Chapter 34: The Phantom's Diva Disaster.
Christine pranced through the ballet hall the next morning filled with a mind to show everyone what was what. Her pride and disillusionment was very high, running through her, telling her she could do no wrong as she was the favorite and had been for so long. She was lost to the world and truly to herself. Her mind was not complete at that time. She didn't seem to notice the stares of the other ballerinas. The whispers that followed her though the ballet hall and the rumors that had started were loud to the world but oblivious to Christine. The ballerinas giggled as they watched her act so proud, because they knew it was now the end of her career. It was certain that she wasn't long for the ballet troop.
It wasn't until Christine came to a group of ballerinas, closer to her own age, that she learned what was really happening. That her mind had allowed her eyes to register what had been before her the whole time. They were huddled around something and laughing historically. She had managed to come close enough to hear their conversation before any of them realized she was even there.
"Oh, well look who it is ladies," one girl said loud enough to get the attention of the entire ballet hall, "its Madame de Chagny."
"No, no she goes by Mademoiselle Daae again," another corrected and giggled.
"we must feel so privileged to have the once favorite of the Phantom in our presence," a tall, lanky girl, mocked and bowed to Christine.
"Yes but it is now public knowledge that he is seriously displeased with her," another girl said, waving around a news paper.
"What is that?" Christine yelled grabbing at the paper but the other girls pranced away with it.
"Look at what else it says," another girl laughed from further away, waving yet another paper, "he will never again waist a moment on Christine Daae. He is to busy with his star ballerina and the new diva to take the lead roll away from Christine that he can't even be bothered."
"It can't be true,"Christine gasped.
"Can't it?"a voice broke the nasty chatter and noise that filled the ballet hall.
The ballerinas stopped in their tracks as Madame Giry emerged from the shadows. She walked briskly through the hall with a paper in her own hands.
"It is surprising how much people love the drama, you have made front page news, Christine, it seems you have been singled out," she said and placed the paper in Christine's hands, "I dare say you'll have to believe it now."
"You can't believe everything you read," Christine hissed
"That is true, but it is never the case," Madame Giry said, "if it is printed then it is true until someone contradicts it. So until we are proven wrong, until the Phantom gives another interview, which is most unlikely, you will never be permitted to perform as a singer in this establishment. You are a black sheep, as the outcast of this institution you would be wise to gather your things and leave. You are quite possible the biggest disgrace that our resident composer has every had. I thank all that is good that he may be able to redeem himself yet," she said as she stared deeply into Christine's eyes.
Christine's heart sank, never had she ever heard such words of spitefulness come out of the woman's mouth. She had always been a very stern kind of woman but never did she ever seem spiteful and yet every glance, every move and ever word screamed out how much Christine had done wrong. She couldn't bare to believe any of it and rushed around the room as she grabbed at the news papers to be rid of them.
"It is your want to read what is being said about our prima dona?" Madame giry asked as Christine screamed at other girls to show her the paper.
"It is," Christine said looking angrily at her teacher.
"Very well," Madame Giry said and threw a paper at Christine's feet, "perhaps if you read it aloud those of us who have not had the joys of reading the whole article will be brought into the know. It is quite the intrigue."
"I would rather not,"Christine hissed.
"It was not a request," Madame Giry smiled, "you'll read it aloud."
Christine glared at her teacher even angrier then before. Never had she hated this placed more then she did now. It was disgusting for her to be there and to see how she was now being treated and still her mind told her that she had done no wrong, that they were the jealous ones. She pulled the paper into her hands and looked down at the headline. It was a terrible sight to behold and yet she was now surrounded by the giggling Ballerinas and being prompted by Madame Giry to read aloud.
"You wish to humiliate me more," Christine hissed to her teacher.
"This is what you wanted, Christine, the attention is yours," Madame Giry said loud enough that it echoed off the walls of the ballet hall, "please, now that all eyes are on you, I think you should satisfy your audience and read to us your story," the ballet mistress said and then fell silent.
The ballerinas all followed suite and the ballet hall fell into absolute silence. No one moved and all eyes were on Christine. She trembled for the first time since returning to the theatre. She could not bring herself to look at the article.
"Very well, young woman, I see you are no longer going to take my orders and so I assume that we shall see you leave this place before the day is over. However I will not relinquish my hold on you just yet. You will here what this article has to say," Madame Giry announced and clearing her throat she took up the paper and began.
"For the first time in the great history of disasters, scandals and musical drama the Phantom of our beloved opera has been making headlines but never in such a way as this. The managers of the Opera Populair sat down with our reporters very early this morning to bring to light the strange affairs eclipsing the new drama, 'we simply needed a new drama for our establishment and thought that the Phantom would be the best man for the job,' said Monsieur Andre to reporters this morning, 'we knew there would be some trouble, as there always is but we never dreamed it would come to this,' he said when asked about the plans to bring back the phantom, 'at first we had anticipated disaster by the hands of the Phantom himself, it has happened before, but never in our wildest dreams did we think anything like this could happen' he added before going silent."
"We reported to you earlier this month about the return to the opera by the infamous Diva Christine Daae. She had been cast by the once lustful Phantom to play, once again, the leading lady in his newest opera 'La Dance Du Diable'. In a great turn of unfortunate events the Phantom has sat down with the Managers to discuss the direction of how the opera is to proceed. The opera in question is set to open in mere days. Monsieur Andre and Monsieur Firmin both seemed quite distressed when speaking with our reporters, 'Christine Daae has been nothing but trouble since her coming back to the opera,' Andre informed us, 'her animosities toward everyone in the cast grew to breaking point yesterday evening when she physically assaulted the staring Ballerina, Mademoiselle Meg Giry,' he added. 'It seems to many involved that the attack was a result of a growing jealousy that Christine had been developing toward Meg,' Monsieur Firmin informed us and confessed, 'the Phantom of the Opera is very displeased with her. So much so that he had pulled her completely from the show and has placed her back in the ballet troop. Madame Giry informs us that she will not deal with the young woman's antics and so we must let the young woman go. She will not be permitted back in the Opera Populair and will be asked to leave immediately'."
"It seems to this publication that the Phantom has an eye for yet another young woman as Christine Daae has been replaced by a chorus girl of very little training, a Mademoiselle Genevieve Fillande. When asked if the speculation of the same tragedies of three years ago occurring Andre answered, 'we have been told by the Phantom himself that Mademoiselle Fillande is simply fit for the roll. She has put much effort into her place in the chorus and he believes that she knew the show well enough that she can be placed into the leading position without much trouble,' but this does not explain why the young woman was chosen. We may speculate that the phantom has taken to the young woman as he once did Christine, but the managers assure us that, that is not true, 'we are under the impression that their had been a rather lengthy courtship going on between Mademoiselle Giry and the Phantom for some time. I dare say that it is the ballerina and not the diva whom the Phantom is looking to now,' Firmin told us but would not speculate further."
"When finally brought back to the subject of Christine Daae, Firmin came forward to say, 'the Phantom has told us he has been quite mislead by Mademoiselle Daae's character. He is exceedingly displeased with her and will have no more contact with the diva ever again. He says that she is quite possible the biggest disgrace his career has ever seen, much more then the affair of three years past.' If this is indeed the truth we will be covering the departure and any activities surrounding the Opera Populair in the coming days."
"We can now only say that Monsieur Andre and Monsieur Firmin as in a rather sketchy situation. To be so close to opening night and only having a new diva in rehearsals at the present and an injured staring ballerina, but they both seem to be very optimistic as to the shows success, 'it's brilliant and heart breaking, truly the Phantoms life story if ever their could be one,' Andre beamed as we inquired as to the show. 'We cannot tell you anything more about the plot but promise a wonderful evening of love, lust and heart break,' Firmin added, 'Mademoiselle Giry is breath taking, this roll will throw her into world recognition, never in all my life have I ever seen anything as beautiful as her passionate dancing,' he finished beaming with pride for this long awaited event. The opera opens two nights from Monday and is set to run for a month at the Opera Populair."
Madame Giry finished reading and folded the paper in her hands, "have you any doubts now as to your fate, Mademoiselle Daae?"
"No," Christine whispered, her head bowed in shame and embarrassment, "I will gather my things and be gone today," and with that she bowed out of the ballet hall and ran off in tears.