Chapter 3:

Anna swung around, trying desperately to see who held her arm.

"Let go, Please!" She cried desperately. In the dimness she could not make out a single feature.

"Miss Anna." The voice was deep, but that of a woman. "What have a told you about these passages?" Madame Giry!

"I…." Anna tried to stop her beating heart. She was as good as dead. "I know…"

But Madame Giry was dragging her down the hall and out into the light corridor. Anna tried get out of her grip, but though Madame was a thin woman, she was strong for her age. "Anna, I am so disappointed with you." She scolded gently. "What ever shall you father say?"

"Please Madame, don't tell him!" Anna turned her pleading green eyes to Madame Giry. "Please!"

The woman shook her gray head. "I must Cheri, it is my job."

Anna hung her head, listening as Madame reprimand her.

"There are dangers beyond your imaginations beneath the opera house, Anna. Things you should not get into. And Anna, do not repeat any of this to the other girls. Not even your sister." She said, opening the door to Anna's room.

"Yes madam." Anna said, slipping in before Madame Giry could see that Meg was missing. "I shall remain as silent as the dead."

Madame went white for a moment, then nodded, "You do that." Anna let out a sigh of relief as she watched the older woman walk down the hall. Slowly Anna closed the door, and listened to the silent room. Where was Meg? Was she alright? And what lay under the opera house?

Meg stirred, her head ached, but other then that, she felt fine. Beneath her head, the feather pillow felt glorious, and the silk cover was warm. She sighed, curling up deeper in the pillows. Only then did she remember the phantom voices. She sat up, and looked around the room. It was dark, almost to dark to see anything. She could make out the forms of standing candleholders, she could see above her was a crystal chandelier and beside her bed there was a single rose. She heard voices again; only this time it was a man and a woman. Meg quietly rose from the bed, and crept to the door.

"She's up, Nicole." The man said in hushed tones. Even the sound of his voice was enchanting, or so Meg thought. "Go see to her."

"Oui." The door opened, and to Meg's shock, Nicole entered. who smiled at the look on her friends face.

"What are you doing here?" Meg asked, getting up off her knees, and looked her best friend in the eye. "How did you get here, and who was that?"

Nicole only smiled, and took Meg's trembling hand. "Hush Meg, I shall explain all in good time. Now, lay back down, you took quite a fall back there." Nicole helped Meg back to the large round bed.

"But how?" Meg asked, bewildered. Just the presents of her friend confused Meg. She always knew that Nicole, with her long blond curls, large amber eyes and fair skin was a mystery. Everyone knew that she was the daughter of Meg Giry, and Grand daughter to Madame Giry, but as to who her father was is a mystery on it's own. He'd raised Nicole when her mother had died at birth, but he was never seen or heard from. Meg Giry had been married to him though, and it was said she had other children by him. Some of the rummers where that he was a rich German Duke, but due to obligations else where, it was easier for him to let his wife's mother raise their daughter. Others say he was a Revolutionary Student, who is now arrested. Nicole never spoke about her father, or her past to any one, even Meg and Anna, her closest friends in the world. Now, Meg knew that at least some of it was going to come out.

"Nicole?" Meg took her friends hand, "please tell me the truth, why are you here?"

Nicole bit her full lip, thinking. "Let me start at the beginning. As you well know my mother was Meg Giry, who was great friends with your own mother. Well, you also know the story after the phantom. Well, after your mother left with your father, my mother continued to sing and dance, but she was always watching for the Angel of Music that your mother was always talking about." Nicole paused, thinking, and as she did she ran her fingers across the silk covers of the bed.

"You mean?" Meg was starting to get an idea of what happened.

"Please allow me to finish?" Nicole interrupted, and waited until Meg nodded, "Well, eventually, all of my mother's waiting and praying paid off, and the Phantom finally showed himself to her. He was still heart broken about Christine, but slowly, and with time, he began to heal enough to think about another woman, my mother. My mother fell in love with him, despite his past or his looks, and he fell in love with her. Mama quit the stage, and he left his catacombs, and they moved to a little village where neither of there past would be know, nor papa despised by his looks. He made money by teaching voice. We lived like that for a while, until after I was born, and my mother took ill from something. She died when I was 3." Here Nicole again stopped this time to wipe her eyes.

"I remember mama loved to laugh, and sing and dance. Her and papa would sing together, and it would fill the little house." Nicole's eye took on a longing "They music that filled the house was greater then anything that could ever be put on stage, Meg. Papa could make it soar and fill your soul. And mama brought it to life. That was before she got sick." Nicole stopped again, thinking. Meg wished she knew what was going on behind her friend's liquid eyes. "After mama died, papa tried to raise us the best he could. But raising a girl was not easy for him. So he wrote grandmamma asking if I could be trained here at the opera. That was 5 years ago. But papa could not stand being far away from me, so he moved back to his old lair, and you papa let him, so long as he stays away from your mother, your sister and you. And promises not to hurt or haunt any one." Nicole smiled again,

"You mean?" Meg was puzzled. She was sure she was being haunted, but if he promised not to, besides, why would he want to haunt her? But if not him, then who?

"Yes. The Phantom is back at his opera." Nicole replied. "Now that is my story. But morning comes early, and you need rest. So sleep well. And good night." Nicole rose, "I shall be back to get you in the morning."

"All right": Meg felt tired. "Good night." She watched her friend leave. How interesting in deed. She curled up again, feeling sleep slowly take her over. Her final thought that night was, The Phantom of the Opera is Real!