Haydee Goes Off

There was that whole Thanksgiving thing, and now the Professor has to get ready to do some research in Japan on very short notice. The month long novel write is almost over and I’m going to make it, I’m pretty sure. Then I can settle down to going back over what I’ve written, doing some research to make it good, and comparing it to the actual book to make it accurate.

Besides all the business, the reason I haven’t posted any scenes here for a few days is that I haven’t really been stricken by any of them. However, this one cleverly emerged a few days ago, and even though I’m going to have to move its placement due to the book, it’s an all right scene, if skeletal, and I thought I would share it. Then, I’ve got to get right back to that grindstone.

Fortula, Luban, and I waited up. Luban went to bed, but I do not think she slept much. Fortula exited to her room, no doubt to pray. I found solace in my gusli. The Count returned late that night, alone. Forgoing the usual propriety, I rushed out to him. “My master,” I said. “I was worried for you. Are you safe?”

He seemed grim, out of sorts. “I was never in any danger, Haydee. He was not in any, either. I do feel sorry for the difficulty caused to young Epinay.”

“Then it was a prank? Vicomte Morcerf was safe?”

“Haydee, it is time I told you about Vicomte Morcerf, because we will be journeying to Paris soon. Do you like him?”

“He is a fine and noble young man. Yes, I do like him, and his friend Baron Epinay. I can not understand why you take them under your wing as protégé. They seem very much like all other young men from their country that I have seen.”

“Well, they are, although I will reluctantly give Vicomte Morcerf a little more credit than most. He was most brave tonight in the face of danger, cool and courageous. I can imagine that he might have inherited those traits from his mother.”

“Baron d’Epinay strikes me also as very resourceful. He too is an admirable young man.”

The Count allowed me to seat him, and I removed his boots. “Shall I prepare a dowry for you to marry the Baron, when this is all over?”

I blushed. “My lord,” I said, “you are the only man who has and ever will have attraction for me.”

He patted my head. “You are very young, Haydee. I think this fancy will pass. I would prefer you love someone much more perfect than me.”

“You set an impossible standard,” I said.

“You must set your sights elsewhere.”

I did not press my suit. “You know the Vicomte Morcerf’s mother?”

“Haydee, I must tell you something very important, and you must keep this knowledge inside yourself when we are in Paris, because it will be important to the revenge that you and I both want. Viscomte Morcerf is the son of—”

“Obviously Comte Morcerf. That’s how it works in your country, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but Comte Morcerf has not always been a nobleman. He once was a man called Fernand Mondego.”

The Count had surprised me, and I was speechless. Someone had robbed me of air, and all I could do for a moment was gasp. Tears of anger stung my eyes.

“Luban!” he called. “Fortula!” These ladies rushed out, into the man chamber, and saw how pale and upset I was. “Please take the Princess Haydee to her room.”

They helped me stand, but I turned to the Count, my eyes full of lightening. “You mean that he is Fernand Mondego’s son?”

“You must believe that he does not know of his father’s deeds, Haydee. He most likely believes his father a good man.”

“That does not matter!” Luban placed a comforting arm around my shoulders, and I wriggled out from underneath it in anger.

“I thought that if you saw him, perhaps it would soften you towards him when I told you.”

“No doubt it has softened you!” I yelled. Fortula’s eyes were wide; she clearly did not know what to think of me in this state, rage incarnate.

“Absolutely not,” the Count said in measured, dangerous tones. “My intent is to take revenge on the parents, and if I must use the son as a means to do that, I will.”

“How could you?” I flung myself at the Count. “Why did you not let Vampa kill him? It would have broken his mother’s heart, it would have stabbed his father!” Luban pulled me away, but she couldn’t. I started to beat the Count. “Why?”

He caught my wrists with his hands. “Because I made Vampa take him! Because what I have in mind is much more complete than causing Albert Morcerf’s death. Much more complicated than that. I need you, Haydee. I need you to discredit Morcerf, and show the world what he really is. Then justice will be served for you and your parents. Then, truly then, will he get what he deserves. All of them will get what they deserve.”

He let me go, and I wilted. “You will help me, Haydee. That’s why I bought you out of Turkey, to give you the hope of complete vengeance, of justice. You will serve me, but you will follow my plan. Do as I say and your parents will be avenged.”

He had not yet done me a disservice. He had saved me from life as a glorified prostitute. We still had the same end in mind. I could see that. I pulled my rage back into myself and straightened, becoming once again the perfect doll that Farziz had groomed me to be. “Indeed, my Master, what you say is wise. I shall follow your commands.”

In my room, I raged myself to sleep, ripping and shredding one of the fine cushions with my finger nails. I veiled myself in the early morning and discarded of it myself.

The accursed Vicomte Morcerf called upon the Count in the early morning, all gratitude. I was not expected to mix with the men, nor could I have that morning, so it was for the best. He made arrangements to call upon the Morcerf family. I would hide myself from them until it was time. When it was time, I would be a djinn released from the bottle, and I would take everything from that man Mondego as he took everything from me.