Daryl and Caroline slowly headed down the aisle while the music played and Caroline saw a little girl, around eight or nine in age, dancing on the stage. Her movements were slightly stiff, but graceful and she was wearing a white, gossamer ballet costume and white silk ballet shoes. She was facing away from them as she moved across the stage and her greasy, curly dark hair slightly moved on her head.
Daryl notice Remy sitting on one of the front row seats of the center aisle and Remy seemed enraptured with the little girl's movements.
Daryl signaled for them to keep going as they headed down the aisle then he saw two men with metal pole topped with leather loops and his mind flashed back to the men who held the Walkers in the Governor's battle arena steady. They came to a stop at the end of the front row of the center aisle and Daryl looked toward the stage.
"She is perfection, isn't she?" Remy asked without looking away from the stage.
"Who is she?" Caroline asked.
"My daughter. Charlotte."
"Why is she doin' that?" Daryl asked.
"She's dancing," Remy said with a slight annoyance to his voice.
"That ain't dancin'."
"It's ballet."
Caroline watched Charlotte dance when the music stopped playing and Charlotte stiffened. A soft gurgling sound came from the stage and Remy quickly stood. He ran to the table when he moved the needle back to the start of the record and the music started again. He turned to see Daryl and Caroline pointing their rifles at Charlotte and Remy held his hands up.
"Please! Lower your weapons! She's harmless!" he pleaded.
Daryl and Caroline glanced at each other as they lowered the rifles after having a silent conversation and Remy saw the curious look on their faces
"How did it happen?" Caroline asked and Remy turned to look at Charlotte dancing.
"Before the world fell apart, I was in charge of the palace. I ran everything. Her Mother? Her mother and her mother's ballet troupe used to dance in this hall and the guests came to see them perform after the tours. Charlotte? Charlotte wanted to be a prima ballerina like her mother. She loved to dance. We let her take dance lessons and she became the top dancer in her class. Then she and her mother fell ill. Her mother died. They took her body away. I had to go watch them stab her in the head then burn her body. When people asked about Charlotte, I told them she was fine," Remy explained. He paused for a few seconds and Charlotte danced across the stage. "Charlotte… She asked me numerous times if she would ever dance again. I kept telling her yes. When she… When she died… I was told to contact the people who took her mother and they do to her what they did to her mother. I couldn't."
He paused to watch Charlotte dance then he sighed, turned and looked at them.
"When she woke up… It was like she recognized me. She reached her hands out for me and I was tempted to hug her. Instead… Instead, I played her favorite music. It was a miracle. She got out of bed and started dancing. Not gracefully at first. The more I played the music, the harder she practiced."
"But she gets outta control when the music stops," Daryl said, looking at Charlotte, who slowly spun around in circles.
"Yes," Remy said with a sigh. "That is what those men are for. They restrain her until I start the music again. I talk to her while she is out of control. Keep telling her she is beautiful. Perfect. That her mother would be so proud of her."
"What do you feed her?" Caroline asked.
"Whoever volunteers."
Caroline and Daryl glanced at each other and Remy lowered his head.
"I wasn't going to feed you to her," he said, softly.
"Not until we wash up," Daryl grumbled.
"No. Not even then," he said as he raised his head. "You see, you and your sister are the first people who didn't want to kill me or her after seeing her. The ones who try… Those people are the ones I feed to her."
"And you expect us to stay the night with her runnin' around?"
"She is locked in her room at night."
"Still risky."
"I understand," Remy said when the record started skipping and his eyes widened. "No!"
"Uh oh," Caroline said and she and Daryl backed up. They watched Charlotte stiffen as she turned and they saw her face. She was a pretty girl, but her eyes were covered with a white film and some of her hair was in her face. She snapped her teeth as she started stumbling toward the edge of the stage and Remy tried frantically to get the music to play.
"Calm down!" Remy said in French as he looked up at the stage. "Papa will fix it! Stay calm!"
The men appeared on the stage as they held the metal poles in one hand and extended the leather strap with the other hand.
"No! Leave her alone!"
Charlotte stumbled around the stage as the men tried to catch her and she hissed or snapped at them. Daryl slowly headed for the table as Caroline and Remy watched him and Daryl looked at the record player and the selection of records. He slid one of the records out of its slipcover when he removed the record from the record player and he placed the new record on the turntable. He wasn't sure what music would play when he placed the record needle at the start of the record and the music started playing. The music was fast and a little exciting and Charlotte stiffened.
"Come on," Daryl said over and over.
Charlotte listened to the music as she started dancing and Daryl noticed the look of concentration on her face. She tried to leap into the air, but barely got off the ground and she frowned. She snorted and hissed as she tried again and she bounced on her feet.
"Yes! Yes, Darling! You can do it!" Remy shouted in French and clapped his hands.
Daryl looked back at Caroline when he walked to her and they went to sit on the seats.
Later that night - The Salon of Mercury
Caroline and Daryl rested on the small couches as they looked at the paintings on the ceiling and Daryl had his hands behind his head.
They agreed to take a shower, but changed back into their clothes and Remy had dinner waiting for them in the dining hall.
Caroline saw how happy Remy looked during dinner and he told them about Versailles. He promised to take them out into the garden in the morning and she and Daryl were surprised with the Hall of Mirrors.
The Hall of Mirrors
"How many mirrors are there again?" Caroline asked as she looked at the mirrors.
"There are five hundred and seventy-eight mirrors," Remy said with a grin then the grin faded. "Charlotte and her mother used the mirrors to practice their dancing."
"Hmph," Daryl said, looking at the mirrors and they headed down the hallway.
The Salon of Mercury
"You awake?" broke her out of her thoughts and Caroline looked at Daryl.
"Yeah," she said.
"I keep thinkin' about that little girl."
"Me, too. I can't imagine what her dad's goin' through."
"Yeah," he said as he rubbed his eyes with his right index finger and thumb. They became silent as he sighed and he rolled onto his right side. "If anythin' happened to Judith or RJ... If they got bit and turned into a Walker… Don't think I could handle the idea of puttin' them down."
She heard the truth in his voice while she rolled onto her left side and looked at him.
"Do you want to hear more about Murphy and Connor?" she asked after a few seconds.
"Yeah," he said with a small nod then he felt sadness and regret coming from Caroline. "What's wrong?"
"We're gettin' to the point where I had to tell them about Dad, about me bein' adopted and the last time I saw them."
"You don't have to tell me if you don't wanna."
"I need to," she said with a small growl then sighed. "It's just that I'm feelin' like the more I tell you, the angrier you get."
"That ain't on you."
"Yeah, it is. You weren't there. Not like now. Shit. It's like when you told me about your past and the people you met after the world ended. I've been placin' you in my memories about my time with them. Chanin' things here and there. But what happens next…"
"Tell me," Daryl said and she sighed. She looked at the ceiling for a few seconds and she placed her hands behind her head.
Boston - Cellblock MacManus
The black car moved down the road while Sibeal held tightly to the steering wheel and Caroline looked out the window. She knew he wanted to ask her what was wrong, but she wasn't sure what to tell him. The black car came to a stop in front of the cellblock when they got out of the car and they closed the doors. They headed for the door when the guard opened the door and they walked by him. After being searched and checked in, the guard led them into the main room and Caroline saw Connor and Romeo sitting on the couch.
"Hey, MacManus, your priest and Murphy's girlfriend are here," the guard said.
"Where is Murphy?" Sibeal asked after Connor and Romeo had gotten up from the couch and walked to him.
"He's in the clinic," Romeo said, looking toward the door to the infirmary and Caroline felt her stomach drop.
"What happened to him?" Sibeal asked, giving a stern look at the guard.
"He stubbed his fingers while we were playin' basketball," Connor explained as the door to the clinic opened and Murphy walked to them.
Caroline saw he was wearing a wrist brace on his left wrist and three of his fingers taped were together. He gave her a tiny smile when he stopped in front of her then he sighed.
"Hey," Murphy said, leaning in to kiss her left cheek.
"What did th'doctor say about yer fingers?" Sibeal asked.
"Th'doctor said I need t'keep this on. If my fingers swell up or if th'pain gets worse, he'll have t'take me to th'hospital for an x-ray," Murphy explained, looking at the wrist brace.
"Connor said you stubbed yer fingers playin' basketball, "Caroline said, gently taking hold of his left hand.
"More like I was tryin' t'catch th'ball after it hit th'backboard," he said, ducking his head. "Bent my fingers back and t'one side. Thought I broke 'em."
"Wanna kiss his boo-boo?" Connor teased as he looked at Caroline, but Caroline just looked at Murphy's hand. "Caroline?"
Murphy pulled her closer while she slid her arms around his torso and she placed her face against his left shoulder.
"What happened?" Murphy asked in a soft voice.
She looked at his shoulder while she tried to figure out what to say and she sighed after she felt him carding the back of her head.
"I got a phone call this mornin'," she said in a soft voice.
"From who?" Connor asked as he and Romeo walked closer.
"My dad's lawyer."
"Why would he be calling you?" Romeo asked.
"That's what I asked him."
"What did he say?" Murphy asked.
"He said my dad was in a car accident."
"Christ," Connor said.
"Lord's name." Murphy warned and Connor nodded.
"Is he alright?" Romeo asked and she shook her head.
"Accordin' to his lawyer, Dad died at the scene. So did the other driver," Caroline explained and she felt Murphy's body tensing up.
"And you bought it?" Murphy asked and she looked at him.
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Sounds like a trap t'me," Connor said. "I mean, how did he know yer phone number?"
"That's a good question. How did he know what your phone number was?" Daryl asked.
"Dad's lawyer said Dad gave him the phone number," Caroline said with a sigh.
"Did you believe this lawyer?"
"Nope."
Boston
"When did the accident happened?" Romeo asked.
"Yesterday."
"He waited until today t'call you?" Murphy asked.
"He said he wasn't told until this mornin'."
"By who?"
"He didn't say."
"It's a trap," Connor said as he slapped his hands against his thighs.
"I agree with Connor," Sibeal said.
"What does this lawyer want you t'do?" Murphy asked.
"He wants me to come home, identify the body, go to the funeral then I am to go to the bank," Caroline said.
"Why?" Romeo asked.
"He said Dad left me somethin'."
"What sort of summat?" Connor asked.
"I have no idea."
"I don't think you should go," Murphy said and she gave him a tiny smile.
"I don't think you should go either," Connor said.
"I know, but a part of me wants to know if he's really dead," Caroline said.
"Did you tell anyone else about the phone call?"
"I told Frank."
"What did he say?"
"He said he didn't buy it."
"Does he think you should go?" Murphy asked with a hurt look in his eyes.
"No. Like you guys, he thinks it's a trap."
"Did he say he wants to go with you if you wanna go?" Connor asked.
"Yeah."
"But he can't protect you," Murphy said and she saw the anger in his eyes. She knew what he wanted to do as she sighed and she lightly shook her head.
"No," she said and he frowned.
"No what?"
"I know what you wanna do."
"What do I wanna do?"
"You…," she said as she looked from him to Connor to Romeo and she frowned. "All of you wanna go with me."
"Damn right, we do," Romeo said with a small growl.
"If you do that, you'll end up dead," she said and Connor looked at the guard.
"She's right," Connor said.
"Which is why I am goin' with her," Sibael said and her eyes widened.
"You…? You wanna go with me?" Caroline asked.
"Yes. And if someone tries anythin'…. Well, their da wasn't the only one who was called."
"He was a vigilante, too?" Daryl asked and she nodded.
Boston – Cellblock MacManus
Caroline understood what he meant as she looked at Murphy while he looked at his uncle and she saw the anger on Murphy's face.
"You better make sure she comes home safe and sound and in one piece," Murphy warned and Sibeal nodded.
"I left the next day with their uncle and Frank," Caroline said and Daryl felt the sadness and anger moving through her.
"Did you go identify the body?" Daryl asked.
"Yeah. Their uncle went with me and I was dressed as a nun," Caroline said, softly.
"Did you go to the funeral?"
"Yeah, but dressed as a nun."
"Were you dressed as a nun when you went to the bank?"
"Yeah. We left shortly afterward."
Boston - Cellblock MacManus
The black car moved down the road while Caroline held the large envelope on her lap and she looked out the window. She thought about the long trip they had to make to get back to Boston and she flexed her fingers. She thought about what happened at the funeral and she flexed the fingers of her right hand.
"Calm yerself, Lass," Sibeal said and she glanced at him.
"Sorry," she said with a sigh.
The black car stopped in front of the cellblock when they got out of the car, closed the doors and they headed for the door. Once they were inside, Caroline wasn't sure if she wanted the guards to see what was inside the large envelope, but the guards didn't ask her to open the large envelope.
"Why didn't they look in the envelope?" Daryl asked.
"They were told not to," Caroline asked.
"Who do you think told 'em that?"
"I think it was their uncle."
Boston – Cellblock MacManus
They walked in the main room when Caroline saw Connor and Romeo sitting on the couch and she scanned the room for Murphy.
"Hey, MacManus, your priest and Murphy's girlfriend are here," the guard said.
Connor got up to turn the television off as Romeo got off the couch and they walked to Caroline.
"Where's Murphy?" Caroline asked.
"They had to take him to take him to the hospital," Romeo said.
"Why?"
"Turns out he really did break his fingers. They brought him back earlier this mornin'," Connor said, glancing at the cell.
Nodding, Caroline walked to the doorway to the cell when she walked inside and she walked to the bed to the right. Murphy was sleeping on his right side and his left hand rested on the pillow. She looked at the cast wrapped around his fingers, across his hand then ending at his wrist. She knelt down next to the bed when she placed the large envelope on the bed, brushed her fingers over his left cheek and he made a deep sigh. His eyelids slowly fluttered open when he rolled onto his back, looked at her and Caroline smiled.
"Y're back," Murphy grumbled.
"Yeah," she said as she leaned in for a kiss. "How's yer hand?"
"It hurts."
"Do you want me to come back tomorrow?"
"No," he said with a child-like tone to his voice.
"How's it goin' in here?" Connor asked, walking inside the cell. Romeo and Sibeal followed him and Caroline saw the guard standing in the doorway.
"We're good," Caroline said while she helped Murphy sit up and he leaned against her. He then noticed the large envelope sitting next to her and his head tilted to one side.
"What's that?" Murphy asked, pointing to the large envelope.
"Remember what I told you about my dad?"
"You said he was killed in a car accident."
"Did you go see th'body?" Connor asked.
"Yeah, I did. It was him," Caroline said and Murphy snuggled a little closer.
"Did you go to th'funeral?" Murphy asked.
"Yes."
"Anything happen?" Romeo asked.
"Connor was right. It was a trap. Most of th'mourners were armed. Luckily, I had her dress as a nun. No one noticed her," Sibael said.
"Shit," Murphy grumbled and she kissed the side of his head. He half-closed his eyes as he sighed and yawned. "Sorry."
"That's ok," Caroline said.
"Was Jessie there?" Romeo asked.
"Yeah. She was actin' like the grievin' widow. Cryin' and actin' like her world was endin'."
"Did you find out why you had t'go to th'bank?" Connor asked.
"Yeah," she said as she looked at the large envelope.
"What's in there?" Romeo asked.
"It's proof that my whole life has been a lie."
"What're y'talkin' about?" Murphy asked as he opened his eyes then he slowly sat up. Caroline picked up the large envelope as she looked at the large envelope then she frowned.
"All my life, I wondered why Jessie hated me. Why she abused me and tried to maim me. Turns out I was adopted," Caroline said.
"That's a dumb reason to abuse someone," Romeo said.
"Can we see what's in there?" Connor asked.
Caroline nodded as she opened the large envelope when she removed the adoption papers, the cancelled checks then the birth certificate and she showed the birth certificate to Murphy.
""It says you were born in a hospital in Georgia and yer last name is Dixon," Murphy said with a smile.
"Yeah," she said and he made a soft laugh. "Stop."
"What're you laughin' at?" Connor asked.
"I jus' found out what her middle name is," Murphy said.
"Can I see?!"
"No!" Caroline said, placing the birth certificate away. She handed the adopted papers and the cancelled checks to Connor and he and Romeo looked at them. Connor handed the adoption papers to Murphy and Murphy looked at the information. He handed the adoption papers to Caroline as she placed the adoption papers back in the large envelope and Murphy looked at the cancelled checks. "I think those were payment to keep my birth parents' mouths shut."
"Shit," Murphy said and she removed the plastic bag from the large envelope.
"What's in there?" Romeo asked.
"They're photographs."
"Of what?" Connor asked.
"Me."
'Can we see 'em?" Murphy asked.
Caroline showed them the photographs while Murphy held her and he smiled at a few of them.
"You were a cute baby," Murphy said and she felt a blush moving across her cheeks.
"Do you wanna find 'em? Th'Dixons I mean," Connor said.
"I have been thinkin' about it," Caroline said as she looked at the photographs. "I mean there has to be a reason why they got rid of me."
Murphy must have noticed she was shutting down as he placed the photographs back in the plastic bag, making sure he had all of them, then he placed the plastic bag in the large envelope. He wrapped his arms around her as she buried her face in his neck and he rubbed her back with his right hand.
"We talked about me findin' someone who could help me find my birth family then we left," Caroline said, getting up and she went to look out the window. Daryl felt the anger and sadness coming from his sister and she turned to look at him. "You know what happened next."
"Yeah," Daryl said with a nod. Daryl got up, walked to her and she sighed. She moved closer as he wrapped his arms around her and he walked her back to the couch she was lying on. After they stretched out on the couch, he placed his left foot on the floor as she slid her right arm around his waist and he turned his head to watch the fire in the fireplace.
The next morning, Remy used a horse and a small cart to show Daryl and Caroline the gardens and he pointed out the flowerbeds, the hedges, ponds and lakes. He gave them a small history lesson about the gardens and Caroline checked to see if Daryl had fallen asleep. Daryl glanced at her as she smiled and Remy steered the cart down the path.
By the time they returned to the cart then went back to the palace, the servants had loaded Daryl and Caroline's cart with supplies, bottles of water, two rifles, boxes of ammunition and a large basket of food.
"Thank you again for lettin' us stay," Caroline said while holding onto Remy's hands.
"No, it is I who should be thanking you and your brother. Charlotte and I had a marvelous time," Remy said.
Caroline nodded while the front door opened and they watched Charlotte stumbling outside. Charlotte seemed a little confused then she carefully headed down the stairs. Caroline shook her head when Daryl's right hand headed for the handle of his knife and Daryl nodded.
"Charlotte has something to show you," Remy said.
Remy had brought the record player outside when he turned on the music and they watched the little girl dance. Remy clapped his hands and Caroline saw the happiness on his face. Charlotte made little spins, jumps and leaps. She finished with a low curtsy after she took hold of Daryl's hands. Caroline knew he felt a little uncomfortable, but Daryl helped Charlotte stand and the little girl looked at him with blank eyes. He lightly squeezed her small hands and Daryl was surprised at the shy smile on Charlotte's face.
After saying goodbye and returning the waves Remy gave them, Caroline and Daryl got into the cart as Daryl picked up the reins and he steered the cart down the long road. They went by the gates sometime later and Caroline leaned against Daryl, placing her head against his right shoulder.
