A Light In The Dark

Prolouge

Viscountess Charbonneau was a hard woman to please. That much was clear to anyone who had met the cross elderly woman, however, most did not realize that her two daughters were not spared from this aura of superiority. But the people of Monbalen would learn all of the comings and goings of the Charbonneau family on September 4th.

Elizabeth Charbonneau was a classically beautiful girl with long black hair and a pale complexion paired with a thin waist and long legs. She was also a proper girl, always saying please and thank you, bowing to those who deserve it, and helping people whenever she could. The town's people loved the fact that Elizabeth, a wealthy girl who lived far up a hill and had no need to visit the people, actually cared about them and was willing to assist them in any way she could.

Elizabeth often brought her younger sister, Victoria, with her to keep an eye on her and introduce her to the people. There was not a sweeter sight in Monbalen than that of Elizabeth buying Victoria an apple to give to someone, or of Elizabeth quickly scooping up the younger girl when she scraped her knee on the cobblestone path. No one knew how such sweet children could have come from such a cruel mother, but they didn't particularly care to find out.

Elizabeth had quite a few suitors in Monbalen including Gabriel, the butcher's boy, and Alexander, the stable boy. There was also one girl that had been Elizabeth's best friend ever since she could walk, Juliette.

If Elizabeth was beautiful then Juliette was even more so. She had strawberry blonde locks that cascaded down her back when not tied up, green eyes that would light up when she smiled, and a rosy complexion that paired with her beautifully. Victoria had spoken to Juliette often when she was younger because of her kind eyes. For hours the three of them would sit together talking and laughing or braiding each other's hair. Victoria had thought of Juliette as sort of a second sister.

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Victoria doesn't remember much from the 4th. She suspects her brain had blocked it out for her safety. She remembers waking up early in the morning to the sound of screaming and fighting downstairs. She quickly rose from her bed and slid into her dressing gown. She quickly walked through the door, the floorboards squeaking under her 10-year-old body. She found her way to the stairs and began descending, the noise getting louder as she went on. Arriving at the landing she peeked around the railing to see her mother standing up straight, a stoic look on her face as Elizabeth screamed. Victoria attempted to listen, but Elizabeth was too hysterical to be understood. Her mother held up a bony finger to the emotional girl, she then pointed up the stairs to a young Victoria in her dressing gown.

When Elizabeth saw the young girl she immediately stopped yelling and smiled, apologizing for waking Victoria. The only thing that gave away her previous state was her bloodshot eyes and the tears streaming from them.

Their mother quickly raised her hand to Victoria and beckoned her forward with a bony finger. Victoria followed, worried about her sister and wondering what could have possibly broken her cool exterior.The girls began to look at each other attempting to communicate without words. This was quickly interrupted by the harsh words of their mother, "This Juliette business is nonsense, no daughter of mine will be consorting with those of the same sex-"

"Mother you don't understand, I love her"

"No you don't, you can't, she is a girl"

"Mother, I am going to marry her with or without your consent, but I hope for both our sakes you give me your permission so that we can stay together as a family."

At this, the older woman scoffed, "no one in this family will ever do as you wish to do"

"Then I suppose I'm not a part of your family!" the younger woman called out.

Everyone froze amazed by what Elizabeth had just said, herself included. Victoria swore she saw a moment of panic before her face returned to its neutral state.

"Then leave"

And so she did.