For All The Paris Gold

Quatre: Someone is About to Be Murdered

They said humans react to perceived threats with a flight-or-fight response. So when Bijou Legrand faced off against his tiny sister who couldn't even reach his waist, he wanted to flee for his life and curl into a ball of safety forever.

But he knew he could not.

Not Maëlle grinned up at him, her eyes twinkling with something dangerous. The flowers in her hands were of pretty things, but he already knew not to fall for her trap.

"They're very pretty, right?"

"Maëlle!" Master Legrand bounded towards them, the hard lines on him loosened to stretch a cheerful smile. He ruffled her hair affectionately. Fear gripped at Bijou's heart, gazing into his father's milky eyes. "Do you want me to create you a toy?"

It had been years since he abandoned his passion for tinkering.

Bijou cleared his throat, trying to ease himself from looking too afraid. He smiled at Not Maëlle. "That's wonderful. Good job! Please don't disturb me for a while, alright? I have work to do."

And when he closed the door, he faltered to the floor.

How could this have happened? The Fae. The monster from his childhood, overwhelming feelings of lost desire deep in the roots of his heart when he was under the Fae's dominating gaze. And this Fae had taken control of his father. As for Maëlle...

He gritted his teeth, running a hand through his hair. They took Maëlle.

They took his core. His beloved baby sister. Lovely, sweet Maëlle Legrand.

Bijou looked at the book he dropped on the floor and flipped straight towards the stories of the Fae. His hands shook but he clamped them down to the pages, taking a deep breath. His mother had given him the resources, and he shall use it.

He might be a coward. A normal, spoiled boy. 

But his love for his sister would tower all.

*****

He twisted his shoe on the carpet. His grandmother stayed with him outside the room, watching doctors come in and out of the room. He heard a babe's cry. And then it was quiet.

Soon, his father came to him. Papa patted his shoulder and nudged him to come forward. To come into mama's room with her big tummy. Bijou was eleven, and he knew that meant he would no longer be the lone child.

He would be a big brother.

He didn't want to be a brother. He wanted to have all the toys to himself. He heard his friends have to share things with their siblings, and he did NOT want to be a brother. The baby should be sent back where it came from.

But as soon as he got in, the first thing he saw was mama cradling the delicate baby.

Mama had never looked happier. She smiled at him, through her pale, tired face. "Come, Bijou."

He pursed his lips, shaking his head. "I don't want it."

"Come here."

He pouted. But as much as he disliked it, he obliged. He walked slowly, mindful of that odd, flushed creature in his mother's arms. Then mama leaned and pulled him close.

The first time he saw her face, he was awestruck. He was silent. He let her pull his fingers to touch the small, small face. Such a little thing. He had never seen anything so adorable and precious in his life.

"Her name's Maëlle," she whispered gently, kissing his hair. "You have a baby sister now."

And his heart melted with love.