A/N: You guys might be disappointed because there is no Erik in this chapter. Runs and hides... Sorry! But I hope that this chapter is a bridge for the next part of my story. I hope you like it. As always, read and review. I love to hear it all.

Chapter 26 – The Unforeseen Happiness of a Young Diva

The last of the rehearsals for Faust finished before noon. The set designers and costume designers were hard at work finishing up the last of whatever needed to be done. The stage was fully lit and ready to begin the production.

A lone dancer remained on stage. Her steps graceful and full of life. Every step gave light to each feeling that she possessed within her soul. No sounds were made from the wood within her slippers. Her legs seemed to never tire as she continued around the stage – pirouetting and jumping.

Two figures watched her from the wings. Meg noticed how different she was acting while her mother knew something else was going on.

"Meg, you must find out why she is so happy."

"Why should we disturb that? She is happy, mother. Let her be."

"I fear that something will come over her and disturb her happiness."

"She is engaged to be married. She could simply just be happy about that."

Madam Giry very highly doubted that. Something was going on with Angelina and she had a feeling that she knew who it was. It was not Jonathan as Meg had hoped it to be. Erik was somehow involved with Angelina and he was possessing her mind as he once did Christine. She would not let Meg know, the news would go straight back to Christine.

"Find out, my child, for my sake."

"As you wish."

Meg began out from the wings and watched as Angelina completed her last pirouette and fell to the floor. Her laughter echoed throughout the opera house. Meg smiled, having Angelina laugh for the first time in a long time.

"You seem happy."

Angelina's head turned and saw Meg walking toward her. She quickly jumped to her feet and watched as Meg stepped in front of her.

"It warms my heart to see you that way."

"Thank you, Madam."

"I am sorry about Faust tonight."

"It is long passed. I will try for the new opera."

"Ambitious I see. What has changed your heart?"

Angelina's smile slowly disappeared from her face. She did not want to tell Meg what it was that made her so happy and so full of life. She feared if she told Meg that Erik would disappear, never to return. He made her want to do things that she had never dreamed possible. Her self-confidence was restored by just the mere touch of his hand.

"Brigitte, Madam. I do not wish to see her dominate another opera as she has done Faust. I have heard many of the dancers complain of her manner."

"I have heard that as well. They believed you were more then capable for the part."

"They have told me on several occasions."

"Is there another who has said this to you?"

Erik, once again, came to mind. Angelina longed to tell someone about him. About how happy he made her. This was neither the time nor the place. "No, Madam."

"What of the young suitor who has shown up on several occasions – Monsieur de Wynter?"

Angelina had hoped that Meg would not bring up Jonathan's name. Her hopes were shattered. Somewhere in her heart there was a place for him. But the rest of her longed to be away from him and with someone else. Whatever love there was between them as children no longer remained.

"I am sure he has mentioned it."

"He is not the one who brings happiness to your life?"

"He makes me happy, Madam."

Meg watched as sadness crossed over her eyes. She was certain that Jonathan was the one who brought the smile to Angelina's face. How could she have been so wrong? Who had made the sad young woman into a happy young diva?

"My dear, who has made you so happy if it is not the suitor that comes to you?"

"It is no one, Madam."

Madam Giry watched as Angelina turned from Meg. She now knew what she had feared most – Erik had captured her. However, the love in her eyes was not like Christine. No, this child saw Erik in a different light. She did not see him as the hideous monster that everyone claimed him to be. Angelina saw him as a true angel. The only question remained: did she ever see Erik without the white mask that was upon his face?

Meg saw Angelina turn from her and her posture change. What secret could she be hiding from me?

"Angelina, you have told me everything your entire life. Why are you holding back now?"

"I…it is not one, Madam. I swear it to you."

"You are lying."

"Madam, I…" Angelina turned to Meg, tears streaming down her cheeks. She wished Meg would not ask her any more questions. Her heart could take no more. She hated to lie to her mother's best friend, but she had little choice. "I would never lie to you."

"Then you cry out of what?"

"Fear."

"Fear of what?"

"Of your disappointment in me. I cannot tell you why I am happy. I just am."

"I am not disappointed, Angelina." Meg walked up behind the child and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I just wish you would not hide things from me."

"I hide nothing from you, Madam."

"Then why fear me?"

Madam Giry knew the answer to that question. Once word got to Christine of Erik still being alive, Angelina would not see him again. That would break her heart more then leaving Paris.

"Please, Madam, do not ask me any more questions." She turned to Meg and looked at her. "I must go. You have preparations for Faust to do. I have songs I must learn for the next audition."

"This discussion is not over, Angelina."

"Please, there is nothing else to say. I am happy and let it be left at that."

Angelina slowly pulled away from Meg and began to walk away. Meg now heard the sound of sadness from her ballet slippers on the wooden stage. Madam Giry moved from the wings and watched as Angelina walked away, head hung low.

"If it is not Jonathan, then who?"

"Maybe she is just happy as she claims to be."

"Nothing in her life has gone her way since she arrived. What would make her so happy now?"

"Mystery is a part of life, Meg. You are not the one to unravel it."

"She is my goddaughter, mother. I am her keeper when Christine and Raoul are not around."

"But you are not her confidant. Her confidant is God and God alone. You cannot force her to reveal her feelings to you."

Meg knew her mother was right. Angelina was a loner ever since she was born. Alexander brought very little out of her when they were children. She would write and read as much as she could. Other children would ask her to play but she would not have it. The only person she trusted was her father…

"Oh my God. Why did I not think of it?"

"Of what, Meg?"

"I must go."

Madam Giry watched as Meg quickly ran across the stage. What could she possibly have thought of? She feared of what Meg had thought of. This could only mean trouble.

Meg sat her desk with a piece of parchment and a quill. Her hand flew across paper and smudged several words and letters as she continued on. She had to write it as quick as possible to have it reach him in time.

Holding up the piece of paper, Meg read it one final time.

Dear Raoul,

I send this letter to you with the utmost urgency. I beg of you not to tell Christine that I have written to you. I need you to come to Paris as soon as possible.

Angelina, I fear, is holding a secret from all of us. I do not know what it is and I have tried to have her talk to me about it. Raoul, I know she will tell you. She trusts you and loves you like any daughter would a father. But you and Angelina hold a special bond and I hope that you can bring whatever secret she holds to the surface.

Do not tell Christine you are coming to Paris. You will scare her and take Angelina from the life she has come to grow and love. I just hope you can help Angelina before it is too late.

With love,

Meg

Quickly folding the letter and putting it into an envelope, Meg sealed it and addressed it. In a few days time the Vicomte de Chagny would return to Paris and help his only daughter. Meg only hoped it was not too late.