"His name is Jules," The girls around Antoinette were keeping their eyes on the new violinist in the opera house. Twenty year old Antoinette glanced only once or twice at the man but she danced on as her duty as prima ballerina.
"So cute!" An exclaim was heard, one of the variety of the same concept Ann had heard from many of the ballerinas. The new violinist had a tall nose, intense black eyes, wavy dark brown hair that was nearing a shade of black, and a goatee. Not nearly was the cute Ann thought of but his features were quite fine, even if they didn't go quite well together. Ann twirled and took another glance; he was swaying to the music unlike how the retired and much older violinist used to do. Passion filled this man as he played on his violin. For one second their eyes had met, she had noticed the glimmer in his eyes that launched a playful smile. Before she realized it, she had fallen down. The rest of the rehearsal she had already decided to keep her eyes off the man. Her last relationship ended badly as Alexandre ran off with one of the ballerinas, one of her closer friends. Then Erik. Erik, oh stupid Erik! When he at last turned fourteen, he confided in Antoinette that he would be leaving for a little bit, fashioning another mask that fully covered his face instead of half. When Ann questioned, he simply told her there was no time. Time!
"Erik, you are barely fourteen!" She had told him, but he shook his head and stood his ground firmly. He told her he wanted to visit the world, to see what mankind denied him, to feel like he belonged.
"You will come back, right?" That was all she could murmur when she realized that she could never stop Erik. He was too persistent and stubborn.
"When I feel like it," He shrugged, as Ann pulled him into a hug. That day, she went down to his lair and assisted his packing. Erik had trouble determining whether he should bring his librettos or whether to bring more clothes. He had chosen librettos at first but Ann protested. Erik had become her little brother now and she knew she would miss him dearly.
"Excuse me, mademoiselle," A voice rang out, breaking her out of her thoughts and her hands immediately flew off the necklace Erik had given her on her seventeenth birthday. She turned around, and her look of shock might have startled the man.
"Oh, my name is Jules Giry," He smiled, "And you are, mademoiselle?"
"Ann. I mean Antoinette!" She studied his expression.
"Ah. You have already discovered who I am, of course. "He laughed a warm laugh, "Nothing spreads faster than gossip in an opera house!"
"And what evidence could you bring for that?" A sultry voice came from behind Ann. Another ballerina had come to flirt with the workers.
"I just arrived in dear, sweet France from the Scandinavian countries, worked in four different opera houses before coming here!" He nudged the shoulder his violin case rested on.
"Oh, a foreigner! You men are the best if you know what I mean" The ballet rat exclaimed, batting her eyelashes, as Jules tried to keep from snickering. At the same time, Ann was trying to keep from turning red in embarrassment.
"Actually, I am from France." He corrected, "I left to Scandinavia after fighting in the wars and realizing I can't stand murder as I can stand music,"
For that one line, Ann immediately thought of Erik who would have turned sixteen by now, out there, wherever he was.
"Well, I shall be going now." He nodded, his black eyes lingering on Ann, "Au revior, Antoinette."
Time had passed quite quickly and before she knew it, she was standing by herself, right in front of the entrance she normally used to visit Erik. She wished that he would be there, and stepped forward. Nothing was the same, the corridor dirty and filled with spider webs and their owners. Finally, she arrived at the lair. It was really no different than when she last saw it, three years ago. Except nothing was illuminated by the bright candles and no music played on. She walked around, fingering what the place had become. The smell even returned to the stink of the lake water and how the lake water made her shiver. The cool breeze fluttered around her and she started to cry. She had missed the little boy. Oh God, he was only such a little boy! Ann couldn't feel her feet anymore and she collapsed on the swan bed. The fabric of it was soft, never having been slept on before, except for her. She wrapped the crimson blankets and snuggled closer in it, hoping to find comfort. It reeked of mothballs but she didn't care. Her eyes deceived her and she fell into a slumber.
The next morning she had woken up. Panicking, she quickly crawled out of the bed and cursed Erik for banishing mirrors from the lair. She rearranged her hair as best as she could and finally decided just to braid her hair into two long braids of red. Dashing to the door, she ran back to make the bed. Then she found herself face to face with Jules Giry.
"Where have you been?" He asked, the concern not hidden.
"I, um, lost track of time," She muttered, feeling herself turning pinker.
"Rumors are spreading," He chuckled, as she shook her head with her own stupid actions.
"Not necessarily the best. They believed you were whoring for me," His eyes twinkled.
"I'm sorry!" She looked up at him. He was quite tall.
"No, just worried for your position as prima ballerina," He looked forward.
"Oh," She murmured, as he continued.
"Paris is beautiful," He stated rather bluntly, "After living up north, I had never realized the beauty of its music, its fashion, of its very people," He trailed off, looking at Ann. She could only keep her mouth shut, she was rather on the attractive side and men often flirted with her. She mainly chose to ignore them, but Jules? She didn't know much but she felt…safe.
"Care for a walk?" He questioned the violin ever present on his back. They wandered about the park until he stopped. Jules pulled out his violin case and dumped the case on the floor. He shrugged and explained how he could earn some extra money. Suddenly, music filled her and reminded her of the way Erik was able to. It no longer sounded like Mozart but as if the town was ablaze in fire, with the heat of its passion. People cared to throw some francs in his case, but they walked on chatting and ignoring the music. Jules was an exceptional musician no doubt, and he mentioned he had some tutoring in Scandinavia. Looking at him, he was so into the music, lost in his own world. With every forte he attacked, the music sounded so deafening. After the song ended, no one noticed. Jules pulled up the sleeves of his collared shirt, and his hands combed back some of his hair that had fallen out of place. Ann eyed him, unsure of her feelings. He picked his violin backed up and Ann stood up.
"I must return," She told him, "Thank you for the lovely talk, it was nice to be outdoors,"
"Wait, let me clean up!" He struggled forward to pocket the little money he earned, "I have to take you back,"
"It's fine," She smiled, as she backed away.
"At least take my coat, it is cold," He offered her the black coat. How scandalous she would look, returning in some oversized men's coat. She politely shook her head no, "Please, I insist. I will need a reason to visit you."
"Then I will give you my word," She smiled, "That I promise to come visit,"
"Very well," Jules nodded slightly, "Then good bye,"
"Good bye," She turned to walk, wrapping her arms around herself. What was this new feeling? She barely knew this man! All she knew was that he came from up north, his name was Jules, and that he was strikingly good looking…in a way. They had met for a span of two days but she saw something and she wasn't sure if it was good or bad. As she traveled further, she could feel those ardent eyes trailing her and she dared not turn around. A song had begun to play, from some opera, about two lovers who were destined to be together. How cruel music could be.
A/N Hey...final day of freedom before school starts :) I'm happy but I'm treading it...did anyone had nightmares as well? About failing finals or something... Here you go with the next chapter! See you all in around five reviews, maybe? come on, that's reasonable :)