A/N: I changed Marie to Désirée...I seem to like the name much better, the name has been changed in the first chapter as well.
Many thanks to my first and only reviewer, it was kind of you to review, now...why don't you review some more! I only putting my fanfics up here now but I have been writing fanfiction since I was twelve.
My only muse right now is my little Holland snow globe, that's how uninspiring my boring life is at this point.
Review !!!
It was the first time that I had ever fainted in my life. Even when I learnt of the death of my parents, I had not fainted. I wondered if I had imagined the gleaming white mask. When I awoke, I was no longer in the dark passage but in a room and tucked nicely into a bed. I felt better rested than I had in a very long time but I thought it odd. If I had indeed fainted, then I should have hit the floor, shouldn't I have? And if I had hit the floor, I would have been hurt…unless-

"Mademoiselle Dupont?" I looked to my bedside to see the woman I recognised as Antoinette Giry. I had never spoken to her before but yes, I knew who she was.

"I do apologise Madame!" I said as I found my voice and sat up, "I lost my way while I was looking for you." I did not notice her smile as I continued on in my flustered manner, "Oh, I did not mean to be such a bother Madame-" I finally saw her smile and blushed in embarrassment.

"You must be careful around this Opera House Mademoiselle Dupont, surely, you have heard the stories." She said. Madame Giry was the sort of woman who would not take nonsense from anyone. She was strict and everything about the ballet mistress' appearance seemed to say so. Yet she was a kind woman, the compassionate sort but even her presence silently commanded obedience.

"Oui Madame." I said meekly.

"Monsieur Reyer informed of your joining the orchestra. I congratulate you, Mademoiselle-"

"Oh please," I interrupted her, "do just call me Désirée, I am not one for such formalities, Madame." Actually realising that I had interrupted her, I added: "I apologise for my interruption, do continue, Madame."

She nodded and held a glass of water out to me, "These are to be your quarters, Désirée." I took the glass from her and brought it to my lips, "the ballet dormitories are nearby and my own quarters are along the corridor."

I tried to get up from the bed to put the glass on the table and look around at my new room but Madame Giry took the glass from me and set it down on the table herself. "I suggest that you regain your strength Désirée. Tomorrow's rehearsals are with the chorus, you will need your strength." She began opening the door to exit my room.

"Thank you, Madame." I said, smiling and hoping to eventually win her good opinion. She only nodded and exited. Almost immediately I sprang up from bed to look around my room. I hadn't had my own room in a long time, especially one as nice as the one I was presently walking in.

The wallpaper was a pale blue, almost like my dress. I loved the colour because it reminded me of the sky or freedom. It smelt pleasant and had a small window that flooded the room with sunlight. I crossed over the dresser and looked in the oval mirror that stood on it. My appearance was that of a little street urchin in a lady's dress. I had unremarkable but large brown eyes and curly brown hair and my nose was a little too small. I smoothed down my hair and wiped my face with my handkerchief and tried to smoothen out the creases in my dress. Smiling at my reflection, I walked away from the dresser, almost tripping over my bag which I did not recall carrying to the orchestra pit with me. I had probably left it in the entrance hall. I shook my head disapprovingly at my horrible memory; at least I had carefully painted my name on to one corner of it. I put the bag in a corner so I could unpack my few clothes later.

Something in the room was missing. Perhaps I had forgotten something again! I looked around, my mind racing wildly at the possibilities of what I could have forgotten. I gasped in sudden realisation; it was my violin! I had left in that dreadful, dark passageway. I frowned and decided to make my way there, not believing how in the world I could forget something so precious and dear to me.

I retraced my steps from the orchestra pit to where I had found the passageway. I knocked on the walls until I found the hollow one. It was just as dark there as it had been before but I entered the passageway, hoping to find my violin still there. This time the passageway was slightly more lighted. I walked cautiously once I saw the mice scurrying down the passage. I do not remember how long I walked down the passage but I had given up hope of finding my violin until he spoke to me:

"Have you lost your way again Mademoiselle? Or is it just your curiosity about the Phantom that has lead you down here?" There was some amount of anger, some mockery and spite in the voice but his voice itself was so…melodious, so powerful, and so rich. I turned around to face him. Now that it wasn't so dark, I could see much more than just the gleam of the white porcelain mask. I had feared him in the dark but now his presence was far from frightening, it was only captivating. I admired the beautiful black cloak.

"You are still here, Monsieur Fantôme." I said, easily. He wasn't nearly as terrible to look…not as much as the descriptions that the maids gave me. "I am looking for my violin." I said, "I left it here when I fainted at the sight of you." I continued on boldly, "You need not have terrified me ever so much Monsieur!"

Perhaps I had imagined it but I thought I heard a hint of a chuckle, "I apologise for frightening you so Mademoiselle Dupont." He bowed mockingly and I frowned. Slightly surprised that he knew who I was. But the stories said that he always knew everything. I had not noticed his left hand in the dim lighting but as he took it our of his cloak, I saw that he was holding my violin, "Is this what you have been looking for?"

I nodded eagerly and look it from him, "Thank you Monsieur, it was kind of you to keep it safe." I smiled, but he did not.

"Do not trifle with me," I heard his harsh tone returning, "Do you know what I am, Mademoiselle Dupont?"

I smiled, it was a simple question, "You are a man, Monsieur" I fled before he said anything else to me.

Hello again! It's review time! (I've had too much sugar in my tea...I cannot avoid the hyperness now!)
Also, I speak absolutely no French so I depend on my little Frenchie friend for translations. Blame her for the french mistakes. I only speak German and English and a few other languages.

Until I decide to update...

Your devoted authoress

Pirate'sDream (aka Treasure)