Uh oh, what happens when Katey and Meg venture towards the 'bat cave'?

PS

Still Katey's POV

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I looked back to see Meg still standing apprehensively on the other side of the mirror. I pursed my lips and grabbed her hand. 'My, my, what a bad influence I am…' I thought as we carefully made our way deeper in to the tunnel which led to Erik's lair.

I let out a shriek as I felt something crawl over my foot, and looked down to see a little mouse next to my shoe. I felt Meg shiver next to me, and said "I hate mice." in response to my curious look.

We crept along the narrow stone corridor and a strange feeling on being watched hit me. But before I could start freaking out, I felt a hand grab my shoulder. I gulped in air as I was accustomed to doing when Erik came around, but when I turned I saw not Erik, but Mme Giry.

She gave Meg and I mean looks and pulled us back to the dressing room.

I lay awake in my bed, thinking about my day. 'It had to have been the most exhausting day ever witnessed by human kind.' I said, thinking of the production, the aftermath, fainting twice, seeing Erik three times, nearly sneaking into Erik's lair, and being held by Raoul.

At this last thought I smiled and pulled the quilt tighter around me. I thought again how perfect I felt in his arms, him asking me to call him by his first name, and him kissing my hand before I left.

The spot on my hand where he kissed it gave a little tingle, and suddenly I wished that he had kissed me on the lips. I closed my eyes, imagining how that would feel, and fell asleep thinking of how lucky Christine was, forgetting that right now she was probably being cursed at by Erik for taking his mask off.

I woke the next morning a little later than usual, for I was still tired from yesterday, but there was ballet this morning, and we were 'in trouble' for not performing perfect. And besides, we were getting our parts for the new production of 'Il Muto' and I was hoping to get a singing part.

I made my way down to breakfast, and made sure I grabbed a coffee. Though I had never had it before in my life (either of them), unless a chocolate cappuccino from Starbucks counts.

I filled the slightly cracked mug with the warm, sweet smelling liquid, and blew on it a little before I tasted it.

I gagged. "Oh… oh, I think I'm going to…" I started, trying not to throw up on the spot.

"Oh, Fleur! Here, have some cocoa. I thought you didn't drink coffee so I didn't think to warn you that the coffee was terrible. I'm sorry." Meg said, giving me some hot chocolate.

I smiled at Meg's regret, and handed her back her mug, saying that I would get my own.

I walked back to the table with the food and drink and grabbed a hot chocolate and a piece of bread with jam. 'Breakfast of champions.' I thought as I turned to go back, but something made me stop.

"First Carlotta left, and now Christine did too! I heard that they're going to be looking for a new star!" I heard a girl somewhere by the counter whisper. She continued on, but I didn't really notice. I was busy thinking about what was going on in the foyer right about now.

I sat down next to Meg, and we began eating breakfast and gossiping, but were interrupted by a girl who came into the hall with sheets of paper in her hands.

"Cast lists!" she cried, and everyone jumped at her to get one.

It took a little while, but Meg and I managed to grab a sheet. I found Meg's name first. "Meg! You're the maid and you're in the ballet!" I said, hugging her in congratulation. "Let's find you now." Meg said, and she scanned the sheet for my name. "Fleur Delacour- Confidant, ballet! Oh goodness! You get to sing! Oh Fleur, congratulations! Here, what did Christine get?" She asked, handing the list back to me. I looked for a moment before I found her name.

"Christine Daae- pageboy, ballet. Oh! We're all going to be onstage together!" I said, and I started to hug Meg, but Mme Giry bustled into the cafeteria and came over to our table. "Meg, Fleur, Christine has returned."

Meg and I exchanged glances. She thought Christine had returned last night. I of course, knew that she was in 'the lair' but I put on a face to match Meg's.

We both hopped up and followed Mme Giry to Christine's dressing room, where we sat with Christine until she fell asleep.

"I need to tell the new owners Christine has returned…" Mme Giry said, and she motioned for us to follow. We walked to the foyer, and entered as Andre and Firmin were finally persuading Carlotta to stay. I caught a glimpse of Raoul on the staircase and I blushed and looked down. Meg thankfully didn't notice.

"Miss Daae has returned." Mme Giry called out, making Andre, Firmin, Carlotta and all of the other people to turn around and face us.

"I trust her midnight oil is well and truly burned! Where precisely is she now?" Andre and Firmin said. Ok, sang.

"I thought it best she was alone." Mme Giry said. Meg piped up, "She needed rest."

"May I see her?" Raoul said, and I knew he didn't recognize me.

"No monsieur she will see no one." Mme Giry replied.

"Will she sing, will she sing?" demanded Carlotta and Piangi.

"Here, I have a note." Mme Giry said, pulling a note out of her shawl.

Everyone on the stairs moved forward saying "Let me see it!" "Please!" Firmin cried, and Mme Giry handed him the note, looking annoyed by his very presence.

"Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the most amiable nature detailing how my theater is to be run. You have not followed my instructions. I will give you one last chance…" Firmin read. I looked up expectantly to hear the overtones of Erik, but Firmin continued on.

"Christine Daae has returned to you, and I am anxious her career should progress. In the new production of 'Il Muto', you will therefore cast Carlotta as the pageboy, and put Miss Daae in the role of countess. The role which Miss Daae plays calls for charm and appeal, the role of the pageboy is silent which makes my casting in a word, ideal. I will watch the performance from my usual seat in box five, which will be kept empty for me. Should these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur. I remain, gentlemen, your obedient servant, O.G"

"Christine!" Carlotta burst out. "It's all a ploy to help Christine!"

"This is insane!" Firmin said to no one in particular.

"I know who sent this, the Vicomte, her lover!" she cried, pointing an accusing finger at Raoul.

"Indeed, can you believe this?" he said back, but her back was already turned. She was headed for the Prima Donna dressing room to reclaim her things.

Meg, Mme Giry and I followed, along with everyone else and we waited outside to hear what was going on. Raoul stood on the other side of the corridor, and if he remembered me, then he was certainly not saying it. He didn't even look my way. I remembered it was because he was trying to figure out who O.G was and that he was worried about Christine, and that made me feel a little down, but I didn't have time to pursue the subject any longer, Carlotta had burst out of the dressing room with cries of "It's useless trying to appease me!"

Firmin, Andre and her Maids followed her, crying "Appease her!"

Those of us standing in the corridor followed, and tried to catch up on what was happening.

"You're only saying this to please me!" she called back at us.

"Please her!" Andre and Firmin said, trying to get her to come back.

Italian words that I can't spell here

"You scorn his word; beware to those, the Angel see's the Angel knows." Mme Giry warned, but her words were droned out by Carlotta's yell of "You have reviled me!"

We now entered the stage where the ballet girls were already practicing, and Carlotta shoved them out of her way as she shouted "You have rebuked me!"

"Signora pardon us!" The managers begged.

"You have replaced me!" Carlotta waved her muff around to prove her point.

"Signora we beseech you!" Andre and Firmin called after her as she descended off the stage.

We came back to the foyer, Carlotta leading the way, Andre, Firmin, Carlotta's maids and her hairdresser followed closely behind. Mme Giry, Meg, Raoul and I as well as some other people followed them.

As we climbed down the stairs I found myself right next to Raoul, but he paid me no heed.

"I must see her!" he said to no one in particular.

"This hour shall see your darkest fears; the Angel sees the Angel knows…" Mme Giry said to the managers but they paid her no heed.

"Where did she go?" Raoul demanded, again to no one in particular.

"Signora Sing for us, don't a martyr!" Andre, Firmin and Carlotta sang.

"What new surprises lie in store?" us people in the back sang.

"Our star!" claimed Andre and Firmin.

Carlotta threw open the doors and was about to stalk out and completely blow this joint, but a crowd of people stopped her.

You couldn't tell what they were saying, with so many people talking at once, but it sounded mostly like "Miss Daae, Miss Daae!"

But Carlotta didn't notice, she thought it was all for her, that it, until some bold young man leaned forward with a rose and said, "Would you please give this to Miss Daae? Miss Daae!" Andre and Firmin hurriedly shut the door.

"Your public needs you." Andre said.

"We need you too!" Firmin added.

"Would you not-a rather 'ave your precious leettle ingénue!" She said in her thick accent.

"Signora, no. The world wants you." Andre and Firmin said together, and Carlotta turned around, finally satisfied.

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Uh oh, don't think Erik's going to be too happy about this.

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