~ * ~ E S C A P I N G * T H E * U N D E R W O R L D ~ * ~
by Karadarlin and She's a Star
~ * ~ S I X : U N T I L * T H E * E N D * O F * T I M E ~ * ~
by Karadarlin
"Always the damsel in distress, aren't we?" Daisy teased as Satine opened her eyes.
"What happened?" She asked, sitting up in bed. The quick motion made her head pound
and she slid back, defeated.
"You fainted." Lavinia interrupted. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine." The events of the past few hours came rushing back to Satine and she leapt out
of bed. "Christian!"
"He's hurt…bad," Victoria offered. "Mummy was crying and crying and Papa was yelling."
"What happened in there?" Daisy asked.
"Philip went into a rage and hurt Christian. I tried to stop it but he flung me against a
table…and I guess I fainted…"
"You've got a big bruise," Vicky said. "Does it hurt?"
"Not really."
"Christian was asking for you."
"Please, take me to him."
~*~
While she stood outside the door of Christian's room, Satine could hear the muffled voices
of Lenora and Edward. "Mummy is crying." Victoria said.
Satine knocked on the door with a trembling hand.
"Who is it?" Edward shouted.
"It's Satine."
"Come in, dear." Lenora's voice was shaky. Satine opened the door and when she saw
Christian she gasped.
He was very pale and his breathing was raspy, as though he struggled to take each breath.
His face was bruised and cut. His lips were swollen and so was the area under an eyebrow.
Satine's own breath caught in her chest and she made a noise that was something between
a sob and a choke.
"What did you do to my son?" Edward accused.
"I didn't do anything!" Satine tried to keep her voice calm, but it was trying. "It was Philip.
He was like a bomb…ticking away."
"You provoked him! Philip would never do anything to harm his cousin! He's
honorable…something you will never be."
Satine's efforts to hold in her temper failed, and she exploded. "Can't you understand, you
narrow-minded old man? Your precious Philip isn't such a saint! He visited the Moulin
Rouge; he used its offered services! And he almost killed your son!"
"Don't you speak to me like that."
"I will speak to you any way I damn well please!" She shouted. "I am tired of you judging
me on my past, tired of you putting down your wonderful, wonderful son! I wish you would
just accept us. I've put my past behind me and I wish you would do the same."
Lenora sat beside her son's bed, staring at Satine in shock. Edward's face was steadily
becoming more and more red, and he turned on his heel and stomped out of the room,
slamming the door behind him.
The noise must have awakened Christian, because his eyes slowly opened. "Whoa…" He
whispered, smiling a bit. "I think you scared him away."
"I'm going to leave you alone now." Lenora patted her son's hand and kissed his forehead.
"Rest, love."
"I will, Mum."
"How are you feeling?" Satine knelt down beside him and touched his lips, which were
puffy and bloodstained.
"I'll feel much better when you and my baby come up here and lay with me."
Gingerly, Satine crawled up on the bed beside him. She nestled herself in his arms and
slowly, merciful sleep descended on both of them.
~*~
Days turned into weeks, and the weeks turned into a month. It was November. Christian
healed quickly, but the wounds between Satine, Philip, and Christian did not.
"You have mail!" Victoria chirped, racing down the hallway with a package in her arms. It
was nearly her size. "What is it? Is it things for the baby?"
"Shhh, Vicky." Lavinia snapped. "You can't let Papa hear, remember?"
"Sorry." She murmured. "When is it coming, Satine?"
"In a few more months." Satine said, tearing open the letter that was from Marie.
"Dearest Satine," it began in Marie's careful handwriting. "We're all glad to hear that you're
happy and well. Your news delighted us all; Harold wants you to call the child after him.
I'm not so sure you should.
I've sent your things as you requested. I packed some of your favorite costumes as well.
Hopefully they've been sent in good condition.
There is bad news. The Duke did not commit suicide. He has been here off and on,
demanding to know where you are. We've kept the location quiet, but as you know,
darling, he's a very powerful man. Send your mail to the address I've posted above to keep
you safe.
Nini has taken over your place. She hasn't got the talent you have, but the men like her
very much, though they haven't forgotten their Sparkling Diamond. Business has slowed
since your departure, but with our new ideas, it should be booming again.
Oh, yes, I seem to have forgotten something. Mr. Toulouse has left Montmartre and
checked himself into a clinic. He's very ill. It would cheer him very much to see you and
Christian again, but that would be dangerous.
Everyone sends their love. There will be more packages sent to you; I'm sending some of
your baby things. We love you, Satine, and wish the best for you."
Tears were streaming down Satine's face as she finished the letter. She found herself
missing the Moulin terribly. Claremont was filled with cold, with hate, with revenge.
"Why are you crying, Satine?" Victoria asked, her sweet face filled with worry.
"I miss my old home."
"But I thought it was a bad place."
"It was…in ways. But it was also very nice." Satine dried her eyes, and the little girl
hugged her tightly.
"Don't be sad. I'm here. Mummy's here. Lavinia too, and Christian. We all love you."
Satine smiled. "I love you all, too."
"Let's open your box! Can we?"
"Should we take it up to my room?"
"I'll take it. You have to be careful so you don't hurt my niece or nephew."
Satine laughed a little. "Don't worry, Victoria. I'll take it. It might be too hard for you to
carry it up all those stairs."
Her face fell. Satine noticed, and she said, "Why don't you help me? We can each carry a
side."
Vicky brightened. "Come on!"
~*~
Lavinia, Daisy, and Christian had gathered in Satine's room by the time the box was
opened. Inside were many of her dresses, her perfumes, makeup, and jewels. "Ooh!"
Victoria was pulling out the pink bird costume.
"Are those real?" Daisy asked, fingering the diamonds.
"Of course they're real." Christian retorted. "Would the Sparkling Diamond wear anything
fake?"
"Can I try it on?" Victoria looked at Satine with hopeful eyes.
"It will be pretty big on you, munchkin." Christian grinned at his sister and tugged on a
braid.
"Go ahead, Vicky." Satine smiled and handed the costume to Christian's sister.
"Let's get married, Satine." Christian suddenly blurted.
"What?" Daisy, Lavinia, Satine, and Victoria chorused.
"Let's get married."
"Where?"
"There's an old pastor who will marry us."
"Christian!" Lavinia hissed. "You can't just say 'Let's get married.' You need to PRO-POSE."
Satine laughed. "Yes, Christian, where's my poet gone?"
He cleared his throat. "Ladies, may I have some privacy, please?"
Daisy gave him one of "her winks." "Of course, Mr. Christian."
Victoria, the pink outfit's feathers dragging on the floor behind her, gave her brother a kiss
and turned to Satine. "Now you're gonna be my real sister." She threw her small arms
around Satine and gave her a smack on the cheek.
"Vicky!" Lavinia pulled her sister out of the room and shut the door.
Satine's eyes were welling up with tears and she was trembling even before Christian got
down on one knee. She'd always dreamed about this day. But even dreams couldn't have
been as wonderful as this reality.
His blue eyes were focused on hers, never wavering for a second as he spoke. "Satine, my
sparkling diamond, my reason for living…you know I love you. How many times have I told
you that?" He laughed softly, and Satine did as well through her overjoyed tears. "But what
I feel for you goes deeper than love. I know my sisters and Daisy are listening outside…"
He smiled and continued.
Satine was nearly sobbing. Christian took her hands and squeezed them. "From my first
glimpse at you, I fell in that 'Romeo and Juliet' love. I loved you right away, even after
watching you roll around like mad in the Red Room." She smiled through her tears. "I want
you to marry me. I want to be at your side forever, even when we're old and wrinkled and
can't remember anything but our names. I want you to be my wife, Satine."
Satine wiped away the tears that wouldn't stop flowing. "Of course I will be. Did you think
I'd say no?"
He pulled her close to him and kissed her. She kissed him right back to signify her consent.
~*~
"Vicky! You move too slowly!" Lavinia teased her sister, who was lagging behind on
Buttercup, the pony.
"Buttercup is slow! You get to ride on the big horses." Victoria whined. "Can I ride with
you, Christian?"
Christian, who was astride the black stallion named Ivan the Terrible, laughed at his baby
sister. "Come on up, Vic." He stopped the horse and lifted the little girl onto the saddle.
"Buttercup will have to stay in the pasture."
Satine loved horses. As a child, staying with Harold, she'd developed a fondness for riding.
Fury, the white blaze of a mare, was perfectly suited to her rider. Lavinia and Daisy
cantered easily along beside her, and Christian brought up the back.
The girls were coming to be witnesses to the marriage of Christian and Satine. They'd
wanted to take the horses for it was nearly dawn, and the carriages would have made too
much noise. Edward's wrath was not wanted.
"How much longer, Christian?" Victoria's eyelids were drooping but she fought off sleep.
"A few more miles."
"Isn't this pastor going to be sleeping when we arrive?"
"I've already alerted him."
"Aren't we the sly one?" Satine teased. She loved the stillness of the night; Montmartre at
dawn had always been full of life and noise. The moonlight filtered through the trees and
illuminated the forest with silvery blue.
~*~
Finally they reached the man's small rectory. He met them at the door and quickly ushered
them inside. "So you've decided to settle down, Christian, my lad." He smiled and shook
Christian's hand. "She's a lovely one."
If only you knew what I used to be… Satine thought, You wouldn't think as you do.
"Yes, she is. Pastor Richford, this is Satine."
"Hello." Satine gave him a small smile and Christian squeezed her hand as if he knew what
she was thinking.
"Can they get married now?" Victoria asked.
The pastor laughed and patted the girl's head. "Come, then."
~*~
And so they were married, quietly, with Daisy, Lavinia, and Victoria serving as witnesses.
It was a short service, but it was perfect. Satine was overflowing with happiness.
"Do you have the ring, Vicky?" Christian asked.
Victoria dug inside her dress pocket and produced a small package. "I didn't forget it."
Christian opened the purple velvet-covered box and revealed a diamond-and-opal ring.
Satine knew what this was; it was a priceless Claremont heirloom. "Mama sent her
blessing." He whispered, slipping it on her hand.
"And so, by the power vested in me by the Holy Spirit, I now pronounce you husband and
wife. Christian, go ahead and kiss her."
As he did so, Satine's thoughts were racing. "
I'm…married, she thought with surreal happiness, I never thought I'd ever be married. I
thought I'd stay at the Moulin forever, fading away into the background like Marie did.
She voiced these thoughts to Christian while they lay entwined in the purple bed. It was
nearing five and they could hear the voices of the maids downstairs. "You would never
fade, darling." He said, kissing her neck.
"Christian, I'm scared." Satine whispered. "I'm scared of what's going to happen…to us.
Your father…the Duke…Philip…the baby."
"I know." He whispered back, pulling her closer. She felt safe, safer than she'd ever felt.
"I'm scared too."
~*~
Satine wore a loose pink morning gown to breakfast that day, her first day as Mrs.
Christian Claremont. Her pregnancy was beginning to show and she sure as hell didn't
want anyone noticing. She admired the glittering ring on her left hand and kissed it
impulsively. Hopefully, this marriage would survive. She knew it would. She'd fight to the
death for it.
~*~
"Mum, Father, Colin, Philip…" Christian began, holding Satine back from the dining room.
"I'd like to make an announcement. Last night, Satine and I were married."
"Married?" Edward yelped. "Christian, boy, you've pulled the last straw. This…this…whore is
tarnishing the great Claremont name!"
"No," Satine disagreed. "It's already been tarnished."
"None of your talk, girl."
"Welcome to the family, Satine." Colin gave her a halfhearted smile.
"I'm not sure you want to be part of it," Daisy whispered as she passed by.
Philip was silent and stared stony-faced at his plate. "Have you told my mother?" He finally
asked.
"No." Satine began. "We will today."
~*~
Aunt Sarah was delighted. "And, Aunt Sarah, you're going to be a great-aunt." Satine
smiled at the old woman.
"A baby?" Sarah seemed rather sane today.
"Yes." Christian grinned. "But you and my sisters are the only ones who know, so keep it
secret."
"I will." She giggled. "I'll never tell anyone."
Satine hoped she wouldn't break her promise.
~*~
The two went to Nanny Kelly to tell her their news. The rosy-cheeked Irish woman
enveloped both Satine and Christian in her warm arms and pressed them to her full
breasts, shaking with mirth. "A new wee one!" She laughed. "I never thought my boy
would be a father so soon."
Suddenly, she sat down in her rocking chair and hugged herself. "There's a storm brewing.
I can feel it in my bones. And these old bones never lie."
