Disclaimer:Berusaiyu no Bara & all characters © ® All Rights Reserved Ikeda
Productions 1972-1973, Tokyo Movie Shinsha Co. 1979-1980.
Feedback eternally appreciated: crune@coqui.net
In the Mist of Madness
by Aria(crune@coqui.net)
"I fear facing the judgement of men...and of God."
--Jeanne Valois de la Motte's thoughts during her trial
(sp. version of Bersaiyu no Bara)
"Are you God?" asked Jeanne Valois de la Motte in her
darkened cell. The rats could be heard scurrying through the walls.
It was a disgusting place. Reflecting, Jeanne realzed she expected to
end up here at some point of her life. Can't have fun forever, she thought
distractedly
//who do you think I am?//
"I don't know, but if you are God you came to judge me,
isn't that right?"
"I do not regret anything I did...well maybe I do, but
still..." Jeanne's voice echoed hauntingly in the prison. Her face carried
the look of wistfullness.
//it was a grand game wasn't it?//
"Yes it was, I can't believe I almost got away with it..."
//why?//
"It was easier than I expected," she said," I fooled everyone, I
guess if it weren't for the Queen, I couldn't have gotten this far", she
scoffed, "our dear Marie Antoinette is nothing but a fool. Look at her,
parading in her gowns, going to parties, gambling."
//didn't *you* want to do just that?//
She raised her index finger, as if teaching a lesson.
"I wasn't the queen."
//But you would have wanted to be one//
Jeanne scrunched up her face, preparing to make a denial when she
started giggling loudly again. Someone's irritated voice echoed through the
dark corridors of the prison.
She sighed oblivious to all and dreamly said,"It would have been
wonderful." Her tone changed once again and she said angrily, "I would have
certainly done better than that--that fool!"
She got up from the corner where she had been seated and paced
furiously.
//And now?//
She turned.
"Now what?"
//You will die now//
She waved her hand nonchalatly. "Now, tommorrow, the day after that,
all of us will die--what difference will it make?"
//You could have lived//
"Ah yes...I could have lived," she smiled indolently, "and I could have
also become a servant married some poor peasant and had a child each year!"
she laughed hysterically.
"My sister..."she could barely speak so was she caught in her own
laughter,"my silly sister would have wanted that."
//why do you say that?//
Jeanne coughed. "She was always happy she had no ambition..and still..."
her voice faded.
//what?//
"She seems to be God's favorite...your favorite--my mother's too."
//why do you say that?//
"I tried to become a great lady, worked so much harder than her."
//a *great* lady?//
"Yes."
//a *great* lady?//
"What?"
//what is it you *really* wanted?//
Jeanne inhaled loudly. Long moments passed and when she spoke again it
was barely audible...
"Power."
"It wasn't just about dancing, beautiful dresses or money..."
//wasn't it?//
She turned her head sharply. "No, money *gave* me power, I *needed*
power."
//you'd do anything for power?//
"Yes."
//are you a murderer then?//
"No!" the word echoed loudly. Already the unfortunate sleepy criminal
had given up in trying to get some quiet.
"I'm not a murderer," her voice became a dark, furious whisper, "I never
meant for anyone to die..."
//you lie//
"I don't," she said quietly, "how could I have survived without the
Marchioness' fortune?"
//she would have given it to you//
"I didn't want to wait my whole life, I wanted power *now*."
//greedy//
"Ambitious...but aren't we all?" she giggled.
//you took advantage of everyone//
"Who are you talking about?"
//everyone//
"Who?!"
//everyone: Rosalie, your mother...//
"No! nonono NO!," the last was a shrill scream, Jeanne put her hand
over her ears, with no avail.
//murderer//
"Nooo!" she screamed. Then she tore her hair, scratched her white skin
until she bled and ripped her dress, never once stopping her hysterical
screams. When she had completely exhausted herself she let herself fall to
the ground. She bent her head and sobbed.
"Don't you understand...I...had to," she said brokenly.
******************************************************************************
"I'd like to see Jeanne Valois de la Motte, if you will," a tall blond
woman dressed in the garb of an imperial guard informed the prison guards in
a clear voice.
The officer laughed loudly. "You want to see the crazy one!" he
exclaimed.
"Crazy one?"
"Yes, she's crazy-- talking to herself all the time she's been here,
we've heard screaming and found her bloodied and beaten up, but its
only her."
Oscar remained silent.
"Would you like me to lead you to Jeanne's cell?"
"No, I'll be more than satisfied if you just tell me where it is."
******************************************************************************
The Comander found Jeanne in her cell so tucked into a corner it took her
a few momets to see her figure.
"Jeanne, please come into the light."
There was a long pause.
"I don't want to," a soft, dark voice answered in a whisper.
"Why?"
"Because God hates me."
Oscar was silent for a moment.
"What does God have to do with you coming into the light?" she asked.
"Maybe he won't see me if I hide in the dark," she said then she laughed
maniacally, a sigh could be heard some moments later. "You're right, He can
see me anywhere..." her voice drifted away hauntingly.
Then she emerged.
Jeanne Valois de la Motte stepped into the light. She blinked painfully
adjusting herself to the glare of the torches.
"You wanted to see me?" she said with a smile.
Oscar did not quite expect this. Jeanne's dress was torn in various
places, stained in some undoubtedly with blood, her own blood. Her beautiful
face had numerous scratches as did her shoulders and arms.
Her eyes and her features still held pride and she stood head held high.
"Are you done starring, Commander?" she inquired.
"You..." Oscar's voice faltered and she started once again,"You did this
to yourself."
"No," said Jeanne, " He made me do it."
"Who?"
"God...He hates me."
"Your...sister loves you," Oscar said abruptly. It still startled her to
know that the angelic Rosalie was related to Jeanne.
Jeanne's head turned sharply and she smiled sadly. "Yes, I guess she does
...it figures she would."
"She gave me this to give to you," Oscar extended her hand through the
bars and showed Jeanne a gold ring.
Jeanne paused before taking it.
"Rosalie was always such a good girl," Jeane fingered the ring. Then
offered it to an astonished Oscar, "Tell her to give this to her good
children later."
"She told me specifically to give this to you."
"And you obediently complied...very well my dear Oscar--tell her that I
accept it with my most profound gratitude," she said in a sarcastic tone.
Oscar nodded seriously, turned and silently walked towards the exit of
the prison, she had taken no more that three steps before she heard Jeanne
start to laugh. It was first a small chuckle, but it grew and it became a
maniac laugh echoing deep in the tunnels of the prison, thick and hysterical,
it raised goosebumps on Oscar's neck as she headed towards the end of the
barely illuminated corridor. She reached the end just as she was feeling
choked by the lunatic laughter of a woman who had lost it all...
Oscar reached the end of the corridor and stepped outside into the
fresh air--
...and still the laughter cotinued...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
End
send me feedback if you dare
(
geocities.com/tokyo/highrise/Highrise) (
geocities.com/tokyo/highrise) (
geocities.com/tokyo)