Chapter 12

Meg Giry had been right about the auditions for the new performance of Romeo Et Juliette, for the directors commenced them about three days later after announcing the date inviting all of Paris to attend and take a chance at getting a role. In those three days not much happened, the chorus girls grew tired of discussing Estelle and Elle's mother took to her bed again, not leaving her room for long periods at a time. Elle spent most of her time with Nadia; she had not seen Hector since opening night. Her late night singing lessons continued, and she was merrily progressing.

After dressing and having breakfast, Elle waited for the auditions to begin and when it was time she headed off to join the directors in the theatre. They did not mind her presence at all when she did join them, for she was a quiet and pretty young lady who did not cause disturbances, and since Hector was coming that day she could keep him company. She unexpectedly met the young man himself at the door when she came downstairs and he greeted her heartily with a smile and a wave. He was wearing a brown suit and his light brown hair was slicked back.

He held out his hand, asking for hers, and so she lightly placed hers over his. Leaning down, he placed a polite kiss on her small pale hand and then let it go. Elle slightly blushed to light pink, remembering what her friend had said about how he felt towards her several days ago, and she began to grow uncomfortable. She was not used to being in these types of situations. Then he straightened himself out and respectfully offered her his arm, which after a momentary hesitation she accepted, and he pulled open the thick door for her.

The two young people entered together and took seats on the red velvet beside the two directors, who had gotten there unusually early, in the third row of the theatre. People began lining up quickly, forming an extensive line that eventually wrapped itself out of the theatre doors, into the main foyer, and out into the dirty street. Due to their first successful performance, there were more people this time around then the auditions for Carmen. Actually, since opening night L'Opera Magnifique was the talk of the town so to speak and people who had not attended then were planning to now.

Estelle was the first person to audition, which was not surprising. The prima donna, donning one of her expensive dresses with her long hair pinned in a heap on top of her head, pranced onto the stage, the heels of her shoes making small thuds on the wood. She took a place in center stage, acting like she owned the entire platform, and gave them a large smile. Her eyes traced over the first few rows, which was easy due to the good lighting. When she saw that Elle was sitting next to Hector in the audience her smile briefly turned into a scowl. She speedily regained her composure and placed her eyes on the directors. "Good morning les directeurs."

Although her response to the sight of the two was fleeting, Elle caught it. She thought back again to her conversation with Nadia, and she was finally beginning to believe her. By the way that Hector was treating her and how Estelle glared at her when she saw they were sitting together, Nadia's comment was starting to make sense. She instinctively turned to glance at Hector, and realized that her friend must have been right. His only interest in Estelle was of her voice. Her eyes turned back to the stage, and she could not wait for the woman to hurry up.

The soprano nodded at the maestro, and the music began. She chose to sing one of Marguerite's arias from Faust. Once again the woman's voice filled the theatre, and once again she made the same mistakes.

"Ah, I laugh to see myself

So beautiful in this mirror,

Ah, I laugh to see myself

So beautiful in this mirror,

Is it you, Marguerite, is it you?

Answer me, answer me,

Respond, respond, respond quickly!"

When the song ended the directors automatically began clapping enthusiastically and Estelle, grabbing the sides of her large and gaudy dress, curtsied. Elle sat, not moving one muscle, in disgust at how the directors were prejudice in that singer's favor. She secretly wondered whether Estelle's family donated any money to the new opera house, because she highly doubted that her father could afford all of the repairs to the place, not to mention the many workers and stagehands that he hired. It did not make sense to her about how Estelle was said to be popular anywhere.

"Very nice Mademoiselle," Mister Bolster stated loudly when their clapping came to a halt. He stroked his stubby chin and placed his right hand back on the arm of his seat. There was a clipboard sitting on top of his lap, which he used to make notes on the performers to look at on their return to the office to create the cast list. "We will be seeing you in a couple days."

Estelle did not look surprised, and she gave them another one of her haughty grins before responding in her shallow manner. "Till then Monsieurs." Then she leisurely made her way off the stage taking the same path that she did on entering and sneered at the other performers as she passed the line on her way out. Many of them recognized her, a small few grew more nervous, and a large number of them ignored her as she walked by. Elle was glad when the woman was finally out of the building and the next person came up onto the stage.

The next singer was a male; he looked about Hector's age, with soft curly blond hair and a thin frame. He was a newcomer, for Elle had never seen him around before, yet he sang with a fine level of confidence. His voice sounded young, he was young after all, and carefree. You could tell by listening to him sing that he had not had a very troubled life, which added even more to his boyish appearance. Nevertheless he was good, and Elle saw them scribble his name down when he was finished. He bowed courteously before clearing the stage for the next person.

Following him was an older woman, around her late thirties/early forties perhaps, who was a mezzo-soprano. She was a bit hefty and older than many of the other females who were auditioning, but her voice was more experienced than the others as well. At first the directors were hesitant about adding her to their growing list, but when she concluded her song they jotted something down. She did not stay for idle chitchat like the prima donna had done, but instead hurried off and hoped that she would be at least given some part in the opera.

After her was a younger girl who, although she was very attractive, could not sing if her life depended on it. This proved that the directors were not entirely superficial, for they stopped her halfway through the torture, that is of hearing her voice, and informed her that it was quite enough. She nodded and skipped her small body off of the stage. The several girls after her showed more promise, yet none of them were appropriate for the leading roles. There were also more men as well, of all ages and sizes, taking their turns at the stage. Many of them were tenors, but there were a few baritones and basses thrown in with the lot.

Then Elle was glad to see a familiar face. Nadia stepped onto the stage and nodded her head to let the people know she was ready. Her hair was wrapped tightly up on her head and away from her face, and she had on her fairly worn ballet shoes. Her expression grew serious as she began to dance, and Elle noticed that she actually closed her eyes. The girl's thin body moved gracefully and agilely with the music, without any apparent effort, and all without seeing what she was doing. It was quite a sight to behold and, seeing as she was the first dancer to audition, she was setting the bar pretty high for the others. Elle applauded her friend when she was done, and within a few seconds she was gone.

Elle made sure to look to see how the directors responded to her friend and she saw them add her to the list. When she put her eyes back on the stage they landed on yet again another familiar face. Isabel was standing there patiently waiting to be the next person to perform, which put Elle in an even better mood. Aside from her lack of confidence, Isabel was a very good soprano. She sang sweetly and with more feeling than Estelle ever could. Also she possessed a youthful innocence and modesty that flattered her every performance. Elle was sure that she would get another fair role, although it would not be the part of Juliette.

Many more people graced the stage after her, and the day grew to be tiresome. It started to seem as if the long line of talent would never end, and the four observers began to grow impatient. They stayed for a bit longer, but eventually stopped and sent the rest of the people home. There was simply not enough time in the day to allow everyone that wants to audition come before them. After the long day of auditions, Mister Tremaine and Mister Bolster returned to their office to discuss casting while catching a bite to eat. They would have to deliberate over whom to choose for each role, and then place the runners-up in the chorus. That is where the notes they took came in handy.

This left Hector Tremaine and Elle D'aubigne alone in the theatre. They left together the same way they had come, with Elle's arm around Hector's. Stopping in the main foyer, Hector turned to face Elle and leaned on the railing of the stairs. He remained in his same calm composure as always. "Would you like to go get something to eat? I am famished."

"Oh yes," she responded, her stomach was hungry as well. "I would like that very much."

"Well, then we shall get moving. I will go and fetch my carriage," Hector answered energetically and ran out of the building. He easily found his way to the stables and found the driver asleep. Waking him up, he got everything ready as Elle waited inside the main foyer.

She stood tolerantly waiting for him to reappear. Meanwhile she was thinking about her next lesson with the Opera Ghost. They gave her something to look forward to and allowed her to immerse herself in and relish herself with music. Currently they were working on a duet between the two leads, Romeo and Juliette. Her thoughts were on this topic when a black carriage pulled out in front of the opera house and Hector scurried over to open the door for her.

Elle was snapped out of her reverie by the reappearance of Hector, and so she descended the stairs, exiting the foyer. The driver set down a box for Elle step onto in order to get into the carriage, and Hector followed her into it. Then the driver picked up the box, closed the door, and then got back up on his seat. Pulling the reins, the horses began to move forward.

"Where are we going?" she asked him, curious. She did not get out much; the opera house had all that she needed within its walls so she had no reason to leave it. Her eyes wandered to the window, and she looked out at the street. People were going about their life, unaffected by the carriage that was rolling by. She saw peasants, women heading back home from the market, little children running around and playing in the side of the street, and men working. City life was still new to her, so it held its novelty.

"A café not far from here," he replied, sitting back and getting comfortable. Since he was adjusted to their surroundings he found no reason to look out the window. Instead his eyes were on her, for she was a novelty to him. "I know the owners. You will like it there."

He was right about the distance, and soon the carriage was stopping outside of a small building. The driver came around to the side again, helping his two passengers out of the carriage, before taking the horses around to the stalls. Elle accepted Hector's arm again, and they stood outside a moment before entering. The building was made of gray stones with a dark brown, almost black, roof. Once on the inside she saw that it was not as small as it looked, and it was actually quite nice.

They were greeted by a short woman who recognized Hector immediately. She hurried them in, took his coat, and was ready to seat them straight away. They sat down at a table in the back, the place was not very crowded but the back was quieter, and the woman took off. When she returned she was holding two glasses and a bottle of wine, which she plopped onto the table. Her friendly gaze fell back on Hector. "How is your mother doing, my dear boy?"

"Very well, thank you," he answered and then ordered their meal. Apparently the woman was friends with his mother from when they were younger. The meal went well; Elle was satisfied with the food and company, and soon she was escorted back to the opera house with a full stomach.

A/N: Thank you to every who took time to review.

Galasriniel- lol, indeed.

Anri- Sure thing.

PopcornShirimp- Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.

Kiwi Anime- Thank you for pointing that out to me, I'll be more careful in the succeeding chapters.