart fluttered softly at the thought of approaching the Judge by myself. Every time I had met him, father would accompany me…Mother always told me he hated Gypsies. I froze in mid-step; I was part Gypsy so would he take me in?
Then again, would he realize it's me? Bitterly I thought, "Ugh, who could forget me with this cursed appearance?" For now, I just needed to escape and then worry about my new home.
I gasped with a grin, "The water!" I was half way there! Quickly, not caring if I was loud or not, I jumped in the river and walked as fast as the dense water would allow. Faintly I remembered going down this way with Father and wished I had some sort of light. The cold water wrapped around me once more, throwing mud on the hem of my dress. I was 100 sure it was nighttime, for the water was always colder then.
A blessing came along with my curse; I could see in the dark a bit better than others. I smiled to myself, seeing the staircase just a bit away. "I'm free! I am finally free! I can run home and pack what possessions I own and go to…" My thoughts were interrupted by a hand grabbing my ankle.
A frightened scream echoed through out the dark tunnel as I fell forward, the hand dragging me towards its owner. My attempt to scream again was foiled by the freezing water. The more I struggled to get out of the water, the faster I was dragged away. My head hit the rocks multiple times as I felt my lungs beg for air. Feeling my head become light and fuzzy, I grabbed a sharp rock which had just a moment ago cut me and flung it blindly in front of me.
The person dropped me with a groan as I was grabbed by another man and tossed on the solid ground; back where I started. Turning on my stomach, I coughed and gasped for air while fighting off the desire to pass out. My body shook violently as I looked up in fear. I had tried to leave, the daughter of a spy had just tried to leave…how would these people react?
In front of me, I saw an older larger man with the rock in his hand, sneering at me. Beside him stood Clopin, the person I assume who had tossed me back in this village. Somehow I managed to stand up with a lecture ready to be yelled…but I fell back down and coughed. "Stay still, your body needs a few minutes to adjust." I heard his dark voice lit with humor, "Unless you wish to die from lack of air."
I ignored it for the time-being, sitting there on the ground while breathing slowly. Feeling calmer and back to normal…well as normal as one could get, I looked up at the clown man and stayed silent. The glaring contest felt like forever until I saw something red drip past my eye. Confused, I stood up and wondered where it was from.
Clopin took a step closer without warning and placed his thumb just above my eyebrow and showed me blood. My purple eyes widened but not because of the blood, I had gotten many injuries before. It was his hands that shocked me; his glove was off and showed a faint scar on the palm of his hand. Curious, I leaned forward but he pulled away, grabbing my hand gently and led me back to his tent.
While he dabbed some alcohol on the cut, he asked, "I never got your name, what is it?" Silently I debated whether or not to tell him. I was a prisoner for now and because of my failed attempt to run, he'd be watching me like a hawk.
Deciding I'd be here for quite some time, I replied, "Lavender Hellrose…Black." To honor both my deceased parents, I would use my mother's last name as my middle one while keeping my promise to my father.
Clopin smiled at that, thinking he had won over my trust. "Sorry Clopin, it's not that easy…" I thought to myself while sipping the water he had given me. The silence was almost too much to bear; it felt like it was strangling me. When it was quiet, I subconsciously would think of the past, wondering about small things. Heaven forbid I think of my parents and cry again!
When he turned away, I dropped the cup and listened to it shatter underneath my feet. He turned with little surprise in his clouded eyes, a smile playing on his lips. "Bored, Lavender?" His question threw me off. Was there nothing I could do to anger this man?!
Shrugging, I glanced around and lightly touched the cut above my eye. Clopin grabbed my wrist to stop me and kissed the wound. I felt my face heat up, looking down to hide the school-girl-blush.
Although it was nighttime, I felt no need to sleep. I was wide awake and lost in thought. Why did my father do that? That question echoed in my mind continuously, making me more furious and frustrated that I didn't know the answer! Maybe if I played with the ribbon, it would calm me down. I touched my hair to realize it was gone.
Clopin, ironically, walked in at that moment and gave me some grapes. They were as purple as my frowning lips. "Where's my mother's ribbon?" For once my voice came out strong and spiked with venom.
He looked taken back slightly but smiled again. He held out an empty hand and said, "There." When he saw the look of confusion on my face, he clapped his empty hands together and leaned forward to pull the lavender silk cloth from my hair.
My mouth went agape, "How…did you do that?" He just smiled and chuckled, sitting a few feet from me and watched as I ate. A part of me wanted to beg him to reveal his secret and teach me magic while the other side wanted to rip out his throat.
After I was done eating, I started tossing up the large seeds and catching them. I was bored and it was painfully obvious to see. However, Clopin just sat there practicing how to juggle knives. For a moment I thought I could slice him up with them but he'd catch them as soon as I moved an inch towards him. So instead, I pondered the same old question; why did father do that?
Mother was a Gypsy, I remember when I was younger I would join her in the streets and watch her dance. She had the most beautiful singing voice but rarely used it, fearing it would attract guards. Her and father had to keep their love a secret for if Frollo found out, he would kill both of them. He always hated Gypsies for some stupid reason. That suddenly brought another question to mind; how did mother die? I knew she was slain but by who and why? When I asked father the second day after her death, he slapped me so hard I stumbled against the wall.
Father took me here with determination I hadn't seen in weeks…Mother must have told him something! When we were captured, he told me to run and he stayed to fight. Did he know that would happen? The father I knew always had a plan…that's why he said he was a spy. But what in the hell was the purpose of that?! Surely he knew he'd be put to death for saying that! Why did he say something so suicidal? What made him so sure these people would care for me?
I groaned in pain, the headache coming back with full force. Placing my hands on the sides of my head, I winced in regret of wondering all that. Clopin placed his hand on my head softly, giving me some tea. "Drink it; it'll help the pain go away." I stared at the peppermint smelling liquid with caution. Hoping it wasn't poisoned; I sipped some and watched him.
"Did you know my mother?" The words left my mouth before I could stop them. At such a sudden question, Clopin raised an eyebrow and smirked.
"Yes, at one time. She was the most beautiful woman I've ever met…what happened to her?" He replied smoothly while sitting in his chair. I looked down at my hands, silent for a moment to let him know. "I'm sorry…how?" He asked softly.
"Yes, how indeed?" I thought with anger before replying, "Murdered. I never found out by whom."
He nodded with a trace of sorrow and went on, "She was special. She made this place brighten with laughs when we were gloomy. Actually, if it wasn't for…your father, she would have stayed here and raised you."
Suddenly in my mind it all made sense. I whispered softly, "He did it to bring me home."
Clopin tilted his head slightly, "Hm?"
Standing up, I muttered, "Mother must have told Father to bring me here, they both knew I'd be better off raised by similar looking people! That's why Father claimed he was a spy because he knew as soon as they saw me, the daughter of Lilac, they'd take me in. And he didn't want to live alone so he…" I stopped, tears flooding my eyes.
I felt the same arms that once stole my freedom wrap around me, giving me hope and comfort. He hummed a soft warming song I didn't recognize, rocking me back and forth in his arms gently. My eyelids grew heavy with the need to sleep. In the end, I thought, Clopin was the only one I could trust now. He held my life, my trust, and even my love in his hands although neither of us knew it yet.
Next chapter will contain an older Lavender and how she falls in love with Clopin, some memories of her childhood with and without her parents and the preparations for the Feast of Fools Review please!