MADDIE

"Madeleine...what happened?" Charles asked, surprised and putting his arms hesitantly around my shivering body. I closed my eyes against his bare chest, trying to block out what had happened just a little earlier as he led me into the kitchen. Oliver had been so sweet, listening to me intently when we talked, holding my hand. We danced and laughed a bit, until he said,
"Do you want to go somewhere quiet?" I nodded at him and he led me back toward the dormitories. We ended up in front of my room as we discussed the show and how well everyone had done.
"I think Benedetta was great as Elissa...and Charles...well he is always wonderful." I'd said, nodding a bit uncomfortably and noting that we were the only people back here.
"Yes, Chagny was bearable I suppose..." He said, and this surprised me a bit because it was the first time I'd heard a hint of arrogance in his voice.

Suddenly he was close to my face and I was against my door.
"You're a very beautiful girl, Maddie." He said, smiling and I looked away uncomfortably, but said,
"Thank you." I could feel his breath on my face as I gripped my doorknob. Something wasn't right here. He suddenly pressed his lips onto mine violently and began clawing at my dress as I opened my door and we went flying into my room.
"Oliver!" I cried as I tripped and fell onto my bed. He wasn't far behind as he dove at me and began kissing my neck. Using my foot, I pushed him off of me and onto the floor with all of my might.
"Stop!" I screamed and he looked up at me angrily.

"What did I do?" He asked, reddening, and I tried to pull myself together.
"I don't want this Oliver! We're friends!" I said, furious now. He stood to his feet.
"Oh, I see. So just because you're Chagny's little whore, means you can't give someone else a go?" He said and I stopped, stunned.
"Charles?" I said, completely in shock. He snorted at me.
"Oh please...don't think no one notices how you look at each other...I'll bet I'm twice the man he is!" He said, pointing to his groin and I cringed.
"Why you two-faced son of a..."
"You were practically begging me for this all night!" He said, getting back into my face and trying to kiss me. I pushed his face away with my hand, digging my nails into his cheek.

"I'll bet you're not half the man Charles is!" I said, and with that I kicked him where it hurt the most, and he cried out falling back to the floor.
"You little bitch!" He cried, holding himself, "Do you honestly think any man will ever respect you? You will never be anything but someone's whore!" I started for the door, tears burning my eyes because I knew it was true. The daughter of a prostitute, an orphan who would never be anything but second best to anyone. An easy conquest. Maybe I should just accept it and face my fate. I would never be anything more than my mother was.
"Maybe you're right." I said, softly at the door, and began to leave but suddenly I was pulled down by my hair and Oliver pinned me down to the ground.
"You think you're special, do you? You think you can just walk away from me?" He shot at me and I struggled beneath him as he tried to kiss me again. Suddenly, I growled from deep within my throat and rage blinded me as I spit into his face. He stared at me for a moment and I thought he was going to leave me be until suddenly his fist met my cheek and everything went black. When I came to, he was gone and I was in a heap on the ground. I ran blindly through the opera, looking for Charles. I scanned the ballroom, and unthinking I ran out the doors and through the streets of Paris as I had the night I'd come to the opera. I held my throbbing cheek in my hand as snow pelted my face and shoulders. Finally, I came to the gates of the Chagny estate, banging on the door, craving warmth and forgiveness. The memory of how I'd treated Charles earlier kept running through my mind. When he opened the door, I couldn't believe how relieved I was to see him and fell onto him.

Raoul joined us in the kitchen as I haltingly recounted what had happened and Charles's lips became pursed tighter and tighter together. He held my hand tightly as I struggled not to cry. Raoul paled at the sight of my face and ran a gentle fingertip across my cheek as he called for someone named Therese. A few moments later an older woman came in wearing a dressing gown and a night cap.
"What in the name of...oh dear." She said, when she saw me. Instantly, she walked to the ice box and took out a few cubes. "Charles love, get me a clean rag." She ordered and he quickly went to a small cupboard and took one out. Therese then wrapped the ice in the rag and gently held it against my cheek, holding me in a motherly way. I usually felt uncomfortable around strangers, but I leaned against this woman's warmth as if she were my salvation.

"We don't want it to swell dear..." She said softly looking at Charles. "So this is the little angel you drew..." She said and I looked at him finally. He blushed and Raoul smiled at him. Suddenly Raoul stood and said,
"Come Therese, let's let them talk..." She nodded and patted my other cheek before leaving the room with the Vicomte.
"I'm going to kill him you know..." Charles said, looking down at his hands.
"I'm sorry..." I said, cursing myself, "I'm sorry for the way I treated you and for not trusting you." He looked up at me and held his hand up, silencing me.
"Don't," he said, "I had no right...I am your friend, not your keeper...and I am sorry for trying to tell you how to live your life." My eyes began to burn again, and I could feel my chin quiver as I let my head drop to my arms on the table.

He moved to sit next to me and rubbed my back soothingly.
"I'm sorry I came here, but I had to apologize. Oh God, I don't want to face him again..." I said, dreading returning to the opera. He grabbed my hand.
"Stay..." He said and I looked at him in disbelief.
"Stay here?" I asked him and he nodded.
"Through Christmas. It's only a week..." He said, and I shook my head.
"I couldn't..." I said. The last thing I wanted was to impose on someone's family during the holiday.
"Please...do you honestly want to go back to the opera in the state you're in?" He had a point. Oliver would still be there. He'd probably told everyone some warped version of what had happened already. Maybe the managers would even fire me.
"Well...no." I admitted and he put his arm around me.

"Come on..." He said, getting up and extending his hand to me.
"What?" I asked, and he took my hand, pulling me up.
"You're going to bed..." He said, more like an order than anything and I stopped.
"But I don't have any clothes..." I protested and he laughed.
"Forget that...you won't lack for anything here...you are welcome to anything in your closet." I sighed, knowing he'd won this argument and began walking again. Suddenly, I felt a bit dizzy and stumbled, but Charles was quick as a cat and soon I was laying in his arms with my head against his bare chest. He must have changed me into a nightgown and laid me in the bed, but I had fallen asleep before we even reached the room.

The next morning when I woke up, I was in clean nightclothes snugly tucked into the bed. In the crook of my arm was Charles's cat, Aida. For the first time in my life, I was so comfortable, I just couldn't will myself to get up. On the chair was the pink dress I had picked for the masquerade, with a small sealed note on it. I found the strength to get out of bed to pick it up. I went back to the bed and allowed myself to flop back down into the soft bedding, closing my eyes as I did. I didn't see Aida, and nearly fell on her, causing her to stare me down as she began to lick her paws.
"Well I'm sorry your Highness..." I said with a laugh, scratching behind her ears as she came closer to rub her cheek over mine as I opened the note.

I picked this up for you today... Told Aunt Meg where you were so you wouldn't worry. She said she'll see us tonight. Also, Dorgan is through at the Opera. Madame Giry overheard him telling someone his version of the story and an hour later his bags were packed and he was sent away for good. Before he left I gave him a little parting gift though. I broke his nose.

Stay comfortable and don't worry. I'll see you later.
Your friend,
C