Since I had nothing else to do while waiting for Joseph, and didn't necessarily feel like sitting by myself in that pigsty of his, I explored the Opera. I'd already seen the stage, and honestly didn't feel like going back there this time of night. My thoughts wandered back to earlier this evening when I first stepped into the Opera Populaire, and felt the over-whelming rush of awe and appreciation at the glorious beauty and architecture surrounding me. Those thoughts compelled me to revisit the main foyer.

It was dark. The only light came from the moon and two gas lamps on either side of the threshold to the L'escalier Grand. I could hear the soft "click, "click" of my boots as I slowly made my way down the marble stairs. The balustrade glided smoothly under my hand. The moon was unwaveringly bright tonight, which I was thankful for, it being so dark and eerily silent in the echoing foyer. The moon always seemed brighter during the cold months; almost as if it were carved from ice, itself. I thanked my lucky stars that I had made it here in the last week of November, before any treacherous snow storms hit. It was hell traveling through snow.

I caught myself skidding around the designs on the floor. It looked impossibly smooth. A devious smile spread across my face. 'Only one way to find out.'

Listening carefully for any late-night wanderers like myself, I hastily untied my boot laces, and kicked them off. With a running start, I slid across the polished floor, throwing out my arms to keep my balance. A surprised squeak escaped my lips as I did so. I did this over and over, delighting in the rather childish game. As long as no one was watching, why did it matter? It was unknown to me at the time, that someone was.

I soon realized that it would probably be best to locate my brother. Alright, one more. I told myself. I focused on a dark corner near the Grand Staircase, started running at top speed, until my feet began to slip at the effort, and then let myself slide. The excited giggle I let out turned into an awkward squawk as I noticed a dark, solid shape directly in my "line of fire," so to speak.

I flailed my arms in order to stop short of flying into this object, which resulted in me falling backward and landing unceremoniously on my rear. The shadowy object began to laugh; laughed loud and long. I knew no other laugh like it. The figure stepped forward into the moonlight to reveal a grinning Joseph.

"Sweet Jesus, Joseph! You scared the—,"

"—I daresay I didn't mean to. But it was amusing, just the same."

He offered a hand to help me up, which I grasped tightly with my own. I realized how silly I must have looked with my disheveled hair, and stocking feet. I rushed over to grab my boots and hastily sat down to put them back on. Still grinning, Joseph plopped down beside me.

"In all seriousness though," his face matched his words, losing its previous impish look.

"You probably shouldn't go wandering about this place at night. Could stumble upon somethin' you weren't meant to find."

"Well, you telling me to "get out of sight" didn't exactly provide a map of secret hiding places."

"So you went for a moonlight skate on the marble floors."

I gave him a reproachful glare, and he threw up his hands in defense.

"Aye, ye got me there, sorry. I didn't expect anyone to still be up and about. That was me pal, Blackcap."

"Blackcap?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, it's a nickname. He's an Englishman—,"

"--Figured."

"Anyway, he's got a real name, but I don't want to get into all that tonight."

"I guess I'll have to ask him when I meet him." I said, making small conversation as I followed him up the stairs.

"Yeah, about that…" He trailed off, running a hand through his hair.

"What?"

"Never mind. I'm tired. Let's go fix you up a bed of some sort."

Confused by his sudden mood swing, I followed him through the halls in silence before remembering a previous comment.

"What did you mean about stumbling onto something I'm not meant to find?"

Joseph hesitated a moment before sighing and picking up the pace.

"Not tonight, love. I'll tell you another time."

…Yes, you do that Joseph…soon. The figure enveloped in shadows slipped away.

In the end, we couldn't find a spare bed for my lunatic brother to stealthily haul down to the cellars, so we "borrowed" an armful of blankets for a makeshift bed.

"I'll spread these out on the floor." He said, once we returned to his cozy little hole in the wall.

"So kind of you to take the floor for me, Joseph. At least until we make other arrangements."

"What…? Ohhh, no. That bed's mine. You'll be the one that's sleepin' on the floor, missy."

"I don't think so! Whatever happened to ladies first?" I countered.

"I'm saying "ladies first…" on the floor."

Needless to say, there was quite a bit more bantering before he finally gave in and ended up on the floor in a twisted heap of blankets. I lay down on the mattress opposite of his wall, thinking.

"So, what about tomorrow, Joseph?" I asked, staring at the dark ceiling.

"What about it."

"Well, now that I'm here…"

I heard a rustle amidst the blankets, and looked over to see him lean on one elbow.

"Yeah, about that. I was going to wait until tomorrow before…" he trailed off.

"What?"

He sighed. "It's nothing against you, love, but the thing is, I don't want anyone knowing you're here."

My eyes widened. "So what am I supposed to do, be a shut-in or—?"

"—No, what I mean is, I don't want anyone knowing who you are."

This strange turn of behavior was growing more aggravating by the second. Why should it matter if anyone knew who I was? I was just about to ask this when he answered,

"It raises lots of questions. Questions that I don't feel much like answering."

"Then don't tell anyone about our past. For heaven's sake, it shouldn't make any difference if they know I'm your sister."

"Believe me, Maggie, it does make a difference. Look, I don't really want to get into all this right now. It's late, we're both tired, and we'll come up with a resolution in the morning, alright? In fact, I'm already working on one, now."

He lay back down and rolled over on his side. After a moment of contemplating whether or not to keep up this weary conversation, I blew out the candle. But before going to sleep I had to ask.

"What kind of resolution, Joseph." Knowing my brother, I knew I should fear his reply.

"Nothing set in stone, Magpie."

"Joseph."

"We're gonna make you a boy."

A/N: Holy crap, I'm tired. But I really wanted to get this chapter out tonight, especially because I was rapidly approaching writer's block. Needless to say, I know this won't be the greatest, so bear with me. To answer some questions, I don't really intend to make Joseph an evil character towards his sister, and I'll bring Erik into the picture again, soon.

Ta-ta for now

Ivory Wolf