Little Lotte- I think we are only typing this of your own pleasure, and Erik's. I miss you and can't wait for your return. You are my best friend And I love you.
Madaline stood before the opera house in awe at the beautiful spectacle. She never saw a building that large, with such wealth too. She tried to enter through the main doors, but alas they were locked. The dark night surrounded her, making her quiver.
"I should have waited till morning." She told herself, shaking her head at her ignorance.
"Am I too impatient to wait a few hours, so I could have spent one more night in the comfort of my father's home, instead of trying to find somewhere in the streets of Paris, in the black of night?" She sighed, and made her way down the cold, deserted streets. Only women selling themselves to survive, and those men who bought them, were on the street at such a time of night.
She pulled the red velvet cloak she wore closer to her body, trying to block their stares. The men howled and whistled, making fun at her high class attire.
As she passed by one of the shadow filled alleyways, a large stocky figure pulled her deep into the darkness, pinning her against the cold, brick wall.
"Hello Precious." The vermin hissed in her ear.
"Get off of me!" She screamed, fighting in protest.
"Leave her be!" A voice called from behind the man. He turned to find a rather tall young man, he looked to be around the same age as Madaline. He stood there, fist raised, his bright blue grey eyes flickered with rage for the man.
"Stay out of this boy!" The man hissed at him, returning his attention to the struggling girl.
"Do not touch her!" The young Man pulled the man off her, sending him to the ground. The man's face looked shocked not only at his strength, but his deed.
"That whore isn't worth it anyway." He cursed, storming off into the night.
The young man slowly approached Madaline, who shrunk back, afraid at what he might do.
"Mlle. you have nothing to fear." He spoke calmly. She nodded her head, and let him get within arm lengths.
"Did he hurt you?" She shook her head, still dazed from the experience.
"No, you arrived just in time." A small smile stretched across his face.
"Good. Now, what is a lady such as yourself doing out so late?" Madaline hung her head, not wanting to tell the man.
"I was trying to find somewhere to stay. I only just arrived." With a twisted look on his face, he spoke to her again, in a hushed voice.
"You could stay with me, I'm sure my master won't mind." She looked up at the man, her face beaming with his offer, but it was unladylike to take such an offer from a man. Her mother would surely frown upon this.
"Oh, I couldn't burden you like that, M. It wouldn't be proper."
"Lucius, if you please. M. is too formal." He interrupted her.
"Proper? Is wandering around the streets better?" He asked logically. Knowing she couldn't win this debate, and not wanting to, she agreed, following him.
He took her through one of the back doors of the famous Opera House, into the lowest cellar. She didn't question where they were heading, only in awe at the size of the building. She never dreamed of a building of this magnitude, how her mother was able to live here, she never could have figured her way around it, even given a full lifetime to figure it out.
He lead her along the edge of the underground lake, deep in the fifth cellar. She clung to the tail of his coat, careful not to fall into the dark, grungy water.
""We're here." Lucius called back to her, calming her jumpy nature. She couldn't see anything in the darkness, but she heard him touch something against the wall, a small mechanical click followed. He lead her through what had just been a wall, into a warm, rather large inviting place. Lucius took off his shoes and coat, inviting Madaline to do the same. He took her cloak and his coat, hanging them up on a simple rack, then beaconed her forward into the sitting room.
"Erik!" He called out, sitting Madaline down on one of the love seats, but only silence followed. He looked towards the hall that lead away from the sitting room and sighed.
"He is probably hard at work, but I shall fetch him, he should know what beautiful company we have." Madaline blushed as he disappeared down the hall.
Her thoughts ran over what had just happened.
"Erik, he called him Erik. Like mother's Erik. We are in the Opera House, what if this is the Erik she mentioned about? What if this is her angel?" She whispered to herself.
Lucius returned, a tall, dark man following close behind. The man wore black from head to toe, even wearing a black mask over his face. His ash black hair was regally swept to the back of his head. The only colour coming from his brilliant, golden coloured eyes. He looked over her, swearing he knew her, but not recognizing from where.
"Mlle. My apprentice told me he has invited you to stay for the night, and seeing you I concur with his decision. No women of your youth and class should be out on the streets. Now, Mlle. If you don't mind, what is your name, and business?" She could almost fall over in shock at his voice. Never had her ears heard such an angelic sound. It convinced her he was her mother's angel.
"Madaline De Chagny, M." She spoke at a whisper, but his hearing was impeccable. Beneath his mask his face palled to an almost pure white.
"Honestly, I do not know why I am in Paris." She hung her head, not wanting to give her real reason. Knowing the uncomfortably of the subject, Erik gracefully dropped it.
"Lucius take Mlle. De Chagny to the Louis-Phillipe room. She shall stay there for the time." Lucius Nodded, and escorted Madaline down the hall. She looked back, catching the glow of Erik's eyes.