Esmeralda walked through the shadows of the night, comforted by the darkness. She preferred the night to the day, she could hide in the midnight and she felt strongest then. Being a creature of the night this made sense.
But what didn't make sense was her life. How much it had changed in the past year. She was once fearless, tough, free and wild. Now yes, she had power and a life unlike any other, but she was not free. She was trapped in her love, she was afraid – of him.
She walked with her eyes downcast, deep in thought. The streets were completely empty which she was glad for.
"The blood of a Royal makes me stronger, extends my life and power. Don't you want that? Don't you want us to remain together forever?"
That's what he had said to her, did she want that? Of course. She wanted him to live with her forever. She couldn't live without her Master.
She loved him...
Didn't she?
Then why did she feel so strange with him? She knew she shouldn't, but thoughts of Naveen had crept into her since their first meeting in the tent. He had such a warm friendliness about him. He was funny with his childish curiosity about him and she found herself smiling as she thought of him. He felt like home to her. How strange that she felt like this about someone she had only met the day before.
But within the next three days she was to end that ray of sunshine in her life. She knew in her heart that Facilier intended her to kill him.
She sighed and wiped away her tears angrily. She didn't know where he feet were taking her and she didn't care.
It wasn't until she walked straight into a warm, solid body that smelled of the most tantalizing blood was she roused from her thoughts.
Warm, strong arms gripped her forearms, stopping her from falling and she looked up into a pair of warm, chocolate brown eyes.
"I'm sorry, my faul-Esmeralda!?"
Prince Naveen's eyes widened in surprised as he recognised the beautiful woman who had haunted his thoughts all night and day. He grinned, more than happy to see her again.
Esmeralda on the other hand felt her heart drop and her blood to tingle in her neck as she realized what this meeting meant.
She glanced around her and found she was standing on the bridge over the river near the palace of justice – where the Prince was staying.
"Naveen! I didn't expect to see you...here"
He shrugged and released his hold on her, turning to lean over the edge of the stone wall of the bridge, his forearms resting on the edge, his hands clasped together, his eyes on the dark depths below.
"I couldn't sleep, so i went a walk and found myself here. Paris is so beautiful at night"
She looked at him and smiled softly, moving to lean on the wall beside him, seeing her reflection in the water beside his.
"Well there is plenty more to see, this city is full of wonders" she told him truthfully.
"I'm afraid they will remain unseen until my next visit, I'll be leaving tomorrow"
"Tomorrow?" Esmeralda more or less shouted at him in complete shock, standing bolt upright, staring at him as he turned to her in surprise "i though you were staying for three more days!"
He smiled down at her, "No, business with my parents calls me home. It will be my 20th birthday next month and they wish for me to find a wife before then."
Esmeralda listened intently to him. He was leaving tomorrow. That meant tonight was her only chance.
Fear coursed through her. It had to be tonight. He had to do this. For him. For her love.
"Esmeralda?" she looked to him; his kind, gentle face, his warm open eyes. Here was someone who had a kind heart, who looked at her like she was the most amazing thing in the world. She was to use and discard him for her master. It wouldn't be too bad - he was leaving on the morrow. But could she do it? Could she be so cruel?
She had to.
"Are you alright?" he asked, his hand moving to hold her's gently. She glanced down at their hands and there was that feeling again – of being exactly where she should be.
Her mind was a buzz. She had always believed Facilier to be the one for her, she loved him with all hear heart and she was sure he loved her. He had given her everything – power, life, beauty, the acceptance of her people into society, safety. And now she was to repay him. No matter how hard it would be, no matter how scared she was, she had to do it.
So, pushing all uncertainty from her mind, she called upon her power and felt it course through every cell of her body.
She looked up at Naveen through her lashes and watched as his pupils dilated slightly. She smirked and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"In that case, my Prince, I must give you a goodbye you will never forget."
She kissed him as the bells of Notre Dame sounded in the distance, and the light of a fire in one of the windows of the Palace of Justice burned out.