Yes, I know, don't kill the author! I've been away for much too long, and I do appologise for those of you dying to find out what would happen to our favorite villain. Well, unfortunately not much...yet. Still lurking I'm afraid! So let's pick up where we left off, and see how Aurora will do on her big dream debut at the Opera Classicale! Enjoy! -x- Lotte.

The room was pink. The girl inside it, trying to continue her vocal excersises while three maids scrurried around her with make-up and hairbrushes, was equally so. Mozart had always excelled at creating just the right amount of cotton candy to keep his audiences happy, and "Il Muto" was no exception. The whole spectacle resembled an all too familiar scene from his former home, though it seemed a lifetime ago. The fact however, that his sweet Aurora was chosen, not forced into the role of the Contessa, made him proud beyond words.

A note was hit, then abruptly cut short, followed by an irritated shake of the head. "No, no...that's not right.." and then another deep and nervous sigh. He merely opened the door of the room, and with one stern look the maids suddenly seemed to have disappeared into thin air, leaving the room in a blissful silence.

"Why so nervous, my dear little diva?"

She stood up from her seat, wringing her hands before throwing herself into his arms. "Oh papa, it will be allright will it not? Do I really sound well enough? Such a grand venue, and a full house at that! I so hope not to disappoint anyone...to disappoint you, and maman..."

He held her tight, not caring how her white facial powder must stain his dark velvet coat. "You have nothing to fear my sweet. You've rightfully earned your place in the spotlights, trained so hard and disciplined for so many years, no one out there tonight shall find anything but pleasure in hearing you. As for your mother and I, well I fear we are difficult people to disappoint..."

"Did maman ever sing "Il Muto" papa? When you were working together at the Opera in Paris?" He doubted for a moment, not sure what to tell her.

"Let us say she was more than ready to do so. But the managers, fools that they were, preferred another lady to fill those shoes. Your maman was however, the finest Serafino I have seen in my years."

She frowned her pretty brow. "Serafino? The silent part? That must have been very painful, after training so hard for the role of Comtesse." He merely nodded, if only she were to know the depths of his pain that night.

"I know it makes her very proud to see you bring the part back into our family, my sweet."

At that moment Giulia came bursting in, much more enthusiastic than usual, her red cheeks betraying it was already far past her usual bedtime. " Aurora! This is such a pretty place! You must love working here!"

With a sigh of relief Erik realised his youngest had managed to touch the core of life at the Opera, the fun and exitement of it, and eventually the reward of your loyal audience.

Aurora relaxed as well, beaming proudly at her sister. "It is very beautiful, is it not? But how did you manage to find your way up here? You could have gotten lost, dearest!"

Giulia shook her head confidently. "Matteo knows all the hallways back here, he showed me. At first we had to come through a very dark passage, but Luca came too and then I was no longer afraid for he can see very well in the dark and never loses his balance!"

Upon looking up she indeed saw her two brothers standing in the doorway, smiling sheepishly, not sure whether they'd be allowed entrance. "Mother said we were allowed father, for Giulia was desperate to see more and Céline would dearly like to talk in private...to maman and Monsieur Duchamps, that is." Luca spoke quietly, indicating clearly his oldest sister had once again chosen to shun her younger siblings.

Upon hearing Céline's name, Erik immediately noticed Aurora's smile drop and her nervosity return. He gave his other children an affectionate smile. "You may go and explore some more if you wish, just so long as you keep track of time and return to the box in time for the performance. I need to talk to Aurora a bit longer..." The tone of his voice clearly indicating his desire for them to leave, Luca quickly nodded before ushering his younger siblings out, challenging Matteo to show them more of the secret passageways he seemed to know so well.

"Did something happen between you and Céline, Aurora? I got the impression, this morning at breakfast, that the two of you were...not exactly on the best of terms?"

Again the nervous fidgeting with her lace, before she dared look up at him again. "We had a bit of an argument, that is all..."

He could only immagine one factor which might have seperated the two sisters, for they were usually as thick as blood, reminding him of his dear Christine and her Meg. "This would not have to do with Monsieur DuChamp's presence in our home, does it?"

She sighed. "I'm not sure I like Monsieur DuChamps so well, papa. He...seems to be lurking wherever I am, even going so far as attending my rehearsals here at the Opera these last few days. Yesterday he claimed he was merely here by accident, for he had an appointment with you, while I knew all along that you were not even at the Opera yesterday due to your inspection of the Law faculty."

Erik nodded, he too had noticed Roger's interest in Aurora, yet remembering Christine's hopeful smile and the promise he had made her, he had tried to convince himself the boy was merely attracted to her stunning voice.

"Then, I passed Giulia's bedroom two days ago and the poor girl was in a wretched state indeed. When she finally confided in me she told me how Monsieur DuChamps had been most unkind to her and had basically threatened to take Céline away from her for good. I need not tell you how fond Giulia is of Céline, and she was terrified she would never see her again. It was then, that I told her I myself was having doubts of Monsieur's intentions, and how we...well, YOU, would never allow such a thing to happen, upon which I managed to send her off into slumber. Somehow Céline found out what I had said and marched into my room the very next evening, accusing me of being jealous, and wishing to have her beloved Roger for myself. But I desire no such thing papa! All I ever wanted was for her to be happy..."

A grim expression passed over her father's face as her pulled her close once more. He knew this was not the right time for her to worry about these matters. "Never fear for Céline, my dear. I shall look out for her as I always have. And from what I have seen and heard so far, Monsieur DuChamps shall not be doing any marrying whatsoever anytime soon. For now, I wish you to remain focused on your performance alright? Tonight belongs to you, not your confused sister nor her overly eager suitor..."

And with that, he lead her back into her vocal warm up, while he finally attended to dusting his coat back to its original midnight black...

The performance was going well. Erik and Christine could do nothing but exchange overjoyed glances as their daughter outshone all who surrounded her on stage. She lived and breathed her part, a quality very rare in one so young, and it made Christine realise once more that no matter how hard Erik had wished it that night, she herself would never have been able to perfom the part in such a way. She turned to Erik once more, almost chuckling at his overly confident, near arrogant appearance which reminded her so of his days at the Opera Populaire. Aurora's triumph was his triumph however, and he had just cause to be as proud of himself as he was of his daughter.

Her gaze wandered to her other children, clearly enjoying themselves save one. Céline seemed very anxious, and restless. What's worse, she continued to try and gain the attention of her young suitor, yet was disappointed in finding him far more interested in the stage, or rather the young lady occupying it. Earlier in the evening, as the others had gone off on a ghost hunt backstage, she had tried to talk with her mother, begging her to talk to her father and make him see reason. She longed to be married to Roger as much as he was...or was he? Suddenly she felt so terribly cold and alone. The feelings that had begun to attack her a year back, her reason for leaving Venice to find herself again in Paris, returned to her full force. A feeling of never truly belonging. Of being an outsider in such a close family. Being only the "adopted" daughter and the "half-sister", even though her younger brothers and sisters would never address her as such.

Jealousy slowly but steadily replaced her sadness for something much stronger, anger. Anger at her mother for leaving Paris, and the memories of her family. Anger at her father for dying before she had had a chance to get to know him, to see if they shared any trades in character her new father obviously did not. Anger for Aurora for stealing away her parents' attention with her cursed Siren's voice.

A voice she longed to have yet never managed to obtain. A voice that was now even haunting her Roger, enthralling him. What was she but a fallen angel, a downcast noblesse with no money and no extraordinary talents? And so she clung to Roger's hand once more, relieved to finally see him look up at her with his confident smile, brushing his warm lips against hers in the near dark before returning his attention to the opera. Yes, he was her lifeline, he would save her from her solitude and make her happy and accepted. He had said so. He had promised. And no person in the world would seperate him from her, not even her family...