Chapter Ten

Warnings from the Ghost

The frenzy of the excited opera house was suddenly broken by a horrified scream. Everyone froze and looked around. They all knew where it had come from: Carlotta's dressing room.

Maria looked up as she watched everyone move toward the commotion. She had been too absorbed in her work to notice or care about what was going on. She turned back to the dress that she was sewing together. She pulled out a pin and put it in the sleeve, and then she noticed the turmoil was getting louder. She looked over and shook her head. It was most likely another tantrum being thrown by Carlotta. She finished working on the sleeve and headed for her room. She had two more head pieces to fix, and then opening night would be hers to do as she wanted.

"You!" An annoying voice suddenly screamed.

Maria spun around. She was once again face to face with a heated Carlotta. Maria sighed. She was in no mood for the diva's ego display. She placed her hands on her hips, waiting for whatever was going to come.

"How dare you?" Carlotta roared. "How dare you!"

"How dare I what?" Maria spat back.

Carlotta looked as if she might slap Maria. Maria stood braced, ready for whatever was about to happen. Carlotta took a deep breath and stepped back.

"You are very lucky I don't have you fired," she smirked.

"Considering I haven't done anything, how could you have me fired?"

"Haven't done anything!" Carlotta suddenly exploded. She grabbed Maria by the arm with a harsh jerk. Maria quickly pulled away. Her eyes flashed fire as Carlotta stepped back in shock at her defiance.

"Look, I have been too busy trying to get this show ready that I haven't had time to do anything to you!" Maria yelled furiously.

Carlotta seized Maria again and began to drag her to the dressing room. Fear quickly replaced anger in Maria's heart and mind. What if Carlotta had found the mirror and maybe even the passage?

Maria struggled to get free. She had to get away and find Erik. She pulled away as Carlotta pushed her into the room. Maria's fear swiftly subsided when she saw the room.

The mirror stood, untouched, but everything else was destroyed. Every small mirror laid on the floor shattered. The flowers that brightened the room had been broken, and their petals ripped into small shreds. Maria's eyes surveyed the damage. There were also candlesticks on the floor that had been broken. Then Maria noticed all the paintings. Each one had had something different done to demolish them. The first had been torn from its frame and defaced. The next one had had water thrown on it, ruining its perfection and beauty. The last was the most gruesome. It was whole in the frame and seemed untouched, but under closer scrutiny, Maria could see a small tear in the canvas right at Carlotta's throat. She gulped and noticed a streak of red paint or dye running down the painting. She rubbed her throat and turned to the enraged diva.

"You think I did this?" Maria questioned.

"We're not sure, Miss Leroux," a voice said.

Maria turned and saw Andre, Firmin, Raoul, and Madame Giry standing in the doorway. She felt her heart skip. Something was very wrong with the situation.

Firmin stepped forward, holding a small piece of paper. Maria looked at it.

"We found this taped to that painting," he pointed to the one with slit in the throat.

Maria took the letter and started to read it. She froze in horror as her eyes skimmed over the words.

Your days at the Opera Populaire are numbered. If you come near Maria again the painting will become a reality. I will be watching.

Opera Ghost.

Maria handed the note back to Firmin. Her mind was too muddled to think about what she could say. She quickly looked away from the accusing eyes.

"I didn't write that," she finally admitted.

"If you didn't, then who did?" Firmin asked.

"I don't know," Maria almost shouted.

She immediately regretted her outburst. She was starting to shake. She knew who wrote the letter, but she couldn't tell them. She turned back to everyone, trying to find something to say.

"Where were you last night, Maria?" Andre asked.

Maria swallowed hard. She had been with Erik. She looked at Andre and thought of another answer to give.

"I was in my room, working," she lied.

She knew she should come clean, but there was not way that she could admit the truth.

"Was anyone with you?" Firmin asked.

Maria shook her head. She knew that she had just sold herself out, but there was no way that she could tell them the truth.

Firmin turned away and pulled Andre out into the hall. Raoul went to follow but noticed how upset Maria looked. He walked over and put an arm around her. Maria shrugged it off.

"I'm already in enough trouble," she explained. "I don't need anymore."

Raoul nodded. The door opened and the two managers walked back in with long faces. Maria knew what was coming next.

"Mlle. Leroux," Firmin started. "I hate to do this, but I'm afraid we have no choice but to fire you."

Maria's heart stopped. She needed her job. She couldn't live without the job. She could feel her whole body start to give. She wasn't going to break down though. Raoul quickly took her by the shoulders.

"Gentlemen, don't you think that this punishment is a bit harsh?" he exclaimed and questioned. "I mean you have no proof that Maria actually did anything."

Firmin went to speak, but Andre was quicker. "He's right, Richard. Let's not fire the poor girl. Tomorrow night is opening night, and we might need her."

Firmin looked around the room and sighed. He then turned to Maria. He didn't trust the young woman, but Andre was right, they did need her.

"Fine," Firmin barked. "But you better watch yourself, young lady."

Maria only managed to nod. Carlotta turned to her with a wicked smile. "Clean up this mess."

Maria wanted to hit the cocky woman but didn't. She was now in very bad dilemma. She had to watch herself very carefully.

Everyone started to leave. Carlotta walked with the managers and Madame Giry quickly closed the door. Raoul was the only one who stayed. He walked over to Maria, who had started to clean up.

"Maria," he said with a heavy sigh. "I need to know."

"Need to know what?" Maria said roughly.

"Did you do it?"

Maria turned to him. She couldn't believe that this man who claimed to care so much about her was asking if she had done this horrible crime. She ran a hand through her hair, which she had left down.

"No," she finally said. "I didn't do this. I was working last night."
Raoul walked over and gently took her in his arms. Maria stood still and rested her head on his shoulder.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing," she lied again. "I just have a lot of work to do."

Raoul pulled her closer. Maria pushed against him, but he held her steady. She didn't feel like fighting. She went to hug him and noticed something in the mirror. She quickly pushed Raoul away. He seemed very shocked. She recovered herself.

"I'm sorry but you better go. I have much to clean up."

Raoul nodded. He bent down to kiss her cheek, but Maria was faster and dodged him. She wanted to tell him that she didn't love him, but she couldn't. Not yet anyway. She looked over at the mirror. He was standing there, waiting for her.

"I will see you soon," Raoul said and walked out.

Maria nodded. When the door closed she rushed to lock it. She started working when the panel shifted. She spun around. Erik was standing in the dressing room.

"How could you?" Maria asked, forcing her voice to stay low.

Erik seemed perplexed by the simple question. His mind fumbled to find the answer that she wanted to hear. He could see that she was very offended.

"I just wanted Carlotta to see that I was serious," Erik confessed. "I wanted her to know that she couldn't hurt you."

Maria glared and pushed Erik away from her. "You almost got me fired!"

Erik looked at her; his eyes were wide with shock. "I was only trying to protect you."

"Stay away from me!" Maria shouted. "Don't try to protect me anymore. Do you understand?"

Erik didn't know what to say. He thought Maria had wanted him and his help and protection. Perhaps she had just played him to get her lessons. His eyes flashed with pure rage.

"You are going to regret this," Erik warned.

"I regret ever letting you into my life!"

Erik felt as if he had been stabbed by a thousand razor-sharp knives. He looked at Maria and then quickly turned away. He passed through the mirror, escaping back into his hell.

Maria watched and then felt something hit her in the heart. She sank down to the floor and started to cry. She hadn't meant anything she had just said. She had been angry and very afraid. For one moment when they had told her that she was fired, she had been so afraid that she would never see Erik again. She couldn't live without him. But now she had lost him.

Raoul walked home, thinking about Maria. He had wanted to confess what he felt about her, but he had thought better of it when he saw that ring she had been wearing. He wondered if someone else had already gotten her heart. He walked into his luxurious house and stopped at the foyer table. There was a small envelope laying there. He picked it up and almost dropped it when he saw the seal. A read Death's Head was staring at him. He quickly cut the seal and pulled out the note.

Do not fear for Miss Leroux, her Angel has her under his wings. And if you care anything about her, stay away from her! She will be taken care of.

Opera Ghost

Raoul growled and threw the note down on the marble floor. Whoever this Opera Ghost was, he was determined that Maria was going to be his. Raoul didn't care about him. Maria was going to be with him, no matter what the warnings said.

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