chapter one
“Be born! arise! o’er the earth and wild waves bounding,
Peoples and suns!
Let darkness vanish; tocsins be resounding,
And flash, ye guns!
~Victor Hugo, The Ocean’s Song~
“The rat, that bête rat! He is gone!” yelled Edward Aude.
“No, no, I assure you, he was just there no more than five minutes ago!” argued Esteban Aude, with a horrified tone. “Than if you are so sure that he could not escape, why is he gone? Esteban, do not tell me the you left the door open.”
“I did not! He was sitting in his cage when was woken up and the door was completely shut!” Protested Esteban, his tone full of belief but also of confusion.
“What happened after you were awaken?”
“One of the man servants came into my room to give me today’s schedule, and frightfully I might add, I nearly jumped out of my bed covers! He was dreadfully afraid of the rat, he nearly screamed and ran out the door. He is indeed a like a scared cat, it was quite funny to watch him so.”
“Get to the point Esteban.” Insisted Edward with a tone of impatience.
“Yes of course, well after that I got up to wash and then I heard a loud thump outside the west window. So I hastened over to look, and it was nothing but a stupid bird that ran into the glass. Then, I turned around and poof! He was gone!”
Edward’s face turned from a look of attentive listening to deep thought. He paced the room like an intelligent detective might do, but dressed in his wrinkled night shirt and pants with countless creases, he did not look the part. His uncombed hair is dirty blonde, and his eyes, looked like the sea’s breaking waves. He is short, but about average for a boy of sixteen, and despite his incredibly large feet, he is overall the more attractive of the twins brothers. Esteban is very plain, very normal and very ordinary. He has a similar hair color but very different facial features. Edwards are a more defined and vivid, while Esteban are flat, dull, and toneless. They are both extensively spoiled and extremely pampered, and as you may conclude their personality is practically non-existent. They could solve simple or complex arithmetic, and they could understand the most complicated forms of science, but yet, they could not grasp simple common sense in everyday life.
“The logical explanation for this is that you are an idiot, Esteban.”
“Edward! How rude! I shall call father and mother, let us see what they think of your hurtful insult.”
“They shall think the same thing, Esteban. Your fate is inescapable at this point in life, you will never be as smart as I am, and you must accept that.”
Esteban is a crybaby, he was certainly his mother’s favorite with his being the uglier one and everything, but his father loved Edward as he loved himself. The servants had an unspoken opinion of not liking anyone of the family, but prefered the dogs. Maximilian and Adabella Aude were summoned, and they looked quite agitated and distressed about their son’s most urgent request of their presence.
“Esteban, you must have an adequate explanation for getting your mother and I up from the bed. Edward, what is it that he needs?”
Edward smirked. He knew that even though Esteban would be complaining about his word choice against him, his father would be extremely upset with him for calling him for such a waste.
“I believe that Esteban was injured by my logical settlement of his pitiful state of presence-”
“Edward called me an idiot, and for no good reason. Do not let him persuade you in believing that I deserved it, for I was framed! Because of his bitter remark, I vote he is severely punished with all of my school work for today.”
“Esteban, this is not a democracy; we do not vote on the punishments of a correct statement that may or may not hurt your feelings. If anything, you shall be punished for such disrespect of your mother and I. Now, you two must be ready soon because we shall leave to call on Lord Lamotte in a hour at most.”
Maximilian and Adabella exited the room, and with no following words exchanged, Esteban and Edward, left in separate directions, and completely different moods, to their bed chambers. It took them quite a long time for their house was exceedingly large and grand, with three enormous staircases throughout the first floor. The front door was large enough to fit a four horse carriage through and their front parlor was big enough for five carriages. Located near the Palace of Versailles, it was hardly magnificent sitting on grounds of shiny green and blazing blue. April had a excellent effect on the house, it was bolder and more fresh, it had a shine that brought a clean feel right in your soul. Sunshine was an early morning treat, the rest of the day was, on average, more of a cloudy gray, not a depressing silver, but a reflective neutral with no strong feeling toward either side.
That day was no different than the rest, it consisted of visits to the same people and the same conversation, and the same gossip. The only exception of today was that at Lord Henri’s, his household consisted of Edward’s and Esteban’s good friend Henri Lamotte. They are childhood friends, just like their parents had been, and they enjoy visiting at his house, for it is hardly magnificent.
Henri is not the son of Lord Lamotte, but instead, he is his nephew. Lord Lamotte is the brother of the late Lord Michel Lamotte, the father of Henri. Lord Michel was a noble gentleman of high societal rank and many would say too high. He tragically died, along with his dear wife, leaving behind his very young son, Henri, with a sizable fortune placing him in the hands of his brother, Lord Richard Lamotte. This may seem like an extensive background for Henri, but I assure you it helps the understanding of his character and charisma.
The boys were summoned and they met their parents outside. There was a slight overcast, so they were brief in their standing around. The drive was not long to the destination, it was actually quite short. They were there in half an hour at most, and when they arrived they were greeted warmly by the polite staff. The seemingly endless marble staircase was conquered by the family, Adabella broke a slight sweat, and the boys were simply complaining. Before Maximilian was driven mad by the ceaseless squabble, they made it inside where they were cordially welcomed by the Lord Lamotte and his wife, Lady Victorie Lamotte.
“Maximillian! Adabella! It has been too long since our last meeting! So long I hardly recognize these two, Edward and Esteban how you have grown and expanded.” cried Lord Lamotte. Giggles came out of the boys, for it had only been two weeks since their last meeting. If the laughter was suppressed or not, Lord Lamotte did not pay near enough attention to take the slightest notice.
“It is quite a pleasure to be in your company once again, even if it had only been a few weeks.” answered Maximilian quite kindly. “How are the things in the heart of Paris? I have heard very little news of the riots, it seems they have been increasing in number from what I have collected.”
“That is a topic of which I must address while sitting down, perhaps in the study I have a few other books to recommend to you. My dear, you and Adabella may do what you please and we shall meet for dinner in the west dining room. Boys, I believe Henri is off riding somewhere with someone, but he did promise he should be back by this time. Until he arrives, you may do as you wish without any breaking of objects.”
The adults dispersed their separate ways, while the boys stayed in the front foyer.
“Off riding somewhere with someone is quite vague if you ask me, Esteban, do you think the someone could be a woman? Does Henri have a lady in his life?”
“Edward, do not be ridiculous. Henri is not capable of such accomplishments; he is definitely not attractive in any way, he has no manners and is extremely uncivil. I doubt if he has ever even considered a woman with his state of appearance.”
Laughter erupted loudly from Edward, so loud that it echoed in the hallways and made the chandeliers rattle. His tone, full of mockery, for the way that Esteban had just described Henri is so false that it is comical. Henri was the complete opposite of what he had just described, Esteban could not admit it, but Henri was the prime bachelor that attracted the whole society of women across Paris. He is only on the verge of seventeen, but becoming very handsome already. His hair is blonde, dirty blonde, with ashy brown lowlights, and his skin is not rough nor is it pale, it is a soft, darker ivory complexion. His eyes are blue, a light, crisp, blue. He is also tall, for a frenchman. He was very muscular, yet lean and not at all plump. He must be in shape from having to walk up those mountainous stairs. Beyond his looks, Henri was a good tempered and kind natured gentleman who was a excellent catch for any woman in Paris.
“Look here he comes, you can finally refresh your memory on what he really looks like.” retorted Edward, and sure enough Henri and a smaller blonde male began to hike the stairs.
“Edward, I told you so! It is not a lady, but yet, not even a bourgeoisie! Look at his clothes, he must not be his friend! They are mismatched! An odd palette he must have, or if not that those must be his only pair of riding pants! Then again, he is too well dressed for a servant. Maybe he is Henri’s paid friend, since we have not enough time to spend with the poor soul. The other one, I cannot see well. Oh of course! That is Henri’s friend Philippe Bris, he is a nice enough man. However that other one in so insulting, I cannot believe Henri is even socializing with him, look at his hair!”
“Do not be so prejudice, you are the worst friend I could ever imagine having! No wonder Henri invites over me only, he probably can not stand you.”
This conversation was cut off by the door opening to reveal the handsome Henri and his equally handsome riding companion. Both were quite out of breath and their boots slightly mud covered, but they stepped inside to find themselves greeted by the squabbling brothers.
“Edward! Esteban!” cried Henri, “Such excellent timing! Excuse my running a little late, and I do apologize for not being well dressed, but you have seen me much worse so let us neglect those insignificant mistakes. I am sure you are familiar with Philippe Bris, he was here for dinner I believe, at your last visit. I would like you to meet my newest friend, Eden Blakeley. He is from Paris, his father you may recognize is a most highly respected physician.”
“That is high praise for my father.” answered Eden.
“Nonsense, it is true! If I am ever wounded or in any shape of discomfort, I should now call upon your father for assistance. Never mind that, let us go get cleaned up before my aunt sees me in the house like this.”
“I think that is a great plan,” cried Edward, with an enthusiastic tone, “Shall we meet you in the billiard room?”
“Yes I believe those are the arrangements, now, please excuse us.” said Henri, and with that he and Eden left the drawing room to be cleaned.
“I do not like this Eden.” said Esteban, with an air of disgust in his voice. “He is too short, he is too skinny, he is too young. I had a correct assumptions that he was not even a bourgeoisie, his father, he is a physician! Look at Phillipe, tall, strong, well dressed, clean, sophisticated. Maybe this Eden could take lessons from him.”
“Esteban, we barely heard ten words out of the boy!” cried Edward, “You can not hold such opinions so early in the relationship. Never mind, this is all rubbish to you, we should just make our way to the billiard room, and perhaps there you may restrain yourself more.”
