Chapter One
DISCLAIMER: OK; I don't own phantom of the opera. Plain and simple
Dear Humble Readers,
welcome to LittleFlowerLei's new verison of Sweet Melody. Yes; somethings have been changed in the fic as mentioned in the previous fic. She is going deeper into Karen and Iris's past; and Iris comes in from the beginning. LittleFlower has asked that I do not spoil the story for you all; for some things have been added.
LittleFlowerLei's humble and obediant servent,
O.G.
Karen Edalene and Iris Edalene had been living in the dormatories of the Opera Populaire for two years; their mother had passed away not long ago; and the two girls had retreated to the Opera Populair; where they trained in the art of ballet. Both the girls have brown hair; but Karen's is longer than Iris's. Karen's is strait; and drapes down her back. While Iris's is curled; and rests on her shoulders. Both of them have emerald green eyes; which sparkle when they are excited.
Their mother died of an illness. They could remember it so clearly. It was a warm summer afternoon; she seemed so healthy; and happy. She played with Iris; and allowed Karen to join in the fun. They played in the forests behind their lake home; and enjoyed the sun's rays.
But that night; when the moon was up and the sky was studded with diamonds. Nature was making it's soothing music all around them; the crickets playing their tiny violins; and the owls singing along. Karen, Iris, and their mother were eating dinner; when their mother began to cough. Hard.
"Mother." Karen began gently; rising from her spot at the wooden table and standing near her mother.
"It's nothing dear." Her mother told her between raspy coughs. "It's just something I caught; Really." But Karen and Iris felt there was something wrong.
"Iris. You go for the doctor." Iris nodded and took off for the clinic; where the doctor was waiting. Karen sat beside her mother at her bedside; waiting for Iris to come back.
Near eight; Iris returned with the doctor; whom himself was scrawny; and wore large glasses.
"What is the problem?" He asked. Karen told him of the coughs; and while she was waiting; her mother began to have a fever. The doctor asked them to leave; so they did. Waiting outside their mothers room for what seemed like forever; the doctor finally came back out; he talked to the ladies. "I'm afraid she's very sick. Living through the night won't be something she'll be able to do."
"Did we-?" Karen started to ask; but he shook his head quickly.
"Oh no!" He began. "This is a sickness that runs in the family. She has always been sick; but it is just now kicking in. I'm worried now that you two will have it too." Karen and Iris looked at each other unsteadily; but soon went to their mother's side. She was resting on the bed; reading a book.
"My darlings, I'm sorry. That my sickness is yours too."
"Mother; don't talk like that." Karen began. "Whatever happends, we can get through it together.Your not going to die." But her mother shook her head and put her book away.
"But I am my child, you heard the doctor; I probably won't live by sun up." Karen and Iris both looked at each other grimly.
As the night pressed on; and as their mother's illness grew worse; the girls never left their mother's side. Her other-wise rosy cheeks; were pale; and beats of sweat sat on her face as her fever rose to dangerously high levels. Their mother always held their hands; never wanting them to leave her.
"Children.." Her mother's hoarse voice began. "I want you to go to Paris; Madam Giry has promised me she'd take care of you. Go; and live in the opera Dormitories."
"mother.." Karen whimpered. When her mother took her last breath; and her hands grew cold; the girls knew she was gone. That morning; when the doctor came to check up on her; he saw her dead.
"What will you children do now?"
"Mother wants us in Paris; with Madam Giry." The doctor nodded; and took their mother's body away. On their way to gather what little things they had; Iris began to cry. Karen knelt down beside her; took her in her arms; and wept too.
Now; almost two years later; the girls have shown no sign of illness; and Madam Giry thinks the sickness skipped two generations. Karen is showing great talent for the ballet; but she doesn't like it. She doesn't like prancing around while everyone will only care if La Carlotta messes up.
"Dancers are just as important as Carlotta." Giry often scolded her. "If you mess up; everyone does."
Meg Giry had become one of Karen's best friends; Madam Giry often treated Karen and Iris as her own; because she and their mother were best friends as children; and when they were born; Madam Giry was asked to be their god mother.
But truly; Karen and Iris only had each other. It was true that Madam Giry was caring for them; but Iris and Karen had something between them; something that only sisters whom had to depend on each other had. They were the last thread in their family blanket. Bits and pieces had been torn off due to illness; murder; and old age.
But for the time being; they just went about each day at a time. Iris went to school at the church while Karen practiced her ballet.
Iris jumped around with her sister; in unison with the other girls; her thin skirt floating above her tiny legs which were covered by lace leggings as she twirled around. Her sister was just as gracious; but at the same time more clumsy.
"Break!" Shouted the instructor. All the girls dispersed; Iris trailing along behind Karen as a lost puppy would.
"Karen! Wait!" Karen turned and saw Meg Giry trying to keep up. "You go too fast." Karen snickered.
"If I am to slow; my fate will catch up." So she began to run. Through the halls and sliding down the marble staircases. Iris giggled as she struggled to keep up with her along side Meg Giry.
Karen only liked one thing about her ballet stalkings: They could slide on the floors. she had kicked her slippers off on the way down the halls; which she knew would make Madam Giry angry.
"What fate is she speaking of?" Meg asked Iris; whom was still wearing her ballet shoes; and was now carrying Karen's.
"who knows? Karen speaks of such things I cannot understand. She believes fate is inevitable; but she does her best to avoid it; keep ahead of fate and stop it from catching up to her." Meg sighed and kept running after her.
"Why is she running from us though?" Iris just grinned and tried to run faster.
"She's glad to be free from the Ballet." so they kept running after her; Meg almost caught her by her sash; but missed and almost fell down the stairs. Iris had caught her as she tried to exit the Opera Populaire. Meg laughed as the young Edalene girl tackled her elder sister onto the stone pavement of he streets.
