[a/n] so, to speed things up a bit, we will fast-forward to the performance. If you're wondering why, let's just say that it'll allow our favorite masked ballet ghost to make an appearance much sooner...

Chapter 4: The Star of the Show

Ahiru could hardly believe her luck. On Opening Night, she was here, behind the dark red curtains, dressed in a fluttery white dress that swayed elegantly when she danced. She had never felt nervous before dancing, but now…

"Don't worry." Mytho whispered. "You'll be great."

Ahiru turned to look at him and felt her heart skip a beat. His eyes were a breathtaking shade of amber when he smiled.

"I can hardly believe it!" Lillie squealed. "Our little Ahiru, come so quickly to the company and garnered the role of Clara, no more, no less! Oh, be sure not to sprain your ankle and DIE!"

"I know she'll do splendidly!" Femio said pompously. "Her level of talent is almost on the same level as mine!"

"Thanks, Femio." Ahiru said, sharing a humorous look with Pique.

"No, really!" Femio continued. "You have almost become as talented as me!"

"I do need more practice, really."

"Ah, then we should dance together sometime, Miss Ahiru. I am sure I'd be a perfect teacher. But it would be a sin for me to give so much time, so much love, to just one of the lovely mademoiselles of the world! How can I live with myself, for I am such a poor sinner! OLE!"

"That's enough." Pique said, her words short and clipped. "We can't talk now!"

Indeed, the music for the Overture had begun to play and a hush fell over each of the dancers. Ahiru knew that she couldn't worry about what would happen; for her, dancing was instinctive. Part of the reason that they had chosen her for Clara was her ability to learn quickly and commit dance steps to memory. Only, for her it didn't feel like she was memorizing something… she was simply absorbing yet another way to express herself.

"I won't die." Ahiru murmured. "Just you wait, Lillie."


It's incredible. I've never seen anybody dance like this before. Not even Rue. Mytho said to himself wonderingly. The ballet had gone by so quickly…it was hard to believe they were at the Snow Scene already.

She's clearly talented. It's taken me so long to master these steps, and it took her less than a week. How can it be?

Mytho lifted her into a leap, and she seemed to soar above his head, arms lifted towards the sky in an expression of delight.

Ahiru, for her part, was simply enjoying the feel of moving through the air, knowing someone was holding her securely. She hadn't known that there would be so many people, all watching her expectantly, but she found that as long as she let herself feel the joy of dancing…it hardly mattered at all.

Ahiru couldn't have believed how many people cheered for her when she curtsied before the audience. The entire theater shook with thunderous applause as she lightly took her place at center stage beside Mytho and accepted a bouquet of roses.

"Wow." She whispered, watching with awe. "Wow."

Mytho couldn't hear her over the roaring of the crowd, but he nodded knowingly. I'm witnessing the meteoric rise of a star.

In a spontaneous gesture, he knelt before her and pressed her hand to his lips. A blush crossed Ahiru's face, although she knew nobody would be able to tell with all the stage makeup. So she rose en pointe, holding the roses to her chest, as the crowd went berserk and the curtains closed on the cast.

The Sugar Plum Fairy seemed a little miffed that Ahiru had stolen the spotlight, but Ahiru hardly cared. From the excited exclamations from Lillie and Pique, the congratulations from Autor and Madame Giry, and the general buzz all about her, Ahiru's head spun.

She barely made her way back to her dressing room, closing the door behind her.

"Thank you, Angel of Dance." She whispered on impulse. "Thank you." Ahiru twirled before the mirror, a euphoric smile gracing her face.

A whisper in return…Ahiru froze. Did she hear the slightest of sounds…

A rich, deep voice singing from the darkness…Brava…brava…bravissima.

"Ahiru! Ahiru." Lillie burst through the door. "Where in the world have you been hiding?"

"I thought you'd die, but instead you somehow managed it. Pique even called you perfect, although I wouldn't go that far. How do I wish I knew your secret—are you just naturally gifted at not falling on your face or something?"

Ahiru paused before looking Lillie directly in the eye. "Father once spoke of an angel…and I used to dream he'd appear. If there's anything that you can attribute my luck to, it's him. For I feel…he's here."

"Ahiru, you must have been dreaming." Lillie said furiously. "Oh...wait...yes! It's the perfect tragedy! You're going to fall in love with an angel that doesn't even exist! How lovely! Ahiru, you're talking in riddles. I swear, it's the first sign of madness! Have you ever actually seen this angel?" Lillie babbled.

"No." Ahiru admitted. "It's just a feeling. When I dance, I feel like there's a wise…guardian, guiding me to glory. What else could explain this? I'm Clara, Lillie. In less than a week, I've become Clara. No, I can't help but feel there's an Angel of Dance somewhere there."

Sadistic as she was, Lillie knew better than to shatter Ahiru's dreams. Perfect opportunity to build up her hopes...so they can be decimated when she discovers the angel doesn't even exist! It's the perfect plan!

So Lillie remained relatively businesslike. "Well, I see. Better rest, then. More performances coming up. If anything, you'll probably trip and die in the next one. I'll volunteer to sing sad songs at your funeral!"

This can't last too long. I give her one week more, tops, before I can make fun of this 'Angel of Dance'.


The eerie silence of the night rang in Ahiru's ears. It was too quiet, too still, for her to sleep. She simply lay in place, wide blue eyes reflecting the slivers of moonlight, as she thought of her performance.

How could she have risen to the position she'd dreamed of for years in such a short span of time? Her Angel had to be real. She knew it.

That was when she beheld the strangest silhouette. It seemed to be defined by a void of light rather than a shadow—a darkness upon darkness more than anything else. The silhouette shifted against Ahiru's gaze, and as she strove to make it out, she could see—was that the profile of a human form?

Another look and it was gone, only to flicker back into existence once more.

Could the Angel be here, now?

She thought of the voice she had heard, and on the edges of her hearing she could have sworn she heard a song, sung as a lilting lullaby. Ahiru smiled, for perhaps her Angel sensed her worry and was singing to her even as she thought of him

…another idea rose to mind, and Ahiru's cheeks became even paler. What if he was the Phantom, a murderer, ready to kill her?

Or…what if she was dreaming that she saw a silhouette? Heard the song? Perhaps even hallucinating?

Unwilling to move, she lay awake, listening to the soft serenade. She was sleepier than she had realized, for in a mere matter of minutes she had drifted off to sleep.


Morning was a welcome sight to Ahiru, who stretched comfortably.

She raised a hand to push back crimson hair from her face, but her movements halted when her fingertips encountered…

A rose?

"And do I dream, again…" Ahiru said quietly, "for now I find…"

In her other hand, she had been clasping an exquisite red rose with full, thick petals. She raised the rose before her thoughtfully, seeing the black ribbon tied around its stem.

So it hadn't been a dream. Angel or Phantom? Even the innocent Ahiru had trouble believing that a beneficial angel would be material enough to leave a red rose in her fingers. Ahiru slowly sat up and placed the rose gently on the chair next to her couch. She would think about it later…for now, she didn't want to even think that the mysterious figure she had seen could be real.

Was it possible..that they were the same?

"My Angel?…"

And who would ever believe her?

She had no proof besides a rose with a ribbon tied around it, and what kind of a proof was that?

No proof, that's what.

Still, she couldn't help but ask about the Phantom of the Ballet, just in case. Mytho had always seemed incredibly kind. When he gave her a sweet smile and asked how her day had been, Ahiru told him more than she had intended to.

"Mytho, I've been meaning to ask you something." Ahiru said.

"Of course, Ahiru."

"What do you know about the Phantom of the Ballet?"

"Don't worry about the rumors. You'll be all right."

"What does he look like, Mytho?"

"It's rumored he wears a white mask—covering half of his face, I think. Freya said she thought she saw him too…she says she saw 'sharp eyes from the darkness'…I mean, don't overthink it. It'll be okay, I promise." He noticed Ahiru's perturbed expression. "What's wrong?"

"I think I met him." Ahiru said, looking up at Mytho with fearful blue eyes as her suspicions deepened. "I think…I saw him in the middle of the night."

Mytho's brow furrowed. "Where?"

Ahiru looked away, shaking her head. "I…I can't tell you. I thought it was a dream, at first, and I'm still not sure even now. But today…" She hesitated. She hardly wanted to make Mytho think she was overly annoying, or believed too easily in those silly tales. She couldn't tell him about the rose.

Mytho could see her worry, but he didn't press further. "If something happens, tell me." He murmured. "We need you for our performances, so we've got to keep you safe."

Ahiru nodded trustingly, and she reached forward to give him a quick, grateful hug. "Thanks, Mytho."

Mytho nodded with a simple smile and said, "You're welcome, Ahiru."