Danielle awoke to the sounds of feet padding softly across the hard wooden floorboards. She opened her eyes slowly, painfully almost. She was pitifully tired, even after sleeping for nine straight hours. Yawning, she swung her legs out of bed and placed her feet on the cold floor. She acutely missed the warm rug on the floor of her room in the manor as her toes met with the ice-cold wood.
"Come on, Dany, we've let ye sleep for as long as we possibly could. Its 5:30 now, if ye wants nay'athing ta eat, speed is of the essence!" cried Eddy cheerfully.
Fran was busy brushing out her hair, and pulling it back into the severe bun that dancers often wore. She was already in her pink ballet clothes, something Danielle realized she didn't have. She panicked to herself for a moment, before she realized Fran was sizing her up.
"Hhhm. You're almost my size, but a tad bit skinnier… well, try this extra suit on, it will work till Madame gives you your own." Fran tossed Danielle a gauzy practice skirt, followed by a leotard and tights. Eddy threw her a pair of ballet shoes. Dressing as quickly as she could, Danielle found the gear fit well enough for present and happily thanked her roommates. They simply seemed delighted to have another friend, or victim as it were. Before Danielle could say anything, she could feel Eddy pulling her hair back into the harsh bun she had seen Fran wearing, while reaching out with one hand for Fran to hand her a ribbon to hold it in place. Before Danielle could say anything else, she was being pulled out the door by Eddy. Danielle learned quickly one did not walk through the halls of the opera house with Eddy, one ran.
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Breakfast was a simple fare, consisting of some baguettes and cheese. Danielle ate with gusto; not realizing how hungry she had been until when her stomach grumbled loudly while she had been in line. Unfortunately, this had drawn the attention of the other dancers, who were now chatting amongst themselves about the quiet newcomer. Fran patted Danielle's hand reassuringly, trying to tell her the other girls meant no harm. Eddy was sure they'd all end up liking her new friend, despite her timid nature. Eddy mused to herself that Danielle's timidness would soon be a thing of the past. One could not be both quiet and a performer – one of those would inevitably strangle the other. She devoured her breakfast portion with the hunger of a ravenous wolf, all the while eyeing Danielle's untouched apple zealously.
Danielle's eyes searched the room like a frightened prey animal, peering into the staring eyes of the other dancers. They ranged in age from six years to mid-twenties, and came in various shapes and sizes. Danielle recognized a dancer they had nearly collided with last night – her attentions had been more preoccupied with the handsome boy fawning all over her then on three small ballet girls racing through the halls, though. She sat in the company of the other older dancers. Their adoring looks showed how much they idolized her, and Danielle figured she had to be the prima ballerina. Absorbed in her observations of the other dancers, she hardly noticed as Eddy swiped her apple.
"Girls!" came a boisterous voice from the end of the hall. A rather stout, mustachioed man stood in the doorway, grinning from ear to ear. He was well dressed in a suit of maroon fabric, and his grey hair and cheery smile causing him to resemble a favorite uncle or grandfather.
"Good morning, Monsieur Andre!" the girls cried in chorus, smiling at the co-owner of the opera house.
"How was breakfast, girls?" he asked, waving at the cooks and snatching a croissant from one of the baskets.
There was a mixed reply to his question this time, some bemoaning the fact that they had had apples for the last three days, others praising the fresh baked bread.
M. Andre laughed, a deep and happy sound that came from his belly and shook his whole frame. "Never satisfied, are we, little ballet rats?"
The responses were just as mixed as before, but Danielle could tell there was a jest behind the 'no's. As had M. Andre. He laughed again, and grabbed two of the youngest girls in a hug. They giggled joyfully, and busied themselves with the darker purple band on his tall hat. Chuckling, he freed his hat from the fingers of the two girls, and kissed them soundly on the top of their heads.
Eddy leaned over towards Danielle, smelling somewhat pleasantly of apples. "Those two are 'is sis's kids. Six an' seven, respectively. Very promising girls, they are." Eddy nodded knowledgeably. Danielle smiled, not at Eddy, but at the display of familiar affection between the three. It reminded her of her papa, and when she had been much younger.
Fran chuckled beside her. "But don't think this happy display is just for the benefit of his two beloved nieces. M. Andre's always been this way. His partner on the other hand…" Fran gave a quick shudder and a sheepish grin.
"'E's a piece of work, that one." Eddy said pointedly, mulling over the remains of the apple she had stolen as the three watched the little girls with their uncle.
Danielle tried with all her might not to be jealous, but without success. She already missed her family dearly. She didn't have much time to lapse into self pity, however, before a loud rapping noise startled her from her thoughts.
There stood Madame Giry at the doorway, her grey eyes glinting with something hovering between amusement and anger, her hands fastened around the handle of a severe black cane. Danielle surmised this was where the rapping noise had originated. A deathlike hush fell over the ballet girls as they stared at their mistress.
"Did I not say we were to begin an hour early today?" M. Giry said, her voice even and as cold as ice.
The younger girls lowered their heads and their forks, and began shuffling in the direction of the ballet misters, who glowered at each cowed head as it passed her by. Danielle followed suit, trying not to smile as she observed Eddy sneaking a bite of a roll before she joined the rest of the girls.
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The two hours of practice was long, hard and grueling. Or so it appeared to Danielle. Madame Giry had seated her slightly away from the rest of the girls, a place where she could observe unhindered but without being an obstruction. She twiddled her pink fabric-covered toes in patterns on the floor as the rest of the ballet girls twirled and leapt gracefully into the air, only to be brought down by another loud crack of Madame's cane. Danielle was growing quite accustomed to the banging caused by the cane. It was actually a very good way to get the attention of all the girls at once, and she could easily see why Madame utilized it. There was not a girl in the room who didn't stop mid-pirouette at the crack of the cane. Distracting herself a little from the whirl of graceful skirts, Danielle looked around the backstage. A vast array of old props greeted her questioning eyes, and a veritable cornucopia of backdrops and scene staging made the stage seem like three worlds at once. If she hadn't been so afraid of sparking M. Giry's ire, she might have gone exploring. Perhaps I could convince Eddy and Fran to show me around later today, she thought to herself. Smiling at her friends as they danced across the room, Danielle hummed a wordless tune. It sounded vaguely familiar, but she couldn't exactly place it. One particular part played in her mind over and over again, and she just couldn't shake it. She tried humming it to herself, but it didn't feel as if she had gotten it correct. Danielle was beginning to get frustrated. Just as she was about to give it up for good, a whispering caught her attention. She whirled around as best she could on the box, eyes wide and heart racing.
"Who's there?" she whispered, her voice a ghost. She was by no means unflappable, especially lately, and her voice trembled with fear and betrayed the quaking of her heart.
"No one to fear, you have met me before. Do you not remember me?" a voice as rich and as smooth as chocolate spoke honeyed words into her ear.
Danielle shuddered in spite of herself. "I don't believe so. I swear on my life, I have never met you before." She was completely terrified, and nearly called out for M. Giry, her wrath be damned.
The voice seemed taken aback – bewildered and saddened. "You do not know me?"
A loud thunk of the cane startled Danielle, causing her to spring to her feet. "Danielle? Whatever are you doing?" Madame stared at her questioningly. "Practice for the other girls ended five minutes ago."
Danielle looked at her feet sheepishly. "I am sorry, Madame Giry. I'm afraid I've let my mind carry me away. It wont happen again."
Madame stared at her for a moment, and then beckoned her to come to the center stage. Danielle obeyed, and for now, the melodic voice was forgotten.
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Author's note: Thank you to everyone who has read this far, and especially to those who have reviewed -- your feedback helps immensly:D I hope yall enjoyed the latest chapter. As always, reviews are very much apperciated if you have the time. Let me know what you think:) The Usual Disclaimer: I dont own POTO or any of the cannon charecters.