Cassie began unpacking her things carefully. She'd started calling her room the Rose room because everything in it was a color you could find on a rose bush. It was opulent, extravagant, and everything any girl could possibly wish for. Cassie reached out and touched the fine linens on the bed. The big comforter was lacey and frilly and the large canopy over the bed was made of filmy white tulle over a pale green brocade. Cassie hung some of her things in the closet, including the bag containing all the gowns that the girls were planning on wearing for the gala, which was to be held at the end of the week. Mia had brought down a few of her blouses as well and gawked at the splendor that was Cassie's room.
There was no TV in the opera house, just a closed circuit loop that played a 'coming soon' list of attractions for the Opera House. After five minutes no one could stand listening to it any more. Mr. Giles posted a schedule on the office door that had a list of curfew's, rehearsals, fittings, and events. There would be a movie shown, the opportunity to go out and of course, there was to be an etiquette refresher course for the gala. There was also a lot of free time where many of them planned to explore the theater.
The first day Mrs. Giles drilled everyone until their feet hurt. Cassie turned her ankle and fell just before lunch.
"Cassie!" Everyone came running over to her, Mrs. Giles pushed through and knelt beside her.
"Can you move it?" Cassie flexed her foot slowly. "Can you turn it?" Cassie rotated her foot. "Alright, you turned it a little bit…let it rest, ice it and keep it wrapped." Jason and Andy helped her hobble down to her dressing room.
"Whoa, this is nice." Andy said as they helped her to the settee. "Way nicer than our digs upstairs."
"Yeah, well, it's a nice room, but it's stuffy." Cassie said settling heavily on the chair. "Too many roses…too much gilt." She waved her hand around. "I'd be much happier with the simpler things.
"Well, we'll go get you some ice." Jason said as he and his brother got to the door. "See you in a bit."
Cassie leaned back and sighed against the big red velvet chair and closed her eyes. Her ankle throbbed slightly. She was humming her parts when a light knock came at the door.
"Your ice, madam." Ryan came in with an ice-pack and wrapped it in a t-shirt she'd left lying on the back of the chair at her dressing table. "Which one did you boo-boo."
"The right one smart ass." Cassie said laughing as Ryan sat at her feet and lifted her ankles into his lap gently. She hissed as he pressed the icepack to the slowly swelling ankle.
"Does it hurt?"
"A little." Mr. Giles knocked gently at the door before entering, Mr. Villefort close on his heels.
"Cassandra….how is it?"
"I think I'll be ok, Mr. Giles. Mrs. Giles looked at it and said I'll be fine…I just need to rest it."
"Are you sure?" Cassie looked over his shoulder at Mr. Villefort whose eyes were glaring daggers at Ryan who still sat with Cassie's ankle in his lap.
"Positive." Cassie was un-nerved by the glare Villefort was shooting Ryan. He'd changed so much since they'd arrived in Paris. She was finally picking up on the full fledged creepy vibe that everyone else had been catching since they'd met him. But deep down in her gut, she knew he was a decent guy. "I'll come in this afternoon for my rehearsal. I just don't think I should do all the stage movements."
"Oh, no we weren't going to do that yet." Mr. Giles assured her. "We'll send someone to get you at about two o'clock, alright?" He said as he left.
"Mr. Andrews, you'll be needed earlier than that. I suggest you go prepare for afternoon rehearsals." Mr. Villefort's voice was glacial as he left the room behind Mr. Villefort.
"Yes sir." Ryan called, but he made no motion to move. "That dude seriously weirds me out."
"I'm starting to get that vibe too." Cassie said sitting up slightly. "He's changed since we came to Paris. But I don't know what it is…."
"Yeah."
"You should go though…there's no need for everyone to wait because of me."
"Are you sure?"
"Go." Cassie smiled as Ryan left the room.
Later that afternoon Cassie hobbled to the stage, her ankle wrapped tightly in an ace-bandage. She didn't really need it, but she was doing it to keep the Giles' and Mr. Villefort happy.
"Cassandra, are your vocal chords attached to your ankle?" Mr. Villefort spat late in the rehearsal, slapping a script against his leg. Cassandra rolled her eyes and sighed.
"No." Cassandra answered quietly.
"What was that?"
"No Sir, they aren't."
"Then why aren't you hitting those notes? You've never had a problem before?" Mark coughed behind her.
"I'm not sure. Maybe I'm just a little tired."
"Well, if you weren't dallying with your fellow cast members perhaps you'd be more refreshed for rehearsals." Villefort spat.
"Rick, is that entirely necessary?" Mr. Giles looked up from where he'd been talking to Andy and Jason. "No one is 'dallying' and she's a teen-ager, not a diva." Cassandra's jaw clenched and she clenched her fists at her sides, her gaze shooting daggers towards Villefort. Rehearsals went unwell after that. Everyone was walking on eggshells between Villefort's dictator like aura and Cassie's obvious anger at the man. When they were dismissed it was nearly time for dinner. All meals were being held in a large room beneath the stage and everyone moved to go there. Cassie followed downstairs and sat at a small table with Ryan and Mia.
"What's with Villefort?" Mia asked as she set down her tray. "He's acting mondo weird lately."
"I don't know, but he glared at me when I was with Cass after she hurt herself." Ryan said. "He's always set off ringers in my mind."
"Yeah, well…I think he's lost it. This competition has put a toll on the admin." Mia answered. "I mean, really…orchestrating this whole thing…getting two school's drama teams to set this up? It must be stressful. Maybe he's just snapped."
"Giles hasn't snapped."
"Whatever. How's your ankle Cass?" Cassie didn't answer but got up from her place and went back to the stage area. Ryan made to follow her but Mia grasped his arm.
"Let her go…she needs lots of space when she gets like this." Mia said as she watched her friend go up the stairs. "She needs to let go of some steam and you don't want to be around her."
Cassie strode calmly to center stage and looked out on row after row of plush seats covered in crimson velvet. Gilt carvings of heavenly beings and perfectly proportioned women surrounded the room and held up the mezzanine and upper balconies. The Chandelier's lights were out, but a sky light high in the side of the vaulted ceiling allowed the myriad of crystals to shimmer in the setting sun. She could just make out the painted sky in the fading light. She looked out onto the theater and realized that all too soon those seats would be filled with people watching her. She slipped the sandals from her feet and absently she began to hum as she sat to unwind the bandage from her foot. She stood and began a series of turns and spins around the stage, still humming softly to herself. "Hark to their step on the ground-hear the drums! Hannibal comes!"
"Very good Cassandra…it's good to see that you haven't squandered your talent completely." Cassandra stopped and only then realized that Mr. Villefort was standing just behind her within arms reach. She glared at the man.
"Mr. Villefort." Her voice seemed laced with poison and his gaze softened as he stared at her. She didn't like the look in his eyes. She felt naked before him in her tight dancing capri's and tank top.
"I'm sorry Cassandra. I fear I may have come off despicably earlier this afternoon."
"Yeah…you did." Cassandra stood taller in front of him. She was no longer a student of his, but a former student and as such did not fear for her grade, she was sure no amount of apology could make up for what he'd said. "Your accusations were not appreciated."
"I'm sorry…it's the stress I fear. That and being back in Paris."
"Is that how you know the language so well? And the streets?" Cassandra asked getting distracted.
"Oui." He said smiling and stepping closer to her. "You see, I was actually born just outside of Paris. My mother was Parisian…my father Danish." Mr. Villefort looked up to the Mezzanine and sighed, a glow coming into his eyes. "Theater has been a part of my life since I was born, but to be here…in this theater. It is nerve wracking and yet exhilarating."
Cassie followed his gaze to a seat somewhere in the shadows of the balcony.
"Why did you move to Denmark?"
"Business—of my father's." Mr. Villefort said smiling. "Your turns and ballet steps are coming along well, but what do you know of the classic waltz?"
"Only what Mrs. Giles showed us for Masquerade."
"Ah, that will never do for the gala!" Mr. Villefort straightened himself and bowed courteously to her. "If you would permit me to amend my horrid behavior earlier, I would like to teach you to dance." Cassie looked in his eyes, their green depths engulfing her. Against her better judgment, she placed her hand in his outstretched one and fell into position. She looked down briefly at her feet to make sure they were placed right but Villefort spoke. "No! Don't look down." Cassandra's eyes snapped back to his. "You must never look at your feet. And you must trust your partner and relax!" He added as he felt her muscles tighten when he placed his hand on her waist.
He slowly began guiding her around the stage in slow turns. It took her some time to realize that he was singing Music of the Night, even though the beat was not exactly right for their dance. At the end he spun her slowly away from him and then back in until she found herself practically pressed against his chest, their faces mere inches from one another. She shook her head and pulled away from him and without saying a word picked up her shoes and rushed back to her room, never once looking back at Mr. Villefort and his wonderfully green eyes.