| Shadows in the Night By Sailor Esmeralda She ran through the twisted streets, terror sweat running down her neck and forehead. The shadows behind her were on her tail as she turned the corner. She stopped short. More shadows. Thinking quickly, the girl ran down an alleyway and leaped onto a roof from a barrel. �Yikes!� She lost her footing for a moment, but was able to get back up. �After her!� adark sinister voice commanded. The shadows, unsure of what do to do, followed her path on the street as she leaped from house to house. The shadows were running breathless and had to stop. This gave the girl a sporting chance. Jumping down onto some boxes, the girl ran for cover in a little alcove. There she waited until the danger passed. Coming out of her hiding place, the girl dusted herself off and looked around. She looked up at the Notre Dame, and smiled to herself. Knowing the danger wasn�t over; she quickly looked for the entrance to safety. Little did she know that a golden shadow waited for her and followed the girl home. She came to an alleyway just before the bridge across the flowing Seine. She checked every side of her and crawled into a small hole. The gold shadow waited for the girl to disappear and then followed. It followed her through the catacombs under Paris. The smell of death and sewer wafted around and shadow almost passed out from it. She stopped for a minute and out from the wall sprang skeletons. But they weren�t real. They were men dressed in the rotting bones. �Ahh � welcome back Esmeralda!� A lanky man announced. She smiled at him and went on her way, wanting to eat and sleep. The golden shadow peered out from its place behind the wall. How ever was he going to get past?! Then it struck him as he knelt down. A skeleton had become dislodged from the wall. Thank goodness for him he wore regular clothes, not armor. The bones, still in the stage of decay, easily clung to his clothes. He found some soot and covered his face and hair. Then came out and walked boldly in the direction Esmeralda had headed. �And where do you think you�re going?� the lanky man asked, keeping hold of the other man�s arm. �I� I � I was just leaving to go to the bathroom and get a drink of water.� �Oh, well all right. Just be quick!� He released him and the gold shadow headed for the entrance. He was in utter awe when he came to the infamous Court of Miracles. It was an entire town built from scraps of wood, lead, stone and cloth. He looked around for Esmeralda. Someone spotted him and walked over. It was the man she was with on the feast of fools. �Can I help you, friend?� �Er�Yes I�m look�n for Esmeralda.� �Oh well, she�s right over there. Here I�ll take you to her.� �No! Really it�s okay I�� The shadow was cut off as the large gypsy pulled him across the Court. �Esmeralda, this guy wants to see you!� Esmeralda looked up to see a man dressed up in quick skeleton costume. His face and hair was covered by a small amount of soot. Esmeralda raised a quick eyebrow. �What do you want?� The shadow fumbled over his words �I�I�I need to talk to you.� �Okay� She turned and gave him her full attention. �I�I�I mean alone.� �Oh.� She eyed him and led him to her tent. He entered and was taken aback. There was little to nothing in the small tent. A small straw bed was lumped in one corner. A small wooden chest stood on end of the bed and a table with one chair was in the other corner. Her clothes were hung in a beaten up amore at the very end of the tent. �Have a seat� Esmeralda motioned the rickety chair. She sat on the bed, with her goat curled around her feet. He sat down, but his weight was too much for the chair. After two minutes of sitting, he fell through the bottom and smashed the rest on the way down. Esmeralda could see deep red coloring through the crud disguise. �I am so sorry! I�ll get you a new one!� He scrambled to his feet. Esmeralda grabbed his arm and helped steady him. �It�s okay, really, that chair would have broken any day.� The deep red of his face deepened further and he tried to leave again. �Here now, sit down, you�re fine.� She put him on the bed. �I�ll be right back.� He looked around again and rubbed his sore bottom and shook his head. Esmeralda came back with a bucket and linen. �I don�t know how you know me, but if you�re looking for a safe place to hide, here is the place.� �But�but�I� All of a sudden she put a wet linen on his head and took another and began washing his face. �Please, no!� he began. Esmeralda gasped as a face appeared. �YOU!� She almost screamed. Esmeralda ran for the exit, but Phoebus was quicker. He stopped her and covered her mouth while holding on to her hands. She kicked him hard in the groin, but he was able to shake it off. He slowly backed to the bed. Phoebus set her down on the bed and covered her feet with his. �Listen to me.� Phoebus moved closer to her face. �I am not going to hurt you or arrest you.� She tried to break free, fear flashing in her eyes. Phoebus sighed. �I am not going to rape you either. Will you just listen?� She settled down a little, but still was on her guard. �I am sorry that I scared you. I just had to see you again. So I followed you here. I wanted make sure you�re all right.� He looked deeply into her eyes. �And no, I wasn�t one of the ones chasing you, nor did I give the order to do so.� Esmeralda looked into his ocean eyes and saw the sincerity in them. Phoebus slowly released her hands and feet, then finally her mouth. �You could get in a lot of trouble for being here.� Esmeralda whispered. �You should leave while still can.� Phoebus ran his huge hand through her silky hair and whispered back. �But I want to stay.� Her eyes widened, but she kept her cool. �You can�t stay here. For one you�re not allowed and two you have no place to sleep.� Phoebus grinned, �Well you have a bed, and I promise not to toss and turn too much�� �NO! Absolutely not!� �And why not? It�s not like I am here for a good time. Just here to see you.� Phoebus smiled; his face like an innocent child. �NO! No, no, no, no. You�re evil! And a solider and�� Her words were cut off as his lips came down on her in a kiss more intimate then she had ever known. Esmeralda froze, but soon melted into the embrace. Phoebus left her lips. �Fine, but if you do anything...� Esmeralda began. �I won�t! Promise! Soldier�s honor.� He looked at her sheepishly. �But what I am going to wear?� Esmeralda crawled in bed after Phoebus. After many debates, both decided that he should wear his �unmentionables� to bed. He was lying facing her, a smile upon his strong face. Esmeralda turned around, making him stare her back. Phoebus scooted closer and rubbed his nose in her silky ebony hair. �Phoebus?� �Yes?� �Do you have a wife?� He chuckled. �No. How old do you think I am?� Esmeralda blushed a little. � Well I kinda thought you were at least forty.� �Forty! Ugh! I�m hurt.� Phoebus turned over and took all the covers with him. �Phoebus!� Esmeralda took back her covers and curled up in a tight ball. �Oh Essie...� �Only my friends call me that!� She called from under the covers. �How old are you anyway, Phoebus?� �I am three and twenty years. How �bout you? You seem pretty young� �I�m eighteen� Phoebus rubbed his chin thoughtfully. �Eighteen huh? Boy you are a young one, but not too young for my tastes.� �That was the worst attempt at a flirt if I ever saw one.� �Why thank you! I didn�t expect it to work.� �Phoebus I�m tired, can we please go to sleep?� �Okay, okay� They both lay down facing each other. �Good-night� Phoebus leaned over and kissed her forehead. �Night� Both fell into a dreamless slumber. The following morning, Esmeralda awoke to find the golden shadow had left. Smiling she went back to sleep. The End Back to Fanfic Back to Index |