Genesis Chronicorum β1: Hellfire

Chapter 36: Mother

He happened to pick up and steal a basket full of grapes from the offering table of the cathedral, if Jehan put them there for the people to help themselves, he knew he needed them to make Quasimodo talk and be the father he was instructed to be by order of the church and his brother. "You know that is for the hungry people, Claude," said Jehan, witnessing his brother's acts, Claude saw this opportunity to interrogate Jehan, perhaps he was the one who helped Esmeralda escape her prison, and Claude turned to face him. He never thought Jehan would hide such secrets from him, they were united once before Claude became the judge and would help each other, even as children. "I am providing for them, the poor boy must be starving. Silly me, I have been focused on external affairs that I have forgotten to see him. I believe this is not enough for others. I shall bring you more after." said Claude.

Claude: Speaking of affairs, do you know how the girl escaped?

Jehan: You are insane, Claude. You are willing to destroy this city for your own pleasures, you are no different than father. 

Claude: You watch your tongue! I am nothing like that demon! Did you help the girl escape or not!? Where did you hide her?

Jehan: I have not done anything. I was not even aware she left the church until the morning. I heard it from your minions. By God, I am telling the truth.

Claude: If you lie to me, I will make you responsible. Now if you excuse me, return to your work and let me handle mine.

Claude saw how Jehan looked at him, with hate and disgust, it was as if they were never brothers but enemies and different families. The brothers went their separate ways, Jehan joined his people while Claude headed upstairs, he was angry, the fire discharging sparks and threatening to spread and burn everything. He thought he should dispose of Jehan as well as he did to Jacque, his own brother was betraying him, at this point everyone he cared for was, even the ones from his profession. Was Quasimodo going to betray him too? If he did, Claude had to do what he should have done 20 years ago. He arrived at Quasi's room soon after, the boy was fiddling with his wooden figures, everything seemed to be in place, for now at least. The stone gargoyles were once again in a different place, and the female-looking gargoyle looked as if it was looking at Claude. He thought of Yzanami's words, the triplets' too, "Oh master! I did not thin you'd be coming!" said Quasimodo, well-mannered as Claude walked past him to his chair. "I am never too busy to share a meal with you, dear boy. I brought a little treat." replied Claude, who knew Quasi didn't deserve dinner nor a visit for disobeying him and making a fool out of himself at the festival but he needed to do anything for information on Esmeralda. 

Claude placed the basket on the table and sat as he offered him the small meal, Quasi didn't react, he noticed the boy was nervous or distracted, was he sick? No, he was distracted, by what? Claude had to clear his throat, signaling Quasi to react and come back to reality, sometimes the boy reminded him of himself when he was younger, lost in thought, full of pointless imagination, or that's what an older Claude thought. Quasi hurried to get some plates for both of them for them to eat, Claude was hungry himself for he didn't, or couldn't, eat back at the palace. Claude knew something was wrong with Quasimodo, he knew it by how he let some things drop and break, he was hiding something or someone. "Is there something troubling you Quasimodo?" asked Claude when Quasimodo returned and placed the plates for him and his master. Claude placed Quasi's treat on his place then retrieved his own when Quasi assured him nothing was wrong. "Oh but there is, I know there is. I think you're hiding something," said Claude, he wanted to intimidate to the truth when a grape fell to the floor and Quasi wanted to pick it up.

Quasi told him there is nothing wrong again, and he seemed to turn afraid, "You're not eating, boy!" claimed Claude, he knew he was growing impatient, he could see fear in his son's eyes, in Maria's eyes. Those were the same eyes that saw him when Claude burned his own father, the eyes of fear. Claude let Quasi eat a few grapes before continuing the conversation, he needed to breathe first or he would snap, or spread the fire and unleash fury. Quasi happened to cough after, yet there was no sign of concern on Claude's face if he was choking and dying, Claude didn't seem to care much about Quasimodo's wellbeing. He turned his head to look at the wooden figures and spotted a model that was incredibly similar to Esmeralda, it was as if he had her in his hands. It was proof enough that Quasimodo has been lying and helped her escape "Looks very much like the gypsy girl..." said Claude, his voice calm and scary at the same time, Quasimodo knew something was wrong with Claude, he knew Claude figured it out. He was afraid as Claude examined the figure. "I know you helped her escape! And now all of Paris is burning because of you!" Claude yelled at the top of his lungs, smashing the models and little buildings, swiping them from the table as Quasi backed away in fear. 

"She was kind to me, master." said Quasimodo, his words soft and innocent. Claude knew he was under a spell like Claude was under Maria's spell years ago, the spell called love. Claude hated the feeling more than ever now that Quasimodo would do anything to help Esmeralda and suffer his whole life when Esmeralda dies or betrays him, history repeating itself again. Claude was thankful to be there and make everything right, but he was mad, the sparks flew, and they burn but didn't catch fire to anything else. "You idiot! That wasn't kindness, it was cunning! She's a gypsy! Gypsies are not capable of real love! Think, boy! Think of your mother!" said Claude, grabbing the boy by his shirt and shaking him, looking into his eyes, her eyes. He saw Maria in her son's eyes, his ghost, his torment, his gypsy. On one side Claude didn't want Quasimodo to live the life Claude had to live, on the other he wanted him to see, to suffer. Claude was wasting time, he needed to look for her, finish this torment. He cleared his throat and composed himself, standing up and freeing Quasimodo from his grasp, he had to be the father he promised to be, to protect his boy from the witches. He had to get him out of her spell like a good parent would do.

Claude: But what chance could a poor, misshapen child like you have against her heathen treachery? Well, never you mind, Quasimodo. She will be out of our lives soon enough. I will free you from her evil spell. She will torment you no longer.

Claude took his dagger and plunged it in the wooden figure, he noticed the candle beside it. He held the figure on the flame for it to catch fire and leave no trace of Esmeralda. He wanted to burn her and make her suffer for what she had done. He threw it to Quasimodo to see what he planned to do next, he was to put a stop to everything by force, without help from anyone but his soldiers. He walked back to the stairs to see a scared Quasimodo, he liked how helpless the boy felt, how guilty he was.

Quasimodo: What do you mean?

Claude: I know where her hideout is and tomorrow at dawn I will attack with a thousand men.

Claude turned to look at him one last time, he was lying, he didn't know where Esmeralda was hiding, but he had a plan. If Quasimodo was going to warn her, Claude might as well follow him and arrest them all. He walked down the stairs smiling, for the end was near and his plans were taking them right where he wanted them to be.