"Who is that shape in the shadows? Who is the face in the mask..?"

"Damn you!"

"Ahh"

"You little prying Pandora! You little demon, is this what you wanted to see? Curse you! You little lying Delilah! You little viper, now you cannot ever be free!"

"*Cough, cough*"

"Damn you...Curse you..."

"…help…"

Chapter 1

The days seemed to be getting longer and more boring for Lucille, as Hannibal's premier became more present. Danielle Simon was dancing nine hours a day with no time to spare. Annabelle Clairoux's fingers were moving faster than any of the costume makers had ever seen. Charles Buquet was flying around the upper ropes with his uncle making sure all the backdrops were secure. But Lucille was sitting in Christine Daae's dressing room providing words of encouragement.

"Christine you will do fine. You sing beautifully."

"Thank you Lucy, but Carlotta's shoes are hard to fill."

"Don't worry. I'll be with you in spirit…and besides you have an Angel of Music." Christine winced at those words. Lucy, not noticing, grabbed her old wooden cane and hobbled to the door.

"Oh Lucy, your grandfather sent you a package. I assume it is for your birthday." Christine handed her a long blue box tied with a silver ribbon. Lucy quickly sat back down and opened the box. Under the layers of tissue paper and flower petals, Lucy found a new cane. The cane was silvery-blue with a birch base. Around the base were silver rings decorated with intertwining swirls. Attached to the handle of blue crystal was a note. It said:

Dear my darling little Lucille,

I decided for your tenth birthday, I should give you something that was once mine. This cane was a gift to me from my grandfather and it has been tradition to pass this cane from grandfather to grandson. I know you are not male and that you do have male cousins, but I believed you were most deserving. I love you very much my little Lucy. Have a happy birthday with your Opera Populare family. I promise to visit.

Sincerely,

Grandfather

P.S. Always keep this cane with you.

P.P.S. I hope you never have to use this.

"What does he mean by never have to use… oh I will figure it out later," Lucy thought, "Thank you Christine." Lucy grabbed her new cane and walked out of the dressing room. It was about 8 p.m. and Lucy entered her room.

"Surprise!" an array of voices shouted, "Happy Birthday!"

"Oh my Lord. You all didn't have to do this," Lucy cried out in joy. Her closest friends, who she hadn't seen all day, found the time to host her a party.

"You deserve it Lucy," Danielle replied, as she threw her long auburn braid over her shoulder and her eyes emerald sparkled from laughter. Lucy spun around in her petite pink dress and her wavy dirty blond hair fell gently on her shoulders. Her sapphire eyes shone brightly in the lamplight and her pale cheeks became so feverishly red that Annabelle had to sit her down on the bed.

The four children were an odd bunch. Annabelle was the oldest at 16. She had short red hair that she, constantly, would put in a bun and then take it out again when she was nervous. She looked a lot like her mother, who was Irish, with her pale skin, freckles, and her tall, lean yet strong frame. From her father, besides her hazel eyes, she gained most of his personality traits especially his protectiveness. She would guard the others like a mother bear guards her cubs. Charles or Charlie, who was 14, was the Corps de Ballet heartthrob. He had thick brown hair and chocolate brown eyes that could melt your heart. He was tall for his age and strongly built, making him more agile when he ran on the catwalk. He was very shy and light-hearted, and glowed when he laughed making all the girls swoon. Like Annabelle he was very protective when it came to the girls. Danielle, the 12-year-old was the complete opposite. She was the bubbly, talkative one. She would poke her tiny white nose into any conversation and answer any question. Lucy was the one, though, who led the group. They all agreed she had the proper characteristics of a leader. She was kind, generous, light-hearted, adventurous, intelligent, and when it came down to it, quite professional.

The three girls shared a room while Charles stayed with his uncle. The décor was modest except for the few things Lucy brought. The floor was covered with an oriental rug that was a gift to Lucy from her uncle. They never knew how he able to afford it. The bottom paneling on the walls was made of rosewood with knots that looked like eyes. Once in a while, when Lucy woke up in the middle of the night, she thought that a pair of eyes was staring at her. She would rub her face and look back, and what once were eyes became oak knots. Lucy, though, always thought it was a pair of evergreen eyes staring at her. The upper wall was painted a nice cream and was covered with artwork, tapistries, and photographs. The beds were in a row with side tables separating them. Annabelle slept closest to the door and Danielle was closest to the opposing wall, sandwiching Lucy in the middle. Lucy knew it was because they wanted to protect her, being the youngest.

They all sat in a circle on the floor to enjoy the picnic that Annabelle prepared.

" Belle this is delicious. I love your cake," Lucy tried to say while swallowing a bite of mint-chocolate cake. Annabelle wiped away the crumbs from the corners of Lucy's mouth and said, "I know you do. That is why I made it for you." Lucy smiled her young smile and took another huge bite.

When it was time, everyone went to their posts to do their jobs for Hannibal. Lucy, therefore, had to sit alone on the right wing of the stage. Lucy noticed Box 5 was not empty this show, but was occupied by Vicount Raoul de Changy. As Christine started singing, " Think of Me," Lucy couldn't help but hum along. She knew she shouldn't but she did anyway. All her friends complimented her on her voice but they all also agreed that she needed training.

Who would train a girl like me? Lucy wondered. What kind of girl am I? I mean, I look normal enough to pass by as a normal 10-year-old girl. It is this cursed leg. It stops me from doing what I want. If it weren't for this leg…Lucy pondered a way to end that phrase knowing the many choices that reeled through her head. She, in the end, decided to leave it blank.

When the show was over, Charlie escorted the three girls back to their room with Lucy asleep in his arms.

"You are quite the gentleman, Charlie," Danielle said with a yawn.

"Anything for you three, Danny," he replied with his perfect smile. Annabelle unmade Lucy's bed and Charlie placed her down gently. He removed her shoes and socks from her feet, barely noticing the scar. He remembered when he first saw it. It was not pretty. Her leg was swollen and it was purple-yellow. Now all that was left was a long slender scar down her left leg from one of the surgeries she had. He knew Lucy was ashamed even though Lucy claimed it made her original. It did make Lucy original, because of her leg and her minute experience of walking, all of her other senses were heightened, her hearing especially. She could her a pin drop. It also helped her occasionally when she sung. Oh what a voice she had. It was so innocent and pure.

Annabelle ushered Charlie out as he kissed Lucy on her forehead. Then the two girls put her into her nightgown, tucked her into bed, and blew out the lights.

"Goodnight you two," they heard Lucy whisper.

"Goodnight Lucy, sweet dreams."

Lucy closed her eyes, listening to the old building breathe, hearing the creaking floor and the quiet whispers. All she did was listen. It was that ear of hers that heard what was never meant to be heard, but once it was heard it wouldn't want it any other way.