| The Hunchback of Notre Dame III: Every Rose Has Its Thorn by Melissa Chapter 2 She looked all around until the old house caught her eye. Belle looked at it apprehensively but her curiosity got the best of her and she slowly walked over to the iron gate. As she stared up into the windows, she could see nothing but darkness. I wonder who that figure was I saw the other day, Belle thought. But Belle was quickly distracted when she heard the baker's shouts. "Get out of here you crazy goat! Nothing but trouble is what you are!" Belle spun around to see Djali running off with a loaf of bread in his mouth. "Djali!" Belle shouted and ran off. In the house's window, the figure appeared. That night Belle stayed up late, putting the finishing touches on her painting. "Done!" Belle finally announced to herself. She stretched her arms and yawned; she looked over at the three gargoyles who were fast asleep. She set her palette and brush down and stood up from the stool. After blowing out several candles Belle retired to her room. The bell tower was overcome with darkness, the only light left were the moons rays. The sun catchers that hung from the rafter were dark. They jingled as a soft breeze pushed past them. Belle got into bed and pulled the covers over her and closed her eyes. Then, from the balcony outside, two hands clutched the railing. A person wearing a black cloak with a hood, hopped over. The person stood for a moment and then slowly walked into the bell tower. He stopped at the wooden table and picked up one of Quasi's wooden figures. Then Belle's paintings caught his attention. He walked up to the enormous canvas and stood gazing at the painted roses. As his hand reached out to touch it, the light of a candle appeared. Surprised by the rays of light he jerked his hand away and knocked over a cup of paint brushes. All three gargoyles awoke at the sound but were too tired to notice the cloaked man. He quickly rushed out, knocking over a stool and finally disappearing over the balcony. Quasimodo appeared holding a candle, once he spotted the stool and brushes laying on the floor, he quickly walked over. "Who's there?" he demanded. "What's going on?" Madellaine whispered as she walked out of the room, wrapping herself in her robe. "Somebody was here," Quasi replied. Madellaine's eyes went wide. "Dad? Mom? What's wrong? What was that crash I heard?" Belle asked from her doorway. * "Don't worry, we'll get to the bottom of this," Phoebus said early the next morning. All six friends were standing in the bell tower. "I don't understand, why would someone break in like that?" asked Belle. "I mean, what did they want?" "Thieves will take anything they can get their hands on: money, jewelry...anything valuable...perhaps a painting?" Phoebus said as he walked over to one of Belle's. "All of my paintings are here, besides...they;re not worth anything...not to anyone else anyway," Belle replied. "Oh don't say that! They are beautiful! And priceless," said Madellaine. Belle blushed. "What I don't get, is how did they get in and out so fast?" Zephyr implied. "Well neither of us heard any doors open last night. I always make sure the entrance is securely closed. It didn't seem to have been tampered with. And it wasn't broken," Quasi informed. Esmeralda walked out into the balcony and looked over. "Well, it's a wild guess but I just don't see any other way." "What?" Phoebus asked, walking over to her. "Perhaps they climbed up?" "What! That's impossible!" "No it's not Phoebus, I mean, I can climb it," Quasi told him. "Well of course you can climb it Quasi, you've lived here all your life! You're an expert!" Phoebus persisted. "Quasi is quite talented, but there are many great climbers out there. Maybe this person has great skills? Or maybe they had special equipment," Madellaine inquired. "Yes...well, perhaps. But---I mean this person must have been really skillful because they got out of here pretty fast. And that is a very long way down," Phoebus said as he peered over the ledge. Belle sighed as she hugged her arms. "Do you think they'll come back?" she asked nervously. "Don't worry Belle, I would never let anything bad happen to you," Quasi said as he laid his hand on her shoulder. "Hey! Don't worry Belle! Maybe we were just jumping to conclusions? It could have been the wind for all we know," Phoebus said, trying to comfort her. Belle shook her head and looked over at her painting. "No...someone was here, I can feel it." "You shouldn't worry so much, Belle. My dad's a great detective! You remember that story I told you about Sarousch and La Fidele?" Zephyr asked Belle that afternoon. The two friends were walking together through the busy streets of Paris. Belle nodded, "Yes, I do. Your father is a very smart man." "See? With his brains and my brawn..." Zephyr began. "Your...brawns?!" Belle managed to say while laughing. "What?! I was very brave!" "I'm sorry. But does that mean your father is the only one with brains?" Belle teased and ran off. "HEY!" Zephyr shouted playfully and ran after her. Belle hopped over some children playing marbles, and then ducked under a huge basket of croissants two man were carrying. As the men watched Belle run off, Zephyr had not been able to avoid the marbles and he came rolling down the street on them. Unable to stop, he slammed right into the two men, sending them to the ground and the basket of croissants every which way. Belle turned around and walked backwards to watch. She started to laugh hysterically as Zephyr tried to apologize to the men. But being unable to see where she was going, Belle bumped into someone behind her. "Hey! Watch where you're going!" an angry voice shouted. Belle turned around and there, stood the man from the old house. "Oh! I'm so sorry!" Belle apologized. The man frowned. "Jeez Belle! Did you have to run so fast?" Zephyr complained when he finally caught up. Belle turned from the man and smiled at Zephyr. "Are you all right?" she asked. "Well, my butt hurts really bad..." Zephyr said as he rubbed his soar bottom. Belle turned back to the man, but he had disappeared. The man walked quickly up to the dilapidated house and opened up the rusty gate causing it to creak loudly in protest. Once inside, the man threw off his cape onto a couch. The inside was very different from the worn outside. There were many exquisite furnishings: victorian couches, leather arm chairs and a brick fire place. There were all types of sculptures every where, from "Adonis" to busts. The walls were worn and the floors creaked loudly, but the man made sure that his expensive possessions made up for the house's old condition. After pouring himself a glass of red wine, the man crept up the narrow stair way to the second level. He turned right and, there, down a narrow hallway, he met with a skinny wooden door. He opened the door and the light of the sun poured onto his face. He shielded his face and growled irately. "AARON!" he shouted. In front of him was a huge window. He quickly took the dusty curtains and slammed them together angrily. And then quickly ascended the three more tiny stairways until he came upon a small room. It had only one small window but its worn and homely curtain was drawn away as well, allowing the glowing rays of the sun to shine in. He rushed to the window and yanked its single curtain over. The sun's light disappeared, leaving only darkness to consume the room. The man spun around. "What...have I told you about windows?" he asked in an irritated tone. "The curtains must be closed at all times," a boy's timid voice replied. "And why--y--y must they be closed?" The boy's voice sighed. "Because...nobody's supposed to know I'm here." "Exactly!" he replied dryly. The man approached a young boy of eighteen years sitting against a wall. He had an old cloak draped around him and only the right side of his profile was revealed. "So, to more important matters...what did you find out?" "There were...paintings, very beautiful ones...by a girl." "Really? Of what?" From the shadow of the corner the boy's hand appeared, in it was a yellow rose. The man took the rose and examined it. "Roses? What about the statues? The gargoyles?" "There were ones on the outside---" "Don't get smart with me! Don't you think I know that! I sent you to search the inside! Did you or did you not see anything inside the tower!" The boy fell silent for a moment, intimidated, but he finally answered: "It was too dark, I could only see the large canvas and the table...nothing else." His voice trembled. The man calmed down and smoothed his jet black hair back. "Well...I suppose it was dark. After all, it was midnight." He turned from the boy and flung the rose down to the floor. "Well, it seems I'll be making a new friend." With that, the man descended the stairs and slammed the door below. The next morning, Belle woke up early to help her father with his chores. It was Sunday and it was the busiest of all days for the church. Very soon people would be piling in for morning mass. First, Belle swept the floors and Madellaine walked high above in the rafters with a broom, cleaning the cobwebs and dust. She was an experienced tightrope walker now, and she loved being up so high. Quasi was now outside near the rain gutters cleaning Belle's brushes. "Come on dad! Let me help you!" Belle called as she stood from the balcony. Quasi chuckled. "You know your mother doesn't like you out here. Remember what happened last time?" Belle sighed. "I remember...it was a good thing your father was there to catch you!" Victor announced and then shuddered. Laverne added: "Yes! It was the first and last time! Nobody wants to see a Belle pizza." "Pizza! Where?' Hugo came rushing over looking around frantically. The two gargoyles rolled their eyes. "Fine! I'll go inside and help mom." Belle went back inside and Madellaine jumped down in front of her. "Done!" she said. "Well, I'd better go and ring the bells for mass now," Quasi said as he jumped off the balcony,s railing. "Here you go Belle, they're all clean now!" he said handing them to his daughter. "Thanks dad. If everything's done now I think I'm just going to take a walk, maybe find some inspiration for my next painting," Belle announced. "There are plenty of roses here you could paint, Belle," Madellaine informed. "I know...but I was thinking...maybe I could do something different?" "I know! How about me!" Hugo quickly suggested and hopped onto the table. He smiled brightly and posed like a model would. Belle giggled. "Ha! What could possibly be more different from a beautiful rose?" Laverne said as she held out her hands to Hugo. Victor suppressed a chuckle. "Thanks!" Hugo replied. "Well I'll see you guys later!" Belle said and climbed down the ladder to leave. "Be careful!" Madellaine and Quasi said in unison. Before she left she could hear Hugo say: "HEY!" to Laverne. Belle smiled, he finally caught on. NEW!!! Go to Chapter 3 Back to Fanfic Back to Index |