Ah! Emily! The music for the song is being written by my dear friend Aylah. If there's a way to get it on the internet then it will be available to download in time. And I like the theory! I was thinking of something like that last night but then felt foolish because the book doesn't really paint Madame Giry as having much of a relationship with Erik other then giving him his money and making sure his box was empty. Hell, she wasn't even the dance instructor in the book. So maybe I will use that as a back story but we shall see! And as for T.B, that is pretty self explanatory as it did kill many people back in the day. Erik's not dumb, he'll figure it out. Cheers!
Claire awoke from her light slumber to the sounds of the other ballet dancers coming into the room from rehearsal. She sat up quickly, her eyes wide. Had she missed rehearsal?
"What time is it?" she heard herself say. One of the dancers gave her a sharp and disapproving glance.
"You missed rehearsal," she snapped, "Madame Giry is putting Meg on in the lead tonight. She said to let you sleep since you weren't feeling well." Claire felt her blood boil.
"Thank you," she said and got out of bed. Everyone gave her puzzled looks. She realized she was still in her costume from the night before. She blushed and went to change into a less flashy ensemble. She knew what Madame Giry was up to and she did not like it. Instead of giving her until tomorrow night to break things off with Erik she was pushing for tonight.
"Why does she want it to end so badly?" Claire asked herself as she exited the room, her costume hung over her arm. She raced down to the costume room first and dropped off the outfit with the hired help there. They were puzzled as to why she held onto it so long but did not question her. She then raced off in another direction, desperately searching for Madame Giry.
Having no luck locating the ballet instructor she began to ask around. No one had seen her since rehearsals ended. This unnerved Claire greatly and made her mind race. Where could she be? Then it dawned on her. She ran back the direction she had come until she was at the doors leading into Sorelli's dressing room. Reaching for the door knob seemed to take forever. As she opened the door she heard Meg Giry's high pitched giggle.
"This is simply splendid!" Claire heard her cry. She stepped into the room. Meg's eyes lit up at the sight of her friend.
"I'm so sorry you're feeling ill!" Meg cried and hugged Claire tightly. Claire returned the hug. Her mother might have been tearing her apart but the young Giry was not. Meg smiled brightly as she rushed over to the vanity table and lifted a parcel from its surface. It was a beautiful gown, embroidered with many jewels. How Giry had paid for this was a mystery to Claire but she did not care.
"It's beautiful," Claire said, "You'll look lovely in it." Meg shook her head and held the dress out to her.
"My mother got it for you," Meg corrected. Claire looked to Madame Giry who was looking up at her from her seat.
"Why?" she asked. Giry smiled.
"You're like a daughter to me." Claire knew there was something more to this gift.
"Would you please excuse us Meg?" Madame Giry asked. Her daughter nodded and bounded out of the room. There was now silence. Claire looked to the mirror and noticed it was covered with a black sheet.
"He can still hear us," Claire said coldly. Madame Giry shook her head.
"He is not there." Claire glared at the dance instructor and then took a seat at the vanity table.
"Why did you really buy me this dress?" she asked. Giry looked at the dress which now lay in front of Claire.
"I wanted you to look nice tonight," she answered, "Erik should have a lady break up with him, not a common ballet brat." Claire felt these words dig into her and twist her insides around. She could not comprehend why Giry was being so cruel to her about this.
"Stop, I will not do this."
"You are young and foolish. This is nothing more then a childish crush. Do you even know how old the man you lay with is? How could he relate to a silly child?" Claire felt her throat begin to close up and she coughed violently. She put her hand up to her mouth to catch this sudden outburst. She removed her hand from her mouth and noticed red splotches. Her body became cold, she knew what ailed her.
She hated crying. She cried all the time. Maybe she was too much of a child to be with Erik. The tears were collecting in her eyes, threatening to spill out at a moments notice.
"Do not cry child," Madame Giry hushed, "Come, let us get you into this dress. You of course know you are not dancing tonight." Claire nodded and stood. Her sudden realization of what was wrong with her coupled with the guilt of what she was about to do made her lower her guard.
Madame Giry had also purchased a rather expensive corset, one that laced up the back. Claire sucked in her stomach and held her breath as Giry helped her lace it up. She braced herself against the wall as each lace was threaded through. She felt trapped. Next the dress came. It was not a billowy dress but more of a curve hugging one. It was a deep green which made Claire look more beautiful then she had ever been before.
"You will not need makeup," Madame Giry said smiling at her work, "You are an angel." Claire held back her tears.
"I have sent him a note," the instructor said, "He should be up soon." With that she left. Claire sat down in the chair that faced the mirror and waited. She heard the familiar click of the latch being lifted and the mirror opened. Erik seemed slightly put off by the black cover that hid the room from him but this must have left his mind the moment he saw Claire. She stood, allowing him to see her in all of her simple elegance. Without saying a word he came and collected her in his arms and kissed her fiercely on the lips. Claire felt her heart break. She was sure he could hear it as well. But, to her astonishment he simply broke their kiss and continued to hold her in his arms.
"You are so beautiful," he whispered into her ear, "What's the occasion?" Claire could not bear to lead him on like this. She pulled away from him. The look of confusion that crossed his face in that moment made her resolve falter.
"I love you Claire," Erik said, reaching out for her. She took a step back.
"It's over Erik."
