Phantomsangel102, Silent Remedy and dead littlegirl13: thanks so much for taking the time to review! It means so much for me! You all get Erik cookies! I'll go and make some!

Erik: I'm on a cookie? Whatever works I guess….. (walks off with confused look on his face)

Everyone review and I really hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 2

Etolee reached the stage huffing for air to her lungs. She was very late. She walked timidly through the stage of people; younger and older dancers and adults. She walked passed Calla, the new prima donna. If it was possible, she was worse and nastier then Carlotta. Carlotta had been a snoot and a little monster, but she didn't really bother too many people; some but not everyone. Calla was different.

Calla thought it was her purpose to make everyone feel like they were dirt. She felt it her purpose to make the young girls cry in shame and for even the up-most men of importance to go red in the face with malicious lies.

After she slowly passed the practicing Calla, she moved swiftly and quickly to the ballet area. Oh no, Mme. Giry was teaching this rehearsal! Etolee moved quickly to her place for warm-ups before choreograph began for the new opera.

"Etolee, come here please." Mme. Giry beckoned the girl. Etolee sighed, Charley snickered, and Gabrielle gave her a sympathetic glance. Mme. Giry led the girl behind the near by curtains to speak with her without anyone's curious glances.

"Did you put make-up on your scar my dear?" the girl nodded with a confused look on her face. "Let me see." She touched the girls cheek and turned it sideways to the left, looking at the right side of her face. "Your mother has told you how you got that mark?"

"During birth." She answered quietly. Mme. Giry nodded. That wasn't the truth, and she new that. If Christine didn't want her daughter to know the truth, so be it. She wouldn't betray her trust.

From birth, Etolee had had a horrible thick red and white lined scar down the sideline outlining her face. It was easily covered with powdered cover up; like it was today.

"Now my dear," Mme. Giry said getting very serious. "Why are you so late? You know this can't happen or you will be asked to leave if this continues." Etolee nodded with her head down in shame. "Well?" Said Mme. Giry, her voice rising.

"Mama wasn't feeling well. I had to stay with her till she felt better. She didn't have a fever, but she looked terrible. She looked like she had seen a ghost. I had to stay with her. I'm sorry it won't happen again."

She said all this in a fast quiet monotone. Her eyes kept darting around her like she was scared about something. Mme. Giry realized how much she had frightened the girl.

"It's all right. I won't punish you this time. I do not blame you for being a good daughter. I admire that actually. But I will have a talk with your mother. She has to realize she can't have her almost fourteen-year-old daughter looking after her whenever she feels ill. You have told me this happens often."

"Yes Mme. Giry, it does."

"Your mother has to stop having these little fright fests and get on with her life. She has had some hard things happen to her, but she must get over them!" Etolee cocked an eyebrow.

"What things? Mama refuses to tell me anything! What do you know?" every so often the girl's shyness would melt. She wasn't shy most of the time. Most of the time she was actually quite outspoken and had a bit of an attitude on her; an attitude that often times got her trouble. She only got quiet when she was in large groups or ceremonies or parties. Other than that, she was a very outspoken little girl.

"Never mind. Get your Pointe shoes and grab your music for the singing section of practice today and then we shall begin." Etolee clasped her hands over her mouth.

"You forgot your things didn't you?" She nodded her head. "You better run, your room is on the other side of the theater. You better fly like the wind." She did. She ran so fast Mme. Giry could have sworn she had never seen the girl run past her.

"Etolee! You're going the wrong…. Way." To late. She should've taken the rout across the stage and to the left. But wait. There was another way, the way she had taken.

She had instead gone around backstage and u-turned around. Clever girl, that way was much faster. But how had she known of it? She had only seen the theater once! The child had an amazing memory.

"You're just like your father…" Mme. Giry said to no one but herself.

"What?" said a breathless voice from behind her, startling her. Etolee had gone the opposite way backstage and around, another shortcut ending up right behind Mme. Giry. The girl was breathing hard.

"You didn't have to run child." The instructor said trying to stifle a laugh. Etolee looked at her with her head turned sideways in confusion, an annoyed look on her face. She was still trying to catch her breath.

"You…. told…. me…. to…run. I…did." Mme. Giry sighed as she led the girl on stage towards the others

"What'd she DO to you?" Gabrielle whispered into her best friends ear as they practiced frappes at the barre. She emphasized the word 'do.'

"Tell you later at supper." Etolee answered as the exercise continued. Her friend just nodded in agreement.

"Can we eat on the roof? Papa says it's beautiful up there at night!" Etolee shrugged and smiled.

"If you really want to, alright."

"Why are you being so quiet today Etolee?"

"Because we're going to be…"

"Girls! You can chat later on your time. Now you are on my time, do not waste it!"

"Yelled at…" Etolee finished. The two girls looked at each other and laughed.

"You! The girl with no father, come here now!" She snapped her fingers on 'now.' Etolee shut her eyes and tilted her head back to prepare for the verbal thrashing that would come from the prima donna at any moment.