Cáel walked towards his office, silence around him and he found himself missing the clumsy brunette. However, he did have fun when he was here and hoped one day they would be back. That was future though and he had to focus on the present.

Entering the office, he could still remember how it was the first day; dark, dusty and messy.
Now it was just perfect. Clean, the desk was organized and so were the drawers. The window behind it was open and the curtains pulled aside, letting some light to enter the room.

At his left, pressed against the wall, was a bookcase filled with books of different ages and genres. Some were his, the rest were found there and apparently belonged to some of the previous owners.

Next to the bookcase was a full body mirror, surrounded by the same wood the desk and bookcase was. Cáel would admit that he had spent some time observing himself at that mirror and slowly observe how even his clothing taste had started to change.

Well, he had too as the official owner of a Grand Opera House.

Closing the door behind him, he wasn't surprised when he spotted the familiar letter with the skull wax seal. Smiling, he walked and sat down on the chair before opening the letter and started to read it.

Once finished, he looked at the copy of the new play that rested in front of him. Giving once again a bow to the shadows, he took the script and headed towards the cast but not before leaving a letter of his own on the desk.

Something that didn't go unnoticed by the Ghost that watched him from the other side of the mirror

Erik, as usual, was waiting for Cáel to read his letter. Through the past few months, he had been watching him either reading him or when he made the changes that were written on it. This time, his letter even congratulated him for the first day and was shorter since they were nothing that needed to be changed.

His expression was usual, he noticed. The small smile when he first saw it and the normal expression as he left his office to make the announcement. However, this time he could see that he was less enthusiastic and less energetic.

He did, of course, blame it on the fact that the Irish couple and also their friends had just departed less than an hour ago. His sharp eyesight didn't fail to spot that this time, the young owner had a letter already in his pocket which he left on the desk after his usual bow.

Once the room was empty, he pushed the mirror to the side and walked towards the desk before his black-gloved hands grab it. It was a simple one, the 'Phantom of the Opera' written on one side and the other was left open, no seal keeping it close.

He opened it and took out the letter that apparently was addressed to him. The letters were slightly messy but still readable.

Monsieur Phantom,

Happy New Year and may it be prosperous for you and the Opera House as well. My deepest thanks for your help and I would like unofficially to address the night's success to you.

Your help has played a major role and I do hope the two of us will keep working together, as partners, to assure that more days like the ones that passed will come. In addition, Madame Giry informed me about your previous salary and do not worry. It is unknown to her of your live stats and will stay like that until you wish it to change.

I start this month with 8000 francs and once the glorious days come, it will go back to 20.000 but until then, I ask for your patience.

Sincerely,

Cáel Farrell

Erik had to reread the letter to make sure that he hadn't misread anything. After the second time, he noticed that there was a check with the said amount of money and he couldn't help but stare at it for a good minute.

He hadn't even thought of payment yet and doubted he would but apparently, someone else already had done it for him. Looking at the door, he found himself giving a small bow with his head as he put the check in his pocket.

This year was entering well so far. He had already met his nightingale, his Opera was back on business and he was even paid. Not the same amount he used to but he did understand the situation.

Almost a week passed since the departure of the Irish couple and everything went back to normal. Now, Sunday morning had come and it meant one thing for some; mass.

Keegan woke up by the sun falling on his face. He rubbed his eyes and yawned before stretching. Cu did the same thing and the boy petted his head before looking around, seeing his brother's bed empty.

Looking around the room, he spotted him in front of the body length mirror; fixing his outfit. The boy blinked and was about to go back to his sister's warm embrace when Cáel voice drew his attention.

"Get dressed. We are joining everyone at the mass"

The boy blinked a few times as he processed the words in his mind.

Mass?¸he wondered and looked at him brother confused as they hadn't been to a church since… well, Keegan couldn't even remember if he had ever been to a mass before. He knew what it was though.

"You heard me. Get dressed, eat something and let's go"

A sigh escaped his lips along with some matters in Irish before the boy, with the help of his brother, got dressed into a white shirt that he was forced to have buttoned up to the neck and black pants.

Once dressed, he and Cu made their way towards the kitchen and by the silence around them; he realized it was still early. Rubbing his blue eyes, he entered the room and looked around as he tried to find out what to eat.

Seeing apples in a basket on the counter, he used a chair to climb on top of the counter. Once there, he crawled on the hard surface until he reached the bowl that was pushed at the very back.

"If Giry walked in right this moment you would be in lots of trouble Luch", a familiar voice reached his ear and the boy grabbed one green apple before turning to look at Erik who stood at the other side of the table.

The boy smiled as he noticed his friend and even Cu barked and rubbed between his legs as he asked to be petted, something our Phantom refused to do. Keegan stayed silent and took a bite of his apple, savouring the bitter taste of it while shrugging his shoulders at the Phantom's statement.

"This is not how a man behaves and this is not where he sits. No legs on the counter", Erik scolded the young boy who took another bite of his apple and then sat at the corner of the counter, his legs hanging at the air.

Was he mocking him? Challenging him? Erik was not so sure and mentally wondered what was wrong with the two out of the 3 siblings. Only Cáel seemed to be the one with manners and the only one to follow his words without hesitation.

Morgana and Keegan though, they just loved to challenge him. Showing their sassy side with or without the use of words and he must admit he did enjoy it to a point. It was a nice difference from the times he was feared.

Deciding that this would lead him nowhere, he walked around the table towards the boy while also observing his appearance.

"I presume you are heading to the mass", he said as he opened the cupboard where the cook used to hide the bread from wandering hands and eyes and grabbed three buns.

Looking at Keegan, he saw how his face changed at the mention of the mass and he held his laughter of amusement. It was as if the boy had bitten into a very sour lemon.

"You do not like it", he stated and offered him one of the buns of bread which the boy took slowly and then took another bite of his apple before speaking.

"I just want to stay here with Deirfiúr, Cu and you. I don't want to go to… wherever those people go", he said as he couldn't take it anymore and opened the 3 first buttons of his shirt.

Erik was surprised when he mentioned him among the reasons he wanted to stay but then again, the boy and his dog had taken an unusual liking to him.

"Church, they go to a church. It is only for a few hours, be patient with it", he said, sounding a little colder than he actually wanted but the boy had to grow up and realize that he couldn't have what he wanted in life.

Sometimes he would have to simply go with it and be patient until it was over, liking it or not.

"I know", the boy, admitted and fed the bred to Cu, much to Erik's surprise. The dog's tail waged left and right as he devoured the piece of bread.

Before more words could be exchanged, the giggles of the ballerinas reached their ears and by looking at each other; they knew that their time was up. The Phantom made a move with his head, motioning for the boy to get down the counter which he quickly did.

He gave a smile at him and then ran down the other door, Cu hot on his trail with the piece of bread still in his mouth.

Erik found himself smiling at the young boy but also at the information he had obtained and quickly hid and disappeared into the shadows before the girls could enter the kitchen and see him.

Morgana felt something cold pressed against her fingers that were hanged from the bed as she slept in a starfish formation, mouth little open and hair flying everywhere even in her mouth. Leaving a few sounds, she opened her eyes and with the tip of her eyes, she looked at the source of this cold feeling.

It was Cu who was nudging her arm with his cold black nose. Once he saw that she was awake, he barked and jumped on the bed only to start licking her face.

"Cu… no… down boy", she said in a hoarse sleepy voice as she tried to push the dog away. "Fine, I am awake"

By hearing those words, Cu jumped down as the redhead stood up slowly and pushed her hair away from her face that was now sticking due to the dog's saliva. Looking around, she noticed that she was alone in the room.

Where are Keegan and Deartháir? She wondered and sat there, looking at the empty bed for a whole minute before her mind started working properly. Sunday, church! She shouted in her mind and facepalmed in real life.

Slapping her cheeks a few times in order to shake the sleepiness off her, she looked outside and by the position of the sun, she guessed that the time was no later than 10. It was the first time she slept so much but she had earned it.

Last night she and Cáel had to attend a sort of social gathering. They were invited by one rich couple who were old visitors of the Opera. Her brother spent most of the time sitting down and drinking slightly, talking with the other rich men.

Morgana, however, was dragged around by the other ladies of the court. She had to endure boring talking and gossips while standing on shoes that were only made to hurt her and of course a tight corset that cut her breath.

Her head ached from the tight hairstyle she had and her brain was tired as she forced it to be extra careful. Taking the count's and Meg's advice into consideration, she was extremely careful with her tongue in order to fit right in as one of them.

While her mind was replaying yesterday's event, she washed her face, combed her wild hair and dressed in her usual shirt and pants style she always did.

With Cu on her trails, she walked around the Opera only to see that it was almost a ghost building. Everyone who lived in the Opera had gone to the mass, letting her completely alone. Well, minus one or two stagehands who were still asleep as she presumed.

She finally sat at the edge of the stage, legs too tired to allow her to walk as much as she wanted. One was lifted and she rested her hand on the bended knee while the other hang from the edge of the scene.

Cu was lying next to her, sleeping as she used her free hand to pet his soft white fur. As she stood there, a faint smile played on her lips as she remembered how Lucas had saved her from a boring discussion before she fell asleep and how he kept her some company close to the end before they leave. She was thankful she had met him and that he was young and open-minded.

Around him, she was able to talk freely, not ashamed of her quick and sassy tongue. He was charming as well as and not much older than her which helped things since most old men around her eyed her in a way she didn't like.

A sigh escaped her lips as she let her mind now wander back to her home in Ireland and Rian but she was snapped from her small daydream once she sensed someone close behind her and her theory proved correct as Cu lifted his head and looked at the person not too far away from them.

"We meet again monsieur Phantom", she said as a smile found its way on her lips but kept her eyes on the empty red seats in front of her.

Deartháir = brother

Deirfiúr = sister

Luch = mouse