DoctorPhantom: Odd. Lengthwise, this ended up being like a random little baby chapter in the middle of everything...but after the previous one...I guess we could all use a nice break from long chapters?

She moved through the dance, conscious about the people watching her as she did so. The managers had insisted on a private performance for the patrons, and she was thus obliged to comply. Adellade sighed, finally reaching the end without too much difficulty and hardly any mistakes.

"You were correct in saying that Madame Giry had instructed her well," Raoul commented.

"And where did you learn?" Philippe demanded of her. "Who taught you?"

"Madame Giry herself, monsieur," Adellade answered.

"You did not receive any schooling? Did not have any tutors?"

"No, monsieur. I had my brother-though I don't think Erik would be able to tutor me in ballet."

"Your parents, then? They didn't send you to dance at a conservatory?"

"I don't have any parents. Our father died when we were young, and mother died when I was seventeen years old."

"An orphan girl? An untrained orphan girl dancing at our opera house?" he scoffed. "I know several dancers who would be much preferred as our principal girl to her."

"Aren't you being a bit harsh?" Raoul pointed out.

"This is a prestigious opera house! We can't have simply anyone here! The de Changy family will only support the best of the arts! Nothing less! Especially not a penniless orphan girl!"

"You make an exception for Christine!" Raoul argued.

"I only do that out of your past history-nothing more, brother. But this? Paris-no, France-is full of ballerinas who can dance circles around her! They've had the training, the status, the money! Why not be rid of her and hire one of them instead?"

"I have some money, and I've learned all that I know from Madame Giry herself!" she argued.

"Then you'll be able to survive. Perhaps join another company. Or run away to join some troupe. The gypsies are always willing to hire anyone who can spin around in circles."

"No," she whispered as he left.

Raoul sighed and walked over toward her, shrugging. "I'm sorry. I wish I could help, but-it's not my decision. I really do wish I could help. Perhaps I can try to put in a word with some of the other opera houses and ballets-try to help."

"Why? Why would he do this?" She grabbed his arm. "Please, monsieur. I-I need to know why."

"Normally, I wouldn't...but as you're Christine's friend…." He sighed. "One of the other patrons-and close acquaintance of my father's-she demanded that you be removed. I am sorry, but it's out of my hands."

She swallowed. "Which-which patron?"

"Madame Destler."

She released him and sighed, nodding. "I'll go-I ought to pack my things first."

Adellade turned before he could get a word in, quickly hurrying away toward one of the other tunnels. Erik was waiting for her and she climbed in without a word, a hollow feeling in her stomach.

"So, the patrons were that horrible?" he asked as they entered the lair.

"You-you weren't there?"

"I left soon after you finished. I didn't expect them to be that horrible-the look on your face alone suggests that your routines will be more difficult soon enough, and-"

He stopped, just barely managing to avoid being hit by the small trinket that shattered against the wall. He eyed her with confusion. She stared at him in surprise, just realizing what she had done-it had been on impulse-a reflex.

"What happened?" he asked, using as gentle of a tone as he could, carefully watching her should she intend to throw anything else at his head. "Adellade, tell me what happened."

"They-they said I could no longer-could no longer dance at-at the opera house."

"Why would they say that?" he demanded. "You're the best dancer there! No one would be able to argue otherwise!"

She fell to her knees, staring at the floor. She was hardly aware of him as he walked over to her and knelt down in front of her.

"Why would they say that you could no longer dance?" he repeated. "Adellade?"

"They wanted someone who could dance!" she lied. "Someone who had a name-titles-schooling-tutors!"

"Ah, but none of those girls can dance like you can," he encouraged. "They may have fancy titles, but none of them could ever survive a day in the Persian Court! What's more of a title than that?"

She did her best to smile at that. She wanted to keep him with her. She had lied to keep him from knowing the truth-to keep him with her. Madeline Destler had always destroyed everything she liked. Everything. She had taken away the dancing it and twisted it, making it so that Adellade had no choice but to hate it-the same way she had done all those years ago….

But he will learn of this sooner or later-you know that as well as I do, Nadir's voice echoed inside her head.

I'll keep him from the truth, she thought back to it. I will.