Disclaimer: Berusaiyu no Bara & all characters © ® All Rights Reserved Ikeda
Productions 1972-1973, Tokyo Movie Shinsha Co. 1979-1980.
Except faux Oscar
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Predicting Death
by Aria (crune@coqui.net)
I didn't know what gave it away. I knew, though, that now I would pay.
The rebellious part in me wanted to run away. Nothing good could come out of
me being held hostage in my own house with the maids whispering furtively
between themselves. I could not hear exactly what they were saying, but a
word rang out.
*witch*
That's what they all thought I was. The court no doubt was definitely
using me as gossip. It irritated me, but was the least of my worries.
What if they chased me away like they did my ancestors...or worse yet
--murder me for being an "unholy practitioner of the black arts."
Someone knocked at the door to my room. Funny, what I had designed as
luxurious with the latest style was now a prison.
"Come in," I called out.
I expected the maids, but not the Commander of the Royal Guard. I
knew of her, much like everyone in the court did--how the uniform worn hid a
woman. I wondered how someone could live that way. I imagined it would
almost be as if one was a walking irony.
"Good evening, Mademoiselle Lefranc," she said as she bowed
gracefully.
"Good evening, Commander," I replied not really knowing how to
address her.
"I suppose you are curious as to my business here."
"It did cross my mind. I didn't think I had committed great enough
crime to call the attention of the Royal Guard," I gestured to a nearby chair,
being a hostess was second nature to me now, "Please sit."
The Commander nodded, scrutinizing me with those blue eyes.
"I came here to ensure that you posed no danger to the Queen."
That surprised me, I hadn't expected her to be as direct. I smiled,
grateful to converse with someone that could get to the point without useless
small talk.
"Thank you for getting to the crux of the matter so soon Commander. I
assure you I have no intention of harming anyone, I do not know how this
matter begun in the first place, would you be so kind as to tell me?"
Her face registered surprise for a second. "You don't know?"
I shook my head.
"Madame Beruche claims that you told her not to take her son hunting
because he would die in an accident. Her son Gustave did go hunting and did
die. Lady Beruche claims you cursed him."
I gasped. "How could she blame me! I was one of her closest friends!
How dreadful!"
"But did you or did you not tell her that Monsieur Gustave would die
if he went hunting?"
I blinked, trying to clear my head. "I have...no recollection of it."
My heart sank. Mother had warned me about this...
"Apparently others were there when you 'warned' Lady Beruche."
How utterly...human this whole mess was, I thought. Helene had
turned her grief to anger and directed it at me. I had warned her...somehow
and it had become true! I placed my head in my hands. It was I that had been
cursed, just as my ancestors had--this ability to foretell death had been
their undoing as well.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up.
"Are you all right?"
I forced a smile. "I'm fine, just...surprised. So that's why they are
calling me a witch."
It would be useless to lie, to simply say--"oh I meant he *could* die".
I knew that the Commander would detect my lie immediately and I would lose
all my credibility.
"I am not a witch, Commander"; I said softly looking at my trembling
hands folded on my lap.
"And what of your warning?"
"Coincidence."
She just looked at me.
"Just because I inform someone of an upcoming event does not make me
a practitioner of the black arts." There, I had said it.
The Commander's face was impassive. I didn't know what else to say.
The trembling of my hands grew worse.
"What...," my voice fell, "what will be done to me?"
The Commander sighed. "Lady Beruche has been making a large issue of
this. She has most of the other ladies scared."
Well, Helene had always been a leader.
She continued. "I'm afraid your social position is no more and some
have been speaking of...," the Commander winced, "execution."
How many in my family had heard similar news, I wondered idly, and
felt this bone-crushing fear?
I was calm, for some reason--my hands had stopped shaking, even
though inside I was very cold. In a steady voice I asked, "Will it happen?"
"I won't let it"; she surprised me by saying.
***
This woman was no witch. Privately, I doubted their existence--but
fiction or not the small, fragile red-haired woman in front of me wasn't a
witch. She seemed sensible and though I had just recently met her, I felt I
could trust her.
Besides what was the crime in a simple warning? The court definitely
had blown the story out of proportion.
"Thank you, Commander,"
"It won't be the same...," I said knowing well that she would never
be received warmly by her former friends--not if they wanted to keep their
friendship with Lady Beruche.
She smiled. "As long as I have my life, it doesn't matter. Others in
my family have not been so lucky."
"Others in your family?"
Her face took an expression of horror and she paled visibly.
"I meant...," she fumbled for words.
"Mademoiselle, my job was to assure that you were harmless. I have
already made my observation. Speak freely please."
She stayed silent, looking at her lap before saying softly, "My
entire family is cursed with the ability to foretell death. They can't help,
but be Death's own messengers, it is as if something takes control of their
body and warns anyone near of an impending death, some can be avoided. Most
aren't."
I couldn't believe it...but at the same time, I realized that
Mademoiselle Lefranc did not lie. I trusted her and her own conviction in her
words brushed away my doubts. "So it's true."
The redhead looked up abruptly. "I'm not evil! I don't do it to harm
people; I don't even remember when I do it! I wish to God this curse would
leave. Many have died in my family because of this."
"I don't believe you are evil, Mademoiselle."
She smiled and wiped a tear from her eye, which surprised me. I
hadn't noticed she was crying.
"Thank you, Commander. I don't believe anyone that knew of my...
ability thought that way except my mother and she is gone."
"It is only human, that people fear that in you," I said.
She nodded. "I know that, but at the same time I have done no wrong.
People fear death, but it is not my fault that I bring it's message."
Then something odd happened. Her gaze went blank and she closed her
eyes. When she opened them once more her green irises were barely visible--
her eyes seemed black.
I felt a chill go up my spine.
"Mademoiselle?" I asked warily.
"Commander", she said in a toneless voice, "do you fear death?"
I swallowed nervously trying to regain my composure, "No."
"Good. Very good. Those who fear are cowards and cowards die
honorless deaths. But you...you don't fear, so you won't. It will be sudden,
but not without great honor."
Then she went limp.
I grabbed her just before she was about to fall off the chair. She
blinked.
"What happened," she asked, "I felt sleepy all off sudden." She
blushed,"I didn't fall asleep while you were talking did I?"
"Yes you did," I lied, smiling, "but it's quite alright. I'm sure you
must have had a sleepless night."
"I'm so sorry!" she said, her cheeks reddening more.
I waved my hand dismissively and stood up, "No need to apologize. It
is late anyway. I should be leaving."
She sighed. "I am very grateful, Commander."
"Don't worry about the matter anymore."
As I left, I wondered why I didn't tell her that she had foretold my
own death. Actually, I don't think she did--not in the obvious way she had
foretold Gustave's. I hadn't lied though; I wasn't scared of death itself
what I feared was leaving things undone, uncompleted. However, I myself
wasn't even sure of what I meant by 'things'...
I shook my head, trying to clear it--focusing on riding back home.
***
I met Oscar at the stable when she arrived. "So does she steal
children and eat them?" I greeted her smiling. I was almost as skeptical as
she was about witches.
"No, Andre," she said smiling back, "She was a perfectly harmless
girl--scared to death by the prospect of being executed."
I made a face of mock horror; "Those are the worst." Turning serious
I asked her,"So what did you tell Mademoiselle Lefranc?"
"That I'm going to make sure nothing like that happens," Oscar
replied as she dismounted.
I nodded, "You took long in telling her just that." I had expected
her a lot earlier. It was near midnight.
"Don't tell me you were scared she'd steal me and eat me too," she
smiled.
"No," I wouldn't dismiss it so easily with her joking, Oscar was
hiding something,"but its weird that you stayed so late."
She shrugged, "She was interesting to talk to, much more level headed
than the normal ladies."
I decided to drop the sublety, which would get me nowhere with her.
"There's something you're not telling me, Oscar," I said as walked back to
the mansion.
Oscar sighed with exasperation. "Seriously, Andre you're starting to
sound more like Nana each day."
I ignored that comment. "Well?"
She sighed again, knowing that I wouldn't give up until she told me.
She surprised me by gesturing for me to follow her. Oscar led me to a nearby
tree away from the mansion.
"Why the secrecy?" I asked her.
"I rather no one else knew."
"Go on," now I was *very* curious.
"It seems that Mademoiselle Lefranc has the ability to foretell
death."
I considered that for a minute, "Are you serious?"
She nodded.
"So it was true."
"The warning--yes, that bit about cursing children--no."
"Oh."
"That's all. She told me that it had been in her family for a long
time. Let's head back."
I nodded. "You're right. That must have been interesting." I stayed
quiet until we reached the door then turned towards her suddenly. The thought
of someone knowing when death was to ocurr sent shivers down my spine. I
wanted to believe that Oscar was lying, but she seemed to believe it. I
couldn't doubt her, but I wanted to. Badly.
"Did she predict your death?" I asked her.
Please say no, Oscar, I begged silently.
She surprised me by smiling. "It doesn't matter, Andre," she said,
"everyone dies anyway--and besides she didn't say any particular dates. I'm
not going to die *now*, Andre."
I don't want you to leave me *ever*, I thought.
She shrugged. "You don't have to be so worried. Let's just forget
about this," she headed to the kitchen.
"Oscar." I said.
"Yes?"
She looked at me quizically. I didn't know what to say. There were
so many things...
"Oscar I--," I sighed then blurted, "I don't want you to die before I
do".
Well that was a little morbid, I thought to myself.
"We're a little young to be thinking that way don't you think,
Andre?"
I grabbed her hand. "I'm serious."
She looked at her hand in mine. "It doesn't really matter who goes
first, Andre," Oscar met my eyes and smiled. "I'm sure the waiting period in
Heaven is the same here."
I squeezed her hand gently, feeling a familiar tightness in my chest.
Oscar if you only knew...
She surprised me by returning the pressure then pulled away.
"Now c'mon, I'm starving."
END
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