Chapter 1: The Agreement
Frollo was pleasantly surprised when Esmeralda chose him. She had demands of her own, of course. She wanted her people set free, plus Phoebus and Quasimodo. Frollo allowed it. It actually pleased him to send the gypsies out of Paris. Phoebus had been returned to his previous assignment in combat, though not without a demotion. As for Quasimodo, Frollo was still deciding what to do with the boy. The little monster was out of his chains now, but heavily supervised by guards. Frollo hoped that his usual guilting would return his relationship with the bell ringer to its earlier status. But he wouldn't try that yet. What he wanted right now was Esmeralda.
In the hall of the fireplace, he had her alone. Esmeralda had backed into a wall, desperate to move as far away from Frollo as possible. She was troubled by a mixture of emotions. Angry toward the judge, yet terrified of what was to come next. Frollo intimidated her by telling her of his expectations as he approached.
"I expect that you will cooperate." The judge taunted.
"And what if I don't want to?" Esmeralda sassed.
"Force is an alternative." Frollo said with a sinister grin.
He put his hands on the girl's shoulders, trapping her against the wall. Esmeralda's eyes popped in terror. Drops of sweat rolled down her skin while Frollo fiddled with the fabric of the rags she'd been imprisoned in.
"Would you rather take this off yourself, or have me tear it from you?"
"You monster..." Esmeralda cried.
"You see how things will be..." Frollo said ominously. "...if you don't behave."
He eyed the girl's beautiful neck for a moment before bringing his mouth to it. Esmeralda hyperventilated as the judge kissed up and down her neck. Tears filled her eyes. She had no way out of this. She wished she had chosen the flames, but her decision hadn't been for herself. It had been for all the others hurt by Frollo's madness. She had to accept this torment for them.
But suddenly, it stopped. Frollo froze while his lips were still on the girl's skin. He was hit by a flash of things he'd hoped to never see again.
The blazing torch... The burn... The cries of rage...
Esmeralda didn't understand. Frollo had been so eager to use her. Why had he stopped?
The judge suddenly withdrew from her, backing away with a sense of urgency. He tried to hide what he was feeling, pulling himself together and hoping that the overwhelming fear he felt was not visible.
"I won't take you yet." Frollo announced. "We must be married first."
With that, he strutted out of the large room into the corridor. Frollo gave his orders to the first servants he could find.
"Give the gypsy girl a bath. And get her some decent clothes. I will marry her tonight!"
Esmeralda stood stunned. What had changed the judge's mind so quickly?
After having some servants draw a bath for him, Frollo disrobed and lowered himself into the water with a sigh. The heat helped to ease some of his stress. It was ironic, considering that heat was what had caused his stress to begin with.
He looked down at his body, disturbed. A sizeable scar covered most of his chest and stomach. He touched it gently, just to acknowledge the reality of it. He didn't normally think of the mark anymore, but the memory of how it formed had suddenly struck today. Frollo could vividly remember the awful pain as the fire touched him, melting his skin. If he were to experience it again...
No, not again. He was going to marry the gypsy. Their union would be lawful.
Everything is fine... Frollo told himself. I will have her, and no one will condemn me for it.
He allowed himself to calm down, stopped thinking of the fire and started thinking of what awaited him tonight. The pleasure would counter any thought of pain. It would be a much-needed release. Frollo stroked his manhood as he imagined the ways his desires would soon be fulfilled.
Everything is fine...
He avoided finishing, wanting to save all his lust for that night.
Forget about the fire...
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