Page 1 of The Hunchback

Chapter 1

Kwazeem

Iopened the window to let the sun shine into the room and over my miserable existence. The frames glowed with a soft, white light, as did many things in Paris: the City of Lights. Turning around, I cast a final look at the sumptuous bedroom to make sure everything was in order. Praetor Frollo would give me an earful if I mucked things up.

With heavy steps, I approached the massive bed to fix the light-blue sheets embroidered with lumis which covered it. The fine, luminous thread adjusted its glow to the brightness of the room or to voice commands. Currently at minimum dimness, it made it harder to notice that the pattern in the right corner wasn’t perfectly aligned with the one on the left. Although the Vestal who would soon take possession of this room probably wouldn’t care, I could get a little obsessive-compulsive about things.

The Vestal Esmeralda…

The whole city was beside itself with excitement. Many Vestals had come through our temple, Our Lady of Paris, but she would be the first Anointed in over a century. And that made her a trophy Praetor Frollo would definitely want to add to his collection. But hopefully, he wouldn’t tire of her as quickly as he had the others. The city’s energy reserves were depleting quickly. As an Anointed, she would technically be able to summon far more power than the city had ever seen before, and refill the Well.

The bedroom door opening startled me. I cursed myself inwardly for having allowed my mind to wander rather than properly triple check that nothing would meet his disapproval.

Frollo’s tall and broad silhouette filled the door frame as his piercing blue eyes peered into the room with a severe gaze, assessing my work. My eyes flicked left and right, pleased with the stunning floral arrangements I had set around the room, before settling back on his sickeningly handsome face. He was the embodiment of perfection—everything I wasn’t. Below-the-shoulder golden blond hair framed his rectangular face with a cleft chin. His wide mouth, with plush lips usually stretched in a suave smile when addressing the people, was currently pursed as he examined the room.

Despite his athletic physique, I was more muscular than he, and technically taller as well. But that wretched hump on my back systematically kept me in a bowed, servile position that gave off the impression he towered over me.

And I hated it.

Frollo lifted his straight, Roman nose at me, a satisfied expression on his face. “You’ve done well, Kwazeem,” Frollo said in that deep voice that had the women in the city throw themselves at his feet. “This day needs to be perfect.”

He walked around the room and ran a finger over the surface of the wide vanity before checking its tip for any traces of dust. I kept my hands behind my back to hide my fisting them in aggravation. The Praetor should know the cleaning staff was thorough when it came to a Vestal’s quarters.

“Remember to remain out of sight when Esmeralda arrives,” Frollo said in a stern voice, his gaze still searching the room for any flaw. “You are not to speak to her or come anywhere near her, even with your hood on. In fact, see that she remains oblivious of your presence. She is Anointed. Even the High Seraph is eager to make her acquaintance. But I am determined to make her mine.”

I snorted inwardly. How could this foolish human possibly think he could rival an Elohim? The High Seraph Phoebus was pretty much a god in beauty, power, and charisma. Every single woman within the two planets and seven moons that formed the Nine Circles, be she Vestal or commoner, dreamed of becoming his consort.

Seeming fully satisfied at last, Frollo turned to look at me, his features taking on an almost paternal expression. This told me I was free at last. Although my face remained impassive, I internally breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

“Esmeralda’s personal belongings are waiting in the Great Hall,” the Praetor continued. “Would you be so kind as to bring them up, as well as the welcome basket Malina has prepared for my future mate? The staff is still scrambling to sort out the rest of the preparations, and I have more duties to attend before Esmeralda’s arrival.”

“Of course,” I replied with a shrug. Although I wasn’t a servant, I didn’t mind performing these occasional tasks to help, especially as they gave me an excuse to traipse around areas of the temple I was normally forbidden access to.

“Thank you,” Frollo said with genuine appreciation. “When you’re done, go back to your quarters and remain there until I give you the all clear tomorrow. Your replicator should be full. You can have one of those meals for supper tonight and breakfast in the morning.”

“Yes, Praetor,” I said, hiding my disappointment. I had hoped to go hunt some game for my meal, rather than the lame leftovers I often received from the kitchen. But the replicator food was reasonably decent. “Will that be all?”

As soon as he nodded, I made a swift exit and headed for the lift. It was positioned in the middle of the back wall of the half-moon-shaped corridor. Four bedrooms occupied this floor, two on each side of the elevator. For Esmeralda, Frollo had conveniently chosen the bedroom adjacent to his, with a secret communicating door. The Praetor had done this in the past. However, there had usually been at least a couple more honorific guests conveniently occupying the other rooms.

But this was none of my concern.

The circular glass doors of the lift swished open before me, and the three rings of the round platform lit up when I stepped on it.

“Ground,” I said, and the hovering platform swiftly flew down the ten stories of the temple’s spire.

An eerie silence greeted me in the Great Hall. My steps echoed loudly in the large, empty room, with its tall, white columns covered with swirly patterns of light. I instinctively walked around the luminous symbol of Vesta etched with glow stones on the dark blue, polished stone floor that covered the hall. For some silly reason, walking over it always gave me the impression of trampling the goddess herself. Similar to the ancient Roman symbol on Earth, it was made out of two superposed V shapes representing a brazier. However, the flame of old burning above it had been replaced by a glowing sun with electric sunrays.

To my surprise, Esmeralda had sent very little personal belongings. Only one ceremonial crate containing her Vestal dresses and two bags of luggage sat on the hovercart at the entrance of the hall.

I averted my eyes from the tall doors of the temple which opened onto the grand plaza and the Well of Power, which provided energy for the city and annexed towns. The doors had never opened for me. They never would. I was an abomination, a shameful secret that Frollo zealously protected… for my own safety.

Love and hatred filled my heart in equal measure as far as the Praetor was concerned. I lived by his mercy. He was my cold, indifferent ‘jailor’ and my only human contact. He had provided me with shelter, food, and protection. And once a month, he treated the terrible affliction that would otherwise either kill me or condemn me to a lifetime of agony. Even now, the dull pain at the base of my hump was steadily growing. By the time the Festival of Light came rolling in at the end of the week, it would reach excruciating levels that only the Praetor could relieve me of.

And so I endure.

With a sigh, I led the hovercart right beside the lift before going to fetch the welcome basket in the kitchen. Malina and the rest of the staff would be out on errands or other duties. Frollo would have never let me come down otherwise. The basket sat on a tray with two small covered dishes. The contents of the basket made my mouth water and my stomach rumble. Exotic fruits and cheeses, fresh breads, and a bottle of mulled wine enticed me. I didn’t know what the two small plates contained, but decided not to further torture myself by finding out.

When I got back to the tenth floor where Esmeralda’s room was located, I was relieved to find her door open and Frollo gone.

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