Chapter 3!!!

DISCLAIMER: not mine

It was her sixteenth birthday and all day long she'd been visited by relatives who'd stopped by to wish her happy birthday and give her birthday gifts. She thanked them, offered them tea and then wished them farewell. It became a sort of routine to her.

Such wonderful gifts she'd been given and more than she was able to count on her fingers for that matter, but secretly the only gift she hoped for that day was to have her father come home to her.

Her father, Pierre D'aubigne was an architect by trade, and therefore traveled far and wide, designing and building homes for rich noblemen, politicians and the like. She loved her father and he loved her very much in return but his busy schedule never permitted them much time to be together, and she hoped against hope that today would be an exception.

The visiting relatives and neighbours had long since left when Anne found herself in the large sitting room working on a piece of embroidery when there was a knock at the door. 'That's odd', she thought as she looked at the clock, 'It's nearly dark. Who would come to call at this hour? '. She got up and went to the bay window to see who was there. In the dimming light she could see a carriage in the lane way that looked remarkably like ... no it couldn't be her father's, the fading light must be playing tricks on her eyes. He was supposed to be in England on business.

Still looking out the window she heard a servant open the door, a faint"Bienvenue M. D'aubigne," and a warm "Henri so good to see you again."

It was then that she knew she wasn't dreaming. She picked up her skirts and ran rather ungracefully into the foyer and into the arms of the man at the door.

"Father you've come back!" A bit winded by the young girl's sudden embrace, Pierre D'aubigne said," Happy birthday sweetheart, how I've missed you so! My how you've grown, and more beautiful every time I see you." He smiled when he heard his daughter giggle.

" Welcome back father, I trust your clients in England were pleased with your work."

For a fleeting moment her father stared at her and seemed unable to comprehend what she had said, though the memory returned promptly.

"Oh, England, yes, I almost forgot, I'm getting old these days, my memory often seems to leave me " and he laughed. Not his usual warm chuckle, but the kind of laugh one uses when they're laughing politely at a joke that really wasn't very funny. Anne thought this odd, it was true her father was aging but he had to be no older than forty-seven.

Trying to change the subject he added, "Might we go and rest in the sitting room, it's been a long journey and I do so want to catch up life around here since I left, won't you tell me?"

" Of course father," Anne replied. She grabbed her father's hand and led him into the sitting room.

"So how have you been Annie dear, are you pleased with your gifts?" he inquired as he looked about the room, where her gifts were piled on a nearby divan, "They've spoiled you terribly haven't they?" he teased.

"Yes they have, " Anne laughed,"but I'm afraid that until now I haven't gotten all that I've wanted."

"Oh?"

"I'm grateful for all of them, I truly am,but all I really wanted was for you to come home to see me." Her father smiled and pulled her into another hug. He then reached into his waist coat pocket and pulled out a rectangular box.

" Then I guess I won't have to give you this?" he chuckled when her green eyes lit up and handed her the box which she opened excitedly. Inside were a pair of gold binoculars, the kind her mother took with her when she and her father went to the opera. Anne had always been told that she was too young to attend the opera so naturally the gift had confused her.

"Father,"she said,"I think these might be for Mother, you've always said-"

"I know darling, but for your sixteenth birthday I've decided to finally take you to see a show. I quite think you are old enough now to go. The tickets are inside the box as well."

She picked up the box once more and held up the tickets,"Don Juan Triumphant? I've never heard of this one,"

"Neither have I, but the Opéra Populaire always has spectacular shows so we needn't worry."

"Oh father, thank you so much! Shall I go get ready now?"

" You might as well, my dear" He laughed again.

And with that she was off to find her mother to help her change. Pierre could hear her flitting about the house yelling, "Mother, Mother! Father is taking me to the opera! Can you believe it? Me-at the opera!" Yes, Pierre could tell his daughter would enjoy this night.

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Meanwhile, in the bowels of the opera house, Erik was preparing for his first and last performance in the Opera Populaire..

After tonight ,Christine would be his whether she went willingly or not. If it weren't for that fop, she would have been his so long ago anyway. All she needed was a little persuading. He adjusted his mask and wig one last time and headed upstairs to await his cue. This would be a night all of Paris would remember.

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Anne was trembling with excitement by the time she had taken her seat in the front row of Box Five .She was dressed beautifully in a white gown, the custom for young girls, with pastel green waistband that was placed just under her bust .Her red hair was pulled back un a loose bun and small white beads decorated her hair. She felt like a princess.

Her father had it on good authority that box five had the best seats in the entire opera house and insisted against a hesitant box office clerk that he have these seats for his daughter's first night at the opera. He ignored the clerk's almost utter refusal and warning and told him to stop his superstitious nonsense.

" Theatre people," he scoffed as he walked away.

Anne leaned forward and looked at the gigantic chandelier above her. It was magnificent. There had to be at least a thousand candles lighting it. If that chandelier were ever to fall... she shuddered to think of it and scolded herself for such morbid thoughts.

"Annie darling," her father's voice came from behind her,"If you keep leaning over the balcony like that you may fall over, then you won't ever be able to see an opera now will you? Besides, the show is just about to start."

Anne gasped at the thought and sat back down. Growing impatient, she wrung her hands together, when suddenly the curtains began to rise...

"Mademoiselle, have you decided whether to take our offer?"M. André's voice had brought her back from her reverie and she found that she was still staring at that strange mask. Fortunately though ,André brought her back before her memory took a turn for the worse, for there was far worse to come.

"I'm sorry , what ?" She asked, blinking.

"Have you decided whether you are going to accept our offer?"Firmin echoed André's question,"I daresay that one hundred thousand francs is much worth the effort."

Anne blinked again. They hadn't mentioned one hundred thousand francs before! She had to admit that was a very generous offer. She'd take this job, but not for the money, oh no, this was for the misery this man had put her through for the past three years of her life. She would find him and get her revenge.

"I'll take this job,"she said,"But we've got to find a way for me to blend in with the crowd. This 'Phantom' could be any one of the employees here. I want to be the predator, not the prey."

"We're actually quite sure you'd know him if you saw him. The right side of his face is terribly deformed." Said André

"Quite disgusting really, we've seen him for ourselves." Firmin added.

"Just the same, It may take a while to find a passageway that leads to where he lives. I would like to be in a position where I could ask questions without looking suspicious. Where is most of the gossip is spread?"

"Mademoiselle, the best place for gossip is among the ballet rats and chorus girls. They'll tell you anything at any time ,they can't seem to keep their mouths shut."André said.

"That's perfect then. Chorus girl it is Messieurs , I'll be ready to start this afternoon. But first, do you mind if I take a tour of the house? It really has been a while since I've been here, and then only once before."

"Not at all Mademoiselle D'aubigne, go ahead. Would you mind meeting us back here around two? We will be speaking with the ballet mistress Madame Giry about private lessons for you." asked Firmin.

"Yes of course .And I am to assume I get half of the payment before and half once the job is done correct?"

"Clever girl."

"Pleasure doing business with you Messieurs." Anne then got up and shook hands with the managers before heading out the door. In the back of her mind she knew that the part of the job that would be the hardest, was reliving her past.