I do realize that I have been making the story move quickly. It is only because I am trying to have Valerie grow up. I have some plans for her. That is why the story has been so…. blah. I am just putting in kind of "filler" chapters to get to somewhere that I need to be. I thank you for your criticism and compliments. Here is the next chapter. It has something more with the Black Corset…
"I'd like to announce the new star of Hannibal."
Everyone waited for the answer. Erik stood up in the catwalks looking down. The man infolded a piece of paper and read the name out loud.
"Christine Daae."
A/N: Gee, what a surprise.
Christine smiled and walked forward to shake the managers hand. He told her the times of practice and of showing. Christine thanked him and went to find Erik.
"Erik! I got the part!" She shouted looking around to find him.
"I know, I've been watching." He jumped down from the catwalk. "Congratulations my dear."
"Thank you. These are the times for practice." She showed him a small list.
"Do you think it would be better if we stayed out here for awhile? It would be rather pointless to come back here twice every day."
"True, but what about Valerie?"
"We can bring her with us. We just need to rent a room in an inn for about a week. I'll stay with her when you go practice."
"Don't you want to watch me?"
"Listening to my wife sing the same song fourteen times over. Hmmm. No not really. I heard you once. And I'll hear you again at the performance. And also, I bet that the song will be so stuck in your head from singing it so much, that I won't ever hear the end of it"
"You're probably right. Come on, we need to go home and pack. We can leave tomorrow morning. You can leave me at the theater for practice and then go with Valerie to find an inn."
"What about Anne Marie?"
"Oh yes…and fire her."
"Shortest maid job I've ever heard of."
Christine laughed and took Erik's hand. Then they started their way to the train.
A FEW HOURS LATER
Erik opened the door to their house.
"Anne Marie?" He called.
Soon the lady came hustling down the stairs. They greeted her and asked how everything had gone. She told them everything that her and Valerie had done. Then she went to go and get their mail.
"Here you are. This is all that came." Anne Marie said, giving them the paper from Paris.
Erik took the paper and smiled at Anne Marie. He looked at the front page and his eyes grew wide.
"No…" He muttered.
"Erik? What's wrong?" Christine asked.
Erik continued to mutter. He went to the couch and sat down, dropping the paper. He sighed and rubbed his temples. Christine went to go look at the paper that had made Erik so upset. She read the cover title.
BLACK CORSET FOUND BURIED ON ACCUSED MURDERER'S PROPERTY