I don't own the character of the story Kara is my own creation!!
Kara couldn't help but stare at the young gypsy in front of her. He was taller than her, for he could easily place his chin upon her head, he had dark eyes that almost seemed black, with a choppy long black hair to match his eyes. He wore a dark blue hat with a yellow feather sticking high about it, and completed himself with a dark purplish red mask. To her, he seemed in his late twenties and didn't look too bad for a jester. "So, I take it you entertain the king Clopin? Being a jester and all." She asked a little sarcastically. He raised an eyebrow at her and placed his hand on the wall to balance himself, "No Madame, I am certainly no jester, I am a gypsy much like yourself." His voice was tainted with a slight annoyance. With both gypsies neither willing to talk or move, they were in the alley way for quite some time before hunger took its toll on Kara. Her small stomach began to make hunger noises, and immediately threw her hands over her stomach to stop the sound for getting louder. A blush flew to her face, and Clopin laughed. "My dear, it seems you are in need of so food and refreshments, come follow me, I will lead you to a place where we gypsies are safe from Frollo's guards." Kara's face suddenly went white as if her soul had been sucked out of her, and only a shell was left. Being the gentleman Clopin was, he kneeled before her and looked her in the eye, "Are you alright?" Quickly remembering where she was, Kara shrugged her shoulders and nodded her head, and they began to walk.
The morning temperature was pleasant, with no wind, but not to hot that people could wear their lightly covered clothes. People were buying their goods for the day, men headed off to work, and children had the streets of Paris to play their wildest and most imaginative games. Clopin led in front of Kara as they walked the busy streets of Paris, he was a fast walker and she needed to walk a little faster than her comfortable walk. Expecting to turn into a house any minute, they never did, they just kept passing them and continued to the cemetery. Feeling a little awkward being in a graveyard with a man you didn't know was a little frightening to the young gypsy, but she just held her composer and followed Clopin to a large tombstone and a cross etched into the surface. "Stand back." Clopin said after he had gripped the sides of the top slate of concrete and only pulled a portion of the lid off. Kara was appalled! What was this man doing to desecrate a person's final rest? The older gypsy looked over his bright yellow shoulder and motioned her to follow him, and she did. Upon sliding past the top of the lid and Clopin's body, she could smell dust, and water, a weird combination of someone's grave. Clopin had closed the lid and everything went dark, that you couldn't see anything in front of you, not even your hands.
"Clopin where are you?" she asked her voice sounding not as confidant as she once felt. She picked up her hands and searched the darkness in front of her of a feel of his clothes, but something behind her grabbed her hand. Being caught off guard she screamed and fought to have the intruder's hand off her own. "Kara! Kara its I Clopin!" he said reassuringly. Claming down, she relaxed and followed him down what she could feel a slight of stairs. "Careful, you're going to feel water in just a moment." Kara prepared herself to feel her feet in infested waters of god knows what. She could feel the cold water soak her feet and the top hem of her skirt, that she couldn't help but sigh at the refreshing sensation of cold water upon her feet. Just as quick as she felt the water, it was now gone and she could feel cold stone floors, where they now continued to walk. Feeling as though the journey would never end, a light was soon ahead of them. After being bathed in only darkness, Kara was now bathed in light and gasped at the sight before her.
In front of her lay caravans and tents covered with coloured material and lanterns. Above her head were more coloured fabrics, which gave the whole place a very unreal atmosphere. Gypsies could be seen freely walking around and laughing, something rare for her to see for as gypsies you must always watch your back and never trust anyone. Kara couldn't help but smile, "Clopin what is this place?" Looking down at the once angry gypsy was now a face full of light and happiness; Clopin couldn't help but smile and reply, "The Court of Miracles. This place is where all gypsies are able to live and be safe from those who would wish to do us any harm. Many people here come from Paris or like you have wandered to Paris without a home. Everyone here is like our family, and you are more than welcome to join it if you wish." She nodded her head and followed Clopin through the court, they passed gypsies practicing their magic acts, tarot readings and even pick pocketing, until they came upon a large caravan covered with a purple cloth above it, giving it a slightly more regal look. Together they walked the steps of this little caravan and Clopin opened the door allowing her to go in first. In the room there were nick knacks of all sorts from golden coins, to different outfits and tarot cards. A light lantern was hanging from the side of the wooded house.
"Here eat and drink Kara, you must regain some energy." Clopin mentioned as he pointed to food upon the table. There was bread, cheese, grapes and what looked like to be red wine in a pitcher. "Thank you for your kindness Clopin." She said taking one of his hands in hers, and placed a chaste kiss upon his gloved hand. He was taken a little back by her actions, but was also moved. She moved to the table and began to eat as if she had never had eaten a meal of this sort before. Clopin pulled up a chair beside her and watched her eat, and much to his surprise she didn't seem to mind. Her face was although covered with a little drip of red wine stained near the corner of her lip, was beautiful none the less. By closer examination, she had decent features, but what caught him were her eyes. With her tear drip shaped brown eyes, and long eyelashes, her eyes were what made her look mysterious and strangely exotic in their own way. To Clopin that was one of his most favourite features about her. Kara turned her head up to look at him, "Are you not going to eat?" Chuckling Clopin replied, "Non I will eat later, the king always makes sure his people are fed before himself." Dropping a piece of bread she had in her hand, she turned her gaze to him. "You're a king?" puzzlement was seen upon her face. "Yes I am king of the gypsies, and although the title sounds like I am above all other gypsies in the court, it is not true, I share all I have with my people because we are equals." His voiced was full of proud and full of honour for him and his people. "What about you my dear? Where do you come from?" Kara stopped eating and turned her attention to Clopin.
"This isn't my first time to Paris, I was born here and remained here until I was at the age of ten when my parents and I were taken captured by Frollo and his men. We were accused of stealing, but we only steal when we are hungry and no one would give us food." She took a slight pause and took a drink of the wine, and then she continued. "We were held in the prisons of the Palace of Justice for a few days with little light and no food, so I know what it means to be starving. I can't remember which day we were taken up to the torture chambers, but I do remember my parents screaming in pain. I was not present in the same room, but you know your parents screams just as you recognize their voice as a child." Once again she stopped to clear her throat, and choke back tears. Clopin noticing the pain in her eyes, he moved his chair closer to hold her hands in his. "My father didn't survive his torture, so my last words from him were his screams. My mother and I were told that we were to be burned for being witches. I remember when I was I guess you could say tortured, was this older man's face clutching a knife in his hands, your wonderful Judge Frollo. He left a mark upon my skin and warned me to never return to Paris. I think because I was a child at the time, he was not allowed to have me tried as a witch, and the death penalty was much to high, so I was to watch my mother being led to the pillar and leave. And I did see her tied to that pillar, she called to me to run and not to look back at her, I think she didn't want me to see her perish, so that's what I did, I ran and didn't return until now." Tears fell from her face, but she didn't make a sound. Clopin removed himself from his chair a gave her a hug, "I am terribly sorry that you suffered as you did Kara, but you have nothing to hide from anymore."
For once in her past eight years of life, she felt calm and safe in this place of miracles. "Thank you Clopin, really I mean it thank you." She gave him a tired smile and her eyes, those beautiful eyes shined. "Come you must be tired." He helped her up and they both went out of Clopin's caravan to a red tent that was close to his own. "This is your new home, you may rest and live here. I'll let you get comfortable and see you tomorrow." With that Clopin left her to examine her new living space. There was a chair and table in the far corner, a small bed near the side of the tent close to where Clopin's caravan was close to, and small accessories were placed on a smaller table near the tip of the bed. Smiling at her new home and life, she threw her body upon her bed to sleep, although it was early morning she wanted to sleep like she never slept before, and that's exactly what she did.