It was three weeks into the season, with our first performance in only two more weeks. I was nervous and excited. It was different than just rehearsals; people would actually see and judge... I just hoped I was good enough to fill this role. We were performing Los Huguenots, which wasn't so difficult, but my first opera would probably be the hardest. I was so very nervous.

As I climbed off stage, stifling a yawn with a fist, I glanced up into the boxes lining the walls and stopped. I had seen a flicker of movement from within one of the boxes. It was small, and I wouldn't have noticed it if I hadn't been looking. I smiled slightly, and acting as though I hadn't seen anything and I left the theater. I then doubled back and moved up a set of stairs that led to the upper boxes. I was not surprised when I saw that it was box five from which I has seen movement. I opened the box and walked inside.

"Hello," I said conversationally, and I heard a person jump from behind one of the curtains.

"Goodness Alanna," Erik muttered, "trying to give me a heart attack?"

"Perhaps," I said with a slight smile. "What are you doing here?"

Erik shrugged uncomfortably. "I couldn't go for much longer without my music. You know I am-was-a composer."

"I see." I murmured. He was strange. Who would this man have a reason to murder? And why did he choose to live under an opera house of all places? I glanced up at him, at the mask covering his face.

"You are an exquisite singer," Erik said after a moment.

"I'm flattered," I murmured. "You still haven't returned my dress by the way,"

"Sorry," Erik muttered, not looking at me. He was looking over the stage almost longingly. Who was this man?

"Why did you kill those people?" I asked after a moment. He spluttered at the question, jumping back in surprise.

"What?" He demanded.

"Just answer the question." I said tiredly.

"It is a long story," Erik growled.

"Well, I suppose I will have to make time to hear it." I shrugged, and I left the box before Erik could respond or protest. I would get to the bottom of this man. I was involved with him now; I might as well be thorough.

"Where we're you after rehearsals?" Alice asked when I joined up with her in her dressing room several minutes later.

"I forgot something," I murmured. Alice shrugged and took a bite of a sandwich she had made. Alice always had food with her it seemed, and yet she was still rather thin. Not as thin as most, but not fat by any stretch of the imagination. She looked healthy. Alice offered to make me one, but I refused, I wasn't very hungry at the moment.

"You are awfully quiet." Alice noted, liking her fingers.

"I'm just thinking,"

"Well don't hurt yourself," Alice laughed and I punched her on the arm, but I was laughing too. It was nice having a friend like Alice.

"Is it just me, or is there something off about Madam Giry?" I asked, finally voicing what had been on my mind other than Erik.

"Giry? I suppose... I dunno, she spends more time with the ballerinas than with anyone else, and she locks herself up when she is not teaching or helping the rats rehearse." Alice shrugged, "She only came to the Garnier several months ago. Goodness Alanna, how do you sleep at night? You always seem to be thinking about one thing or another."

"I just tend to over analyze things," I muttered. And considering... I didn't want to think about that. "I would rather think too much than not at all, then that would make me a ballerina,"

"They don't care about anything other than their tutus," Alice agreed, chuckling.

"And their hair," I added.

"Of course," Alice said.

I yawned, sliding off her bed. "I think I am going to turn in, I'm beat,"

"Alright then," Alice muttered.

But when I returned to my room I realized that I was not alone immediately. Madam Giry was there, and she was digging through my things.

"Excuse me," I snapped, my tempted rising, and she jumped, in one hand the dress Erik had given me and in the other Don Juan Triumphant. I snatched them from her quickly.

"He has been here haven't he?" she demanded, not at all flustered to have been discovers looking through my belongings.

"Get out!" I yelled. And I shoved her from my room. Honestly. I would have to see Velluae about her. Was it possible she knew about Erik though? I pulled the few pages of Don Juan free of their leather folder and sighed sadly as I looked at them. I wish I had the opera in its entirety, I didn't know anything of the plot, and this song was wonderful, but what was the rest of the music like? But of course it was impossible, unless Erik was willing to rewrite Don Juan Triumphant, which I doubt he was, but I was worth a shot to ask him when I went to speak with him...

()

"Alanna," a voice hissed behind me, and turned to see Madam Giry gesturing me into her room.

"What?" I asked in a normal tone.

"Shush!" she scolded, "Now come here, I have something important to tell you,"

Begrudgingly I stepped into the woman's room. It was small, just slightly smaller than mine, but her room was painted black opposed to the dark blue of my room.

"What?" I demanded.

"What do you know about Erik?" she said quickly. So she did know.

"Nothing," I said, which was mostly true. I hardly knew anything about him other than the fact that he had been the Opera Ghost and enjoyed music.

"Oh really? Then why do you have Don Juan Triumphant and that gown?" Giry shot back at me.

"I found those pages when I was at the Populaire, and Erik gave the dress to me when I accidentally fell into the lake, it is nothing other than that," I explained, supposing now was a good time to stick to the truth. "He told me he would leave me alone ifs left him alone." I shrugged. Giry's face softened and she sighed, putting a hand on my shoulder.

"Just be careful, child," she said after a moment. "He is dangerous, and you would be best to stay away from him."

"Your advice it duly noted," I said, smiling at her. She only wanted to keep me safe after all. She nodded in satisfaction.

"Well I suppose you'd better be off, child." I wanted to chide her for calling me 'child' again but I thought better of it as I left.

()

Alanna sat in silence as Erik concluded his story. Her face was blank, and she didn't say anything for a few minutes.

"Well," she murmured, "I suppose I misjudged you."

"Oh?" Erik raised an eyebrow.

She coughed and pushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. "A year ago my father died. Practically murdered actually." She hesitated before she continued, not looking at him. "And my fiancé left me because of it. After my father's death I was a mess. I was probably not fit enough to marry, which was why he left me. At the altar." Alanna wiped her eyes and then turned her gaze on Erik.

"I don't know why I am telling you this... But I just needed to tell someone. And I am concerned." She stood and began pacing. "Ever since I met you, I have had this infatuation with you. What kind of a man kills people, and then lets a woman go who knows of his whereabouts?" Erik watched her, his head cocked. She shook her head, continuing her pacing.

"Am I too quick to believe your story?" She murmured. "Or to see more into it than is necessary?"

"You don't have to-"

"Hush," She snapped, pressing a hand to his lips. Alanna's brain was clearly thinking about something, her beautiful face furrowed in concentration.

"I can't just, you, I, oh what am I saying?" She turned away from him, crossing her arms and obviously frustrated. Erik was very confused. Women were confusing. Well some were. Alanna was that was for sure. Why was she even down here? Why did he feel the need to explain himself to her?

"I need to go," she said abruptly. "I have to get back before anyone realizes I'm gone."

I pressed my back against the wall of my bedroom, breathing hard. I swallowed and pressed a hand to my forehead. Why was I so interested in this man?