Iris walked through the doors of the Opera Populaire. She clutched her large bag of clothes and valuable possessions. and exhaled sharply.
"This is it.." she mumbled.
Quietly she walked up the stairs and asked a maid for directions to Andre and Firmin's office.
"Thank you." She said in almost a whisper.
Iris walked in silence down the many hallways. She soon reached a door with a gold plate engraved 'Monsieur Andre & Monsieur Firmin'
She knocked softly.
"Come in!" She heard a male voice say.
Iris smiled and stepped inside the room and closed the door behind her. She sat down in a plush chair across from the two desks before you.
"What brings you here, young lady?" Andre asked curiously.
"I have come to audition for the new opera and perhaps some afterwards. I do have talent monsieurs." Iris said softly.
"We'll see about that.." Firmin answered in a grumpy tone.
Iris huffed.
"Please be in the auditorium in about 8 minutes for auditions. Which are at 6:00." Andre said kindly.
"Thank you." Iris said before leaving, surprised at the short conversation.
As she shut the door, Andre turned to Firmin.
"Did you see that patch on her eye?" He asked excitedly, but with a scared tone.
"Yes, Andre.. We wouldn't want a ballerina or a singer with such looks.." Firmin replied.
"But what if she really does have talent?" Andre said.
"We'll see, as I said before. Now leave me to my work, Andre." Firmin growled.
Iris almost skipped to the stage. She saw other girls too. Most of them were in about their mid twenties, as Iris was only in her early twenties.
She tried to keep her head held high as she walked on the stage to join the others, knowing for a fact she would get looks.
As she passed the first small group of chattering girls, she heard their whispers.
"Look, that girl has a patch on her eye." One whispered.
She stood alone trying to keep a smiling face as if she didn't care that she was missing her left eye.
Suddenly a woman with pretty blondeish brown hair walked in. She clapped a few times to get everyone's attention.
"Hello, future stars, and welcome to the Opera House. I am Madame Giry."
As if it were school, some girls piped up at answered her.
"Hello, Madame Giry." They replied.
Iris remained silent. She already knew who Madame Giry was. An old friend of her mother's before her mother gave her up cause of her deformity. At least Madame Giry knew of her eye and didn't mind it.
Madame Giry's quick eyes darted over everyone.
"Iris Devereux?" Giry asked.
"Yes?" I answered a bit shakily.
"Your mother hasn't spoken about you since the last few times I saw her, about 10 years ago. How is she?"
I trembled.
"I'm sorry, Madame Giry, I haven't the slightest clue.."
"Oh?"
"Yes, Madame. My mother gave me up when I was 9, I believe..." Iris said in almost a whisper.
Some girls began whispering again.
"Iris, I am terribly sorry. If you do not mind, you can audition with me privately in my room. Please come her, dear." Madame Giry said beckoning her closer.
Iris walked slowly to her.
"Do not tell the other girls just yet, but your new room will be number 247. Come to the stage at 9:00 sharp." Giry whispered.
Iris nodded and smiled weakly.
"Now ladies, if you are to miss a rehearsal, you will be dismissed from the Opera Populaire! We need responsible.." Madame Giry's voice trailed off as Iris walked towards the doors.
Iris set off down the long hallways once again and found room 247.
As soon as she opened the door, she knew who's room this had once been.
Christine Daae's.
She could hardly believe she was standing in the room of the soprano she took great interest in.
But Christine was now living in the enormous De Chagney estate with her husband, Raoul.
Iris touched every piece of furniture. She smiled and set her bag on the bed and began unpacking.
Her dresses weren't the best, and she didn't have many, but when she got her job here, if she did, she promised herself she would buy new dresses.
An old bouquet of flower lay on the dresser. They were red roses, and were tied together with a black ribbon.
Some of the petals had fallen off and some were grayish from age.
'These might be Christine's roses..' Iris thought, deciding not to throw them out. She laid them on a small table in a corner.
From not being used in awhile, it had gotten pretty dusty in here. Iris took an old scarf laying over a green chair and began dusting and dusting.
When she was satisfied that not a speck of dust lay upon a piece of furniture did she put down the scarf. It was once blue, now gray.
"I'll buy a new one tomorrow." she said to herself.
Iris took a quick glance at the clock above the body-length mirror.
8:54 it read.
'Had I really cleaned and explored for that long?' Iris thought.
She changed into one of her better looking dresses, pulled her hair up into a tight bun with a blue ribbon and hurried through the hallways to make her way to the stage.