"Liven up girls. This scene needs passion and life!", Giry scolded as she hit her cane on the stage while the ballerinas in front of her tried to live up to her expectations.
The choreography was a tough one, requiring lots of jumping and bold moves as haunted strong music played in the background. The girls were in their usual mood, all of them but one. Juliette seemed to be a little down but didn't show it with her dance.
However, someone who noticed could see the mechanical moves that lacked the common passion she had behind them. It didn't go unnoticed by the Giry duo who approached her once the rehearsals were over.
"Juliette, are you okay?", Meg asked as the white-haired girl stretched her muscles.
"Yeah, just today is not really my day I guess", she said.
"Is it that day?"
"What? No… it is… my birthday", she said slowly and the blonde's eyes widen but she quickly covered her mouth with a hand before she could shout it. "Please do not shout it and do not tell anyone"
Meg looked in disbelief but Juliette showed her some puppy eyes that managed to win her over and so the Prima Ballerina gave a nod with her head. Slowly, the albino pulled her hand back but stayed on guard in case her friend had lied.
"But why? You deserve like a big party and cake and presents", she exclaimed happily but in a hushed tone.
"It's just… *sigh* it's complicated. I would prefer if I did none of those things. Please"
"I still do not understand"
"Meg, let her. This day is about Juliette and is up to her on how she wants to spend the day", Madame Giry said and placed a comforting hand on the white-haired girl's shoulder.
"Okay Mama but I will buy you a present", the blond insisted stubbornly and pointed at Juliette with a finger.
"Okay, okay. But that is all", the albino said and couldn't help but smile at the kindness and friendship she had with Meg.
Little did both of them know, was the fact that the ballet mistress had a plan in mind and wouldn't let her new apprentice to not enjoy this special day. She had someone in mind that could make her enjoy it and bring back that fire that seemed to die.
Juliette made her way to the stables, she was dressed in her usual outfit and wore her worn out cloak to protect her from the winter's cold winds. She came to a halt when she spotted Erik next to a saddled Cesar but what got her attention was the horse he was holding with his other hand.
It was a beautiful white horse that stood quiet and powerful. IIt'smain also a snowy white and seemed to form waves as it fall on the creatures strong and soft neck. Its black eyes stared into her soul and her grey muzzle moved slightly as she approached her.
"Erik… what is going on?", she asked as she walked closer.
"We are going for a ride", he said and passed her the reins.
She didn't question the fact that she had her own horse, excitement building within her core as she climbed on the mare's saddle.
"What is her name?", she asked and petted the neck of the horse.
"You give her one. She has none so far"
Juliette looked confused and her eyes adverted between the masked man and the horse before thinking of a name.
"Angelique (Angel)", she said and petted the horse's neck; the said animal moved its head slightly as if agreeing on the name.
"Perfect", he said and gave a soft kick on Cesar's stomach as the horse started to walk and then trot out of the stables.
Juliette did the same but as she started to approach Erik, he started to gallop. Gaining a big head start and leaving the two of them back in shock. Her excitement only grew and a big smirk found its way on her face as she gave a strong kick.
The white mare responded by going into a gallop and quickly speeding up, trying to catch up with Erik. Her braided hair flew back as the city around them turned into a blur and soon it was replaced by trees.
The wind hit against her face and her body moved one with the horse as they galloped and almost reached Erik. The masked man noticed and gave another kick on Cesar, signaling for the horse to show what he truly could do.
She watched surprised as the black stallion started to run faster than before, once again leaving them behind.
"Oh heck no", she said as if the mare shared her need to show off, she responded to her kick and increased her speed.
She pulled her to the side, using a pathway parallel but also a little higher than Erik's as she started to reach him up. She had to stand and bend forward in order to avoid the low branches as her eyes stayed on Erik's form and his horse.
Their paths crossed and connected to a turn and she smirked as she guided her horse down the path. She felt the adrenaline running in her veins like a powerful drug and the excitement of the horse riding made her heart beat faster.
A faller tree was in front of them but she didn't stop. She kept going towards the obstacle, her eyes glowing with a competitive fire.
Erik kept his face concentrated as Cesar ran at full speed; the wind almost knocking off his wig if he hadn't made sure to secure it properly before. The tip of his light blue eye searched for her but at the beginning, he couldn't find her.
Then she seemed to catch up slowly by riding on a path parallel to his but only slightly higher. He frowned his eyebrows confused on what she was planning but his answer came as Juliette jumped above a fallen tree trunk and landed a few feet in front of him.
If Cesar wasn't well trained he would have stood on his back legs and possibly cause Erik to fall but the black stallion almost stopped as the white mare kept running, leaving them behind. The Phantom found himself smiling in the challenge as once again started to ride.
Cesar's speed was enough to start catching up to the white mare and the two horses raced against each other before coming to a stop after a few minutes. Their pace slowed down into a gallop and then normal walking.
"That. Was. Amazing", Juliette said with a bright white smile as few strands of her hair had escaped her braid and were flying everywhere. She gently petted the white horse and turned to look at him.
"Where did you learn to ride like that?", Erik asked as he patted Cesar on the neck and now rode the black stallion next to hers, their legs barely brushing off.
"Before I come here, I used to live with a big rich family. They had stables that were occupied by the finest horses. I would visit them there whenever I had the chance, they were always the animal I had a soft spot for", she started and smiled softly as she kept petting the mare. "A stable boy there saw my interest and showed me how to take care of them and also how to ride. Then, I would take my horse and ran away from the house; just me and her. The two of us were free *horses came to a halt as her face darkens* the man of the house, he didn't like it. He warned me to stay away from the horses and focus on more ladylike classes. I didn't listen and he… *sigh* he drugged me into the stables one day and shot my horse on the head in front of my very own eyes. Ladies aren't spending time dressed like this and covered in horse fess. Ladies wear dressed and try to find a husband to get married. Those were his words"
Erik listened carefully, observing how his muse held back tears while speaking about the sad memory of her past. He felt himself angry, wanting to make that man pay for doing something so cruel to her; For denying her, who she truly was and even killing her own horse in front of her own eyes.
Only a monster of a man would be so cruel, he thought but yet again, he had met many monsters like him. He was tortured by one of them. However, she didn't deserve to face such a hard reality.
He had seen the bond she had with horses, the skills she showed. He had noticed how her face lightened up with happiness when she was on top of a horse. Not even music or dancing seemed to have that effect on her.
His gloved hand went on her cheek and his thumb wiped away the tear that had managed to escape as she looked at him. So much sadness in her eyes, yet she held all of it behind a mask.
He gave a genuine smile as he cupped her cheek with his big hand and leaned on it.
"We are here", he said and pushed a strand away from her face with his other hand.
The albino girl blinked and turned her head to look around them, her sadness quickly defeated by amazement. She climbed down the horse and walked towards the lake that was not far from them.
It wasn't very big or fancy and the trees around it were bare and leafless due to the wintery season. The grass beneath them was half covered by snow and most had hid away until spring would come.
The sky was lighten up with thousands of stars that reflected on the unmoving lake, giving the impression of a mirror.
"Wow… Erik… this is…", once again she was unable to describe how she felt as she stood at the edge of the lake. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath; the fresh cold air filled her lungs as two hands gently wrapped around her waist from behind.
She smiled as she placed her hands on top of the gloved ones and leaned her body back as a muscled chest supported it.
"I am glad you like it", Erik said and kissed her head, taking in her scent with closed eyes.
Juliette sat between Erik's legs, her back pressed against his chest as his strong arms embraced her thin body. His chin rested on her shoulder as she looked at the lake and played with the white rose in her hands.
Once they had arrived, they let the horses roam and eat what green they could find as they got comfortable on the sore of the lake. He gave her his usual gift, the white rose with the black ribbon.
"Happy Birthday my Angel", he said and she smiled.
"First the roses, then the violin, then the dress and now the horse… I feel like I do not deserve so many gifts"
"Yet you do though. You deserve the whole world at your feet"
And I am going to give it to you, he continued in his mind.
She smiled as she turned half of her body and gently took of his mask before letting it drop on the ground next to her.
"You do not like my mask?", he asked and chuckled.
"I do not like masks in general. They make people think they can hide who they truly are but I can see it. The eyes are the window to the soul, as my mom used to say"
"She is a wise woman and as much as I would like to disagree with that, I cannot"
"Yeah, she was a great woman. She would love you", the albino said with a sad smile and looked up to the stars.
"What happened to her?"
"She died when I was around 4. I do not remember from what but I know that one day she was no more and I was standing at the doorsteps of an orphanage"
"Orphanage?"
"Yes, I spent there like a year before that family save me"
A rich couple dressed in the finest clothing walked against the strong winds of December. The man was dressed in military clothing and the woman in a baby pink ball dress. They spoke a language different from the people around them and laughed at their own jokes.
"Leonardo, mira (Leonardo, look)", the woman said and pointed at a 5 year old Juliette leaning against the brick wall.
A ripped black cloak that was too big for her was wrapped around her petite body which was folded in a fetus position as she tried to keep herself warm. Her eyes were closed and her teeth hit with each other due to the low temperature.
"Tenemos que ayudarla (we have to help her)", the woman said as she let go of the man's hand and knelt in front of the little girl.
"Luciana, Usted no puede ser serio (you can not be serious)", the man said as he wiped some snow from his dark brown hair while his dark brown, almost black, eyes looked at the woman and then at the little girl.
"No podemos dejarla. Pobre que ella se congele hasta morir ( We cannot let her. Poor thing she will freeze to death)"
"*sigh* Muy bien (very well)", the man said and knelt next to his wife before gently picking up the little Juliette who looked at him through half-open eyes before falling unconscious.
"They raised me as if I was the daughter they never could have despite my appeareance. The woman was very kind but the man not so much. He didn't truly like me but he didn't hate me either"
"So you are Spanish huh?"
"I do not know honestly. We were at the boarders so it was natural to hear both languages"
"And the tango?"
"The woman was Spanish and wanted me to respect and carry on the traditions and dance of the country. How did you know about it anyway?"
"I didn't. It was a risk"
"And what if I didn't know the dance?"
"You are a talented dancer, I knew you would be able to perform it with my lead"
"Or you are simply a very good partner"
Erik smiled kissed her neck a few times as she closed her eyes and let her body relax under the sensetaion of his warm lips on her cold skin.
"We should get going. It is getting late and you will get a cold", he said as both of them stood up.
"Thank you, for eveyrthing Erik", Juliette said and gave him a sweet kiss which he glaldy replied before the two of them break apart and climb on their horses.
The man smiled and they galloped back to the city, the whole way in a peaceful silence.