Note: Okay, this chapter get's into Ana's darker past and she tells part of her past. But the worst may still be revealed. Okay enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 10
Ana came back to her room quite exhausted. All morning was dedicated to the first of the three final dress rehearsals for The Magic Flute, and they had gone as well as a dress rehearsal should go. Horribly. Carlotta was constantly off key, Sorelli missed half of her solo and the dancer girls were more interested in each other's social lives that they missed several of their cues to come in. Not only that, but one unfortunate young girl had made the mistake of stopping to tie her pointe shoe when Carlotta tripped over her, ripping the beautiful gown. All in all, it was quite a morning. Now she had the rest of the afternoon free to do as she pleased, and the first thing was to take a nice hot bath that she had ordered, to soothe her aching muscles and the scars.
She unlocked her door and fell inside. She sighed happily at the thought of someone rushing up here within a few minutes with a tub of hot water and laid her key on her vanity set. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a letter sitting by her mirror. Picking it up, she noticed that it wasn't from Erik. It was too fancy and there was no grinning red skull wax seal on it either. Curiosity got the best of her and she tore it open.
"Mademoiselle Knoll,
You do not know me for I am a friend of your Aunt's and a wonderful woman she is. We were discussing the other night and she brought you up. Upon further conversation, she told me what you did, where you came from and why you are here. I then casually mentioned the fact I was having a party, a Bal Masque to be exact, when she persuaded me to invite you. So, I have written you a personal invitation enclosed with this letter. I am positive you know what a Bal Masque is and am proud to say that this year's theme is mythological creatures. I hope I shall see you in attendance at my Bal Masque and if you wish to bring an escort; which I would suggest; you may bring one. I do hope you consider coming.
Respectfully yours,
Madame Patrice Veri."
Ana felt her eyes grow wide. A Bal Masque! She remembered her mother holding one of such in America and felt the thrill of it, knowing that no one knew who she was. And here, in her hand, she held an invitation to one! Well, she would go and maybe, just maybe she could convince Erik to go. It would be outside of the Opera house, no one would know him since everyone would be wearing a mask. Just as she thought of this, she heard the familiar sound of the mirror opening. Erik stepped into her room humming a tune from The Magic Flute. Ana turned around, a happy grin still on her face.
Erik gave her a questioning glace, "What has you happy my dear? A man, wanting your pleasurable company?"
Ana chose to ignore what he said, "No, I have an invitation to Madame Patrice Veri's Bal Masque! And she is letting me chose an escort. So I was wondering.." but Erik cut her short.
"No. I will not go as your escort. It would cause to much consternation and besides I hate large crowds." he said bitterly.
"Oh please Erik! No one would know it was you! They would all have masks on, and if anyone asked who you were, why I'd just simply say a friend that I have made and his name is Erik. Please, for me would you go?" She said, now pouting. It always worked on her mother when she wanted something.
"No. I won't go. Now, I will have your new list on your bed by ten tonight. I am in need of more violin strings as well as cello strings. And some new pencils and more sheet music." Erik said.
"Well, that is fine since I may not be back until midnight or later. The Bal Masque is tonight, and I must go speak with Madame Griolia about my costume. I was thinking of a water nymph, or a fire faerie. What do you think?" she said slyly knowing Erik would choose which ever one made her seem more like a whore.
"If I must wait another evening and day, then fine. Seeing that you are excited to go to this Bal Masque. I expect those things by tomorrow night or there will be hell to pay. And I believe the water nymph my dear. They lure men to their dooms, which is what you do." with that said, he turned and pressed the hidden mechanism for the mirror. He disappeared from view just as a knock and a small voice crying, "Your bathtub my lady!" came through the door.
Ana went to get the door and let the young boy carry the tub filled with hot water come in. He placed it in the middle of her room and Ana thanked him profusely.
"Excuse me boy, but could you do me a favor? For an extra franc?" the small boy nodded, his ears perking up at the sound of money. "Could you run to the costume shop and ask Madame Griolia to come down. Tell her Ana Knoll would like to speak with her." the boy was out the door quicker than a bolt of lighting. She smiled and began to set up the area for her bath. Pulling her changing screen in front of the large mirror, she placed certain soaps and what not by the tub. Then she placed her robe by the bed, she was rolling down her socks when a knock came from the door.
"Enter." she said, still working on her other sock. She saw Madame Griolia step inside.
"You asked for me Ana?" she said, giving the young girl a warm smile.
"Yes I did. I was wondering, I'm attending a Bal Masque tonight and was thinking as going as a water nymph. Do you have any costumes that might meet my standards?" Madame Griolia smiled and nodded. "I have just the thing."
A quarter of an hour later, Ana stood in front of her vanity set letting her hair dry as she worked with her stage makeup. She decided on the pale blues and greens for her eyes and a dark blue eyeliner with grease on her lips to accent her mouth. The dress that Madame Griolia had found was beautiful. It was a pale green and blue and it was iridescent and almost opaque. They had found a dark blue slip that went underneath the dress that hung off the shoulders and the sleeves flowed gracefully down her arms. Her hair would be pulled back and have pearls threaded through her raven hair. Her mask, which was the touch off to her entire outfit was a pale green satin mask with pale pink pearls along the edge of the mask and eye holes. Faux jewels of aquamarine and sea green were scattered every where. Her shoes, which sat next to her feet, were pale blue satin heels that sparkled in the light. Meg would be showing up shortly to help with her hair. A knock came on her door, and she called out a welcome.
The door opened and in stepped not only Meg, but Mme. Giry as well. The two made their way over to Ana and Meg clapped happily.
"You are so lucky! I wish I could go to a Bal Masque at someone's mansion. Oh please tell me how it went when you get back. Leave out no important details." she chattered as she began to fix her hair.
Ana smiled. "I won't. I just wish I had an escort." she knew Mme. Giry would know what Ana was talking about. For some odd reason, Mme. Giry must have known about her odd friendship with Erik.
"I am sure that this is for the best my dear. Some of us want to see you happy while others would rather see you stay here with them." Mme. Giry said picking up the string of pearls and carefully placing them where Meg had already placed the pins. Meg gave them both a questioning look, but both her mother and Ana ignored her. When Ana's hair was done, she slipped her shoes on and stood to face the full length mirror. Ana had no doubt that Erik was behind there, listening to every word she said. She swore she heard a gasp of surprise from behind the mirror.
"You look beautiful Ana. Now hurry up, your Aunt will be here shortly. You don't want to miss the Bal Masque!" Meg said as she handed Ana her mask and cloak. Ana smiled then hugged both Mme. Giry and Meg.
"Thank you both! I shall be back around midnight or so." She took one last glance at the mirror and strode off down the empty hallways and into the Grand Foyer.
Ana was enjoying herself immensely. Her Aunt had arrived to pick her up around 7:45 and they arrived at the mansion at exactly 8:15pm because of the large clock chiming quarter past the hour. She had been there for an hour, enjoying the sweeping and graceful dances. She reminded herself that she would have to thank Erik for the dancing lessons. She didn't know the waltz until Erik had taught her. And it seemed that that was the dance everyone danced. Already, she had been partnered thrice with all of them leading her in a waltz. She had just gotten some punch when she noticed something familiar to her. More like someone that was familiar to her. Her eyes widened. No, it couldn't be, he couldn't be here! Her eyes scanned the man that was not that far away from her. He was the exact height, build, eye color and everything, down to the sweet smile that he always smiled. He turned to face in her direction and a gasp caught in her throat. No more than twenty feet away stood her ex-husband, Alex McKinley. Ana felt her face pale and her heart start to beat up. There was no possible way that Alex could be in France so soon. She had only been here a month and a half and then he appeared here. Here of all places at a Bal Masque that was being thrown by one of the most respectable woman in Paris. He never mentioned any friends in France, told her it was a filthy city, that that was the reason she had taken a lover. Because all of the women in France had a lover and she was living up to his perspective. But no, here he was flirting with other women and he seemed to be searching for someone; for her. She turned to face the table and downed the punch. Then, slowly she made her way across the ballroom, making sure Alex was not following her. She reached the entrance and made her way up the stairs. She was already formulating a lie to tell her Aunt why she disappeared early. She knew she would have to send a letter right away to her, telling her that she felt ill to her stomach.
Calling a coach, she jumped in and gave the address to the driver. He nicked the horses into a trot and they were off. Ana took a few deep breaths. She was safe, safe for now. But what if he came to the Opera Populaire to see The Magic Flute? He would see her for her name was stated in the program. He would recognize her in her outfit, come back stage and tell her, no demand her to come home with him. She would have to obey him for she couldn't very well stand up to him in front of her friends or the managers. They would suspect something amiss, course they would anyways because she never mentioned her husband, except to Meg and Erik. The carriage stopped outside of the Opera Populaire and Ana quickly paid the coachman. The opera was dark except for a few candles. As Ana made her way back to her room flashes of her past kept coming back to her. She attempted to not remember what had happened, but somehow her mind wouldn't allow her. Flashes of what he did to her, what he said, and how he told her piece by piece how he killed her parents were replaying in her head. Bitter tears of regret and fault were streaming down her cheeks. She had only one choice to let them go. Only one choice that she hadn't done in quite a while. She always used to do it when Alex would lock her up or abuse her. It was the only way for her to let her pain out. Unlocking the door to her room, she sobbed silently as she clicked the lock shut and stumbled to her vanity. She opened one of the small drawers and drew out a sharp needle. Going to her bed, she sat down and rolled up her sleeves. There, scars of her past lay as horrible reminders of what Alex had made her do to herself. She took a deep breath, tears still running unchecked down her cheeks, and dug the needle in deep and drew a sharp line down her wrists. Blood poured out of the wound on her arm freely and she gasped in pain and in pleasure. She did her other wrist and made a longer mark to the middle of her forearm. She was about to recut her left wrist when a sound made her look up.
There, standing in the mirror, looking like a demi-god, was Erik. His mouth agape and his eyes staring at her wrists which now bled freely and down her arms, soaking her gown .
Oh no! If I am wrong on people cutting themselves, well that's too bad. I believe people cut themselves way back then...so I'm stickin' to the story! Now, review my pretties, review.
