Disclaimer: No, I do not own Erik. He is simply borrowed for my own purposes.

AN: Alright! Another chapter! The page breaks in the middle of this chapter are a flashback. Want to know what happened after Anne broke the news? Black ribbon roses to all those who review and favorite!

Chapter 16

"Oh, Anne, I can' believe that we're going to be living in the same room together! We're going to be just like sisters!" Meg danced around the room as if she were the happiest girl alive. "I promise, I'm going to be a million times better than Elizabeth! We'll stay up late talking and laughing and getting into all sorts of trouble! I promise, it'll be the best time you've ever had!"

Though I seriously doubted Meg and I would be up late since she would be swamped with rehearsals, I did find it comforting that she was so excited about spending time with me. I knew that I was going to need a lot of support now that I was without help from my wealthy grandmother. And though I felt a little concerned about what was on the horizon, I never felt freer. Suddenly, I felt as if a burden was lifted off my shoulders and everything was just a little bit brighter.

"Now, Ms. Anne, are you sure you're going to be alright? I'll just be down in the kitchens doing odds and ends, but I'll be more than happy to stay with you."

"Jane, you are a dear, as always, but I'll be alright. I've been without a maid, before. I know how to take care of myself. You don't mind leaving your calling as a lady's maid for the kitchens, do you?"

"Worked in a kitchen all my life, Ms. Anne. It's like riding a bicycle. You just ring if you need anything." She waved goodbye and left me with Meg and her mother.

"Now, Anne, this room isn't large, but…"

"It's fine, Aunt. Jane and I condensed a lot of my things earlier and what I didn't want, or rather what didn't hold any extreme emotional value, has been delivered to Grandmama. Everything I own fits into that trunk."

"It's not much," Meg whispered before getting a silencing glare from her mother.

"I had nothing last time. So I think I'm doing fairly well. And I'm still going to see Madame Carrolton and be paid for being her accompanist. It won't be much, but maybe I can do something here at the Opera House."

"If you were a singer…"

"No, Meg." I cut her off. "Singing is not something I do anymore. Perhaps, in the costume department. I'm pretty good with a needle and thread. Might as well let that formal education count for something."

"Maybe I can speak with Monsieur Moreau, our conductor. Perhaps you can help with rehearsals since you play so well."

"Oh, I would like that! Of course, he'd have to understand I cannot take a full orchestra score and read it on sight."

Aunt Giry laughed while Meg was attempting to put it all together. Bless her dear heart. "I don't think he would expect you to, my dear. Now, Meg and I have rehearsal to start with. We'll leave you to get settled in."

"Oh, but maman!"

"Meg go and begin your exercises. There is much to do before the show begins."

She hung her head but left the room, muttering under her breath.

"Anne, I do believe that you may have a visitor soon. He was quite surprised to find out that you were still staying."

"Aunt, I would have thought that you wouldn't have approved with any sort of contact with him. I'm confused why you're acting as if it's the most normal thing in the world for he and I to be seeing each other."

"First of all, you're not 'seeing each other' in any other capacity than teacher and pupil. I have put guidelines to Erik and he knows what fate awaits him should he harm you in any way."

The emphasis she put on that statement brought everything together. "You know!" I felt fear grip my body and my heart raced. I had tried so hard to keep it a secret, from everyone. My knees gave out and I crumpled to the floor. It got hard to breathe. I began to see spots dance before my eyes.

"Anne…you must listen to me." I felt her hands on my shoulders. "I am the only other person who knows your situation. Your mother told me, and only me. I think that's why she tried to make sure that all ties were broken with your grandmother so that, when the truth comes out, and will come out, Anne, you wouldn't be subject to all the gossip and ridicule she would show to you."

"It wasn't my fault," I gasped out, trying to keep the terrors at bay. I had tried so hard to block out the pain, to block out the memory and I had done well for some time.

"No one is blaming you, but some day you are going to have to put it all at rest."

"I…thought I had…" I put my hands over my face as the tears flowed. "I've tried so hard to put it behind me."

"And you will, but right now is not the time. I just thought it would be for you to know how serious I take this…arrangement with him. If anything, and I do mean anything happens to upset you, I will take the gendarmes down there and finish what the mob started five years ago."

She stayed with me a few more minutes longer while I tried to gain my composure and put the walls back up. Each time it got harder and harder to put up the defenses around me. It wasn't until I had stopped crying and was standing on my own two feet that she kissed my cheek and left.
I looked around the small room that had undergone a lot of change during the short day. While I was feuding out with Grandmama a second bed, dresser, and mirror had been added. The room wasn't unbearably cramped, but it would make for a fun time of maneuvering.

I liked the simplicity in comparison to the extravagance of the Prima Donna's rooms. This room was gifted to Meg upon becoming the Prima Ballerina. One of the things that apparently changed was how the managers and patrons paid the workers. Those who held good positions in the company were rewarded with higher pay and, like in Meg's case, a room of their own if they lived in the Populaire. I stepped to the mirror that was atop my dresser and began to change out of my black mourning dress into something a little less cumbersome. I was glad of the veil that I had taken the liberty of wearing that had attached to my hat. The mark on my face was hidden quite well. As I slowly took off my clothes and set them aside, I saw the bruises that were slowly making their way to the surface, and the memory of the argument with Grandmama came back afresh.

"You're not coming back?" Grandmama's voice was not shrill like some people who got angry. But it dropped low and one had to play close attention if they were going to understand the full force of her words.

"But who will look after me before the wedding?"

"I'm sure one of your friends from school would be more than happy to do so, Elizabeth." I stood up and prepared to leave. "I'm sorry to have caused you so much trouble, but you must realize that I do not belong here anymore than Elizabeth would belong living at the Populaire."

"So you're going to demean yourself and turn your back on the only people that ever loved you? Ever cared about you?"

"I am only doing what my mother wanted me to do."

"The only thing that woman did that was intelligent was marrying my son, though I will proclaim to my dying day that he was an absolute fool for marrying her."

"Don't you talk about Mama that way!" I had never yelled at my grandmother before but as she was now going to be grandmother in name only, I through all conventions out the window. "She raised two fine daughters…"

"One, technically. I was put into the care of others." Elizabeth smirked, taking another bite of chocolate. "I got lucky."

"I'll call her what I want! She's dead and I hope rotting in Hell for all the misery she put me through!"

"Misery? Just what could she put your through since you didn't even bother trying to find us until were both old enough to be seen as suitable debutants for society? Through us, you could rise to places that you only dreamed of! Elizabeth has made a suitable match, and you will take all credit for it, even though you did nothing! NOTHING!"

That was when the first blow hit. She had gotten close enough during my tirade to reach out and strike me across the face.

"How dare you speak to me that way! I took you from the gutter like a drowned rat and tried to make you look presentable! Something that not even God himself would be able to do! And now you turn your back on me as if I carried the plague!"

"As if I could ever call you family after letting my mother's death no reach me for three whole months! How could you ever hope for me to call you family?!"

"You wretched brat!"

The cane she carried met contact with my body next. Grandmother apparently had some knowledge of how to beat someone without breaking any bones. She never hit hard enough to injure my bones, but I knew it was going to leave bruises.

"You spoiled, selfish, guttersnipe!" The final blow fell on my back and it was over.

During the entire beating, I never begged her to stop. I didn't even cry. I had been beaten before, and this was nothing compared to then. I simply did what I had done all those times before. I took my mind out of the situation and it seemed for a moment that I was looking down on it all. Elizabeth's voice, I never heard. She didn't even make any attempt to stop what was going on.

"Get out! Get out and never come back! I never want to see your face again! You are dead to me and to this family!"

She turned away from me and I rose to my feet as quickly as I could. The pain hadn't set in yet. I was still numb with shock. It wouldn't hit until later, when I was alone. I didn't say goodbye. I didn't take my leave and give them my love over my wishes for their health and happiness. I left the room and made my way to the front door.

"Miss?"

My hand was on the handle and I wanted nothing more than to leave, but the soft quiet voice stopped me. I dropped my hand from the bronze door handle and turned to see a maid from back home looking at me. She held an envelope in her hands.

"Your mother charged me to give you this. Your grandmother took it after your Mama's death, and I'll probably lose my job for this but…" She pressed the envelope into my hands and scurried away. I looked at the handwriting and saw my name written in beautiful calligraphy. My mother had written me a letter! These were her final words! I stuffed the letter into the pocket of my dress and left the house.

Sure enough, right on time, the carriage was arriving that I had hired that would take me back to the Opera House. Once inside, the carriage driving back to my new home, I felt the discomfort. I kept my mind focused on the fact that I wasn't back into a secluded room yet, but I felt a tear fall and my heart break.

My mind drifted back to the present, and I inspected the bruises on my body. My legs, my arms, my sides, and even my back were all effected. I would have to take great care to cover well during the upcoming weeks. No one could know, especially my Aunt. I felt sore, and it hurt to move. I knew that it was going to be worse as the day progressed and tomorrow I was going to be miserable. But I knew something that would bring some comfort to me during my pain. Mama's letter. I pulled out a robe and put it on. After securing it tightly around my waist, I pulled out mother's letter from the pocket of my dress and settled myself on the bed. I opened it, and read the last precious words of my departed mother.

My darling Anastasia,

If you are reading this, than I can assure you, my precious daughter, that I am now singing with angels in Heaven. Don't weep, my child, when you discover the news of my death. Death is just a natural part of life, and it happens to us all at some time. I have been ill, a long time, and I stayed alive long enough to know that you were going to be happy and well looked after. I know that my dear sister is looking after you to the best of her ability, and that are going to do whatever you must to be happy.

You must know, my dearest, how much I loved you and how much I tried to protect you when things took a turn for the worst. I taught you everything I know and loving people for what we all hope for them to be rather than for what they seem to be. There is good in everyone, even if they don't always show it. I do not know how your grandmother is going to treat you when I am gone, but you must not let it anger you. She always had a fierce hold over your father and I'm afraid that she's not always been the best at expressing herself.

Do not blame Elizabeth for what she may do. I'm afraid that she was not gifted with your sweet spirit and will act only as her nature will allow her. You cannot judge people by how they are, my dear Anne. You can only trust and believe that in the end, they will see the errors of their ways and change. I will not lie, most of the time this does not happen, but if we always believe the worst in people, than shan't we degenerate as well?

I understand that you have met the Phantom of the Opera. I remember him well, from when Antoinette brought him to the Opera House. In the beginning I found her to be foolish in bringing him, but I know now that it was nothing but a pure act of kindness. Something that I am sure he has seen very little of. I trust you to your own judgment, darling, and that you will look with your heart and not with your eyes.

You must know, that regardless of what anyone ever tells you, I love you so very much. I did everything I could to protect you and to keep you safe. Never dwell on the mistakes of yesterday, for they cannot be undone. Never plan for tomorrow, for it is not guaranteed. Live for today, because it's the only today you get. I will see you one day in Heaven my precious daughter.

All my love,

Mama

AN: Don't worry. Erik's going to have a say in regards to the bruises. Next up, the first lesson!