Chapter 3 – Oh dear!
(AN: We are speaking in French now for any time we are speaking a different language we will specify what font they will be in and put it at the top of each chapter)
Speaking: English French
Beth woke up very confused and looked around noticing that Leo was beside her still unconscious. A woman who looked suspiciously familiar was is standing above them with what looked like her daughter.
"Miss, are you ok?" She asked
"Yes sorry…I..umm…I must have fainted "Beth replied.
"Is your friend alright, does she need help?" Replied the strange woman
"Yes, please do you have anything to wake her up like smelling salts are something" Beth answered thinking why am I asking for smelling salts?
"Of course, here you are. My name is Madame Giry and this is my daughter Meg." She said giving Beth some salts from her jacket pocket. Beth's head jerked up at the name, she took the salts, trying to mask her panic and keep calm.
"Thank you, Madame and nice to meet you Meg, Leo…" Beth waved the salts under her nose. "Leo wake up…" Beth explained to Leo who was slowly waking up and regaining consciousness.
"Beth, huh what's happening?" Leo asked slightly slurring her words.
"We missed breakfast so we fainted, but I couldn't wake you up. Madame Giry gave me some salts to wake you." Beth explained emphasising Madame Giry's name.
"Wait…what?" Leo asked looking very confused.
"Sorry to interrupt, but what are your names and are you here the auditions?" Madame Giry interrupted.
"Oh, I'm terribly sorry my name is Bethan Chouinard, but you may call me Beth. This is my friend Leonna Noir and yes we are here for the auditions, what are they for again my mind has not quite got back to me?" Beth stammered.
"They are for a dancer and a chorus girl with some dance skills, but mainly singing." Meg Giry replied happily.
"Yes, it is as Meg said. We are in need of only 2 people, but not many have auditioned to our standards, soon we will need a new a principle artist for both the chorus and dancers, as we have a Prima Donna."
"Sounds good I will go for the dancer and Beth will sing." Leo remarked.
"What?! Sorry yes that's right" Beth exclaimed. Beth then helped Leo up onto her feet making sure she was alright before giving her a hug.
"Right this way ladies so you can get changed into more appropriate attire. Meg go find the girls and start rehearsing for the next opera" Giry said leading them to a small room filled with dancing attire as Meg left to do as she was told.
"Thank you, Madame Giry for all your help." Beth responded.
"Yes, thank you Madame Giry." Leo also said.
Giry left leaving the girls alone to ponder and what the actual frack happened. Beth was staring at Leo and Leo was staring at Beth. Finally Leo had enough and said "What, what are you staring at?"
"The fact that you are wearing a dress from like the 18th Century. I am as well which is weird, but not as weird as how tight this corset is. There is also the fact that her name was Madame Giry. Which really weird, but not weird as you making us audition when I can't dance" Beth retorted.
"Well yes there's that…do you think we have travelled in time? Cause like that we kinda cool." Leo said looking dazed.
"Probably, looks like it and the book is real. Now the first thing to deal with is the audition because someone stupidly said we were going to."
"Don't be like that and wait…are we speaking fluent French right now." Leo yelled.
"Wait we are…let's try speaking English…Hello? No way… We can speak both French and English cool." Beth said excited.
"So let's get changed into those dancing outfits." Leo said pointing at the outfits. They slowly changed into different outfits.
Beth got into a dress that stopped just below her knee so she could dance a little. It was corseted at the top, with long sleeves which were a pale blue colour. She wore white tights underneath and placed her hair up in a ribbon. The skirt part of the dress had small flower patterns which complimented Beth's hair. She wore her Mother's locket around her neck which was made of silver and her Nan's gold ring on her finger. She also had her watch on placed under her sleeves as she felt weird not wearing it, while she took off all other bracelets.
Leo on the other hand had put on a ballet dress. The traditional leotard and frilly skirt sticking out. The dress itself was a light pink with matching tights. Unlike Beth's her leotard was short sleeved, but had small flower patterns on the top instead of the bottom. She also had her hair up into a ribbon. She also had a ring on her finger accept this one was silver and not gold, which matched Leo's rather large locket on her neck.
There was a knock at the door and Madame Giry entered asking "Are you girls ready for your audition is in a few moments?"
"Yes thank you" Leo replied.
They made their way to the stage were someone was singing, well they didn't know if you could call it singing more like screeching but getting a bit off topic.
The acting crew and ballet girls were all in the audience behind the current manager and the conductor who were sat on stage behind a table with paper and quills on. You could see Carlotta with Piangi, Christine and Meg as well as Bouquet seating creepily in the back.
The manager at the table making notes yells "NEXT" so that the whole theatre could hear. Leo pushes Beth towards the centre of the stage after Beth hesitates.
"Your name and what you are auditioning for please" The man asked
"My name is Bethan Chouinard and singer sir as well as a little dancing monsieur." Beth timidly replied.
"Very well proceed and tell the conductor what song." The man tiredly said not even looking at her rubbing his head.
"umm…may I play the piano please sir?" She asked.
"If you must" He impatiently replied waving his hand at her still not looking at her.
Beth may her way down to the piano and sat down onto the stool clear her throat, says "Thank you Elvis, but I'm going to have to steal your song dear" as quietly as she can and gently starts playing the introduction. All around her people were whispering and talking about her playing suggesting that she could play not sing so she was trying to cover it up by playing. She starts to sing.
Wise men say
Only fools rush in
But I can't help falling in love with you
The people in the theatre all stopped talking to listen to music and the way she seemed to be so graceful and calm. They were entranced by her voice and how soft it was. The manager had finally lifted his head and was staring at her.
Shall I stay?
Would it be a sin?
If I can't help falling in love with you?
Like a river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes
Some things are meant to be
More and more people were gathering in the audience as they wanted to see what all the gossip was about. The conductor at the table was looking at her entranced so much so that he didn't realise that he had dropped his pen as well as the manager.
Take my hand,
Take my whole life, too
For I can't help falling in love with you
Like a river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes
Some things are meant to be
Take my hand,
Take my whole life, too
For I can't help falling in love with you
For I can't help falling in love with you…
Beth stopped playing there was silence for a moment then all a sudden there was clapping and cheering, Beth stood up and curtsied. She looked up and saw movement in the gantry and smiled at Leo, who also had a smile. Beth then asked the conductor to play a dancing song and then showed off her dancing skills that were not amazing, but she looked like she was gypsy dancing than a ballerina. However, she was evidently skilled as well as accomplished in the arts. Many people were impressed with her dancing but more enamoured with her singing.
"Well done mademoiselle…well…err…done…well done…Next" He said.
Leo then came forward, told them her name and that she wanted to be a dancer. She was like an angel when she danced her movements told a story and everyone was impressed by her skill. She danced and leaps and turns all with a smile on her face enjoying every moment. All eyes were on her and no-one would be surprised if she was picked because she was the most amazing dancer.
Silence reigned over the stage as she finished and moments passed as they were in awe of her dancing. They suddenly started clapping almost louder than Beth's, but Beth's cheering and clapping were the loudest to hear she was proud of her friend.
They got the roles in the upcoming opera Hannibal. Everyone was impressed by their talent and although Beth and Leo were popular they both kept to themselves, making no connections with anybody.
Slowly, but surely both Leo and Beth work the way to become the principle artists for their respective areas. La Carlotta on the other hand was somehow still the Prima Donna for the Opera so was the lead in Hannibal. Both became acquainted with the cast as well as the crew, while they stayed best friends. They meet Meg and Christine, but while Beth hated Christine she tolerated Meg due Leo and Meg working closely together. Leo on the other hand was indifferent to Christine and saw Meg as like as a co-worker or something.
As the girls became friendlier with the chorus and backstage crew, due to their previous occupations in the past (the future actually), they started hearing stories of the opera ghost which they laughed at. They had the best time listening to the theories they had come to hear throughout their time in the Opera.
During those weeks Beth felt someone watching her and sometimes she saw a glimpse of a shadow before it quickly disappeared. She always smiled to herself; she knew who it was.
Up in the rafters the shadow was a man. What you could see of his face was snow white and his hair as black as coal. The man known as the phantom was watching Leo and Beth trying to figure out the mystery of who they were and where they came from. One day as he was watching the rehearsal to take notes for the manager to improve he was joined by Persian man either known as just 'The Persian' or to his friends Nadir Khan. He was a ebony skinned man with eyes of jade. wearing clothes from Persia which were coloured pale gold to compliement his skin.
"Daroga, what are you doing here? I thought that you were leaving." He asked the man with a brusque voice.
"Well I was going to, but the condition of my child means no travelling until after he has fully recovered from his disease. Why can I not stay any longer." Nadir asked with a pout.
"Don't pull that face, it makes you look like an idiot." He replied distracted by Beth singing her part with deadly accuracy.
"Aww Erik that hurt my feelings…What are you staring at?" Nadir said.
"Oh nothing. I am done here." Erik replied stalking off.
Nadir looked down to where he was looking and saw a lady standing next to Christine and Nadir couldn't help, but wonder which lady Erik was staring at…his proclaimed love Christine or the mysterious new singer known as Beth.
BOOM WE ARE DONE WITH THE THIRD CHAPTER GO US WITH 1961 WORDS!