Good evening readers! I apologize for the delay in getting this chapter up and for the future delay in the next one; late nights at work and a test on Monday have me very busy. Now we get to see just who was at Belle's door and many other question that may be lingering in your mind. WARNING! This chapter does get a little risqué, so I will give this an M rating, but don't worry, this is the only chapter that gets this involved. I would love to have more reviews left to improve anything you think needs. I remain your obedient servant,
~The Southern Rose~
I woke with a start, where was I? The whole room was moving, and the floor was pine wood. We hit a bump and fully laden boxes came crashing down on top of me. I was still in my gypsy costume and I could see rays of light hitting the glitter on the skirt of my costume. I stood up and tried to walk to the front of the wagon, when something pulled me back. On my ankle was a shackle attached to a baseboard. Suddenly we came to a halt; I crawled back to where I woke up and pretended to be out. The back opened and flooded the wagon with light.
"I can't believe she's still out. Maybe you shouldn't have hit her that hard." Said a voice.
"She'll get over it." That voice I knew, it was Monsieur Foss. "I'll be back." A few moments later, I was dripping wet and shivering. "Good morning." Monsieur Foss purred. He moved closer to me, only to have me spit in his eye. His partner slapped me across my face, making my lip bleed and leaving a scar across my cheek from his lavish ring. "Monsieur DuPont, behave yourself, she is a guest for heaven's sake."
"Where am I? And how did you find me!"
"Right now? Somewhere on the outskirts of Paris. Now get ready; there will be many travelers on their way into the city, for the Christmas season is upon us! You are going to earn the money you owe Monsieur Foss." DuPont said. He unchained me from the wagon and placed a hat in front of me. I glared at Monsieur Foss until Monsieur DuPont stuck a knife at my side.
"Well when you put it like that, I can see your point." I said. I danced to the rhythm of their violins and earned many francs. By midday, the hat was overflowing with money. Monsieur DuPont emptied the hat into a box and set it out in front of me again. One wagon stopped to talk to us; this was my chance to send word to the opera house.
"Bonjour Monsieur!" the woman cried from the buggy. "Are you good people on your way to Paris?" I looked at the two men for some clue as to what to say.
"Yes we are." Monsieur Foss said. He walked up behind me and placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Ah, I see." The man said. "Is this your wife?" Do I look like a married woman to you? Monsieur Foss nodded his head and wrapped his arms around me. I squirmed out of his grip.
"Christian, I'm hungry." The woman said.
"Well, why don't you good people have lunch with us?" I insisted. "What do you say, honey?" Saying that certainly did not taste like what I just said. Don't get used to me calling you that. Monsieur Foss grin and nodded his head and the couple disembarked from their wagon. DuPont walked to the back of the wagon and grabbed the lunch basket. We sat in front of Christian and his wife's wagon. We talked about most everything; the weather, the royal family, and the next play at the Opera Garner. They told us of a rumor that a woman stage hand had been kidnapped and they were looking for her. Monsieur Foss said there couldn't be such a thing as a woman stagehand, for women did not have the brain capacity for such, grueling tasks. I looked over and tried to kill him with my glare from hell.
"Oh yes, there was. She was very beautiful they say; the owners found her in a gypsy camp. She made this" and pulled out a box that I had made. "I use it as a jewelry box."
"If you will excuse me." DuPont said. He got up and headed for a tree. Foss started packing up lunch when I pretended to sneeze.
"God bless you." Christian said and handed me his handkerchief. I thanked him just as Foss walked away to put up the basket. I leaned forward and told the couple everything that happened. I handed the handkerchief back to him and told him to deliver this to the Opera Garner. I ripped a piece of my scarf that held my hair and gave it to him. I told him to show this to the managers of the Opera Garner, and ask for a woman named Madame Giry. She will know where this came from, and hopefully, Erik will somehow come across it. My heart ached at the thought of him. My darling Erik, how I miss you so…
"What's going on here?" DuPont said zipping up his breeches.
"She was showing us the art of embroidering. My wife has yet to learn the skill. Thank you for showing her and hope to see you at Christmas Mass. Come Marina, let's go; your mother will be wondering what happened to us." And they left with my one chance of outside help in his pocket. I still was planning my escape even if help did come. Thank goodness the two fools had no idea of what happened. For the rest of the day I danced and filled the hat one more time before it was too dark to see.
"What a day, look at all of this money! Twice what we normally earn, and it's all thanks to you." DuPont said. Foss just nodded and stared at me. DuPont ate furiously; at least he got to eat. When I tried to grab something I was knocked in the side to the ground. Foss walked behind be and began to kiss my neck.
"He's right, you danced wonderfully today." His hands all over me. I tried to pull away but between his grip and my lack of energy, it wasn't looking like I was going anywhere. He pulled me back to the wagon his hands still wandering over my costume.
"How did you know where I was?" He grinned and leaned to me.
"Wouldn't you like to know…" His deep voice echoing in my ear.
"Surly you don't expect me to believe you're that smart; you can hardly write, let alone keep up with your biggest client" I earned a swift backhand to my already bruised cheek.
"You will learn to control that fat mouth of yours, or I shall shut it for you. He took my chin in his hand, bringing me back to his unusually calm face. "Since you are so curious little flower, I might as well indulge your simple little mind. When my niece broke her ankle, she sent me a letter about the little stagehand who took her place. I had to see this for myself. When I saw it was you, I knew this would be my chance to get what your family would never give me…"
"You sick demented man! You took advantage of a poor musician and his family!"
"Welcome to Paris darling, nothing is ever fair in this city." I growled with all I had
"GO TO HELL!" He just laughed, a twinge of insanity in his laughter.
"Where do you think I live my sweet? Hell is my realm of domain. You still have yet to pay me, but I know one way." He kissed me and shoved me against the side of the wagon. His hands lifted my skirt and began to explore the skin underneath. He told DuPont to go and take a hike, which he ignored. Foss pick me up and threw me in the back of his wagon, his lust following behind me. I tried to crawl away from the two, only to be dragged back across the wooden floor. My dress was stripped off me and thrown like a rag, leaving me in my undergarments. I could hear them arguing over who had me first. Of course Foss won the argument. He towered over me, relieving himself of his thick trousers and shirt. What I wouldn't give for something thick and warm instead of my thin costume.
"Take them off slut…" I cringed at the word. I rose to my knees and leaned in to him, his face twisted in a sadistic grin. I spit in his face.
"I am no slut!" His fist quickly made contact with my stomach, making me double over. My breathing was shallow, then he pulled me up by my chin.
"If you want to survive, you will obey me…" he threw my head back. I complied with his command. I had been reduced to a cheap tramp from a brothel. Oh Erik…I miss you so…. I looked up at Foss, who's sadistic grin had returned as he began to slowly strip me of what dignity I had left. He licked his lips and began to kiss my neck, laying me softly onto the floor of the wagon. I could hear DuPont grumbling, wanting his turn with their new toy. Foss took his sweet time with my body, feeling every inch with his hands until he finished. He dressed and kissed me once more before leaving me to the pacing wolf, hungry for his dinner. DuPont leapt into the wagon, his eyes wide like a madman. I sat up and tried to cover myself with the blanket Foss laid beneath me. DuPont quickly relieved himself of his clothing and just stared at me.
"It's been so long since I've had a whore…Especially one as beautiful as you…" He launched himself to me, my back landing with a thud on the floor. He pinned my arms above my head and began to violently kiss my neck and shoulders, thrusting himself harder and harder into me. With every yelp I let out, he would grin and growl in my ear, going harder until he finished. I curled in the back of the wagon and cried softly for Erik. Please…Erik help me…Please…
Over the next few days, I had the same routine; dance like a gypsy during the day, and be their scarlet woman at night. When dinner rolled around, I was so weak, I could barely eat what little food they left for me. Foss finished his dinner first and was ready for his paramour, but now, I was ready and this was my one chance. I indulged him long enough to grab his knife from his belt, and in once fail swoop sliced him like a piece of pie. I cut him across his leg and into the wood. He let out a yell and after being hit violently slapped and sent to the ground, I took off running, keeping the knife just in case something happened. By the time DuPont tried looking for me, I was long gone, on my way to freedom. Now my next challenge was getting through the city, back to the Opera Garner.
