CHARLES

December 18, 1906

She ran from me. I don't understand. She hasn't spoken to me in days, except at our lessons. I keep going over it in my head, but I can't figure out what I've done to make her angry or upset. Christmas is in a week and Hannibal opens tonight. I've got to make things right.

"Stay still Charles!" The costume lady, Regina, laughed as she sewed a small rip in my Hannibal costume. I stared at myself in the mirror, unable to hold back a smirk. The costume was ridiculous, mimicking a Roman soldier.

"You will be a very dashing Hannibal!" She said with a grin, and I shook my head.

"I feel like a clown…" I muttered, cursing the horrid makeup on my face. She patted my cheek.

"This is opera darling, it wasn't meant to be subtle." With that she laughed again and walked away. I looked in the mirror again. Horrid. I took a rag and wet it quickly, wiping off most of the makeup and redoing it so that it made me look human and not like someone's rag doll. They'd given me the old dressing room at the end of the hall, which I didn't mind because Mother had used this room and I felt honored to be the next person to inhabit it.

I took the helmet off and just looked around for a moment. That mirror was mesmerizing. I had to wonder how the decorators had gotten it through the door since it was taller and wider than the doorway. I frowned when I noticed there was a smudge of makeup on it and took the rag I had cleaned my face with to wipe the mirror, gently balancing my fingertips on the glass. As I brought my other hand to the glass I heard a click, and the mirror pulled back a bit before I noticed there was an open slit on the left side.

"What in the hell…?" I said to myself, sliding my fingers into the slit and to my surprise, it slid open even more. I pushed it all the way open and stared in wonder at what seemed to be a dark tunnel. Something caught my eye. An old silk rose lying on the floor. I picked it up, examining it until I heard a knock at the door.

"Charles, they're ready for you!" I heard Aunt Meg say.

"Be right out!" I called, trying to catch my breath. I stepped out of the passageway and slid the glass back into its place as it clicked shut. I took one last look at myself in that huge mirror and decided to come back to it another time. M. Evans hated when people were tardy. In the weeks leading up to opening night, I had tried to wear Benedetta down, making comments about her age and her talent, in hopes she would get the hint and leave, but instead, she seemed to think I fancied her, making for quite the uncomfortable love scenes. The white dress meant for Elissa didn't quite work on her and they had to create a whole new design, taking the essence away from the character's beauty and grace.

Today I was going to try a new tactic and hide her headpiece. She was one of those women whose hair just wasn't attractive in the least and wore a wig religiously or a hat. Before making my way onto the stage, I snuck quietly into her dressing room and found the headpiece, making my way back to the door until I heard,

"Charles! Did you come to see me?" I froze, dead in my tracks and turned to see her standing there in her under garments. I could have been sick.

"Um…Yes. I just wanted to wish you luck, but I can see you're busy so…good luck!" I reached for the door and she grabbed my arm.

"I am never too busy for you Charles." She said, batting her eyelashes. I cleared my throat nervously, still hiding the headpiece behind my back.

"Well, I really have to go…uh…see you down there!" I said and she looked slowly from my feet to my head and back down again. I threw the door open, dropping the headpiece and ran for my life.

The ballerinas were hard at work when I stepped into the theater. I tried to catch Maddie's eye, but she made it a point not to look at me. Deirdre saw me and started laughing at my costume until Aunt Meg gave her a stern look and told them to relax for a few moments. M. Firmin and M. Andre walked up and joined me.

"Hannibal has always been one of my favorites, don't you think so Gene?" Firmin asked his partner, who nodded.

"Delightful." The smaller man replied as Oliver Dorgan, the young man who had auditioned with me, appeared on stage in his own costume. To my surprise, he walked over to Maddie and tried to start a conversation with her. Every muscle in my body tensed as he spoke to her. I didn't trust him, especially since he had a reputation for going through women as one changes clothes. A new one every night. As she smiled politely at him and laughed, I felt fire rush through my veins.

So this was what jealousy felt like. I watched him touch her shoulder, her arm, her cheek and began to grind my teeth together. The creep. She would just be another of his conquests. I couldn't take it anymore as I stormed onto the stage to break up this little trap. Maybe a bit possessively, I walked up behind Maddie and put my arm around her as she snapped around to look at me.

"Chagny!" Oliver cried, smiling, "Good of you to join us! Maddie and I were just discussing dinner plans." I glared at him.

"Her name is Madeleine." I said, icily, irked with his cocky attitude. Maddie looked up at me a bit shocked and angry.

"You aren't the only person who calls me Maddie you know." She said roughly, pulling out of my arm. "Oliver and I are friends."

I looked at Oliver, who nodded satisfied.

"See, Chagny? We're friends." He said and winked at me. I could have killed him right there, but I held in my anger.

"Friends…" I said, eyeing him, "Keep it that way." I stated and Madeleine's eyes shot fire at me.

"How dare you order people around when it comes to me? Charles de Chagny, you are a bastard!" She looked at Oliver, touching his arm. "I will see you after the show." She said, glaring at me and returning to the ballet. Oliver patted my back.

"Pretty little thing, isn't she?" He said, examining her from behind. I grabbed him by his collar and pushed him up against the wall.

"Don't you try anything with her or I swear to God…" I warned him and he grinned.

"You really like her, don't you?" He said with a sly look on his face, "Are you two going at it? Is she your little whore?" He asked me and I punched him in the face.

"Don't ever refer to her that way again!" I said and left him on the ground, holding his cheek, but still looking satisfied.

"Don't worry Chagny! I'll take extra special care of her for you!"

I walked straight onto the stage in the middle of the ballet and grabbed Madeleine, pulling her aside.

"What in the hell do you think you're doing?" She cried at me, as the other ballerinas stopped to watch. Aunt Meg looked a bit furious and I knew I would be reprimanded after this, but right now I didn't care.

"We have to talk…" I said, desperately and she tried to pull away from me, but I held fast to her hand.

"No we do not." She shot at me and I said,

"Dorgan is a womanizer…he only wants to hurt you." She looked at Oliver, who was now holding his cheek as if he were dying, and ran to him.

"Charles, what have you done? I am an adult, God damn you! I can take care of myself!"

"But I…"

"Get the hell away from me, Charles!" She cried, pushing past me and once again rejoined the corps de ballet.

The rest of rehearsal went on without a hitch. I sang my part, Benedetta sang hers, the ballet went flawlessly. I tried to get Maddie's attention to apologize to her, but she wouldn't even acknowledge my existence. I just didn't understand. How did men like Dorgan, who only wanted a night in bed, get any woman they wanted? I'd never been anything but respectful with her and it still wasn't good enough. Two could play at this game. After rehearsal ended, I asked Bella, the redheaded ballerina, to accompany me to the gala after the show. Bella, being the shallow ballet tart she was, of course accepted, running to gloat to the other ballerinas as soon as the invitation was offered. I saw Maddie give me an icy look, but I didn't give her the satisfaction of acknowledging it.

After the show, at the party, Maddie held the arm of Oliver Dorgan as Bella Stroud held mine. I only looked at Bella the entire night, feeling the heat and fury of those hazel eyes on me. I did manage to steal a few glances at her out of the corner of my eye and noticed that Dorgan had slid his had just below her waist as they danced a bit. She looked a bit uncomfortable, but never stopped smiling at him. When his hand moved to her rear for a moment, I was ready to storm between them, but Bella was tugging at my arm and whining for me to dance with her. I tried to dance us closer to hear what garbage Dorgan was saying to her, but they suddenly stopped and disappeared through the crowd. As I searched through the crowd, Bella said,

"I know you fancy Maddie, but you need a woman who can give you what you need. Someone like me…" She said, pulling her gown down a bit to reveal more cleavage, and suddenly I pitied this girl.

"Bella," I said, gently pulling up her sleeves, "You don't have to offer yourself to someone to make them like you. And what I need is to go home and sleep. I suggest you do the same." I kissed her cheek softly and left her standing there stunned, only wanting to go home and bury my head in my pillow. I hailed a cab and got in as snow began to fall, pulling my coat on. When I walked in, Dad was in his study, paying bills.

"How did it go?" He asked, not having been there tonight.

"It was…something…" I muttered and walked up the stairs into my room. I changed into my sleepwear which was really just a pair of cotton pants. I sat at my desk, going over a few of my blueprints, before heading down to the kitchen for a glass of water. Dad came into the kitchen, eyeing me.

"Why are you home so early?" He asked, sitting at the table.

I joined him, setting my glass down.

"Long story short…I've ruined everything with Maddie." I said, running a hand through my hair.

"Tell me about it…" Dad said, supportively and I quickly told him what had happened.

"Charles," He said, "I know you were just trying to protect her, but you have no right to give your opinion. You are not her husband, her fiancée. Nothing. Only her friend." I nodded bitterly.

"I know Dad, and now I don't even think I am her friend. She hates me." I took a sip of water and put my head in my hand.

"She doesn't hate you Charles. She just needs to find her own way." He said, patting my hand.

"I guess you're right Dad." I said and we both jumped as there was a sharp rapping at the front door.

"I'll get it…" I said and he nodded, getting up to return to his study. I walked over to the door, wondering who would be here so late. As I opened it, I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw Madeleine standing there, shivering in the cold, her cheeks stained with tears. She wore no coat or cloak and still had the short sleeved dress she'd worn that night. The snow had begun to fall heavily, her curls wet and stuck to her face.

"Madeleine…" I said, pulling her into the foyer, "What are you doing here?"

Her lip quivered as she looked at me like a lost child and fell against me, whispering,

"You were right."