Chapter 20: Getting to Know You

Evangeline's POV

Today was my first day of rehearsals!

After Erik and I had a celebratory dinner complete with our usual task of watching the sunset, I had gone to bed but was too excited to stay asleep. After tossing and turning for most of the night, I finally decided to get dressed early and head to the library to catch up on some Scripture reading until 5 A.M rolled around.

I'm so excited! I thought to myself, I'm finally gonna be able to perform on stage!

I was so ecstatic that I began to squeal like a fangirl at her favorite boy-band concert.

By the time the grandfather clock in the library chimed five, I heard Erik come out of his room. I put the Bible down and walked out into the parlor where he was waiting for me, still dressed in a billowy, white shirt, black slacks, black dress shoes, and the mask from yesterday.

"Ready to go, Evangeline?" He gave a playful smirk as he held out his arm for me to take. I gave him a smirk and took his arm as the both of us snuck up to the roof to watch the rising sun. By the time we got up there, we were just in time to see the sun peek out from over the horizon, lighting up the sleepy city of Paris in a rosy glow.

We looked out over Paris for a minute or so to admire the view, then we left for the lair to eat breakfast. Erik had gone inside the fridge (although he kept correcting me in saying that it was called an icebox, but who cares! I'm calling it a fridge!) to get stuff to make and we settled on some omelets with some pastries.

After ten to fifteen minutes, he came back out to the dining room with two plates in each hand, placing one on my end and the other in his, and then ran back into the kitchen to grab two cups of freshly brewed Earl Grey tea.

"I see that someone's excited. Is it because a certain Mademoiselle is starting her first rehearsal as Prima Donna?" He teased as I rushed to eat my breakfast. I didn't say anything as I finished eating, placed my dishes in the sink, and started to make my soup so that Erik could eat something when I was gone and made myself a roast beef sandwich and some sides to take with me.

As I added the last ingredient in the soup and I put my packed lunch in my satchel, I rushed from the kitchen and into the bathroom to brush my teeth and give myself a good look-over so that I didn't look like a slob.

"Hey Erik, what time is it?" I asked him as I started to do my hair.

"7:30. Why?"

I didn't say anything else. Instead, I ran from the bathroom, comb, brush, and hair tie in one hand as I grabbed my satchel with the other and I bolted for the exit that was connected to my dressing room, saying a quick goodbye as I left.

By the time I got to the dressing room, it was already 8:00. I quickly sat down at my new vanity dresser as I did a simple, neat bun and placed my comb and brush in my satchel next to my food. Then, I rushed to the stage area.

As soon as I went through the double doors that connected the backstage to the house, everyone that was present began to stare at me. I was in a sea of confused and curious stares, many of the curious stares being made by the little ballet girls and young chorus members that were stretching and hanging out on the stage.

Everyone continued to stare as the once noisy stage gradually became silent, making me feel as if I was a freak of nature.

"Hello. I'm Evangeline McKenna." I introduced myself. I was met with more silence before the youngest ballet girl tugged on my skirt and spoke up.

"You're very pretty." She said in a tiny voice.

I looked her over. She was a small, pale kid with freckles, hazel eyes, fiery red hair that was fashioned into two pigtails, and seemed to be at least seven years old.

I smiled at her compliment.

"Aw, thank you! And what's your name, sweetie?"

"I'm Jeannette and I'm five!" She chirped as she proudly held up five digits, signifying her age.

I began to giggle as more kids gathered around and sat in a circle as each of them introduced themselves. As the kids went back to their chattering, I stole a glance at the older dancers and chorus members, some of which were my age.

The dancers looked at me, caution and a mild dose of hostility shining in their eyes as they shifted their gaze from me to a woman with black hair, wearing a black dress, and brandishing a black and golden knob cane (and who, for some reason, looked oddly familiar to me)  as they did pliés in fifth and holding a passé relève en pointe on the barre.

But while the ballet girls seemed to keep their opinions to themselves (at least while I was in their line of vision), the chorus girls were a tad bit more liberal as I watched them whisper amongst themselves, all the while glaring at me with some sort of contempt.

God, please don't let me be in a situation with these people that will result in me getting petty 'cause You know that I will roast the life out of all of them if provoked. Amen. I silently prayed as the main doors to the house were opened and the two managers came inside.

Robert was the first to enter as he sat down in the front row in the orchestra section of the house seating. As he sat in one of the velvet seats, his gaze fell directly on me as a small smile spread across his face. I gave him a smile as well, but with the arrival of Johnathan, my smile quickly vanished as he gave me a hard, steely glare as he sat his cloak and hat down in the seat next to his son.

He started to say something to all of us when, all of a sudden, a very familiar voice echoed around the house, causing all of us to jump.

Erik.

"Good morning everyone and welcome to your first rehearsal." He said as his voice filled the room. As he said that, the managers and some members of the cast and crew wore expressions of recognition and horror on their faces as he continued to speak.

He began to drone on and on about some of the rules that he had put in place, some of which I had agreed with, and I was starting to zone out until I heard Erik mention me.

"As you all must have noticed, our new Prima Donna has brown skin as she is of a different race. If I find that someone has said or done anything to offend her, then they will be dismissed immediately!"

Instantly, I felt a hundred eyes target at me as he continued on about how Lucia di Lammermoor would be the opera that we will be performing next month and how we will be hosting a gala for the Opera House's grand re-opening.

As soon as I get back to the lair, he and I will be having a serious talk about calling me out in front of everybody! I thought to myself as he seemed to finish. But as soon as he finished talking and gave an evil cackle that would give The Joker a run for his money, I noticed that one of the big, heavy backgrounds behind us was starting to fall and right under it was Jeannette.

I quickly ran to the five-year-old as I got the two of us out of dodge from the falling piece of stage equipment. The rest of the cast and crew were all in chaos as some people ran around the stage in fright and others stayed huddled in a corner with four or five other people. At that moment, I was no longer annoyed by the stunt Erik pulled.

Oh no.

I was pissed off!

I handed Jeannette to one of the older ballet girls as the managers began to take over the rehearsal. The two of them were talking about when the gala was to be scheduled, who would be performing that night, and when we would the real rehearsal for the opera would begin. We were handed our scripts and librettos as we started rehearsing, the stench of fear pungent in the air and all the while I was getting myself ready for the fight of my life as soon as it was time for us to go home.

By lunchtime, I had already planned out an entire dialogue complete with a smack upside his big, bony head since he wanted to play around and drop backdrops on five-year-olds. As I sat alone in the Opera House's kitchen, I felt a presence behind me as I angrily bit into my sandwich.

"Mademoiselle McKenna?" I heard an older lady say as she cleared her throat.

I turned around to see the same black-haired lady that was with the dancers, her black clothes rustling slightly as she moved. Her small, pale hand clutched the golden knob of her cane as I stood up to properly greet her.

"Yes? What can I do for you, Madame....?"

"Giry. I am Madame Giry and I am the head ballet mistress of this Opera House."

I shoke her hand as my mind jolted in remembrance of the ALW character.

"I wanted to thank you for getting Jeannette out of the way before the backdrop fell on her." She replied as her hand receded back to her side.

As if by magic, Jeannette suddenly appeared from behind her as she climbed onto the bench that I was sitting at.

"Ah, it's nothing, really. I couldn't stand by and watch her get squished. After all, she's still a kid, and a sweetheart at that!"

With that, the kid in question sat herself on my lap and hugged me.

"Jeannette, get off of her. She might not like you all over her."

"Aw, she's ain't hurting nobody. It's alright if she gives me a hug. After all, she's had one exciting  morning."

As she looked down at me, she saw that Jeannette had fallen asleep. I handed her back to Madame Giry as she took her leave and I turned back to eat the rest of my lunch.

Finally, at around 5:30 PM, rehearsals were over and we were allowed to leave. I watched as the managers made their leave and after they left, so did the rest of us.

I headed straight for my dressing room, locked the door, and left for the lair, ready to smack some sense into the Phantom of the Opera.

Literally.

A/N: Hello my Phantom Phans!

I want to say THANK YOU for 17.2k views. You guys are awesome people!!!😁😁😁😁😁

So, it's about to go down!

Who's gonna win?

Will it be our Erik, the Opera Ghost or will it be our homegirl, Evangeline?

Please comment, vote, and share and I'll see y'all next time.

M'kay, bye! 💖