Thank you guys for giving me great updates! They are really helping me! Special thanks goes out to Ella Ynrihan, Nikita S, and ElvenStar5 for making my day today! Woot! Enjoy the next chapter! P.S- Don't mind my french terms for dancing...I really don't take French, and what's pathetic, I take dance, but not ballet...lol! Anywho I 'll let you get onto the story!

Chapter 3

"No! You are supposed to pirouette then go into a chauns ma, then onto pointe to do six spins across the stage! Again!" Madame Giry rapped out, emphasizing each action with her cane. Ana felt like she was in her glory. She also knew that her legs would be cramping when she was done, but that didn't matter. Carlotta was throwing a fit because the dancers kept getting in her way. Don Giovanni was now over so now they were beginning on The Magic Flute and La Carlotta was complaining that the dancers were getting in her way during her solo. So Madame Giry was trying to change their routine so they were behind Carlotta instead of surrounding her. Finally, the dancers had finally mastered the one scene. The actors and the crew called it a day since everyone was needed in the costume room for the new costumes that were to be made from scratch for this play. Meg and Ana remained behind and warmed themselves down.

"So, how do you like your first couple of weeks here?" Meg said as the two sunk onto the floor in splits.

"I enjoy it, my aunt visits regularly and she brings my uncle as well. I really feel in my element. Only, see, I have this confession to make." She looked at Meg to see her staring at her intently, "I want to sing as well as dance. I want to see if I can get a role by singing as well as dancing." Ana said in a rush.

Meg gave her a half smile. "Ana, you're like a sister to me, you truly are. Only, you won't get a chance. Carlotta has say about who sings and who doesn't. I believe she doesn't like new blood trying to butt in on what she already has. I'm sorry, but it's better you hear it from me and not from the managers or anyone else." Meg got up and wandered off stage, "Don't be to long now. You promised to go shopping with me today."

Ana nodded and sighed. Grumbling about how it wasn't fair she sat down on the edge of the stage and drew her knees up to her chest. Quietly she began to sing a song her mother taught her and sang to her as a little girl.

"La lune blanche,

Luit dans esa bois.

De chaque branche

Part une voix.

Sous la ramee.

O bien-ai-mee.

L'e-tang re-fle-te

Pro-fond mi-roir,

La silhouette

Du sau-le noir

Ou le vent pleu-re,

Re vons! C'est l'heure.

Un vaste et tandre

A-pai-se-ment

Semble descendre

Du firmament

Que l'astre irise.

C'est l'heure exquise!"

As the last note died away, she noticed that her voice had gotten stronger and by the end of the song it was echoing off of the Opera house. Then, her ear's caught the sound of a clock swishing out in the audience.

"Hello? Is anyone out there?" When no reply came, Ana merely shrugged then headed off to her room to quickly change and then head into town with Meg.

He had been sitting out in the audience, in the shadows of his own box. He had nothing better to do, but to sit and watch the practice go on. He smiled as Carlotta threw a fit and got her way, as she always did. His eyes, though, kept roaming to the pretty young girl that had just joined the ballet corps. She was smooth in her movements, as smooth if not smoother than Sorrelli. She seemed to capture the music and bring it out in her movements. Then, just as he was getting ready to leave, he watched as the little Giry child and the young girl slide into splits and warmed down. They began to talk and his interest was piqued when he heard that she wanted to be a singer. Meg told her kindly that it wouldn't work, but he had seen Ana's, for that is what Meg had called her, determination. He watched as she got up out of her split and walked to the edge of the stage. She sat down and drew her knees up, then began to sing. She started out softly then built upon it as she became more confident. He sat down and stared at her, mesmerized as her beautiful soprano voice captivated him. He felt like he was listening to Christine again. And he immediately knew that her voice was a natural talent and not something one had practiced over the years. Of course, it could use some fine tuning and he knew exactly what to do. He had watched her last night, came to see what she really looked like, and found her to his liking. Now, she was his key to be noticed again, but he'd do it differently this time. Much differently.

Meg and Ana were in a fit of giggles as they returned, their arms laden with their purchases. Meg was telling Ana about the time Carlotta was caught on a nail and she began to walk away from the place and all of a sudden there was this loud rip and Carlotta's rear was exposed to the audience. She had flushed a deep crimson then ran off the stage crying loudly in vain. They went into another fit of giggles and soon it came time for the two to part ways. Since there was no opening yet on the dancer's dormitory, Ana was still separated from the dancers. So she stayed near the Manager's office and near Madame Giry's room. Despite her room's small size, she was rather lucky. On the cooler nights, she received heat rather quickly. Pulling the key out of her apron pocket, she twisted it and felt the lock click. Pushing the door open with her shoulder, she entered the slowly darkening room. Putting her parcels down on the bed, she turned to light a candle and as she was blowing out the match, her eyes caught sight of an envelope on the vanity set. It was an off color white that had been sealed with red wax and had a grinning skull facing her. Curious about who would send her a letter, she carefully tore the letter open and looked at the card.

"Good afternoon Mademoiselle Knoll,

I would first like to extend a welcome towards you and a congratulation on getting into the ballet corps. Mme Giry is really cracking down on who get's in. I am pleased that she has picked someone as graceful as you. I would also like to extend my appreciation for singing so beautifully. I haven't heard that good of a sound for quite a while. I also overheard how you want to a famous singer. I could make that happen under one condition, you will need to work hard and long on your voice.

All I ask from you is complete trust and of course, for you to run some errands for me at certain times. For example, tonight I am in need of more candles, matches, and mayhaps a bottle of wine. Don't worry about the people in the kitchen, they'll give you wine freely as well as the candles and matches. All you need to do is ask. I will pick them up in front of your mirror later this evening. I advise that you should not be in this room, otherwise you might be....tempted to tell someone about me, and we can't have that.

Until this evening, then.

Signed,

O.G

P.S. You really do look like your mother."

Ana felt her hands trembling slightly. She thought this was a cruel joke that someone, maybe one of the actresses or stage crew had set up to scare her. After all, she had bluntly told Meg that the story was a nice way into welcoming her to the Opera house, but she didn't believe in the Opera Ghost or any ghost nonsense for that matter. And, who had heard her singing on the stage? Unless one of the stage crew hands were up in the flies and just happened to be listening. But no one had seen the picture of her mother, no one except Meg and Mme. Giry.

"Whoever you are, you won't scare me! I don't believe in such things as ghosts or phantoms for that matter!" she muttered loudly. But none the less, if someone was playing a cruel joke, she decided to play along. So going back out of her room, she picked up the items and left them on the bed. Then stepping behind the screen, she began to undress into something more comfortable when a distinct click resounded through her small room. Someone had entered her room!

Dun dun duh!! What will happen? Tune in next week, or tomorrow, depending on how fast I can type up the fourth chapter!