Page 6 of The Hunchback

Esmeralda

After draping my white sarong into a one-shoulder dress, I slipped on a pair of flat sandals and quickly brushed my long, curly hair. For a moment, I considered tying it up but decided to let it flow freely down my back.

The thought of breakfast with Frollo had lost its appeal last night. Him zapping the imp, clearly in distress and coming to him for assistance, had been shocking. That he’d intended to actually kill it had been repulsive. Granted, imps were not naturally welcomed among the human colonies of the Nine Circles. While mostly non-aggressive, they usually sought the companionship of Fallen the same way dogs sought that of humans. So, what in the world was it doing in Vesta’s temple of all places?

But the indifferent way in which he had reacted to his gardener’s malaise had truly disturbed me. While I didn’t approve of cruelty towards pets, that he’d been so laid-back about another human being’s suffering spoke volumes about his questionable morals and apparent lack of empathy. Even if the Attunement Chant was meant to be a private affair, there had been no harm in the gardener sneaking in quietly to listen. Punishing him for this inoffensive indiscretion felt disproportionately cruel.

I had almost gone up to the balcony myself to tend to the man—or at least, I assumed it had been a man. However, I’d gotten the strong feeling Frollo simply wanted me gone so that he could do so away from prying eyes. It raised a billion questions in my mind as to why he would want to hide his gardener from us.

Sighing heavily, I took a final glance at my reflection in the mirror. I frowned at the absence of earrings dangling from my earlobes. Where many women felt naked without makeup on, for me, it was earrings. I hesitated, not wanting to ‘pretty’ myself up too much so that Frollo wouldn’t think it was all for him, then immediately chastised myself for the thought. I wouldn’t let his unfounded wishes and expectations dictate how I dressed or went about my life. Thankfully, unlike many of the ceremonial dresses, my personal outfits were more on the demure side, enough not to be perceived as an invitation. After putting on a pair of silver earrings with a large emerald stone matching my eyes, I stopped dallying and made my way down to the second floor of the spire.

The minute the dining room doors opened, the potent wave of energy that struck me nearly made my knees buckle. Male, raw, divine, it coursed through me like the most powerful of aphrodisiacs. And the source of this irresistible power? Frollo.

Standing with his back to me, looking through the large window at the plaza below, he seemed taller, broader, his muscles even more defined than in my memory. No doubt sensing my presence, he turned around to face me, and my breath caught in my throat. With the sun bathing his golden mane and pristine second skin of a shirt with its early morning rays, the Praetor appeared to glow with an angelic halo.

My feet irresistibly carried me towards him. With an elegant, almost feline gait, my host met me halfway. I felt dizzy, intoxicated by his presence. My nipples hardened, and moisture pooled between my thighs as he stopped two steps in front of me, his male scent acting like a potent pheromone.

I didn’t understand what was happening to me. All my misgivings about him, all the disdain he had elicited in me had evaporated. If he were to take me to his bedroom this instant, I would follow him gladly. Heck, if he tossed me on top of the table right now and ravished me, I would not only welcome it, I’d spur him on.

Frollo extended a hand towards me, which I instinctively took. Lightning literally struck, electric tendrils swirling over our hands and skin when they touched. I gasped, my mouth parting in shock. A triumphant smile stretched his sensual lips. It should have upset me, but my stomach flip-flopped instead with desire. His blue eyes darkened as they lowered to stare at my lips. Mouth dry, my pulse increased as I waited with burning anticipation for him to kiss me.

Just as he leaned forward, the kitchen door opened with two servants bringing out our food. I instinctively yanked my hand out of his grasp, my cheeks heating like a teen caught red-handed. Frollo clenched his jaw and pinched his lips. The hard glimmer in his eyes as he watched the servants approach doused the insane arousal that had robbed me of my sanity.

With his palm pressed against the small of my back, Frollo led me to that imposing dining table. Midnight blue, with a single, pale blue, luminous line near each edge on the longer side, it contrasted sharply with the mostly white or pale colors of the room. Minimalist in its design, the rectangular room was simply adorned with a glowing symbol of Vesta on the left wall, with life-size statues of Vestals on each side of it. On the opposite side, framing the door into the kitchen, two Seraph statues held their swords before them with both hands, the tips resting on the ground.

We settled at the dining table with me facing the window and Frollo sitting across from me. I didn’t know if it had been intentional so that the sun continued to give him that angelic halo, but I was grateful regardless. Although he continued to affect me in an irrational fashion, a bit of distance allowed me to collect my thoughts. This powerful aura surrounding the Praetor, the potent energy bubbling within him like a volcano on the verge of erupting, and his irresistible—almost charismatic—appeal were all the things I had expected to feel the first time we had met outside the landing pad.

And yet, something didn’t quite add up. His energy spoke to mine, lifted it up and made it stronger. I had felt it last night during the Chant. Even as an Anointed, I’d never felt so powerful. But I could have sworn it hadn’t come from him. I’d been too focused on the song and on helping the Maidens attune to me to notice it at first. And then, a steady surge of energy had flowed through me. I’d felt invincible, like a goddess even.

Thinking back on it now, it had almost felt like a spiritual connection to something greater, magical… to whomever had been on the balcony.

That made no sense.

And right now, I could clearly see—feel—that Frollo had been the one enhancing me. Only a soulmate could create that kind of connection. I gazed upon the Praetor’s handsome face with new eyes. He was everything a woman could want. So why, even with the potent attraction that kept making me want to jump over the table to have my way with him, did this sense of unease continue to plague me?

We remained silent while the servants filled our plates with a hearty breakfast of cold and hot meats, cheeses, hot breads, fresh fruits, steamed vegetables and sautéed potatoes. It wasn’t uncommon on the Nine Circles planets and moons for breakfast to be the main course of the day, with two lighter meals afterwards: lunch in late afternoon and dinner at sundown.

“You look even more radiant this morning,” Frollo said with a purring voice, the minute the servants left the room.

“Thank you,” I said after taking a large sip of black coffee to help me regain control of my jumbled thoughts and emotions. “How could I not after such a wonderful night’s sleep in a bed fit for a queen?”

It had not been the answer he’d hoped for. The glint of displeasure in his eyes further helped me disperse the haze that was robbing me of common sense.

“I’m glad you are enjoying the accommodations,” Frollo replied, being a surprisingly good sport, considering just moments ago, I’d have let him take my virginity right on the stone floor of the dining room. And he knew it, too. “Maybe Paris… and its people… will seduce you enough to make it a permanent stay.”

“Time will tell,” I said, in a non-committal tone, while buttering a warm piece of whole wheat baguette. “But then, maybe the citizens of Paris will send me packing after the Festival,” I said teasingly, steering the conversation onto a safer topic.

Frollo snorted as if I’d said something silly. “In light of the tremendous power you displayed last night, the citizens of Paris will do absolutely everything humanly possible to keep you.Everything,” he reiterated, his underlying meaning crystal clear. “The city has greatly expanded over the past few years. None of the previous Vestals have been powerful enough to fully recharge the Well because too many dwellings and surrounding rural cities depend on it. With what you’ve done during the Chant, you will have everyone on their knees in awe during the Festival.”

I hadn’t been fishing for compliments, but I couldn’t deny his words both flattered me and alleviated some of my nerves.

“I don’t know about that,” I said shyly, “but I have high hopes that my efforts will significantly help the city’s reserves.”

“They will,” Frollo replied with confidence, after washing down his meal with a sip of coffee. “However, filling the Well is only one part of the ceremony. You will also have five Relay Orbs to charge at the same time. Do not worry,” he added quickly at my flabbergasted expression. “We do not expect you to be able to fill such a huge Wellandfive Relay Orbs. As soon as the Well of Power is halfway full, all the extra energy you generate will be transferred to the Relays until they are full. And if, by the grace of Vesta, you still have more to offer, then the rest will go back to the Well.”

I nodded, only partially relieved. Still, half of such a massive well was no small task.

“Do not worry so much,” Frollo said in a sympathetic tone. “As per standard practice for Paris, there are always two more Vestals in attendance to provide additional support if needed. But you certainly won’t.”

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