Disclaimer- Again, I don't own anything. I wish I did…the only thing I own is the couple of characters I made up…but the Phantom is not mine…Anyways, read on children of the night! Special thanks to Aurora, thanks for the great review! This is going to be a long one!
Chapter 3
During the six months that the Opera Populaire was being restored, Emma tried as hard as she could to keep her distance. She had refused to tell James why she had fainted, not wanting to think of that face again. Every time she thought of that dark figure with the white mask, she felt a cold chill run up her spine. When James did convince her to go, she latched onto his arm and refused to go near box five. Emma and the rest of the cast had slowly moved their things in during the time when it was being redone. During this time, she had also met the girl who was to play her best friend, Meg Giry. Emma made it her initiative to be friends with this girl. Her name was Katharine and she was the same age as Emma. Emma didn't like her at first because of her talkative nature but after spending all that time with her, Katharine grew on her.
The first day of rehearsal, Katharine and Emma, were so excited. Emma had decided to just push her fears aside. She convinced herself that she just must have been daydreaming; the opera was called The Phantom's Opera.
She walked down the halls behind the stage with Katharine. They were laughing and carrying on.
"Madame Linton said that your dressing room is at the end of this hallway." Katharine said excitedly.
"But I don't understand why our rooms have to be so far apart. Your room is at the beginning of the hall while mine is at the very end."
"It is so no one hears you screaming when the Phantom of the Opera comes for you!" She said, half singing half laughing. Emma smiled and nodded, biting her lip. She grabbed the door handle and glanced at Katharine.
"Open it, Emma, don't keep me waiting any longer!"
Emma laughed and closed her eyes, opening the door.
"What does it look like?" She waited for Katharine to respond but she didn't hear anything. "Katharine…" She opened one eye and saw Katharine standing with her hands over her mouth. She opened the other eye and gasped at the room. It was absolutely beautiful. She walked inside and tried to take in everything. It was a nice cream color with candelabras everywhere. There was a small pink couch with two end tables on each side. There was a little place in the corner where she could go behind and change. There was a door on one side of the room which led to a small bedroom. It had a small bed with pink satin sheets and a dresser where she could put her regular clothes.
"Hey Emma, what is this?"
"What is what?" She walked into the main room and looked at Katharine. She was standing in front of a large velvet curtain. "I don't know, open the curtain." Katharine nodded and pulled on the cord to open it. They both looked into it and saw themselves.
"It's a mirror." Katharine said a little disappointed. Emma shook her head and touched the glass.
"It is stunning. The border on it is spectacular. Look Katharine, there are little flowers carved into it." She ran her fingers along the carved surface, entranced by its beauty.
"Emma… it is just a mirror. Come on, we are going to be late for our first rehearsal." Katharine dragged her away the mirror and brought her to the stage.
As Emma stood listening to Manroe give a speech, her thoughts drifted to the mirror. There was something about it that made her drawn to it and she couldn't figure out why. She began biting her fingernail, deep in thought. She heard someone clear their throat loudly, bringing her out of her trance. She looked around, noticing everyone staring at her.
"Well…Miss Emmeline…" Emma shook her head, clearing her mind from the thoughts of that mirror.
"I'm sorry, Monsieur, what did you say?"
"Miss Emmeline, if you are going to be in my opera, will you kindly pay attention the next time I speak to you?" Emma nodded, embarrassed. She could feel herself blushing as she stood there. She felt so stupid because a mirror had made her forget everything.
"If everyone is listening now, we will start the opening number. I hope that we have all read the scripts and we know our lines. Madame Linton, if you will please." He glanced at Emma and shook his head, walking off the stage.
She had on a simple dress and ballet shoes. Her blonde hair was again tied into a braid behind her head. She raised a brow at the dancers.
"Now then, I want you all to do your best. We must all work together to have a great show. Let us begin. I hope you all have on your ballet shoes. The opening scene is where it is auditions for their opera Hannibal. Christine and Carlotta are the top two and they have to dance together to see who is better." She turned towards Manroe and nodded. He began to play harsh music that sounded as if it came from an organ.
"Pay attention ladies!" She danced across the stage, doing different ballet moves for them to follow. The girls imitated with ease. "Now, where is my Christine and Carlotta."
Emma stepped forward and so did another girl.
"Good. You and Carlotta dance together to try and win the spot but she does a turn and falls to the ground. Let me show you both." She leaped across the stage and twirled many times in a row. "That is what you are going to do except that during the twirls, Carlotta is going to trip and fall on the ground. Then, Christine shall..."
"My name is Emma." She interrupted with.
"Fine, Emma shall then have her moment to shine. In which you will continue with these movements." Madame Linton showed her the dance and Emma quickly picked it up. "After that, our Monsieur Firmin and Monsieur Andre will come over and tell you…Emma, that you got the role. You shall then sing Think of Me. Clear?"
"Yes, Madame Linton." She nodded and walked to the side.
"Let me see it from the beginning."
Everyone went into the wings and waited for the music cue. Emma stood there, biting her lip and mouthing the words to the first song. Katharine put her hand on Emma's shoulder.
"Are you feeling ill? Its only a rehearsal, Emma, don't be nervous." Emma sighed and looked at Katharine, grabbing her hand and squeezing it.
"I know…I just want to do well."
"You will because you're good. Do you think my father would have cast you if he thought you were incapable of doing it?" Emma shook her head and Katharine smiled. She looked at the stage and they both went on and danced. After the ballet, the actor for both Monsieur Firmin and Monsieur Andre came on.
"Miss Daae, you are a spectacular dancer."
"Thank you, Monsieur Andre."
"Now, let us here you sing."
Emma nodded and looked at Manroe. The music stood up and Emma walked forward to center stage. She closed her eyes and began to sing.
"Think of me
think of me fondly,
when we've said goodbye.
Remember me once in a while -
please promise me you'll try.
When you find that, once
again, you long
to take your heart back and be free -
if you ever find a moment,
spare a thought for me."
She opened her eyes and turned around, waiting for the next line. The whole cast and even some of the crew had come on stage, staring at her with their mouths wide open. She blushed as the crowd began clapping. She curtsied politely.
"Settle down everyone, settle down." Manroe said curtly. "That is the end of today's rehearsal. We will start tomorrow at the song "Angel of Music", that means Katharine and Emmeline are needed earlier than everyone else. You are dismissed."
The crowd dispersed, some going over to Emma and complimenting her. James walked over to her and hugged her tightly.
"You sang that better than Christine Daae herself."
"That isn't true. Christine Daae had the voice of an angel. I am no angel."
"Well, you are a bit of a diva." Emma laughed and pushed him playfully. Henry strolled over to her and took her hand, kissing it.
"You have a beautiful voice." She nodded and glanced at James.
"I'll talk to you later, Emma." He smiled and walked over to Katharine, leaving them alone on stage.
"Pleasure to see you again, Henry."
"It is always a pleasure to see you Emma. I was actually wondering if you could help me with something."
"Of course, what do you need help with?"
"This will actually benefit both of us. I thought, perhaps…well, we could rehearse together. The song "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Darkness of the Night", we do together. We could ask the director to show us where to stand and then we could practice it, alone."
"That sounds absolutely lovely." Henry smiled from ear to ear.
"Fantastic. Now, would you like to join me for supper?" He extended his arm and she took it.
"Lead the way." They left together not evening seeing the pair of jealous green eyes watch their every step.
