Cecily moved through the nearly empty opera house the next morning. It was 9 o'clock, but very few were awake. As was her custom when she was the first one up, she went out for breakfast. Gathering the mail on her way back in, she shuffled through it. Several bills, a few applications for box seats, one or two letters of adoration for Christine, a newspaper, and two letters that could only be from Erik. "Oh dear. What is it that you want now?" Surprisingly, neither was addressed to her. She could only assume they were harassment letters. She rolled her eyes and set the mail down on M. Firmin's desk, opening the newspaper. The headline made her gasp audibly.

MYSTERY AT L'OPERA POPULAIRE!

Gala Night Soprano Disappears After Tour de Force

Sureté Baffled, Suspect Foul Play

Not bothering to read the rest of the article, Cecily threw the paper down on the desk and stormed from the office. Hurrying through the empty corridors, Cecily fumed. If someone had hurt Christine, they would have the entire staff of the opera to deal with. The public was fickle; they could turn from adoration to disdain in an hour. Inside the opera, though, each member was protected by the whole. Not to mention if Erik found out she was missing.

Erik! She would find him. He would most certainly find Christine! She thought it was a decent plan as she pushed open the door to Christine's dressing room. Nothing looked amiss, except where the gendarmes had obviously been. No one could have broken in so easily. Eyeing the mirror, Cecily realized he wouldn't have had to break in. He had a door in and out.

Her rage suddenly renewed, she rushed down the first set of stairs and turned the knob on the door. It was locked! That man was intentionally keeping everyone else out! If he had done anything to Christine…

She took a deep breath. Of course Erik wouldn't do anything to Christine. He practically worshipped the ground she walked on. She exited, trying a few more ways in, knowing that Erik was too thorough to leave them unlocked. She most certainly had some choice words for that man, but for now she would have to settle herself with business.

She heard M. Firmin in his office before she reached the door. As she was descending the grand staircase, Raoul bounded through the door. "Do you know where she is? I mean, I knew something was wrong last night, but now… Is she alright?"

"Raoul, what? Who? Slow down, and I may be able to tell you something."

"Miss Daae! She was gone last night, so I left I to the gendarmes, but now I've gotten this!" He thrust a note into her hand.

Cecily opened it and read aloud, "Do not fear for Miss Daae. The Angel of Music has her under his wing. Make no attempt to see her again."

"Do you know what it means? Who would send such a thing?"

Cecily was about to answer when the frantic voice of M. Andre floated through the hall. Raoul took back his note and ran toward the office. "Oh dear, Erik," she muttered. "Look at all the trouble you're causing." Biting back a bitter, "for her," Cecily plodded on toward the office.

Near the front door, a round woman carrying a yipping ball of fur ran into her. "Watch where yer goin'!" She yelled in a Briton accent. Cecily would have responded, but her arm was suddenly seized by a furious Spanish woman.

"What is this?" Her thick accent and high pitched squeal made it very difficult to decipher her words. "Did you send this?"

Another piece of paper was thrust into Cecily's hand, and again she read aloud, "Your days at the Opera Populaire are numbered. Christine Daae will be singing on your behalf. Be prepared for a great misfortune, should you attempt to take her place."

"Did you?" the diva shrieked.

"Signora, do you honestly think that I penned this?" She looked the prima donna squarely in the eye, and the woman huffed.

"No, no, you did not do it. Who did?"

From the office, the sound of three men was coming closer. "I want an answer! I take it that you sent me this note?"

Carlotta motioned to her entourage to follow up the grand staircase. Cecily moved toward the stairs, ready to go back to bed. No work was going to get done with all this going on.

"Far too many notes for my taste!" exclaimed M. Firmin.

"Indeed," agreed M. Andre. "And most of them are about Christine. All we've heard since we came is Miss Daae's name!"

If you hadn't heard it, you would have lost quite a bit of money last night, thought Cecily.

Cecily suddenly felt Mme Giry beside her. "Miss Daae has returned."

Every eye in the hall focused on the ballet instructor. "I trust, then, madam, that her midnight oil is well and truly burned," whispered Cecily dryly.

Mme Giry gave her a look of warning, and turned back to the others. "She is resting now."

"Can I see her?" Raoul beseeched.

"She will see no one," she said, then turned to Cecily. "No one," she reiterated.

Pushing her way to the front, Carlotta shrilled, "Will she sing?"

Mme Giry reached into her bag and pulled out a sheet of paper. "I have a note!"

Everyone suddenly burst out, "Let me see it!"

"Madam, please," whispered Cecily.

Mme Giry relinquished the note to Cecily, who read it apprehensively. ""Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the most amiable nature, detailing how my theatre is to be run. You have not followed my instructions. I shall give you one last chance.

Christine Daae has returned to you, and I am anxious her career should progress. In the new production of "Il Muto", you will therefore cast Carlotta as the Pageboy, and put Miss Daae in the role of Countess. The role which Miss Daae plays calls for charm and appeal. The role of the Pageboy is silent - which makes my casting, in a word ideal.
I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in Box Five, which will be kept empty for me. Should these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur.

I remain, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, O.G." She refolded the letter, the sound of the rustling paper the only sound in the room.

Suddenly, Carlotta shot a look at Raoul. "I know who sent this! It was the Vicomte! Her lover!"

Rolling his eyes, Raoul shot Cecily a look that read, That woman is on my last nerve. "Indeed? Can you believe this?"

Carlotta ranted for several minutes before the managers apparently made a decision. "We don't take orders! Miss Daae will be playing the pageboy, the silent role! Carlotta will be playing the lead!"

Not wanting to hear anymore, Cecily shoved the note into M. Firmin's hands and walked away. She had somewhere else she needed to be."One week before Il Muto. This will be a very long week."