When I came to, I realized three things. One, I was at my father's house, tucked into my warm bed. Two, that Edward Cullen had somehow ran down the steps leading to the opera and into the road, and managed to lift me up and out of harm's way. And three, that I had the most typical, feminine reaction to great excitement; fainting. Minutes later, Marie came in to check on me. I was still mentally chastising myself for the embarrassing incident, but I managed to compose myself enough to act normal when my sweet maid smiled to see me awake, then handed over a steaming cup of chocolate.
"Belle, I'm glad to see you up. I heard you had quite the spill." She smiled mischievously, and tucked my fluffy comforter tighter around my shoulder. I groaned miserably, then asked, "What time is it, Marie? Must I have the Lady Lesson today?" Her grayish-blue eyes continued to shine with amusement and she answered, " You are nearly run over by a carriage, yet you worry about your lady lessons. No, your father canceled them for today. You'll have your first lesson tomorrow." I sighed at her news, then sipped at my chocolate. I drained the mug, then brought a hand to my hair, it was still in a damp bun, though it was quite out of place by now. "Thank you, Mar. Could you prepare a hot bath for me?" She promptly left for my small-bathing room and leaned back against the puffy pillows. Strangely enough, my energy had completely left me, and I longed for sleep. Minutes went by, then Marie came into to my room to tell me my bath was ready. I somehow managed to pull myself out of bed and into my light pink bathing room, then sank into my tub.
I saw that kind, considerate Marie had placed my favorite novel on the little shelf next to my marble tub, and so I read while I soaked in the hot water. The one high window in the room was cracked open, and I was actually comforted by the sound of the soft rain. It seemed that the frantic thunderstorms earlier that day had finally subsided. After I finished my bath, I slowly got up from my tub and put a night gown on then wrapped my dressing gown round me. It was very frivolous, being white and trimmed with lace and sporting a very low neck-line. I sighed as I fastened the cord on the gown, and made a mental note to have a new dressing gown made as I let myself into my into my room. The creamy colors that made up my room were quite comforting on my eyes after seeing all the pink in my bathing-room, and I gratefully sank into bed and read some more of my novel. When I finished reading, I got up and blew out all of candles and sank into bed after taking off my dressing gown. My eyes began to close sleepily, and the sound of the soft rain and the feeling of the light, humid wind on my face was so reassuring. I heard the most ethereal voice crooning out a familiar sounding lullaby, and I felt myself drift off into sleep....Then my eyes snapped open.
I lept out of bed and ran to my window. It was open. A person must have been standing in my room, to be able to make me hear that lullaby. And I had felt the wet wind caress my face...I shivered and leaned out of the second-story window, but could only see the outline of the forest that framed my father's land. Clouds covered the night sky, and I pulled back into my room then closed and locked the window. For good measure, I tugged the filmy curtains over the window as well, then returned to my bed and hid under the covers. I was afraid, but intrigued at the mystery I was now faced with, and when I finally fell asleep that night, my head was filled with thoughts about the mysterious singer's godlike voice.
"Belle? Are you awake?" I heard a quiet voice and opened my eyes. My room was filled with the dim light of very early morning. I also noticed that my room was freezing cold, and almost seemed to be filled with mist. "Marie?" I called as I sat up in bed, and pulled my blankest over my shoulders and shivered. My door opened, and Marie scurried in, carrying a cup of my morning hot chocolate. She quickly put it into my icy hands, then frowned at the condition of my room. "Why is your room so cold?" She asked, and paced around the room until she stopped in front of my window. She threw the curtains aside, and revealed that my window was wide open. I gasped in surprise and nearly spilled my beverage. Marie firmly slammed the window shut and locked it, then left with the intentions of getting the necessary supplies to build a fire in my ice-cold room. Once she left, I hesitantly rose from my bed and approached my window. My thin nightgown did nothing to keep out the chill, but I ignored it and inspected my room. I could have sworn that I had closed the window the night before....I went over to the other window and found it closed and locked. On the white window sill was the most unusual token; a closed red rose tied with a black silk ribbon.
I picked up the flower and twirled the ribbon around in my hands in confusion. Perhaps it was a prank done by Marie? Marie entered silently, and placed her hand on my shoulder, scolding, "Really, Belle, to keep your window open when it is late autumn! I'm glad you didn't catch your death! I'll not tell the others just this once..." I jumped when she made contact, and hide the flower in the folds on the front of my night gown. She left my side and tended to the meager fire in my fireplace. I rushed over to my dresser and opened a drawer and stashed the flower in it. From Marie's sincere worry and honest eyes, I knew she hadn't had anything to do with the window or flower. And with that knowledge, the rose suddenly seemed like a forbidden gift, one I revered and wanted to stay a secret.
When I arrived at the opera house that morning, it was utter chaos. It was two days till the opening night of " La Mort de Lumière" and half of the ballerinas' costumes for Act 1 were mysteriously missing, Meg and the other girls were screaming on about "The Phantom of the Opera!!!" I finally had to pull my outgoing friend aside and ask about the notorious Phantom.
"M. Cullen had the opera house built over a young man's grave! It was a old grave, but still a grave, Belle! And now the ghost of the man haunts the opera, and steals and destroys! He sometimes even demands a salary! He was apparently a composer when he was alive, and he has actually had the audacity to change some of the opera's we've done!" She was very excited, and her blond curls bounced wildly as she shook her head at me. I did not believe in the "ghost" at all, but I decided to humor Meg. "How come I have not heard of this ghost before?"
Her brown eyes widened, and she looked around cautiously before answering, " It is bad luck to speak about him! I shouldn't have told you...but I had to! He is said to pray upon young, beautiful girls!" It was at that point I allowed myself to roll my eyes, and I thanked Meg for telling me before going off in search of Edward. I had much to discuss with him.
I couldn't find him. I had checked all around backstage, and everywhere else I knew in the opera house, including my small dressing room. The deluxe one was given to Rosalie, the diva. As I walked down a back hall that led to the stage, I heard the most beautiful music. It was coming from a darkened hall, one I had never explored before. After taking a look to see that no one was around me, I walked down the hall. It sounded like piano, but was so rich and deep, a sort of instrument I had never heard before. The melody of the song was dramatic; soft, sweet at one moment, then powerful the next. It reminded me of passion and glory and wistful beauty, and at times was almost to sweet almost to listen to. I followed the sound till I reached the end of the hall, a door labeled- "Chapel." I frowned at the English spelling of the word, then slowly pushed the door open. What would I find waiting for me?
It was small, cold and musty. But it was also beautiful. One entire wall was covered in stained glass, with small windows behind it. But the dreary sky was gray, like always, so no light shone behind the wall. The glass depicted scenes from the bible, the most vivid and passionate seemed to have been selected to be illustrated. The other three walls(the room was rectangular) were painted in soft sweet colors that effortlessly blended together. In the darkest corner of the room was a elegant wooden bench that had carvings in it, and small rot-iron stand had a drawing of the serene faces of Mary, Jesus and a cross. The stand had many lite candles on the rounded sections, and they cast a rosy glow onto the room. .The music echoed down from the high heavens, and I immediately felt peaceful and happy. I sat down by the stand, the music putting me into a relaxed trance. My rich brown skirt fanned out behind me as I lifted my face to better hear the magic. An ethereal voice soon joined the piano-like instrument, and I gave a slow gasp at the loveliness of the man's voice. For the unseen singer was a man, his voice was rich, sensuously powerful but also cool and gentle.
Then, still singing, he addressed me, "You wish to sing, I could teach you. I'll make your heart soar, but I also need you. Don't betray my hidden ways and your life will be filled with song till the end of your days." The simple rhyme had came straight from my childhood! The command of the Angel of Music when he sang to Little Lotte when she slept! Little Lotte had been the heroine of my childhood, and the Angel of Music had been the hero, my grandfather had told me the most wonderful tales about them both....It seemed impossible, that the Angel could actually exist, then pin-point me for his instruction? It was all surely nonsense, but I could not stop from replying, "Teach me! I will be your eager pupil!"
The music swelled around me, then came his reply, "Sing to me, I have no use for merely talking." He had sang his answer, and even though his words had no sense of rhyming or beat, it still sounded like the most magical melody. I nodded and he began to sing scales with me. Then he instructed me on my dictation and posture, and sang some aria's from La Mort de Lumière. I still remained in a trance-like state throughout. Time lost it's importance, it felt like it had frozen when the Angel was with me. We had just finished the haunting Amelie's Sorrows when the Angel sang, "You must go..." I frantically shook my head at his words. The dreamlike state I had been in disappeared, and I was only left with the frantic urge have his voice near me. I desperately sang, "Angel of Music, do not shun me! How I need your mercy!" He chuckled softly in return, even his laugh was enchanting, then spoke. "I shall never leave you. I am always near. Sing to me at night and I shall answer, let my song guide you!" I slowly rose and started about the small chapel in wonder. "Angel of Music, my guide and guardian!" As I had sang my last few words he had joined me, and I slowly felt his presence disappear. Mustering strength I didn't know I possessed, I managed to pull myself away from the chapel, my new haven of music.
"Belle, where in the world have you been hiding?!" Meg gasped then rushed towards me at a full run. Even in the dreamy state I was in, I managed to duck out of her way in the name of self-preservation. She reached me and grabbed my shoulder in her small hands. "I thought the Phantom had taken you! You've been gone for hours! Where were you?" She said that all in one excited whisper, and when she finished, took in a huge breath. I also took in a shuddering breath and blinked down at her slowly. My fantastic,magical time with the Angel seemed like a hallucination now that I was with Meg. But even if it was real, I would not tell her. What do I say? I finally had managed to focus on her anxious face, and she had began to pull me towards the crowded stage. I finally figured out the perfect response and said it breathlessly. "I was no where important. Did Gaston say anything to you this morning?" Gaston was one of the principle male dancers, a handsome boy who flirted with anyone that wore a skirt, and currently Meg's love interest.
Her attention was immediately diverted from me and to thoughts of her new crush. She had previously liked Michel, who had always seemed oblivious to her advances, and so moved on. "Yes, he did! We shared our lunch today! He was so charming!" She continued to chatter about him till we reached the stage, and I was quite relieved. I was also shocked to know that so much time had gone by, I had already missed lunch. We when arrived on stage, everyone seemed to be in a better mood, the costumes had been replaced. M. Reyer was mad at me for having ditched the rehearsals, for an hour after I returned, it was time for my first Lady Lesson.
As I slowly walked down the steps to the street where my carriage waited, I saw Edward. He was sitting on the marble step in front of me, his face moodily pointing towards the woods. "Edward!" I gasped, and started to trip down the steps in shock. He jumped up and caught me, but once my balance returned, he abruptly released me. The composer was looking as handsome as ever, but for once I was not distracted by him. I had more important things on my mind. "Monsieur, I believe you rescued me from a horrible death yesterday." He returned to sitting on the step, not even giving me the smallest of looks. So I continued, "For that I thank you...But I do not understand how you crossed from these steps to the other side of the road faster then I could blink." I wanted to sit next to him, but my heavy skirts would never permit that. So I continued to tower over him when he coldly looked up and hissed, "I had been standing near you, Mademoiselle Dawier. I merely had to reach over and pull you out of harm's way."
It was at this point, when we had returned to addressing each other with titles, that I indignantly gasped, "Don't attempt to deceive me! You were on these steps!" He glared at me, dark gold eyes piercing and hateful. "I was not. Pardon me, but you were delusional. You fainted right after I got you." I raised my head, and my light auburn curls fell against my white forehead. I let air go between my closed teeth, counted to ten, then answered, "Please, Monsieur. I just wish to know the truth." He briefly glanced at my face, his eyes no longer hateful but calculating. I stared back, a faint blush heating my cheeks. But he looked away, then mockingly said, "Not that I don't enjoy talking to you, Mlle Belle,but I believe you have somewhere to be?" He disdainfully gestured to a carriage, I realized it was my own. I had forgotten about my Lady Lessons. I would probably be late now. "Damn it all to Hell!" I muttered, not audible, and picked up my skirts. I began to trail down the stairs, but turned to look back at Edward just one more time. He had the weirdest smile upon his face, but I turned back to the road and was helped into my carriage. The whole way back to the mansion I fumed.
"Mlle Belle? Did you hear me?" Madame Leroux, my instructor, was the epitome of what a proper lady should be. She had pristine white skin, calculating blue eyes, and a huge diamond ring to represent her successful marriage to a minor lord. I'm sure she never thought she'd end up in dowdy Fourchette, teaching girls like me how to be proper. But you could never tell her true thoughts from the way she held herself. She repeated her question, and I realized I was supposed to answer. "Yes, I'm sorry, Madame. It sounds lovely." She had asked if I had wanted to go to a small fete held by her unmarried brother. She would be my chaperon, of course.
"Whatever shall we wear?" She giggled, an attempt to relate to me, I guess. Our initial meeting had basically decreed how things would go between us. She had seen my obvious disdain of the lessons, I had seen the interest and pride in her own. And so I acted meek, hopefully to help graduate sooner from these absurd lessons. We babbled for a bit more, she instructed me in my Spanish pronunciation and they way I addressed servants, then she finally left.
"Thank God!" I gasped to Marie once I made it to my room. She gave an amused smile at what she figured to be my antics, and I just rolled my eyes. Picking up my russet skirts, I waltzed over to my window. I sadly stared out to the barn which I had not visited in some time. Tonight I wouldn't be able to visit Whimsy either. The lessons extended to dinner, so I only had time to change. I went back to the center of my room and Marie helped me exchange my casual blouse for an ivory silk shirtwaist. I kept my skirt on, it was appropriate, but unwound my hair from the childish braids so it hung loose in all its curly red glory. Marie added a golden ribbon as a final touch, and I at last waltzed down the stairs, a false smile already on my face.
"Hello, angel bells. How was the lesson?" My father grinned at me amiably from over a decanter of some sort of liquor. I winced at the nickname from my childhood, but my smile remarkably still stayed in place. "The lesson went quite well." I answered and almost gracefully sat down at my usual chair. We began our meal, we always ate supper quite early compared to the other residents of France. Once we both had finished scarfing, Charles daintily wiped at his face, then said "Belle, I was thinking of having some friends of mine over in three days."
My eyes narrowed and I asked, "Well, it will be a Sunday. Don't we always have some of your friends over on that day?" He nodded slowly, then replied, "Yes. But it would be different. A party, I guess you could say." My face must have showed my shock. "I've been planning it for some time, belles. Mme Leroux and even your mother has taken part in the preparations. It is in your honor, a long awaited homecoming ball." I tried to retrieve my false smile, but it didn't want to come back. "Thank you, father." I managed to stutter. "Aw, I know you aren't overly fond of dancing, but I hoped that Mme Leroux would have helped. You'll have the prettiest dress, and your friends from the opera can come, if they wish. You shall be the toast of the evening." That brought forth a tiny, but still true smile to my face, and I honestly answered, "Thank you. I know that parties are not your specialty." We nodded at each other, chatted for a few moments more, then I retired to my room.
As soon as I entered my room, I shouted, "Marie, you horrible girl, why did you not warn me about this party?!" I stomped into the center of the room, and ripped the ribbon I was wearing as a necklace off my neck. The small gratefulness I had felt towards my father had vanished while I lashed out at my maid, whom I has assumed was a friend and ally. The tall girl came out from behind a corner once I had taken a breath from my screaming, and whispered, "I had thought you might actually enjoy the surprise. That boy you took fancy to might be there." I glared at her, fully knowing the frosty effect my gray-green eyes can give. "You idiot! This is more then just a party! The lady lessons, the letters my mother has been sending my father, now this! It means that I'm probably soon to be, or already on the market!" Marie gave me a questioning look then picked up the ribbon I had thrown to the floor. "What market?" She finally asked while I nearly ripped my expensive blouse off my shoulders.
"The marriage market." I hissed, and changed from my nice dinner clothing into a simple but warm shift and coat. "No!" Marie cried, realizing the true meaning of the party at last. "Yes." I answered sadly, my angering fading when I saw her sweet, shocked face. "Its inevitable, Marie. But there is still much time before anything should be set in stone. I'm sorry I was evil to you. I am going out to the stable, so be a dear and cover for me." Then I spirited out of my room and to the barn, not even tripping once.
The stable was silent, though not empty. I tried to dodge the employees of my father and ducked into Whimsy's clean stall. "Hello, old girl. Its been awhile since I've seen you." I whispered and threw my arms around her long, yet delicate neck. She turned her head and snuffed into my curls, her usual greeting. I whispered to her all my troubles, then told her of my almost forgotten joy at the arrival of the Angel of Music. Then I gave my mare some sugar and snuck back to my room, exhausted but still happy over my small rebellion of staying up late. I took the quickest bath in the history of time after Marie informed me that I stunk of horse, then slid into a nightgown then bed truly, I had had the most incredible of days.