Chapitre 13

I awoke the next morning to the gentle feel of sunlight on my body and the scent of hot coffee in our bedroom. Rolling over I saw the Count was not lying beside me as he was last night; I ran my fingers through my hair and followed my nose. A silver tray with croissants, fruit, my favourite apricot jam and a tall cup of coffee sat placed on my bedside table next to my fan. Reaching out, I unfolded the note that lay next to the coffee.

My Darling Estelle,

I could not bring myself to wake you, enjoy your breakfast and Monsieur's Albert and Franz shall be joining us at 12:30 this afternoon. I have work to do until then, so make yourself comfortable and I will see you again soon.

The Count of Monte Cristo

I smiled and leant back against one of the huge feather pillows, taking a sip of the coffee and finding it too hot for my mouth. I sputtered some out and winced as my tongue burnt, getting out of bed I looked out the window. Outside our room, the guillotine was being prepared for today's executions.

'I can't see why so many aristocrats get so much pleasure from this. Oh well…' Letting the see-through curtain fall back into place I turned around and went back to finishing my breakfast. Eventually I started to get changed for lunch with Albert and Franz; taking some clothes out of the cupboard I compared them against myself. Pulling my hair back into a high ponytail I got dressed; it was modern and made of lavender cloth which reached my knees, long sleeves were cut into sharp layers and I pulled on some stockings and my white ankle boots. I looked at the clock, 12:26 pm. 'I'm actually on time getting ready. That's a first.' I thought. I heard a knock at the door and heard Bertuccio answer it. I jumped as I felt a cool hand on mine; the Count escorted me to the table on the balcony. He pulled out my chair so I could sit down, the perfect gentleman.

"Bertuccio will be here with Albert and Franz shortly." He said, taking a seat next to me. I turned my attention to the gathering crowd outside the guillotine, sighing a little. "Something wrong Estelle?" The Count asked, I looked at him; his chin was resting on his fingertips.

"I just don't understand how people can watch this, it just seems so…"

"Inhuman?" The Count suggested. I looked at him; his eyes were darker… like the calm before the storm.

"Well, I was going to say barbaric but that works just as well." I said, looking at the balcony doors which Bertuccio opened.

"Good afternoon your Excellency, same to you Estelle." Albert said, the both of them bowed to the Count and they each kissed the top of my hand. They took their seats at the table, the crowd had gathered for the start of the executions.

"Who are today's condemned?" The Count asked. Bertuccio pulled a piece of paper from his vest pocket.

"One is man who committed murder out of poverty, one is a man who committed murder over a love affair and the third is a man who slaughtered an entire family to steal their possessions. All three are heinous criminals who are beyond forgiveness." He said, the Count's face was unnervingly blank. I looked at the stage, where the three criminals were tied. I winced as I heard their cries and tears.

"I did it to feed my family! I had to! My beloved wife and child, please forgive me! Please, spare me..." The first one wept, I glanced at Franz who looked nervously at Albert. The crowd started to cruelly throw garbage at the prisoners and the executioner's assistants tried to make them stop.

"My Lord Cardinal! I didn't murder anyone! My rival framed me! I'm innocent! Please, undo these chains! You have to believe me!" The second one cried, I put down the orange I was about to eat, finding that I had lost my appetite.

"I bet they're just saying anything that might earn them a reprieve." Franz said, desperate to lighten the atmosphere but I couldn't tear my eyes from the prisoners.

"You moron! Shut your trap!" The third one spat, clearly more brutal and crueller than the others. "I'm sick of you and your damn whining! As for me, I killed ten people! Women and children, I killed them all! How's that?! Live it up, you bastards! C'mon! I wanna see some more happy faces out there!" He laughed at the furious audience; I looked around as I heard the Count clapping.

"Today's card is most entertaining. What say you?" The Count said to Albert, I looked at him in disbelief.

'He's enjoying himself?!' I thought, watching him as he shuffled a deck of cards and placed three on the table.

"Why don't we have a bit of sport with this? A sideshow to the execution, as it were. I have here a single letter; it is a letter of pardon that was given to me by the Cardinal." I was equally as surprised as Franz and Albert; I didn't know he had that kind of power!

"How in the world did you get something like that?" Franz said, the Count chuckled.

"Unfortunately, I have but this one letter of pardon. To make the choice an impartial one, I have written the initials of one of the condemned men on each card. Now, please choose one of them. Come now, it's nothing more than a little game." He gestured to the cards, then to our nervous guests. I looked at them with wide eyes, unsure if this was some kind of joke.

"Just a minute Excellency! If that's the case, shouldn't we hear what they have to say first?!" Franz said, I nodded in agreement. The Count's eyes darted between us both.

"My good Monsieur Franz, we are not judges. Regardless of what we so, they are going to die. I merely suggest that we make use of that fact in order to enjoy ourselves. At this moment, we have in our hands the power to offer the hand of salvation to them. Why do you hesitate to make use of that power to do good?" The Count said as he moved to Albert's seat, making him appear even more intimidating than he normally was. Albert shrunk away from his cold words. "Yes, it almost feels as if one has become God, does it not?" He continued, driving his words deep into Albert's head.

"What are you thinking?!" Franz shouted, leaping from his seat and making me gasp in surprise.

"Count this is sick, please stop this. They are clearly uncomfortable, don't push them like this!" I said, getting up with Franz and crossing my arms. The Count merely glanced at me and turned his attention to Franz.

"You're using people's lives as a game?! You're crazy! Come on, let's go Albert!" Franz said, Albert didn't move.

"A game…? Yes, it is a game. Our own lives are pieces that are toyed with as part of someone else's game. Has it ever seemed that way to you?" The Count asked Franz.

"I'm afraid I wouldn't know." Franz said before bowing and turning to the door. "Let's go, come on."

"I was of the opinion that you and I would be friends, Monsieur Albert. This is most disappointing." The Count said, I growled.

"That's low." I muttered, the Count walked over to me and put his arm around me and his fingers caressed my shoulder.

"My dear, is it not best for a developing friendship that the individuals share the same ideals? I have told you all that this is but a game, there is no point in taking this so personally… it's not your head on the chopping block." He said to me, his cheek against mine and the drums started. I shrugged his arm off and went to the edge of the balcony and looked out in disgust at the crowd.

"You set out on your journey in order to find something. To find and grab hold of a new you, through the exertion of your own will." He continued.

"Come on Albert, let's go!" Franz pushed, I looked over at Albert. Beads of sweat went down his brow; I could almost hear his heart racing. "Albert!" He got up and slammed his hands down on the table.

"I'll…I'll do it!" Albert said, standing before the three cards. I went over to Franz's side; no boy should be put through this.

"Don't Albert!" I said.

"Don't do it! You'll be sorry you did!" Franz cried, I wrung my hands together and looked at the Count's motionless back.

"It's just a game. Isn't it, Excellency?" Albert said softly, the Count moved to Albert's side. His hand drifted over the cards.

"Albert…" Franz whispered. Albert lowered his hand over the middle card. "Albert!" I covered my eyes, afraid of what he chose. The card was turned, Albert's trembling face looked at it for a second before the Count gave the card and the letter to Baptistin who appeared out of nowhere. The crowd fell silent as did all of us on the balcony, I clutched Franz's hand. The letter was read and a bell was rung.

"A pardon has been issued by the Cardinal! The condemned man who is to be pardoned is…" I held my breath, Franz tensed. "Rocca Briori, AKA Peppino!" I let out a horrified noise as the crowd released cries of anger and tormented pain. Peppino let out a few words of praise but I blocked it out.

"Damn him." Franz spat through gritted teeth.

"Monsieur Albert, you have done a good deed. Truly a good deed." The Count said, moving Albert carefully to the edge of the balcony with hands on his trembling shoulders. "Now, the show is beginning." The cries grew louder and the drums' tempo increased. "You mustn't look away Monsieur Albert. Not for an instant." I saw the blade come down, but I turned away from blood and hid my face in Franz's coat. Feeling him tense and turn his head away as well, the cries of joy came from the crowd and my stomach kicked in. I ran inside and covered my mouth, swallowing it back down in repulsion.

"Mademoiselle? Are you alright?" Bertuccio asked, I straightened up and looked at the Count's back in anger.

"I will be." I muttered.

After giving my quiet apologies to the both of them on behalf of the Count I closed the front door, resting my back against it and taking a deep breath. I opened my eyes, taking long strides to the study where he sat reading.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ALL ABOUT!?!" I shouted, hearing Baptistin drop a plate in surprise. The Count looked over his book at me, getting up as he saw I was serious. He walked over to me and looked me straight in the eye, taking my hand in his.

"I was merely enjoying myself in the Luna festivities and it is rude to exclude others if the entertainment can be shared. Did you not like seeing your friends again?"

"I did like seeing them again. However, after your idea of 'entertainment' I doubt they'll want anything to do with me ever again. They are good people and you could have really screwed them up, Albert especially." I said, averting my eyes from his. I sharply inhaled as his finger traced the shape of my cheek, I looked back at him. The deck of cards was on the desk; before he could stop me I grabbed them and fanned them out. All of them were marked 'R.B.', I spun around and looked up at his surprised face. "YOU EVEN FUCKING CHEATED!?!" I screamed on the top of my lungs, he blinked. "You're unbelievable." I spat, pushing him in the chest and kicking open the door. His sadistic cards went flying everywhere. Baptistin and Bertuccio re-posed themselves so it looked like they were working, the front door opened and a comforting sight met my eyes.

"Hello Estelle, Haydee and I are back from our room-" Mina started; I grabbed my bag and her wrist and dragged her down the hotel hallway. Haydee waved a nervous goodbye before going into my room.

"Excellent! We can start by getting a drink at the hotel bar!" I said, mocking happiness. Pressing the elevator button over and over again, Mina looked at me from under her white beret.

"You're acting weird what happened-" She smiled. "Did you have a little lover's spat with the Count?" I looked at her, my eyes burning.

"He's a foul and evil snake!" I groaned, clutching the vodka glass in my hand. It was very late and the bar had only a few people in it, most of them drunken couples. Mina stirred her olive around in her martini before biting it off.

"He's seems to be acting really strange recently." She said with her mouth full. I looked through glary and fuzzy eyes at her, resting my head on my palm. "He stays alone more than usual; maybe it has something to do with his condition?" She asked, I shrugged and stared at my empty crystal glass.

'I do feel bad; I don't think I should have reacted like that.' I though, getting to my feet. "I'm going back to my room; I think I should apologize for biting his head off." I muttered, swaying a little on my feet after my one glass of brandy and my second one of vodka. Mina leapt up and looked at me nervously.

"Do you want me to come with you? You don't look so good." I giggled and wrapped my arms around her.

"No! I'm-I'm a big girl and I can walk back to the hotel by myself. I just need to see the Count and tell him I'm sorry and then we'll kiss and make up." I said, turning red.

"With any luck you'll do more than just kiss." Mina muttered, I swatted her arm and pouted.

"Gutter head! I'll see you at the space port tomorrow morning to catch our flight back to Paris. Goodbye and hook up with a nice boy!" I said, waving dramatically before falling backwards down a small flight of stairs.

"Miss Cutter!!" Mina cried out, I leapt up and headed out the door.

The streets were packed with couples, some even of the same sex. All embracing in the light of candles and amongst the confetti, I wrapped my coat tighter around myself. Feeling out of place among these common people, I turned and headed back towards my hotel room. I could already feel the effects of the alcohol, my head felt lighter and a sense of tranquillity and well-being came over me. I steadied myself against the brick wall, the clock struck midnight and everything and everyone went dark, when all their desires became reality.

"Hey little girl!" I shot up, only just noticing the carriage that had slowed down next to me. "You need a ride?" I looked at them, brutish thugs with tattoos and dark and seedy eyes.

"No thanks, my boyfriend is meeting me soon." I said, my voice cracking as my heart pounded. Fear had become a surprisingly sobering cure. The man chuckled with his mates; the carriage sped up then stopped a few meters ahead of me. I stopped and took a step back, a sick feeling in my gut. "Let me pass." I said, trying to sound stern. The leader raised an eyebrow and headed towards me, his eyes flashing over my legs and face.

"You have no idea how cute you are do you, little girl?" He said, my eyes widened as I saw the flash of metal in his hand. He groaned and scratched his red bandanna. "Now, you see here… I've been getting these cramps just below the belt and my doctor said that the lips of a cute girl can get rid of them-" He grabbed my wrist, I screamed on instinct. His mates closed in, my fists went flying and I started to sob. He pulled me into him and looked at my face, he smiled with sharp teeth. "You'll be lots of fun, put her in the carriage." He said, they pushed me towards the sinister carriage.

'WHY THE HELL DIDN'T I PACK PEPPER SPRAY!?' I though, taking a deep breath. "COUNT! PLEASE HELP-" They quickly shut me up and gagged me. Holding my body down and the fireworks started above our heads. The true nature of Luna was revealed as the carriage disappeared into the dark catacombs, with me struggling and whimpering inside.

Count's View-

I looked at the clock once again, for the hundredth time that evening. Estelle was still angry with me, probably out with Miss Braque. Moving to the balcony I looked over at the fireworks, watching the people below me.

'Like ants… so easily crushed and easily dealt with.' I thought, curling my nails into my hand and gritting my teeth. I closed my eyes, this whole scene strangely familiar.

"Count…" Estelle whispered, in that black dress. Champagne on her balcony, the Eifel tower alight in the distance, fireworks rumbling above us. Her green eyes locked on mine, that soft colour on her white cheeks as I held her against me. Her music in my head, the taste of her delicate lips…then her eyes turned brown.

"Edmond…" I shot my eyes open, clenching my teeth and stared blankly at the fireworks. Slowly the image of Mercedes disappeared, that pleading look in her eyes vanished.

'My vengeance has begun, they will fall and the sword of Damocles will come crashing down upon them.' I smiled; the poor fools wouldn't know what hit them.