Chapter 2: Unexpected

If I had to explain my journey in words I'd use words such horrendous, terrifying, sickening and many other words that my mother would call "un-ladylike". I was constantly in my cabin fighting off sea sickness, any time I wasn't in my cabin I was often harassed by the crew members both jokingly and suggestively. If that wasn't even the worst thing, for three nights straight it stormed. Not your average storm, it was volatile, the ship was constantly thrown back a forth violently. Let's just say I did not sleep a wink and there was a lot of vomit… a lot. I was almost too happy when we finally reached land. That is until I was told there would a seven hour carriage ride to Paris and another hour or so to reach the opera house.

9 ½ hours later

I was jolted from my sleep to a soft tap on my shoulder. I looked around frantically and saw a figure dressed in black looming over me. I rubbed the remaining fatigue from my eyes as my vision focused in on the person.

"Aunt Giry!" I jumped out of the carriage and pulled her into a bone crushing hug. She laughed and hugged me back I looked over her shoulder and saw my cousin Meg standing there smiling. She gave me a small wave and I waved back slowly releasing my Aunt. "How was your journey my dear?" My aunt tenderly took my chin in her long cold hands. "Oh don't get me started on my journey, it was absolutely horrendous." I said. My aunt then moved me and held me at arm's length.

"You've gotten thinner, that's shocking considering that American portions are larger than our own." She giggled. "Well you know Aunt, Mother always cooks our meals we may be American now but our roots will always be French." I smiled back. "How is my dear sister? Is she well?" My Aunts smiling face turned into a face of concern. I paused before speaking, was my mother okay? Would she be okay and how does she really feel about her only daughter being so far away in another country.

"Claudine? Are you alright dear?" I looked at me and I shook myself out of it. "Yes I'm fine Aunt, truth be told I am a bit worried about mother. She hasn't been the same since fathers passing." I looked down, guilt was flowing through my body. "My sister is a strong woman, if she can get through nearly twenty years of marriage with your father." She smiled softly as I chuckled. My father was an American fur trader on holiday to France where he met my mother. The two of them were polar opposites my mother was refined and quiet while my father was a child at heart.

"Yes that is true mother often tells me that I may look like her but I'm my father reincarnated, I can't tell you how often my father and I caused trouble together." I smile at the memory. "We should head inside dear, I have things to attend to but you may settle in and have tea with Meg I'm sure you two have a lot to catch up on." She smiled as her elegant figure turn and walked up the stairs gracefully. I sighed, the grace of a former Prima Ballerina astonishes me. I then turned my attention Meg, she was still a small little thing her big doe blue eyes could make any man swoon.

"Claude! I've missed you so much! The opera house has been such a dim place without you!" She smiled brightly. "Come I'll show you to your quarters the sooner we get you settled the sooner we can talk and gossip and all sorts of things." She pulled my up the stairs as I giggled. Same old Meg still as energetic and childlike as ever. I looked at the looming figure of the opera house. I missed this place so much I remember causing such trouble and mischief the formers managers hated me with a passion because terrorizing them was my main source of entertainment.

"Here we have the Prima Donna room it's the most exclusive room in the opera house, oh it's so beautiful in there Claude". I smiled I was all too familiar with that room I would often sneak in there and play with the perfumes and shoes. "Meg you act like I've never been here before, have you forgotten that I spent most of my summers here?" Meg blushed furiously. "I'm sorry Claude I'm just so happy to have you back here, you've missed so much. Tell me do you by any chance remember a Christine Daee?" She looked at me. "Little girl deep brown curls with chocolate brown eyes about this high?" I said while holding my hand up to my waist.

"Yes that would be Christine, she's a rising star here in the Opera house the managers are very pleased with her. She's to replace Carlotta, which is a blessing in itself." She giggled. I rolled my eyes, she may look the same but she's definitely like a woman now with all this gossip. "Anyways Claude here's your room, come and find me in the kitchen I'm sure you know your way there." She hugged me and smiled then she left. I turned towards my door and opened it, inside resided a small twin bed, a white vanity with a long mirror by it and a wardrobe. I smiled this was old room. Slowly I closed the door behind me and set my luggage down and walked over to the furthest corner of the room.

I got on my knees and lifted one of the floor boards up. Inside was a small wooden box with a layer of dust covering it, smiling I picked it. I opened it and inside was a locket and a letter, I fought with myself on whether or not I should read the letter and put the locket on. I sat there for over ten minutes and eventually decided against it. Placing the box back I stood up and smoothed my dress down. I walked out of my room down the hall to the kitchen, there Meg was surrounded by a bunch of chorus girls all of them were giggling.

"Claude! Come over her and meet my friends!" Meg called me over waving violently. I walked over to her.

"So Claude, Meg tells us you're from America, what's it like?" A young girl asked.

"It's different more modernized."

"Meg tells us you're joining the Chorus I can't wait see how girls dance the ballet in America." Another said, I paused. Chorus? I was here to become a pianist.

"I'm not a dancer, I came here to be a pianist I can't dance to save my life." I started to panic. Meg sensed my distressed and stood up.

"Something must have gone wrong in the paper work, come let's talk to the managers I'll bring my mother." She hurried off as I walked down the hallway feeling numb. This was indefinitely unexpected.