7

Just when Éponine thought the students could get no more irritating, Éléonore returned.

"We have managed to find you somewhere, Éponine, Gavroche," she said. "If you'd like to follow me…I'm sorry, boys, but we have a few things that we need to clear up first before we can find you anywhere," she added to the students.

Éponine practically jumped out of her seat, such was her eagerness to leave. Gavroche was much slower, dragging himself out of the seat he had in between Courfeyrac and Prouvaire.

"Before you go," Combeferre spoke up, from his place beside Enjolras, "May I have a word, Éponine?"

He was already out of his seat before Éponine could refuse this request. Éponine nodded in a goodbye to the rest of Les Amis, and grabbed Gavroche by his hand to hurry him out off the room. He shouted his goodbyes over his shoulder as she left.

Éléonore followed the other three out into the corridor. "Is it private?" she said.

"Not exactly," Combeferre said. "It was just something that's been on my mind. Éponine, you knew that we had died before we did and you said something – you said that Marius had survived, and he was receiving treatment. How is it you know that?"

Éponine wasn't sure what she'd been expecting him to say, but it wasn't that. She released Gavroche's hand and smoothed a hand over his hair. He jerked away from her, scowling at the display of affection.

"When I was left at the barricade thing – I heard voices," Éponine said, slowly. "And…When I investigated, I realised they were coming from a carriage window that was embedded in the barricade. And I could see Marius, in the window, and see the doctor and this old man he was talking to. Then I couldn't see anything."

Beside them, Éléonore nodded her head, whilst Combeferre just looked very perplexed.

"That was a Portal," Éléonore said. "They're not very common, and they're never permanent. They pop up every so often, usually showing us loved ones or friends…"

The door opened. Enjolras came out. His eyes were narrowed, but there was some level of recognition on his face. Maybe he had heard some of their conversation, Éponine considered.

"Is this Marius – were you close to Marius?" Éléonore asked. A sort of tension fell over the little group, and Éponine felt more than a little awkward. She had her suspicions that the students had been aware of her feelings for Marius, but the awkward way Combeferre averted his eyes confirmed it.

"Kind of. In a way," Éponine muttered under her breath, looking down at the floor.

"I've only ever seen a Portal once myself, and it was to see my mother," Éléonore continued. "I've heard you can will them, if you wish strong enough, but it's not…It's not recommended."

Enjolras planted his hands on his hips. "Is this a way to see the…" He paused, then almost spat out his next words. "Living world?"

"Yes," Éléonore said. "Éponine saw a Portal, that's what they're called."

"You saw Marius?" Enjolras said. It was obvious he was speaking to Éponine, but it was a little hard to tell considering he wouldn't meet her eyes. That had always angered her when they were alive. Considering the foul mood she was in, it was annoying her even more in death.

"Yes," Éponine said, through a sigh.

"You heard them talk?" Enjolras continued. "Did they mention the barricade? The revolution?"

Éponine snorted. "Considering it failed and we all died, Enjolras, I hardly think it can be called a 'revolution'. And yeah, they did mention it."

For a fleeting moment, Enjolras' eyes met hers. There was emotion in them – a dark anger mixed with contempt and resentment. She couldn't see her face right now, but she knew the same emotions were on her face. Then he looked away, and the moment was lost.

"What did they say about it?" he said. His voice was expressionless. There was no reflection of the feelings in his eyes in his voice.

"Not much," she said, honestly. "Apart from the fact we were all dead, and…What was the phrase…It was a horrible thing, or something." She shrugged. "Does it matter anymore? We're –"

"Dead, yes, I know," Enjolras said, cutting her off. He raked a hand through his hair. "I apologise, mademoiselle. I do not mean to be rude."

"I've heard worse," Éponine said.

"So how do you access these – Portals?" Enjolras said.

Éléonore sighed. "I don't know, I've never tried," she said. "I saw one by chance, and it showed me my mother's death – that is all. I've never had any desire to see one. They are dangerous, monsieur. I've seen people being destroyed by seeking out these things. I met a man who became so talented at opening them that he spent all of his time staring into one. He was a wreck. He went insane. No, it is best you don't try to seek Portals. The occasional accidental one is fine, but…Constant ones…They are not a good idea…"

"Well, then," Combeferre cut in, staring at Enjolras. "We will do our best to avoid them. Come on, Enjolras. Let's go back inside."

Enjolras shook his head. "No," he said. "I think I'm going to go for a walk."

Before anyone could stop him, Enjolras set off down the corridor. Combeferre moved to follow him, but Éléonore reached out a hand and stopped the other man, cupping his elbow. Combeferre looked down at the redheaded woman. Éléonore shook her head. "Leave him be," she advised, her voice a low murmur. Then she cleared her throat. "Monsieur? I'm afraid you're going the wrong way. That way leads to private quarters. If you want to go for a walk, you need to go in the other direction."

Éponine suppressed a giggle, and she could tell by the sudden twisting around Gavroche's mouth that he was struggling not to laugh out loud. Only a few feet away, Enjolras had come to a stop, his shoulders stiff. He turned around, his lips pursed. He nodded at them as he passed, now presumably going the right way.

Combeferre stared after him, worry evident on his face. Éléonore still had her hand on his elbow, and she visibly squeezed his arm a little and then released him. "Try not to worry," Éléonore said. "Sometimes, people take a while to adjust to this place, this life. Clearly, he is one of those people."

Éponine ignored the way Éléonore's eyes flickered towards her as she spoke, and reached down to take Gavroche's hand once more. "What about our apartment?" she said.

Éléonore stepped away from Combeferre. "Yes," she said, giving them a sunny smile. "Monsieur, I will be back shortly to speak to you and your friends. Come along, you two. We'll have you settled shortly.

Gavroche bade Combeferre goodbye, and then Éponine ushered him down the corridor as they followed Éléonore.