The night of Hannibal came faster that Jane thought possible. With the change in managers, Carlotta storming the stage, and Christine suddenly made the lead soprano, her mind was in a whirlwind of confusion, and foreboding. Now with Erik's student in the top position, his attention and devotion would only increase tenfold, leaving Jane behind for cold dinners by herself more often. The situation looked dire, but there wasn't much she could do about it, as she had been told more than once to never comment about Christine in Erik's presence.
With a heavy sigh she knocked on Christine's dressing room door, "Mademoiselle?"
"Enter." The diva's voice was clipped, already fitting into her role as the lead soprano.
As she walked into the overly large dressing room, Jane glanced at the mirror on one end. This particular mirror had a secret passage down to Erik's lair and they both knew this. What was he planning? The sight of the mirror only twisted her stomach further. Her own reflection stared back at her, scowling. The sight of her clear face reminded her of the cuts that cleared without a scar, she was almost disappointed they didn't.
Behind her, Christine cleared her throat louder than necessary, "Ahem!"
Jane turned around to face the diva, who was pouting in front of the vanity, "It about time. Of course they would send me the raving lunatic." Disgust marred her young features and hatred dripped from her voice. It was sickening that her fantom adored this woman so, but such is her life.
"I am help to help you prepare tonight."
Christine simply scoffed and whipped her head back to face the vanity. "Then I guess I must bear through it."
No one but Erik acknowledged that Jane was phenomenal with makeup and costuming. Her dream was to make a silicone mask for Erik to cover his scars so he could go out in public, but she never dared to tell him, in fear of upsetting him.
Standing behind Christine, she made quick work of the horrible mangles in her hair (for she rarely bathed) and put it up in a innocent, yet alluring look, some strands hanging around her slender face. Even Jane couldn't deny the diva's natural beauty. Once the makeup was finished and she placed jewels in her ear, and on her ears and neck, she was radiant. But all she got was a hum and a dismissive wave of her hand. While cleaning up the various clothes that had been strewn about the dressing room, she overheard Christine struggling with her corset, "Well don't just stand there, help me!" Quietly and swiftly, she had her tied up and out to the stage. She continued cleaning, picking up makeup, perfume, costumes, when she heard soft footsteps approaching.
"She's gone Erik, as you can plainly see."
The mirror opened and her friend gracefully stepped out. He had a rose in his hand tied with a black silk ribbon. She tended to those roses lovingly only to have him pick them, de-thorn them and leave them for Christine to find and later discard.
"Surely you should wait until after the performance, to see if she does well?"
Erik turned to face her as if he just noticed her, then smiled smugly, "I always know she'll do well, she could never disappoint me."
"Yet I do so often..." She regretted the words as soon as they came out. Before Erik could respond, she turned around to make Christine's bed, "It seems the Viscount knows of Christine Daae, from long ago. I heard him speaking about it with the managers."
His response was immediate, "As if he could, you must have mistaken him for someone else." Never had he doubted her before. That was it, she had enough of his Christine-infatuated behavior for one night.
"Excuse me, sir, but I have other duties to fulfill." She stood, looking ahead instead of at Erik who gaped at her, watching as she walked through the door instead of going home to change. He let it go though, as he could not wait to hear his angel sing at the opera. He would deal with Jane later.