Chapter 24: A Whole New World.

Meg awoke the next morning to a brilliant light on her face. It was warm and welcoming but the room was not her own. It was far nicer than the small room she had been given in the ballet dormitory. The bed was much bigger and far more comfortable, with lush purple drapes, of velvet, that hung from the four posters of the bed. The window was lined by a lighter shade of purple and of a light linen fabric. It was a truly wealthy feeling in the room. The bed and the other furniture was made of dark wood and the walls were painted a light creamy colour. She walked to the window, a silk dressing gown hung loosely, on her well toned body. Outside the window she could see the brilliant green of the Phantom's garden. There in the light she could see Erik and his animal. She knew she was feeling something quite different for him now. She was not at all alarmed to find herself in his underground palace, she had followed him there the previous night. But she didn't remember much of what happened. She remembered dancing but after a lengthy practice and more beautiful music than she could ever imagine she had fallen away from herself. She didn't even remember changing her clothing, but it didn't bother her, she felt comfortable and please to know she was safe. She almost felt like she belonged there or like she had always been there with him. It was more of a feeling of home than she had ever felt. It was strange to feel so comfortable in a place she had only visited in darkness. It was even strangers still to see the place in such brightness. The lights that blazed down from the ceiling gave of a radiant light and a warming heat. It almost felt tropical. It was no wonder the animals and the plants did so well in this underground paradise.

At one end of the room a fire had died down to coals in the fire place. A bright pink glass vase sat on a circular table, filled with flower, the likes of which Meg had never seen. Pinks and purples and whites so vibrant and sweet they could never have ever grown in Paris, not even on the nicest of summer days. The room smelled sweet, like citrus and tropical fruits. Beside the vase she found a tray with beautiful china plates and a goblet filled with juice. There were breads and fruits that Meg had never tasted before in her life. Sweet and fresh, filled with flavours only the most wealthy and privileged people would be fortunate enough to eat. She sat at the table, in the comfortable chair that had been placed there for her and watched out the window and birds filled the trees and animals roamed. She ate silently but happily. When she had, had enough she pushed herself away from the table, the chair moving smoothly across the floor and stood once more.

She wandered bravely around the room. In a large dark wardrobe she found her clothing, from the previous night, as well as two incredible fiery costumes and other wonderful gowns fit for a queen. Shoes of all kinds lined the bottom of the wardrobe. Red ballet slippers with long silk ribbon ties caught her eyes. She knew then that the clothing was meant for her. She pulled the two costumes out and layed them on the bed. The first was a traditional ballet dress, all in black with red silk ribbon tied around the waist and alone the straps of the bodice. The remainder of the red ribbon flowed through the skirt. The second was far different from any costume she had ever seen. The bodice was a brighter red than Meg had ever seen. It was embellished with beading and stitching of gold and copper and it sparkled as the light caught it. It tied with red silk ribbon around the neck. The skirt was like fire itself. Golds, reds, oranges and yellows made put the colours of the fire like skirt. The fabrics were shear and were transparent to each other but in a mass looked like it moved like flames. Some of the strips of the fabric were longer than others and reached nearly to the floor. The garment looked so heavy, dense with stitching and beads and anything that glittered, but it was as light as a feather and floated like water. Meg couldn't resist and quickly removed the dressing down and stepped into the dress of fire. She then reached for the red ballet slippers and placed them on her feet, lacing the ribbon nearly to her knees. Everything was perfectly fit to her body.

She looked at herself in a full length mirror that leaned in a corner of the room, admiring the craftsmanship that the garment required. The fabric was so delicate that it would have snagged on nearly anything. It would have taken a steady hand and hours of patient work to complete a costume of such magnitude but it was exactly what La Diable was to look like. Staring back at her from the mirror was the character she was trying to become and she knew that she looked like what her mind has always through the character should be. She positioned herself as proudly and as professionally as she could and watched her every movement in the mirror. It was an unbelievable sight to witness and she could hardly believe that it was her.

On a high self in the wardrobe she noticed a glint of sparkle as she stood on her tip toes and twirled before the mirror. It caught her eye and pulled her away from the image in the mirror. Walking slowly and reaching for what was there she pulled down a tray that held a satin pillow. On this pillow layed jewels far beyond anything she had ever seen. Earing and bangles for all over her body. A crown of fire like gem stones and gold web like decorations sat high in the middle of the pillow. It was spun gold, delicate but powerful. She lifted the crown off the pillow and placed it on her head. It matched the costume perfectly as she turned and there in the mirror was no longer Meg Giry but La Diable in flesh and blood. Her cheeks blushed and her eyes blinked unbelievingly back at her. There was no doubt about the character anymore.

"I see you have found your gifts," Erik said as he stood in the doorway.

"These as amazing," Meg gasped as she ran to him, "they are to exquisite for me," she said as the fabric followed her every move as if she were dancing in flames themself.

He smiled as he watched her move, everything looked exactly as he had imagined it. She was the beautiful woman to make his drama come alive. She had no idea how perfect she looked to him. Even her most subtle movement looked over exaggerated, "they are perfect for you," he said finally.

"Thank you," she blushed, "I can truly see the character coming alive now."

"I have seen it for months," he smiled as he took her hands and watched as everything she wore sparkled, "you are the mistress of this drama now. It cannot exist without you."

Meg blushed intensely at his comment. She had never felt so important or so loved in all of her life. And yet there was a terrible sense of whether or not she could be good enough to pull it off.

"You will do me proud," Erik said almost sensing the questions in her eyes, "you've already proved that, and whether you believe it or not, I have already seen exactly how it should be."

Meg's eyes sparkled as she looked lovingly at the man before you, "I am happy that it pleases you," she said with a small courtesy.

Erik bowed slightly back to her. She could see the smile in his eyes and then he turned from her and walked toward the door, "You have a very busy day ahead of you, my lady," he said from the doorway, "I hope everything has been comfortable for you and I hope you are well rested."

"I am wonderful," she smiled, "everything was perfect. But how are you, I expect you have quite the day ahead of you as well."

"Yes," Erik said with a sigh

"You should be anxious not so melancholy, is something wrong?" she asked as she touched his face lovingly, "I can see you are bothered by something."

"I've been thinking a lot," he said as he stepped into the room and took a seat at the table with her, "we'll have to wait and see if things work according to plan, or if I have made the right decision for us all."

Meg didn't know what to say as she watched him. He seemed to be filled with sadness and confusion. His mind was being troubled by something but she couldn't quite tell what it was. To many questions filled his eyes. Something just wasn't right but she didn't want to push him.

"I will stand by your decisions," she said without thinking, "every one of them."

"But they may not be what is write for this drama," he said the worry coming through in the tone of his voice.

"You cannot doubt yourself. You must stand by every decision you make as it will be the ones that you must live with. I am sure you are making all of the right choices for you masterwork," she smiled, " and if there is anything I can do," She said as she knelt down beside him.

"You've got enough to do today," he smiled and stood, she stood with him and he caressed her again, "you'll be meeting with the painters today," he said as he watched Meg move toward the wardrobe and pull out her clothing from the previous night, "you'll need to be wearing the costume of La Diable,"he added, "but I think you would be warmer travelling up in one of the finer gowns."

"I am humbled by your gracious offerings, if it will please you, I'll wear them," she smiled and blushed, "but may I ask why I am to wear this costume for the painters?"

"They are going to start the painting of the theatrical posters. You are the star and it is La Dance du Diable, you'll have to pose for the grand announcements of my masterwork," he said with a proud smile.

Meg blushed again.

"Is something wrong?" he asked her.

"I never quite realised just how central my character is to this story," she said as she looked once more in the mirror, "this drama is really a ballet after all, isn't it," she asked.

Erik smiled and winked at her, "you best be quick," he said as he returned to the doorway, "there is a large box for the two costumes in the back of the wardrobe, that will make for safe transport of the costumes. Please hurry, those two fools who run my theatre will likely jump to their deaths if they find their star missing this early in the production."

Meg laughed, it was true that Andre and Firmin would likely over react but they would probably see it more for publicity sake.

Erik closed the door behind him and left Meg alone once more in the room. She changed from the fiery costume to a pail ice blue gown that was tucked neatly into the wardrobe. It too was a perfect fit for her and really complimented her figure, she felt very beautiful for the first time in her life and realised just how much thought Erik would have had to put into the clothing he had given to her. She pulled her hair back in a tight braid, much like her mother, and quickly left the room.

Once she had found him again, Erik took her by the hand and lead her back out of the house, through another passage that came out in box five. She carried with her the costume and the ballet slippers and the folded rose blanket. They arrived in the still theatre. The house lights were on but the orchestra had yet to arrive. Erik took a seat in the large, velvet upholstered chair and looked up at Meg.

"Enjoy the quiet while you still can," she smiled and walked to the door, "it can't last for much longer," she sighed.

"Oh you have no idea," Erik sighed but smiled all the same, "today is going to be a very interesting day."