"Thank you everyone! Rehearsal is over!" M. Reyer said. The cast broke apart. Claire Daae met her sisters, Charlotte and Christine, back in the room they shared.
"Claire, you were amazing as usual." Charlotte praised.
"I'm in the chorus, Charlotte."
"Yes, but someday you will be the Prima Donna." Charlotte teased.
"Yeah, I don't see that happening." Claire said with a fake smile.
"Charlotte!" A high-pitch Italian voiced screamed.
"Carlotta." The three sisters moaned together. Charlotte disappeared into the hallway.
"Claire, I have to go." Christine said.
"Ok."
Christine was the youngest of the three of them and had taken their father's death the hardest. She had been seven when he died. Christine had been acting very strange lately. Claire decided to follow her. As she went to the door she hear a voice.
"Claire, you're going to be a great and famous singer…and I'll help you." Claire whirled around, but saw no one. That was odd. She thought.
From behind the two-way mirror Erik watched the elder Daae girls chat. Erik had watched the three every since they first came to Opera Populaire. He remembered the day as if it were yesterday…
"I don't like it here." Seven-year-old Christine complained.
"Well, get used to it." Charlotte scolded.
"Both of you stop it." Claire ordered. She was in no mood to settle an argument.
"Why did we have to come here?" Christine whined.
"You know why, Christine." Charlotte said lightly.
Christine shook her head "No, I don't."
"Madame Giry and Meg are the closest thing to family we have," Claire told her youngest sister. "If we don't stay here then we'll be put in an orphanage and we'll never see each other again. Do you want that?" Christine shook her head.
"Good. Now it's time for bed." Claire said.
"But I'm not tired." Charlotte and Christine yawned together. Claire laughed.
"Yes, you are. Now come on, I'll sing you a lullaby."
The two got into bed as fast as they could. Claire took a moment to look around the dressing room. When they'd come the manager allowed the girls to have the dressing room. Claire liked it. The paintings of the current Prima Donna were hung all around the room. There was a large mirror at one end of the room.
"Claire, sing now." Charlotte ordered. Claire laughed.
"Alright…" Claire took a deep breath and began to sing.
"Hear those bells ringing soft and low
Bringing peace through the twilight glow
According to everyone night had begun
Turn from your weary toil day's work it done…
Hear them ring while my love and I drift and dream to their lullaby…"
As she finished she saw the two of them drift asleep. Claire smiled then got up and changed into her nightgown. As she fell asleep she heard someone say:
"Claire, you're going to be a great and famous singer… and I'll help you."
Erik smiled at the memory. Claire had been extremely talented for a thirteen-year-old. As she grew older her voice improved. All three girls, Erik found, were extremely talented. He'd heard Charlotte sing when she was alone while she fixed costumes. Christine hummed to herself every now and then and Claire was apart of the chorus and it was clear that she was far more talented then the Prima Donna, Carlotta Gudicelli.
"Claire you're going to be a great and famous singer," Erik said.
"And I'll help you…" Erik saw Claire's face. Clearly, she thought she was hearing things. Claire shook her head a left the room.
And now Erik thought it's time to find Christine.
Good? Bad? Please R&R! Next Chapter will be up soon.