Author's Note: I must say, I thoroughly enjoy doing this. =) So imma continue with this and finish it (although I haven't decided on the ending yet. Oh well. ) Lets see where this goes. All we know as of now is that Papa Ge is taking Ti Moune to his realm. What will happen? What sort of madness will ensue? Lets find out, shall we?
They arrived on an island that seemingly appeared out of thin air. It was ominous looking; a vast, gray castle looming up from the rocky shore dominated the scene. The rest of the island was a thick jungle of tangled trees. Ti Moune exhaled shakily, thoroughly overwhelmed. She had no idea what her fate would be beyond this point. If only this all were a dream, if only she'd wake up in her small house, safe and healthy and free. But this was her new reality. What torment could lie ahead?
Papa Ge led her off the bridge silently and she watched it immediately disintegrate behind her. Far off in the distance she saw her homeland. Ti Moune felt the knot in her chest grow tighter. The pressure was suffocating. She wanted so desperately to go back-
Papa Ge dragged her along, his patience blatantly growing thin. They came to the great iron doors of the castle. Papa Ge pulled out a key attatched to a string around his neck and slid it into the lock. The iron doors groaned as they crept open eerily. A dark hallway lay ahead, lit only by torches that rested in decorative sconces along the walls. A grand staircase with a red carpet lay to their left. Above, a glimmering chandelier swung silently. Everything was beautiful, yet the atmosphere seemed to harbour a melancholy secret of sorts. He ushered Ti Moune inside with an irritated sigh.
"For the time being, you'll remain here with me in the castle. Normally you'd go either to the forest or the beaches, but these circumstances aren't ordinary. When the gods decide your fate you'll act accordingly." Papa Ge said blandly.
Questions churned in Ti Moune's conscience. "What are-"
He put up a gloved hand quickly. "No more questions. You exhaust me. Up the stairs on your left you'll find your room. That is all."
With that he turned and stalked down the hallway. Ti Moune watched him go pensively and eventually went up to her room, shaken.
Papa Ge burst into his study simultaneously ripping off his jacket and tie. He threw them carelessly to the side and began to yank off his gloves. He kicked the black throne in the center of the room. It hurt like hell but he didn't care. He was beyond caring at all about himself. He was so sick of this perpetual torture.
He went over to the large book-case and ripped volumes off, sometimes stopping only to pull out sections of the books. The yellowed pages fell about him like confetti as his rampage built to a crescendo. Papa Ge grabbed a vase from the shelf and swung with a strangled scream. It connected with the wall and shattered. He stared at the wreckage, breathing hard and fast, his chest rising and falling. Eventually he sank to the floor, exhausted, and hung his head in his hands.
Why is this getting to me? She's just a foolish girl. I'm only doing my duty. Thoughts raced through his mind as he ran a hand through his hair. He sighed. He always tried to keep up the death god façade, always pretending to enjoy his powers and dominion. It was exhausting. But he tolerated it. Pretended to enjoy it even. Until now.
What did it matter anyway? She was just an insignificant peasant girl. Right?
He had to admit he admired her bravery. Throughout his entire existence as a death god he'd never encountered anyone like Ti Moune. Sure, people made selfish deals with him to try to avoid their own fates. Some would even betray their fellow man to save their own hides. Papa Ge never minded taking their souls. They deserved to wander in the jungle honestly.
Bu Ti Moune wasn't selfish. In fact, she was one of the most selfless people he'd met. She sold her soul in order to save some rich boy's life. Some stuck up jerk probably, and she'd given up her life, her future, just to save his. His future would probably be filled with every luxury and happiness. Not exactly a fair trade.
That jerk had also broken her heart on top of everything. Out of masked sympathy, Papa Ge had offered that Ti Moune could keep her soul if she killed the rich kid. But she didn't. Why? The answer was beyond him, but nothing seemed fair. He remembered how he had tasted bile in his mouth as he watched Ti Moune slowly starve alongside the gates. How could an innocent girl end up like that? And Erzulie raved about love. Love? What could be so wonderful about something that could destroy so mercilessly?
He glanced down at his hands. A few shards of the vase stuck out of his palms, surrounded by a steady trickle of blood. Although his mind registered the wound, he felt detached from himself and thus was beyond caring. He got up slowly, kicked absent-mindedly at the shards on the floor, and walked out of the room to bandage his hands.
Time to clean yourself up you idiot. He thought tiredly. Get her out of your head.