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Phoenix	By : LadyMeda Category: M through R > Phantom of the Opera Views: 4486 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Phantom of the Opera or any variation thereof. I do not make any money from this fiction. Tags include things that will be in future chapters.

Chapter List
- 17
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- 19
The dormitories were blissfully empty as Meg crept in to grab a change of clothes. As she snuck down the hallway and tucked into the costume room to change into her dance attire, the sound of chattering girls greeted her. Rehearsal must have ended recently. She was trying to think of a plausible excuse for still being in her nightgown when her thoughts were interrupted by Annette's animated speaking voice.
“Blood started gushing out! He hollered and grabbed at his head as he fell to the floor.”
Meg rounded the corner to find Annette sitting surrounded by girls, all fighting to ask her questions at the same time. It seemed that word of her heroism had spread quickly. The room slowly fell silent as they became aware of Meg's presence.
Annette shot up, blushing furiously. “M-meg! We were all wondering where you went!” She stepped forward through the crowd. “How are you doing? N-no one wanted to wake you this morning, but...” Her eyes and voice trailed off anxiously.
Meg let out a sigh; partly from relief that no one had questioned her attire, and partly in frustration that last night's events was already a source of entertainment. But it was absurd to expect a group of women not to gossip; especially when they all lived together.
“It's fine Annette. You can tell the story.” She reluctantly conceded. “Just... save it for when I'm not around.”
“Of course!” Annette blurted. “Whatever you want!”
“Perhaps we should speak first.” Meg suggested pointedly. “There are some more intimate details I would like kept private.” She looked around the room at all the curious faces before addressing the crowd. “Would you ladies mind leaving us? I will send Annette into the dormitories to finish her story in a short while.”
There were several groans and grumbles, but when Meg offered no compromise, they begrudgingly filed out of the room. When the last girl had left the room, Meg turned to a nearly terrified-looking Annette.
“Don't worry.” She soothed. “You aren't in trouble.” Annette breathed a visible sigh of relief as Meg continued. “I just want to make sure that our stories match up.”
Meg recited back the words that Erik had spoken to her less than an hour before. “The best lie is sandwiched between two truths. Now lets get our story straight.”
With a nod, Annette worked through her version of the event. Meg made a number of small corrections until it fit as closely to the truth as possible. Once they were finished, she had Annette repeat the revised story again until she was satisfied.
“That's perfect.” Meg assured her, laying a tentative hand on her shoulder. “And... thank you for covering for me.”
Annette's cheeks reddened again. “I couldn't just sit there and do nothing. But... Meg?”
This was the moment Meg had feared. She could only hope that her own lie, sandwiched between two truths, would be enough.
“What really happened? How did you escape? Who saved you in earnest?"
More for show than genuine concern, Meg glanced around the room to make sure they were alone. She leaned in to secret the answer on a soft breath. “The owner of the Opera.”
Annette gasped, but Meg pressed a finger to her lips. She did her best to recall the brilliant logic Erik had come up with. “When the owner asked me to dance at the masquerade, I wasn't the slightest bit interested. But as we moved together across the floor, the connection was electric. It felt like I had known him for months. Against all better judgement, I agreed to meet him in private. When I ran out so abruptly, he must have followed behind. It is all sort of a blur.”
Meg shook her head as if clearing away thoughts. “The next thing I knew he was untying me. Monsieur Soroush told me that people had been looking for any excuse to turn against him because of his dark skin and foreign birth. He asked that I keep his involvement a secret. He said that the scandal could shut down the entire opera!”
Meg hid her face within her hands in feigned dismay; a twinge of guilt coursing through her stomach. “It seemed quite a modest request at the time! How could I refuse such a simple favor for the man who had saved me? A man who had stolen my heart within minutes!”
Annette was quick to wrap her arms around Meg's shoulders. “Please don't fret!” She comforted. “I completely understand! I don't think I would have done any different.”
“Thank you, Annette.” The guilt mounted, but Meg knew it was for the best. “Thank you for understanding.”
Looking up, Meg grasped Annette's arms firmly. “But you mustn't tell anyone! Not a soul! If you do, both of our troubles will be for nothing.”
“I promise, I will never speak a word of it!” Annette swore. Slowly a wry smile crossed her lips as her gossiping nature took hold. “Do you really feel so strongly about a man you just met? It isn't just his wealth that sways you? Because I would understand if it was.”
Meg was surprised to find herself genuinely blushing.
“No!” She answered sincerely. “That night, he lifted his golden mask to me. When I looked into his face, it was like beholding a hidden piece of my heart for the very first time.” She grinned and let out an embarrassed giggle. Annette pulled Meg's hands into hers, giving her a warm smile. It felt really nice to have someone to talk to about Erik; even if it was under false pretenses.
“Oh Anne, you are a wonderful friend. I'm so glad---”
“You seem in unnaturally good spirits.”
Meg's sentence was cut short by a voice that made her blood turn to ice. She looked up to see Madam Giry rounding the bend. It was clear by the look on her face that she was very, very angry
Meg stammered. “I-I was just--” The familiar rap of a cane interrupted.
“Get dressed.” Madam Giry ordered tersely. 'Your new training begins today. I expect to see you on stage in five minutes.” Without another word, she swiveled on her heels and marched back out.
Annette shot Meg a sympathetic look before taking her leave as well. Meg reluctantly donned her dancing attire and hurried to meet her mother. When she opened the door, she was waiting on stage above the orchestra pit.
“Stretch quickly.” She growled, a rigid finger shooting out like an arrow to point at the floor. Meg wasn't used to warming up in front of the curtain, but knew better than to not obey. She began running through the stretches as her mother barked at her.
“Your first debut as lead will be in the next season's Opera. That gives us very little time to choreograph your performances. And after this much spotlight has been cast on you, it had better be awe-inspiring.” The last words seeped out in a hiss.
Meg had never choreographed anything before. The thought sent a wave of unease rolling through her stomach. “But I've never even--”
“How many times have I told you that you cannot breath correctly while you are talking? And you cannot dance correctly if you are not breathing!” Madam Giry snapped. “Now up! We will be showcasing a new Opera called Carmen. The second act calls for a spectacular ballet number. That is where our concentration must lie.”
Meg tentatively rose to her feet as Madam Giry made an abrupt signal for the pianist to begin. The music started, echoing with daunting clarity over the empty seats. It was a song Meg had never heard before. She hadn't the faintest idea what the play was even about, let alone what was happening in the second act. All Meg could do was stand glued to the floor in a stupor; completely at a loss for how to begin such an overwhelming task.
Several awkward minutes passed as Meg stood frozen at center-stage; Madam Giry all the while pacing around her. Finally she heard her mother give a weighty sigh. The music stopped.
“Look at the mess you've gotten yourself into.” Her voice was heavy with emotion. “A promotion you were clearly not ready for... the scandal with that young man... your name all over the papers... and now the attention of the police as well!”
Madam Giry began to shout. “You'd had the spotlight for less than a day and managed to dig yourself a hole bigger than you can climb out of! And then you just run off to God-knows-where without a word as to where you'd gone! This is precisely the reason I did NOT want to give you the lead position!"
Meg turned to look at her incredulously. "You didn't want to give me the lead... because you thought I would be noticed by an art critic, promoted, attacked, saved by one of the girls, inadvertently cause the demise of a wealthy banker, and then disappear while being investigated for murder?! That specifically is what you feared?”
“I feared that you could not handle the responsibility!” Madam Giry countered. “And I was right!”
Guilt began to creep back into Meg's heart. The last thing she wanted to do at that moment was argue. “I'm sorry for running away this morning.” She quietly implored. “After I woke up, the reality of what almost happened hit me hard. I just needed some time to feel... safe again. I did not mean for any of those things to happen, and I am sorry to have caused so much trouble. Please... as my mother... tell me what I should have done differently.”
For once, the stern woman seemed to be speechless. Her mouth gaped wordlessly. It felt like an eternity before anything in the threatre moved. Even the pianist sat bone still in the tense silence.
Madam Giry's cane was the first thing to disturb the stagnant air. It wavered and then capsized; silver handle hitting the floor with a thundering clank. Meg was taken aback as her mother ran forward and drew her into a possessive embrace. “Forget everything I said. Forget it all.”
Meg was startled as her head was pulled against Antoinette Giry's chest. “When I could not find you, I was out of my mind with worry. It may not seem like it at times, but if anything ever happened to you I would never forgive myself.”
Meg relaxed a bit, tentatively wrapping her hands around her mother's waist as Antoinette continued to speak. “When word finally came that you had returned, I rushed over to find you giggling like a schoolgirl with Annette! I was so angry, I was beside myself.”
“She was just trying to lift my spirits.” Meg insisted, hoping that her mother hadn't overheard too much of their conversation.
“I hoped you might have come to me for comfort.”
Meg wasn't sure what to say. It was touching to know that her mother cared, but it was hardly something she was used to. “I will... remember that for next time.”
Her mother let out half of a laugh. “Dear Heavens, I should hope there will never be a next time!” She said, issuing a final squeeze before pulling Meg back to look into her eyes. “Now tell me, are you alright? I pray he did not manage to tarnish you, but even if he did, we will take care of it. I can order you some special tea that will assure there are no...” Her eyes flitted momentarily to Meg's stomach. “...undesirable consequences.”
Mental gears began to turn. Meg continued to stare at her mother, but all she could see was Erik ordering her to down the contents of that china teacup. The scene replayed itself over and over, as if she were viewing it through a zoetrope. A quiet rage began to swell in her chest.
“... you well?” Her mother's voice slipped back into her head, returning her to reality.
“What?” Meg asked, a hand thoughtlessly moving to lay on her abdomen.
“I asked if you are well, child! Your mind looked to be a hundred miles away!”
“I'm fine... I suppose.” Meg said, doing her best to shake the ghost of an image from her thoughts. “Martine did not get that far. But I'm feeling rather ill just now. I would like to lie down.”
Antoinette looked at her with a sad smile and ran a tender hand over her hair. “Perhaps you can afford one evening of rest.”
Meg did not argue as her mother took her arm and gingerly led her off stage.
- 17
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- 19
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