ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ ʙᴇʜɪɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀꜱᴋ: ᴄʜᴀᴇɴɴɪᴇ

Chapter 7

Paris, 1881

JENNIE

Almost two weeks had passed since Roseanne came to my house, my days are once again filled with happiness. I don't think I had ever been happier before.

She never asked to go back, I felt like she truly wanted to be here. Our days were filled with music and old stories. Every night she'd sit by my feet and I'd tell her tales from Persia and Rome.

I had come to realize that Roseanne was such a child... she was immature, vulnerable and unsure of everything. She has many flaws but that only made me love her more. I don't think for a minute that Raoul understand that she always needs to be pampered. The man who marries Roseannne had to be there for as a father and lover... As long she lived she would remain a scared little girl.

It had been almost 2 weeks nows since I last saw Nadir and I knew that if I didn't see him very soon he'd come and find me and I could not risk him seeing Roseanne.

I had dressed in a fancy dress from Persia that I had recived from the khanum many years ago. Today I'd go see Nadir and listen to his unbearable questions.

ROSEANNE

This morning I had a shock when I entered Jennie's room. She was dressed in a dress and she wore her mask. I had never seen her dressed so fancy before. I did realize that she probably looked like this when she took me down here, I barley remember that night.

"Here is your breakfast." I said, I felt stupid. She turned around fast. Jennie was fast with her movements and she was as quiet as a cat. I never noticed when she moved around, her eyes almost shone in the dark.

"Forgive me, my dear but I need to leave the house." She said, I gulped. "Why?" I asked, she smiled at me.

"I'm not living as a hermit and I have an important meeting. Are you scared of staying here alone?" She asked, she sounded so nice when she spoke to me.

"I don't know." I whispered, "Can't I join you?" I asked, she shock her head. "That is impossible, my dear." She said, she still sounded friendly, but there was mad tone in her voice. I obeyed and nodded.

"You'll take care of yourself, right?" I mumbled, I was so worried about the woman.

"If you want me too." She said in a serious tone. He looked right into my eyes, there was something in her gaze that made me take a deep breath. She took a few steps closer to me. I couldn't stop looking at her.

She moved so gently like she was listening to music, I tremled of fear when she was right in front of me.

She reached out her hand to my hair and my heart started beating fast that it was hard to breath for a second.

But her fingers only carassed the air next to my cheek.

"Wait for me." She said and a moment later she was gone, the door closed behind her.

I wandered around in her house, cleaning everything. There was nothing to do when I was alone. I felt so alone when she was gone. Oh, how I missed Jennie!

I was sure she would touch me, I knew it! But last second she changed her mind. I didn't know if I tremled in relif or disappoinemrnt.

Here in Jennie's home lies many questions- but no answers.

JENNIE

Nadir waited for me on the sand, as stoon I stepped on land he started asking questions;

"Roseanne Park!" He said in a strict tone. "Where is Roseanne Park, Jennie?!" He said in a loud voice.

Damn, I had feared this!