Here is the second installment of my book, there has been a lot of editing! Just so you remember it here it is from the start, Enjoy!
Paris, France
Chapter 1
Rose Grandjour’s cell
Rose Grandjour sat on the cold hard floor listening intently to voices, hard and soft speaking in rapid french. She stopped listening after awhile, she knew what was coming, her death sentence. She had fought against all she was accused of ,but her pleas and cries were landing on deaf ears. No one believed her.
You were allowed to send one note, hers was sent. Not to whom you might think. She had put all her hopes in a man she didn’t even know. With a possible wrong address but a certain name. Edward Daly.
A name that was her mothers last. A name her mother said would save her one day. She did not know which circumstances her mother meant but Rose needed something, not only something but a miracle.
Weeks passed without a word from Mr. Edward Daly nor an official death sentence for Rose. She feared the worst. They were going to kill her in the night and feign it as an accident of some sort. No, that was silly she had thought but she knew she was not far off. So Rose made a plan, determined that she would have a proper death if there was need for one. She planned to become nocturnal, to stay awake nights so such things would not happen.
Things around the jail became suspicious a few nights after that. Other occupants of the jail would just stare at her with pitiful eyes. So Rose put her plan into action. She slept through the day and without realizing it most of the night too. She woke at midnight, slightly disturbed by her failure.
‘ They could have come for me anytime after dark’ she had thought. But what surprised her most was that there was no guard by her door or by any door. Rose sat up off her bed and crept towards her barred gate. She peered through and listened. She did not know how long she sat there listening, waiting for something to happen. Then she heard it Bang, Bang, Bang. The sound of doors opening and closing from above her. The other prisoners didn’t move,they were all deep in slumber. Drugged? Then how did they miss her? Then just one last bang. Close now. Closer than before. Rose slunk slowly backwards into to the shadow. Ah so you are Mrs. Grandjour then. Rose was then startled to find that she was not alone in her cell.
Rose Grandjours not so empty cell
Rose was too speechless for words. Rose concentrated hard, closing her eyes she took a deep breath and then slowly turned. The man was no spirit or ghost he was real. Obviously not noticing Roses anxiety th man sat there staring at Rose clicking his tounge.. ‘Mr. Edward Daly?’ Rose struggled to pronounce such an English name. Although she was fluent in English it was sometimes hard to drop the French accent of her birth. The man did not answer. He then let an easy comment through his lips ‘What do you think of my plan?’ As it was an everyday thing to break it a highly secure prison. Rose stared blankly at the man. ‘ Oh please! Even a woman should know that this was a good plan to get you out of here’. His accent now playing on an American tone. Rose now coughed hoarsely taking in the foul stench of the prison. ‘ Who are you?’ The man now rolled his eyes, definitely American. ‘Can you at least give me some feedback on my plan’ His voice loud and now touched with an ever growing hint of annoyance. Was it wrong to ask questions a voice in her head asked. Rose then quickly stumbled to get words out of her mouth fast enough. ‘ I am sorry but I do not know who you are, I am weak from the voices in my head. I am sorry. Rose repeated again in a hoarse whisper.
‘ Then it is definitely time to get you out of here.’ He then strode to the other side of the cell where Rose was and grabbed her firmly by the arm opened the cell door and ran up the steps of the prison until he reached the once barricaded door to the outside world. Rose felt the cold breeze of the night air and in that moment she was glad of the mysterious man in her cell. She was undisturbed of his hidden identity and she felt a rush of warmth through her body. Warmth that could not be brought through a coat a warmth that was a sudden happiness. The warmth ended as soon as it had started as she was flung into a taxi cab with no idea of her further adventures.
an old horse drawn taxi
Rose was used to silence, so the silence that followed in the cab was not her biggest worry. Her eyes stayed straight and focused on the leather seat in front of her. To break the silence the man from the cell introduced the driver as Francis. A wave of shock passed over Roses face and it did not go unnoticed. ‘ What troubles you madamoiselle?’ The mans once American accent reverted to French. Rose surprised her self by her quick answer. ‘ You introduce your chauffeur and yet you do not introduce yourself.’ ‘All in good time madam, all in good time’.
Rose then pondered the man’s words and wondered about his changing accents. Time went quickly by and soon pink tinged the sky, it was dawn. Soon after the car stopped and she then recognised her surroundings. Another wave of shock passed over her face. ‘ You need to control your emotions madamoiselle. I see you recognize this place, you should. I believe you must retrieve something from here.’ Rose then knew what he meant, the envelope!
Chapter 2
Rose Grandjour was born in 1774 in Paris, France. She had a happy life learning many languages. She lived with her mother Elizabeth and her many husbands. When she turned 12, her sight had changed. She could hear what she imagined were spirits and she could see what she thought was the future. She was scared and she told no one. Until her mother found her crying in her bedroom frightened beyond all strength. She gave in and told her everything. Her mother held a brave face for a while but then she secretly asked for a doctors help. Rose held no grudge, her mother must have been frightened as well. Her mother later died after giving birth to a still born, who would have been her brother. On her death bed, she had handed Rose an envelope and told not to open it until in need. Her last words were Edward Daly and those were the words Rose would never forget. Rose was seized from the house hours later.
Paris, France, Rose Grandjour’s once happy home
Rose shuddered as the flashback ended. She then slowly stepped out of the taxi and looked at her old home. More memories flooded through her head but she stopped them, she did not need to remember. She had let her guard down and her hearing enhanced and she saw herself picking up the envelope which held unknown secrets. She strode to a halt at the old and now rotten door. It had only been a few years before that the house was in perfect condition but many searches had been underway searches for witchery items, none were found.
Rose was surprised that they had not found the envelope. When Rose had finally calmed herself she turned the handle, but of course it was locked. Rose gave the door one firm push and it gave way. She stepped over the remains of the door and shuffled in aware of footsteps behind her. After looking around her old home damaged and destroyed, she found a lump in her throat and it took all the strength she had left not to break down and burst out crying. She climbed the once grand staircase and went to to her mothers bedroom. She ignored the bed where her mother once lay and proceeded to the hidden shelf in the wall. It had been used to keep jewellery, but this is where she saw the envelope in her mind.
She retrieved it and looked at her mother’s hand writing written across the worn paper.. Rose let one tear drop. She dared to look around the room; her tears controlled once more. She took a deep shuddering breath and walked down the stairs hoping the envelope would give her some answers that she desperately needed . She clutched the envelope tightly to her chest and slowly walked down the stairs. She looked back at her once happy home and let one more tear spill. She looked at the cab and looked at the horses that pulled it. She said goodbye to her happiness and left.
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