Chapter 9

"I- I was just-" Elle stuttered, not sure what to say. She, of course, had no real reason for being there. The older woman facing her had a stern expression on her face, unflinching, and although Elle knew that she could not get in trouble, she still did not want to get on her bad side. She had to think of an excuse, quickly, but she was too startled to be able to think on her feet. Her hands nervously fiddled with the outer layer of her skirt. "I was just leaving."

Madame Giry's eyes were narrow, piercing into Elle's, and she did not move from her spot in the doorway, only inches away from where Elle was standing stiff as a board. Her tight lips were drawn in a frown of concern and authority. "You should stop wandering about where you do not belong. Do your parents know where you are?"

Elle did not answer. Her eyes wandered from the woman's face down to her hands, which were clenching onto an envelope. She noticed where Elle was looking, and immediately drew her shawl over to conceal what she was holding, but she was too late. The girl had already begun piecing things together like how a child assesses and tries to fit together the oblong shapes of the pieces of a difficult puzzle. It had to be the Opera Ghost's pay, why else would Madame Giry be visiting box five, which Elle overheard belonged to him? "I know about the Opera Ghost, Madame. I overheard some people talking."

The woman moved to the side and pulled Elle forward, away from the door. She whispered harshly in her ear. "That is exactly why you should not be here. Now go, return to your parents, and stop snooping around!"

Elle did what she was told, but before the box was completely out of sight she turned around and watched Madame Giry enter the box. When she left, only seconds later, her hands were empty. The envelope was gone. Elle went back to her parents' box and returned to her seat. Her eyes were watching the opera, and her ears listening, but her mind was wondering about what had just occurred. Why did Madame Giry seem almost afraid of the Opera Ghost? What was she scared of?

When the scene ended, the clapping brought Elle out of her contemplations, her silent reverie, and she slapped her hands together in unison with the other spectators. For the rest of the opera she watched with a returned interest, and was even more excited when she saw Nadia dancing on stage. The girl showed no signs of insecurity, and every step, every move was perfect. She was the picture of grace, always in line with the music, like she was born dancing straight from the womb. The routine was astounding and drew the audience away from their whispers into a muted captivation.

Considering a large number of the audience were fans or friends of Estelle La Rous, there was quite a warm response to the other performers. Elle noticed that almost everyone was contented with the show, except for some old men who fell asleep some time into it. She did not find that Estelle's performance was the best out of all of them; she was overly sure of herself and lacked the emotion in her singing which would have put it over the top. Even someone without a master's understanding of the act of singing, such as Elle, could notice this in the woman's voice.

No one else seemed to notice though, or at least they did not vocalize their observation. Instead there were waves of applause, and calls of approval. The curtain fell, the orchestra continued playing the finale, and after several minutes the curtain rose again. On the stage stood rows of the performers, with Estelle in the middle, who held hands and bowed twice for the audience before heading off the stage. Estelle was the only one who did not actually stand in a row. She stood by herself in front of them all, with a large red smile stretched over her face.

People continued clapping until the stage was clear and the curtain fell again. The background music continued as they began slowly filing out of the large theatre. Some people took their time, chatting with their neighbors about the opera and the talent that they had witnessed. Others waited for the people around them to move so they could get out. That was the good thing about people having seats in a box, that way there are not many seats surrounding them so they can get out whenever they want.

"What did you think of the show?" Elle's father asked her mother as she fanned herself and looked about at the crowd below. Elle sat by them quietly and tolerantly, waiting for them to rise as a sign of it being time to go. Meanwhile the theatre was full of noise, due to the various people moving around and talking loudly. There was a knock on their box, and due to the clamor it was not heard the first couple of times. The third time it was louder, and all three of the D'aubigne's turned to see who it was calling on them.

The door opened, and standing in the threshold were Mister Tremaine, his son, and Mister Bolster. They all seemed overjoyed, with nothing about them but the expressions of the utmost happiness. Mister Bolster's plump face was in its usual grin, accompanied by two rosy cheeks. Mister Tremaine, who was generally the more serious one, was also in good spirits. "I say, this was quite the success," Mister Bolster proclaimed heartily. "Better than one could have hoped."

"Indeed, we must celebrate our triumph," Mister Tremaine added, speaking to Monsieur D'aubigne. Then he glanced at the two women on each side of him, acknowledging their presence. He politely nodded to each of them, taking off his top hat. The other men followed him in suit, doing the same. "It is a pleasure to see you Madame, Mademoiselle."

"I'm sure," Madame D'aubigne replied graciously with a white smile. She slightly turned in her chair to face them, with her right arm resting on her husband's left one. "If you wish to celebrate with my husband, then you may have him. Please excuse me gentlemen, but I must retire early tonight. Enjoy yourselves."

"Well thank you, Madame," Bolster responded, offering his hand to help her out of her red velvet chair. She accepted his hand, was pulled up, and then her husband stood up beside her. Mademoiselle D'aubigne got up from her comfortable seat as well, and everyone stood around glancing at each other. Elle held her hands together and listened. "It is a shame that you cannot join us, but you must do what you must. I understand entirely."

Hector stirred behind the directors, and moved closer to where Elle was standing. He caught her eyes as they glanced around, and gave her a warm smile. She nodded back, courteously, and turned her gaze back over to her parents and les directeurs. Thinking back, she remembered his blue eyes fixed excitedly on Estelle, and now he was giving her a similar look, yet different in a way. She did not know what to think.

"Goodnight Monsieurs," her mother stated, and the men cleared a path for her. She kissed her husband on his left cheek, and gracefully moved over to the door. When she reached the hall she turned her head and waited for her daughter. "Come Elle, we must go."

Elle curtsied for the men before following her mother's orders and moving by to follow her mother out. On her way she passed by Hector. "It was a brilliant show tonight, was it not?" he asked her before she was out of earshot.

"Yes, it was. Bonsoir Monsieur," she answered, and continued out of the room. She walked arm in arm with her mother, through the crowds of people and up the stairs to their home. Her mother came with her to her room, and they entered together. Madame D'aubigne closed the door behind them, and they were finally in silence. They were able to appreciate the quiet after being in a large room full of babbling high society.

"It was a lovely night," her mother finally spoke, untying the black ribbon that lay around Elle's neck. She set it atop the marble vanity that was close by, and then continued helping unbutton the back of Elle's gown. Elle stood patiently, and with proper posture, as her mother finished unfastening the dress and pulled it down revealing her corset and slips. "Everything went well and not one complaint. Everyone looked so divine."

"Very lovely," Elle replied, and watched at her mother hung the elegant dress up in her wardrobe. Then she stayed still so that the woman could untie the back of her corset for her, and when it was at last done she let out a deep breath. The corset had been rather tight, and she was glad to finally have it off of her. Elle took a seat at her vanity on the cushioned stool that sat before it. She pulled the ivory comb out of her hair, and then laid it down on the marble. Picking up the silver brush next to it, she began to comb her hair.

"Sweet dreams, my darling," her mother said pleasantly, kissing her daughter tenderly on the forehead before leaving the room swiftly yet with poise and closing the door gently behind her. Elle could hear her glide down the hall, the swoosh of her many skirts moving together, and the sound of her entering her own bedroom, and then there was silence. Candles around lit up Elle's room, and she looked at herself in the mirror by the dim light.

After getting up from the vanity, she slipped on a nightgown and slid into her bed, pulling the layers of blankets over her body. It seemed curiously chilly that night, the warm weather was soon to give way to the harsh and bitterness of a long winter. Anyone could feel the change coming in the air, and it made Elle shiver under her covers. She turned onto her right side, her emerald eyes staring at the flame of a candle as it danced with the soft breeze that passed over it.

Elle had not received another visit from her instructor of music since the night that her father asked her to send for the doctor. She secretly wondered if he would ever speak to her again, for that was all he did, speak and sing. The uncertainty of not knowing if she would ever hear from him again bothered her, for she had begun to look forward to their lessons. At each one she would absorb every remark that he made to her, and made sure to follow his instructions precisely. He took music very seriously, and so did she.

She could not help but wonder what he was doing, and if he had left the opera house after collecting his pay. It was possible, she did not know much about him, and therefore he could have gathered what he wanted and made way. Hoping that was not true, she pushed those evil thoughts from her mind and instead focused on the positive. At least now she had the ability to sing better than before, even though she was still not good enough to be anything special.

As she closed her eyes, she remembered the last words that he said to her in a velvety melodic voice before they were interrupted by her father. She could still hear his voice in her ears, since it was still fresh in her mind, replying to her answer.

"Curious child

You will know the truth in time

And then you will wish

That you hadn't wondered"

What did that mean exactly? What sort of secrets was he hiding, which she would not want to know? The situation puzzled her; he puzzled her, he was the enigma waiting to be solved. She believed his beautiful words, and lay in her bed, wishing to hear the sound of his voice once more. It was smooth, almost hypnotic, and addictive.

Then a thought occurred to her. Perhaps he knew that she had visited his box, yet that still did not explain his absence in the past several weeks. He had to still be there, and she hoped that he would come to her soon. All she could do was wait for him to appear again, if he so wished to, and until then practice daily by herself. It helped that Elle knew how to play the piano well, so that she could play the music for to sing to.

These were her thoughts as she blew out her last candle and settled in for sleep. For a long while she laid there until she finally drifted off into a peaceful slumber. When she awoke, she felt refreshed and strangely energized, not remembering anything that she had dreamt. The curtains were drawn closed, but she pulled them open and looked out at the bright morning sky.

A/N: Thank you to my readers and reviewers. Please review!

Anne- Thank you

Galasriniel- LOL!

Anri- I usually don't update so often although I would like to, but lately I've been sick and really had nothing better to do.