Louise looked out from the carriage at the Opera Dauphine. The building held so many memories she wanted to keep, and at the same time it held memories she wanted to lose. As she stepped out she turned to the footman.
"Monsieur," she smiled smoothly. "Please bring my trunk inside,"
The footman bowed and obeyed, walking past Salena Giudicelli as he entered the building. Lena's eyes shone as she saw the sight of her old friend.
"LOUISE!" Lena ran and gave her a hug. Louise smiled properly and squeezed her friend back. "Welcome back!"
"It's good to be back," she replied, half honestly. "Is Meg around? She left earlier than I did. Shouldn't you be in rehearsals or something?"
"I skipped them to see you," Lena confessed. "I haven't seen you in so long! I've kept all your letters though – Mama and I could never tell where you were next. We'd receive a letter from you in Budapest, and then next thing we know you're scheduled to perform in Berlin! How was everything?"
"Tiring, but good" Louise shrugged. "I learned a lot while on tour."
"Well who wouldn't? You can't go around all of Europe without learning something!"
Louise nodded. "Come, let's get inside – I'm freezing!"
"I thought you'd have spent your winter somewhere colder! You sent me a letter from Warsaw last Christmas!"
"You received the letter then?" Louise raised an eyebrow. "I was in Seville by Christmas! The postal service is getting worse and worse," she sighed. "Must have been because everyone was sending Christmas cards. Did you join the Christmas ballet this year then?"
"Yes, we missed you in the last one," Lena answered, walking inside with her. "I should go back to rehearsals – Mam'zelle Giry was so angry last week because I was late,"
"You mean Meg? Sure, I'll come with you. I haven't seen her since I got back," Louise walked coolly towards the dance hall. It was here that Meg had humiliated her countless times, here where Meg had stripped her down and made a laughingstock of her, but at the same time, it was here where she had learned so many truths.
She heard the music here, and she was hearing music again, however she felt something distinctly lacking – the dance piece needed more happy tones, it needed more passion in the music, as if the notes were dancing as well…
"Well, let's do this," Louise took a breath and opened the heavy door.
They walked in and walked in on a young dance class.
"Oh, Lena!" Meg smiled sweetly. "Good to have you here with us, and is that… Louise?!"
"Hello Meg," Louise curtseyed. "It's nice to see you."
"Of course," Meg nodded. "I was just telling these girls about the days when you were one of my pupils – what entertainment!" she threw her head back and laughed.
Louise continued to smile pleasantly, and then agreed. "Yes, ballet was not my calling. But it was thanks to Meg that I was able to find mine," she turned around and bobbed at the pianist. "Monsieur, if you please,"
The pianist smiled and stood up graciously. Louise cracked her knuckles and began to play.
Her fingers seemed to slide smoothly over the keys, pausing at desired notes at desired times, pouring a joyful feeling over the entire class. Some of the girls found themselves getting up, and then starting to move their feet to the steps set by Meg. This was done in canon, and eventually only Meg and the astounded pianist were not dancing around the hall.
Louise stopped suddenly. "And that is why I decided to start playing music instead of trying to dance to it. A wise choice on my part, but you are all much more capable in dancing than I was." She smiled again. "Keep it up."
The girls all started clapping as she got up and bowed.
"Well, I'm off then," she smiled at them and left the dance hall, passing the old wing on her way around. She stopped dead as she heard a faint tune. Her ears pricked up and she turned, eagerly following the music. It had been almost a year, but her feet had memorized the path to the Phantom's lair, and he awaited her as she was drawn back to his old grand piano.
"I see you've settled in nicely," She shook out of her trance, and smirked at her father.
"I'm lucky to still have this place. I saw your father had left plans to demolish this place, until he realized that it would make an excellent store cupboard," he gestured to the newer props, Louise's favourite being the golden throne embellished with sparkling jewels. "Also I think he saw the costs of demolishing."
"You were looking through his desk?" Louise rolled her eyes.
"No, he left them out," the Phantom shrugged. "Strewn carelessly across his desk in his newly decorated office."
"I'm not surprised," Louise sighed. "And he complains about being tight on money."
"I couldn't help but notice his plans for a new wing named after your mother though," he went on, flipping a page in the music score sheet. "But they were in the bins,"
"I'm not surprised," Louise scowled. "If Meg lives with him, why would he want a wing built to remember her mistake?"
"You're still upset." The Phantom mused
"Well you would be too," she replied coldly
"I am," he nodded. "I loved her too,"
"It's just… Meg got off free," she went on. "Like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth! She chased us out of here for a year," her eyes blazed, and she spat out the words bitterly. "I want her to hurt,"
"You want revenge?" The Phantom stared at her.
"Yes." Louise declared. "I want revenge on Meg for killing my Mama. She deserves it. She took an innocent life."
"She did." He agreed. Then he put his arms on her and laughed. "I knew you were no better than your father!"