Chapter Two:
Michelle stretched before going to the stage and practicing pirouettes and arabesques with the other girls. Being a prima ballerina did have its advantages. Looking upward for a moment, she thought she saw a shadowy figure in the rafters, but when she looked back later it was gone. Could that have been the Opera Ghost?
"Michelle. Please pay attention." Madame Giry shouted at her.
"Yes madame." Michelle answered and twirled around the stage, finally taking position and dancing to her own song.
xxxx
As always, the Opera Ghost watched from above to look down on the ballet rats below. The managers, fools as they were, thought him dead. If he decided to reappear they would know who was in control. However, he decided to wait and to make his appearance when they did something outrageous. The managers had hired a new ballerina from Bordeaux which he, for once, agreed with them on.
Looking down, he saw her dance across the stage. This ballerina was a very talented one and he could tell in the grace of her moves that she would bring in money for the opera house. He was very curious about this new ballerina and that is why he intended to perform an up close inspection tonight.
He didn't know why he was infatuated with this ballerina, but before he even planned to talk with her, he wanted to see her up close and see what her personality was like. He couldn't make another mistake like Christine. He had loved her and in return she had left him for the Vicomte. He shook his head then headed back to the lair.
xxxx
Michelle stretched her legs as the practice for the new opera came to an end. The new opera would premiere within a week and she would be the prima ballerina on the stage. She felt grateful that she could continue her position as a prima ballerina in Paris. Grabbing her towel, she left the stage and proceeded to walk to her bedroom. It was so tiring to have to get up early here. Breakfast was early, then they went into practice, then lunch, more practice, and then dinner. It was a very serious opera house.
As she walked down the hall to her bedroom, she thought about the Opera Ghost. Could he be following her? What if he was dangerous? She shivered slightly due to the thought of a raving madman in the opera house. "He's a myth. Madame Giry was trying to scare me. That's all." She said outloud then took out her key and opened her door to the bedroom.
"He's a myth." She repeated to herself multiple times as she entered her bedroom and looked at the mirror on the opposite wall of the door. Little did she know that she was being watched by the Opera Ghost himself.
xxxx
"A myth, my dear?" He asked quietly as she finally lay down for a nap. "I will have to remedy that won't I?" When he was sure that she lay asleep, he pulled aside the mirror and stepped into her room slowly and quietly. He glanced at her makeup table and saw a picture of her and an older gentleman. Presumably, her father. He then noticed a large black leather-bound book on the makeup table.
He opened the book up and on the inside of the cover it read, Michelle de Chatillion. He did not read past the cover because he did not feel that it was respectful of a gentleman to do so. He knelt over beside the bed and watched her sleep peacefully. Yes, this girl definitely was worth looking in to. "Soon, my dear." He whispered. "You shall meet me and know that i am more than a myth." He then disappeared behind the mirror after closing it.