| The Hunchback of Notre Dame 3: Every Rose has its Thorn by Melissa Chapter 4 "I don't understand why, Belle! Why didn't you tell your parents about Aaron?" Victor asked that night while Quasi and Madellaine were asleep. He and Laverne were in her room while Hugo pouted out on the balcony. "You guys don't understand! There was something about him! I can't explain it --- he just seemed so innocent. I could feel how harmless and kind he was." "Sometimes it's good to go on a hunch or feeling, Belle, but it's not always safe to do," Laverne implied. Victor nodded. "But he didn't hurt me! He just left, like last time." "Only because your parents had returned...it startled him," Victor explained. "Well what about when I untied his foot? He ran off," Belle argued. "That may be true Belle, but that kid came back a second time, most likely to get what he didn't before," Laverne informed. "We strongly suggest you tell your parents...as soon as possible," Victor added. "I just need more time to figure this out. I have to find him!" "Not a good idea, Belle!" Victor said. "If you don't tell Quasi soon...we will," Laverne warned. "Please! Just give me time to sort things out, ok? Please?" "No, not the eyes! Anything but the eyes!" Victor said, covering his eyes with his hand. Belle looked on, her eyes were wide. They were swelling with tears. Victor peeked out. "Oh!" he complained. "Please just trust me on this!" Laverne and Victor exchanged glances. "Fine!" they retorted. "Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!" Belle said gratefully. "Hugo?" she called from her room. But he made no notice of her. Belle walked out into the balcony. "Woo! It's cold out here," she shuddered. "Hugo? Please don't tell mom and dad about Aaron! I need time to find him and sort things out!" Belle pleaded. "You don't understand! I worked really hard on that trap and it finally worked! And then I had to lie and say it didn't when it really did! Oh it really did!" Hugo sobbed. Belle hugged him. "Oh Hugo...I'm sorry." "Well you should be! My traps never worked like I wanted them to and now it finally happened!" He broke away and hopped on the railing. "Please! I promise, I'll help you make a new one!" Belle offered. "Hey! I work alone. But I'm not a snitch --- if you don't want me to tell them, I won't." Belle beamed. "Oh thank you!" she said, wrapping her arms around him. "I'm not so sure about this," Victor said as he put his hand to his mouth. "Are we ever?" Laverne added. "I have no idea who you are talking about, young lady. I've never seen anyone like that," a man caring a sack of potatoes said and then walked away. It was early the next morning and Belle was walking all over town trying to find Aaron. She had been asking the townspeople if they had seen a boy wearing a cloak. She made sure to give a detailed description of him, but no one knew who she was referring to. Belle knew he had to live nearby somewhere, but where? She could not ask Phoebus, for he would want to know why and he'd probably figure out Aaron was the one who broke in and arrest him. The last thing Belle wanted was for this boy to be arrested. Something in his eyes told her that he was in some sort of trouble, something was bothering him. And she had committed herself to helping him. "Hey Belle!" Zephyr shouted from far away. Belle turned around. He and Phoebus were approaching her. "Hi Zephyr! Hi Phoebus." "Long time no see! Hey, after I'm done, want to go for a ride?" he asked. "Uhhh, maybe a walk.," Belle suggested. "I'm sure your parents told you about Carlos Fuentes?" Phoebus asked. "Yes, they did." "They told me you are quite fond of him. But it's only in your best interest that you stay away from Fuentes until this is resolved. Trust me Belle, I've been captain of the guards for many years. I know people, I can see when they have guilty written all over their faces." Belle nodded and forced a smile. "I understand." She could not tell them Fuentes was innocent, because then she'd have to tell Phoebus it was Aaron to prove it. But Belle had no idea Aaron was Fuentes' nephew. After Zephyr was done with investigations for the day, he took a walk with Belle. "So I guess you're pretty upset about all of this, huh?" Zephyr finally asked. Belle nodded. "I just can't see him as being a bad person." "You're too sweet Belle, you don't see anyone as a bad person. You're always looking for the good in people."Belle smiled and blushed. She looked into his eyes and as he bent to kiss her a voice shouted from behind him. "Belle!" Belle looked around Zephyr and there stood Fuentes. He had a huge smile on his face. "Oh my dear! How are you?" he asked as he approached them. "Oh! Hello Monsieur Fuentes. I'm fine." "Oh good! And we are friends, no? Call me Carlos!" Zephyr frowned. "Well it was nice seeing you again, Monsieur Fuentes, but Belle and I have to head home," Zephyr said and then muttered: "Come on, Belle." The two began walking away. "Well...wait a minute dear! I never did get to see any of your paintings!" Belle stopped. "I, uh, well..." Then Zephyr spoke up: "We're very sorry but we really need to get going. Good--bye!" "Zephyr wait! I just can't brush him off like that --- with no explanation." "Belle!" he called as she walked back to Fuentes. "I'm sorry about that." "No need for apologies, my dear Belle. After all, I have at least one good friend who believes I am innocent." Belle was shocked: she did not know Fuentes knew about being a suspect. "You do believe I would not break into your home?" "Of course! I know you did not do it," Belle reassured him and then began: "But how do you know ---" Fuentes smiled. "I knew I could count on you dear! So do you think it would be possible to see your paintings?" Belle glanced at Zephyr. "Yes. Why don't you come tomorrow, around three o'clock? That way you can see all of them." Fuentes' face immediately brightened. Finally! he thought. "Splendid! I can't wait!" Belle smiled. "Then I bid you adieu!" Belle said and began to walk away but stopped. "Uh, Fuentes --- I mean Carlos?" "Yes?" he asked sweetly. "You haven't seen anyone around here? A boy? The left side of his face is scarred?" Fuentes was taken back. His mouth dropped open and his eyes were wide. But he finally managed to answer. "No. No I haven't. Good---night," he said, rather irritably. "Oh! Ok. Thanks anyway," Belle said and walked back to Zephyr. "What are you doing?! My dad said to stay away from him for now! What did you say?!" Belle wanted to tell Zephyr about Aaron but she feared he would tell Phoebus. "I, uh, just said I was sorry about him not being able to see my paintings." "Well you were over there awfully long. Please, promise me you won't talk to him anymore." "Ohhhh!" Belle groaned angrily. "I'm so sick of everyone telling me what I should or shouldn't do! Who I can be friends with and who I can't! Where I can go and where I can't! I'm just sick of it!" With that Belle stormed off. "Wait! Belle!" Zephyr shouted, but Belle continued to run. Belle cried herself to sleep that night. She was just so overwhelmed by everything. Everyone was telling her what to do. No one was allowing her to make her own decisions. Of course, she was old enough to understand that they just cared about her. But she also knew they thought of her only as a child. And so, because of her age, they felt she wasn't capable of making her own decisions. She felt the only person who ever made her feel like an adult, was Fuentes. "YOU IDIOT!" Fuentes shouted as he flung over a small end table. Aaron was crouched in the corner shielding his face with his arm. "How could you have let her see you! You're supposed to sneak in and sneak out! Now she's looking all over town for you!" Aaron's eyes widened. "She is?" he whispered. "Of course! She's probably already told the captain of the guards!" "NO! She...she promised me...that she wouldn't tell." "You talked to her?!" Fuentes shouted. Aaron raised his arm again in fear. "You talked to her?" Fuentes asked again, now in a bit calmer tone. "Mmmm, this gives me an idea. If for some reason, I can't get the gargoyle...you, you can persuade the girl." "Persuade her? To do what?" Aaron asked timidly. "You'll see." The next morning, Belle could hear, faintly, a voice calling her. On her shoulder she could feel a hand. "Belle? Belle? Come on, time to wake up!" Esmeralda was standing over her. She was dressed in her fiery red and purple outfit. Djali was standing near the doorway. "Esmeralda?" "Good morning! Guess what today is?" Belle knew: it was the Festival of Fools. "Yes, I know." But Belle had remembered her plan. Still lying underneath her covers, Belle asked: "Where're my mom and dad?" "They're down in the square helping Clopin get the rest of the preparations finished. They left very early this morning so they decided to let you sleep. Oh! I brought you your dress! I thought it matched your eyes perfectly. Look!" Esmeralda held it up. It was a crystal blue color with dark blue pieces of cloth hanging on either side of the waist. Djali brayed happily in agreement. It was very pretty, but Belle would not be wearing it. "Oh it's beautiful. I was really looking forward to dancing with you." "Was?" Esmeralda asked in a disappointed tone. "I don't feel well at all!" "Oh no! That's terrible," Esmeralda said as she felt Belle's forehead. "Hmm, you don't feel hot." "Oh! My head and my stomach!" Belle moaned as she put one hand on her head and the other on her stomach. "I'll be right back," Esmeralda said and left the room. Belle felt horrible, but she really wanted Fuentes to see her paintings, and so she decided to act sick in order to stay home. There would always be next year to go to the Festival of Fools; besides it wasn't like she had never gone. And there was no other time when Belle could let Fuentes in without her parents knowing. She felt horrible being sneaky, but she also thought Fuentes was innocent. "Are you all right kid?" Hugo asked as he popped his head in through the door. "Of course," Belle whispered. "Whimpin' out, uh?" Hugo chuckled as he hopped in. "No!" Belle exclaimed. "I would love to dance with Esmeralda ,but I have to stay home today." "Why?" "Well, I'm having a visitor." "A visitor?" Victor chimed in as he appeared in the doorway. Belle nodded. "Who?" Hugo asked. "You'll see," Belle answered and then flung herself back down when she heard Esmeralda approaching. "Here," Esmeralda said as she put a thermometer in Belle's mouth. When Esmeralda left again, Belle held the thermometer over the flame of a candle. "What do you think?" Belle asked as she held the thermometer to Victor's face. But Laverne's hand stretched out to examine it instead. She had obviously hopped in, unnoticed. "According to this...you're dead," Laverne said. "Let me get this straight kid: you're pretending to be sick because you're having a visitor?' Belle nodded. "Children these days," Victor sighed. Once Esmeralda had returned a few minutes later, she told Belle that she had informed Quasi and Madellaine about her being sick. "Well it's a shame you'll have to miss the festival, but you need your rest." Esmeralda told Belle. Belle nodded weakly. "Well I have to get going soon; is there anything you need before I go?" Belle shook her head. "No thank you Esmeralda, I'll be okay." "All right then, I'll see you later, Belle," Esmeralda said after she kissed her forehead and left. Once Belle was sure Esmeralda was gone she leapt out of bed, rushing into the main room. First she set out a bowl of grapes, a pitcher of water and a vase of flowers. The three gargoyles stood nearby, watching her as she raced around. "Hey, I know who the visitor is!" Hugo said as he elbowed Victor. "Zephyr!" Everything fell silent and even Belle stopped dead in her tracks. "No! It's not Zephyr," Belle replied. "Are you sure?" Victor teased. Belle's face went beet red but she had her back turned and replied with a firm "Yes." After everything was set, Belle sat on a chair, without much more to do but wait. Almost an hour had past and Belle could now hear the happy celebration of the Feast of Fools below. In the square, Clopin was running around as usual, making sure things were running smoothly, or crazy, actually. Madellaine was practicing her tightrope walking in a tent. Quasi was watching. Zephyr sat on Zeus behind his mother's tent, looking very much bored. I wonder what Belle's doing? Maybe I should bring her some flowers! he thought. Not far away, Fuentes was heading towards Notre Dame. He was wearing a mask to hide his identity. Even so, he had made sure to steer clear of Phoebus. He frowned at all of the people having a good time. What morons, he thought. Once he had reached Notre Dame, he pulled off his mask and cloak and headed towards the tower steps. "Well, I hate to tell ya this Belle, but I don't think your mystery guest is comin'," Hugo informed. Belle sighed. "Yeah, I guess you're right." But just then a heavy knock came from the door. Belle rushed over to the ladder, climbed down and raced outside. She opened the door and there stood Fuentes. "Why hello Belle!" he smiled brightly. Belle smiled back. "Hello Carlos!" "I do apologize for being late." "Oh that's all right! Better late than never!" Belle replied. "Oh, I can be late, but I would never not come at all! How could I pass up a chance to see some real art?" Belle blushed and then showed Fuentes the way to the bell tower. As Belle climbed the ladder, Fuentes searched the room for a gargoyle. "This is it," Belle said as she showed Fuentes her paintings. But he was too busy looking the other way to notice. "Carlos?" Belle asked. "Oh! Yes! How lovely," he said, walking over to them. He, of course, was not at all interested. Instead, after only glancing at Belle's work, he looked behind the painting. Belle raised her eyebrow in confusion. "Uh, why are you looking behind the painting?" "What?!" he asked as he spun around. "Well, I was, uh, curious! Um, to see what the canvas is made of!" "Oh," Belle frowned. "So...what do you think of them?" she asked sweetly. "Uh, yes, they're quite good. You're very talented," Fuentes replied as he lifted up the tablesheet. Belle raised an eyebrow in confusion. What was he doing? "I assure you...there's nothing under the table," Belle informed. "Oh!" Fuentes said as he nervously stood up, but bumped his head against the table's ledge. "Owww!" he shouted in pain. "Carlos! Oh! Are you okay?" Belle asked as she rushed over to him. From behind a curtain Hugo snickered. Fuentes stopped rubbing his head and looked over. From the other side of the room, Victor and Laverne's eyes went wide. "What was that?" Fuentes asked. "What?" Belle asked. "There was...a sound." Fuentes then walked over to the curtain. "Right...here!" he said as he thrust the curtain back. But instead of seeing Hugo, the enormous stone face stared back at him. Fuentes looked on, confused. Hugo was hiding behind the enormous face. "I assure you..." Belle said as she glanced nervously at Victor and Laverne. "There is no one else here." "I could have swore ---" Fuentes said as he went to scratch his head, but he quickly withdrew his hand because of the pain. "Are you sure you're all right?" Belle asked. "I'm quite fine, dear...but I was wondering, are there any...stone creatures here I may look at?" "Stone creatures?" Belle asked. Fuentes nodded. "I did mention I was a sculptor, did I not?" Meanwhile, from his hiding place, an enormous smile spread across Hugo's face. "I'm looking for some inspiration, like you were when I met you." "Oh! Well there are...the um ---" "Gargoyles?" Fuentes finished. "Uh, yes but I'm afraid you would not be able to take them. They belong to the church," Belle explained. "Why that's too bad...but would it be possible to look at one? Perhaps I could examine it and then sculpt it from memory?" "Uh...I don't see why not," Belle said as she glanced back over at Victor and Laverne, they immediately froze. "This is my big chance!" Hugo said happily as he rubbed his claws together. But as Belle was about to show Fuentes, a large bang came from behind the curtain. Fuentes looked over and saw Hugo, lying on the floor. Fuentes' eyes lit up as he stared at Hugo. "How magnificent!" he exclaimed as he rushed over. He placed Hugo upright and as he stared, Fuentes could imagine himself swimming in an enormous pool of gold. Belle looked on, confused, why had Hugo fallen over like that? After Fuentes had stopped dreaming, his creepy grin stretched across his face. This is it, I must do it now! The girl won't know what hit her when I tie her up and steal the gargoyle! As Fuentes began to rise to his feet, a voice came from below. "Belle?!" Belle's eyes went wide. "Zephyr!" Belle exclaimed. "Fuentes you have to leave! Now! Zephyr can't see you here with me!" Fuentes was not at all happy; Zephyr had just ruined his plan. "Go! Hurry! Down the south tower steps!" Belle whispered as she showed Fuentes the way. Reluctantly, Fuentes raced down the steps. Blast that annoying pest! It looks as if I'll have to do things the hard way, Fuentes thought. Meanwhile Belle raced over to her room, threw herself into her bed and thrust her blankets on top of her. "Belle? It's me," Zephyr said as he appeared outside. "I'm in here," Belle answered. Zephyr entered the room with a bouquet of wildflowers in his hand. "I'm real sorry you're sick...and I'm sorry about the other day. Here, I picked some flowers for you." Belle smiled. "That's ok. Thank you for the flowers, they're beautiful. I'm feeling better already." Zephyr smiled. Meanwhile, Victor and Laverne were demanding Hugo of why he had fallen on purpose like that. "What?! The guy's an artist! He wanted to sculpt me! Didn't ya hear him? He said I was 'magnificent'," Hugo bragged. Victor rolled his eyes. "That guy was the suspect! Carlos Fuentes! Don't you remember? The guy Phoebus was talking about?" Laverne said. "So what?! He took notice of me! He couldn't be a criminal. You guys are such pessimists," Hugo said as he whipped out a hand mirror and started admiring himself. Victor sighed. "I give up!" he said waving his hand at Hugo. "We have to talk to Belle about this!" said Laverne. "Zephyr?! Are you up here?" Quasi asked as his head appeared from the ladder. "Uh, yeah Quasi!" he answered. "Your father's been looking for you." Zephyr sighed. "Well, I'd better get back to work. He's gonna be on my case the entire night now," Zephyr said. "Bye Zephyr," Belle said. "Bye Belle, I hope you feel better soon. Bye Quasi, I'll see you later," Zephyr said and headed towards the door. Quasi smiled and patted his shoulder before he left. "So, how are you doing?" Quasi asked as he knelt by Belle's bed. "I'm doing..." Belle answered. Quasi felt her head. "You're not hot, that's a good sign." "Oh! Really?" Quasi glanced over at the lit candle on Belle's night table: the thermometer was lying next to it. "Belle...you were fine yesterday." Belle stared at him, he knew. "You know you didn't have to lie! Esmeralda would have understood." "What?" Belle asked. "I know you were nervous about dancing in front of all those people, you've never done it before. All you had to do was tell her." "Oh!" For a minute, Belle thought Quasi had found out about Fuentes. "I'm sorry. I just didn't want her to know I didn't want to do it." "Well, that's all right but remember, next time...just tell the truth, ok?" Belle smiled. "Sure Dad." But Belle wasn't at all happy about lying to her father. She was taking his trust forgranted. The next afternoon, Madellaine and Quasi went out for an early dinner together. Belle had decided to stay home, but not without protest from her parents: they were not comfortable leaving her alone. But in the end Belle had persuaded them to go out by themselves. "They can have a nice romantic dinner together," Belle told the gargoyles as she started to set up her paints. "Well that was very thoughtful of you dear," Victor commented. "Yeah! What are ya up to?" Hugo asked suspiciously. Laverne quickly thumped him on the head. "Hey!" he protested. "What are you talking about?" Belle asked as she spun around with a jar of blue paint in her hand. "You're waiting for that Aaron guy again...aren't you?" Laverne asked. Belle sighed and sat down on one of the rafters to look outside. "I don't think I'll be seeing him again," she replied. "Never say never!" Victor said. "Well, lets hope he doesn't return," sid Laverne, hopping away. Belle turned around. "Why not, Laverne? You don't like him?" "You have to be careful...you musn't forget he broke in --- twice!" Laverne reminded. Belle shook her head. "No, he's kind and harmless." "Well, don't look now, but here comes kind and harmless!" Hugo announced as he peered over the balcony. "What?!" Belle asked in surprise. She looked over and sure enough, Aaron was scaling the building. "It is him!" Belle leapt off the rafter and rushed to the balcony. "Aaron!" Belle exclaimed as she helped him over the railing. "I thought I'd never see you again!" Aaron pulled off his hood and smiled. "Hi Belle." On Aaron's shoulder, a small pigeon was perched. "Oh! And who is this?" Belle asked. "This is Henry! He's my friend," Aaron said as he took the bird in his hand. Belle petted him gently and the pigeon cooed happily. "A lucky pigeon!" Belle replied and Aaron blushed. "Oh great! Another one!" Laverne complained from inside. There were a flock of pigeons on her already! "They're so beautiful...you're a wonderful artist. You'll be famous someday," Aaron said as he gazed at Belle's work. "Thank you, it's been my dream to become a famous painter." Belle was sitting on a pillow on the floor, Henry was sleeping in her lap. "You have such great talent. Unlike me," Aaron said as he sat down beside her. Belle frowned. "I don't believe that...everyone is talented in something! Don't you have a dream?" Aaron bowed his head and shook it. Belle took his chin in her hand and said: "I think you do." Aaron blushed but looked away. "There must be something you like?" Belle asked. "Well --- no, forget it...it's stupid." "No! Tell me! A dream can never be stupid!" Aaron sighed. "I've always wanted to climb a great mountain, like Everest!" Belle smiled. "Well, you certainly have the ability! In fact, now you can scratch Notre Dame off your list!" Aaron laughed and Belle joined in. A few feet away the gargoyles started to laugh too. Aaron gasped and spun around but the gargoyles had frozen. Belle put her hand to her mouth, afraid Aaron had heard. He stood up slowly. "The gargoyles..." he said as he stared at them. He remembered his uncle and what he was sent there to do. "Uh, yes...do you like them?" Belle asked nervously. Aaron walked closer to examine them. "They didn't just laugh, did they?" Belle giggled anxiously. "Oh Aaron! You have such imagination!" Aaron smiled, but he knew that they did...these were the ones. And he knew Belle would not come out and tell him...yet. "I'm really glad you decided to come back! Maybe next time you could meet my parents! I'm sure they'd love to meet you," Belle said. The sun was setting now and Quasi and Madellaine would be returning any moment. Aaron was sitting on the railing. "I don't think so, Belle..." "Oh, but..." Belle began, but she did not want to force him and she did not want to scare him away. "All right. Perhaps another time." "Good night," Aaron said as he climbed down. Henry flew after him. "Good night!" Belle called. "I think we need to talk," Quasi said to Belle the next night. "About what?" she asked as she set her spoon down onto her plate. The family was eating dinner now. "Your father and I...well, we're worried about you," Madellaine explained. Belle frowned. "There's no reason to be worried, Mom, I'm just fine." "You haven't been painting as much as you used to, Belle," Quasi informed. Belle glanced at her paintings. "Well, I just figured I needed a break...that's all." "It's not because of Fuentes...is it? Because Phoebus..." Madellaine began. "No! No Mom...it's not him. I haven't even seen him, much less spoken with him in a while." Quasi and Madellaine looked at each other. "Believe me! Everything's fine! I promise...I'm just taking a little break from painting for a while, that's all." "All right...but you would tell us if something were wrong, right?" Quasi asked. "Of course!" From the balcony the three gargoyles looked at each other nervously. They were beginning to think that keeping all these secrets from Quasi was a very bad idea. For many nights now, when Quasi and Madellaine were absent, Aaron was a regular visitor. He would come and see Belle...he was happy he was finally making a friend. Belle saw him for who he was and not for what he looked like. They would play games, like marbles or hide and seek. They would even read to each other or gaze upon the magnificent scenery. However, Aaron knew that his uncle would stop at nothing to steal the gargoyle. Fuentes would remind him very night that he was doing this only to eventually take the gargoyle. "Besides, do you really think such a beautiful girl could love such a hideous face?" Fuentes told Aaron one night. "He's right,"Aaron sighed sadly. "But maybe, just maybe...she might," he whispered to Henry after Fuentes was gone. Aaron turned to the window and pulled back the tiny curtain. He gazed upon the enormous church and said: "I wonder what she's doing now." Aaron lifted his head and walked over to the steep staircase and peered down. Henry looked at him curiously from the window. "I have to see her again! I have to tell her how I feel, right Henry?" The bird nodded his small head happily. "Ok! I'll do it! Stay here. I'll be back as soon as I can." With that, Aaron grabbed his cloak and slipped it on. He climbed out of his window, then down the house and raced off to Notre Dame. Meanwhile, Belle was sitting on the stool behind one of the canvases. She had finally found her inspiration and she was busily painting. But then, she heard a knock at the door. "Coming!" Belle set down the paintbrushes and rushed to the door. "Who is it?" "It's me! Zephyr!" Belle unlocked the latch and opened the door. "Hey!" he said as he held out an enormous bouquet of wild roses. All of them were yellow, Belle's favorite flower. "Oh Zephyr! They're beautiful...thank you." Zephyr followed her up to the tower. Once at the table, Belle found a vase and stuck the flowers in them. "You know...I'm feeling much better now...you didn't have to give me these!" "Well...who says I gave them to you because you're ill?" Zephyr said as he walked over to her. Belle looked into his eyes and smiled. But at the moment, Aaron was scaling the building; he was almost to the top. He was muttering to himself: "Ok...uh, Belle? I uh, I really like you! A lot! No! That's stupid," he said as he finally reached the railing. As Aaron climbed over, his eyes met with Belle and Zephyr. Aaron gasped but before he could duck back down, Zephyr spotted him. "HEY! WHO'S THERE?!" he demanded. Belle looked over and whispered, "Aaron!" Zephyr rushed to the ledge but before he could get there, Belle grabbed him by the arm. "It was nothing! Probably just a bird!" Zephyr shook his head. "No Belle, I saw a face." Just under the railing, Aaron was clutching to the building. "Maybe I should stay for a while," Zephyr said as he drew his sword. "That could have been the guy that broke in before! I don't want to even think what could have happened to you if I weren't here." "Zephyr, I..." "What's wrong?" he asked as he began to pace up and down the balcony. Belle sighed, "Can you keep a secret?" That got his attention. Zephyr's face shot up. "Depends on what it is," he replied. "Zephyr! You have to promise you won't tell a soul!" "Ok, ok, I won't say anything...but if it's something that might put you in danger..." "Zephyr ---" "Belle, I'm serious...I care about you...a lot, a lot, a lot." Belle smiled. "I do too," she said as she hugged him. Zephyr smiled. Meanwhile, Aaron was still underneath the railing, he had heard everything. He looked away sadly and then began to climb down. He didn't want to hear anymore. "I have to tell my dad, Belle! I have to!" Zephyr insisted. "No! You promised!" "Belle! I only promised if it wasn't something dangerous and this is dangerous!" "No! Aaron isn't dangerous at all! He's kind...and he's my friend." Zephyr sighed. "Zephyr, please...trust me. I know him, if only you could meet him too." "Perhaps I should." "Well, he's very shy...he doesn't even want to meet my parents." Zephyr smirked. "I wonder why." "It's because of...of his accident," Belle explained. "Accident?" Belle nodded. "The left side of his face is completely burnt. He was in a fire when he was very little. His entire family died except for him." "Wow. Really?" "So you have to promise not to tell, not yet anyway," Belle said. "Then when? When will you decide to tell your parents?" "Tell them what?" Quasi asked as he appeared from the ladder. Belle looked nervously over at Zephyr, her eyes were begging him to keep quiet. "Well..." he began. "Belle, umm," Zephyr exhaled. "Well, they got us Belle! We didn't want to tell you, but umm, Belle was going to paint a picture for you! Of me!" Madellaine appeared from behind Quasi. She looked at Quasi. "Ohhh!" Quasi said. "That's...nice," Madellaine said. Belle rolled her eyes, but she was glad Zephyr had not told them. "Well, I'd better get goin'! Good night Belle." "Good night!" Belle said and then mouthed: "Thank you." "Good night Zephyr," Quasi smiled as Zephyr climbed down the ladder. "Bye!" Madellaine said. "Well that's really nice of you to paint him! He's been busting for a portrait for a while now," Quasi said. "Yeah!" Belle giggled nervously. Madellaine smiled. "So...did you start it yet?" Madellaine asked. "Is this it?" Quasi asked as he examined one of the canvases. Belle gasped. "Uh, no!" she said as she threw a blanket over it. "Top secret, uh?" Quasi asked. Belle nodded. "Yeah...top secret." Aaron sadly hopped into the window of his room, his eyes expressed nothing but sorrow. Belle cared for Zephyr, a handsome guard in training, not him. Not a disfigured nobody. Aaron sighed as he slid his cloak off of him, letting it fall to the floor. When he looked up he gasped. Fuentes was standing near the staircase. He seemed calm and collected. In his hands sat Henry, Fuentes was petting him. "Uncle...I--I--" "Did you enjoy your stroll out? Went to see the girl, didn't you?" "I'm sorry." "Oh don't be sorry! A man cannot suppress how he feels for a woman. Love is a natural thing." Aaron looked up. His uncle was acting very strange. "Uncle?" "Well...tell me, what happened?" Fuentes began to pet Henry even harder. Aaron looked on nervously. He knew if Fuentes got into a rage he would hurt Henry. "I uh...didn't get to speak with her." "Oh? Why is that?" "She cares for another...the captain's son." "Ohhhh, how typical! Well, can't say that I didn't warn you," Fuentes said as he placed Henry in Aaron's arms. "It's to be expected: A beautiful girl will fall in love with a handsome man. So, now do you see? Such a world will not accept you." Aaron looked away. "Here, take this." Fuentes handed Aaron a small, rolled up piece of paper. Aaron took it and asked: "What...what is it?" Fuentes smiled. "You will attach this note to your little homing pigeon and send him off to the Cathedral." "What does it say?" "It is not of your concern...those words are for the girl's eyes only. Do not read it, just simply do as I say. There will be more directions for you later on." Fuentes headed for the stairs as Aaron continued to examine the paper. "And remember, I only expect the best from you Aaron," Fuentes finished, and then descended the steep stairs. Go to Chapter 5 Back to Fanfic Back to Index |