[ her leap of logic does its service; in effect he did and was those things. in many ways he has always been just that: a creator, a sire, the double-sided coin of a benevolent king and a malevolent tyrant both. (he was all that and more to marcel.) rueful and somewhat reticent for a moment in the particulars (it does so sting), he explains. ] He was my ward. [ still avoiding her eyes, he continues. ] My son, yes.
[ but any further talk of marcel (and any charmed reaction to her chastisement) is put to a stop at the mention of his mirror. so do his steps in their dance falter and then halt; the music may as well have stopped for him too, for how little he senses past the terror of his shock.
(he knew, always. he has known, in the back of his mind, that this day would come. that no perverse version of himself would stay dormant nor quiet for long. and of course. of course it's caroline, someone he cares about so far removed from those he knows and loves.)
he stares in muted fear but does not let her go; on the contrary, his hands tighten involuntarily around her as if in keeping her close he could protect her. ] What did he say to you?
no subject
[ but any further talk of marcel (and any charmed reaction to her chastisement) is put to a stop at the mention of his mirror. so do his steps in their dance falter and then halt; the music may as well have stopped for him too, for how little he senses past the terror of his shock.
(he knew, always. he has known, in the back of his mind, that this day would come. that no perverse version of himself would stay dormant nor quiet for long. and of course. of course it's caroline, someone he cares about so far removed from those he knows and loves.)
he stares in muted fear but does not let her go; on the contrary, his hands tighten involuntarily around her as if in keeping her close he could protect her. ] What did he say to you?