Note: YAY! Another chapter down. And in the next couple of chapters, Ana may be doing something kind for Erik. MAYBE! Lol...and I don't think I left you with a cliff hanger, but I'm not sure. Hehehe...onto chapter 13! Enjoy! Oh and Moon Avenger...I steal Erik back and chain him to me...hah! You can't take him now! Mwahahahaha!
Chapter 13
Madame Giry slowly cracked open the door to Ana's room. It was 8:30 in the morning and Ana was an hour and a half late to rehearsal. Meg had mentioned to her that Ana had felt sick last night and so, being the concerned mother hen that she was, Mme. Giry went to check on Ana. As she stepped into the room, she noticed how dark it was, there were hardly any candles lit and the one that was lit was on her small desk, a hand-written note beside it. Madame Giry didn't have to get to close to guess who it was from. She knew who it was from, just as she knew that the black cover that covered Ana's sleeping form belonged to the same person. Walking as quietly as she could towards the desk she picked up the letter.
"Dear Madame Giry,
I am writing this letter on behalf of Ana. When she came in last night, she was terribly sick and just this morning I found her emptying her stomach into her chamber pot. I told her that she was to stay and rest for the whole day. She may argue with you, but I insist that you tell her that she must rest in order to regain her strength for Friday's show. If she still persists, tell her that I shall personally deal with her. That should stop her. Now, I bid you farewell and remember to keep this a secret.
Sincerely,
O.G"
Madame Giry looked over at the figure that still slept peacefully. So, the Opera Ghost had been visiting her. Madame Giry hoped that it would not turn out like it did the last time. She wouldn't be able to save him this time. Both managers knew she had been connected to the Opera Ghost and were seriously considering dismissing her, but thought better of it because of her skills. She laid the letter down and wrote one of her own, addressed to Ana. Silently she made her way out, taking one last look at Ana's sleeping form and then shut the door and locked it.
Ana awoke three hours after Madame Giry had visited her. She felt somewhat refreshed but still tired. Her stomach wanted to heave, but there was nothing in her stomach to heave up. So instead, dry heaves wracked her body as she attempted to control them. She got to her feet shakily and took notice that Erik was no where in sight. Taking the cloak that he had given to her to use, she wrapped it around her shoulders and walked towards her desk. She saw two letters sitting on her desk, one was obviously from Erik to Madame Giry and the other was from Madame Giry to herself. She first read Erik's and snorted. 'He would take care of her? What rubbish, obviously the man didn't know that she could defend herself against him. Or at least she hoped she could.'She placed Erik's letter back onto the desk and picked up Madame Giry's.
"Ana,
The Opera Ghost has told me that you have been sick as well as Meg. I suggest that you rest. The managers would want you to rest as well so you'll have your strength back by Friday. If he says you can, you may attend tomorrow's practice. But I doubt you need it since you know your part quite well. I shan't change anything for La Carlotta, no matter how much begging she does. It wouldn't be fair for you to learn the new blocking. I will send Meg up around lunch time with some bread and water. That would be the best thing for you to attempt to eat. Now, rest and take it easy today.
Yours dearly,
Madame Giry."
Ana had to agree with Mme. Giry. The managers would tell her to go back to her room and rest. If one had a sickness, you wouldn't want to spread it around to other cast members. That would just cause havoc and two nights before the show, no main cast member needed to be sick. She slowly shuffled her way back to her bed and decided to begin to read the book that Meg had given her not that long ago. She hoped that she would enjoy the romance novel. She had never read one, but stuck to philosophy and history novels along with other boring books. She had just opened the book, when last night's events came flooding back into her mind. Erik had discovered her secret or one of her deepest secret. And what had she yelled to him? It was something that had been bothering her for quite sometime. Then she remembered. Something about liking him more than a friend. She felt a small blush stain her cheeks as she remembered those dreadful words. But why did she say them? She didn't like him as anything more than a mere acquaintance. She didn't think she could be friend with a man that seemed and acted just like Alex.
No, in fact she knew she couldn't be a friend to him. It would bring up to many horrible memories and a lover was way out of the question. She wasn't looking to remarry or even to fall in love again. Alex had destroyed her so much that she knew, just knew that she could never have a lover again. Every time she shut her eyes, her past came back to haunt her. And she knew, within the deepest parts of her heart, that should she make love to any man , without clothes in their way, he would be so disgusted by her scars that he would immediately leave her and she would remember what Alex had always done.
No, she could only be Erik's slave. Running his errands and gathering his supplies for him. She still had to get the strings that he asked for. But then, remembered that he hadn't given her a new list in which to acquire for him. She shrugged her shoulders and blamed it on him. He had come into her room, astounded and shocked about what sat before him. A horrible monster that couldn't control her emotions. When she felt sad or had a particular memory of Alex or anything that caused her pain, she had cut herself. And now he knew what a horrible monster she was, that she cut herself to release her pain, furthering ruining her beautiful skin. Thank God her costume for The Magic Flute covered her wrists. Madame Griolia hadn't asked about her wrists, which relieved her to some point. Noone noticed the scars unless they looked really hard. And noone knew about her habit, all except for Erik now. But that was neither here nor there, for she knew she would continue to cut herself. Turning her attention back to her book she became enraptured by the characters.
There was the loving heroine that had to be rescued way to many times by the dashing and handsome hero of the story who had a bad mark on his name. Yet the heroine still fell in love with him. She had gotten to the part where the heroine was in danger of getting thrown off her horse when Meg entered her room with a tray bearing some tea, a glass of water and some bread. Ana looked up at Meg's reflection in the large mirror and somehow guessed that Erik was standing behind it.
"How are you feeling Ana. Any better?" she asked as she sat the tray down onto the small desk.
"I am feeling a little better, well enough to try eating a little bit." Ana said marking her spot and setting the book down.
"Well, that is good. Now, here's some tea. Mama said it might calm your stomach down to an extent." she handed the beautiful china cup to Ana.
Ana took the cup and sipped it slowly. The warmth of it spread down her throat and into her belly. Her stomach rumbled in a complaint but kept the liquid down. Ana smiled at that lovely little thought and placed the cup on her night stand.
"Thank you very much for taking time to come see me. I really appreciate it. Tell me how rehearsals are going." Ana asked.
Meg smiled at Ana's compliment and sat down in the chair that was near her bed. "Oh, it is going somewhat horribly. La Carlotta is quite upset that Mama won't change some scenes and blocking around. But Mama insisted that she had promised you that she wouldn't. She had to duck as Carlotta threw something to her. The managers intervened and told Carlotta that she would be heard and seen no matter where she stood. And they're right, you can't help not hearing her horrible voice or seeing her. She sticks out like a sore thumb." The two erupted in giggles but Ana had to stop because her stomach didn't agree with that. "I see that you are reading the book I gave you. Is it not wonderful? Mama said I shouldn't fill my head with such nonsense, but I can't help it. I wish my life was as terribly exciting as the women in those books. But I am blabbering, and you must rest. Mama will be expecting me back soon and we still have to run my solo. I hope to see you tomorrow Ana for your solo. I'll bring some dinner by this evening. I would bring you some meat or something, but Mama said the best thing is bread, tea, and water. Hope you'll feel better tomorrow." Meg let herself out and shut the door quietly. Ana snuggled down further into her bed and nibbled on the bread. When she felt that she had her fill, she placed the bread by her tea and picked up her book. She didn't get very far when her eyes began to droop and she fell asleep, the book still open in her lap. Had she stayed awake for a few more minutes, she would have heard the mirror open and seen Erik step through the glass. He placed two objects on her night stand and stepped back through the mirror unnoticed by anyone.
Whee! Another chapter another part of the story filled in. And now you'll begin to see the softer side of Erik come out...maybe...if I am nice. Somehow I don't think Erik is being portrayed right, and I forget who gave me the comment, but the only reason Erik keeps calling Ana a slut, whore, trollop and any other foul name for a prostitute is to keep himself distanced from her. He's afraid that if he didn't call her those names, it'd be a whole other Christine thing going on. But I am in control of his feelings and what I say goes! Mwahaha...
Erik looks at her- I don't get a vote on how my feelings are controlled?
Audrey shakes her head- Nope, I get the final say. So it sucks to be you.
Erik glares at her- Oh great. Now my feelings are being controlled AND I'm shackled to her.
Audrey laughs evilly and grins-take that Moon Avenger! Mwahahaha! Now on to chap. 14! Oh and like always, R-E-V-I-E-W!
