Morning filtered through a high window in the dormitories causing rivulets of dust to sparkle in the early sunbeams.
Early morning yawns filled the air as the ballet rats awoke from their squeaking beds. Giggles occasionally flared up as a snore reverberated in the high ceilings of the room.
"Who is she?"
"Didn't you hear? She is a new member of the cast."
"I heard she was to be Carlotta's understudy!"
Another snore that turned into a snort cause the rats to chatter again.
"Who's going to wake her?"
One of the rats parted from the others curious about the loud sleeper in the corner. She was already dressed her pinafore and her shoes were laced tightly to her feet. Her curiosity was greater than her nerves, for even as she jumped as another thundering snore filled the air she still made her way closer. Her tiny feet barely whispering over the tiled floors.
"Mademoiselle?"
She squeaked her little lips quivered but she bent forward carefully laying a thin pale hand upon the slumbering loud maiden.
No sooner had she laid her hand upon the woman's arm was she flung from her and fell to the ground in a heap.
Tears trailed down the young dancer's face and her sniffling made piercing amethyst eyes seek out the culprit.
They softened as they saw the girl on the cold floor.
The woman coughed into her hand, but still the younger one did not look up through her long dark strings of hair.
The woman stretched and winced realizing she was still in the previous night's underclothes which included the torture device that women wore in the age of the play.
"It is not wise to try to awaken a stranger from their sleep."
A sniffle was all she received in reply from the girl on the ground, but giggling from across the room drew her attention and narrowed her eyes at them and pursed her lips.
She sighed. She was in no mood to deal with a crying child.
Mornings were not her time of the day.
"No more tears. No harm was done."
A mop of loose hair shook and bobbed as more blubbering sobs came from beneath closed arms.
Ange sighed once more this time in resignation and bent down on bended knee before the young girl.
"What is your name, little ra..." Another cough to cover up a poor nickname.
"M...Meg."
"I'm sorry I frightened you little Meg."
Eyes peered up through dark lashes above a set of ivory folded arms.
"I wasn't that scared."
"I see." Ange's lips split into a wolfish grin.
"Just startled."
"Hmm..." Ange offered her hand. "Well then if you have found your legs once more shall I help you back up?"
A nod and a quick intake of breath and the young girl placed her hand in the elder's and was pulled up swiftly.
She watched the other woman with unveiled curiosity. It seemed the woman was pulling her dress that had hung over the side of a wooden chair beside her bed.
"You are not going to wear that to rehearsals."
"Of course I am." Ange fixed the girl with a solid gaze. "I have nothing else that I can wear."
"No trunks?"
"I didn't really plan that far ahead."
The dark haired mademoiselle cocked her head to the side and puckered her minuscule little lips.
"That won't do at all!"
Little Meg strode towards the taller girl and grab a hold of her arm.
"You must see Sorelli. She will have something."
Ange tried to shrug away the younger girl's hand but her tiny fingers were stronger than they appeared and the girl's grip did not lessen.
"Let me go."
But Meg's eyes held a determined glint beneath their mask of fear.
"Let me go and I will go with you."
La Sorelli's rooms were larger than Ange would have expected. She wondered if they were historically correct. Everything else thus far had seemed to be a historian's dream down to the last detail, but even for a Prima Ballerina it seemed strange to have such a large suite. The grand ballerina kept it expensive and yet modest at the same time. The one tall window to the left stood tall flanked by burgundy velveteen curtains that didn't seem to have a spot on them. There was sitting room area with settee and opposing chairs that matched the curtains and a rick gold and crimson rug beneath them. A black oriental screen hid the bed and changing area in a alcove framed with crown molding and a small crystal chandelier with in it.
La Sorelli was the personification of a swan. Her long neck tilted to the side as she adjusted her hair in her mirror. Her arms were graceful and long. Ange could imagine pure white feathers sprouting them causing her to lift up in the air. Every movement she made was as if she were floating. She did not acknowledge their presence until she had assembled each strand of her silken tresses into their perfect coiffure at the base of her skull.
"Little Meg what have you brought for me this time?"
"Christine..."
Ange winced. Her given name seemed so stiff and yet her middle name few ever took very well. Perhaps it was best to keep her formal name as the way they address her. It would make things easier. She would not drop her role so easily that way.
Meg continued on after a slight nervous glance towards Ange's way.
"Christine's trunks have yet to arrive."
La Sorelli tilted her head and pivoted slightly more towards them.
"And you wish her to borrow something of mine that is more suitable for rehearsals?"
"Oui, Mademoiselle Sorelli."
"So be it." She turned her crane like neck and stared at Ange. "I should have something that will fit you." A nod towards Meg, "You should run a long. I can afford to be a few minutes late but you do not have that luxury Little Meg."
Ange didn't even glance toward the girl as she ran off.
"Your Carmen was very..." The long legged ivory swan strode toward her bureau and lifted a pinafore from deep within its recesses. "Excuse me, it was very different to what here at the Opera often see."
She peered over at Ange with a piercing gaze her mouth in a thin line. She tossed the dress over to Ange.
Her teeth ground slightly. "I do not wish to inconvenience you."
"No inconvenience. A spare gown is of no consequence."
The ballerina waved her hand in a dismissive gesture.
"Thank you for the clothes. I will make sure they are washed before I return them."
"Keep them."
Sorelli looked upon her distastefully and Ange pursed her lips to stop a curse from emitting from her mouth in return.
Ange made a curt nod her way and walked out of the room.
This game was very similar to real life. There was always a diva that was wolf always making sure no one else tried to take their spotlight or their leadership as alpha. She never cared for such games, but always seemed to find herself right in the middle of them.
She shrugged her shoulders and headed to the dormitories letting several raspberries vibrate her lips and her vocal exercises began. She was already running late and so she had no choice but to begin them now. A few maids passed by her looking at her strangely and as she neared the rooms a stage hand passed her by only to let out a bemused chuckle.
"You are a strange fool."
Ange sucked in a breath as the disembodied voice whispered its taunt into her ear. She had forgotten its power, but she had no time to play with a ghost.
She took a deep breath and began her scales again as she opened the door to the dormitories only to nearly be barreled over several ballet rats that were late as well.
"Be gone ghost, I am late."
Without caring if a ghost's eyes were still upon her she threw off her dress as soon as the door closed behind her and yanked at the corset strings behind her until it came off. The pinafore in her hands had built in lacing. Ange let out a grateful sigh as she freed herself and hurriedly stepped into the rehearsal garment.
The day had barely began and already it had proven to be quite interesting.