Prologue
Madame Giry stepped quietly, carefully, along and down the winding stone staircase that led underground. Although she knew there was nothing to fear, it was nearly impossible to quiet the erratic beating of her heart as she descended deeper into the darkness. As a child she had never been one to fear the darkness and as she grew she welcomed night's embrace easily. But here ,under the earth, the blackness was a living creature that could both surround and suffocate you in a single breath. Her worn hands gripped the small gas lamp she carried a little more tightly at the thought and she willed herself onward.
Years of abuse had rendered her knees somewhat wobbly and she regretfully mourned her lack of foresight in bringing along her cane, as she struggled down the seemingly endless path. Step by step she prayed her voyage would not be in vain and soon her senses were assaulted with the overwhelming smell of mildew and stagnant water. She had reached the lake.
Above her, her daughter slept peacefully in the conservatory dormitories. Lost in dreams, she and the other little dancers were blissfully unaware of the shadow that shifted beneath the Opera and controlled the world above. But Madame Giry knew all too well, and it was this very shade that awaited her arrival in the cellars below.
The journey across the lake was short and uneventful, her strength allowing her to make quick work of rowing the small boat across the distance from shore to shore. Thankfully, she knew the siren slept tonight, peaceful in the depths of the subterranean pool. As she disembarked from the small craft she heard a chime in the distance and knew here presence was known. She waited.
After only a moment a door opened letting dim light pour onto the darkened shore. She could make out the shape of a man whos shadow commanded her attention and seemed to fill the entire room. Electricity hung in the air and her skin jumped when his voice washed over her.
"Good Evening, Madame. I trust you are well?" He stepped forward into the darkness and she took a tentative step towards him as well.
"Yes, thank you. I am. May I come in?" she motioned towards the opened door. "It is a bit chilly out here and I have travelled without my shawl."
"Of course, forgive my manners. You know I do not often entertain company." His voice was flat and she could detect no hint of either remorse or amusement.
She stepped in behind him, stopping to swat off the water that had collected on the bottom of her skirts. " I apologize for the instrusion on your evening Erik. This is rather important." He bristled at the familiarty of his name rolling across her lips but said nothing.
" I am not here on behalf of my own welfare, but that of another."