The sunlight was slowly fading away as Christine Daae walked quickly from the church back to the opera house. She had been saying prayers for the performance that she would be staring in that night. She was still reeling in her mind about it. She, Christine Daae would be substituting for La Carlotta in the opera's new production of "Hannibal" since the prima Donna threw a fit because of another 'accident.'
When she finally reached her room, Madam Giry, the ballet instructor was there impatiently tapping her foot. She looked up with a glare in her eyes as Christine slowly entered her dormitory room that she shared with other girls. "Christine Daae! Where have you been?" "I was saying prayers at the church for a good performance tonight." Christine replied in a small voice. She knew by now what to say at the moments when her instructor lost her temper. "Well get your things. You are to be moved to a new room." Madam Giry snapped at the young dancer. She immediately regretted it, but she had been SO worried about her that she had lost her temper and shouted eat all the ballet girls plus her own daughter that she loved dearly. "Yes Madam Giry." Christine replied in a soft voice gathering her things and placing them in the carpet bag that her instructor had thrust into her hands.
Madam Giry led Christine through the hallways of the opera house to the new room that she had been instructed to put Christine in. She just hoped that Christine would be safe. The elderly woman knew what infatuation Christine's unknown tutor had on her, but Christine didn't know who her tutor was. Madam Giry just hoped that whatever happened, Erik would wait until AFTER the opera was over to do it. They didn't' need ANOTHER catastrophe before the show opened.
They stepped into the room that had been especially transformed and redone for her and Christine let out a small gasp. If Madam Giry hadn't been in on the transformation, she would have had the same reaction. Directly opposite the door was a floor length mirror that had the most delicate pattern of curls and swirls around the edges. Christine dropped her bag and went over to examine it. Madam Giry knew the danger in this, as Christine could accidentally find the indenture that opened it to a secret tunnel. "Christine Daae! You come back over here this instant and put away your clothing. Do you want extra leg stretches before you perform?" Madame Giry snapped at the young girl. "I'm sorry Madam. I will get that done quickly." Christine hurried to say as she rushed back over to her bad and began to separate the clothing that would go into the closet that was on the right of the door from what would go into the large chest of drawers that was beside the mirror.
The theater was packed, and Christine Daae was onstage singing "Think of Me" as no one, ESPICALLY La Carlotta had ever sang it. She sang with the voice of an angel, no one could deny that, and no one wanted to, other than the former prima Donna La Carlotta. Erik, her tutor, was in the catacombs listening to his angel singing and winding the crowd into her spell, just as she had done to him. The only part he didn't like was that her childhood sweetheart, The Vicomte De Chagny, was in the audience sitting and looking at her the same way that he looked at her. The thought made her blood boil. Clapping brought him out of his brooding, signaling that the opera had come to its conclusion. He knew that she would go to light a candle for her father, as she did every night. He quietly slipped though the cold waters that surrounded part of his home and went behind the walls of the chapel that was located in the basement of the opera house. He heard soft footsteps padding down the steps, and Erik knew that Christine had finally come.
"Bravo my dear." Erik said in a husky voice, the one he knew drew her into his web. "Angel? Is that you?" Christine asked, knowing the answer. "My dear, you know quite well that it is I. Why ask?" "Because if you answer it that way every time, I know that it's my guardian angel, my protector, waiting for me." "Good point my dear. But now, sweet angel, you must be off for bed. You have had a long and stressful day." Erik hoped that his ruse would work. He wanted to bring her to his home that night, but she had to be willing to comply with this one wish before he would come for her. "You're right angel. I am tired. Goodnight, my angel of music." Christine blew out the candle, and glided up the stairs to her new room. Erik smirked behind the walls. It would be tonight. She would become his that night.
Christine walked back to her room. Somehow, her angel always knew what was best for her. She supposed it was because he wanted her to be safe, and keep her voice safe. She often wondered if she were the only one taking lessons from this teacher. "Chris! Chris!" Christine turned around as her long time friend, Meg, came running down the hallway, still clad in her stage make-up and ballet costume. "Meg! Meg!" Christine laughed as her friend came panting up to her. "You did great tonight, Chris! I wish I could sing like you!" Meg said with all sincerity. Meg felt sorry for her friend, because she had lost her parents at such an early age. Christine had come to the Opera Populare when her last remaining family member, her father, had died. Meg knew that Christine wished that her mother and father could have been there tonight, but that Christine also didn't dwell on dreams. "Thanks Meg. I really appreciate it." Christine replied, smiling. "Hey! I know. Let's sneak to the kitchen and get a snack." Meg grinned, knowing what the answer would be. "Sorry Meg. I got to go to bed, my…" "Angel of music told me to go to bed." Meg finished mimicking her friend's voice. "Chris, do you REALLY listen to all that your 'tutor' tells you?" "Yes Meg, because he wants what is best for me." With that, Christine turned on her heal and went into her new room, leaving a hurt Meg in the hallway, looking at a closed door, wishing that she could feel the same way about the tutor that Christine did.