Disclaimer: I do not own the Phantom, any of the song lyrics created by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Madame Giry or any of the other characters that were created by Gaston Leroux that will enter in this story.

Now that we have gotten that out of the way, on with the story. Enjoy.

---

The Mistress of Song

Chapter One-The Overture of Excalibur

Delphine

Delphine hardly knew what to think when her father surprised her with tickets to the opera that was to take place at the newly fixed Opera Populaire.

Part of her wanted to refuse. What use was it of her to go to the opera when her life seemed to be in such shambles.

After her fiancé, Monsieur Robert Lennings (an English gentleman) had left her for her own maid she had just not been up to any social functions. When Annabel Depadieu threw her annual ball she was not even in attendance.

She certainly did not feel up to going to an opera. However, her father's happy look when he showed her the tickets broke her heart. She couldn't possibly refuse him. Few things gave him happiness, pleasing her social needs was one of them. "There won't be a person not in attendance." He said. "You shall be the most stunning one there." She gave him a reassuring smile and thanked him.

As she sat in her room in front of her vanity she knew that she would have to put on a mask to cover up her pain and unwillingness to go to such an event. She would do it, however, because she wanted her father to know that she appreciated his effort.

She climbed out of the carriage with her head held high. Her midnight blue cloak moved in the wind to reveal her tight fitting black dress. Her father followed in her suit. As she entered the Opera Populaire her heart sank to her feet.

Not five feet away was Annabel Depadieu and her sister Clarice. Annabel gave her a smile and tried to wave her over. Delphine looked to her father, praying that he would demand she go straight to their box. He didn't. "Mademoiselle Depadieu wants you to go over." He said. "Why don't you?"

"Papa, shouldn't we go to the box? The show is bound to start soon."

"Delphi," He said to her. "you should socialize with your old friends. Nothing cures the heart like some good socialization."

"But, papa…sometimes the heart just needs solitude." She tried as she looked anxiously at him. "I just need more time to myself. I cannot face that yet."

He sighed and patted her shoulder. "All right, darling. Remember though, that too much solitude is never a good thing." He began walking up the stairs to their box.

Delphine looked at Annabel and waved a friendly hello before she flew up the sitars after her father.

---

As Delphine adjusted herself in the seat she saw the chandelier go dim. As the auditorium fell quiet she could have sworn she heard the sound of feet shuffling behind her. She turned back but there was no one. The two other chairs placed in the back of the box were empty.

She turned her gaze on her father. He smiled at her and pointed toward the stage. "Wait until you hear Antoinette De Bellizzio sing." He said. "It will be terrific."

She turned to her attention to the stage. At that moment, the luscious red curtains were pulled back and a group of women dressed in simple dresses walked out. She looked down at her program and strained her eyes to try and read the name of the opera. She realized that she did not remember it.

The light was too dim and she couldn't see anything on the paper. She set it in her lap and tried to pay attention to the women singing about some absurd party that a duchess was throwing. The thoughts began to swirl in her mind. She tried her hardest to pay attention but it all seemed so trivial. What could possibly be the point of so much fretting over some party designed to bring them all mates.

She stood so abruptly that she nearly fell back down. "Papa, I need some light. I'll be right back." She said quietly as she turned back toward the exit of the box.

"Where are you going?" He asked with a concerned look on his face.

"Just out side." She answered. "Just outside."

She let the light of the loggia meet her and she squinted to try and focus her eyes better. There was not a person about. Of course the opera had only just begun a half hour ago and she didn't expect anyone to really be out and about. She leaned against the wall and took in a deep breath.

"This is all to much." She said to herself as she brought a hand to her forehead. She was about to go back into the box when laughter reached her ears. She crept over to the rail and looked down to see a couple come in. They were holding hands and they regarded each other with adoration. They looked up to see her.

"It's really coming down." The man said to her. It was than that she realized they were drenched. The woman gave a giggle and pulled her beau off toward the admittance doors.

How sweet. She thought bitterly. An innocent love, not yet ravaged by the howling wind of betrayal. Wringing her hands together, she drifted back into the box.

---

After the show, Delphine and her father were greeted by the new owners of the Opera House. "We are very glad that you and Mademoiselle Aubade came." Monsieur La Fuevre said. "Knowing what your daughter is capable of doing with music, it is great to know she liked the performance."

"It was very good." Delphine lied through her teeth. The dancer's lounge was becoming stuffy. She felt an uneasy dizziness begin to take over her. "Can you tell me which way it is to the roof, Monsieur La Fuevre. I need a bit of fresh air." She said trying to resist the urge to fall down.

"Oh of course. If you walk down this hall you will see the dormitories. Ask Madame Giry to escort you. It is a bit dangerous if you do not know the way." She nodded her head and left the lounge.

Once she was in the hallway she used the wall to support her. This was an odd occurrence. She had never felt so unstable before. As she reached the end of the hall there was a rustle of fabric. She jerked her head back just in time to see a man cloaked in black fly down the hall. She did not see his face, or rather anything but the cloak. Yet she knew it was a man by the build. With her hands shaking, she steadied herself and peered around the corner. A woman stood there staring at her. "Excuse me, are you Madame Giry?" She asked. The woman nodded her head.

"What do you need, child?" She asked with a thick accent that was not impatient.

"Monsieur La Fuevre told me that you could escort me to the roof?"

"Oh, of course." The woman said. She looked at Delphine's trembling figure. "Are you all right?"

"I'm just a bit dizzy." Delphine said. Madame Giry approached her and offered her a hand. She took it gratefully, and let herself be escorted up above the suffocating interior of the Opera House.

---

Once on the roof, Delphine let out a sigh. She looked at the statues of the Greek gods. "It is very beautiful up here." She said as she took notice of the sleek look the rain had left. A playful spring breeze whipped about her, relaxing her highly strung nerves.

"Yes, the whole Opera House is a work of art." Madame Giry said. "What is your name child?"

"Delphine Aubade." She answered. "My father and I were in attendance of tonight's performance."

"You were in the dancer's lounge?"

Delphine nodded. She looked off to the corner of the roof. The sight of the city spread out before her made her wish she had not come up there. It made her even more dizzy. She found herself clutching a statue to stay up right. Madame Giry looked on with a look of concern. "Delphine, I do not wish to intrude but if you felt so sick why did you come tonight?" She asked with a soothing tone. As if she didn't want to upset her.

"I was not feeling like this until I went into the dancer's lounge."

"Perhaps it was all the smoke." She said.

"It could be." Delphine said. "It seemed that as soon as I met the owners I was overcome by a sudden lack of air and the need to get out of there. I felt…I felt somewhat like a caged animal. Do you know what I am saying?" she shook her head. "I guess it is just an anxiety attack." She said.

"If you would like, I could take you down to rest in one of the dressing rooms."

"Oh I couldn't impose on any of the singers." She said. "Besides, my father would not know what happened to me."

"I know a dressing room that no one has gotten assigned yet. I could tell your father were you where so he could come to you when you two should leave." Madame Giry said. Delphine had the sneaking suspicion that Madame Giry was trying to coax her away from the rooftop.

"I think I would rather wait up here for a moment longer." Delphine said.

"It is not safe up here." Madame Giry said with a slight anxiety. Delphine gave her a puzzled look. "It is slippery and cold." She added.

"I guess you are right." She said as went back to Madame Giry's side.

Madame Giry took her hand and began to lead her away from the rooftop. As the door was about to close behind her Delphine could have sworn she heard a cloak rustle just behind them.

---

Delphine sprawled herself along the chaise lounge. She looked about the elegantly decorated room that Madame Giry had brought her to. The vanity in one corner of the room look rather large for any normal singer. It was reserved for the lead role. Empty vases were stacked in one corner of the room. A few boxes lay under a table. It was apparent that room had been used for storage. She looked at another mirror, this one a full length on the wall. Something about it made her highly uneasy. She rested her head and closed her eyes.

As she did so she found herself beginning to drift away. In her uneasy sleep something began calling to her. The music was soft, barely audible over the sound of water being stirred by an oar. It was the sound of an organ, that much she could decipher. She knew her instruments and that was an organ. No piano could make that sound. It wasn't that they were completely different, it was more a matter of how she felt around them. Pianos made her feel light and airy while organs always seemed to make her soul crash down around her.

This particular song was an aria. It's sound made something bud in her soul. The voice accompanying the organ was one of great power. She could not hear the words but she knew the song was a call for strength. As the music seemed to flutter through her mind she felt the dizzy sensation overtake her again. The soft and lovely music turned into a screech of pain. She could feel it echoing in her mind. Beating against her skull. Its sound was that of a soul trapped in eternal damnation. The pain in that screech resounded through out her mind. Setting her soul aflame.

A cold hand touched her burning skin. She flew up into a sitting position and found herself staring at her father. He looked at her with a look of shock. "Delphi, are you all right? You look positively sick."

"Papa," She said in a voice she could barely hear. "take me home."

He stood back. "Why the sudden urge to flee the Opera House?" He asked as if he was under the impression that she enjoyed being there.

As the soft fragment of the aria returned to her she knew the answer to his question. "I have decided I am ready to compose again."

---

Author's Note: Thank you for starting to read this story. I feel really strongly about this story. It took me a lot of effort not to just jump in with the Phantom. He will make his first real appearance in the next chapter. This story kind got concocted in a dream and so I am trying it out in the terms of the Phantom of the Opera since it seems the appropriate setting for a young woman to realize all that life can throw at you. I thought I should warn you that it will probably end up turning into a love story, and probably a tragic one at that. Something about the situation seems to call for it.

Until next time.