This chapter gets a little darker so if you don't like that stuff skip to chapter fourteen! There are some old fashioned punishing methods that teachers used to use... but thats it! Hope you like it.

The next week was pleasant enough and Océana moved to her new home. Felicie was sad but the older girl made sure that her younger cousin knew that they would see each other often. Odettes classes had been going well, and Louis was… amazing. She had missed how kind and patient and oh.. how sweet he was to her. She had no idea how she had survived for 10 years without his comfort or friendship or even love. Probably by pure stubbornness. She always finished work before him, so she would go back to their house and wait for him or Felicie to come home. Felicie had grown over the last year. Her 13th birthday had come and gone and she looked more and more like a young woman than the child she met 2 years ago. Her red hair was longer and she was most definitely taller, almost to the point of rivaling Odette. Louis had most definitely noticed how his daughter was starting to get stares from the boys around the Opera and his protectiveness had skyrocketed. Felicie and Odette found it hilarious but Louis was annoyed to say the least. Marcus though… there was something about him that made Odette's skin crawl. Once Louis had pointed out his interest in her, Odette could always tell when he was looking at her. It made her feel nervous.

Classes with him were also becoming increasingly strange. Whenever he was there the girls seemed afraid to show any emotion or to dance with any fluidity. They made all their movements sharp like dolls and yes this improved their technique, but it looked like they were being forced to do something they didn't want to do. Even Felicie had started doing it and it confused Odette to no end. She had asked the girls why they were doing it but they all said that it was nothing. Odette did not believe them, there were too many darting eyes and nervous flitting.

The door opened to the house and Odette sat up realizing she had been staring at a blank wall for a while now. Felicie came into the room, her face troubled but as soon as she saw Odette she forced a smile onto her face. Odette frowned.

"Hey Odette." She said her voice strained.

"Felicie, what is going on with you." Odette asked, narrowing her eyes at the girl in suspicion. She was going to get to the bottom of this… no questions asked.

Felicie froze and began kicking the ground. "Nothing, I swear I'm fine."

Odette felt her frown deepen. "You would tell me if something was wrong wouldn't you?"

Felicie nodded, too quickly. "Yes of course."

The girl quickly turned around to go walk to her room, but Odette saw it. The slight limp in her step. She felt ice run through her veins. Had she injured herself?

"Felicie please come here." Her voice cracked, the fear making her voice shaky.

Felicie slowly turned back and sat down next to Odette and Odette took her left ankle in her hand, gasping when she saw the skin. Felicie had gotten a ruler to her ankle, the skin was raw and red and she hissed when Odette pressed her fingers into the skin.

"Who did this?" Odette whispered.

Felicie looked away and Odette could see the conflict in her eyes.

"Sweetheart, please? I promise I won't tell anyone."

"You swear?"

"I swear Felicie… but you need to tell me." Odette murmured.

"Markus." Felicie breathed out as if hoping that Odette wouldn't hear her. Odette growled.

"Why?"

The girl swallowed hard. "This time for me it was because I wasn't fully flexing my foot during Frapes… for some of the other girls it's a lot worse… Camilie has had a couple of nervous breakdowns because of her mom and nora… he went over her whole foot, that's why she hasn't been in class the last few days."

Odette stared at Felicie in horror. She knew the brutality of a ruler. But she had never put it to use for any of her students and neither had Louis. Most of the teachers preferred more progressive forms of punishment.

"Is this why the girls have been so robotic in class? How long has this been going on?"

"Since he got here."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Odette asked beseechingly, moving her hand to gently caress the side of the girl's face.

"He threatened you. Said he would hurt you if we told you." Felicie whispered leaning into her touch and Odette's heart ached.

"I can take care of myself." Odette whispered. "You girls should have told me! I could have had this rectified a month ago!"

Felicie looked up at her, her body shaking. "You really don't know how much the girls like you, do you? You're a lot nicer than the other teachers and you have a certain grace about you that makes them want to always be around you. We dont want you to get hurt."

Odette sighed pulling the girl into her arms. "Oh sweetheart." She held Felicie who continued to tremble. "I'll take care of this. Ok? Do you trust me?"

"Yes."

…

"Odette?"

Louis' voice woke her from her sleep. She rubbed her eyes trying to get her bearings. She was on the sofa leaning against the side cushion, the ice cube she had put on Felicies ankle melting into her skirt.

"Louis? What time is it?" She muttered groggily.

She knew it must be late considering she had fallen asleep and sent Felicie to bed a while ago. He sat down next to her on the sofa and Odette forgot her question, frowning when she saw his expression.

"What happened? Why are you home so late?

"Océanas being caned. I thought maybe by her father but she is very admanet that it wasn't him."

Odette sighed. "I know who it is."

Louis' expression turned to one of shock and he frowned. "Who?"

"Take a wild guess." Odette grimaced, her mind remembering Felicies very swollen ankle.

"Markus." Louis growled. "Who else has he done it too?"

"Felicie and some of the other girls in my classes." Odette whispered. "You should have seen Felicies ankle, Louis. She was in so much pain."

Louis growled, standing up quickly. "I'm going to kill that man."

Odette grabbed his arm. "Louis no. I have to get some proof first."

"Do you think I am letting you back in a room with that psychopath!" Louis said his eyes blazing. "Anyways don't you have 15 girls plus you and your daughter that are witnesses."

Odette scoffed. "Really Lou? Who do you think people are going to believe. A bunch of girls who easily could have been bribed, an orphan girl, and a woman who used to be a cleaner and is suddenly a teacher, or a respectable man who smiles like he's the King of England and has never had any known enemies?"

Louis sighed, raking a hand through his hand over and over again. "Alright… when you put it like that. Please be careful though Odette."

"I will… but I'm going to have Felicie stay home for a couple of days."

Louis sat down and pulled her close. "Of course. You're Not blaming yourself are you? It wasn't your fault. That bastard needs to be taught a lesson."

Odette had been blaming herself but she was not telling him that. He had enough to worry about at the moment. And yet he seemed to see right through her, running a hand over her hair as she buried her face in his neck.

"She scared me Lou…."

Odette could feel his frown against her head as he clutched her tighter.

"Who scared you darling?"

"Felicie… she came home limping and I worried that… that something had happened. That she had been seriously injured and…"

"I know. I know darling. She going to be fine though.``

Odette heaved out a long breath trying… trying to get the memories of pain and the feeling of losing something you love. The difficulty of knowing that you can never… ever step onto that stage again, that you'll be stuck in the wings forever. And she never wanted Felicie to go through that. Louis kissed her head lightly.

"Lets go to sleep… ok?" He murmured.

She nodded, and before she could get up Louis had her in his arms. Odette leaned her head against his shoulder and did not protest as he carried her back up to their bed and set her down gently. He blew out the candle and slid in beside her, gently wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. Odette rested her head on his shoulder as he stroked her hair and cheek.

"I'm sorry that this is happening." He whispered.

"Me too."