To the Opera House we go!

@--}-}---

As soon as the dinner was eaten, Erin and Carley followed Christine up to her room.

"Here," She handed a deep purple dress to Carley. "you can wear this one. And Erin," She pulled out a navy blue dress. "you can wear this one."

"What will you wear?" Carley was in awe over the beauty of the dress.

"Oh these are just extras. Don't worry."

Carley and Erin went into another room to change. Erin wasn't used to wearing dresses or putting on makeup so Carley helped her get ready. They had both gotten ready in twenty minutes time. Raoul rushed everyone into a coach and they speed off to the Opera Populaire.

@--}--}---

The doors to the Opera house was full of people trying to get in and away from the bitter cold of the winter air. After they had squeezed through all the people, Christine said good bye to Raoul and then led Carley and Erin backstage. There was a small group of people talking. By their clothes, Erin guessed that most of them were stage workers, one was an actress, and two were very rich people.

"André! Firmin!" Christine waved.

"Ah! The beautiful Christine Daae! How do you do?" Firmin took her hand and kissed it.

"I am just fine." Christine pointed over to Erin and Carley. "These are two friends of mine. Erin and Carley Perinovic."

Firmin looked at Erin from top to bottom. "How do you do?" He said in a sleazy voice as he held out his hand.

"Just fine thanks."

"Maybe after the show I could show you around the opera house?" Firmin asked.

"But… but what about the opera ghost!" Christine was suddenly very nervous.

"No need to worry about him." André responded. "We've taken care of that." Erin hated how he called Erik a 'that'.

"So would you like me to give you a tour?" Firmin asked Erin again as he gently took her hand.

"Um… maybe later." Erin grabbed his hand hard and gave him a few good shakes. Firmin, of course, recoiled.  Erin couldn't help but laugh.

"She has a muscle problem. She doesn't know her own strength." Carley gave a hard jab to Erin's ribs with her elbow.  

 "It's quite all right."

"Well, Miss Christine. You should get ready for the show." André stated.

"Oh yes." She turned to Erin. "I trust you can find our box?"

"Don't worry. I'll find it." Erin took Carley's hand and, when they were out of sight, dropped it. "Okay. Which way to box 5?" She followed Carley around for about ten minutes, when finally, they reached it.

" 'Closed do to repairs'?" Carley read.

"It's fine. They just don't want anyone to sit in here." Erin carefully opened the door and peeked in. There were five seats and none of them were occupied. "Come on." Erin pulled Carley into the room. "Look," She pointed down toward the stage. "It's the perfect view."

@--}-}----

A dark unobtrusive shadow noticed the two young women that had sat down in the box. His box. Well. If M Firmen and M André insisted on selling his box then they would suffer the consequences. But… he thought about it. He had seen them with Christine.  They seemed to be friends. And…They were just girls. And they were behaving themselves. Yes. He would leave them alone. For now.

@--}-}----