Disclaimer: I do not own most of these characters, just a few here and there that I have made up somewhere along the line, and you'll be able to pick those out easily. I do not own any of the songs in the story either; I just really love them and find that often songs just fit in too well in my stories. I'm going through another "Scarlet Pimpernel" phase right now, so more lyrics from that show might pop up here… oh, right, and I don't own any of the Shakespeare either. Please read & review, I am always open to any ideas and suggestions. Onward ho!

The following day passed so rapidly for Carlotta that when she retired to her dressing room at 7 that evening to get ready for the show, she was unsure of where the day had gone. She had risen before 6 that morning and had been on the go since then; her injury had thrown off her schedule of appearances and she had several interviews and photo appearances to make, and she spent the entire day catching up.

She was exhausted by the time she returned to the Opera House and put up no fight as one of her maids did her make-up for the evening's performance. As she sat in front of her vanity trying to concentrate on Tosca and get in character, her eyes spotted that day's paper on her table. Lucio's picture was on the front cover, and she snatched the paper up with such frenzy that her maid poked her in the eye with the eyeliner.

"Signora, I am so sorry!"

Carlotta ignored the apology and her watering eye.

"Oh no!" she exclaimed, "No, it cannot be, it cannot be! It must not be!"

She dropped the paper and snatched up the phone and could not control her breathing. Just then, there came a loud pounding on the door and Carmen burst in.

"Carlotta!"

Carlotta dropped the phone and spun around, her eyes wide with terror.

"Leave me", she said to her maid.

"But Signora-"

"I said leave me!"

The maid left and Carmen turned to Carlotta.

"I was just calling you, Carmen… didn't I tell you this would happen!"

"Carlotta-"

"What am I going to do!"

"Carlotta-"

"What if he comes after me and-"

She felt a slap across her face.

"Carlotta! Get a hold of yourself! That's why I came, I just read the evening post, I came to warm you…"

"Carmen, he's going to come after me, I just know it! Why else would he have broken out!"

"Don't make me slap you again, Carlotta… listen, I just came to warn you and tell you to be careful… don't go anywhere by yourself, Lotta, please… I'm going to do my best to track him down… but please, please, please… promise me you'll keep yourself safe."

Carlotta stared at Carmen.

"I should never have said yes."

Carmen looked at Carlotta intently.

"Please be careful."

"I will."

Carmen started to leave.

"If you will, Carmen… I believe my maid to be in the hallway…"

Carmen opened the door and tripped on the eighth package from Carlotta's secret admirer.

"Lotta, you've got another one…"

"Hmm?"

"You've got another package…"

Carlotta stood up and walked over to the door and took the package from Carmen. She watched Carmen leave and upon seeing Carlotta's guest leave, the maid returned to Carlotta's service.

As her maid finished her make-up, Carlotta sat motionless, the package sitting unopened in her lap with the card. When the maid moved to her hair, she allowed herself to open the card.

Carlotta darling,

Allow me to present you here, on the 8th day of Christmas,

with something that I know warms your heart greatly.

You must be patient, my love, four more days, and then

I shall reveal myself to you.

Your every look makes my heart take flight.

Be patient, mia cara. We shall soon be together.

Your Secret Admirer

Carlotta opened the package and squealed with delight. Inside lay a bottle of her favorite imported perfume.

"Signora?"

Carlotta ignored the maid. Her happiness, however, was cut short when her eyes saw the newspaper on the floor. Lucio had escaped from jail, and she feared that he would come after her. Oh, how she wished she knew the identity of her admirer? Perhaps he would be able to protect her from this genius turned madman!

She finished getting ready in a half-dazed state and went about her warm-up in an almost mechanical way. She could not take her mind off Lucio's escape.

Before she knew it, she was on stage making her first entrance and singing her most passionate Tosca yet to Ubaldo's most zealous Mario. Every word that she sang to him she meant – "Do you not long for our little house that is waiting for us, hidden in the grove? Tosca burns with a mad love! Tosca's blood burns with a mad love!" It was thrilling.

The rest of the performance only got better, and in the final scene, Carlotta sobbed over Ubaldo's lifeless body so much that she could barely get her words out. Her hands and her body trembled with sorrow, and by the time the performance had concluded, she felt drained of all her energy. Her performance was truly electrifying. At the end of the evening, she was greeted by a twenty-minute ovation.

She spotted by Ubaldo backstage once more with Yvette; the girl had her arms entwined around his neck and seemed to be whispering something into his ear. Perhaps that was not was Yvette was doing at all, but that's what Carlotta told herself that she was doing. She could not bring herself to accept the reality of the situation. She simply could not believe that Ubaldo was having a serious relationship with this girl.

Carlotta was the last in the cast to return to her dressing room to change, and upon doing so, she discovered a note taped upon her door.

Speak to me again as you spoke before;

So sweet is the sound of your voice.

Carlotta paused. Those were the words that Mario sang to Tosca in Act III before being killed. Instead of seeing the beauty and the revelation contained within the note, however, she was blinded once more by pain, and she tore the note off the door and crumpled it. She flung her door open and slammed it behind her as she threw the note down on the floor.

As she took her costume and make-up off and changed into something more comfortable, her heart once again betrayed her head, and before she knew it or could control herself, she was once again sobbing.

Suddenly, she heard something rustling behind her. Had someone been in here the entire time? Had someone watched her breakdown?

"Who's there?"

No response.

Carlotta looked around. It wasn't Figaro – Figaro was curled up in front of the fireplace asleep.

"I said who's there!"

Still no response. Perhaps she had imagined it. Another sob escaped her lips and more tears followed.

"Oh, Baldo…mio amore… why must you do this to me? I would sooner end my life with my own two hands than endure this suffering!"

She hears footsteps behind her, and then there came a voice.

"Do not turn around, Lotta… fear not, I will not harm you".

Carlotta was instantly paralyzed byte he voice. It was very familiar…

"Who are you?"

"Only few days time will tell you who I am, cara… but if you cannot wait until then, you need only look inside your heart, and there you will find me. Trust and believe in your heart, oh poor wand'ring one, for it will not lead you astray… now dry those beautiful brown eyes and remember: appearances are deceiving. Take care and be gentle with yourself."

Carlotta remained silent.

"Do not look so worried, my love… I shall not leave you until Tuesday; I shall visit you in your dreams until then."

Carlotta managed to find her voice.

"Please… won't you tell me who you are?"

"I am he who your heart most desires, Carlotta."

With that, the figure swept Carlotta's hair off the right side of her neck and kissed it before leaving.