"You shouldn't have moved too much," I scolded, pouring the liquid over the wound. When we came home, Lilly was bawling her eyes out. She was worried sick and when she saw how Erik and I looked, she threatened to go and give Jean a piece of her mind.
I had carried Erik up the stairs and he laid down, wincing.
"It was worth it. I've been wanting to kill him when I first saw him flirting with you in the streets." I carefully placed the cotton pad over it and wrapped it securely with a long white cloth.
"Well, someone has been jealous of their whole life." I remarked. "I'm going for a little nap. Wake me up if Erika cries or something." I told Erik and laid down. I didn't bother to relax, my body automatically shut down for me.
"You have to relax and breathe for me, mademoiselle, or else the baby will not crown." The mid wife said. I let out a gasp and fell back on the bed. My face and neck were sweating. My back was hurting and the contraction was even more traumatizing than anything else.
"Alright," I breathed out. I relaxed and the mid wife continued.
"I need you to hold her knee back for the infant to come out easier," The midwife directed mother. Mother nodded and held my left knee back. I let out a painful scream when I felt another contraction.
"How do you feel, Emily?" mother ask.
"Like pushing a watermelon through a small tube, that's what it is!" I snapped. I clutched the sides of the bed as my nails dig into the mattress.
It has been 10 hours into labor and the baby was defiant to not come out.
"On the count of three, you push," Midwife instructed me. I nodded; anything to let this pain go away. I felt like I was going to die.
"1, 2, 3," I used my strength and pushed, gasping out air as my head fell back.
"Good, now do it again." When she counted to three, I used all my power, pushing hard.
"One more," I clenched my teeth, pushing hard, to the point of holding my breath until I turned red. When I heard the sound of crying, I laid down, exhausted.
"Congratulations, it's a girl!" The midwife said, holding up the newborn. I let out a tired smile and sat up halfway with the pillow as my back support.
Mother kissed my forehead, "I'm so proud of you, darling," The midwife walked over to me with a white bundle blanket, and handed me the baby.
Her big black eyes were looking back and forth at me.
"Finally, you're out. You're a defiant little one, aren't you?" I whispered, kissing her forehead.
"What are you going to name her?"
I didn't hesitate at all, "Erika."
"I don't like it."
"It's not your child,"
My eyes opened to the sound of laughter and I blinked a couple of times. I turned my head and saw Erika being carefully sitting up by Erik's hand. He was bouncing her and she was enjoying it. I had slept till it was 7 at night. I stretched a little and massaged my stiff neck.
"You're awake," Erik said, leaning over to kiss me. I smiled, and sat up.
"I had a dream about the night I gave birth to Erika."
Erik used his hands to cradle her head in case she tilted too far back. "How was it?" he asked.
"Painful but rewarding. 10 hours to get her out."
"10 hours!" Erik said, feigning a shock. "My, my, you didn't want to get out did you? You wanted to stay," Erik grinned as she gurgled.
"I bled after Erika's birth." He stopped grinning and looked at me with a serious face.
"What happened?" He ask, setting Erika on the bed.
"I don't know but I was bedridden for five days until it stopped."
"You must have been scared."
I nodded. "Frightened. But when I look at Erika, I felt all was right. I was afraid to hold her too. I thought I might drop her because she was too tiny."
The door slammed below and pounding footsteps ascend the stairs and came in Lilly, sweating.
"Emily, it's Jean." Lilly took a deep breath to control her breathing. I rushed down the stairs, wasting no time. I opened the door and looked at the huge crowd, gathered in a circle.
"Sir, I'm going to ask you to leave or else I'll have to arrest you for public disturbance." I heard the police said when I came closer.
Jean had the same outfit the day he was almost killed by Erik. The same bloody face and bruises everywhere.
"I demand to see my wife. Or else I won't leave." When the police touched his elbow, Jean quickly pulled a gun at him and the crowd disperse, screaming wildly.
"Jean!" I yelled, catching his attention.
"I think you have to go, my wife is here." He mumbled to the police.
"I'm sorry, sir. He's been drinking-"
"Just take him home, Madame," the police said and left me and Jean alone.
"Are you out of your mind to this?" I asked. Jean smiled, walking towards me.
"I've been looking for you, Emily. I was beginning to think the Opera Ghost had kidnapped you."
"He didn't kidnap me,"
"It seems like it. Well, now that you're here, let's go home." He grabbed my elbow but I pulled back, glaring at him.
"I'm not going with you anywhere! Not what happened last night!" I hissed.
"Be careful, darling, you might get the people's attention," Jean murmured against my ear. I felt something cold and hard poking my back and I knew it was a gun.
"Do you think that'll scare me? Make me come with you?"
Jean shrugged indifferently, "I hope it might. Or else I can just blow our daughter's brain out." He cocked the gun towards the window at Lilly's house. He knew where I lived.
"No!" I shouted, pulling his arm down. "I'll come with you."
Jean grinned. "I knew that would do the trick. And we're not going home. We're going to the Opera house. I bet you're familiar with it, as you've always have been." He pulled me roughly and I was reluctant to follow him but with a gun pointing at my back, I had nowhere to go but straight.
"I trust you're familiar with this room." He lead me down the hallway and then to the Prima Donna's room. He opened the door and shoved me inside forcefully. I grabbed the vanity chair to balance myself.
"And what about Erika?" I ask.
"She's not my child. She's born out of wedlock." I let out a scream and lunged myself at him. He grabbed my hands before it could reach his face, twisting it facing down.
"She's with her father!"
"So the story turns into a climax." Jean said, pushing me back on the sofa. "I knew there was something going on between you and….that monster!" Jean ran his fingers through his hair as he paced around.
"You could have told me," Jean said, looking at me.
"If I did, you would have killed her."
"Oh yes, you're right." He mumbled. "Well, I must go. Since Amelia died, you are now the main character of Swan Lake." He bowed mockingly at me as he went for the door.
"No, Jean, I don't know the steps. You can't do this."
My hands touched his arm to stop him from closing the door. He looked at my touch and back up at me.
"You've always wanted to come back on stage. Now's your chance," He pulled his arm away and closed the door.
"I can't do this." I said to myself. Swan Lake is in a few weeks. I've no costume, no routines, no directions. I collapsed on the vanity chair, looking at myself in the mirror.
A knock came on the door and it opened, a young girl about 14 with brown hair and freckles came in.
"Madame, I've come to do your gown fittings." She said with a bit of English accent. Nodding, I stripped my clothes and put on the Swan Lake dress. The dress was made out of white feathers and there were small ones that bunched around the chest to form some sort of bra. A jewel was encrusted in the middle of the chest also.
"This…gown is tight." I said pulling at the fabric. "Like second skin."
"You're a bit fuller than our…previous Prima Donna who wore this." She said sewing a ripped seam. Amelia, my mind answered. the girl who was murdered by Erik.
"Did she had a funeral? The Prima Donna, I mean," I raised my arms to let her adjust the sides.
"Yes, Madame. Her family had came and gave a funeral. A lot of people came to pay their respects. Monsieur Claude was there."
Of course, they knew each other intimately, I thought dryly. I did knew of their affair but I waited to see what happen. Too bad I waited too long and she was killed.
"There," She said, stepping back looking at her masterpiece. I turned around to look at the full length mirror and smiled. I was back. The gown had fitted perfectly, hugging my curves and the feathers had fallen in the right places.
"Thank you, um…" I looked at the girl for help.
"Kathy, Madame." She cursied.
"Welcome to the Opera populaire." I said smiling. I slid out of the dress and into my own one.
"Thank you. Oh supper will be served at the-"
"I know where to go Kathy. I've been here long enough to know the place."
Her eyes widen. "I recognize you now. Your maiden name was Saunters. You're Emily Saunters, aren't you?"
"At your service," I inclined my head. She gasp and clapped her hands, gleefully.
"You're most talked about in the town where I lived. They loved your performance in the pirate play."
"Thank you. I remember the play. I though it was awful."
"But you're married to Jean Claude," Kathy said confused.
"What's…wrong about it?" I asked.
She shook her head, folding the costume carefully on her arm.
"He's a rake before he married you. Oh look at me, gossiping like no tomorrow. I must be off. Good day, Madame Claude."
"Please, call me Emily," I said.
AN: I decided to upload two chapters in one day because I am bored and nothing to do haha. well happy reading.
Your Tanned Legged Juliet: haha bring on the violence. Phantoms and Angels: yes you can lol stillstanding13: thank you dear :3 silvermoony77: its not everyday you see a woman hitting a phantom hehe Ramonks33: yes it was O_o