The Unwelcome Edition To The Opera Family
The next day found me in rehearsals. I was practicing where I was to stand and walk on the stage. I couldn't seem to concentrate, though, which made Madame Giry a little upset.
"Miss Thompson, you aren't supposed to be standing in that spot. That is where Meg will be standing. Once more but this time pay attention." I couldn't help it. I was still thinking about what she had told me about Erik's childhood. I guess I had thought that he had somehow escaped from those men right away. I had no idea it had taken him almost a year to finally be free! I was shaken out of my thoughts when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up to see Meg standing there. She gave me a small smile and pointed to her mother.
"You better move beside the chair before mother has a cow. She is giving you the glare as it is." I quickly hurried over to stand beside the chair. I cannot wait until rehearsal is finished for the day. I need to see Erik again, to try and make him trust me. Too bad there were still three more hours of rehearsal left.
Firmin and Andre' entered onto the stage at the last hour of rehearsal. A young woman followed behind them. She looked as if she were around my age or older. She had dark, red hair and green eyes that looked almost as if she were sizing up everything around her. She was dressed in a light blue dress and had diamonds covering up her neck and wrists. Her hair was piled up high on her head making it look as if she were to tilt her head a certain way, she would fall over because of the weight. She walked very gracefully and daintily around the stage, looking at the props and the people. Firmin clapped his hands to silence everyone.
"I have excellent news, everyone! We have a new edition to the Opera House. This is Madame Sherry, the daughter of one of the wealthiest men in Paris. She has decided to join our opera and support all of our performances by donating money for the props and the costumes. Too bad that Miss Thompson already has the leading role in Il Muto. I am sure Miss Sherry would have done an excellent job." I could feel every eye turn to me as I began to blush. I looked at Miss Sherry and she gave me a small nod. Andre' then turned to Miss Sherry and whispered something in her ear. She laughed a very high pitched laugh as the two men walked off the stage. She went over to Madame Giry and began a conversation with her. Meg walked over to me and whispered in my ear.
"What do you think of Miss Sherry? She is very pretty." Yes, she was very pretty but something about her made me uncomfortable. I couldn't tell that to Meg, though, since there was no reason to feel that way.
"Oh, she's alright, I guess." As Madame Giry led her off of the stage, I noticed that she turned around and pinned me down with a very cold glare. As quickly as she had glared at me, an innocent smile appeared on her face. I stood there wondering if it was just my imagination or if she really had done that. Meg grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the door.
"Come on, Rachel. Mother said that rehearsals were over with for today." I let Meg pull me down the hallway towards my room. I have to get to Erik. After all, I don't want to be late for my lesson.
As soon as I had reached my room, I made sure that the door was locked. I walked over to the mirror and gently slid the glass back. I stepped inside and shut the glass behind me. There was one single torch on the wall beside my mirror, so I picked it up and carried it down the tunnel. I reached the steps and descended down them. I saw a dark shape waiting at the end of the stairs. It reached its hand out to me and I placed my smaller one into his. He led me over to the boat and we began our journey down the lake once again. We reached the end and he helped me out. I followed him over to the organ and sat down beside him on the bench. Instead of beginning to play the organ like I thought he would, he turned to face me instead.
"I'm sure you have met our new singer, Miss Shelly. I have not heard her sing yet, but I can assure you that she will never have a leading role in any performances. You are the only prima donna in this building as far as I am concerned. I will be keeping a very close eye on her." He turned back to the organ and began playing one of the songs from Il Muto. "You may begin."
After I finished my lesson, I thought it was time to try and get to know the new Erik a little better. What should I ask him? I don't want to strike a nerve or upset him in any way. Maybe I should ask him a question about music.
"Since you have heard me sing will you sing something for me, Angel? I am sure you have a beautiful voice." He looked at me with a surprised expression on his face.
"You wish for me to sing to you?"
"Well, yes, I do." He stood up and walked off of the stage. I turned around on the bench to watch him walk slowly along the floor. He stopped suddenly and looked up at me.
"I will only sing if you sing along with me." Just like old times.
"What shall we sing, then?"
"Just let the music take you wherever and I will follow." I took a deep breath and it was as if the words just flowed from mouth without my control over them.
"In sleep he sang to me.
In dreams he came.
That voice which calls to me and speaks my name.
And do I dream again?
For now I find.
The Phantom of the Opera is there, inside my mind."
It was his turn to sing then. His deep, rich voice seemed to fill the darkness with a
strange light.
"Sing once again with me.
A strange duet.
My power over you, grows stronger yet.
And though you turn from me to glance behind.
The Phantom of the Opera is there, inside your mind."
"Those who have seen your face draw back in fear.
I am the mask you wear."
"It's me they hear."
Our voices joined together perfectly.
"Your spirit and my/your voice in one combined.
The Phantom of the Opera is there inside my/your mind."
I don't know if it was my imagination but I thought I saw Erik give me a small smile. Maybe we are getting some where. I just then remembered that if I was gone for too long, Madame Giry would start to wonder again. I didn't want to leave but I knew I would have to cut this visit short.
"Angel, I must return to my room before others start to wonder. I will return tomorrow after rehearsals." He nodded his head and led me over to the boat. When we reached my mirror I turned around to say goodbye.
"Goodbye, Angel, I will see..." I found that I was only talking to the air. Why must he run away? He knew I had to return but it wasn't anything personal. Of course, he probably thinks it is. I had just slid the glass shut, when I heard a knock on my door. I opened it up to find Miss Sherry, the new singer, standing there with her innocent smile.
"Hello, Miss Thompson. I'm afraid we weren't formally introduced when I first arrived. I am Miss Sherry but you may call me Leslie. I have heard great things about you. You are to play the leading role in Il Muto, am I correct?" She didn't seem to wait for a reply. "I have a very good voice myself as well. You know, now that we are friends I would like to give you a gift." She undid her necklace from around her neck and placed it into my hand. It had a huge diamond in the middle of the gold chain, which felt as if it weighed a ton. I looked back up at her but she was looking around my room, as if listening for something. I shifted my weight to my left foot, which seemed to bring her gaze back to mine. She smiled at the sight of me holding my new gift.
"Well, I think that will look lovely on you. Since I gave you a gift, I think it only fair that you give me one as well. It will be like a sign of our friendship." This is so strange. Me and Meg didn't do anything like this and we are friends. Well, I guess it is the polite thing to do, since she gave me her necklace.
"Um, okay, what is it that you would like?" She brought her finger up to her chin as if she were pondering the question. She looked back at me with a dark glare in her eyes.
"The one thing that I would like more than anything is the leading role in Il Muto." Where is this going? She can't just have my part! I've been practicing for two days.
"I don't think that is possible because the performance is in one day. I have already memorized most of it." She stepped closer to me until she was directly in front of me. I noted that the smile had completely vanished from her lips.
"I have already memorized all of it. It is way too hard for a little girl like yourself. I am the one that will be the star because I will be playing the Countess. All I ask of you to do is pretend you have lost your voice and tell Madame Giry that you cannot sing the part. I'm sure she will believe you." This is wrong! I knew that this girl was trouble!
"What if I don't do any of that?" She gritted her teeth and looked like a cat ready to pounce on its prey.
"Oh, you will tell her that. You see, I have connections. My father is very wealthy, as you have heard, and he can pull a few strings for me. If you do not do as I say, I can get you permanently removed from the Opera House. Well, then, I can tell we are going to be the best of friends. Goodnight, Miss Thompson." With that said, she walked out of my room and slammed the door behind her. No, this cannot be happening! Erik will be so upset! We have worked so hard for the past two days. What if he tries to harm her? I must have a talk with Madame Giry. I opened my door and locked it behind me. I walked down the hall towards Madame Giry's room. I hope she believes me about all of this.
Little did Rachel or Leslie know that a shadow had heard everything from behind the mirror. Its mind was already working up a plan to solve everything.
(Author's Note: I know, you guys are going to hate me because it's a cliffy but this is how I chose to end this chapter. You will just have to wait until the next chapter, which will hopefully be up by either tomorrow or Tuesday. Thanks to all of you who have been reviewing my story! Your reviews really do help!)
