Eric trotted up the steps of the opera house, the performance was only hours away. People were running to and from the theater room carrying supplies, costumes or cleaning equipment. "Mag!" Rosa squealed spotting Meg running out of the dressing room entrance, she paused "Hi Eric." she exclaimed approaching him.
Eric smiled at the ex ballerina. "Be careful hanging around here or I'll put you to work." Eric joked.
Meg laughed "To late monsieur,"
"Eric." he interrupted
"Eric" Meg repeated warmly. "Christine has already put me to work."
Eric beamed at the sound of her name and Meg couldn't help but giggle. "She is in her dressing room." Eric glided past her.
"Eric," She said stopping him, "Please give my husband a chance, you have no idea how much torment and guilt he feels."
Eric sucked in a breath at her words, Eric didn't want to have anything to do with de Chagny but he liked Meg and knew she was Christine's best friend.
"I'll try and mind my manners but no promises." he sighed before walking away.
Eric held Rosa on his hip as he knocked on the dressing room door. "It's open." Christine sang behind the door.
"Thanks for the little wake up surprise." Eric grinned as he walked in the door.
Christine laughed, "Why you are welcome my angel, did she sleep long?" Christine questioned lining up her stage makeup.
Eric shrugged while Rosa reached to pull off his mask revealing the twisted side of his face. Christine sighed, "Oh Eric! I am so nervous."
Eric placed Rosa on the floor and approached Christine from behind, wrapping her arms around christine's waist. "You will do great." he mumbled taking in the honey scent of her curls, and her soft skin against his cheek. "I wish you didn't have to wear that makeup." Eric complained kissing her neck.
Christine shuttered at the feeling of his lips, "Eric," she sighed "I need to warm up and get ready." Eric gave a playful pout before putting his mask back on. "Dont give me that sad face." She teased putting her hands on her hips giving a stern look.
Eric took Rosa and reluctantly left Christine after giving her a few words of encouragement and telling her he will be watching from box 5.
Eric trotted down the stairs whistling as he walked backstage, "Mr. Destler can you look at this elephant?" A stagehand asked. Eric approached the prop looking it over, "There should be a new wheel in my office he instructed."
The young stagehand laughed, "You keep spare parts in your office?"
Eric shrugged, before leaving to answer another workers call for help.
The chaos continued, actors tering there costumes, props not working and last minute cleaning.
"Meg!" Eric called when he saw the blond dancer running around "Can you take Rosa?" he asked. Meg threw her hands in the air, "You have got to be kidding me!" she yelled causing Eric and Rosa to jump. "Both of you! Telling me to go here, and then there, get that do this, I am retiring!"
"Sorry I asked." Eric apologised raising an eyebrow at the ranting woman. "Let me take her." She grumbled never able to say no to anything without her guilt killing her. Eric thanked Meg as she took Rosa to hand her off to another girl.
Christine warmed up her voice and looked at the clock "One more hour and you will be on stage, all your fears will be gone." she whispered to herself, while taking a sip of warm tea with honey.
She sat down on her makeup desk chair and started working on taming her curls. "One more hour." She sighed again starting on her makeup.
A knock came to her door, "Just a moment." She announced grabbing her long robe and wrapping it around her. She only had time to crack the door before it flew open. Before she could cry out a figure dressed from head to toe in black grabbed her neck hitting a pressure point. Christine passed out immediately as the figure pulled out a note addressed to Eric and placed it on the desk.
Eric trotted down the opera house stairs making his way to the flower shop. "Good evening Eric." The florist announced as he walked in brushing the newly fallen snow off his shoulders "Do you have any red roses?" Eric asked looking around the shop. "In winter?" She clarified.
"Well unfortunately thats the season it is now." Eric grumbled tired and irritated.
Sensing he was not in the mood to joke around she pulled out a single long stemmed red rose.
Eric paid the woman and left to go back to the a glance at his pocket watch Eric bounded up the stairs two by two, "20 minutes." he smiled.
"Eric, here is Rosa back." he heard one of the ballerinas call to him. She quickly shoved Rosa in his arms before running off to finish getting ready. "So we meet again." He sighed supporting the little girl on his left hip. "Mama!" the child exclaimed. Eric still wasn't use to hearing Christie as mama, but he had to admit he was thankful she took the role.
"No my sweet Rosa she is getting ready, but how would you like to see her on stage?" He asked giving her a little bounce. The child squealed causing Eric to withdraw at the high pitched screech. "You got some lungs there." he laughed before heading to box 5 to meet with William and his wife.
Eric opened the door to the box William and his wife sat in the middle talking about the performance that was about to happen. Eric sat with Rosa next to them joining in the conversation.
Eric held his breath as the music started, it was perfect. He smiled as the song continued thinking back at how much the orchestra improved. His heart raced as the curtains parted, the balete danced across the stage and the chorus started the first song.
Eric leaned forward in anticipation waiting for Christine's first note.
Her line came and was missed, he stood up to get a better view to try and find the soprano, she was no where on stage. Footsteps ran up the stairs and the door burst open, "We can't find her." The stagehand cried.
Eric shot up running to the dressing room, "Christine!" He screamed flying the door open, Empty.
He shot a glance around the room, the room was just how it was when he left except for a white envelope trimmed with black.
Sorry I haven't updated lately, I have been so busy with college and trying to finish high school and then my computer crashed.
And I do know that I am spelling Eric's name wrong according to the novel, my auto correct kept changing it to a C instead of a K so I just gave up.