The silence was deafening. Esmeralda's look of horror morphed into a look of desperation...she did not want to die, but even more, she did not want the vile Minister Claude Frollo to touch her. She would rip her own life away before she would allow that...but it wasn't that simple, just to die. Esmeralda knew the execution of her people was inevitable, and would likely be carried out right in front of her very eyes as she burned on the pyre the Minister ordered for her. She looked out to the wheeled cages full of her friends, her family, her Gypsy tribesmen and women and children just a few feet away...she thought about all their lives being snuffed out to the tiniest infant. She saw Phoebus...he would burn, too.

Frollo drew slightly nearer, bringing the torch to bear. She looked at him then, straight into his glittering eyes.

"Will you let them go?" Loud enough for only his ears.

Astonishment lit Claude's face. "What?" A sharp line of a smile hinted at the corner of his mouth. "You are in no position to bargain for your life..."

"Please. Don't you think it's a small price to pay?"

Esmeralda arched her back as best she could against the ramrod pyre, raising her chest, hips tilting to the side as she stretched suggestively. She exhaled a gentle breath from parted lips, her aquamarine eyes under half-lids fixed his wandering gaze.

Frollo stood stricken. His previous astonishment took on different shades that played across his sharp, drawn features. Inside, the fire flared new flame-tongues, complicating itself. Frollo struggled.

He knew for the very salvation of his immortal soul that he should set the torch to the gypsy girl before him, and to the rabble in the cages.

But now, the very thing he desired was practically in his grasp. Was she worth damnation? To knowingly walk into the Devil's trap, to bargain with a witch!

He drew close and angled his head toward her cheek. His nostrils flared at mingled salt and sweetness...

"Please, Claude" she whispered with warm breath that tickled his ear.

Frollo's eyes rolled back the tiniest bit as his eyelids closed of their own accord. He could feel his rational mind shutting down and shifting into autopilot.

At her ear, his set teeth bared ever so slightly. He opened his eyes, saw the black abyss before him. A millisecond of eternity passed with lightning slowness.

"You're mine."

Aquamarine eyes closed; Esmeralda bowed her head.

After a moments' lingering, Frollo abruptly stepped away from her. He raised his torch.

The watching crowd quieted their murmuring. Were they going to get to see the great bonfire that was promised?

"The gypsy Esmeralda has confessed her transgressions and has submitted to the authority of the Palace of Justice for her reform. In God's merciful name, empowered by His grace, I grant leniency toward these captive gypsies. Guards, free them, and escort them safely outside the borders of the city."

Frollo frowned his distaste as he shifted his attention to Phoebus, who was railing inside his mobile prison. "Bring him here." ordered the Minister.

Guards dragged Phoebus unkindly up the rough stairs of the executioner's platform and shoved him nose-to-shoe before Frollo.

"For this traitor to State, Duty and God: banishment." Phoebus coldly glared up at Frollo and said nothing. Frollo smiled warmly at him.

"You should be grateful, traitor. By all intents you should by now be quite dead...but I'm afraid that that pleasure must be reserved for a later time. However..." he paused, glancing at Esmeralda, "...the wait shouldn't be...too painful."

The golden-haired warrior snarled an animal sound of rage...steel-blue eyes seethed pure white hot hatred. He strained violently against his bonds. Frollo's smile widened.

A dismissive gesture later and Phoebus was vanished from Frollo's sight.

Having performed all orders post-haste, the guards now saw to the cleanup of the pavilion. The disappointed crowd was shooed away, empty cages rolled into storage, pyre wood collected and stowed, axeman sent home without pay.

But Esmeralda still stood, bound to the stake. Frollo had moved to stand some feet before her to watch the toil of his servants. Soon the activity slowed and stilled. The guards had dispersed, but two remained, the Minister's personal security.

Frollo turned his gaze to Esmeralda and stepped toward her. He smiled gently, steepled his long fingers.