Twisted Every Way

PROLOGUE

Paris 1865

"Erik! Raoul! Be careful! Stay together and don't go so far!" Rita yelled from across the yard.

It was summer of 1865 and Erik had just celebrated his fifth birthday only a few weeks ago. Raoul was Erik's older brother, but only by a year Erik would always point out.

While outside, the two boys played with sticks in their hands and pretended to fight one another. It was their favorite game to play while their parents dealt with financial business.

Erik played the hero while Raoul preferred playing as the villain. They were good little boys, but had a tendency to not follow the rules. They always did things they weren't supposed to such as climbing trees, hitting each other with sticks, and jumping in mud. Their mother would always get onto them for being stubborn little boys.

"Erik! Do not hit your brother with that stick!"

"You will die for betraying your Queen!" Erik screamed as he swung his stick at his older brother. Raoul blocked, and swung back at him.

"I will never die by the hands of you!"

As they ran and fought, Erik noticed a huge rock in the middle of the ground. He jumped on it and began to swing at Raoul. Raoul, trying to fight back, felt his foot slip and panicked, grabbing onto Erik, who was still on the rock. They both tumbled off the rock together and landed on the ground.. After a moment laying on the ground, they looked at each other and started laughing.

Rita was furious and rushed out the door, screaming at them, "ERIK AND RAOUL, IF YOU DO NOT GET OUT OF THAT MUD RIGHT NOW, YOU WILL BE SENT STRAIGHT TO YOUR ROOMS WITHOUT ANY SUPPER!"

There was a silence as the little boys stared at their mother, and then they locked eyes and started laughing. They laughed so hard their bellies started to hurt and they had tears coming out of their eyes.

Their mother rolled her eyes and sighed, "I swear those boys will be the death of me, Andre."

The Vicomte shook his head at his wife, not even glancing up from his work as he said, "Now Rita, you know perfectly well that they are only boys. Let them have their fun while they can."

With that he looked up to their guest, sitting silently in front of his desk with wide eyes and holding his hat with clenched hands.

The Vicomte De Chagny was a viscount who often worked with business within the law. From time to time he would help with money issues towards anyone willing to pay their loans back. The guest currently breathing hard and sweating in front of them was one of those poor souls. This certain guest was a farmer, with a foreclosure looming over his head.

Andre had heard all of this before, but felt sorry for the poor farmer. He wanted to help him anyway he could, but he couldn't just "give." There was a give and take aspect to everything done in the world and while he felt sorry for the farmer, Andre needed something in return for his generous "gift."

"But I have nothing Monsieur De Chagny," the farmer stated frantically, "All I have is my farm... and my wife and daughter."

"A daughter?" Rita questioned.

The Vicomte and his wife exchanged a glance and he nodded for her to continue.

"Well then," She said with a clap of her hands, "she should come and work for us. I have need for a new maid, my last one quit." She stated with a wave of her hand. "Your daughter will come and work for us until she has paid off your loan for your farm."

Soon enough the two little boys ran through the doors of the office and straight past their mother and father.

"Raoul, Erik!"