Chapter 4:
The phantom hadn't been around lately, and to celebrate the Thénardiers decided to hold a small dance party in their tavern. They moved the tables and chairs out of the way and had the bar open for serving. The dance party was going to be a costume party as well. Monsieur and Madame Thénardier were going to be serving, and their children were allowed to join in the party.
When they had everything set up, they took a step back and admired their work.
"What a splendid party this will be!" Madame Thénardier said.
"A prologue to a bright new year!" Thénardier agreed.
"Quite a night, I'm impressed!"
"Well one does one's best."
"Here's to us!" They cried, "A toast to all the city, such a pity that the phantom can't be here!"
Many guests started to arrive at this point. Gavroche and his brothers ran to greet Courfeyrac, as all three of them were dressed similarly. Azelma shyly greeted some of the other Amis, who had come. Combeferre and Éponine weren't there yet, as they were still getting ready.
"This is amazing!" Cosette smiled. She squeezed Marius' hand.
Once a great number of people began to arrive, the dance began. Everywhere they went there were masks and costumes and bright, vibrant colors. They danced through the night.
A few hours in, Cosette stopped by the bar with Marius. Enjolras and Grantaire were sitting at it, while Madame Thénardier was serving the drinks.
"What a night!" Cosette exclaimed.
Madame Thénardier nodded and smiled, "This is a very big crowd! Much bigger than what we thought. But still, it means more money. The crème de la crème."
"Everyone seems so beautiful!" Azelma said, appearing next to her mother. "And the Phantom is gone, so we don't have to be afraid anymore!"
"Ah yes, no more tricks and notes, and thankfully no more interfering with Éponine," Madame Thénardier said.
"A toast!" Marius lifted his glass, "To a prosperous year and to all of us."
They toasted him.
"Come on let's dance so more!" Cosette dragged Marius back to the dance floor.
XXX
Éponine and Combeferre arrived at the party fashionably late. Éponine was dressed in red and black with a rose in her hair and Combeferre had a brown robe on, like a monk. They stood outside the door of the tavern, a bit nervous that someone might know.
What happened with the absence of the Phantom was that Éponine and Combeferre had gotten very close. They were secretly dating. The other day, Combeferre gave Éponine a ring, a promise ring. While Éponine would have loved to belong to him, she knew she belonged to Montparnasse.
Before entering, Éponine turned to Combeferre, "Isn't it amazing? How we're so close and in love? I never thought I'll find love."
Combeferre frowned, "Why is it secret? What have we to hide? You told me—"
"Combeferre, please don't, they'll see," Éponine hissed.
"Well then let them see!" Combeferre said. "It's not a crime."
Éponine glared at him and walked inside. "Let's not argue, please pretend. You will understand in time," she muttered.
Combeferre was right behind her, "Let's not argue. I can only hope I'll understand in time."
Éponine joined in with the dancing. She danced with nearly all of the Amis. She lost Combeferre in the crowd of people. Finally she spotted him across the room.
Éponine went over and removed his mask, "Found you."
Combeferre smiled and held out his hand for a dance.
Éponine hesitated and then danced with him. All was good until the music stopped and a noise came from up above.
Everyone looked up to a see figure standing at the top of the staircase. Éponine instinctively recognized him as Montparnasse. He was wearing a large cloak and a skeleton mask. Everyone back away from him. Éponine stood in front of Combeferre, protecting him.
Montparnasse smiled and descended the staircase, "Why so silent, good Monsieurs? Did you think that I had left you for good? Did you miss me?" Montparnasse looked around the room. His gaze fell on Éponine. "Your chains are still mine, you belong to me!" He exclaimed.
Just then, something exploded in the back. Everyone screamed and ran out of the tavern. Montparnasse used the diversion to grab Éponine.
Combeferre found himself in an empty room. He turned as a flash of blonde hair left the tavern.
"Cosette, wait!" Combeferre called out. He ran out to meet her.
"What?" Cosette asked.
"You know something, don't you?" Combeferre said softly.
Cosette sighed, "I know why Éponine got involved with the Phantom. You see, when we were little, we were both raised by Madame Thénardier. And well, we were told stories of an Angel of Music. I remember seeing an angel in my dreams, and thinking that my mother will send an angel to me. Éponine, however, thought this Phantom was her angel. But now she won't be able to get free from the Phantom. He's too controlling."
Combeferre sighed, "Thank you Cosette."
Cosette shrugged and left.
XXX
The next morning, Combeferre hurriedly entered the tavern. Azelma glanced up from where she was serving at the bar.
"Back room," she said before Combeferre could speak. Combeferre quickly went into the back room. Thénardier and Madame Thénardier were there, as well as Éponine and Cosette. The other Amis, upon seeing Combeferre enter, came in after him.
"What's going on?" Enjolras asked.
Thénardier narrowed his eyes, "The Phantom wants Éponine. Permanently."
"What?! No!" Combeferre exclaimed.
"We need to stop him!" Courfeyrac said.
"How?" snapped Madame Thénardier. "He can ruin us!"
"So, you're tavern is more important than your daughter?!" Combeferre asked, enraged.
"Don't," Éponine mouthed behind her mother's back.
"I care about all of my children!" Madame Thénardier exclaimed. "Besides, Éponine can handle herself, can't you sweetie?"
"We need to protect as many people as possible," Thénardier said. "One person or the whole tavern? The choice is obvious."
"I blame Cosette!" Madame Thénardier turned to her. "This is all your fault! You're the one behind this!"
"Excuse me?! I have done nothing!" Cosette shot back at her.
"It doesn't matter!" Éponine said forcefully. "Because I'm not doing this. I'm not going with him."
"Why not? You could save your family," Thénardier told her.
"It's your decision," Madame Thénardier told her in a voice that made it sound like it wasn't her decision.
"You have a duty to your family!" Thénardier told her sternly.
Combeferre frowned and Éponine walked over to him. Combeferre placed his hands on her shoulders, "Éponine, you don't have to do this. They can't make you do anything."
Courfeyrac then grinned, "We have all been blind-and yet the answer is staring in the face! This could be the chance to ensnare our clever friend."
Thénardier folded his arms, "We're listening."
"We shall play his game," Courfeyrac continued, "And send Éponine to him. But, we follow them to his lair and get rid of him once and for all! Unless Éponine can remember the way herself."
Éponine shook her hair, "It was too dark. But—"
"We'll be prepared!" Jean Prouvaire cried out.
"We should all carry guns, just in case," Bahorel said. "And be prepared at all times!"
"His reign will end!" Bossuet declared.
"This is madness!" Cosette said, storming forward.
Joly frowned, "the tide will turn!"
"Monsieur, believe me, there is no way of turning the tide!" Cosette shouted.
"Then help us!" Feuilly said.
"I can't," Cosette said quietly.
"She could be on his side," Thénardier muttered.
"I mean well, but we've seen him kill before!" Cosette said, her voice rising again.
Everyone began arguing at once about this. Éponine sighed as she watched chaos erupt in the room. "Enough!" she shouted. "If you don't stop, I'll got mad! Combeferre, please don't make me does. Don't put me through this ordeal by fire. He'll take me, I know. We'll be parted forever, he won't let me go." Éponine sighed, "What I once used to dream I now dread. If he finds me, it won't ever end. And he'll always be there, singing songs in my head."
Combeferre took her hand, "You said yourself; he was nothing but a man."
Grantaire stepped forward, "Yet while he lives, he will haunt you till you're dead."
Éponine walked away from them and over towards the window. The night was cold and dark outside, and it was snowing. "Twisted ever way, what answer can I give? Am I to risk my life to win the chance to live? Can I betray the man who once inspired my voice? Do I become his prey? Do I have any choice? He kills without a thought; he murders all that's good. I know I can't refuse and yet, I wish could. Oh God, if I agree, what horrors wait for me in this?"
Enjolras sighed and walked over to her, "Éponine, don't think that I don't care, but every hope and every prayer rests on you now."
Éponine glared at him and pushed past him out of the room. Cosette ran after her.
"This is all my fault," Éponine muttered.
"No, it's not," Cosette said.
Éponine sat down, "if I hadn't believed that stupid Angel of Music story—"
"Stupid?" Cosette asked quietly, with big eyes. "No, your Angel is still out there. You just happened across someone else."
Éponine sighed, "Cosette—"
"No! I want my Angel!" Cosette said, starting to tear up, "It's the only thing that I really connected to my mother. I'm not destroying that connection!" She rushed out of the tavern.
Marius and Combeferre came over to Éponine.
"Is she all right? Where did she go?" Marius asked, concerned.
"Her mother's grave. Come on, let's go," Éponine said, grabbing her cloak. The two boys put on coats and they got a carriage and headed out.
Chapter Five:
Cosette entered the graveyard. A blanket of snow was on the ground. She made her way to the one grave that seemed unremarkable. Cosette wiped off the snow to read her mother's name. Cosette smiled sadly and knelt by the grave.
"Little Lotte thought of everything and nothing. Her mother promised her that she would send her the Angel of Music. Her mother promised her…" Cosette took a deep breath and looked down.
