Hey readers. Sorry for not telling you before but if you want an ideal look of what Christine and Alethea (Sofia as that's her real name) looked like when there were children there was a painting I had found while writing this story called 'Two Sisters' by William-Adolphe Bouguereau. I thought that painting went well with this story. Sorry, I'd post a link to the painting but I don't know how. Enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 6

The Audition

Alethea had successfully managed to sneak back into the dorm without being caught. When she had she quickly changed back into her nightgown and hopped into bed. There were still a few hours before the sun was to rise. But no matter how she tossed and turned, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had just met the infamous phantom. She had dreamed of meeting him, ever since she heard of the legend, but tonight had been critical in the fact that lives could have been lost. His or hers. Luckily it had been a stalemate, but she was still shaken. On the bright side, she had managed to practice her training, but it couldn't overshadow the fact that she could have died that night.

The sun rose within a few hours. Enough time for her to fit in some sleep. Surprisingly she woke up, before Meg did. How long could that girl sleep? Well she knew they would have to prepare to leave the dorm soon, so she thought it best to wake her friend.

"Meg!" Alethea got out of bed and shook her. "Meg!" she cried out again when she wouldn't stir. Even though Alethea didn't really want to do this, she had a good guess that this was the most likely way to wake Meg.

"Meg, your mother's here!" Alethea exclaimed.

Meg shot up from her slumber in a haze. "W-what?" She asked groggily just like she got out from a good night's rest.

Alethea started giggling and sat on her bed. Meg however sat up and realized the joke, only to glare at Alethea with a near stare of hate. "Alethea, why did you wake me up?" asked Meg, angrily. She fell back onto the bed and nearly tried to cover herself under her blankets again.

But she wasn't aware that her roommate had a pillow in her hands about to attack. Meg was oblivious and tried to fall back asleep. Alethea struck the pillow down on Meg in a playful manner.

"Meg! Meg!" Alethea laughed in delight as she attacked her friend. "Come on, Meg, auditions are today and we have to be down shortly. Get up!"

Meg hesitantly threw back the covers and she slowly rose up, rubbing her eyes. Her hair was in a tumbleweed mess, while Alethea's was still in a loose braid. "You know, I don't even know what I'm auditioning for," Meg was only half conscious, rubbing her eyes and stretching awake. "I think the only thing I have looking forward to is being in the corps again. Let's face it, I will never be a principle."

"Don't doubt yourself Meg," Alethea said, pulling out a brown day dress and laying it on the bed. She grabbed a bush and untied the braid in her hair. "After all, you'll be on the stage. The only talent I have is playing the piano and I don't think I'll be able to blossom anywhere on the stage. I can't be in the orchestra and female pianists aren't so popular." She began combing through her copper-brown hair which fell into waves like a waterfall.

Meg leaned over. "Alethea, I promise you'll find a place here. Can I borrow your brush? I think I left my comb with my mother."

Alethea handed the brush to Meg and changed into her brown day dress. It was of an odd style that didn't fall at the waistline, but it wasn't an empire-waistline gown either. It was at an area lower than her empire-waistline, but above her waistline. These were the only gowns Alethea liked to wear, but everything else were men's clothes. As her skirt's hem touched the floor, Alethea straightened the skirt and tied her hair into a half-bun that let some of her hair fall to the side of her face. She had washed her face and made sure she looked presentable to the company.

"Do I look nice?" Alethea turned to Meg asking for approval.

Meg smiled and nodded. "Don't worry, you look great, but they are more of looking for talent than looks."

"I know that, but you have to look presentable," informed Alethea as she strapped on a pair of flat shoes.

"I think you look nice," Meg complimented, "how do I look? I think I look like an cream puff."

Alethea observed Meg, who was wearing a white leotard and a white, puffy tutu with her blonde hair pulled back by a ribbon in her hair.

"Why are you in your ballet attire?" Alethea asked as Meg was tying a pair of pointe shoes onto her feet.

A shrug came from Meg. "Well, I am auditioning in the ballet department, so I minus well wear the uniform."

"True," Alethea answered before the two burst into a tiny laugh.

Alethea was waiting outside the room where the auditions were being performed, but she wasn't alone. Countless other people were behind waiting for their audition as well. She tried to distract herself, but she kept her eyes on the door. Meg was inside dancing her heart out, but she knew Meg had higher chances of earning a prominent place here at the opera. It wasn't just because her mother was the ballet mistress, but Alethea knew that she must practice much because of her mother.

Her fingers were shaking a little, but she tried to steady them. To her, she felt like she might have been the only nervous one in the line.

After a few minutes, Meg joyfully skipped out of the door. A happy, bubbly face plastered on her.

"Alethea, oh, Alethea, you won't believe it!" Meg exclaimed taking her hands. "I've been promoted to one of the principles. Oh, I swear I almost fainted when I learned that. Oh, aren't you happy for me?"

Her friend nodded. "Yes, absolutely Meg. See you could do it."

"Don't worry, you'll do great," Meg assured kissing her cheek. "Good luck."

"Thank you," answered Alethea, before Meg ran off. She took a steady breath and slowly approached the door. Everything seemed to slow down for a second as she twisted the knob and pushed the door open.

When she entered she found the managers, Mme. Giry and a skinny old man with white hair who was mostly likely Monsieur Reyer that she had heard of the previous day. The room was really just a ballet studio, but with all the musical instruments and pieces for auditioning.

"Mademoiselle," Monsieur Andre stood up, straightening his outfit. "What shall you be performing for us today?"

Alethea took a steady breath and spoke. "I shall be playing a piece on the piano. It has no name as this was a song I had composed. I only hope my piano skills are satisfactory."

She took slow steps to the baby grand piano that was sitting close to the center of the room, where the octagonal window was showering light upon the keys. Sitting, she let her fingers dance across the keys to warm up her hands and fingers. Then she relaxed and breathed in deeply before she released the music from her soul.

It was a playful melody, very charming and very enlightening, but she could sense somewhere deep in the piece lied a trail of sadness and loneliness. She hadn't realized this before as she tapped her fingers over the keys, connecting them together in a harmonious song. It reminded her of her home in the countryside with her parents. It reminded her of how she would run in the fields and play with her only cousin. She recalled training to become the warrior she was today. The memories seeped through her soul, enlightening the music only all the more.

But before she knew it, the music had ended; it had reached its finale. It almost depressed Alethea that she was done with the piece before she knew it. When she turned around she faced a crowd of judges who were staring wide-eyed with their mouths opened at her.

"Very impressive," Monsieur Reyer commented, clapping, "You said you composed this yourself?"

Alethea nodded. "Yes, sir. I composed it when I was sixteen. It has only gotten better since the first draft, or at least as I see it."

"Very beautiful, Mademoiselle Lanquerx was it?" Monsieur Firmin added, recalling her name from yesterday. "I haven't seen such talent in years on the piano. However it won't be easy to find a place for you in the opera. We don't come across many pianists everyday."

Reyer perked up, "Well is it possible to place her in the orchestra? I mean I could use another pianist."

"She may also be the pianist for practices in the ballet class or for the rehearsals as well," suggested Mme. Giry.

"Sires, I will take any position in the opera as long as I may play my piano," Alethea informed, "My only wish is to just play this instrument."

The judges nodded, but Reyer requested one more thing. "Considering you yourself have composed this piece, should we assume that you can read sheet music?"

"Oh, yes!" Alethea responded. "Well there may still be some notes I have yet seen, so I may still need some practice on that."

"All right, well then," Andre cleared his throat. "At the moment you may as Mme. Giry suggested, play in the ballet rehearsals and opera rehearsals, and if when we believe you are ready, you may play in the orchestra."

"Oh, thank you very much!" Alethea was blushing as she nearly jumped in the air.

The judges dismissed her and she left with a very bubbly expression, the same one Meg had when she had her audition. Meg immediately found her when Alethea exited the room and they chatted as they moved away from the line of others were yearning for their auditions.

"How was it?" Meg questioned still so joyful.

Alethea was smiling so wide. "It was wonderful! At the moment, they told me I'll be only playing during the rehearsals, but they said that when they believe I am ready, I'll be playing in the orchestra."

"Oh, Alethea that is wonderful news!" Meg grabbed her arm. "Oh this is so exciting! I wonder when they'll start. I even wonder what opera they're going to do to celebrate the official reopening!"

Alethea shrugged her shoulders. "I only hope it'll be a great opera."

She looked up into the rafters, trying to scan through the dark to see if she saw any figures or shadows. But she decided that it wouldn't be wise, and continued with her conversation with Meg.

The piece I had imagined Alethea playing in her audition was Avril 14 by the Aphex Twins. It's from the Marie Antoinette soundtrack. Sorry for the descriptive detail on Alethea's gown, I can be like that. Really the kind of clothing I see her wearing other than men's clothes are like the costumes worn by Keira Knightley in the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice. I know that style isn't popular in the century this story takes place in, but Alethea is a different kind of character. Till then, see yah! :)