Note: Alrighty y'all...here's the next chapter! It's not what I expected, so I may change it unless you guys convince me not to! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE READ AND REVIEW! Your reviews are necessary to help me...like I said, this is my first ever phanfic...so it would be helpful to know what you guys think so in the future, when I write another one, I can work off of the previous reviews! Enjoy!
Chapter 23
The girl gave a scream of obvious pain that was mixed with pleasure. The man above her was holding her so hard that he left bruises on her stomach, breasts, and inner thighs. Suddenly the man stiffened over her before he spilled himself into her. The girl was panting from her part. Slowly the man removed himself from the girl, got up, and pulled his trousers on partly. The girl rolled to her side and glanced at him.
"Monsieur McKinley, I have some...interesting information for you." the girl said.
"Yes, Jammes?" Alex said, picking up a cigar and sticking it into his mouth.
"Apparently there's a rumor going around about Mademoiselle Knoll." she paused when Alex, who had been lighting his cigar, turned to look at her. "She is thought to be conspiring with the Opera Ghost who was, in turn, thought to be dead. It is believed that is how she got an understudy part for Madame LeBrana. Either that or she slept with the managers." Jammes twirled a piece of hair between her fingers.
Alex stood near the bed, puffing away at his cigar. So, his wife was sleeping with the managers? That wasn't below her that much. He looked at Jammes and a plan slowly began to form into his mind. Jammes would be the perfect part in his plan, this young slut was so easy to manipulate.
He put his cigar out and laid it down on the ashtray. Then slipping his pants off, he climbed back into bed. Grabbing a hold of Jammes, he slammed into her, her scream echoing throughout the room.
"Jammes, I have an idea. And if all goes well, there might be a reward in it for you. What do you say?"
"Anything...anything at all Monsieur McKinley."
The music box begun to play slowly, the faint tinkering of bells awoke Ana from her deep slumber. She glanced towards the bedside nightstand, where there sat a paper-mache monkey on a barrel pipe-organ with cymbals in his little paws. Ana smiled, thinking it was quite beautiful. She felt Erik's grip tighten around her waist as he sighed in his sleep. Memories of the night before filled Ana's mind and she relished them. Multiple times they had made love, Erik always making sure Ana had received her pleasure before entering her and giving them both a release that left them breathless. Finally, Erik had given into his exhaustion and fell asleep, cuddling Ana who also fell asleep. Now it was morning and Ana had no inclination to what the time was. There would be no practice for the managers had cancelled it because of it being a celebration for the church or something like that. No doubt her aunt and uncle would visit the Opera House in order to shower her with some chocolate and to just say hi, maybe even invite her to lunch or dinner. But for now, she was stuck in Erik's lair for she had no clue on how to get back to her room. Deciding to go find a chamber pot, she slowly inched towards the edge of the bed and as slowly and carefully as she could, she removed his arm from around her waist. Erik gave no response to her leaving, signaling to Ana that he was in a deep state of sleep. She looked around, and saw a black silk robe draped across a chair. Grabbing it and putting it on, she tied the sash. The robe pooled around her feet, obviously tailored just for Erik but she didn't care. At least she wouldn't be freezing.
Ana slowly made her way out of the bedroom, being quite careful to not step on anything that would created noise. She padded past the organ and Erik's work space. She finally found the bathroom near the kitchen. After relieving herself, Ana padded back to the kitchen. She was hungry, her stomach echoing her thoughts. Searching the pantry, she came across an apple and bit into it with earnest. She leaned against the counter, now wondering where this put her and Erik. Erik had flat out denied the night before about ever being interested in her, that she was just a ploy; yet here she was clothed in his robe and had just come from his bed. It really boggled the mind, when she sat to think about it.
Finishing off the apple, she threw the core into the sink, mentally telling herself that she would discard of it when she was back in the kitchen. Padding back towards the bedroom, she passed the organ and stopped. Her fingers were itching to play it, to sit down and just play her confusion away. So she obeyed her mind and fingers by sitting down on the organ bench and laying her fingers across the ivory keys. Pressing the keys ever so lightly, so as to not wake Erik, she began to play. The tune was one of her own that Ana had composed when she was a little girl for her mother. The tune had words that her mother sang with her.
"To wish for your heart and
to wish with your heart are
two different things.
One grants happiness while
the other, heartache.
To find one's place, you
must look deep within your
soul and find the real
thing to make you dreams
come true."
'How appropriate.' Ana thought mockingly, as she sang the words softly. Applause filled the cavern, giving Ana a shock. She turned to see Erik standing at the bottom of the stairs that led towards the organ naked and glorious.
"Bravisimi my dear. You finally have learned to sing beautifully." Erik said, ascending the stairs. Ana smiled at him.
"I learned it from the best." Erik bent down and begun to suck the sweet spot right underneath her earlobe. Ana let her head hang to the left, exposing her side of her neck fully to Erik.
Erik wound his arms around her waist, slowly undoing the sash. He thought he had enough of her last night, but now he wanted her even more. His fingers loosened the knot and he pushed the robe open. He began to run his hands up and down her scared skin, massaging it.
"Mmm..Erik, we must stop. I have to get up to my room and cleaned up." Ana said, wishing that she didn't have to go back.
Erik stopped suddenly and backed away from her, as if she was some disease. Ana turned on the bench to face him. He had pulled a towel from the chair, most likely, to cover himself.
"Erik, what's the matter?" she was utterly confused. First, this man was kissing her neck, stirring her blood. The next, he was acting like she was some strange disease that he would contract should he come in contact with her. Erik said nothing, but instead reached inside a drawer pulling out a leather pouch.
"Get your clothes on. We'll be leaving as soon as you are ready." With that said, he paced back to his room, throwing her skirt outside the bedroom door, and shut it. Ana was not only confused, but somewhat hurt. She pulled on her skirt and hunted around for a pin to pin her shirt close. Finding none, she made due with holding it shut. Erik came out of his room, a white lawn shirt on and the black trousers. He had his leather gloves on as well as his mask. He motioned for Ana to get into the boat, which she did hesitantly. Erik climbed in after her and pushed the boat off. He poled through the water silently. The climb back to Ana's room was silent as well. Neither of them were willing to speak. Ana was still pondering why Erik was acting like this, and Erik was afraid he would strangle the poor girl.
"Erik, will you be visiting me tonight?" Ana said, finally get the courage to speak to him when they reached the mirror.
"I..I don't know little one. Now go." he said, pushing the mechanism to open the mirror. Ana stepped over and looked back at Erik, forlornly. Erik ignored her and shut the mirror. He watched as she moved about her room, cleaning herself up. She moved as a stiff wooden doll with a puppeteer moving her. She left her room silently and locked her door. Erik quickly slipped into the room and deposited the leather pouch and a note on the dresserbefore leaving to follow Ana.
"Oh, it's so good to see you my dear! It's been a while since we have gotten together!" Marishka said, hugging her niece.
"Yes Auntie, it has. Uncle John you look well today!" Ana said, trying to sound cheerful when inside something ate her away.
"Thank you my dear, as do you." John said, giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"What shall we do today?" Ana questioned her relatives.
"I thought we would take a lovely stroll in the park. Is that alright by you?" Uncle John said, pulling on his leather gloves.
"That sounds wonderful. Some sunshine will do me good." Ana said, thinking how she wished Erik would join them. Her aunt and uncle led the way, and as Ana was heading out she swore she heard Erik's cloak swishing nearby. Glancing backwards, she decided that it was just her imagination and stepped out into the sunshine.
The trio sat in the open carriage. Ana and Marishka twittered about the flowers and the latest gossip. Ana sat back, holding her ribs because she was laughing so hard. As she wiped the tears away from her eyes, a voice hailed her.
"Ana! Ana, is that you?" Ana looked over. There, in a grand carriage, sat Jammes and...
"Good afternoon Mademoiselle Knoll." Alex said, giving her a chilled smile.
"Good afternoon Monsieur McKinley and Jammes. My, what a lovely couple you make." Ana said, surprised that the two of them would be out in public together.
"Thank you, I was just telling Alex about your wonderful voice. He is quite excited to hear you in the Elixir of Love." Jammes said innocently.
"Yes, Jammes said you had a lovely voice that could charm the birds out of the trees." Alex said, thinking of Ana moaning beneath him.
"I thank you Jammes for mentioning me...now we really must be going..." Ana said, trying to signal to her uncle to move the carriage.
"Nonsense. Why don't your friends come to dinner with us? The more, the merrier." John said. He had heard about the McKinleys and was quite interested in seeing what business they were into.
"Why thank you Monsieur Reynaldo. We'd love to join you for dinner. What time do you want to meet?" Alex said, as smooth as butter.
"Why don't we meet at the Opera Populaire around six. Then we'll all take my carriage to dinner." John said, Alex readily agreed and the two carriages parted ways. Alex was smug and Ana was just plain sick.
"Why did you have to invite them to dinner? I thought it was just going to be the three of us." Ana asked, feeling her anxiety rise.
"I wanted to get to know Alex McKinley. I heard from the court that he is in town, and it would be nice to get to know him." John said, clucking the horses to move faster.
Ana sat next to her aunt, somewhat pouting. Marishka gave her a worried look, but Ana hardly noticed. She was too worried about this evening, Erik haven been pushed from her mind.
Her uncle dropped her off at the Opera Populaire and told her to be at the front of the building by five fifty. He waved good bye and left Ana standing at the front doors.
Ana stalked back to her room and was about to turn down the hallway that lead to her room, when she saw Jammes gossiping with Sorelli. Deciding against her better judgement, she walked towards the dancer.
"Ah, yes...Monsieur McKinley is a wonderful man in bed. None could ever equate him. I will be sorry to see him leave for America in a few weeks." Jammes was saying, while Sorelli twittered.
"Excuse me Jammes, could we talk privately?" Ana said, interrupting the conversation. Jammes turned around slowly, and looked down her nose.
"Well if it isn't the little sly song bird. I guess we could talk privately, but make it short, I have to get ready for dinner tonight." Sorelli quickly disappeared to tell the other dancers of Jammes wonderful new partner.
The two of them wandered towards the stage. Ana twisting her dress in her hands, wondering what to say, when Jammes smacked her.
"You little slut. Everyone knows you have a lover, but they don't know what I know. Monsieur McKinley is more than just an acquaintance to you, isn't he? He didn't acknowledge it to me, but I'm not that dumb that I can't figure it out on my own." Jammes spat at her.
"I am not a slut! I only know Monsieur McKinley through my family at home! And I do not have a lover!" Ana shouted back at her.
"Oh really, then why is there a money pouch on your dressing table, that has a note accompanying it!" Jammes questioned her.
"How dare you enter my room! You have no right! Madame Giry will hear of this!" Ana said, fuming. Her blood was now racing through her veins hot and heavy. She stalked off, leaving a smug Jammes behind. She went to her room, and sure enough the door was unlocked. She must have left in such a sad state of mind, that she didn't realize that she didn't lock her door.
She entered her room and looked around. Once again, Jammes was right. There, sitting on her bed was a money pouch with a note beside it. The note was not in an envelope but lying open. No doubt Jammes had read the damn letter, so now she would be gloating it to every dancer possible.
She picked up the note, and scanned it. Her hands began to shake, and she had to sit down for fear that she couldn't...no wouldn't be able to stand on her own.
"Dear Ana,
Thank you for the night last night. It was clearly refreshing. I leave you with your money's worth. Should I need your nightly service, I will call on you. For now, we must work on your voice for your performance is coming upon us as quickly as possible. I will see you at a later date.
E."
That bastard, that inconceivable, ungrateful bastard! He had used her! He just said all those wonderful things to get her in bed and she had fallen for it! He now had her where he wanted, his whore and slave. Well, two could play this game.
"We'll see who's the better person, Erik. We shall see." With that said, Ana went to go get ready.
Ana was having the time of her life, despite the fact that Jammes and Alex were there, watching her every move. She flirted with many of the young available men that were there, sensing Alex's jealousy. Several men asked her to dance, and she was only willing to oblige. As the dinner drew to a close, a man by the name of Simon Suffret asked her if she would do him the honor of allowing him to accompany her back to the opera. It meant not having to ride with Alex and Jammes back to the Opera house. She agreed and hurried to fetch her cloak. No sooner had she disappeared around the corner, than Alex was too quick to fetch Jammes cloak.
"How nice of you to allow Monsieur Suffret to take you back. You are a sly bitch, Ana. A real sly bitch. Erik must not be happy that you are taking another lover." This earned a well-deserved slap from Ana.
"Erik is not my lover! I have never had a lover while I was married to you! If you would allow that information to penetrate your thick skull, you would realize it, you bastard." Ana said, beginning to vent her anger and frustration.
"How dare you! You are quite lucky that Monsieur Suffret is waiting for you, otherwise you would have been taught a lesson..." Alex let the last part hang.
"Mademoiselle Knoll, are you ready?" Simon's voice called to her.
"Yes, I shall be out in but a minute." she called back to him. To Alex she said, "You should watch who you sleep with, Jammes is as clever as you and will stab you in the back. Good day." she left Alex with an open mouth and readily accepted Simon's outstretched arm.
The carriage ride back to the Opera house was not a quiet one. Simon wanted to know everything about America. He asked her about New York and her life.
"So, will your parents be joining you here in France?" Simon said, letting the horse to take it's own slow pace.
Ana looked away. "No. Unfortunately they died five years back."
"I'm terribly sorry about that. I won't bring it up again." Simon said, patting her hand.
Ana gave a small smile and they continued talking. Simon let Ana off at the stable area and asked her if he could call on her. Ana smiled, nodded and said goodnight. She left him sitting in the carriage.
As Simon waved goodbye, and saw that she was safely inside a figure crept up into the carriage. The figure wrapped his hands around Simon's neck, quicker than Simon could blink.
"You will not be calling on Mademoiselle Knoll again. She is mine, and mine alone. Do you understand?" the voice said in his ear. Simon nodded and quickly made a fast getaway from the stables. The figure stood there and made sure the young man would not turn around. Seeing that the carriage was gone, he swept back into the Opera house.
please let me know what you think of this chapter! I own nothing except my characters...oh and the song that Ana sings in this chapter is a poem I actually created! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and for those of you who like Jammes, I'm sorry I mad her a whore, but she seemed like the perfect spy...mwahahaha...adios!
