A/N: So, this is a really really short chapter that I wrote rather quickly to get a little something up. I was on vacation all last week so I haven't had much time to write at all. Hopefully I'll have more time this week and there will be another longer chapter up by next week! Enjoy!
Several weeks had passed since the night of the romantic dinner and it was now well into the third month since Christine's departure and Erik taking me on as his new pupil. The Masquerade Ball was getting closer, as was the completion of his life's work. He was so unbearably excited that he couldn't help tapping his fingers to the organ's tune in one of his songs. He had even been excited enough to play a short bit of his opera for me one day during lessons. Being that the Masquerade Ball was only a week away, he was both anxious and excited at the fact that he only had to alter the finale of the third act before his life's work was finally completed.
Erik wasn't the only one who was excited. The entirety of the opera house was in an uproar over the Masquerade Ball. Guys were bragging over the lucky 'dames' they got to spend the evening with. The girls in the ballet dorms could be found giggling and discussing dresses and costumes and such. Meg especially was in a tizzy over the mention of the Masquerade Ball.
Nearly a week ago, I had finally convinced Charles to ask Meg to accompany him to dinner. At dinner he had asked her if he could have the 'pleasure' of escorting her to the Masquerade. After she said yes, he had then proceeded to ask Madame Giry for her permission to court Meg. Knowing Charles to be a respectable man and earnest yet honest worker, she had given him the permission he sought. They had gone to dinner nearly every night since then, the only exception being the night we had the late performance scheduled. Since then, Meg would squeal and giggle at the mention of the Masquerade before launching into details of her costume to anyone who listened. She planned on going as an angel, a costume which I was sure she would pull off splendidly. Charles, deciding to match her, decided to go as the male version of an angel. Being both their closest friends, I had seen both their costumes in the stores (having gone to get the costumes with both) and I knew they'd look wonderful, even though the costumes weren't done being altered yet.
They weren't the only ones thinking of costumes for the Masquerade. I knew what my intended costume would be.
Earlier this week, I had been looking through Erik's library during tea time and had found a particularly worn volume. After looking at it briefly, I had realized it was French translated collection of the American poet, Edgar Allan Poe. Searching through, I had found a certain poem bookmarked, the pages worn and tearing in a few places. After asking Erik, I had found that he was his favorite poet, and the poem his favorite. I too, enjoyed Edgar Allan Poe, possessing the same French edition of his collection. I too knew and enjoyed this particular poem rather well: "The Masque of the Red Death".
It was off this poem I had fashioned my costume with the help of the costume designers at the Opera House. I was to be the 'Mistress of Death', as I called myself. I would wear a tight, red dress, despite Meg's warnings of the possibilities of being mistaken as a whore. The dress would contain a horrific skeletal mask, which I had fashioned myself from spare plaster which would be used to make plaster casts of masks for our operas. The mask would also be partially bloodied with the false blood we used for our operas. To add to the effect, I would wear a black and red accented shawl with a matching cloak as well a red diamond necklace with black accents set in silver. It was a necklace Erik had gifted me with the day prior when he requested I save him a dance at the Masquerade.
From that, I could gather that he intended to attend and part take in the festivities if but for one dance. I couldn't help but wonder how he would arrive to the Masquerade. Would he arrive in costume or in his usual attire? If in costume, what was he planning on going as? Maybe he would-
"Marie!" Knock, knock, knock. "Marie! Get your- Ow! Zut! Marie, Get your... hehe, sorry maman! Get out here now!" I heard Meg shout as she knocked yet again. I sighed, shaking my head as I came out of my reverie. There went my chance to imagine Erik in a revealing costume. "Marie!" I heard Meg shout again followed by yet another rapt at the door. With yet another sigh, I stood from the stool by my vanity, glad I had finished applying the day's make-up, and walked to the door.
"I'm sorry, Marie is not in right now!" I called out to Meg, giggling quietly. I heard a sigh of impatience from the other side and I opened it revealing a rather impatient Meg tapping her foot.
"It's about time! Come on!" Meg called as she grabbed my hand and started pulling me down the hall, giving me just enough time to lock my dressing room door.
"Meg- ow- Meg! Where are we going?! Rehearsals aren't for another hour!" I cried exasperatedly as she proceeded to drag me down the halls towards the main staircase, or at least I assumed so. "Meg! What are you doing?!" I cried when she ignored me once more. She stopped and looked at me with a wide grin on her face, giggling slightly.
"Oh, you'll love this!" She said excitedly before starting to hurry down the hall. With a sigh and roll of the eyes, I proceeded to rush after her.
We finally stopped at the top of the main staircase, looking down into the entry hall to see Carlotta speaking, or rather arguing, with the managers.
"I apologize, Signora, but we've found another soprano in your leave of absence!" Firmin said rather exasperatedly. As Carlotta began to rebut his statement, he looked exasperatedly to Andre.
"Why it's that insolent toad-!" She half cried, half squawked as she stamped her foot. "Christine!" She squawked again and the managers rolled their eyes.
"Actually, Mademoiselle Dupoint is our new leading soprano," Firmin argued back, shocking Carlotta. Carlotta's eyes darted from the managers and up the staircase to rest upon me.
"Her? Can the little toad even sing?" She squawked again in horror.
"Better than you ever could," Meg said, her response echoing across the hall. I shook my head and sighed while Carlotta squawked indignantly.
"Why you-!"
"I'm sorry, Signora, but there is nothing to be done," Andre said tiredly. Carlotta screeched, stamping her foot, before spinning on her heel and rushing out the door. The door slammed shut, causing Andre and Firmin to sigh before making their way back towards their joint-office, arguing quietly between themselves.
"Did… did that really just happen?" I asked Meg, giggling at the fact that Carlotta finally got what she deserved. Meg giggled in return, smiling up at me.
"Oh yes it did!" She cried before skipping away down the hall. "I hear they'll cast her as a secondary or understudy! Maybe they'll even put her in the chorus!" She called over her shoulder to me. "Either way- she's coming to the Masquerade! This'll truly be an interesting evening!" She called once more as I stared after her retreating figure, being left alone on the staircase.
"That seriously just happened?" I asked myself quietly to which I heard a loud, deep chuckle ring out across the entry hall. I rolled my eyes. "Thank you for laughing at me, Erik," I called out, glaring around.
"As you wish, my dark songbird," I heard his voice echo, the origins sounding as if from above my head. I rolled my eyes once more before glaring at the column next to me.
"Found you," I replied to which he chuckled, coming from the column. A hatch in the side, invisible to anyone looking at the column, slid out and he appeared, dashing as ever in his usual attire. I felt my heart flutter at the sight but I steeled my resolve and glared at him. Smiling, he walked closer and wrapped his arms around my waist, ignoring the fact that anyone could come along at any moment and see him.
An idea then formed in my head and a smile played across my lips as I looked up at him. His eyes were glinting in amusement as I placed a hand on his chest, the other caressing his face.
"I love you," I told him to which he chuckled as I stood on tiptoe, my hands cupping his cheeks. I leaned in as if to give him a kiss, lightly touching my lips to his, before pulling away out of his grasp and skipping away. I heard a gasp and looked to see him standing by the column eyes glinting in playful anger.
"Who do you think you are?" he asked mockingly. I smirked at him before replying.
"The Devil's songbird of the night," I replied to which he grinned eagerly. He made to walk towards me when we both heard echoing footsteps approaching.
"Oh, you will be repaid for that, my little songbird," he warned before grinning at me. I smiled at him and watched as he disappeared. I listened to the approaching footsteps, registering the click of heels and the heavy yet long stride of a male accompanying her.
"Believe what you will," I whispered to the column before turning to face the couple, grinning. I stopped at the sight, the grin fading from my face as the couple stared at me in confusion. "Christine?"
A/N: Again, this is a really short chapter but I think this part isn't complete filler nonsense. It introduces Christine and Raoul, back on the scene, with mayhem and chaos sure to reign upon the Opera Populaire. Enjoy!
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