Few weeks after the meeting and nothing could spoil the luck and prosperity our heroes had. Dozens of people auditioned for the role in the ballet team, the orchestra and even for stagehands as well.
Workers slowly formed the burnt grand room of the Opera house with the help and good memory of Giry.
The auditions were now over and the famous ballet mistress was back on her teaching on top of the stage. Showing a few basic moves and then inspecting each girl, correcting on the mistakes and observing their work.
Her daughter Meg also joined the group, acting as their leader but also their second teacher.
Cáel worked alongside the men and stagehands to repair most damage despite his title as owner. It was how he has raised after all and the words of his grandfather echoing in his mind.
"A good man and a good leader is the one who will sweat along with his team and do the work they do without any exceptions"
He held on those words dearie and it was now visible as he wiped the sweat from his forehead and looks at the small progress his team was doing.
Morgana was equally busy with cooking for the groups and also assisting the maids and cleaners that had applied for the job. It was hard to keep such place clean from dust and rats but she managed.
Joining the team they all cleaned the rooms, the dorms and the offices. Following the same words as her brother, she also felt the need to do something. To help. She wasn't someone sitting and watching others work. No, not her.
Even Erik was quiet. From times to times he would come to the surface and observe how far the work would have gone and at the beginning, he was surprised by seeing the two siblings working alongside the crew.
Doing hard and tiring jobs despite their titles. Even the little boy was trying to help the stagehands by carrying ropes or just some water for them. It was a sight to behold and made him wonder how strange this family of three was.
They were definitely strange enough to attract his attention; especially a certain redhead woman who hummed as she cleaned his box.
Morgana hummed to herself as she cleaned box No. 5. She and another maid had already cleaned the previous 4 but the older woman had denied entering the haunted, as she called box.
Not wanting to pressure her. Morgana sent her to the next one as she took it upon herself to clean the so-called "haunted" box No. 5.
As she opened the oak door she was fascinated by the interior of the box, much different from the others. She had heard the stories of how the ghost of the said opera used to reserve this box.
Now she could see why. It was beautiful and filled with mirrors. The wood had carvings on them in fine detail that didn't go unnoticed by the Irish girl. Brushing her fingers above them she ignored the dust and recognized the wood.
"Red Oak", she whispered as she took in more the majestic small room she was in.
Erik stood behind one of the two-way mirrors he had placed inside the box. He would have entered if Morgana hadn't beaten him to it. He was about to leave, annoyed that he couldn't enjoy his little special room but stopped as his curiosity got the best of him.
He stood there, quiet as the night herself and observed the young woman who entered and admired each fine detail. He was very surprised when her eye spotted the detailed carvings and admired them with a passion in her blue eyes.
"Red Oak", she had whispered but his keen ears heard her.
His eyes widen and failed to hide his expression when she recognized the type of wood he had personally requested a long time ago. No one before had even dared to guess or even notice the special wood.
No one until her
He stood still and observed her, took in each fine detailed of her figure. From her calloused arms to her muscled legs to her freckled face and bright blue eyes, she took in, memorized each as she cleaned carefully the room.
A humming of a song escaped her lips as she worked with a smile, not showing any signs of tiredness of boredom.
He wanted to leave, his inner voices shouting at him to move. Saying she was not worth it and that she would never match his beloved Christine. However, the voices fell on deaf ears as he was charmed by her.
"Masquerade… paper faces on display. Wear a mask so the world will never find you. Masquerade…", her humming turned into a quiet singing and Erik took all of his power and will to not sing along with her.
This song… this was his song. Yet she sang it and felt the need to join her; his majestic voice in combination with hers. Oh, such a great duet the two of them would make.
No. No duet with anyone but Christine. Singing the song or not, she is not worth it. She is not my Christine, she is not my angel
The voice in his head shouted louder and managed to break him free from his trance only for Morgana to finish her work and exit the room. Leaving him once again alone, broken with nothing but emptiness in his heart and the voices in his mind
Deep down he wished, she had stayed more and sang more. Deep down, he craved to hear her voice again and for a moment Christine's name was erased from his mind. Replaced by another… Morgana.
Almost a month passed since the three siblings entered the Opera house Populaire and started the work to bring it back to life. Their hard work and the time spent was finally worth it as the grand hall was now back to its former glory.
Few details were left to be added but there was time for that. Now, the most important thing in Cáel mind was the production. He spent restless and sleepless nights trying to find the perfect play for the grand opening but also a patron.
His behaviour and the dark circles under his eyes didn't go unnoticed by the middle sibling who had started to worry about the health of her beloved brother, and so after years, she found herself where she least expected.
The chapel
She wasn't exactly a religious person, especially the one believing in a single god and angels. No, her believes were different but she felt the need; after so long to try. Her brother needed it and so did the Opera house.
It was late at night, she had just put Keegan to sleep with a lullaby before making her way to the chapel with a box of matches on one hand and a picture on the other. Opening the door, she was greeted by cold air and dust, obvious that no one had touched this place for long.
Leaving out a sigh she walked in and closed the door behind her, greeted by loneliness and melancholy. Slowly, her feet took her to the statue of an angel where she lit two candles and places the picture on the floor as she knelt.
The picture, a black and white one showed a happy couple and a horse. The man was at the left of the horse, dressed in simple riding clothes and smiling at the camera. Curly hair was on top of his head and a faint beard.
At the right side of the horse; stood a tall woman who was also smiling but without showing any of her teeth. Her hair, braided into a side one above her left shoulder and she wore men's riding clothes, similar to the man.
They both looked happy and were standing in an endless field with dozens of flowers and clear sky. She smiled as she looked at the picture and then took a deep breath before closing her eyes.
A sweet melody, a song started to escape her lips as she let her heart do the singing once again.
I pray you'll be our eyes. And watch us where we go.
And help us to be wise. In times when we don't know
Let this be our prayer. As we go our way.
Lead us to a place. Guide us with your grace.
To a place where we'll be safe
I pray we'll find your light. And hold it in our hearts.
When stars go out each night. Remind us where you are
Let this be our prayer. When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place. Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe
We ask that life be kind. And watch us from above
We hope each soul will find. Another soul to love
Let this be our prayer
Just like every child. Needs to find a place
Guide us with your grace. Give us faith so we'll be safe
Need to find a place. Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe
As she finished, she wiped a tear that wanted to escape her eye and looked at the picture of the two people.
"Máthair(mother), Athair (father)… I know you are listening and I want to thank you for your blessings so far. As you can see, the Opera plans are running smoothly and soon we will open it again. However, I am not here just for that… it is Cáel. He is working very hard, you must have noticed and he is much stressed. He doesn't know how to run an Opera house… none of us do...but we have to try… therefore, I ask for your guidance. Please, guide him the proper way, help him run this Opera House and make the dream come true"
Song: The Prayer - Celtic Woman (Yes I will be using some of her songs unless you have anything to suggest me then I am all ears)
Deartháir = brother
Deirfiúr = sister
Máthair = mother
Athair = father