Chapter 10

Erik was hiding in the shadows waiting for Madame Giry. The ballet mistress was getting irritated at the girls. They were messing up all the steps, even the simple ones. Erik was distraught that they even tried to call themselves dancers. Much less dancers at His Opera house. Giry finally ended up shouting at them and punished them by making them stay balanced on their toes for half an hour. Erik smiled cruelly, knowing that within 15 minutes they all will be crying. As Giry passed by were he was hiding, his hand shot out and grabbed her by the shoulder. She gasped, "Erik! You shouldn't do that!"

Erik chuckled, "I apologize, Madam. I see that you are having trouble with the Rats."

Madam scoffed, "The brats thought that being ballerinas would be easy. But this new bunch, well, they are nothing but spoiled rich kids. Do you see any talent?"

Erik glanced over at the bunch. He was right, most of them already had tears in their eyes, but three was holding their own. "The little blonde and the two older ones are showing promise. Give them better instructions."

Giry nodded, she trusted Erik's decisions. "As you wish. Was there anything you needed?"

Erik turned his eyes back to his friend, "Yes. I seem to have acquired a girl, in my keep."

Giry's eyebrow rose," A girl?"

"Yes. I came across her in the cellars. A rather strange one, she is. But we have a deal between us: she "helps" me become accustomed to "people" and I will allow her to stay with me, teach her our langue, and act a lady."

Giry looked at him strangely, "Erik..?"

Erik dipped his head, "No she's not! I would not stoup that low! She's more like a..." Erik waved his hand," free sprit. I will need your help. She is from...America. She knows not the ways here. Maybe you can give her something to do?"

Giry thought for a minuet, "Can she dance? Sing?"

Erik remembered the song she sung yesterday and winched, "No. And she can't dance."

"You have seen her?"

"Dance? No, she's bl-" Erik was interrupted when there was a scream and then a crash as a Rat lost her balance and caused the others to fall. They was all in a heap, crying. Erik snickered as he turned to Giry, "I best be going. Have fun straightening them out." With those words he disappeared into the shadows.

Giry peered into the black of the shadows, "Erik!" she whispered. "Erik! What about her?"

A dark whisper came from above, she looked up. Two yellow eyes looked down at her, "You'll find out tomorrow. West hall." With that the eyes disappeared.

Giry sighed, and went to think of some kind of punishment for the new group of Rats.

XxX

Poppy was bored within 10 minutes after Erik was gone. She knew not what was in the way so she only chanced her way over to the couch. Once she found it, she plopped down in it. She fingered the seams of the couch until she got bored of that. With a sigh she pulled her pack onto her lap. Opening, it she pulled out her CD player, then CD case. Poppy flipped though it, until she got to the one she wanted. She popped it in to the player. Turing it on, she begin to listen to what she thought was one of her favorites. The minute the song started, she screamed.

There's a well beaten path in the old mountainside
Where I wandered when I was a lad
And I wandered alone to the place I call home
In those Blueridge hills far away

Oh I love those hills of old Virginia
From those Blueridge hills I did roam
When --

She opened the player, and tore the CD out. she stood and started yelling and cussing a hell storm. She took the CD and threw it was hard as she could. She heard it hit the wall.

"What's wrong with you now?" a voice said behind her.

Poppy jumped. "Erik!" Spinning around she put on a innocent face. "Why nothing at all!"

"Hmm. It didn't look or sound like it. What was it that you threw?"

She shuddered, "My brother's Flatt and Scruggs's Cd."

"What's that?"

"Evil music."

Erik was intrigued, "What did it sound like?"

Poppy's eyes widen, "Erik! You really don't want to know!"

"Now I really want to know. What did it sound like?"

Poppy winced, "Ok. But remember you asked." With that she began to sing to first chorus. She wasn't two minutes into the song when Erik clapped his hands over his ears and yelled stop.

"I told you."

"Yes, and next time I'll listen to you." Erik placed a brown package in her hands, "Here. These are your new clothes."

Poppy glared at him, even though he could not see her do so. She turned and stomped out of the room.

Erik turned and picked up the object that was laying on the couch. He turned it every which way in his hands.

XxX

Poppy had the package open and the contents out on the bed. From what she felt there was three dresses, two petticoats, a chemise, and a damn corset. She had worn one before, in a play. She hated it. But, there was no other choice. Poppy pulled the chemise then the corset. She pulled on the simplest cut dress she had felt. She walked around, trying to get a feel. The corset hurt, and her movement was limited. Cursing, she stepped back out into the main room. She let out a really harsh word as the corset pinched her skin.

"Poppy. Remember you are a lady."

"Lady my ass! This damn thing hurts!"

"It can't hurt that much."

Poppy was ready to kill him. "Well, fine! Let me shove your ass into this damn cage!" She snarled.

Erik looked up from his examination of the object. He could see that she was not joking. He steered her away from carrying out her threat, by asking her, "What is this?"

Poppy limped over to him, and reached out her hand. Finding his, she found that he had her CD player. "Ah. That is my CD player. You can listen to music."

Erik looked down at her hand. It was placed over his. "How?"

"Well...it's easier if I showed you." She turned to her CD case, and picked it up. She flipped though it and pulled out one. "Erik? What does the front of this say?"

Erik looked at the shiny disk. "It says Edward Scissorhands. Edward Scissorhands? What's that?"

"A soundtrack. Here," she had placed the disk into the player and turned it on. "Place these on your ears. Trust me. It's the only way to hear the music."

Erik did as she said. Placing the things over his ears, he heard a sad tune play out. "What's this?"

Poppy smiled. "It's the theme song to Edward Scissorhands. It's by Danny Elfman."

"It's lovely."

"Yes it is," she whispered. Poppy heard him sit down. She sat down beside him. He didn't play any attention to it. Poppy closed her eyes, when Erik began to hmm along with the song. She slowly drifted off, as his voice filled the stone room.