Amy's hand rested on Monsieur Leclair's door. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. Her mind traced back over her voice lessons the past week and she felt more confident. She could still hear Erik's angelic voice when he sang the night before and felt his hand on her shoulder when he assured her of her talent. Amy lifted her hand and rapped on the door, more confident than when she got there. Leclair called from inside that she should come in.
Amy went in and Leclair seemed a little surprised to see her. "Mademoiselle." he said, shifting around a few papers. "What is it you need?"
Amy took a deep breath and stood in front of his desk. "I would like to audition." Amy said, almost too slow. She gripped the sides of her skirt in anticipation.
"Audition? I didn't see you as the singing type. When did you learn?" Leclair asked.
"Recently, but my teacher is very skilled." Amy said.
"Who is this teacher, may I ask?" Leclair stood from his chair and came to the side of the desk.
"I'm afraid I can't tell you." Amy said, remembering Erik's instructions. "He would rather you didn't know."
"Ah, well, I suppose I can't refuse. Auditions are starting soon, so if you will go to the stage, I will be out shortly to watch."
"Yes, sir, thank you, sir." Amy said, quickly curtsying, and went from the room.
Once outside, she took a deep breath and smiled, but it was only half over. She could hear the tune of the maestro warming up and hurried to the stage. She stepped out from behind a curtain and onto the stage where the two other candidates for the countess stood warming up. They turned to look at her, one sneering disgustedly. Amy awkwardly took her place beside them and warmed her voice.
"Now, first I would to- oh, who is this?" the maestro said, not having seen her arrive.
"My name is Amelia Lucia, Monsieur." she replied with a small curtsy. "I have spoken with Monsieur Leclair and I have his permission to audition."
"Yes, I see. Now, we shall continue as planned." the maestro turned to the first lady in the row, the one Amy recognized as the Sugar Plum Fairy from before. Now, though, her beauty was much more earthly since she was clean of her ethereal makeup, with low cheekbones and large eyes. When she opened her mouth to sing the audition piece, 'Poor Old Fool', Amy wasn't sure how she would outdo her. But then she reached the sung laugh and her voice turn to something mixed between a lady, a goat and a bird. Then, the next woman who had sneered sang the piece, clearly peeping out the laugh notes, but having much vibrato in her voice. Then, it was finally Amy's turn. She stepped forward and when the piano had finished the intro, she took a deep breath.
Oh, the poor old fool he makes me laugh ha-a-a-a-a...
Amy sang how Erik had taught her; she used her belly, kept her eyebrows up and palette lifted. When she had finished, the maestro complimented her voice, as he did the other two and they were excused from the stage to make room for the men trying out for the Count. Amy took a seat near the stage and watched the others try out while she waited. The Count was chosen on the spot, as only one of the two men could actually sing well and after very short deliberation, two 'fops' were chosen. The maestro announced to those still waiting that he needed time to think and to meet him for his decision after lunch.
They all left, some for an office, some for home, but most, including Amy, for the cafeteria. Amy ate, but mostly picked at her bread and cheese and her soup was left nearly untouched when people started leaving. Amy followed suit and went back to the theater where the maestro was waiting for those who auditioned to arrive. The sneering woman was the last to arrive and when she sat down, the maestro announced, first, the last fop and two ladies, then proclaimed that Leon, for his outstanding performance in The Nutcracker, would play the pageboy. When he mentioned Leon, Amy suddenly hoped she wouldn't be the countess, but also secretly hoped she would, for Erik's sake. The maestro, almost seeming to feel the anticipation in the air, announced dramatically that he had reached his decision on the countess. The Sugar Plum Fairy leaned forward in her seat, the grimacing lady crossed her fingers and Amy gripped her skirt.
"The role of the Countess shall be played by..."
Amy felt like she was going to blow up.
"Amelia Lucia."
Amy felt her stomach jump. She got the role? The lead role? She could hardly believe herself. When she rose to collect her script, Amy felt like she was floating on a cloud. A smile grew across her face when she saw 'Countess' printed on the corner of her script. When she was out of sight, Amy skipped once and giggled to herself.
Just as planned, Amy went directly to the mirror-room to tell Erik of her success. When she got there, the mirror was closed, but slid open as she set down her script.
"What happened?" Erik asked, stepping out from the mirror. "How did it go?"
"I got the role!" Amy said joyfully. "I'm the countess!" She moved to hug him , but remembered with a little disappointment that they weren't on hugging terms.
"Good. Very good. Congratulations." Erik said.
His voice sounded happy, but without seeing his face, Amy couldn't be sure. The smile melted off of Amy's face and Erik asked what was wrong.
"It's just..." she started. She didn't know how to put it. 'You're hood is making me uncomfortable.' or 'Can I see your face for once?' Neither sounded polite or right for the moment.
"It's what?" Erik asked, stepping toward her.
"It's just that I've never really seen you before." Amy said. "You always wear this dark cloak and I've never seen your face before, or any of you at all." She pulled at her dress as she waited for his reply, hoping she hadn't stepped over some boundary.
Erik didn't say anything, but lifted his hands to his hood where he untied the strings that held it together. In one fluid motion, Erik cast off the cloak, revealing his true form. He wore a pitch black suit of a modern fashion with a patterned gray waistcoat showing through. A pale green scarf was looped around his neck, keeping the collar of his white shirt up. Amy gasped lightly when she saw his face. The right half was covered in a snowy white mask and her eyes were drawn to it so she could not see anything else.
Erik reached for the cloak again, a look of embarrassment on the unmasked side of his face.
"No, no. Don't put it back on again." Amy said, resting a hand on his outstretched arm. "It's just... you're so beautiful. I wasn't expecting it."
Erik straightened back up and looked into Amy's eyes. She shied away from his powerful gaze, but relaxed when the edges of his mouth pulled up into a small smile.
"Then beauty must find like company." he said in a soft, kind voice she'd never heard him use before.
Amy stood transfixed for a moment, then shook herself out of her daze. The smile was gone, replaced by the same, neutral expression he had worn before.
"Am I still to return for lessons?" Amy asked, changing the subject.
"Yes, we still have much progress to make before you are ready for the stage." he said. Erik reached for the cloak again, turning to leave.
"Could you leave the cloak off?" Amy asked timidly. Erik turned to look at her and Amy thought she saw confusion on his face. "I like you better this way. You seem more human when I can see you."
Erik simply nodded and turned back. He slid open the mirror and vanished into the darkness behind, leaving Amy alone in the room.
Amy stood there for a moment, curiosity piqued. Then she took up her script, blew out the candles and left the room.
