A/N:  THIS IS NOT EDITED. BETA READER NEEDED. The movie Moulin Rouge, along with the characters used in this fanfiction, is copyrighted (©) to its respected owners (Twentieth Century Fox, Fox Productions, Baz Luhrmann, etc.). I do not take any credit for the characters from the movie Moulin Rouge that I have used in this fanfiction. All of the characters not from the Moulin Rouge movie are my own creations (Josilan, Henry, and others). Please DO NOT USE THEM without my permission.  This is collaboration between Viral Impact and Kalah Exclamation Mark so please contact one of us for any information. Thank you.

! BETA READER STILL NEEDED!

Chapter Five: A Different Kind of Mask

The man with the gray eyes mystified Satine in her dreams once again. She sat in the bed with her hand clamped over her heart and her heavy breathing jabbed at the silence. The image of the strikingly handsome man vanished from Satine's mind and she bunched the covers around her neck as she slowly fell back into the comfortable feather bed. She pulled the canopy of her bed shut and closed her eyes slowly.

Only the cold harsh winds caused Satine to awake from her dead-like sleep and she realized she had fallen asleep on top of The Elephant once again. She heard the soft familiar singing, which caused her to sit erect in her bed and strain to listen to the blissful words. "I hope you don't mind…I hope you don't mind that I put down in words…" The scent of him fluttered towards her nose and the tender voice caressed her soul. "…How wonderful life is now you're in the world."

Satine wrapped the satin blanket around her body and she slipped from her enclosed haven. Silently, she prowled across the room and saw Christian leaning against the frame of the heart shaped open window. He turned and his lovely eyes completely sliced open her emotions and she released a sob. He spun around and stood with the moon barely emerging from the darkness of space. She held her breath as he took a step forward and held his hand out slowly. Satine gulped and unconsciously took his hand. "Christian?"

"I wanted to see you perform one last time." Christian mumbled and Satine smelt the overwhelming smell of alcohol.

"What do you mean?" She questioned as she batted her eyes slowly and licked her dry and cracked lips. Satine realized that Christian was at a moment of venerability and she decided to take advantage. Christian was her last resort to freedom and she would do absolutely anything to have him.

"I wanted to tell you I love your sister." Christian paused as he felt Satine slowly shuffle closer until their bodies melted together.

Satine slowly wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned to whisper in his ear, "And you love me?"

Christian hoarsely and almost inaudibly sniveled, "No Satine."

"But you do." She licked the tip of his ear and she felt Christian shudder under her angelic touch. "And I love you and Josilan is just a roadblock. Please Christian.  I want you. I've always wanted for you. I was blind but now I can see and I want to lift the veil that lays over your eyes too." She pulled away far enough to gaze into his sparkling eyes and she saw a silent tear roll down his cheek. Satine kissed it away and as he opened his mouth, she placed her index finger across his lips and slowly replaced her finger with her soft lips.

"Satine, I've waited for this almost forever…" Christian breathlessly groaned as Satine led him up the stairs to the top of The Elephant.

"I don't want anymore roadblocks Christian," Satine breathed in his ears. "I'll kill for you tonight." Satine grabbed his shirt and pulled him into the bed with her and she shut the canopy. "I would kill anyone and anything just for you." She placed her lips over his and at first, Christian sat like a dead fish, but slowly he pushed further into the kiss and the two tumbled into the spongy pillows of the bed.

          From her friend's distant studio, Adele watched the flickering lights of the red windmill that proudly stood out against the dark sky. She twirled her wild tresses as she smoothed out her only gown she owned. It was of a lovely crimson and the silk of the bodice was the softest she had ever touched. The bodice was tight fitting and the hemline of the gown was a little too short but she still felt like the Moulin Rouge princess she had been so long ago. Even though the years she had grown into a tall beauty, she still felt like the tiny lost girl in the lovely dress. She gracefully slid into the gown and it perfectly hung on her hips. The several layers of skeletal and sheer material that made up the gown, made her appear like the magical and elusive fairies she had seen in paintings. She twirled slowly and the material followed faithfully and flowed magnificently with her movement as it slowly spread out and then returned to a stand still. She felt like she was luminous and mystifying in the gown. Suddenly, her friend entered and Adele stretched in the fairly large practice room as he took his seat at the piano. Adele playfully called out the only name she knew him by, "Chance, what shall it be tonight?"

His fingers flew across the keys of the piano lightly and he mumbled as he sucked on a cigar slowly, "Adele, I want you to dance. I want you to dance as if you alone are the star, the star of everything."

Adele grinned as she hopped onto her feet and tied the laces of her ballet-shoe around his ankles. She stood on her tiptoes and she was reminded of the first painful years of her toes smashing against the wood. Now, she was used to the shoes and used to her body.

Chance watched through a veil of black and white and he was amazed as Adele skimmed the floor with her perfect posture. She bowed slightly to touch the floor as she skimmed across to stand in front of the piano. Her arms gracefully rose as she floated across the floor. Chance grinned and whispered, "What color is the dress?"

Adele blinked furiously and glanced down. "Red, Chance, red like the Moulin Rouge. Don't you remember?"

Chance's smile tugged down into a frown as his fingers stopped flying and Adele leaned against the piano and gazed into the eyes. He was staring into space once again. Chance's voice wavered as he spoke, "All the colors used to hurt my eyes…the vivid colors of the gowns, frilly skirts, corsets, wigs." His voice tapered off and as he slowly blinked, Adele noticed his eyes come back into focus. Adele took his shaking hand and Adele sucked in air to fill her lungs.

"Chance, please, I'll stay with you."

Chance shook his head as his eyes widen and he spoke swiftly, "My darling, this is your chance to prove to the world that you're a star. Don't let me stop you once again from this goal? Eh?"

Adele sat beside Chance on the piano bench and he whispered solemnly, "Maybe we should forget this fling. Jealousy will eat us until there's nothing left."

"No Chance!"

"I don't want this to be ruined."

"It's too late to stop." Chance turned to listen to Adele's words as she took his hand and placed it over her heart. He could feel the gentle beating. "I've already given you a piece of this, my heart, and someday maybe you'll have it all. So, there's no way to turn away because we're too deep now."

Chance smiled. Adele was beginning to fall madly in love with him, almost as much as he loved her. "So Adele, pick up those feet and dance like you've never danced before! You have a chance to make it as a Diamond Dog, my dear! A Diamond Dog! So?"

"From the top Chance." Adele nodded proudly and took her stance in the middle of the dance floor. Slowly the introduction began and Adele brought her arms in front of her to make a semi circle. The two shared a secret smile before the music began.

          Henry sat with his legs apart and his cane between them with both of his hands resting on the curved top. He would slam it onto the floor to the beat of the music as he watched fourteen women trying to impress him for a spot as a Diamond Dog. They had lost four of their girls due to pregnancy and Henry was desperate to find someone good. He noticed the lovely blond who dashed farther than the rest and spun longer. She finally dashed across the room while the rest followed in sync and did a back flip and fell into the splits at the music reached its dramatic end. The other girls tried to keep their smiles on their faces even though inside most were cursing the girl for showing off. She heard one of the girls hiss, "Always showing off Adele!"

Henry spoke, "You girl, stand!" Adele complied. "Your name?"

"Adele." She answered.

"You're hired."

"Do you have any business to bring to the Moulin Rouge? You know, men?"

"One and a pianist."

"Ah," Henry nodded slowly, snapped his fingers, and nodded to the pianist. "I want to begin from the top. Girls take your place, and you, Adele, find that little pianist of yours. I am tired of this one."

          Satine awoke with his soft skin pressed against hers and she shuddered. She gently stroked Christian's shoulder and gasped for air as she pushed him away from her body. He snorted awake and soon the canopy was shoved open and Christian tumbled out. Satine stretched luxuriously across the bed and growled as she awoke while she heard the rustling of clothes. Christian danced around as he tried to slide his feet into his pants and boots. He clattered down the stairs and at the doorway, Satine awaited for him in a pearl white robe. "Going so soon love?"

Christian growled, "I don't know what happened between us Satine…but I'm not your love!"

"You know very well was happened!" Satine screeched. "What is wrong with you? You told me that you loved me."

"No." Christian grabbed Satine's shoulders and violently shook her. "I am married and I love my wife. I loved you." Christian released her and Satine fell onto the floor as she sobbed and her body convulsed. "I loved you."

"Christian," she pounded the ground with her fist, "I want you to love me. I need you to love me."

Christian stepped over Satine and mumbled, "Satine, we were never meant for each other." The door slammed shut and Satine cursed Christian for marrying Josilan.

A low growl released from the depths of her throat, "Josilan…must…go…" She thought quickly and slowly she rose and opened a drawer. She pulled Henry's bloodstained gloves and smiled broadly. She could disguise her hands. She had a mask for her hands, a beautifully evil mask…

          Josilan shook hands with Chance as he took his seat at the piano and Adele immediately embraced Josilan. Chance uttered, "I don't think I've every played on something like this before."

Adele replied sweetly, "You'll play beautifully Chance."

With Nini was his side, Henry entered the room and he kissed her lightly on the cheek before they parted. Adele nodded respectfully to Henry and Josilan even took the time to curtsey. Chance nodded weakly and Henry tapped the piano lightly with his cane, "Chance is the name, eh?"

Chance replied shortly, "Sir, yes."

"Learned the music?" Henry questioned.

"Sir, yes."

"You're hired." Henry grinned and shook hands with Chance and afterwards, he sat down and placidly snapped his fingers. "From the top. Today's practice is strenuous for one reason and one reason only…a new investor is arriving."

The girls broke into a wild chatter but were silenced when Henry slammed his cane down onto the floor. "Shut your traps and dance! If I wanted to gossip I would've stayed in the studio with Nini." The girls hid their snickers and Nini put on a plastic smile.

Satine appeared down on her swing and she hit the first notes with a trembling voice. Henry shook his head as she continued to sing the number without any emotion or even with the right notes. Henry slammed his cane down and the girls turned and stared. "Satine?" Henry raised his eyebrows in question.

Satine nodded, "Henry, I am not faring well."

"Start faring well now!" The cane slammed once again and Henry paused. Satine rubbed her face, and she slapped on a wide and warm smile.

Satine and Nini had a little sequence when their two groups collided and Satine and Nini tangoed around the room and when they were hearing distance away from Henry, Nini swung a verbal punch at Satine, "You're a dirty whore, you know?"

"I am not." Satine replied with her eyes flaring angrily.

"You don't think everyone knows about you and Christian." Nini chuckled. "Trying to steal Jos' love?"

"I already did." Satine hissed.

"Whore!" Nini cried and finally Satine screamed and lunged at Nini. The two tumbled to the ground and almost instantly, Chance and Henry were in the middle of the fight.

"Whore!"

"Dirty wench!"

"Wench? I am going to pull all your hideous hair out!"

"Me? Hideous hair? Never."

"Let go!"

The two tumbled around the floor until finally Henry ripped Satine away from Nini. He screamed angrily, "Leave! Leave! Everyone but Satine leave, and I mean now!" The whole group shuffled out and when they were gone, Henry began to violently beat Satine with his cane. "Satine! Satine! How dare you hit Nini! What the hell is wrong with you?"

When Henry stopped, Satine was crawling around the floor senseless and was whimpering for her mother. "No. No! Please stop Henry!"

Henry slammed his hands into his fresh white gloves and he left the room after harshly spitting on Satine and hissing, "Be ready and nice by tonight. Use makeup to cover those bruises and you'll be fine. I'll call for Marie."

          Isabelle listened as the closet door creaked open and the first face she saw was Josilan's. She cried tears of joy and ran into Josilan's arms while she screeched, "Mamá! Mamá!" Josilan gathered Isabelle into her arms and Henry stood solemnly next to the closet door.

"My little bell! You don't know how much I missed you!" Josilan wept as she spun around with Isabelle in her arms. "My little darling! You have grown so much!"

Isabelle blushed furiously and childishly whispered, "Uncle Henry is evil."

Josilan laughed and whispered back, "I know."

Henry crossed his arms and slammed the door to the closet shut as he spat, "Josilan, since Mother was pronounced dead, I have decided to let you go…if you must."

Josilan paused for a moment and blinked furiously. She never had a chance to bond with her mother and she found it quite pointless to mourn for a woman she nearly hated. "Henry, I'll stay only to finish this month."

Henry's eyes brightened and he cried, "Thank you Josilan. Adele isn't nearly ready for stage. I thank you from the bottom of my heart." Josilan appeared shocked and Henry sourly spat, "I do have a heart."

Josilan smiled and for a moment she recognized the kindness that Henry displayed only years ago. "I'm glad you actually admit to having one."

          Christian was waiting in his old apartment and when Josilan entered with Isabelle in her arms. He paused for a moment and stared until Josilan gently explained, "Christian, this is one of the only gifts the Moulin Rouge ever gave me." She smiled brightly and Christian's heart pounded in his chest. "I would like to introduce you to my child, Isabelle."

Satine's mind drifted to her contract with Henry. She could only escape if she could find a husband. Satine placed Henry's gloves over her hands and inhaled sharply. She gazed into her mirror before she left into the night. She briefly whispered with closed eyes, "I am always against killing but I cannot afford not to kill. Please forgive me."

After many hours, Christian finally had pulled out of his shock and greeted Isabelle. At first, he was skeptical but when he heard Isabelle call him father, he knew that everything would be all right. Christian turned off the last of the lights and gazed at Isabelle and Josilan who slept soundly in their beds. He left to take a midnight stroll and as he exited the apartment building, Satine who was disguised as a lowly beggar, slammed into Christian as she tried to enter. He noticed her poor rags but something caught his attention. Her white dinner gloves were of a rich man's taste. He paused and questioned, "Can I help you?"

Satine tried to disguise her voice by saying in a low grunt, "Nah. I'm just a lowly begguh. No need Sir to bother."