Dreamwalker

34- Do Re Mi

Bell did not care for Piano. She didn't hate him, to be fair, but she didn't like him either. She could hardly tolerate walking beside him. He kept his shoulders squared and tight, and wore a stony frown of extreme distaste whenever he looked at her. When they left the palace and sunlight hit his face he winced as though he were a nocturnal beast. He must have noticed Bell watching him with such disdain because he remarked, "Bell, do you have something you'd like to say?"

She mimicked him and squared her shoulders. "No," she answered.

"Really?"

"No. Nothing."

"Because if there were something troubling you, I hope you understand that I have a duty to relieve you. Out with it, child, for both our sakes."

"God's bones, you're irritating. If you didn't know Soutine so well, I would have left you in that dungeon without a second thought," Bell snapped.

"And if you weren't Soutine's little pet, you would have been dead the moment I laid eyes on you," he retorted.

They fell silent, both glaring in opposite directions so they wouldn't have to face the other while they strolled. "You remind me of your father," Piano said quietly.

Bell looked back at him. "Soutine?"

"No." He cocked an eyebrow at her. "Angora Darche. You're rather like him."

"Is that supposed to offend me?"

Piano let out a humorless laugh in response. "Do you remember him?" he added.

She shook her head. "Monsieur Darche," Piano began, "was a psychopath, and a criminal. Laurier took him from a jail on the western border to work here after hearing of his talents. But Monsieur Darche's ambition was too strong. He agreed to have a child with another witch because he believed in the possibility that his child may grow up even more powerful than Laurier. And, with a little bit of his own experimentation in magic, that child may take the throne. Here stands his handiwork." Piano gestured to Bell with an icy smirk. "It's why Soutine took pity on you in the first place. Or were you selfish enough to believe that you were special enough to catch his eye?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why do you think your magical power heightens when you fly into a blind rage?" Piano asked her. "Witches inherit their abilities from their parents. If, as you say, you have seen Laurier's memories, that may be one power, inherited from your mother and father. A sort of combination of their magic. However, why is it that you possess a second ability that neither of your parents or your ancestors have possessed? Perhaps... a defect caused by an unhealthy intake of magic?"

Bell could hardly speak. "I still don't quite understand," she said at last.

"The man was a monster. He stole some of the distilled magic, collected from the laboratory, and gave it to you behind the backs of the royal scientists. I don't even know the half of what he did. I walked in on him one day and swore to never tell Soutine what I saw." Piano paused here, measuring his next words. "I do not know what you are, Bell, but you are certainly no normal witch."

A quiet "oh." was all she could muster. There was a vague memory, a blurry watercolor portrait, of a man's scowling face looming over her, a man with determined hazel eyes and a round jaw.

"Are you alright?" Piano inquired.

She nodded slowly.

"Good. Let's stop here, shall we? We're far enough from the castle, I think. Keep your wits about you while we wait for Soutine."

"Piano... do you know much about Laurier's childhood?"

Piano's eyes narrowed. "What prompted this question? Do you feel guilty about your deal with Morie already?"