Chapter 10
The big show was fast approaching, and rehearsals were longer and more frequent. Thankfully for the tired cast, this rehearsal was almost over for the night. Evelia waited backstage for her cue to go on and do her solo dance. Andre was backstage too, making sure everybody was on standby who needed to be. Andre hadn't looked at Evelia the same way even once after the singing/Carlotta incident. Sometimes he would simply stare at her in disbelief. Now he was doing just that, and it rather irritated Evelia. She couldn't see WHY it was necessary, and she needed to concentrate and listen for her cue. Soon it came, and Evelia went on to do her solo as the piano's introduction played. She was rather tired, but she forgot about that as she danced. However, the song with her solo had to be run through over and over (just because a few other ballet girls couldn't seem to pay attention and enter on cue!), so by the time rehearsal was called to a close, Evelia felt ready to drop onto the ground. She and Meg started to walk offstage, but Madame Giry's voice caught them.
"Miss Evelia!" Evelia turned around
"Yes Madame?"
"Can you please run through your solo again? We are thinking of making a few changes to make it a bit longer"
Evelia wanted to groan and collapse on the floor. She loved doing her solo, but she was already exhausted, and she ached all over! Still, she knew she had to dance, so she walked back to the front of the stage and waited for the music to start. She did the best she could while simply trying to stay awake, and Madame managed to change the choreography a bit and add to it. Finally when Evelia was dismissed, her solo was even better, but she was just happy she could go to bed. She said good night to Madame and ducked behind the curtains backstage to head back to the dormatories. As soon as she pushed past the heavy crimson curtain and got backstage, however, she felt something fly down beside her. She looked and saw a letter flutter down to the ground. It looked like the letter had flown down from the flies above, but when she looked up to the rope-and-plank flies, there was nothing and no one there. She picked up the curious letter to inspect it. On the front was written "Evelia Leticia Chaillé" in neat, script handwriting. She carefully turned the letter over and saw that the letter was sealed with a blood-red skull of wax. She quickly stuffed the letter in her tutu and hurried off to the ballet dormatories. When she got there, she sat on her bed and took the mysterious letter in her hand. Holding a candle in her other hand, Evelia carefully opened the letter. She tried to make as little noise as she could, as she didn't want to wake the others. When the letter was opened, Evelia noticed it was written in blood red ink.
Miss Evelia,
It has come to my attention that you are a very talented singer and dancer. I woulod like to help you develop your talent. Meet me tomorrow at sundown in the far end of the ballet studio. Your hair is to be down, and you are to tell nobody of where you are going and why. Likewise, you are to tell nobody about this letter.
OG
"What a peculiar letter!" Evelia thought, as she read each part carefully. "My hair is to be down? What has THAT to do with anything? For rehearsal, all the dancers are to have their hair in a bun!" But this wasn't a big deal. Reading the next part, she thought "Where I am going and why? I barely even KNOW why!"
Evelia wanted to say no and simply not show up simply because the letter was rather rude and demanding. Still, she didn't know who this was and who she was going up against if she was to disobey. She figured that she hadn't much choice, so she decided she would go. Hair down and all.