After the Fire (Phanfiction)

27

That night as Jacques came home he was unprepared for Henri's quiet anger.

He entered and she said nothing, seeing him on the stairs and turning back abruptly.

'Henri this is beneath you' He called after her.

She ignored him, making sure to slam the door and lock it. He can keep me here like a bird in a cage, but he will not make me like him.

'We need to talk.' Jacques knocked.

When she gave no reply she heard his footsteps retreat, but then come back after a moment.

The sound of a key turning in a lock, and the door swung open. 'I know you are set on disliking me. But I'm doing my best to help you. After dinner I will give you a tour of the grounds.'

She merely glared at him.

'This will all be yours. Your future is safe, even as his is uncertain.' Jacques said heavily. 'The Opera house is doing well but strange goings on are disturbing my father. It is only because of you that I have held my tongue.'

'What strange goings on?' Her previous anger forgotten, she was now caught up in the news about Erik.

'Things falling, some props going missing. He's unstable, who knows what he may be capable of.'

'Has he said anything to your father?' She asked.

'Not yet, but there is animosity in the air, and my father is worried. He's keeping an armed man at the door at all times.'

'Why?'

'So he can shoot the devil if the need arises!' Jacques exclaimed, exasperated.

'He wouldn't' Henri faltered.

'The sooner he is out of our life the better.'

'There is no our.' She squared up. 'If you do anything to him I will hate you for all eternity.'

'Enough.' He shook his head. 'I will show you around the grounds.'

'You don't even know if it is him.' She spoke up sullenly as they trudged towards the door, and he swung it open.

'I do not wish to argue. What are your thoughts about the statues?'

'Prettier then your personality.'

'How about the rose bushes?' He asked, ignoring her response and keeping a firm hold on her arm.

She had to begrudgingly admit that the rose bushes were beautiful. 'Who is the gardener?'

'LOUIS!' Jacques hollered.

A friendly young man scampered up, with tangled brown hair that was scraped back in a ponytail. 'Bonjour!'

'This is my fiancee Henri.' Jacques put an arm around her shoulders tightly.

'Pleasure to meet you' Jospeh grinned easily, flicking a leaf off his shoulder.

Jacques gave a short nod and propelled Henri away. She shrugged off his arm with a glare.

'Soon enough you will stop disliking me and realise that I'm doing this for your own good.'

'I just want to go home.'

'This is your home. I won't let you go back to the squalid building.' He said softly.

'You may be trying to look after me but the best way to help me is to let me go.'

He seemed affected by her comment, but he said nothing and they walked on.