Adellade sighed, going through the dance, trying to get the turns right, trying to perfect her solo. Dancing around the diva that was Carlotta Guidicelli didn't help much either, but she still had to keep going.
"I almost had it!" she hissed, joining Meg and Christine at the side of the stage.
"I thought you did really well," Meg encouraged. "Why are you so worried?"
"Between your mother's comments and the opera ghost's…." Her voice trailed off, seeing two people following behind Monsieur LeFevre-the current manager of the opera house. Meg and Christine turned to see where she was watching.
"Are they supposed to be the new patrons?" Christine asked.
"No. Patrons don't look like that. And they certainly don't talk to the manager so much!" Meg pointed out. "All the patrons are always too busy staring at the designs and such."
"I wonder who they are then," Adellade murmured.
"Mademoiselle!" Madame Giry called out, beckoning for her to come join her.
"Yes?"
"If we could just run through this one part," she murmured. "Starting here…. Yes, right there…. Focus on your form!"
She nodded and started dancing once more.
"Managers," Erik's voice whispered in her ear.
She stumbled a bit and caught herself, turning into the next step, hoping that Madame Giry hadn't noticed.
"They're the new managers," he continued. "Those rumors about his retirement were true. Watch yourself here-you do have a tendency to mis-step."
She sighed and focused, going through the turn. She finished and gave a bow, being startled by the sudden applause from the three men.
"You have improved, my dear," Madame Giry commented with a nod. "They have been impressed."
"If I could have your attention please," LeFevre called out, climbing onto the stage. "Attention! I know that this may come as a shock, but given the rumors concerning my retirement: I can tell you that they were all true! And now, I am able to introduce you to the new managers! Monsieurs Gilles Andre and Richard Firmin!"
Everyone gave a small round of applause.
"Monsieurs: this is our leading ballet girl: Mademoiselle Adellade Matthews."
She gave a small curtsy.
"An astounding performance you just gave," Firmin commented.
"Our ballet instructor and box keeper Madame Antoinette Giry has ensured that our girls are kept in their finest form. And of course: our prima donna: Signora Carlotta Guidicelli, and our principal tenor: Signor Ubaldo Piangi…."
"You did wonderful, Adellade!" Christine commented. "Absolutely wonderful!"
"You think so?"
"It was quite the sight to behold," Erik pointed out. "A captivating beauty on the stage."
"Of course I'll be willing to give my managers a performance!" Carlotta called out.
She opened her mouth to sing. However, one of the set pieces came crashing down, interrupting her and sending everyone into a small panic. Adellade turned, feeling something being pressed into her hand. She looked at the parchment and opened it, quickly scanning over the contents. Madame Giry walked over and she handed it to her.
"What is the meaning of this, Buquet?" LeFevre demanded.
"I wasn't at my post!" Buquet shouted from above. "No one was here! It must've been that ghost! The opera ghost himself!"
"Opera ghost?" Andre laughed. "What sort of joke is this?"
"I can assure you that it is no joke, monsieurs," Madame Giry called out, approaching them. "A letter arrived for you from the opera ghost. As you can see: he merely wishes to welcome you to his opera house, instructs you to continue to leave box five empty for his use, and reminds you that his salary of twenty thousand francs is soon to be due."
"Twenty thousand?" Firmin stammered. "He demands that he be paid twenty thousand?"
"Signora, this is all just a simple joke!" Andre pointed out, helping her to her feet.
"A joke?" she demanded. "Of course it is a joke! A joke that has been going on ever since this building first opened! And did you do anything? No! And what are you two to do about it now? Laugh?! Well, until you do something, I can guarantee you that you will not have me as your prima donna until this all stops!" She stormed off with Piangi following her.
"Well, I don't think there's anything more to do here," LeFevre muttered. "If you need me, well...try not to need me. Good luck." He sighed and left.
"Well, no matter!" Firmin called out. "Who is the understudy?"
"There is no understudy for Carlotta!" Reyer called out.
"Christine Daae could sing it, monsieurs," Madame Giry offered up. "She has been taught by an excellent tutor."
"Well, it couldn't hurt to try," Andre groaned. "Very well! Mademoiselle!"
"Go on!" Meg hissed, giving her a shove forward.
Reyer started to play as Christine began to sing. She was hesitant at first, but slowly grew into a stunning voice that captivated everyone who was watching. Adellade eyed her friend. Christine's voice was well trained, yet there was something behind it. The way her voice was perfect for the music, the way she never went too far above or below her range, the way she flowed through the notes as if the aria had been written specifically for her….
Adellade sat in the lair, watching the fire. They had chosen Christine to replace Carlotta, naturally. She should be happy for her friend, yet…. That voice…. Even now she couldn't get Christine's singing out of her head….
"If you wish for me to put the fire out, you can simply request it," Erik spoke up, walking over toward her.
"Hm?"
"Something on your mind?" He asked, sitting down in his chair. "You've hardly touched your drink. Such a waste. You did make quite an excellent tea tonight."
"Did you hear her? Christine? When she sang for the new managers today?"
"I am the opera ghost! I hear everything that goes on inside my opera house!"
"Erik…."
"Yes. I heard. Her voice is very good-despite the fact that she has found a tutor…. As a ballet girl, she will have work ahead of her however if she wishes to continue as a sopranist, especially considering Carlotta's fame, mind you…." She stood and walked over, sitting on his lap to rest her head against his chest. "What are you doing?"
"Sing?"
"You are not a child, you know," he murmured, gently brushing her hair away from her face as he softly started to hum.
"It's funny," she murmured, her eyes closing as she sighed. "Christine's voice sounds like yours…."
"I highly doubt it, my dear mademoiselle. I can assure you that I cannot sing as high as she can."
"I like your singing…. It's nice…."
"And you are almost asleep. Shouldn't you be in bed?"
"Erik doesn't sing when I'm in bed."
"All you must do is ask, and Erik will do whatever it is you wish." He stood with her in his arms as he carried her to bed, resigned to the fact that she wasn't going to go on her own. "However difficult it may seem, if you ask, Erik shall hear and be your loyal servant."
"I thought you were my brother."
"I am." He smiled.
"I don't want a servant. I want my brother."
He gently laid her down on the bed and sighed. "Sleep now, Adellade."
Erik smiled to himself, watching as she slept, lingering in the doorway for a few moments. He couldn't help but enjoy knowing that she was able to sleep safely now without the fear of death haunting her dreams….
Curse the Shah and all of Persia, he thought to himself as he left. Daring to hurt Erik's Adellade…. They can hurt her no more here. Here she is safe. Erik will protect her. Erik will keep her safe.
He paused as he stared at the sheets of music spread out around the organ. He had found the music for the opera-had worked to tutor Christine on her part…. She was to be the new sopranist now. His fingers brushed against the delicate pages as he sat.
She knows about Christine. He softly chuckled to himself. My dear little Adellade knows about Christine…. No matter. She is a ballet girl, after all. She's impressed the managers beyond their expectations, so why should there be any concern? Yes…. She knows…. No matter. Why should I care if she knows or not? The more important matter is that Christine has no knowledge of Erik's Adellade. If she did, she would tell the others...then they might hurt Adellade…. No. We mustn't have that. Not again. No one will dare to hurt Erik's Adellade! No one!