[Private] The Hunchback of Notre Dame (AdAstra)

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Still a bit shaken up, Aimee managed to give Phoebus a smile. It was a geninue one. She was thankful even though she was scared, and quite chuffed about meeting someone nice in this gloomy place. She had come to the conclusion she might not ever be let out, but now, she could see things either getting bad or getting extremely bad. She didn't dare run away. She watched him step towards the door,

"Well, whatever the outcome is it isn't going to be good eh?", she said, recovering some of her usual self, she quietened down, remembering her situation enterily. "It was nice meeting you too Captian...maybe we'll um...meet again sometime soon".

She still didn't know why Frollo had seen Phoebus, or why his presence was requested, but she wasn't going to wait to ask. She turned and went up the stairs, back to her room. She sat thinking about what she saw, and the scolding she was going to get later. It would take her a while to really register what had happened.

[AdAstrα]

"It'd be a pleasure to meet you again, Aimee." Phoebus said kindly, before he opened the door and stepped outside.

The streets outside the Palace of Justice were empty as usual, avoided by everyone who had a good reason to, but from afar one could already sense the movement of people, laughing and chatting to one another, unable to contain their excitement and anticipation. The Feast of Fools was approaching and spirits were high, for everyone looked forward to the festival despite the recent raids and executions. It was the only excuse for celebration in this dark, cruel world; a tiny glimmer of joy nobody wanted to let pass unnoticed.

[UncoordinatedPisces]

It was now late evening and a eerie silence desecened over the Palace of Justice. Not even screams were heard. Through-out the night there would be, but for now, it was silent. Aimee had not seen the maid since, she had obviously been busy. Sighing, Aimee brushed her hair through. She was in her night dress, and her hair was down arcoss her shoulders. She looked best at night or in morning.

She stood looking in the mirror, wondering if Frollo had forgotten. She shook her head, of course he hadn't. "At least I got to meet Captian Phoebus", she thought, her lips curling into a small smile. "He was kinda handsome I guess....". Aimee almost giggled, mainly at herself. She had never really taken interest in guys, but had often looked at them.

She wasn't very trusting, and appreciated loyalty and honesty, two qualities that were hard to come across. Captavated in her own thoughts, she paid no attention of sounds around her. She hummed to herself, still brushing her long almost silky smooth hair.

[AdAstrα]

Frollo made no attempt to hide his anger when he burst in through the door minutes later. Today had definitely not gone as planned; even if Captain Phoebus had indeed left a very good impression on him, even if justice had been administered in many important trials. The anger and humiliation he felt at Aimee daring to so much as think about going downstairs far outweighed the positive things that had come from today, and tomorrow could only be worse. The Feast of Fools....what a curse these gypsies had brought upon the city...

As the maid promptly appeared in the hallway, he glared at her. If anyone was to blame for this, it was her. Had he not told her to never leave the girl alone for any longer periods of time? Was it not her responsibility, when he was away, to make sure she did not wander off?

"You." he said, his voice deep and menacing as it always was when he was angry, "You have not done your job today." Estelle gazed at him, her dark eyes widening in horror, realising what he was about to do as he raised his hand. Seconds later, she was on the floor, blood running down her forehead. Her sobs echoed through the hall as Frollo walked towards Aimee's room, closing the door behind him as he stepped over the threshold.

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Aimee had heard nothing, still humming to herself. If she had knew what was going on in the hallway, she would of made an attempt to do something, for she liked Estelle. Although, what could she of done? The 15 year old was again thinking about Phoebus. It would be great to see him again, she could find out more about him and likewise about her. It was just as she placed her hairbrush back down she heard footsteps. Then the click of a door shutting. Frollo was behind her.

She knew it was him...who else could it be? Estelle hadn't footsteps like that and no one came into her room. Aimee froze to the spot, feeling the hairs at the back of her neck rise in pure fear. She had been dreading this, and anyway nice thoughts she had about either Phoebus or just in general went out of her mind. All she could hear was his breaths, and her now quickened uneasy ones. She couldn't bring herself to turn around, and dared to glance in the mirror to see him standing there.

Aimee could see something on his hand...was it...blood? She felt her heart in her mouth as she finally turned around to face him. Aimee wasn't going to sink so low that she'd be paralyzed with fear. Or so she thought. The young girl tried to find something to say to him, but the words weren't coming. Instead she stood, looking up at him, waiting for whatever was going to happen.

[AdAstrα]

Frollo saw her reflection and was, once again, reminded of his sister on that dark night long ago, when she had realised that she was no longer part of their family. Aimee's facial expression was almost exactly the same as she watched him; her blue eyes wide with fear, trying desperately to think of something to say but unable to make a sound.

Frollo did not know what to say either, and therefore he remained silent for a minute or two. Noticing the traces of blood on his hand, he hastily wiped it off on his cloak. Then, he took a few steps forward.

"You have disobeyed me." he said, his eyes almost bulging with anger, but the manner in which he spoke was still relatively calm. "I told you not to wander off, but you did. And for this, I want an explanation."

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Aimee felt a little uncomfortable, only wearing her night dress, and the fact she was terrified as well didn't help. She listened to Frollo, and part of her wished he'd just shout at her and leave. She didn't have an explanation. Aimee simply went investigating because she was curious. She couldn't think of a way to put it into a sentence or two though. She refrained herself from looking Frollo in the eye, that would only make it worse.

"I-um...", she started, noticing her voice was weak. She had never sounded so helpless in all her life. Aimee didn't like that feeling, she wondered how one man could have such a frightening affect on her that she wasn't even able to speak. No, she wasn't going to let that happen. "I just wanted a c-change of scenery and maybe see a few new faces. You get to go everywhere, and I-I've gone from being in town e-every day to being s-stuck in one room". She was surprised she had even managed to get that much out.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm g-grateful...but if Mum knew...". She stopped abruptly. Aimee herself didn't know if she was referring to her being cooped up all day, or what she had saw down in the dungeons. Either way, if her mother knew about either she'd be furious. How Aimee longed to have her mother with her at times like this.

[AdAstrα]

"I don't care!" Frollo shouted, "I don't care if you'd rather run around like some street rat, but when I tell you to stay in here that is what I'll expect you to do! You will not disobey me again, do you hear me? I will not tolerate it!"

He stared at her, shaking with fury. The girl with blonde hair and blue eyes, so remarkably like her mother....a girl who had now also turned out to have inherited her mother's personality, her free spirit and all the trouble that had brought upon their family...

But history would not repeat itself. He was going to teach her, and if she wasn't willing to listen, it would have to be the hard way. Never again would she dare disobey him...

"As a punishment, you will not be given anything to eat tomorrow. Let's see if that makes you appreciate what you have." He said, smirking. "And don't count on Estelle. You might not see much of her for a few days." He was just about to turn around and leave when Aimee spoke again. If mum knew. He gazed at her again, wondering how to interpret this. Surely she did not mean for it to sound like a threat? Surely she would not dare?

"Your mother is dead." he said, opening the door, "I think it's time you remembered that."

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Aimee didn't know whether to be upset or angry, she ended up being both. There was no denying that she was scared, she couldn't believe someone in her family could be so terrifying. Yet, she often wondered what her mother's father was like. She didn't care much about the punishment, yet she had been used to eating regularly for two weeks. She shook it off, she was used to not eating for a whole day. However, her eyes narrowed slightly when he mentioned Estelle. The blood on his hand, and the fact he said this made her come to a conclusion he must of done something.

She was worried for a split second, Estelle was how she coped in the Palace of Justice. His next words however stung, they were pulling on the heartstrings and not in a good way. She could feel her eyes watering, and tried to hold back a tear. Instead, it just slid down her cheek. She had to retaliate, she wasn't going to let that comment get the better of her. She was more than this. Aimee knew that after she said her next comment, she'd be in even deeper trouble, but the tone of her voice was so serious, so confident, that she was positive Frollo was going to feel that one.

"My mother was your sister, and I think it's time you remembered that as well".

[AdAstrα]

Frollo stopped abruptly, a loud gasp of horror escaping his lips. He stared at her, his eyes widening in shock; unable to believe what he had just heard at first. Then, he felt his heart pounding, anger rising like a cauldron of boiling water inside his chest. The little heathen....he could not believe she had the nerve to talk back to him like that! How dared she!

Overwhelmed with anger, he found no words that seemed adequate for this situation. Instead he raised his hand, just like he had done minutes ago with Estelle, and hit Aimee hard across the cheek, sending her flying backwards and landing on the floor, gasping for air.