Hello readers! In honor of my new little niece I have decided to post 2 chapters today instead of one. I hope you all enjoy! Get ready for the story to take a dire twist after these two chapters, for Belle's past will come back to haunt her. Will she survive? Or will her life be the payment to set her brother's free of debt. I remain your obedient servent,

~The Southern Rose~

I looked forward to Belle's visits after work; her presence brought music to my ears I have not heard since Christine... I shake the thought from my head. I burned the dress I bought her; she was my past and for the first time in years, I was looking forward. I hoped it would have auburn hair and beautiful blue eyes.
"How did I do?" I look over at Belle, breaking my daydream. I smiled and corrected her mistakes, the fire in her eyes to get every note perfect made my insides flutter. I sat next to her on my piano stool, letting her have the one from years past that I should have turned into kindling. Her playing began to rival mine with every lesson we had, what once was good was now grand.
"Much better mademoiselle, now on to your dancing lessons." One day I want to make her a star, not just another dancing rat, but a beautiful angel… She sighed deeply and stood slowly.
"I don't mean to be rude, but can't we skip the dancing lesson for today…" she trailed off. She had promising talent, but it would not be enough to live up to Madame's standards. I shook my head and took her hand.
"There is no rest for the weary, mon cher, you need to catch up to the girls who have been trained for years. Talent alone will not help you now." I lead her to the center of the living area and let her put on her slippers. "Now, from the top of your solo mademoiselle." I walked back to the piano and begin her melody. She assumes her starting position, then quickly rises to her toes and begins to dance. She skips around my living area, the solo being simple at the start. Soon the others ballerinas are to bring a chest, Carlotta's things inside as the encircle her while Belle dances. She leaps up into the splits, which was nearly perfect and lands without a fault. I smile as she continues, focused on the dance and lost in the music. She kicks one leg out and spins forward, inching toward the chest before stopping. She slowly brings her right leg up beside her, then slides it back as she balances on her toes and leans forward. She is to lean on the chest for balance, but I wish to push her and make her balance on her own. She eases her leg back and leans forward, her arms out. Just a little further…
"Ompf!" she falls flat of her chest, knocking the wind out of her. I push my bench away and come to her side.
"Are you alright?" She nods her head as she takes short, shallow breaths. I help her to her feet and kiss her forehead "Enough for tonight. You need to rest before rehearsal tomorrow." She gives me a pained smile, holding her core. I take her hand and begin to lead her to the boat. She is slow to follow, an arm still at her core. I sweep her into my arms and carry her to the boat. She had gotten a little lighter since she started to dance. What was left of the little fat on her body has been melted away and turned into muscle. I put her in the boat and row across the lake, softly singing my latest piece. We dock and she doesn't move, already fast asleep. Oh little Belle, soon I will help you rest like you need… I softly pick her up and carry her up the stairs and into her bedroom. The hour was later than I realized, past midnight. I took her slippers off and set her in bed, kissing her forehead before I left. Our meetings continued like this for weeks, each day she grew stronger, and more exhausted. One evening when I carried her to bed, her feet were covered in blisters.

"Give the girl a day off!" I had barged into the manager's office. I scared both of them beyond the point of being pail. They shot up from their desks, where the properly belong.
"But she is needed if we are to pull of this production. The head seamstress has all but quit because of Carlotta, and the girl is the only one who will" I cut Leroux off
"If you would have FIRED the Spanish pig like I TOLD YOU, we wouldn't have this issue, now would we…" Badeaux opened his mouth to speak, but my glare silenced him. "You will give her tomorrow off, that is not a request. And after this performance, you will FIRE the damned diva or so help me…" the twits nodded their heads in agreement, the only thing they could do right. I stormed out of their office and back to my box to oversee rehearsal. Today, Belle was a stagehand and a ballerina. She was moving props one scene and dancing in the next. She moved well with the corps, our lessons doing her much good. Madame released them to take a break as she made her way to maestro Cadenza to discuss the ballet feature. Belle quickly took off the slippers, rubbing her feet and nearly in tears.
"Meg, as grateful as I am for these, how much longer will it take your mother to get me new ones… my feet are starting to bleed…" The blonde bobbed to Belle's side and examined the slippers.
"It shouldn't be too much longer, I know they are awful, they were my old ones from when I was young. I am truly sorry about your feet…" the tap of a cane bringing everyone back to their positions. The rehearsal dragged on, as it always did when Madame was not happy with the performance of her girls.
"That will be enough for today, but be ready for an early rehearsal! The opera is just 2 weeks away!" The twits came on the stage, handing Belle a note saying she had the next day off and to rest. She sighed in relief, but not before her brothers came on stage, she gave a weak smile and followed them. I quickly left and waited for her in her room, ready to put my plan into action. She was an hour returning, my patience wearing thing. She practically had to drag herself into her room, using the door as a leaning post.
"If I may say so my dear, you look like hell." Her head lifted up, a lifeless smile greeting me.
"Who me? I'm fine Monsieur, really I am…" I shook my head as I handed her the nightgown I gave her.
"You can either change now or wait until we arrive at my home. I didn't 'persuade' those twits to give you the day off for nothing, you will rest in my care." She started to protest, but I put a finger to her lips. "And I will not take no for an answer mon cher…" I locked my eyes with hers, daring her to protest again. She sighed and stepped behind the screen, then coming back in the white silky fabric. I smiled and wrapped her cloak around her, her shoulders nearly caving under its feather like weight. I took her hand and led her through the mirror before she called out to me, saying something before her legs buckled. I turned and caught her, my arm easily reaching around her as her arm went around my neck. Her cheeks turned the color of scarlet as I scooped her in my arms and carried her down to the boat. I set her on the ground while I got into the boat, helping her in.
"Monsieur, your glove…" I looked at the back of my hand to see the black leather now stained with red from her hand; she began to spew an apology about the glove but I remained silent as I ferried us across the lake. She tried to offer to wash my glove, calling me Monsieur once again. I put a finger to her lips again.
"Please, my name is Erik. You need not be so formal around me, and as for my glove, don't trouble yourself. I have many just like it." The reassurance seemed to calm her, for she settled nicely in my arms as I carried her to my chambers. Her eyes were wide like a child at Christmas. I set her on the couch I 'borrowed' from Carlotta. "Believe it or not, Carlotta refused this couch because it was not pink. So I made it 'disappear' along with many other things not to her liking." Her giggle was like an angel
"You little thief!" I laughed as my dark grin came forward
"I prefer the term…repurposing…" I left Belle on the couch so I could change into my sheer shirt and pants. I walked back and forth from my cabinet to my tub, running her a hot bath with my own concoction of oils. I look over to the couch, Belle asleep. I sit at her side on the couch, placing a gentle hand to her shoulder. "Belle, please wake up mon Cherie.." She stirs softly and sits up.
"Yes Erik? I'm sorry I must have fallen asleep…" I shake my head
"Hush with all these apologies. A warm bath is waiting for you, please undress and soak away your day. I will call for you when I am ready." She nods and slowly rises from the couch, making sure to kiss my good cheek before hiding behind the screen. She…kissed me… my pale completion now scarlet. I hear a small sigh and turn toward the screen, only to see a flash of white duck behind it. I quickly made my messy bed, arranging the throw pillows as best I could. I never saw to make my bed. I was the only one to sleep in it and this was the first time I had company since her… I called to Belle, the thought of her without her nightgown making my cheeks flush and my pants uncomfortable. Her hair was down, just how I liked it, as I picked her up and brought her to my bed. Her hands brushed over my sheets, like she had never felt silk before.
"I have never felt such softness and smoothness… they are beautiful Erik…" I love my name when she says it…I kissed her hand softly, my favorite endearment, next to kissing her forehead.
"I am glad you enjoy them my dear, you shall sleep well in their comfort." I gave a smile as I reached for her foot, wish was quickly yanked from my now bare hands. She slid her feet under the oversized gown, almost afraid of my touch. I promised her I wanted nothing more than to help them heal, for they were callused and blistered. She protested once again. I could feel my anger and frustration rising in my voice. "You work too hard my dear and need to take it easy, and I WILL not take no for an answer…" I could feel the growl in my voice. She closed her eyes and sighed, pushing her tiny feet to me. I quickly took it in my hand and began to rub a cream the Persian once gave me, the girl gave a soft, satisfying and almost helpless sigh as I worked on her feet. My eyes met hers as I grinned with pride, she needed this if she were to continue her jobs as dancer, stagehand and seamstress. I then took her hands in mine as I sat next to her on the bed. She moved as close to me as possible, her body fitting perfectly with mine. Once I finished, she kissed my masked cheek and rose from the bed.
"Thank you Erik, for all of this. Now if you don't mind, I will make myself at home on your couch." I gripped her arm tightly, a small squeak escaping her lips.
"You will do no such thing. You shall sleep in my bed and I shall take the couch." She yawned as I pulled her back to the bed. She laid back and let me pull the sheets to her, I then stood and smiled, then slowly leaned in and kissed her cheek, her skin like velvet under my lips. I turn to leave, pulling my shirt off when a soft voice catches my ear
"Erik…?" I turn back to Belle, who was blushing hard. I grin playfully, wishing I could just take her now.
"Yes my dear?"
"Sleep beside me…Please?" Dear Lord above Belle, if only you knew the power of your spell over me… My grin grew wider as I crawled in bed beside her, letting her role to her side as I wrapped my arms around her tiny waist. I kissed her forehead and whispered a goodnight, her eyes already closed deep in sleep.