A/N: So sorry for the delay ya'll. School took over there for awhile, but I hope to have the next chapter up soon. Till then, I wish all of youa very MerryChristmas!
:Hands out gingerbread and Egg Nogg:
Chapter 36
But for all my hoping tomorrow was not a "better day." Nor was the next or even the day after that. Every thing seemed to make me nervous and jumpy, even simple calls of greeting from other workers had me stumbling to catch all my cleaning supplies as I leapt in shock.
"Whoa there, Lizzy-girl!" called one of the male singers as I drenched the front of my gown with the scalding water I was carrying. Trying unsuccessfully to keep the deep red flush from washing over my face, I simply nodded my response and trudged forward.
When I finally rounded a corner into a hallway that wasn't packed with dancers, I hastily slammed my bucket down on a nearby table and set about fixing my soiled dress. As I pulled a few buttons loose and frantically attempted to dry the cloth by fanning it in the chilled air, I tried to remember how many times I'd let my nerves get the better of me that day. Ever since that night, Erik had made himself quite scarce, not even bothering to leave me notes to spy on Cabartte or my aunt. In fact, I thought as I swiftly re buttoned my blouse, I hadn't even seen him lurking about in his box or the rafters as of late.
With a low sigh I pulled my bucket back onto my hip, to hell with the gown.
As I shoved my way past loitering stagehands, I soon came to La Carlotta's private suite. The door was slightly open and the thick smell of the sopranos rose perfume wafted out heavily into the hall. Straightening my back slightly and smoothing the still damp dress, I reached out to knock on her door.
"What? Who on earth is it now!" the loud screech caused me to wince slightly as a gaunt faced woman opened the door, her mouth tightening primly when she saw my harried state.
"I've brought La Carlotta her hot water," I stated quickly, pulling the tin bucket forward as proof.
"Finally! Show the oaf in!" came the reply, and I ducked into the brightly lit dressing room. The sharp tones of roses mixed with brilliantly pink walls nearly made me step back into the neutral comfort of the dark hallways.
"Well don't just stand there, idiot! Bring the hot water and pour it in the basin!" Carlotta called. For a moment I couldn't spot her as her gown blended in perfectly with her painfully pink surroundings.
Quietly acquiescing to her request, I made my way over to her dresser where, to my surprise, a plain white basin sat patiently. As I poured in the steaming water, her two dogs yipped and danced around my ankles.
Smiling down at them, my eyes suddenly caught sight of the large mirror at the end of the far wall. My breath caught in my throat as the memories of that night so long ago came back to me. Erik had stood in that mirror. I could still clearly see his gloved fist reaching out for me.
Today, however, there was nothing but my own reflection gazing back at me, and for a moment I regretted not seeing his masked face.
"Girl! Girl!" Carlotta's voice shook me deeply and once more I found myself clutching at a dropping bucket.
"Yes Madame?" I asked, once the handle was yet again firmly in my grasp.
"Are you not finished?" She snapped, her piercing brown eyes sweeping over my half-drowned state.
"Yes Madame," I replied carefully. It never was wise to upset this sharp tempered woman.
"Then what on earth are you looking at? Have you never seen a mirror before?" She replied her voice taking on a dangerously sharp edge.
"Yes Madame." I replied through gritted teeth.
"Then I suggest you get back to work." And with that she turned away from me, clearly losing interest with my monotone replies. As I gathered the bucket closer to me and began to leave I glanced once more at the monstrous mirror.
This time I wasn't disappointed.
Erik was clearly defined against the stark blackness that surrounded him, his mask gleaming wildly in the dense candlelight. For a moment his head was turned toward Carlotta, then without warning he turned his gaze to me.
I could almost imagine his deep blue eyes boring into my own, and this time I wasn't as successful at catching the bucket.
The sharp clatter as it slammed into the worn wooden floor made me jump about a foot, my gaze ripped from the mirror.
"You a stupid, stupid girl!" Carlotta raged, walking briskly over to me. "Pick that up a bucket and get out of my room! How dare you!"
Stumbling over the hem of my dress I scooped up the bucket and hastily ran out. Once I was safely in the hall again, I leaned back against the wall, my chest heaving.
I need to get a grip. What's the matter with me!
Closing my eyes I gently slammed my head into the thin plaster. How clumsy can you be Lizzy?
"Now was that really called for my dear?" A low voice whispered close to my ear.
I leapt away from the wall my eyes running up and down the hallway. But he was nowhere to be seen. Narrowing my eyes at the wall, I moved closer to it, only to catch the lilting tones of his laughter.
"Erik, what the hell are you doing?" I snarled, pressing my fingers against the cold plaster.
"Why, keeping an eye on you. Surprisingly you've managed to keep your nose out of trouble these past few days," he replied, his tone lazy.
"And what, pray tell, prompted you to do that?" I snapped, irked that he'd been following me.
"Your past actions, Lizzy. After all, I have no need to follow someone who doesn't do the unpredictable every few moments." He said, laughter in his tone once more.
"For your information . . . " I began loudly, but was cut off quite unexpectedly.
"Why Mademoiselle Brett! Who on earth might you be talking to so warmly?"
I whirled about and dropped my bucket yet again. Muttering curses under my breath both at the bucket and the musical laughter that rose from the wall behind me, I looked up to see who had spoken.
Standing a few feet away was DePerix' nephew and lurking in the shadows behind him, Cabartte. Instinctively, I moved against the wall, my heart pounding with fear.
What do they mean by coming upon me in this deserted part of the opera house?
When DePerix took a step toward me, I flattened my body closer to the wall, and for a moment I thought I heard Erik give a soft growl of displeasure as both men sauntered up to me.
"Goodness Elizabeth! Why on earth do you look so frightened? You'd think we were going to cook you and eat you alive!" DePerix chuckled, but I remained where I was.
"Lizzy, move, damn you! Why are you just standing there?" Erik whispered to me, his tone dark and foreboding.
Quickly gathering my wits, I slowly eased my way to the side, away from both advancing me.
"You startled me Monsieurs. I was not expecting to run into you down here." I responded lamely, my feet edging to a more populated hall.
"I'm sure you'll forgive our abruptness." DePerix responded kindly, his light blue gaze meeting my own. For a moment I just stared into his strikingly beautiful eyes, their blue capturing me and drawing me in.
"We had no idea that we would meet you down here my darling girl." Cabartte's reply broke the spell as my eyes moved onto his sickening face. His grin chilled me to my very bones.
I smiled weakly at both and continued to walk toward the loudly talking crowd a few feet away.
"I hope we didn't startle you too badly Elizabeth." DePerix said, politely halting in his steps when he noticed my unease. Cabartte was visibly livid at this response and begrudgingly stopped his own advance.
"No, not at all Monsieur." I replied, finally standing a few inches from the farthest group in the hall way.
"Why so formal, my dear Elizabeth? My friends call me Jean," DePerix' nephew said with a gentle smile. But Cabartte was not so easily diverted.
"I wonder who were you talking to, and quite animated, at that," Cabartte asked, his reptilian smile causing me to move a few steps backwards.
"I was just calling after one of the stagehands who had just gotten into an argument with me." I replied swiftly, praying that this ploy would work.
"Did he walk into the wall?" Cabartte's grin spread farther along his face.
"No Monsieur, I was cleaning the wall." I replied calmly, though my heart was fluttering madly against my chest.
"Cleaning the wall, then why was it dry . . . " Cabartte began, but DePerix mercifully cut him off.
"Now, now Cabartte, don't browbeat the woman! She most likely was about to start cleaning the wall when we chanced upon her. Now my dear Elizabeth, if you will excuse us, we have some business to discuss." Jean smiled and gave a short bow to me before he and Cabartte moved on.
I stared after his well-formed figure as he walked purposefully down toward the Managers' wing. There was something about his gentlemanly behavior that nearly had my blood singing the way it did whenever Erik was near. He's so different from Erik. Calm, collected, polite, and sensitive to my emotions. And yet . . .
As I slowly worked my way though the crush in the hall, I went over every conversation that I'd had with Jean. He was always so polite, always so refined. Everything that Erik was not. Yet, I just felt so wary around him.
Shaking my head, I moved down toward the kitchens. There was something going on between the two of them . . . If I could just put my finger on it . . .
As I passed through one of the larger hallways, where the rafters were placed close to the windows, a sudden shadow on one of the boards above caused the light to shift. For a moment I halted my fevered walking and glanced up to see one of the small curtains swaying as if someone has just lifted it. Pale but bright streams of light danced lightly about me and for a moment all thoughts of Jean were driven from my mind.
Shoving open the heavy kitchen door I entered the warm room. Noticing Madeline sitting at the counter, gave her a quick greeting on my way to my next daunting task, finishing the laundry.
As I set the bucket down and gave her a quick wave I noticed she was less animated then usual. Her dark waves were limply clinging to her face and she looked thinner.
"Madeline," I called as I walked into the chilly laundry room. "Are you all right?"
After a quick, but hacking cough Madeline answered, "Yes, I think I'm all right. I just can't seem to get past this cold."
"Has mother taken you to a doctor?" I asked as I began to stir the scalding water and soap.
"No, not yet. I think I'll be better soon though Lizzy." Madeline replied but soon after she was coughing again.
"That doesn't sound good." I said, tossing in the nearest load of dirty linens. For a few moments neither of us said anything and I was fully concentrated on stirring the clothes and soap until I could safely let them soak for a while.
"Do you want me to make you some tea?" I asked as I came back into the delightfully warm kitchen, drying my hands on my apron.
"I've already made some." Madeline said, gesturing to a small chipped cup in front of her. I walked over to her and gently placed my hand on her pale forehead.
"You're quite warm, darling." I said as I picked up her cup and moved back to the fire and placed the tea kettle over the dying flames.
"It's just a cold Lizzy." Madeline replied swiftly, but her eyes seemed to shine unnaturally at me as I stoked a fresh fire and filled the tea kettle with water.
"Well, it's a bad one then Madeline. I think you should tell mother." I replied.
"She'll just take me to some doctor who prefers bleeding to any real help." Madeline muttered angrily.
"You know mother would never let them bleed you dear." I said softly as I scooped some tea leaves into the bubbling water in the kettle.
"I know. I just think I'll be fine in a few days though . . . " She said weakly.
"Madeline," I began pouring her cup with a fresh batch of tea and carrying it over to her hunched form. "You said that over a week ago and you don't sound any better."
She simply shrugged and took a few sips out of the chipped cup her eyes lost in the flickering flames of the fire.
I looked at her sharply as I suddenly remembered my bout with Scarlet Fever.
"Madeline . . . " My stomach sank as without warning Madeline crumpled to the floor. Dropping my bucket, I ran over to her side. "Madeline. Madeline!" I called fiercely. I lifted my hand to slap her face, when it was stilled by another's.
"Erik!" I hissed. "What are you doing here?"
"Hush, Lizzy, and follow me. We have to get her into her bed, and you can't do it alone." Picking her up, Erik moved quickly to the mirror. He did not stop to see if I was following him, but once I moved through the mirror into the passage, he pressed the lever and the mirror closed on the empty kitchen.