Crystal had been in Madame Giry's motherly care for the past hour. She had been given a bath mason of warm lavender water to soak and scrub in while Madame Giry had prepared a warm meal. When she had finished taking the rather relaxing math and rebandaged herself with great percision so to not show it underneith the dress.

She quickly slipped into the dress and as soon as she was in she was being squeezed and bruised slightly by the Corset that was being pulled around her and tightened. It wasn't to where she coudln't breath. Just tight enough so that by the end of the day she'd be tired or wearing it.

After that was finished Madame Giry had sat her down and was thankful that the parts the mask wouldn't be hiding was parts undisfigured. She began to apply eye shadow over her eyes. It was purple and red mixed then she added a soft layer of black over it making it look like the setting sun. She then decided to add a little bit of white to bring out her skin above the eye shadow. The next process was putting on some eye liner. This took a little longer since it was more uncomfortable for Crystal have done. That was finished quick though too and they added lip stick. It was wine red and brought out her pale lavishing skin that she was bless with. Even if someone had marred it she could still look rather esquisite.

Madame Giry was adding the final touches, putting rose petals in her curly pinned up hair, as they heard a knock behind the dresser. Walking over gracefully the woman opened the door to let Erik come into the room. He was clad in black as always but this time it was different. He wore a red shirt with a black overcoat and trousers. His hair was whisked back gracefully and he wore a red velvet mask. His cape that was usually black to help hide him in the shadows was now red. He stode over with a look of awe on his facce as he saw Crystal. His jaw was dropped slightly as he handed her a black velvet Mask that had red rose stitchings in it. Rubies adorned the sides making the theme of red and black ovious in the couple that would be going to the ball together.

Madame Giry looked at the two and cleared her throat to get their attention. It took a couple of times of this before they actually stopped looking in awe at eachother. "You two should really be getting to the front hall. The ball has already started." She said noticing the time. They both agreed and were out of the room and into the hall in no time.

Erik was worried that everyone would recognize him, while Crystal was possitive that Sebastian would recognize her. She wondered why she had agreed to go with him but didn't want to back out now. She couldn't let Erik see she was scared. She pushed the gut feeling that something was going to go horribly wrong and just tried to keep in mind that they would be in a ballroom full of people wearing masks and dancing and drinking. That even if Sebastian wanted to it might be pretty hard to find her.

Crystal grabbed Erik's hand, shocking him, as they neared the ballroom, which was the front hall of the opera house. She wasn't sure why she did it but Erik didnt' complain. He just lightly squeezed her hand back making her heart start beating fast in her chest. A feeling of joy an nervousness overwelmed her and she liked the feeling.

It didnt' take them long to enter the ballroom. A swirl of colors swirled around the room as the couples waltzed. Crystal looked at Erik and he instantly got the messege. He grabbed ehr in the position to begin a walktz and they burst into crowd of dancers joing them in their joyous celebrations.

It didn't take long for Crystal to swept away from Erik into a nother man's arms. And another. And another. Finally she thought she had danced until she couldn't anymore. One last man grabbed her as the end of the song neared. It was a man she felt she knew and it wasn't a good feeling she was getting from this man, but she danced. She figured she'd be swept off soon and she could find her way back to the safety of Erik's arms. They safety she felt when she was near him. Then the man pulled her quickly from the crowd and into the shadows in one swift move. He pinned her hands agianst the wall above her head and pressed his body painfully up agianst her own. "Hello Mon Ange." He said with a sneering voice. A voice that Crystal completely recognized. It was Sebastian.