VIII

Christine skipped through the house singing a Swedish lullaby quietly to herself. She had spent most of the day playing by herself, since Gustave had been in his room for most of the afternoon.

"Papa?" she sang.

"Yes my little angel?"

"I'm hungry."

"Supper will be soon. Madame Giry and Meg will be coming."

"Oh?" her face lit up and she smiled widely, "then I can show her my new doll!"

Gustave laughed, "Yes, you can show her your new doll."

There was a knock on the door and Christine rushed ahead to answer it. She reached up and turned the handle, allowing the door to open.

"Oh, good evening Christine," Antoinette chuckled, "and how are you?"

"Very good, thank you Madame," she said quickly, "hello Meg."

"Good evening Madame Giry," Gustave said, allowing the two girls to rush past him.

"Oui, but a little cold."

"Yes it is. Supper will be served soon, stew I think."

"Hmm, that sounds quite nice on an evening such as this."

After supper Antoinette and Gustave watched as Christine and Meg played on the parlour floor, Meg seemed quite taken with Christine's dolls and Christine was happy to share them. As they played Antoinette and Gustave talked quietly about affairs at the opera.

"The Bal Masque is held every New Year, it is quite an event and we are all allowed to attend."

"Everyone?"

"Oui, well myself and you would be attending along with Monsieur Reyer and most of the other musicians."

"It sounds like fun," he sighed, "and all we have to do is survive through another performance."

"Unfortunately."

"Papa can I sing for them?" Christine asked, scrabbling onto her father's lap.

"Of course Christine."

Christine almost seemed to bubble with excitement, "Can you play when I sing?"

"Of course, excuse me for a moment Madame."

Antoinette nodded as he went to find his violin. When he returned Christine bobbed up and down on her toes.

"What would you like to sing?" he asked.

Christine decided on a Swedish lullaby and Gustave played quietly for her. Antoinette found the little girl's voice terribly beautiful, like a little bird singing in the spring. Not only that but she loved it, her face lit up when she sang. Some day, Antoinette thought, she would become a great singer. Maybe even in the Opera Populaire.

"Was I good papa?" she asked eagerly.

"Very," he replied and kissed her on the top of her head.

Christine nearly squealed with excitement as Gustave set his violin down. Christine yawned and returned to the floor with Meg. Antoinette smiled almost sadly, she hadn't seen Meg so happy in a long time.

"Would you care for some tea?" Gustave asked, "the maid has gone home I think, but I could attempt to make some myself."

"Yes, thank you."


"Masquerade, duh duh duh duh…" Erik sang quietly and he wrote carefully on the small piece of paper.

It had been three weeks and the opera was nearly ready to perform and his salary was once again due. He had even been kind enough to give them an extra week, though that was perhaps because he had lost track of time. Composing did that to him, he could spend hours at the organ and not even realize it.

Not only was there to be a performance in three days, but a week after that would be the Bal Masque. Those were always amusing. Hundreds of people dressed in extravagant costumes and bizarre masks, usually getting drunk and making fools of themselves.

"Masquerade, look around there's another mask behind you."

Folding the note he slipped it into the envelope and sealed it. Rehearsals were on at the moment, which meant it would be the perfect time to sneak up and leave the little message. That way it caused a bit of a panic, after all what if the Opera Ghost had decided he did not like the performance?

He chuckled at the thought and headed over to the gondola, he had gotten in the habit of wearing the cloak all the time due to the cold weather.

An endless staircase and a maze of passages lead to the stage. Dancers and singers mulled on it, decorated in costumes, finished and unfinished. Monsieur Lefevre was discussing something with a flustered Monsieur Reyer and Antoinette was standing to the side, looking thoroughly annoyed with the manager. Erik felt a twinge of annoyance as well. The damn fool had never quite grasped the meaning of rehearsal.

With all the grace of a cat Erik climbed up to the bridges above the stage, from there he waited for the opportune moment. That moment would be when Antoinette finally stormed away from the men to speak with the dancers. As he waited Gustave began to cough, a horrible hacking cough that seemed to have gripped his chest over the past weeks.

"Honestly," Antoinette snapped, "Monsieur we must continue the rehearsal, we do not have all day."

"My apologies Madame Giry, but this needs to be settled."

"Non! Monsieur Lefevre please, we are all tired and only want this to be over. You may discuss these matters with Monsieur Reyer in your office later."

"But-"

"Non, we have to finish the rehearsal."

Erik chuckled as Monsieur Lefevre hurried from the stage. Monsieur Reyer also looked vaguely amused, though it was hard to tell with that man.

"Good, now where were we," Monsieur Reyer said, obviously flustered by the distraction.

Erik sighed and dropped the note, allowing it to flutter to the ground noiselessly as he slipped away from the scene. It was obvious that it would not be read for some time and he did not have the patience to wait for that to happen.


Hello again and thank you to my reviewers. Lotte Rose 37, yes he is lonely. PersonallyI think that living under a theatre would get a little lonely now and then. And yes, there is a little romance between our ballet mistress and Monsieur Daae. Well I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I look foward to all your reviews and maybe even some new ones.