Genesis Chronicorum β1: Hellfire

Chapter 18: Smoke

Claude's head felt like it was about to explode as he opened his eyes to see Fleur wetting a piece of cloth. "Thank goodness, you are awake. You hit your head very bad. You have a fever coming up as well." she said as she gently placed the cloth on his forehead. Claude looked away and stared blankly to the wall, ignoring the woman who was stealing his father's heart.  "I am only here to help you with your grief. I am really sorry for what happened. " She said, though Claude didn't care what she would say. Both heard a knock on the door before it opened, it was Jacque who made time to see his son, Jehan was right beside him. "Leave us, please." said Jacque, Fleur obeyed and closed the door behind them. 

Claude: I suppose we are to call her stepmother now? I am sorry, but I will not call her that or welcome her.

Jacque: She is not part of the family yet. What were you doing in the dungeons?

Claude: Why did you marry mother? Why make her life a living hell?

Jacque: I don't know what you mean, child.

Claude: You know what I mean, mother was a gypsy wasn't she?! It's why she was mental! You tortured her.

Jacque: You are not well, son. The fever has bewitched you. She has placed a spell upon you. I will pray for you tonight, hopefully you are back and then you will devote yourself to righteousness.

Claude: You murderer, you  monster.

Jacque: Make sure your brother is fed, Jehan. He needs his strength.

Jacque left his son's alone while Jehan sat beside his brother and fed him soup, Claude was blinded with anger, his heart cracked, about to break and the fire within him about to burst. It made him so weak and so dizzy, about to faint once again. "What were you doing in the dungeons, Claude? What were you looking for? " asked Jehan as he stirred the soup to give Claude some more. Claude told everything to his brother but in taking as much as Claude when the three females told him, almost made him lightheaded like Claude. He stood quiet, eyes as dead as a puppet's, refusing to believe Jacque would do such thing.

Jehan: Father is a good man, yes I do not approve he treats others differently and badly but he wouldn't torture mother like that. Only a madman would do that.

Claude: I saw her sisters, brother. They told me everything! Believe me! Our Father is no saint!

Jehan: We were mourning, we were very sad,  you wanted to blame someone close to her. You better eat what is left and get some rest, Claude.

Claude: Our mother helped gypsies because she was like them. Think about it brother. If she would be high class like Father, she wouldn't have help them. Think!

Jehan: I will! Just, rest. I will bring you some books and more water for the fever.

Claude: Do you think you can buy me a bottle of wine? I could use a drink...and...Maria.

Jehan; I'll do what I can. For now, close your eyes. I want you healthy again.

Claude lied down once more and went to sleep. Jehan wasn't sure what to believe in, who was right? He knew Claude would never lie about his mother. Was he hallucinating with such heavy heart? It was then when he left his chambers that a shadow was staring at him, a woman, Laverne. Jehan's eyes grew as big as Claude's books when he saw his mother, smiling at him. "It's only an illusion, ghosts are not real, they are not. I'm still mourning, I miss her dearly." He said as he closed his eyes. He opened them again after, there was nothing there. Nothing but the cold wind, winter was approaching.

There were to be lots of fires on winter.