She sat in the audience, watching as Christine gave her performance. She turned, eyeing the boxes, seeing that box five was empty….
"Pay attention!" Madeline hissed.
"Yes, mother," she whispered, returning to watch.
The curtain fell at the end of the act as everyone got up to stretch their legs and discuss the first act's events. Adellade excused herself to walk about for a bit.
As she left the box, Madame Giry approached her.
"My dear: I do hope you are enjoying yourself." She sighed and looked her over. "Though I have yet to see a smile on your face since you found your mother…."
She gave a small smile. "Do give my best to Meg, won't you?"
"Of course. I was also asked to give you this." She held out a note toward her. "By a man who knows a bit too much about the opera ghost's affairs. You're not the only one who knows about him, Adellade." Madame Giry turned to go and paused. "I would be careful about the one who asked me to pass this on to you. He spends far too much time around Sorelli's dormitory."
"I will." She nodded and opened it, rolling her eyes at the fact that Nadir of all people would be the one asked to pass this along to her.
Are you enjoying the opera, my dear? Mademoiselle Daae is most certainly doing her work very well. I am glad that she decided to perform.
I only send you this note before I take my leave. If you wish: you may pass your reply along to the messenger. I'm certain he'll be able to find me.
I would write more, but the second act is to come soon enough. I believe there is to be a bit of magic involved-a vanishing act, if you can believe such a thing!
Until I can have the pleasure of seeing you grace the opera house once again.
-M. Matthews
"Who is this man?" Madeline demanded, snatching the note from her as she returned to her seat. "To leave a note such as this! He must be the arrogant type! I do hope he has enough money to afford such a thing! And to so clearly state that he intends to court my own daughter? The nerve alone!"
"I suppose we'll have to wait and see." She sighed and took the note back.
"And do you know this man? Have you met him before? This Monsieur Matthews?"
"I believe I have seen him around the opera house a few times. I think he's something of a composer."
"A composer! And he dares to court my own daughter? Why, you deserve only the best of suitors! How can he expect me to even think about letting my daughter run away to be a composer's wife!"
"I'm certain it'll all work out in the end, mother," she attempted. "Look! The second act is about to begin!"
The curtain rose to much applause as the opera continued. She watched, wondering what Erik was planning. Vanishing act? What could he mean by such a thing?
The opera continued without any sign of his interference as Christine took the stage for her final aria. She sang with the beauty and grace of a sopranist-a voice that still knew his teachings despite Christine's fears.
She reached the last note of the aria and everyone gasped as the lights suddenly went off, casting everything in darkness. The lights returned, only with Christine no longer there. Adellade stood and picked up her skirts, leaving the box despite Madeline's shrieks to have her return.
"Nadir!" she shouted out, running toward the dressing rooms. "Nadir!"
"Adellade!" he called out, meeting her, grabbing her shoulders. "You know whose trick this is! He's taken Christine!"
"I know," she reassured. "This way. We can get to the lair through the tunnel. There should be one around box five…."
"And what do you think you're doing?" Madeline demanded. "And who is this?"
"Forgive me, madame." Nadir took a step forward and bowed. "I am Nadir. Former chief of the police in Persia. I came to the opera hoping to see a stunning performance, though it would seem that my work is here for me." He motioned for her to leave. "Might I ask a few questions of you? Certainly someone as esteemed as yourself should be able to help an investigation as to what happened to Mademoiselle Daae…."
Adellade made her way to the box, finding the column, running her fingers along the detailing. She smiled to herself, feeling the switch that activated the door leading to the tunnels. She stepped inside and hid herself amongst the shadows, watching as Nadir entered the box as well.
"This way!" she called out, waving him over.
He nodded and squeezed past her as she closed the door behind them. "Remind me again how the two of you are related?" he muttered. "I can see a bit of Erik's arrogance, but you?"
"We just need to find Erik and get Christine back," she insisted. "Hopefully he hasn't frightened her too much…."
"You don't think he would try to harm her? We are talking about the former Shah's assassin!"
"He wouldn't." She shook her head and sighed. "I think-I think he might love her."
"Erik? Love? Forgive me: but I can't see him loving another woman! In the romantic sense, I mean," he quickly added. "I could see that he loves and cares for you, Adellade, but you are his family. Given your mother's temper, I can see why he wants to protect you if that is any small indication as to what his childhood was like."
"I don't think it was ever happy," she whispered. "He always seemed sad and upset-as if he didn't want to bring up those memories…."
"Adellade…."
She gasped, her foot falling out from underneath her. She fell, sliding downward, being dropped out into a circular chamber. Nadir grunted as he landed next to her.
"Are you alright?" he called out. "Adellade?"
"Nadir." She grabbed at his arm. "Nadir. Look at where we are."
He stood, examining the mirrors, all reflecting their images back at them. The tree stood out most of all, standing there in the very center, the iron twisted into a trunk, the red noose hanging from its branches…. She stared in horror at the place, memories beginning to flood her mind as the floor grew warm to the touch.
"Curious," he muttered, running his hands along the trunk. "Only Erik could fasten something like iron into such a tree."
"Careful!" she warned, yanking his hand away. "Don't touch that!"
"It's only a tree!" he laughed. "The real problem is how we will get out of here…."
"Just don't touch that!" she warned. "Whatever you do: don't touch that!"
"What is it?"
"We-we have to get out of here," she whispered. "There has to be a way out of here!" She stared up at where they had come through, seeing it was too high for them to reach and the mirrors too smooth for them to climb.
"Calm down," Nadir reassured. "The best thing we can do is to not lose our heads."
She sat on the floor, tugging at the laces to remove the heavy fabric she wore, casting it aside for the lighter dress underneath.
"There ought to be a door," Nadir muttered to himself. "A door of some sort-a way for Erik to have gotten in and out when he was constructing this place…. It is rather intriguing, wouldn't you agree, Adellade? Rather intriguing indeed…."
"We have to get out of here!" she insisted. "Soon, Nadir! As soon as possible!"
"I know you're worried, but we'll find Christine, and-"
"Just get us out of here," she begged. "Please."
He nodded. "Alright. Alright. If I can just find the switch to reveal the door…."
He frowned, pacing around the sitting room. Christine sat on the couch, terrified of him as he paced. He spared a passing glance at her, yet she was only a distraction-a mere thing meant to send the opera house into a panic….
She knew the way. She knew the way, so why wasn't she here? Was she being held up? Had some step in his plan gone wrong? She knew the way. She knew the way to the lair. She knew the way….