Thank you so much for reading and reviewing my story! Every time I read a review I have to sit down and write. This chapter is a little shorter. But the Phantom had to get these girls eventually.
Chapter 11
Erik had slipped out of the dancers' dressing room just in time. He could hear the shrill irritating voices of Silana and Felicia as they came closer down the hallway. He ducked into a dark corridor and waited for them to pass.
"It's six-thirty, Silana, we should hurry and get changed," said the shorter of the two less than attractive ballerinas.
"Ah yes, another performance, and another night of worship for the lovely Princess Meg. It's only our second show, and I'm already tired of everyone gushing over her," Silana replied spitefully.
"I really don't see what is so wonderful about her. Her dancing is mediocre at best. Why is she always the center of attention?" Felecia whined. "Did you know that the Marquis de Condorcet asked to meet her last night?"
"The Marquis… what a waste! She probably wouldn't even see him. She snubs all the gentlemen who come to see her. She thinks she is too good for them."
Erik smiled to himself as he hid in the darkness at the thought of Meg denying the infatuated admirers who came to call on her.
"Maybe she needs a few more bloody rats in her shoes," Felicia said cackling and confirming what Erik already knew.
"That's a good idea, but I am afraid we may get caught. I think Darcel, her faithful servant suspected us last time. But don't worry we will teach that snotty ballet rat a lesson that will humble her very soon," Silana said smiling slyly.
I think it is you, Mademoiselle, who will be humbled this evening, Erik thought to himself as he disappeared down the hallway.
Meg was warming-up on stage about an hour and a half before the second performance of Samson et Dalila was to take place. She had on her winter white satin bodice and her white ruffled pannier, but she had not yet had her hair and make-up done. She went through a few basic steps, and then started to move on to some turns and spins.
In the midst of a few simple pirouettes, Meg felt someone's hands around her waste. She was lifted into the air and then gently placed on the ground. She was guided into a spin only to turn around and see Darcel smiling and looking back at her.
"You startled me Darcel," Meg said playfully slapping him on the shoulder.
"What is wrong with you Meg? You are so jumpy lately. Honestly, who else around here is going to grab you, pick you up and spin you in the air?" he replied sarcastically.
No one, Meg thought, feeling very pathetic and sorry for herself for a moment.
As more dancers and vocalists began to file onto the stage, Meg and Darcel were abruptly interrupted from the rest of their conversation. They were shocked when they looked up and saw Felecia and Silana walk onto the stage.
"Ladies! What on earth is the meaning of this?" Madam Badeau demanded in an alarming tone.
Everyone stared at the two girls simply dumbfounded. They were both completely dressed in their costumes, and their hair was fixed into perfect smooth buns, but their faces were what astounded everyone. Their skin from the neck up was an undeniable shade of green.
"Is this some kind of joke? I will not have pranksters in my ballet corps, ladies," Madam Badeau continued.
"What are you talking about Madam, we haven't done anything," said Silana questioningly.
"Haven't done anything? Just look at your faces! Go wash them this instant!"
Silana and Felicia who were both extremely confused at this point ran over to the nearest make-up mirror. Everyone watched in silence for their reactions.
When they both got to the mirror the piercing shrieks they let out were music to Erik's ears as he watched and enjoyed his handy work from the shadowed rigging above the stage.
"We……We're green!" screeched Felicia.
They both started to frantically rub their faces. Silana spit on a small rag and drug it across her face as hard as she could.
"It's not coming off!" she wailed.
Both girls kept rubbing and then started to weep.
"Madam Badeau, what are we to do?" Silana asked pitifully.
"Well, you cannot perform like that. You look ridiculous. Your understudies will have to fill in for you until we can get you… um…well…less green," she replied. Then she asked, "What on earth did you put on your faces?"
The girls looked at each other.
"We just put on our make-up, nothing different. I promise" said Felicia.
"You must dispose of it at once," said Madam Badeau. "It is clearly contaminated. And girls, you should really go to your dressing rooms, I'm afraid you may disturb the audience members if they see you."
Both girls ran from the stage in a whirl of tears and tutus.
Darcel was the first to break the silence in an uproar of laughter. Everyone else began to laugh as well. Even Meg smiled and giggled.
"Really, Darcel, we shouldn't laugh at them," Meg said.
"Oh Meg, you are too kind. I mean, could it have been more appropriate? The two of them…green! You know, green with envy. Someone has a wonderful sense of humor!"
The moment Darcel said the words Meg knew exactly who had tampered with Felicia and Silana's make-up. She remembered the Phantom voice telling her that they were jealous of her. She remembered how she had laughed when he had talked about their "lack of talent."
Meg looked up into the rafters just in time to see a black cloak swish and disappear into the shadows.
