Note: Alrighty y'all...here's the next chapter! I feel like I haven't updated in years, but it's taken me forever to figure out what should happen next. Thanks goes to Shadowwolf because she read the first part of my story and told me it was great. So I had to develop it further. I really hope you enjoy this chapter and if not...tough! Mwahahaha! Now I must go and figure out my next chapter! Adios!
Chapter 27
"I heard that she wasn't in her room last night."
"Well, I heard that she's bedding one or both of the managers; that's why she got an understudy part."
"Really? Because I heard that she's bedding a wealthy patron and he bought her way into the understudy part."
The whispers followed Ana throughout the dining hall. The dancers and other actresses gave her wary glances, some giggled behind their hands and others gossiped right in front of her, about her. Ana tried to ignore the cutting comments, but when she went to sit down at an empty table, she overheard a conversation.
"I have no idea who her lover is, but who ever he is, he must be either horribly ugly or completely blind. I mean, who would want to bed someone as ugly as her. She may be well filled and have a nice body, but her features are completely ugly. I hear she has a horrible scar that mars her completely. No wonder she doesn't change in front of anyone. If I saw those scars, I would be completely frightened of her. Remember that horrible man that pretended to be the Phantom? Remember how horribly he was scared? Take those scars and intensify it, and that's what her stomach looks like." Ana didn't need to turn around to know who that voice belonged to. She tried to ignore what Jammes said. She tried to eat, tried to ignore the way that Jammes cut her down to size right behind her.
"Jammes, how do you know she's horribly scared? Surely she wouldn't tell you. I mean, a person who's horribly disfigured doesn't come right out and say it to anyone." her friend questioned her.
"How do I know? Well, there's this man that knows her and he told me that he happened to bed her one night and saw the scars. Of course, she was horribly drunk and he did the deed quickly and left. If I was him, I wouldn't have even done the deed. She thinks she's so perfect, but she knows she's nothing but a monster. A horrible, horrible monster." Jammes said the last part and glanced right at Ana's back. Ana couldn't keep it in. The tears that were burning in the corner of her eyes, now streaked freely down her cheeks. She stood up quickly, pushing the bench back and made her way towards the doors that led out of the kitchen. The eyes that had watched her come in watched as she made her way to the door. Then, Ana had a sudden thought come to her. Turning around, she strode back to where Jammes and her friend sat. She reached Jammes and tapped her on the shoulder. Jammes turned around, a smug smile on her face and glared at Ana.
"What do you want?" Jammes asked.
Ana lifted her fist and punched Jammes squarely in the nose. She watched as Jammes head snapped backwards. "Don't you ever spread rumors about my past, you horrible bitch."
Jammes looked stunned as blood flowed freely from her nose. "You'll pay for that." She stood up and landed a punch into Ana's face as well. Ana stumbled back, rubbing the spot where Jammes had punched her in the jaw. Ana went to turn around when Jammes pounced on her back, knocking her to the floor and squeezing the breath out of her. She began to pummel Ana's back, when Ana turned abruptly on the floor. Somewhere, in the distance, someone screamed that a fight was going on. No sooner had those words been uttered when someone was pulling a screaming and punching Jammes off of Ana.
"Girls that is enough! Enough do you hear me?" Madame Giry's voice cut through the red haze that had enveloped Ana's mind. Two men were holding the girls from attacking each other, while Madame Giry stood in between the two girls. "Now, tell me. Why did this fight start, and who started it?" she gazed from Ana to Jammes then back to Ana.
"I was just sitting here, Madame Giry when that horrible woman came up and just punched me in the face! I swear I didn't do anything at all!" Jammes innocently commented, letting her large green eyes look like they were misty with tears.
"You lie! You were going to spread horrible rumors about my...my..." But Ana somehow couldn't bring herself to say the horrible words.
"Your deformity?" Jammes nonchalantly stated. Ana's eyes started spitting fire, and she began to wrestle in the man's arms.
"You have no right to say that, you slut!" Ana screamed in her rage. The crowd that had gathered to watch the fight, gasped in surprise.
"And what are you? A well-paid mistress?" Jammes questioned her.
"Jammes that is quite enough." Madame Giry said quietly. But Jammes didn't seem to hear Madame Giry.
"The Opera Ghost must pay you quite handsomely. I mean, not only do you get an understudy part but money and new clothing as well. Tell me, is he quite good? Do you close your eyes when you make love to him? Fake your pleasure to make sure you get paid more handsomely?" Jammes continued to goad her. The crowd was now murmuring about her connection. Ana had stopped struggling, her soul felt as though it was being shattered bit by bit. She felt drained then, emotionally drained and hollow on the inside.
"Jammes that is ENOUGH!" Madame Giry shouted. Ana glanced over, to look at the old woman. She was now fully drawn to her height and her eyes were blazing with an unknown fire. "You know better than to say such stuff that isn't true! If I were you, I would keep my mouth shut, lest you find yourself in the back of the ballet corps or not even in that group. You may find your self to understudy in the ballet corps if I hear another word from your mouth about that false accusation."
Meg approached Ana and put her arms around her shoulders. She led Ana through the crowd and back towards the ballet practice room. Ana was trying to steel herself against Jammes horrible lies. She kept telling herself that she would not cry about what Jammes had said. She would not allow Jammes hatred of her bring her down on her knees. It had happened once, but not now. Jammes would have to try harder to make her cry.
"Ana, are you okay?" Meg's quiet voice cut through the haze in Ana's mind.
"I am fine. It will have to take quite a lot for Jammes to hurt me." Ana said, managing a half smile.
"What she said, about the Opera Ghost? Is that..." Meg began to ask but was cut off abruptly by Madame Giry's entrance.
"That girl is truly evil. She is mad because she has lost her prized spot to you, my dear. And she doesn't take kindly to someone trying to usurp her spot." Madame Giry said, coming to place a comforting hand on Ana's shoulder.
"Thank you Madame Giry. I appreciate you breaking up the fight. I regret that I had punched her, but if you only heard what she said about me. I...I couldn't block out what she had said." Ana said.
"I know of another person who, if they were in your spot, would do the exact same thing." Madame Giry said giving Ana a knowing wink. "You sang wonderfully last night my dear. Madame LeBrana was quite pleased. She'll be leaving her post here, to raise a family with her husband. She commented that you were to have her spot. The managers readily accepted her proposal."
Ana could hardly believe her ears. She was to have a major singing part! Her dreams, as well as her mothers, was now complete. She felt her heard swell with happiness and tears touch the corner of her eyes. "Oh Madame Giry, this is the most wonderful news. I am sure...well, I must go write a note to my aunt and uncle. They will be pleased to hear the wonderful news! If you see the managers before I do, tell them that I accept. Oh, a major singer!" she left in a hurry leaving a bemused and happy Madame Giry and Meg. Ana quickly came back into the room to give a hug to Meg then to Madame Giry. She kissed both of the older lady's cheeks then rushed back out of the room and back to hers.
"My dearest Aunt and Uncle..." that was how the letter that sat before Ana had started. There was no way she could explain her joy, her elation of accomplishing her life goal. She was too excited, too hyped up to realize that she had less than a few hours to get ready. When she penned what she thought was a good letter, she left her room in a happy jaunt down the hallway. She reached the costume room and bypassed a sulking Jammes who threw daggers at Ana. Apparently the word had spread about her promotion. There were still the nasty rumors that were spread about her relations with the managers. The one that Jammes had commented on, earlier in the day, the one that Ana had slept, or was sleeping with the Opera Ghost, had been squelched thanks to Madame Giry's strong demand.
Ana got ready and was about to head towards the stage when the door to the costume department. Jammes, who was sulking nearby, jumped up and ran to the door. There, in the doorway, was none other than Alex looking the part of an exquisite gentleman.
"Good evening Jammes. I shall expect to pick you up directly after the show." He may have been talking to Jammes but his eyes locked with Ana's eyes. Jammes noticed that Alex was looking directly at Ana and she stormed out of the room. Ana looked around and saw that no one else was in the room. She watched as Alex turned and shut the door.
"Don't you dare hurt me! Erik will have your head and you know it!" Ana nearly shrieked.
"You don't have to worry about that my sweet Ana. I just merely want to talk." he started to get closer towards Ana, who in return began to back up. Talking to Alex lead to other things, Ana knew that from experience.
"What...what do you want to talk about?" Ana questioned him, as her back bumped into a dummy.
"Why my dear, I just wanted to congratulate you on your recent accomplishment on being a main singer. You know, I always knew you had a beautiful voice." Ana knew that Alex was saying that just to make her let her guard down.
"Thank you. Now, if you don't mind I really must be going." she slipped past him and had almost made it out of the dressing room when Alex's hands clenched down on her shoulders.
"My dear, we are hardly done talking." he gave her a chilly smile.
"Alex..Alex no! Please...no! NO!" but her screams fell on death ears and there was no one around to hear her...not even Erik.
Erik resituated himself in his chair. He moved once more and finally gave up. He looked down at the program that laid open in his lap. He had told Madame Giry that he would be occupying his old Box. And he knew for a fact that his box had never been purchased again since that fateful night. He had to sit in the darkest corner facing the stage so he would not be noticed by anyone. He leaned his head back against the chair. Voices from Box six drifted over towards his.
"They are running late. This is highly unusual, and apparently they are waiting for the main lead to show. At least, that is the rumor throughout the Opera House." the man muttered to what must have been his wife. This particular piece of information caused Erik's head to snap up. Why in the world would Ana be late? Maybe she was being held up by her dressers. Just then the orchestra got the signal to start the overture and Erik relaxed somewhat. His gaze roamed across the Opera House and he saw a figure make it's way into one of the boxes across from his. It was none other than Ana's bastard husband. He wondered why that bastard would have such a smug smile on his face when the curtains drew back to reveal Ana in a simple peasant's dress with her friends and Nemorino around her. He settled back into his seat and watched the play progress.
Meanwhile on stage, Ana had a hard time concentrating on her lines and songs. Her body was sore and she had to reapply her stage make-up because some of it had come off while she cried as Alex raped her. She knew that there were bruises on her arms and around her neck and had tried to cover them up. From far away, they weren't noticeable, but apparently up close they were. Madame and Meg Giry had given her looks of concern, but she merely shrugged them off. She began to tell the story about the famous elixir and her eyes began to roam around the house. She saw the faint outline of Erik in his box and her spirits somewhat lifted. But she knew she would have to beg off from doing anything with him tonight. She was absolutely too ashamed and too upset to do anything of any nature with him tonight. She made it through first half with only a few stumbles and mispronunciations. Her partner had sometimes helped her along and Jammes, well Jammes looked as pleased as a peahen. She kept muttering behind her hand to her buddies that she knew Ana would never make a good lead actress. Madame Giry just sent them scathing glances that shut them up rather quickly.
Second act began and Ana had somewhat returned to normal. She was still sore and so still moved a little awkward. She somehow managed to get through the dancing part with Belmino. The scenes bled into one another and soon it came to the last scene. Ana quickly jumped into her wedding dress and then proceeded on the stage with Meg in front of her. Ana and her partner Pierre jumped into the wedding song and then it was time for the final bows. Ana was once again received with thunderous applause and a two minute standing ovation. She merely plastered a smile on and acknowledged their generosity. The curtains closed and the crew all came forward to congratulate Ana on her new position as a lead actress. Ana thanked them all, took a glass of champagne and went along her way. She wondered if Erik would be back there, waiting for her perhaps in the dark shadows. Suddenly, Ana's ears pricked up.
"Oh Monsieur there you are! Are you waiting for a lady friend?" Jammes voice drifted to her. She wasn't talking to Alex, that much was for sure. The man in question didn't answer but just merely grunted. Ana took a few steps closer to where she thought Jammes was, her shoes clacking loudly on the wooden floor. Ana rounded the corner and that's when she felt her heart stop and the champagne flute fell to the floor shattering into a million pieces. There, liplocked and kissing quite passionately was Jammes with none other than Erik.
Okay guys, time to review! First off, before people begin to flame me, I hope that you will keep in mind that Jammes and Alex had hatched a plan to make Ana dump Erik. And the only way to make a woman dump a man, why make her believe that her "lover" is cheating on her. That is why Jammes literally threw herself into Erik's arms and forced him to kiss her. Somehow she knew that Erik would either be showing up at the opera or would be waiting for her back stage in the shadows. I will explain that in later chapters. As to what happens next, well, let's just say Alex gets a little craftier (my friend Mon would know what I mean...she basically knows my story so far...). Now that you all have been aptly told, please don't flame me...flames aren't nice and they tend to hurt when you get burned! Ciao!
