Hello everyone, so this 'Diamonds are forever', I'm writing this story for a wonderful author called Christine Stein who gave me the story line, it is a great storyline and I hope I can make her proud by writing this, and hopefully I will do it justice. I'm so thankful that she wished for me to write it and totally amazed by her kindness.

Obviously I'm still writing Diamonds in Persia, and that is my priority for now, so this story will be updated 3 times a week tops, but I hope you can enjoy it and show me the kindness that you have shown me on my other stories.

My Christine is about 15 years old, and is much like Sierra Boggess :D

Thank you all so much, you are all so lovely!

Chapter 1-Christine POV

I ran as fast as I could through the beautiful silvery woods, the trees all around me, their beautiful green leaves like a huge roof, my feet flew across the fallen leafed floor, making it look like a greeny copper carpet, I giggled as the leaves jumped up a my movements to tickle my ankles. I pulled my bag over my shoulder slightly as I jumped over a fallen log and hid behind a larger tree, it was in a beautiful clearing by it was a glittering lake, I wanted to run and jump into it, it was all so stunning, so much natural beauty was all around me, never had I seen such natural gorgeousness in all my life!

The countryside was such a difference compared to Paris, and I was so excited to see what else this adventure would bring. I was about to come out from my hiding place when I hear my Papa's voice, I covered my mouth, trying to stop the giggles.
'Where, oh where are you Miss Christine?' my Papa's deep voice filled the woods and seemed to fill every centimetre of the woods. I giggled even more, not being able to contain them anymore, I peeked out watching my Papa look left and right, the large bag on his broad back, his round bearded face in a huge smile as always. He was beside my tree now; I pulled up the bottom of my dress so I wouldn't trip and leapt onto his back as he walked past.

'Oh there you are!' he laughed loudly spinning me around, I squealed delightedly.
'Oh Papa! Put me down, are we nearly there?' I asked as he put me back on my feet, I spun slightly feeling dizzy, he took my hand.
'Yes, we are nearly there my darling, isn't it beautiful here?' My papa kicked the leaves with his boots as we walked.
'Its stunning Papa, I prefer it to Paris!' I smiled, I really did, we had left the city after the house had to be sold, Papa told me it was because the money stopped.

I don't remember my Mama, but my Papa had told me he had stopped working, stopped playing his violin so he could look after me, he hadn't wanted maids raising me, so put his violin to one side and only played it for me on special occasions, oh it was perfect when Papa played his violin, it was like a magic, when Papa played his violin I was sure that angels had taught Papa to play, he would laugh when I said that. But I was certain of it.

'Look can you see the camp from here, can you see it?' I followed my Papa's large hand and saw between the trees, a clearing filled with large white tents, and cages, my tummy went funny, it filled with nerves. I tugged on my Papa's hands.
'Papa, I'm nervous.' I said quietly as we neared the clearing now, the sliver trees seemed to part making a path for us. My Papa stopped, smiling at me.
'Christine, don't be this will make it easier for us. I can earn money and we will be fed and watered and we will have a home, I'm sure they will love you! I know I do!' My Papa pulled me into his arms, I held him tightly, I didn't know what I would do without him. I held his hand tighter giving it a squeeze as we walked through the parted trees. I could hear the voices now, they were heavily accented, we walked on through the clearing, the large tents on either side of us, a thousand smells filled my nose, strange spices and heat came from the huge fire pit which was situated in the middle of the grass, three or four children younger than me sat around it, poking the ashes with the sticks in their hands, they turned to look at me and Papa, they were olive skinned and very thin, their eyes like large black pebbles, the same colour as their glossy hair, they glared as we walked passed, I felt myself flinch slightly, looking down as they whispered.
'Hello, do you know where your mama or papa is?' my Papa asked them, they all scrambled up, one of them lifted up a tiny hand and pointed to the largest of the tents, it was huge compared to the others, like a true house, the trees surrounded all the tents completely making it look like some strange fortress.
'Merci.' Papa called to the children over his shoulder. As we walked I felt lots of eyes on us, they peered from out of the multiple tents, some people emerged, they came out, whispering and wittering, some of them spoke my language of French others spoke a quick fast language which I didn't know. I looked around as we walked, the hundreds of eyes glittering in their strange blackness. I tried to keep my eyes to the floor, my cheeks blushing; Papa squeezed my hand for comfort which i was grateful for. We now stood outside the huge tent, it loomed down on us, I let my eyes wander to the cages behind it, there were several of them, all of them covered, I was desperate to see what was underneath.
'Are you okay Christine?' my Papa whispered as he went to open the tents flap.
'I'm okay Papa.' I gave a weak smile, I was shaking slightly, I had never felt so nervous in my life!
'Enter!' came a booming voice from the tent, I gave a little jump, Papa smiled at me and took my hand into the tent, I took a deep breath and couldn't help but gasp at the amount of beautiful things inside of it, it was so strange, on the floor was beautiful rugs and carpets covered in different patterns, shapes and sizes, until there was none of the long grass to be seen. There was a long bed covered in what looked like animal skins, and in front of us was a desk, covered in papers. I gave a little jump at what was behind the desk, a man, who was so huge I was sure he was a giant, he was as tall as he was wide, and the whole tent smelt strongly of beer and the bitterness of salty meat.

The man looked up, he gave a grin at Papa, showing me that he had few of his teeth left, his face was sweating although it was not that warm at all, his eyes were sunken in and of a strange grey colour as was his greasy hair, it was undecided not brown, not black, nor grey just rather dull. He was dressed much like the other gypsies in dusty coloured cloth, that looked very thin, not like my dress which was detailed with lace.
'Monsieur Daae, a pleasure, I'm Timon.' He grinned, his voice sent shivers up my spine I clutched tighter onto Papa's hand, there was something about this man that made my tummy go light and funny, I was scared of him already though he had done nothing to me. My Papa extended his hand to the gypsy.
'Now, there are few rules here, we move once a week, we keep our heads down and work hard. You and your daughter have your own tent, you will be expected to contribute to the gypsy lifestyle, and play to the best of your ability, I will take a twenty per cent cut from your earnings for my trouble of you travelling with us. I hope you find this well?' The gypsy said this all very quickly and seemed to loom over both me and Papa.
'Qui, I understand.' My Papa sighed, picking up the pen and signing the large parchment before him.
'Good, good, now come with me I shall show you around.' The gypsy beckoned us to follow him, we walked in his shadow Papa's hand still in mine. The gypsy, Timon, shouted loudly a strange hollowering noise, and the other gypsies came out from their tents, there were hundreds of them! All of different shapes and sizes. Some slight and beautiful, others old and toothless, but no matter what they all had this strange air of dainty beauty, like they were part pixie, all of them expect of Timon, who was quite the opposite.
'This is Monsieur Daae and his daughter; he is a violinist and is joining our clan. You will treat him with respect or have me to answer to!' With that Timon turned away trudging of f back into his tent. The gypsies stood before us, all of them looking us up and down in a curious manner.
'Will you play for us?' one of the higher pitched voices asked.
'Certainly.' My Papa smiled cheerfully lifting his violin from its case, the gypsies now all sat around the fire, passing large platters of strange looking meats between them.
'Go and sit my darling, perhaps you will make a friend.' Papa smiled, I sat shyly on the floor beside another girl, who took no shame in staring at me. Papa began to play, and the gypsies hushed, he truly was remarkable, he made the temperamental instrument sound like it was as easy whistling or clicking your heels. The sound was glorious and outside amongst the backdrop of the beautiful trees it made it even more beautiful, like the music and nature were winding together. The gypsies clapped when Papa finished, all of them looking delighted up at him. He smiled back at them, the rose from their grassy seats and praised him, my Papa was such a delight, he truly was a genuinely nice man. I rose to get to my Papa, but he was surrounded by gypsies young and old, who all were fascinated by his beautiful instrument and how he got it to make that glorious music, he laughed and took his time to explain. I sat on the log by the fire, most of the gypsies were around my Papa, apart from three children, not much younger than me, I was fifteen, they were at least thirteen. I was nervous, but decided to try and make a friend, to try and talk to them, Papa said we would have to stay for a while with the gypsies, then once we had enough money we could move back to Paris, so I thought it only right to try and communicate.
'Bonjour.' I smiled at them from across the crackling fire; it let off fumes of spices and a comforting warmth. They turned to look at me, but after they had looked me up and down continued whispering. I felt my tummy drop. What were they saying? Perhaps they couldn't understand French.

'Hello?' I tried again this time in English, again they looked up but then began laughing and shaking their heads. I felt tears form in my eyes, I didn't understand, why were they laughing? It was awfully unkind of them, I bit my lip.
'I only want to talk.' I said quietly, looking at my hands.
'We don't want to speak to you, outsider.' The girl spat, her black eyes gleaming, she spun away her black hair glowing in the fire light, the two boys followed her. I pulled my knees to my chin, looking over the fire seeing that my Papa was still surrounded by gypsies, now letting them touch his violin, they looked at him in wonder as he smiled at me, I smiled back, I was about to go to him when I thought I heard something behind me, like a soft wheezing. I turned and saw nothing, well expect for the covered cages.
They were away from the camp slightly, on a slight downhill part of the clearing. I realised I was alone and walked to them, silently, tucking my hair behind my ears. My eyes adjusting to the dusk light that glimmered between the trees. There was a crack, and I nearly jumped from my skin, I looked left, praying that Timon hadn't found me, something told me I should not be seen looking at the cages, and especially not by Timon. But as I looked I had to stop myself from squealing in delight, there were three horses tied to posts in the ground, one of pure white, one of jet black and the other a bright chestnut, all of them fine and shining with stunning glossy coats.

I grinned and skipped over to them, they raised their beautiful heads and neighed at me, I smiled, giggling at the touch of the chestnuts velvet nose. I opened my bag and took an apple from it, biting it into three large chunks, and gave each of the beautiful creatures a piece. They licked their lips gratefully, I smiled, enjoying twiddling their manes, and scratching behind their ears. Then I heard a cough, I jumped, and spun expecting to be caught, but heard it again, and this time from one of the cages.
I walked away from the horses and towards the large covered cages, something made me shiver slightly as I walked forward to the cages all of them hidden beneath a velvet red material, the coughing came from the middle one, my heart was racing I reached it, what was in it? What was making that strange coughing sound? I reached up touching the velvet and pulled it away, my heart hammering, the cage was before me now, I gasped and staggered back at what I saw.

In chains with his back turned to me was a young man, his back was covered in long scratches, they were bleeding heavily, the ruby red liquid trickled down his white skin, it was horrible. I couldn't help but stare, my eyes wide, as I couldn't help it, his back looked so sore. He was bare chested, his skin pimpled, I could see through the shadows of the trees fell onto his skin, through the bars. All I could see was his back, his arms were chained to the floor, as were his ankles which bled, why was he chained! I could see his hands, as I tightened my fingers around the cold bars. He turned to look at me, my gasp at the blood giving me away. To my surprise his face was covered with a piece of dirty grey material. I staggered back as his eyes one of blue and one of the deepest brown stared at me from behind the material, I was gasping loudly. His eyes, they were breath taking, like two pools, the blue was like one I had never seen before, so blue it sparkled, whereas the brown was so deep I was sure it was black, it was so strange. As the young man turned again, I heard him wince, the chains moving as he dragged his body towards where I stood. I fell to my behind and looked up reading the sign on top of the cage it read...
THE LIVING CORPSE.

Hope you liked the first chapter!

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