The silence that engulfed the stage at night was the whole reason I went there at night, sometimes I would just sit at the edge, looking around the room, sometimes I would spin in perfect ballet circles.

Nighttime was the only time I could sit on the stage away from the cruel, prying eyes of 'mother.' The Prima Donna herself. I had been sent to live her, at The Opera Populaire, to spy on the people here, and see who was talking about my mother behind her back, and to get dirt on people she didn't like so she could get them fired.

I sighed, and pulled a lock of my thick black hair. I hate Amelia, her, and her husband, had ruined my life by taking me in and making me a pawn in their ridiculous, childish games. I hadn't had a home, but I had everything I'd needed, food, places to go, and they had taken me from there when I was 12, kept me for about a year before sending me the Opera to do her dirty work.

Of course, I extracted my revenge, by getting her to fire most of her supporters, but still.

I did several duties here, where ever I was needed cooking, cleaning, dancing, and when she was here I was also personal assistant. The list went on. The people were suspicious of me at first, but they warmed to me within a reasonable amount of time.

As nice as it was, I didn't particularly warm to them. They were nice, always inviting me to the after parties, always polite. I just didn't feel close to anyone. It wasn't their fault, it's just how I am.

This night, my feet dangling over the edge of the stage as I stared back into the blackness all the candles blown out, save for one, flickering candle I used to help guide me from my chambers, to this very spot. My mind wandered to the rumors of the the Phantom. His story had been told tonight, about his golden eyes of death, warning people to keep the hand at the level of their eyes.

I disregarded it as nonsense immediately, but it was still nice to think about, late at night when no one was around. Like ghost stories that you're told as a child that stay with you.

Sighing, I decided it was late and I should probably head back to my chambers to try and get more then my usual hour of sleep. I plucked my candle from the ground, shuddering at the cold the huge, empty room had, before starting my journey back to my room.

I was walking to my chambers, my bare feet making a whisper against the stone doors, when I heard footsteps, and one set a voices.

I am not a nosy person, but I knew if it was any of the authority figures, I would be in trouble for being out of my room so late. Especially if it was Madame Loise Giry, she was really a stickler for me not going anywhere alone. Or anyone, for that matter.

I licked my fingers and pinched the light, and it went out immediately. I hid behind a corner, although, with how pitch black the hallway was, and how dark my nightgown was, I highly doubted anyone could see me at all.

"Erik, this is a genius plan for the dancers. I will try it out and see how it goes." Madame Girys voice was loud and clear. Making me not regret my decision to hide.

"Very well." An unfamiliar, baritone voice sounded. I assumed that this was Erik. I saw them pass by, Madame Giry was barely visible, and the only thing of Eriks I could see was the white ivory of a mask. I bit my lip to hide a gasp when I first saw it. Why would someone wear a mask, in the presence of someone you were on a first name basis with? Why wear a mask at all? And why make the mask to seem like there was nothing but bone there?

All questions I would never find the answer to, but still, I was filled with curiosity.

When they had disappeared from my sight, I hurried to my chambers and very quietly closed the door behind me, I knew my way around my room in the dark well enough, so I could place my candle on the nightstand and laid on my bed with a sigh. I was so closed to getting in trouble tonight, it was scary.

Morning brought with it a rush of breakfast (of which I had a small crepe and some water) and a mad rush of dance practice, Madame Giry had us dance for hours, until we got her new dance done to her satisfaction.

Then, there was a Gala of some sort that the owners hosted, where I obtained an invite merely for the fact that Amelia requested the presence of her 'cherished' daughter.

What a sack of putrid shit.

After the Gala, some of the dance girls and cast members decided to have a party of their own, where I stopped by to see everyone, in the middle of a telling of Le Fantome. I watched one of the cast members grab the hand of one of the dance girls, Mildred I believe he name was, and he declared how the ghost ate women, and killed men whom got in his way.

I hadn't meant to, but I snorted, loudly, and drew all eyes to me.

"You don't believe in the Opera Ghost?" He asked, approaching me.

"No. That story is rubbish. There is no Opera Ghost." I crossed my arms and met the gaze defiantly.

"Well then. Maybe the phantom will visit you!" He declared, laughing.

I raised a brow. This young man. Robert? Randy? Oh, bloody hell. It was something with an R. He had been a thorn in my side every since he got a job here at the opera. He had worked his way through all the dancers, twice. Save for me. Because I was one conquest he knew he would never have. Especially after the tenth time he had asked me out to dinner, and I told him he was wasting my precious time with his constant meddling and asking and inquiring as to when I would go out with him, which was going to be never.

I did not find him attractive in the least. Whiny, a lack of work etiquette or a code of conduct, he was pale and overly muscled, with hair he often dyed, he had a voice that he purposely made deep and husky to appeal to girls, and his eyes were watery, as if he would cry at a moments notice, though he put of a 'manly man' face in front of girls.

After that my outburst at him, he had decided to become increasingly more annoying then I had ever imagined one gentleman could be.

"There is no Phantom. You're filling these girls brains with rubbish that is told to children to make them behave." I huffed and crossed my arms. Looking about as menacing and my 4' 11" frame could.

R (I shall call him that for the sake of not knowing his name.) Just laughed more and mutter a well see.