Chapter 2: Phantom's Rose
" Again girls, one and two and three, leap," Meg instructed
" Madame, who is singing tonight's show?" one of the girls asked
" Mademoiselle Chaffee," Meg said, " There are others, but the mangers like her the best."
One of the chorus girls walked out and said, " But our Phantom doesn't like her."
Meg lifted the note and saw the skull seal on the opened envelope. She lifted the letter and read it to herself. She shook her head and the girls looked at their instructor.
" What does he want?" Victoire asked another
" He wants his salary and his usual seating in box five. That's the best seat in the house, and our Phantom fellow gets it," the girl said, " No one dares to anger him."
" Alright girls that's enough," Meg said, " Now, again from the top."
Victoire caught up on the routine and began to show her real talent. She was noted for her fantastic skills by Meg and the mangers.
" I believe we have a dancing star," Monsieur Jacques said
" Yes, I do see that….she's very pretty too," Henri Abney said
Meg looked at her husband and brother-in-law and hushed them. She turned to her girls and smiled. The bells on their ankles were together and Meg knew they were doing well with timing.
" You can't go in there," a door's man said, " There's rehearsals going on."
" Let me through," a woman's voice said
Everyone turned around and looked to see a famous face. Whispers went out through the group.
" It's Carlotta," they whispered
" Shh, girls silent," Meg said
Carlotta walked in with her usual entourage following her.
" Gentlemen, I wish to speak to you about this contract," she said
" Of course Mademoiselle," they said
Meg rolled her eyes and turned to the girls. They got back to work and Nicolas was off to listen to the conversation.
After rehearsal the girls went out to have some free time before the show. Meg walked into the office and Carlotta looked at her.
" This meeting is private little ballerina," Carlotta said
" This meeting involves me too," Meg replied
" Monsieurs please," Carlotta said
" Meg, please," Henri said, " It is quite private."
Meg nodded and walked off and shut the door.
" Divas," Meg sighed
Nicolas listened behind the hidden door and heard Carlotta telling her demands.
" Why didn't Erik kill her?" he thought
" No ghost," Carlotta said, " I will leave."
" There are no ghost in this opera house mademoiselle," Jacques said
" Well, that's an improvement," Carlotta said
Nicolas smiled and went out his way.
" I'm sure she won't mind if I'm around for awhile," Nicolas said
Meg vanished in the shadows and went down below carrying food in a basket. She shut the door behind her and continued down, then called. She didn't hear him call back, she called again.
" Nicolas," she called, " Where are you?"
She saw candles lit, but no phantom. Meg sighed and placed the basket of food on the table. She saw that Nicolas had several old photographs out on the table, she sat down and looked at them. Meg look at each one and saw they were of him and a beautiful young woman.
" His beloved," she whispered
" Patricia," Nicolas said, " her name is Patricia."
Meg stood up and Nicolas walked in, he removed his draping cloak.
" Were you two married?" she asked
Nicolas lifted his hand up showing the wedding band. He walked over and collected the photos and put them away. He sat down and Meg looked at him as he stood by the organ.
" We were young, I was nearly 20 and she was nearly 17. She was a chorus girl and I was the composer of many famous Operas. My friend loved her too, but she didn't love him. We were always together, all three, sometimes two. Patricia and I married when she turned 18, I had enough money to buy a small home…she made enough to support us on food," Nicolas said
" Nicolas, what happened to her?" she asked
" She was killed, by the very man that was jealous of our love, he told me that he loved her for all his life. He destroyed my work with fire and she went for it. He stopped her with a simple blade, but with enough force it could kill a man. He stabbed her and the last words he told her was Nicolas is next. I came in finding her and she warned me with her last words," Nicolas said
Tears fell from his face and Meg walked over to him, she embraced the phantom.
" I'm sorry Nicolas," she said
" I have traveled from prison to prison all my life, until you found me Meg. I owe you so much," Nicolas replied
" You owe me nothing, my mother would have done the same," she replied, " Please, eat and be well Nicolas."
He nodded and she walked off and back to the dreary hallway and walked back into the hallways of the opera house. She did not realize that she had been seen coming out of the hidden door. Victoire looked at Meg and then slid her hand across the wall to find the door. She found it and opened it carefully, then entered the passageway. She removed her bells off her ankles and let her costume flow behind her as she went down deep. She took a torch that lit her way, she stopped when she heard music.
" Hello," she called
She continued then stopped and listened to the music, then saw a man sitting on the organ.
" Bonjour Monsieur," she called
Nicolas stopped and fled from where he was.
" You have failed to stay above young girl," he called from hiding
" I'm sorry," she said
The candles all went out, along with her torch, she suddenly found the dampness of the dreary dwelling inching up on her.
" You will never leave this Opera house again!" he shouted
He fled from one part of dwelling to another and she became scared.
" Please, I'm new here, I had no idea," she whispered
" You are in the Phantom's domain," he said, " Beyond this point there is nothing that can save you."
Victoire looked around, she ran in one direction; where she thought she came from, but was wrong. Nicolas looked at her and grabbed her shoulder and she screamed.
Meg looked up and counted her girls, but then saw Victoire was missing.
" Where is Victoire?" she asked
" She went to find you," one said
Meg took off and ran down the halls, where she saw the hidden door opened. She ran in and quickly went down to the cellar. She heard a scream and grabbed a torch and ran into the domain.
" Stop it!" she shouted
Nicholas hide in the shadows and looked at Meg. Meg knelt down next to Victoire.
" How could you do this?" she whispered
" She came to my domain," Nicolas said
" Victoire," Meg said
Victoire opened her eyes and tears streamed down her face. She wrapped her arms around Meg and began to cry. Meg looked at her and looked at Nicolas, he walked out and took the torch. Meg embraced the young ballerina in her arms.
" There, there, it's all over, no harm will come to you," Meg said
Meg got her up and Nicolas handed the torch to Meg.
" Get her out of here," Nicolas said, " Do it quickly."
Meg rushed out with Victoire and got her to stage. Meg told her not to ever go looking for that door or go beyond the second cellar. Victoire nodded and Meg wiped her tears away, then sent her on her way. Meg went to her room and shut the door and sat down.
" Nicolas, you had no business to scare her like that," Meg said, " She's only 17."
Nicolas walked threw the opened wall and looked at Meg as she stood there.
" She entered my domain, I got scared she would reveal me," Nicolas said
" Oh, Nicolas, she was just being a curious little girl," Meg said
Nicolas sat down and grabbed Meg's hand, then kissed it.
" Please, forgive my ignorance," Nicolas said
Meg sat beside him and turned his head, she traced the black mask.
" Where did you get that mask?" she asked
" It was the first mask I made for my face," Nicolas replied
Nicolas looked at Meg and turned away from her sympathetic stare.
" It doesn't suit you," she whispered
She stood up and went to her vanity, she removed a drawer and lifted a cloth. She handed it to Nicolas and he took it from her. He gently unwrapped the cloth to reveal a white, half face mask. He lifted it up and just stared at the white mask.
" It was Erik's," she said
" Erik, you talk about him as if you loved him," Nicolas said, " Was he the Phantom of the past?"
Meg nodded, then stood up and turned away.
" I can not wear a mask of a man who I am rivals with," Nicolas said handing it back
" It's a white mask, which allows them to know who you are," Meg said
" A mask is a mask," Nicolas said
" Then there is no problem in wearing it," Meg said
Meg turned around and looked at Nicolas. He wanted answers and he looked at the cloth, showing a script E. Nicolas nodded and stood up.
" I will wear it," Nicolas said, " There is hope Meg."
He removed his black mask off and placed it down, then placed the white mask on. He looked up at Meg, she looked up at him and walked to him.
" It's as pure as snow on such a lost soul," she whispered
Nicolas wiped her tears from her face, with his leather gloves.
" Don't let your past determine your future, sweet Meg. You have worn black for to long," he said
He walked off and Meg looked at the white cloth, with the script E.
" Perhaps," she whispered
That evening people came in and took their seats, the new opera house was presenting its second show of the season. Box five remained empty and not sold, but people wondered if it was out of habit or was there another Phantom. Carlotta and her entourage came and took their seats near box five. She looked at the stage and sat up straight and proud.
Meg wished her ballerinas the best and got a stagehand to help the young girls out. She went off and sat beside her husband and his brother, in their box across from box five. She looked at the empty box and sighed then looked at the stage.
" Please, let there be no disturbance," Meg prayed to herself
The Opera began with no problems, and continued through out the evening. Meg was relieved as the performance ended with not fatal accidents. She looked over at box five and saw a glimpse of a white mask, leaving.
After, Meg headed down back stage and congratulated her girls. She looked at Victoire and asked if she was alright.
" I'm fine, it was just an experience I wish not to repeat," she said
" Good, you did well, there is a career for you here," Meg said, " As our lead, it was brought to my attention by Monsieur Jacque."
" He really liked me?" she asked
" Yes, so for now on you will be taking leads," Meg said
" Oh, this is marvelous!" Victoire exclaimed
Meg smiled and watched her go tell everyone. Meg looked in the rafters and saw Nicolas sitting there. She gave a nod as he clapped for her, then dropped a note. She picked it up and walked off to carry it to Henri and Jacque.
After celebrating, Victoire washed her face from the make-up and changed.
" So, young," a voice called
Victoire looked around and saw no one. She brushed her hair out and then braided into one long braid.
" Brava, Brava, Mademoiselle," the voice said
" Who's there?" Victoire called
" Only someone, an angel," the voice said, " I saw you tonight and encourage you to continue your career."
Victoire nodded and then saw a rose on the ground, she lifted it up and saw a black ribbon on it. She looked around and then headed to the dormitories and the girls looked at her.
" She's got a rose from the Phantom," the girls whispered
" What did you say?" Victoire asked
One of the elder girls stood up and grabbed the rose.
" Those who receive a rose from the Phantom of the Opera, are chosen to become more than just a chorus girl," the girl said, " He's called himself the Angel of music. Four years ago, there was a young chorus girl named Christine Daaé , she had a beautiful voice. Taught by a wonderful tutor, she called him the Angel of music. He truly was, but then well, her angel of music got jealous of the Vicomte de Chagny."
" So, what happened to her and the Phantom?" Victoire asked
" The Phantom of the Opera disappeared after freeing her and her beloved lover. He vanished and no one has seen him since, but rumor has it, the Phantom came back," the girl said
Meg walked in the dormitories and looked at the girls.
" Girls, that is enough ghost stories, he doesn't want you speaking ill of him," Meg said, " Amelia hold your tongue."
" Sorry Madame," the older girl said
" Madame, could you tell us the story of the Phantom of the Opera?" another girl asked, " You were there, when the grand chandelier fell."
" No, not tonight," Meg said sadly, " That's a tale for another night."
She blew out each candle and walked off and Victoire held her rose up as the moonlight traced it.
" Am I to become greater than a lead?" she thought