Part 1: A young dancer

Paris, nearly the turn of the century, art and bohemian spirit move the country of France towards a new renaissance where artists, dancers and singers perform in every imaginable venue. Opera attendance is at its height and dancers swarm from England, Spain and as far away as the Americas to perform in the magnificent Opera House, The National Academy of Music better known as the Opera Garnier. A young English man wandered the beautiful halls, panic rising in his throat.

"M. Ferriday?" he called. "Wonderful. My first day employed in the Opera and already I am lost."

He saw a ballet rat walking towards him and rushed to speak to her.

"Miss, miss, could you help me,please?" The girl stopped and stared at him, waiting.

"Yes, what do you need?"

He caught his breath, "I am lost, I am supposed to be instructed by a M. Ferriday? Do you know where I could find him?"

Her face cleared and she smiled at him. "Ah, so you are the new dancer. What is your name?"

"Julian Andrews, miss, and yours?"

The girl blushed. "My name is Anna Charles. Now, M. Ferriday is expecting you. Come."

Miss Charles led him through halls so beautiful it could have been Heaven itself. At last they came to a small door. Knocking softly she opened the door. "Monsieur? The boy is here to see you."

A wrinkled hand welcomed him into the dark room. Miss Charles left the way she came, Julian suddenly longing to follow suit.

"Come in boy, don't stand there all day." Julian entered the room. "So, can you dance, boy?"

Julian cleared his throat. "My name, sir, is Julian Andrews. I am twenty-five and I moved here from England to practice dance in the Opera. I studied dance with Madame Andrews, my mother, since I was a child."

Ferriday nodded. "Well, your class will meet in the conservatory every morning Monday through Friday from six am to ten am with a two hour break for dinner. If you are selected for major role in the theater you will move from Madame Jeanette's class to my own. And that is only if you do well enough to advance the line, you understand."

Julian nodded. He knew that being granted employment did not confirm him as star. He would have to earn that acclaim.

Julian turned to leave when Ferriday made a parting remark.

"Keep an eye out for the Ghost, eh boy?"

Ferriday's laughter followed the confused dancer down the hallway. Of what ghost did Ferriday speak?

Julian wandered down the endless hallways, soon becoming lost.

"Oh no, not again. Where am I?"

Just then a voice seemed to float out of the walls,"Take a left."

Julian obeyed, taking a left at the next hallway. "Straight ahead." That voice again, helping, guiding.

Being slightly superstitious Julian made sure to thank the voice for the instructions. No need to irritate a ghost on his first day.

Julian entered on to the stage where Madame Jeanette had assembled her first lesson of the new Season.

"Ah, M. Andrews, glad you could join us. Take your place behind Miss Charles. We will bring with first position stretching."

Hours later Julian traveled towards the men's dorm hoping to settle in before the others arrived. Beneath the silent glided ceiling the crying from inside a nearby room seemed deafening, coming from everywhere at once.

Opening the door slowly he saw a hunched over man, staring into the remains of a long dead fire.

He entered the room slowly, not wanting to startled the weeping man. "Excuse me-" Before he could udder another word the man turned. A mask covered most of his face, but what Julian could see was handsome and well formed.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to disturb you. I was just wondering why you're crying." The man looked wild in his eyes, his clothing was that of a wealthy patron.

The man ignored his question, cocking his head to one side, tears left to dry on his one revealed cheek.

"You are a dancer, boy?" Julian hated to be called boy . He looked about fifteen, he knew that, with his light brown hair and dark blue eyes.

"I have a name, sir, I am Julian Andrews, NOT boy."

The man smiled, his lips curling prettily. "Well, I have a name too. Allow to introduce myself. I am Erik."