Madame Giry had sent Raoul away and led her and Meg up to bed.
Buquet was scaring the 'ballet rats' with the story of the Phantom of the Opera. "Like yellow parchment is his skin... A great black hole served as the nose that never grew... You must be always on your guard, or he will catch you with his magical lasso!" He told them.
"Oh, my~" A girl moaned from Buquet's grotesque and haunting depictions.
"Those who speak of what they know, Find, too late, that prudent silence is wise. Joseph Buquet, hold your tongue!" Madame Gury said, and slapped him. She then took the 'lasso' off him and hung it around his neck. "Keep your hand at the level of your eyes!" She hissed and tightened it, just enough for warning. She then pushed him from the room. "To bed, girls." she ordered them.
The girl whimpered before going off with the others who had been with her. Madame Giry watched them all get into bed and then left them so they could sleep.
"Meg, is that you?" Christine's voice asked.
Meg went over to Christine and hugged her.
Christine hugged Meg back. "Have you seen Claudine?" she then asked her dear old friend.
"I thought she was with you." Meg whispered.
"Oh, my..." Christine suddenly felt pale and sick to her stomach since Claudine was gone and not even Meg knew where she was. "This doesn't sound too good..."
"Mother would have looked worried... Maybe Claudine was whisked off by her secret lover?" Meg giggled, quietly.
Christine bit her lip. "As long as she's out of trouble."
Meg smiled softly.
"Well, uh, let's hope she makes it back before something bad happens." Christine smiled nervously.
Meg nodded and then had to return to her own bed. "Good night, Christine." she smiled.
"Good night, Meg." Christine smiled back.
Meg then blew out her candle and went to sleep. Christine yawned, as she laid down, though she just prayed in her mind that Claudine was okay and safe wherever she was.
Madame Giry came and checked on Violetta.
Violetta giggled on her way inside before bumping into Madame Giry. "Oh!"
"I will speak to you in the morning," Madame Giry told her firmly, but motherly. "Now, off to bed." she told her, pointing in to the room Daroga had dropped Violetta off at.
"Si, Signora Giry..." Violetta replied respectfully before going off to bed.
Madame Giry nodded.
The next morning, Claudine woke up to see she was in a swan-shaped bed. She sat up and raised the beautiful sheer curtain. She also noticed a walking stick by the bed and used it to hobble out of the room. "I remember there was mist, swirling mist upon a vast, glassy lake. There were candles all around, and on the lake there was a boat, and in the boat there was a man~" she sung as she came out of the room. She noticed the boat and the organ with the man on it.
The phantom turned from his keyboard to see Claudine approaching him after a peaceful night's rest before avoiding her gaze briefly.
"Who was that shape in the shadows, Whose is the face in the mask?" Claudine sang softly. She went and sat beside him on the bench, and reached up touch the good side, she did place her other hand on the mask, but didn't remove it.
The phantom felt embraced by her touch until his mask seemed to slip off which made him cover with a hand to the exposed side with a glare, accusing Claudine of having done it. "DAMN YOU, YOU LITTLE PRYING PANDORA!" he snapped before going to the mirror. "Is this what you wanted to see? DAMN YOU! CURSE YOU!"
Claudine gasped as she was pushed down, and looked at him, tears coming to her eyes, but not from fear, though, yes, his anger scared her.
"Curse you, you little lying Delilah!" The phantom continued to rant from rage before looking saddened. "You little viper! Now you cannot ever be free! Damn you! Curse you!"
Claudine bit her lip but sat up. "Stranger than I dreamt it, yes, but not terrible to look... I do not fear your face but, here I offer your mask for your comfort~," she sung softly, tears of compassion and the fear of his anger dripping down her cheeks.
The phantom looked back at her, still covering his face, reaching for his mask so he could wear it again. Claudine shuffled closer and handed him his mask, gently placing her free hand softly on the one covering his face, and gave a tiny smile. The phantom uttered out a thanks as he accepted his mask to put it back on since he was considered to be gratefully disfigured on the side of his face that needed the mask. Claudine watched him, her eyes soft and warm as they looked on his face.
"Stranger than you dreamt it, Can you even dare to look or bear to think of me: this loathsome gargoyle, who burns in Hell, but secretly yearns for Heaven, secretly... Secretly..." The phantom sang to her.
Claudine put her fingers over his lips. "You are not a loathsome gargoyle, Heaven is in your eyes, Heaven is in your lips, your voice..." she half-said/half-sung.
The phantom looked to her, surprised at her independence and strong will.
Claudine blushed softly. "In your soul." she finished quietly.
"Oh, Claudine~..." The phantom cooed her name.
Claudine gave a small smile. The phantom seemed to smile back to her, he found her more beautiful, pure, and charming than her sister. Not to say that Christine wasn't any of those things, but he felt a better and stronger bond with Claudine. Claudine's stomach then lightly growled and she blushed, wiping away the tears from before.
"Ah... You are hungry..." The phantom said to Claudine. "I must relieve your hunger."
Claudine nodded softly. "Oui, monsieur... Merci." she said quietly.
"Come with me... Watch your step..." The phantom soothed as he decided to fetch her some nourishment.
Claudine managed to get herself up and grabbed the cane, about to hobble after him. The phantom helped Claudine over for some food since she was hungry which was an elegant table with candles of course with meat, potatoes, and array of freshly cut garnish. Claudine looked amazed, but did the correct thing and served him some before serving herself some.
"Oh, you didn't need to do that." The phantom told Claudine gently this time.
"Monsieur, I was raised with good manners..." Claudine replied softly, shyly, but with a smile.
"That you were..." The phantom told her. "I hope you enjoy this meal."
Claudine gave a small smile, then started to eat delicately. The phantom soon ate with her by the candlelight.
Meg woke Christine up.
Christine shifted, but soon looked up to see Meg. "Oh, morning, already?" she then wearily asked before smiling to her best friend.
Meg nodded. "Oui." she smiled.
Christine smiled back as she climbed out of bed with Meg to start another day. Meg got dressed too, in her normal dress. Today was a casual day as it was the one after the show. Christine got herself dressed as well while looking into her mirror, though frowned in worry about Claudine.
Meg patted her friend's shoulder. "Do not worry, I bet she'll show up fine." she soothed Christine.
"But where could she had ended up?" Christine replied.
"We'll ask Mother." Meg smiled softly.
Christine smiled back to Meg, she felt thankful to have this girl in her life. Meg linked arms with her. Christine smiled as she then ventured with Meg for the day. Meg took her down to breakfast first. Christine smiled to Meg, but then held her stomach as it lightly growled.
"Let us feed that stomach monster." Meg giggled.
"Let's." Christine giggled back to that.
Meg smiled and Christine smiled back to her.
Madame Giry woke Violetta. Violetta didn't want to wake up, but she soon did, dreaming about the lovely evening she spent with Daroga.
"Mademoiselle Giudichelli, wake up!" Madame Giry called.
"I'm-a up!" Violetta yelped and soon sprung out of bed with her hand in the air, muttering and freaking out in her native language, shaking like a leaf.
Madame Giry came into the room calmly. "It is morning, child." she told her.
"Si, Senora, I will be right over." Violetta replied.
"After you are dressed; I must speak with you." Madame Giry told her, then handed her a dress she thought the girl would look nice in. With Violetta her Meg's age, she felt a little motherly to her.
"Si, Senora." Violetta replied.
Madame Giry nodded, and waited in the main area.
Violetta soon looked ready for the day and came back to Madame Giry once she was settled.
"I noticed you went out with a man last night." Madame Giry told her, not one for mincing words.
"Oh, um, si, I have..." Violetta replied. "Senor Daroga invited me out for dinner~"
"I was glad to see he merely escorted you to your room... But, I would ask if next time you could warn me before you leave." Madame Giry told her.
"Si, Senora." Violetta replied.
Madame Giry nodded. "Now come, breakfast awaits." she told her.
"Si, Senora." Violetta replied as she went to get breakfast.
Madame Giry showed her where the breakfast hall was.
"Ah, I do love a big-a food for my appetite~" Violetta giggled.
Meg noticed her mother with Violetta. Madame Giry smiled then looked to Meg and Christine.
"Oh, hello, Violetta." Christine looked over.
"Buongiorno, amici miei." Violetta greeted with a smile.
Meg gave the fellow blonde a hug. "Good morning." she greeted.
Madame Giry whispered in Christine's ear. "Your sister is safe, I assume you didn't read the note I left," she told her in the whisper. She then pulled away. "Today is a day of rest, but practice resumes from tomorrow." she announced to the ballet girls.
"Oh, isn't today a lovely day?" Violetta hugged Meg back with a musical smile of her own.
Christine merely cupped her mouth, but she felt comfortable to know that Claudine was safe though. Meg smiled and nodded. Madame Giry then went off to do some business she needed to. Violetta smiled cheerfully and romantically.
"She's in a good mood." Christine smiled about Violetta.
"She looks in love~" Meg smiled.
"It is a wonderful feeling..." Christine smiled back, though thinking about Raoul obviously.
Meg gasped. "Who?" She demanded of her friend excitedly.
"Hm?" Christine smiled innocently.
"Who is your beau... Is it the Vicomte?" Meg asked quietly, with a giggle as they got their breakfast.
"Vicomte?" Christine repeated before shaking her head. "Oh, no, no."
"Then who?" Meg pleaded with her to tell her.
"I promised I wouldn't tell." Christine smiled innocently.
Meg pouted but let it go for now. "How about you Violetta... Who is your beau?" She asked her.
Christine giggled innocently.
"Oh, the most wonderful-a man I have ever laid eyes on and spent-a time with~" Violetta sighed. "Signor Daroga..."
"Ooh, who is he?" Meg smiled, excitedly.
"A wonderful, wonderful man~" Violetta swooned as she looked like she was in a fairy tale. "He is very charming and quite distinguished~"
Meg was smiling, eager for details. She gave a smile to Christine, but then pouted. "If Claudine is with a lover too, I am the only one with no beau." she huffed.
"All right... It's Raoul..." Christine admitted to Meg.
Meg playfully stomped her foot. "Oh." she huffed but smiled and hugged both her friends before they sat to eat.
"Better?" Christine giggled softly.
"Enough." Meg agreed.
Christine smiled to her. Meg ate happily then. Christine smiled as she then ate with Violetta and Meg.
Soon, Claudine had finished her meal and sat, enjoying the company of her teacher.
"Have you dined sufficiently?" The phantom asked Claudine.
Claudine smiled to him softly, shyly. "Oui, Monsieur." she agreed.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it... It's also good to dine with someone else..." The phantom told her softly.
"Maybe we could do this every other day, Monsieur... I would love to take my lessons and enjoy a meal with my teacher, mon ange." Claudine said softly.
"That does sound like a magnificent offer... I would miss you, but that way, you don't worry anyone back home." The phantom agreed.
Claudine smiled softly to him. "And I would not be keeping you from your running of the Populaire." she added.
"How very considerate... You have a wonderful heart." The phantom replied.
Claudine blushed, but smiled. The phantom soon took the dishes away for washing. Claudine sat politely, quietly going through her scales to practice. The phantom watched Claudine as he took care of his lair to look proper and suitable. Claudine, unlike her sister would have been, looked completely at ease down here. The phantom continued to finish up until he came back for Claudine to take her back home. Claudine looked at him, and nodded, realizing what he planned.
"Ready then?" The phantom asked Claudine.
"Oui, Monsieur." Claudine agreed and stood up.
"I would like a favor though?" The phantom replied as he came to help her.
Claudine looked up at him. "Yes?" She asked softly.
"When it's just you and me... Don't hesitate to call me 'Erik'." The phantom replied.
"Erik," Claudine repeated, getting a taste of it. She then smiled and nodded. "Unless you are teaching." she compromised.
"Yes..." The phantom told her as he helped her into a sitting position. "You are my Angel of Music though~"
Claudine blushed but smiled. Erik soon took his oar and paddled Claudine back to the surface world.
"So, when will I get to see this Monsieur Daroga?" Meg grinned to Violetta.
"Hopefully soon when he comes again~" Violetta giggled.
Meg smiled. Violetta smiled back.
"You'll find your prince someday." Christine soothed Meg.
Meg gave her friend a hug. "I hope so." she smiled happily.
"I'm sure of it." Christine smiled back.
Meg giggled. Violetta smiled to Meg and Christine, lost in her own little world.