Candle 9: Answers to Disappearance
Erik opened his eyes the next morning to sharp jab to the side. He looked up and saw Ellen poking him with her sheathed sword.
" What do you want hag?" he hissed
" Hag? Get up you ungrateful piece of horse manure," she ordered
" When I feel like it," Erik replied back
He turned over on his side and looked at Meg as she slept. He kissed her on her head and gently rubbed her cheek with his own. Ellen grabbed Erik by his chained hands and dragged him. He causally just sat there as Ellen dragged him along, the other gypsies watched and he gave slight salute. Lorraine and two of the other older girls watched.
" He made her mad," one said
" I hardly think so," Lorraine replied
Ellen pushed him in another tent once she got him on his feet. He stood there and Erik looked at Ellen.
" Must you push so early?" Erik questioned
Ellen looked at him and slapped him across his suave face. He only smirked and turned his head back to her.
" You don't deserve freedom Erik, you never did," she hissed, " You murder without thought."
" I defend myself," Erik said, " I have always done that."
Erik's eyes burned like fire as he stared at the woman who accused him of being a murderer.
" You killed my dearest uncle," she hissed
" I don't care, if he was a gypsies he deserved it," Erik replied, " and so do all the others. You chain people, rob them, and mock them if their different. It is you who has the problem and it is you who has the disfigurement."
Ellen pulled out a lasso and slipped it around his neck and pulled it tight. Erik stood there, though he was being choked.
" I should hang you just as you hung my uncle," she said
" You hang me and you don't make money," Erik said, " but know this I will hang you all."
She pulled the lasso and Erik gasped and she pulled him down. She stepped on his head and looked down at him.
" You pathetic little creature, growing old and still unaware of the world around you. That woman doesn't love you, no one here loves you, no one ever cared about you. You're a creature that everyone wishes to destroy. Why else do you think sister sold you to the gypsies? She doesn't want you she wants you dead because she was completely jealous of you. You're the little jewel in her dead husband's eyes and she was a rock. Once she found you, she would find us and once more you belong to us," Ellen said
Erik knew it was to good to be true, a woman who cared about him so deeply. She wanted him dead or out of her sight. Erik narrowed his eyes in hate and struggled to get his chains off. Ellen laughed as she watched Erik become angry and she kicked him in the stomach.
" You are only made for the circus Erik," she said, " and your little woman will remain our slave."
" Leave Meg out of this!" Erik shouted, " she has nothing to do with your little pawns!"
Ellen knelt down and pulled Erik's head up by his hair.
" I almost felt sorry for you Erik when you first came here as a child. You would always be a freak and an outcast. Your escape was an accident, but now it won't happen again," Ellen said
Meg opened her eyes and looked around suddenly. She sat up and found the dampness of the forest circle around her. She saw Erik was gone and there were tracks in the dirt.
" Erik," she called
Some of the gypsies sighed as they heard Meg calling for Erik. Lorraine and two of the other young girls shook their heads. The men put together a cage and set a lock on it.
" What is that for?" one of the girl's asked
" It's for that monster," one man replied
" He's not a monster," Lorraine snapped, " he's a man…just different."
The men looked at her and laughed, " Sure he isn't."
Lorraine sighed and folded her arms and then walked off. She entered the tent where Meg was and Meg looked over.
" Why have you done this? Where's Erik?" Meg questioned
" You civil women and your mouths…they never stop running," Lorraine sighed
Lorraine pulled a hair pin out her hair and picked the locks on Meg's chairs and shackles. Meg rubbed her wrist and looked at the gypsy girl with slight confusion.
" Why are you helping me?" Meg asked
" Because their going to put him in a cage and you'll never see him again," Lorraine said, " and if you follow my lead I can help you save him before."
Lorraine walked with Meg and Goliath looked over.
" Hey, what do you think your doing with the prisoner?" he questioned
" I'm showing her the ropes, she wants to become one of us," Lorraine said, " Don't you?"
" Yes, of course…it's been a dream of mine to become a gypsy," Meg said
Goliath looked at Lorraine and she smiled, then pushed Meg forward. Lorraine took Meg into the forest and came to a tent away from the camp.
" Dress in these," Lorraine said
" Are you kidding?" Meg asked
" If you want to be safe, then do it," she said
Meg sighed and dressed in the clothing quickly. Lorraine undid Meg's hair and let it just hang lose. Meg sat down on the pillows and looked at Lorraine.
" Who is Ellen?" she asked
" The real leader of the gypsies, she use to be a real wealthy woman. Her father actually married a gypsy….the last name was Bagot. Her older sister didn't approve of the gypsy blood and Ellen only wanted to be free. So, Ellen and her mother ran away to join the band of gypsies. She kept in touch with her sister who owns part of these lands. Madame Colville," Lorraine said
" What!" Meg exclaimed, " The Madame Colville!"
" Yes, Anne," Lorraine said, " In fact Madame Colville was the one who sold Erik to Ellen 27 years ago. My mother and father were there that night to make sure Madame Colville was not lying. My mother is the one who took care of Erik while he in the circus."
Lorraine sat down and slipped her bracelets on and turned to Meg. Meg was trying to put two and two together.
" Why? Why would that woman do such a thing to Erik?" Meg questioned
" All for glory," Lorraine said, " All for jealousy."
Erik laid battered on the ground, his face cut up and his body ached. He had no power without his hands and could not get the chains undone. If they were ropes, he would have already killed Ellen. Erik was lifted and tossed into the cage, he looked at those who stared.
" I won't let this happen," he thought, " not again."
He sat up and then was hit in the face by a club and the gypsies laughed.
" Gentlemen we can't be so cruel to our main attraction…who will pay money to a beat up piece of property," Ellen said
She looked at Erik and he narrowed his eyes out of spite.
" You were once a beautiful woman Ellen….I can see now that time was not to kind to you….you old hag," Erik spat
" Well, it certainly hasn't been good to you either. Your deformity wilts with time. Your baldness is becoming more noticeable Erik…no wonder you wore a wig," she said
Erik looked at her and spat and as he did blood flew with his spit. It landed on her skirt and Erik smirked at her. She narrowed her eyes and hissed at him and Erik laughed.
" What are you going to do…cast one of your spells on me?" Erik mocked
" Death to you Erik," she said
Lorraine looked at Meg and tossed her two daggers.
" Once you get Erik free he will need one," Lorraine said, " Ellen's followers won't follow her if we get Goliath."
" Your going to over throw her?" Meg questioned
" Is it that obvious? Ellen's getting old…they need a young leader," Lorraine said, " If you help me over throw her, Erik's freedom is assured."
Meg sighed and nodded and the two girls walked into the woods.
" She wants revenge for her dear uncle, whom Erik killed that night in Paris…from what I'm told he was helped by a ballerina from the Opera Populaire," Lorraine said
" My mother," Meg said
" No, offense, but why didn't he marry your mother?" Lorraine asked
" Because my mother's marriage was already arranged before her birth," Meg replied, " It was a tradition in my mother's family and obviously my father's. She did love Erik, but not as much as she loved my father…Erik enchanted her with his music, his very essence poisoned her mind with love. As, he had done mine since I was young…perhaps that is why we have found each other."
They came to the center and Meg saw Erik in the cage.
" Erik!" she shouted
Everyone turned and Ellen smiled. She walked over and grabbed Meg by her wrist. She threw Meg down and Erik reacted like a wild beast.
" Leave her alone!" Erik growled
" Erik, Erik, this woman has become your weakness," Ellen laughed
Erik stared at Meg and Meg looked up at Erik.
"Li conserverò se lo fido di," Meg said (I will save you, trust me)
Erik nodded and his hands slid down the bars. Ellen grabbed Meg by her hair and threw her back.
" You will not speak to this woman Erik, she is no longer you concern…this whore will become someone else's problem," Ellen said
" Let me take her," Lorraine said
Ellen looked at Lorraine and smiled.
" Of course my second, she will be your servant," Ellen said, " Tonight gentlemen and ladies we travel….to Paris!"
Cheers were heard all around and Erik looked at Meg.
" Se li fido!" Erik shouted (I trust you)
