Chapter 1
Third Person pov:
A cloaked figure darted through the streets of Paris. It was raining that night and a thunderstorm was upon it. Lightning flashed allowing the dark figure to be seen, but only for a split second. Thunder cracked through the wet and cold streets. The figure was about to enter the Opera Populaire, the local opera house, through a secret passage, when he heard a faint cry over the thunder. He looked around for a minute or two until he found the source of the noise.
Lying in a puddle not far from the secret door was a single swan chick. The figure knew that something was strange about it due to the lack of warm weather in Paris. He had a heart for the poor animal and decided to take it in with him. Ever so gently, he picked up the swan and made his way under the opera house.
...
A bright flash blinded a girl walking through an alley in Paris. The flash emanated from a beggar's hands. He broke out into a very evil sounding laugh. The girl began changing form; she suddenly became aware of the small wings at her sides. The man picked up the chick and said "A swan chick. How do you feel?" The delicate creature stayed quiet. "So that is how it is going to be! In that case, you won't be safely tucked away with me!" and with those words, the man threw the chick away.
The swan chick stood and began making her way through the streets. She came upon the Opera Populaire, where she danced as a ballerina, but now couldn't due to her form. Suddenly, she became fatigued and practically fell of the sidewalk and into a puddle in the street. She fell very silent as a storm rolled in. For about an hour, the chick stayed quiet until she saw a cloaked figure and cried out. The man began looking around and eventually found her.
He was very strange. The man wore a half mask that was white. His blue eyes fell upon the little animal and they melted. Slowly and carefully, he picked up the swan in his hands and carried her through a dark passage way underneath the opera. The walls were covered with moss and stank of mold. Every so often, the man would look at the sleeping chick in his hands.
...
Erik's pov:
I fell in love with the little swan I found that night. Even though it was only a chick then, I knew it would grow into a graceful and beautiful creature; which happened to be the exact opposite of me. I always wondered why it didn't have a family when I found it in the street. Little did I know that this little animal would change my life forever.
Odette's pov:
The man saved my life! I knew I owed everything to him and perhaps in return he could help me figure out how to become human again. That's when I remembered: I am a friggin swan! How could I get him to help me? On the other hand, maybe there was a twist to my condition...