Readers,

This following chapter is fairly short, but contains some vital information, so do not disregard it. I apologize for the brevity of it, and sincerely hope to have the next installment posted soon. Thank you to all those who continue to review.

S.R.

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Cecily woke the next morning in her bed. Erik never ceased to amaze her. He had somehow gotten her all the way up here without waking her up. She sat up and felt like she had been hit by a train. The tiredness had crept its way into every part of her being. She set her head in her hands, trying to siphon off some of the pain she felt there.

"Oh, Cecily, you're awake. Meg told me you'd come in quite late, or should I say early?" Linnea smirked as she walked across the room. "Here, there's another package for you. It was waiting for you this morning when we gathered for rehearsal."

Cecily sat bolt upright. "Rehearsal! Did I miss it? Oh no! What am I going to do? They'll replace me and then Erik will…" She clapped her hand over her mouth, realizing with horror what she had just said.

Linnea raised an eyebrow. "Erik? Is that his name then? I've been wondering for years. Every since that little disappearing trick you pulled a few years back, you've been making midnight visits to someone, and someone is teaching you to read, right, and do figures, and someone is sending you packages. It seemed like an awful lot of someone for you to not tell me about him." She laughed at the angered blush creeping up Cecily's cheeks. "Oh come on, Cecily, don't take it so hard! I was only poking fun. Now to this package of yours." She set the small box down in front of Cecily, whose head was steadily worsening.

Cecily pried it open, knowing somehow that Erik had sent it. Inside was a smaller package, this one labeled "Drink Me." She smiled. Erik had known she was reading Alice Through the Looking Glass, and this was a way of letting her know he was still there. Attached was a note.

You stayed up far too late, little cat. This will help the aches and pains that come with such late-night gallivanting. Although your company did not mind in the least.

Erik

Cecily smiled and went to tuck the note into her pocket, only there was no pocket. She was in her nightgown! The blush that had been fading renewed itself in earnest when she realized that someone must have changed her into it during the night!

Linnea, misreading Cecily's expression, took the note and read it over. "Although your company did not mind in the least," eh? What were you two doing that makes you blush so?"

"Nothing, absolutely nothing," Cecily sputtered a bit too quickly.

"Hmm, nothing. I see. Well, about that rehearsal, you didn't miss it. Apparently, Carlotta and Piangi had late nights, too. They refused to come to rehearsal until after lunch."

Cecily cringed as she swallowed the contents of the vial Erik had sent. The taste was nearly as revolting as the thought of Carlotta and Piangi. She shuddered.

"What was that?" Linnea asked, picking up the now-empty bottle. "Drink me?"

"It was for my headache."

Linnea quirked an eyebrow at her. "He knew you were going to have a headache? Exactly how long were you with Erik?"

She flinched as she used his name. She had to convince Linnea never to speak of him to anyone. What had she done in telling her his name? "He seems to know everything about me. And for your information, I was with him until about three." She got up and hastily changed into a dress. "Linnea, promise me something."

Linnea had busied herself making Cecily's bed. She sat down on it and looked up at her friend. "What?"

"Don't tell anyone about him. He's really very secretive, and I don't want to upset him. Besides, I'm not even sure what to call him. I really don't think you could even call him my sweetheart or anything, so don't go spreading that rumor. I'm glad someone finally knows, in a way, but I can't have anyone else knowing. Please."

Linnea listened quietly and nodded sagely. "Alright. He's your man; I'll keep your secret. Just promise to tell me something about him when you work yourself up to it, all right?"

Cecily smiled and quickly agreed. To her surprise, the action didn't increase her headache. "God bless that man," she muttered under her breath.

"What?"

"God bless that man. His headache medicine really worked."

Linnea stood up and let out a whoosh of breath. "Well, that's good because you've got a full day ahead of you. I was sent to pull you down to the costuming department where the two of us are going to get measured for our decadent apparel. After all, when one achieves a certain role in the opera you get certain amenities." She laughed. "As if we'll get anything more than rags."

Cecily shrugged. "That's all I'm supposed to get, being a slightly crazy gypsy hag. So let's go, my dear."