The cast gathered off one of the wings and listened as Colleen led a brief prayer and everyone asked for one thing in the performance. The tech crew asked for a blessing of the riggings and safe travels through the cat walks, the dancers asked for solid footing and good turns, Davette asked for good reviews. Everyone had a hope and asked that it was fulfilled. Cassandra waved to Ryan as the performers took their places on the stage for the first time in front of an audience.
Everyone giggled slightly when everyone in the audience gasped as the shrouds on the stage went up for the first time. This was the first anyone had seen the newly refurbished stage, the gilt shimmered in the lights and the big chandelier was hoisted high above the audience sending light onto the newly cleaned and gilted cherubs and angels. It was indeed a beautiful sight.
"We'll knock them dead…they'll remember that and not us." Matt said smiling as he stood beside Cassandra. "Let's do this, eh Cassie?" Cassandra nodded as Matt took the Parisian stage for the first time as Piangi. Cassie's turns were flawless, her body moving lithely across the stage with the rest of the dancers. When it was time for 'Think of Me' she sang it strongly and proudly. She glanced to the wings and saw Mr. Villefort looking back at her, green eyes burning, a shadow of a smile on his face. During 'All I Ask of You' she couldn't help but glance over Ryan's shoulder to see where Villefort was. She wanted to talk to him as soon as the curtain came down. Mark, crouched above them on the angel coughed once and got snagged as he tried to rise up and sing the reprise, but other than act the first act was flawless. Cassandra was quickly shoved into the gown for the end of the act and stepped out of the curtain into the footlights just in time to see the Chandelier swinging. She could hear Mark's line, but was concentrating on the fixture above her. From the time he said 'Go' she had exactly four seconds. Ryan had six seconds to run from stage left, grab her and whisk her out of the way just in time.
It came off without a hitch and looked so natural several people in the audience screamed, thinking that something terribly wrong had happened. Cassie wrapped her arms around Ryan and smiled at him as they disappeared off stage.
"This is going fantastically!" Cassandra said excitedly and pressed a quick kiss to Ryan's cheek.
"You're spectacular out there. We're all knocking them dead!" They raced to get into their costumes for the second act. Cassandra went to look for Mr. Villefort. She found him down a dark corridor beneath the costume loft.
"Mr. V!" He turned and grinned at her. "They're loving it! Isn't it spectacular?"
"Yes….you're doing marvelously out there." He said as he stepped forward and grasped her hands in his. "I knew you could do it." He pushed a strand of hair back off her face, his fingertips lingering a bit longer than necessary. "You should get back to the stage and prepare yourself. Go on!" He watched her grin and rise up on tip toe to press a chaste kiss to his cheek.
"Thank you so much for your confidence in me...in all of us!" She turned away and dashed up the corridorbefore he disappeared into the shadows. Cassie arrived at the stage to take her spot with Ryan for the big dance scene in 'Masquerade.'
Ryan held tightly to her waist and they moved through the steps effortlessly. The movements had become second nature to them, almost like breathing. Everything came off smoothly and at curtain call at the end, Ryan, Cassie and Mark received a long and loud standing ovation. Cassie was handed a large bouquet of roses and waved at the crowd who adored her.
Back stage there was a huge celebration. Everyone was so excited that their performance had been a hit. There were reporters and pictures taken, both by professional photographers and by cast members.
"I can't believe it…I can't believe we did it!" Mia said as she bounced excitedly in front of Cassandra. "You were so awesome!"
"Ladies, a picture please!" Cassie and Mia turned quickly and smiled at the Photographer who took their picture. They were still in their costumes from the final act, Cassie in her white dress, Mia in trousers and flowing blouse. All of the cast was still in costume and the backstage area looked like a Halloween costume party. Ryan came up behind them after the photographer left and they talked excitedly about the performance.
"Just think, this was just opening night….the other nights are going to be phenomenal." Matt and Mark joined them soon after and with that the flashbulbs wouldn't stop. Davette was no where to be seen and Matt excused himself after a few minutes of reporters and photographers complaining of a head ache. Cassandra excused herself from the throng of reporters and went to get out of the heavy wedding dress. After getting changed she went to take a shower and fell gratefully into bed.
"Cassie! Wake up!" Cassandra sat up and went to the door and swung it open to find Matt and Mia standing there.
"What? I'm tired…I want to sleep." Though she'd gone right to sleep after her shower she felt ill rested and cranky.
"Reviews are in and everyone is gathering in the cafeteria. Mr. Giles is going to read them to everyone." Cassie's lethargy left her bodyquickly and shegrabbed a hoodie off the sofa and ran out the door of her dressing room to the dining hall where everyone else had gathered. It was ten o'clock, but after the late night everyone had had, most people were only just getting out of bed. Ryan put his arm around Cassandra as she sat down on the bench next to him.
"Ladies and Gentleman, please!" The students quieted down slowly and looked expectantly at Mr. Giles. "Students, you did exceptionally well last night. I'm very proud of all of you." Everyone burst into applause and cheered. "Now listen…the review is out in the paper, and I'd very much like to be the one to relay the information to you." There was a long pause. "However, it's in French and my French is horrible. So Mr. Villefort will read it to you." Mr. Villefort climbed up onto one of the tables. He looked stunning that morning. For the first time in a long time, Cassandra saw Mr. Villefort not as the tyrannical dictator and director, but as a human being. She saw in him what she'd seen the first day of classes; a remarkably handsome man. The tight, charcoal gray t-shirt he wore revealed a well muscled body, his hair, slightly disheveled brushed away from his face and his green eyes glimmered in the fluorescent lighting. His skin had taken on a healthy tan from the days walking in the Paris sunshine, his smile as he began reading was warm.
If only he weren't a former teacher….
The thought danced across her brain before she could stop it. She looked uneasily at Ryan and stiffened, shocked that such a thing could even dare to force its way into her head.
"The sets are amazing and flawlessly moved about the stage. Ninety percent of what's used in the production was brought over by the students and used in their high school production." The Techies cheered and beat the tables they were sitting at. "The dance troop, captained by Madame Giles would be welcome at any dance school. She is indeed a talented instructor and her students should be commended on achieving such a form, even if some of them are not classically trained dancers, they give the illusion of being such." The dancers squealed in the corner where they were sitting, forcing Mr. Villefort to stop reading. "The costumes are fantastically rendered and play perfectly to the performance. However, it is the vocal talent of the performers which makes this performance tre magnifique."
"Man, my mom got half a line? That's not going to piss her off…." One younger boy said shaking his head. His mother had done a lot of work on the costumes in the states and it was rather disappointing that she only got half a line. Mr. Villefort pretended not to hear.
"Matt Andrews, performing as Piangi carries himself well and has an intonation and color most young men his age couldn't dream of achieving. Amelia Cartwright of Texas sings a lovely alto for the little dancer Meg. Her movements are graceful and poised, the young woman, still in High School in America, will do many great things with her career and go far. Do not be surprised when, in five or six years Miss Cartwright is the leading lady in a big city production." Mia glowed with the praise. "Davette Owens, playing the role of the Diva, Carlotta Guidicelli, did a phenomenal job. Her tonal color lags on some of her songs, but her work on getting the accents and mannerisms of the diva down is clearly evident." Davette looked shocked. "We'll work on that Davette." Mr. Villefort said before continuing on. "Ryan Alexander is a talented and handsome young man. His voice is superb and the passion for which he sings with Cassandra Davagé, who we will discuss later, is evident to all in attendance. This is another man who will do great things if he pursues a performing career. Mark Howard, playing the phantom, is astounding. For a man of such a young age to have a voice developed so is nothing less than a miracle. At the gala performance the evening before he was spectacular, but to see him in the role of the phantom, was nothing less than a magic moment. Mr. Howard made it seem effortless to perform the physically and vocally demanding role of the phantom."
Everyone cheered as Mark beamed shyly to himself. He nodded graciously at the applause and shouts he received.
"What about Cassandra?" Someone shouted. Everyone grew quiet as Mr. Villefort cleared his throat.
"Where was I? Oh yes…..Mr. Howard made it seem effortless to perform the physically and vocally demanding role of the phantom. However, it is Miss Cassandra Davagé who stole the stage yester evening with her spectacular performance as Christine Daaé. The young woman no doubt turns heads where ever she goes, her beauty is stunning and the poise with which she carries herself is incredible for a woman so young. However, her voice, like that of an angel, is enough to take the breath away. So strong and yet sweet, the range this young woman has is incredible. She is a gift from God placed unto this earth to show us mere mortals what true beauty really is."
"That's my girl." Ryan whispered. He hugged her tightly as everyone cheered again. Cassie smiled uncomfortably and indulged the cheers that congratulations that poured across the cafeteria.
"The Phantom of the Opera, performed by the American actors of the St. Marks and St. Isabel's School's is a five star production, and highly worth going to as it is worthy of London, Broadway, Paris or Amsterdam. This author can wholly not wait to see where these young people find themselves in the next few years." Mr. Villefort finished as the room exploded around him. Everyone was in high spirits all day and took everything at their leisure.
Just before it was time for everyone to take their places and get in their final costumes Cassie excused herself from the crowd and congratulations and went up to the roof top. She inhaled the warm summer air and looked out over the city. The sky was tinged a warm summer pink, the sun a great fluorescent disk just sinking below the horizon, casting the city in a blue black shadow. A soft breeze blew Cassie's hair back from her face as she stepped towards the edge of the statue and looked out over the courtyard below where people mingled before being allowed to enter the theater.
"Cassandra?" Cassie stepped back from the edge and turned to see Mr. Villefort hurrying through the door. "Cassandra, what are you doing up here?"
"I just needed some fresh air…."
"A beautiful sight…" Mr. Villefort said joining her beside the statue. "Makes you wish to never leave."
"Hmm…Yes." Cassie sighed as the wind blew through her hair again picking it up off her shoulders. Her dressing gown slipped off her shoulder and Cassie was slow to pull it back up into place.
"Are you nervous about something?"
"A little…after all that hype from the paper….how can I possibly live up to it all?"
"You will because you are a star. You have a fabulous voice. Do you think I would have allowed you to play the part if I didn't think you capable?"
"No."
"Then you can do it…you will be spectacular." Mr. Villefort placed a re-assuring hand on her shoulder and turned her to face him. "Do not worry, you'll do great out there, as you've done every night." Cassandra smiled and they returned inside. When Cassie was finished dressing Ryan found her in the corridor just over the stage.
"Where'd you go?"
"I was up on the roof. I just needed some fresh air."
"I saw Villefort come back too, did he hurt you?"
"Heaven's no….whatever would give you that idea?" Ryan pulled Cassie down into a dark alcove and looked deep into her eyes.
"Because I don't trust him. He's not right Cass…."
"Oh you're over reacting." Cassie said laughing. "He's my instructor, Ryan. He came up to find me and brought me back to finish dressing. Yes, he's seemed questionable and creepy at times but that's just stress...we've all been under a lot of it."
"Is there anything between you two?"
"Ryan!" Cassie looked into his eyes and realized he was quite serious. "This is absurd. There's nothing between us." She reached up and touched his cheek. "I'm serious…NOTHING between Mr. Villefort and I."
"Places people!" Ryan and Cassie moved into the wings to take their places for night two of their performance.
Ryan seemed distant to Cassie the rest of the performance. Even when they kissed at the end of Act I he seemed tense. After she'd changed for Masquerade, she went in search of Ryan. He was in his room buttoning the last of the buttons on his soldier's jacket.
"Ryan?"
"Yeah?"
"Hey, why are you so distant? I mean, it isn't about V, is it?" Cassie came closer as he struggled to get the last button through the hole. He sighed and dropped his hands and allowed her to help him. "It is, isn't it."
"I've seen the looks he gives you…recently you've been giving him similar looks."
"Looks like what?"
"Like you admire him, like you wish you could be closer to him."
"I didn't think I was looking at him like that….I do admire him though." She said quietly as she raised her eyes to meet his. "He's an incredible talent Ryan….how can I not admire him? He put me where I am!" She grasped his arm and implored him to look at her. "I admire him, but I love you." Ryan nodded and smiled at her, but still seemed distant throughout the performance. Cassandra sighed. He was feeling the pangs of jealousy and it would take him time to get over it.
Cassandra returned to the rooftop that night to stare out on the sleeping city. She was thinking about what Ryan had said to her in the dressing room between the acts. She couldn't possibly be falling in love with VIllefort. He was a teacher, he had given her the creeps, nearly worked her to death and had driven her restlessly to where she stood today; a Parisian stage. She sat at the foot of the great Apollo statue and looked down to the cobbles below and then up to the sky above wondering if what she was feeling this moment was a growing infatuation for the man who had once terrified her.
Crouched at the base of the statue, she was barely visible. Her golden hair was tinged a silver blue in the pale light of the moon, the only light present as the great flood lights had been turned off. The wind played through her hair as she sat in the moonlight. Her skin, flawless in the daylight, was like cream under the moon, her eyes dark and lustrous. She was an angel sitting at the feet of angels. She rose slowly from her spot at the foot of Apollo and went back to the dark rectangle that was the door back to the Opera house. She took one last longing look at the moon before disappearing back into the interior.
"Oh, my Angel…you shall never have to look longingly at the moonlight….I shall make you Queen of this night and all nights to come." The other figure on the roof faded back into the darker shadows of the roof and disappeared.