It only took a few minutes to get down to the area where the festivities were being held, but there was already a considerably sized crowd. Annabelle knew she shouldn't be too surprised, they were very late. She didn't know how long she was in the box office, it felt like it had been hours. She let go of Rémy's arm, "Thank you for escorting me Rémy, I really appreciate it," Rémy smiled at her, "It was no trouble at all, Ms. Annabelle," She smiled back at him and went to go look for her uncle.
While searching, she bumped into Little Jammes and Meg who were looking for Christine to congratulate her on her spectacular performance. Jammes smiled brightly at Annabelle, "Did you see how beautiful Christine was on stage!", she gushed. Annabelle laughed and nodded, "She was quite extraordinary! I didn't know she could sing that well," she paused and smiled at Meg, "I also saw you 3 in the ensemble! I was quite impressed at how well you danced!" Meg went a bit pink in the face and looked at the floor. She had always been told that she danced like a calf, so for someone to give her a genuine compliment on her dancing, it made her feel less ungainly.
Jammes decided to speak for Meg, for she knew it'd take some time for her to comprehend Annabelle's sentence, "We practiced so hard, it felt like our feet would bleed! The instructors are very harsh, but they do mean well." Annabelle nodded, "They surely are incredible teachers if they can manage to teach such a vast majority of people…" She then smiled and winked at Jammes, "Then again, it also takes brilliant students to be able to achieve such a stirring performance!" Jammes laughed, "You are such a charmer, Annabelle!" Annabelle smiled innocently and gave and over-exaggerated curtsy, "Why thank you Madame Jammes,"
Annabelle and Jammes had a good laugh, when Meg interrupted them, "I don't mean to be a bother, but I do believe that Sorelli is about to give her speech…" She then pointed to a nervous, but calm Madame Sorelli who was about to give a speech to the expectant crowd. Sorrelli took a deep breath and started her farewell speech to the old managers, and her welcome speech for the new ones.
Meanwhile, a masked and shadowy figure stood idly in the crowd, waiting for the dinner to begin so he could… chat with the new managers. He needed to keep face with them if he wanted them to show him the proper fear and respect he deserved. He gazed around the room unamused, 'The majority of these people are pompous aristocrats wanting to uphold their status as nobles. Hardly any of them appreciate the true talent of my Christine…' He then saw the beautiful maiden, Annabelle, and his heart skipped a beat. He couldn't fully see her while in the booth, but now that she was in the full light, she was breathtaking! Her teal colored eyes were entirely focused on the ginger haired woman who was giving the speech, and her cream colored face shone like the moon on a clear night. 'How is it that a maiden can be so beautiful? When I called her an Empress I was just trying to flatter her, I didn't know that her beauty surpassed all of the Queens of France…'
In the middle of Sorreli's speech, Annabelle felt that she was being watched by someone, which was silly for she was in a crowd and everyone would be focusing on Madame Sorrelli. The feeling however, did not fade and she decided to see if she truly was being watched. She discreetly looked through the crowd to see that most of the guests were watching Sorrelli give her speech, as she guessed. But then she noticed one man, he was dressed from head to toe in black, with the only things of any differing color being the white shirt he wore under his dark vest, and the mask he wore on his face. She tilted her head curiously, he was the only person here who wore a face covering, but she assumed he was a secret sponsor for one of the main actresses, perhaps La Carlotta?
She turned to Meg and Jammes and quietly whispered, "Do you recognize the man standing over there?" and pointed to the figure cloaked in black. They both turned in the direction Annabelle pointed. Meg inhaled sharply and seemed very faint, while Jammes went white with fear and screamed with a shaking finger, "IT'S THE OPERA GHOST!" Everyone turned their attention to little Jammes, trying to see what the commotion was, while Erik silently cursed himself for letting himself be seen and disappeared into the crowd. Sorrelli looked conflicted, furious that her speech was interrupted, frightened from Jammes' outburst of the unspoken phantom, and the anxiety of trying to assure the crowd that everything was alright.
Annabelle, however, was extremely confused and concerned for the well being of Jammes, for she was violently shaking with fear and could barely stand. Meg was trying to regain her composure and tried her best to help Annabelle lead Jammes to an empty chair. "I-It's all… Alright Cécile… You- You're safe…" Meg seemed just as rattled as Jammes, but was trying to hold it together for Cécile's sake. Annabelle got Jammes a glass of water from the table to help calm her nerves. Meg paced back and forth trying to steady her own nerves, while consoling herself and Jammes.
Once Annabelle knew that Jammes was going to be okay, she turned to the still pacing Meg and asked her, "Who was that man that gave you two such a fright?" She recalled Jammes calling the man 'The Opera Ghost', but surely ghosts didn't exist. Plus, he clearly was standing over- She looked through the crowd, but to her surprise, the masked figure was no longer in sight. She found this very peculiar, very peculiar indeed…
Meg shook her head silently and had a seat next to Jammes. "We…" She held Jammes' head in her lap, "We aren't allowed to speak of… it… And we wouldn't even if we could… Perhaps we can shed some light on the morrow?" Annabelle was quiet, 'Why is everyone afraid to speak of the Opera Ghost? Was there a taboo around this person of mystery?' Annabelle was about to respond when Uncle Andre strolled over, "I'm sorry if I'm cutting in, but we must go Annabelle. Our guests await us." Annabelle turned to Meg apologetically, "I shall see you two tomorrow, please enjoy the party…"
Meg nodded and whispered a farewell, while Annabelle was led by her Uncle to where the dinner party was being held.