Christian leapt up in a panic with Calliope following close behind. They had reached the door of the room where Satine had been taken to only to discover that the Duke had made it there before them. Christian paused and stepped back out of view. He turned and looked at Calliope.
"I can't go in there," he began, "the Duke is already suspicous of us. Will you go in there and see how she is for me?"
Calliope nodded and entered the room. Marie held Satine's head in her lap wiping her brow with a damp cloth. Harold stood by looking on with the Duke.
Satine's head turned back and forth as she mumbled.
"Will she be alright?" Calliope choked on the words. All three looked in her direction surprised. None of them had been aware of her presence until that moment.
"She will be fine," the Duke stated as he walked over to sit by her side. "I am here to take care of her. I have already called for the best doctor in Paris. Your concern is appreciated, but your presence is not needed. Please leave."
Calliope felt hurt. She probably loved her more than he did. Satine had confided in her that he treats her like a possesion. Before the tears could well to her face, Harold took her by the arm and lead her towards the door whispering in her ear.
"There is no need to worry, my dear. I will keep you informed of her condition, and I will let you know if there is anything you can do." He kissed her on the forehead and said quickly,"She will be glad to know that you were concerned about her. Now go."
He turned and went back into the room. Calliope exited quietly. Christian approached her from out of the shadows.
"How is she?" he asked. His voice was cracked with a solemn tone. Calliope looked at him pitifully. Her heart was breaking to think that Christian could not be in there by Satine's side instead of that jealous bastard, the Duke.
"They say," she began hoping that the information she had would be a comfort. "They say that she will be fine. They have called for a doctor and that they will keep me informed."
Christian let out a long sigh of relief. He used the wall to brace himself as he absorbed the aftershock of the events that had befallen. "Well I am sure the Duke will do all he can for her." He stated more calm. "Let's go back to the main hall. I could use something to drink."
Together, they walked back to the main hall. There, the celebration continued but Calliope found it difficult to enjoy herself and Christian's mood had become less jovial. Calliope knew that he truly wished to be alone, but that he had promised Satine that he would not leave Calliope alone. Calliope was grateful in some ways but truly she would have liked to be alone herself.
*****
It did not take Satine long to recover, and of course, the Duke took credit for it. After all, it was his money that paid for the treatments. Calliope despised the Duke, but fortunately he never took much notice of her anyway.
In less than a few days, Satine was back on stage again. Calliope admired her drive. Nothing could keep her away from the limelight and the excitement. And secretly, she knew that nothing could keep her from Christian.
Before long, Satine had Calliope on stage with her. At first, she was a bit shy, and some of the more unruly customers did not help much. But Satine was always there with a kind remark and a glimmering smile to reassure Calliope's insecurities.
Calliope quickly became a crowd favorite as she blossomed before their very eyes. Inwardly, Satine felt a streak of pride.
"Soon, little one, you will be performing as the fragile and beautiful China doll, and you will be dazzling." This was a remark Satine used frequently when speaking to Calliope. It was not often that Calliope responded with much more than a smile, but one day, a question came to Calliope's lips.
"How soon?" Calliope was shocked to hear the excitement in her own voice. She hadn't realized before how anxious she was about performing.
Satine also was a little stunned. "Well, mon petite chou, I will speak to Harold about the costumes, and we shall have a few more rehearsal, but I think we shall open this weekend."
A well of excitement grew inside of Calliope. They had been practising for weeks and aside from the exposure of the flesh, she felt it was going to be a brilliant show. This would be her chance to sparkle like Satine.
Well I hope that you deem this little piece of my imagination to be worthy of your time. Please review.
"I can't go in there," he began, "the Duke is already suspicous of us. Will you go in there and see how she is for me?"
Calliope nodded and entered the room. Marie held Satine's head in her lap wiping her brow with a damp cloth. Harold stood by looking on with the Duke.
Satine's head turned back and forth as she mumbled.
"Will she be alright?" Calliope choked on the words. All three looked in her direction surprised. None of them had been aware of her presence until that moment.
"She will be fine," the Duke stated as he walked over to sit by her side. "I am here to take care of her. I have already called for the best doctor in Paris. Your concern is appreciated, but your presence is not needed. Please leave."
Calliope felt hurt. She probably loved her more than he did. Satine had confided in her that he treats her like a possesion. Before the tears could well to her face, Harold took her by the arm and lead her towards the door whispering in her ear.
"There is no need to worry, my dear. I will keep you informed of her condition, and I will let you know if there is anything you can do." He kissed her on the forehead and said quickly,"She will be glad to know that you were concerned about her. Now go."
He turned and went back into the room. Calliope exited quietly. Christian approached her from out of the shadows.
"How is she?" he asked. His voice was cracked with a solemn tone. Calliope looked at him pitifully. Her heart was breaking to think that Christian could not be in there by Satine's side instead of that jealous bastard, the Duke.
"They say," she began hoping that the information she had would be a comfort. "They say that she will be fine. They have called for a doctor and that they will keep me informed."
Christian let out a long sigh of relief. He used the wall to brace himself as he absorbed the aftershock of the events that had befallen. "Well I am sure the Duke will do all he can for her." He stated more calm. "Let's go back to the main hall. I could use something to drink."
Together, they walked back to the main hall. There, the celebration continued but Calliope found it difficult to enjoy herself and Christian's mood had become less jovial. Calliope knew that he truly wished to be alone, but that he had promised Satine that he would not leave Calliope alone. Calliope was grateful in some ways but truly she would have liked to be alone herself.
*****
It did not take Satine long to recover, and of course, the Duke took credit for it. After all, it was his money that paid for the treatments. Calliope despised the Duke, but fortunately he never took much notice of her anyway.
In less than a few days, Satine was back on stage again. Calliope admired her drive. Nothing could keep her away from the limelight and the excitement. And secretly, she knew that nothing could keep her from Christian.
Before long, Satine had Calliope on stage with her. At first, she was a bit shy, and some of the more unruly customers did not help much. But Satine was always there with a kind remark and a glimmering smile to reassure Calliope's insecurities.
Calliope quickly became a crowd favorite as she blossomed before their very eyes. Inwardly, Satine felt a streak of pride.
"Soon, little one, you will be performing as the fragile and beautiful China doll, and you will be dazzling." This was a remark Satine used frequently when speaking to Calliope. It was not often that Calliope responded with much more than a smile, but one day, a question came to Calliope's lips.
"How soon?" Calliope was shocked to hear the excitement in her own voice. She hadn't realized before how anxious she was about performing.
Satine also was a little stunned. "Well, mon petite chou, I will speak to Harold about the costumes, and we shall have a few more rehearsal, but I think we shall open this weekend."
A well of excitement grew inside of Calliope. They had been practising for weeks and aside from the exposure of the flesh, she felt it was going to be a brilliant show. This would be her chance to sparkle like Satine.
Well I hope that you deem this little piece of my imagination to be worthy of your time. Please review.