Hey guys! So here's chapter four you! I'm sorry if it seems a bit rushed I'm getting back into the swing of writing. But anyways I'd love to hear your feed back so please read and review! Enjoy my little Poppets!

-Kara

Chapter 4: A New Enemy

With shaking hands I slowly opened the envelope trying to ignore the terrifying wax seal that resided on the front of it. I just had to open my big mouth, now I was going to possibly die. I pulled out the letter, elegant handwriting was scribbled all over the parchment it faintly smelled of scotch. I looked at my Aunt who gave me a pointed to look to continue on with my actions. With a shaky breath I began to read out loud what was written.

"Dear Mademoiselle Bassett,

"I've come to understand that you do not like me in particular as a person. However I am not a person, you may recall I am the one they call Phantom. Mademoiselle you have made an enemy of the worst possible person in this Opera house. I have no choice but to bestow a punishment and make an example of your impertinence. Madame Giry will lead you to wear you need to go and I will instruct you and will be expected to follow accordingly.

-O.G."

I could my face go white, the opera ghost was real and I pissed him off all within the first two hours of my arrival. I looked at my aunt her face was blank, no emotion dared to seep to it surface. It was quite unsettling how a woman could mask her emotions so expertly. I took a deep breath as I folded the letter back up and placed it with in the envelope. The skull on the front of it seemed much more intimidating now than it ever did before. I looked at it for a moment then looked back up at my Aunt.

"What time am I to meet him?" I stood straight and gathered myself as I spoke.

"One in the morning, all the stage hands turn in at about that hour it'll be the safest time for you two to meet and… discuss." She still remained expressionless.

"Discuss? That's a funny to put murder, Aunt should I die Meg is to dictate my will." I sat down and put a hand to my temple as my Aunt rolled her eyes.

"Why are you so dramatic honestly Claude, I doubt he will hurt you, yes he's dangerous but all you did was verbally assault him with your cousin. If anything you'll be getting off easy for sure dear." She took my hand into hers as I gave her a quizzing look.

"What make you so sure, he seems frightening and very dangerous." I looked at her frantically.

"He is an old friend of mine, I saved his life on one occasion I know he would not dare kill anyone of my kin." She smiled and took my chin in her hand.

"But I must warn you, he is, often at times, unpredictable and should you run into a life or death situation you must keep your hand at the level of your eyes." Her eyes pushed urgency for me to remember that detail. I slowly nodded my head as she stood.

"You may retire to your room, I will tell Meg that you have suddenly become ill and to let you have your rest, I will come to get you a quarter to one, be ready." She turned on her heel and walked out of the small room. I sat there pondering on how tonight was going to go. Just as I was about to stand to leave myself I felt a chill run down my spine. It was that familiar feeling I had had earlier, something was watching me. I looked around the room there was no possible way for anyone to be hiding in here.

"I must be going insane." I shook my head and walked over to the tiny wash basin that resided on a small vanity. With shaking hands I scooped up some water and splashed it onto my face, the cold sensation allowed me to wake up from my dreamlike state. I moved away from the vanity and stood before a full length mirror. My red hair had become disheveled and messy, sighing I removed the pins that were holding it in place. My hair flowed down to my waist in long red curls, I debated with myself if I should leave it as it is. But then I remembered Mama had told me to keep my appearance presentable.

With yet another I sigh I preceded to finger comb my hair, once finished I wrapped my hair into a tight coil, pinning it in place. Afterwards I looked at my face in the mirror at my freckles. I had always been so self-conscious about them while growing up, I was often teased because of them. But that was not the most interesting feature on my body, my eyes were. My eyes were a deep violet color, a birth defect the doctor called it. Many people thought of me as strange being literally the only person with purple eyes in my town. I didn't mind them though, they looked nice as they contrasted against my dark red hair.

I looked closer at the mirror, something seemed off about this mirror, I rose to put my hand against the cool glass. It sure felt solid, nothing unusual about that. But yet it still seemed off, I looked at the walls surrounding it the wall paper was off as well almost as if there was once door there. I bit the inside of my cheek out of curiosity, this was puzzling indeed, but I had bigger matters to worry about. I walked towards the door and opened it, with one last glance back I walked out towards my room.

Quarter to One

I waited in my room for what seemed like endless hours. Nothing I did made the time pass any faster. I couldn't read, I couldn't draw, I couldn't ever write to my mother! Damn bastard of a phantom or whatever he was. I sat at my vanity counting how many cracks the wood had in it, when I heard a light knock. The person entered my room.

"Claudine, are you ready?" My Aunts voice cut through the silence of the room. She was holding a candle in her nightgown holding a shawl close to her body. I nodded my words were caught in my throat as she led me through many corridors. She led me up to the roof, apparently this is where the Phantom wanted to meet.

"Please be careful dear, and please watch your tongue." She gave me a pointed look. She then turned and left closing the door behind her. I waited a few moments before I heard a clock toll, it was one. I waited, and waited, and waited but no one ever came. I stood from where I was sitting and stretched my joints. A powerful yawn escaped my lips, I was very fatigued.

"I spent all that time worrying for nothing, I guess." I walked towards the door that led back into the warm opera house.

"Where do you think you're heading off to mademoiselle, did we not have an appointment?" A voice boomed from out of nowhere. I froze dead in my tracks, that voice (though utterly terrifying) was amazingly soothing. I looked to see where the voice had originated from and it would place it. I was as if he was throwing his voice, it made my head spin. I walked back to where I was originally sitting and waited.

"Are you going to show yourself or am I just going to sit here and freeze my ass off… Monsieur?" I winced at my choice of words, my aunt had literally just told me to watch my tongue.

"Insolent child, do not speak in such a manner women are meant to sit quietly." He put emphasis on the last word. I felt my cheeks grow hot, how dare he!

"Well, I'm not some dim witted ballet rat who curtsies at every possible moment Phantom. I would rather cut my hand off than pretend to be something I'm not." I spat back, I was losing my patience. There was a long silence then I heard the shuffling of boots against the concrete. Then he was there, he had emerged from the statue I was sitting on.

"Were you there the entire time?" He nodded.

"That's very rude of you." I crossed my arms over my chest childishly. He stared at me almost as if he were taken back.

"You're a strange girl, not to mention an interesting person at most." I examined me from head to toe.

"I must admit you have moxie most people would have ran for the hills on sight of me, yet you've spoken to me as if I were just a mere person." He began to circle me.

"You are just a person, maybe a crazed lunatic but a person overall." I said simply, his circling was beginning to make me uncomfortable. But then he suddenly stopped and looked at me.

"You really think of me as a person?" I nodded, what kind of question was that. The phantom stood there silently his eyes showed a little bit of sadness, but just as quick as itt was there it was quickly replaced, with rage.

"I did not bring you here so you could appeal to my better nature, I brought you here so you could be punished." He started to walk towards me, I kept my ground I wasn't going to give into his intimidation. However once he showed me the noose he was hiding that became another story. I started to back up, this man was crazy, absolutely mad! I kept backing up until I felt myself trip, I started to fall back off of the roof. With a blood curdling scream everything went black, the last thing I remember was the piercing blue eyes of the Phantom.