A Song In The Dark

Bitter News

Erik sat in his office hunched over his work mapping out everything about the opera. He had Madam Giry go and tell everyone who was he accepted to the show and arrange rehursal times.
The door creaked open as little Mary peaked her head in. Erik turned to the child with a smile, "are we having my lesson today?" She asked walking through the door.
Erik nodded excited to have an excuse to stop the dry work.

Erik lead her to a piano that sat on the stage for practices. "Always warm up your voice before you sing." Erik instructed sitting at the piano. Ada nodded standing beside him, she was nervous with her first lesson but very excited. "Stand straighter, always sing from here." He told her gesturing to his stomach. Mary nodded, Erik pressed the first note and she sang it.
"Good. Let your stomach expand when you breath in." He stood up to demonstrate taking long exaggerated breaths, Mary nodded and copied him. Erik hit another key and she sang that.

She warmed up her voice, Erik started giving her more notes progressing up the scale testing how far she could go without straining. "You have an amazing voice, Remarkable." Mary was glowing, "I didn't think the Phantom of the Opera gave compliments." Mary giggled. "Not unless highly deserved." Erik gave her a few more beginning pointers before going through through the scales again. Erik stood up from the piano telling her that her lesson was finished.

Erik continued giving her lessons every other day. Mary progressed faster than Erik could make up lessons in her young age she perfected each song with ease. He switched her lessons to nights when rehearsals started. Madam Giry instructed the dancers and Erik worked with the singers and orchestra. It was coming together perfectly Erik was surprised at the amount of talent that was in this city.

Ada was now waddling around like the opera house mostly doing bookwork now. Mary followed her around just as excited for the baby's arrival as Erik and Ada were. There was only four short weeks till opening night of the opera house Erik glanced at the clock as he finished with his work "one thirty!" Groaning he stood up blowing out the candle that lit the office.

He walked past Mary's room noticing that the light was still on gently he taped on the door soft footsteps walked to the door she opened the door with a smile. "What are you still doing up?" Erik asked her with a tired smile. Mary blushed, "I was composing."

"Really!?"

She nodded, "it's not to good."
"Can I see it?"
Shyly Mary accepted giving him a score sheet. Erik read it over humming the song to himself, "this is really good." Mary's eyes lit up. He showed her a few spots that he would change making it flow smoother. "You have a gift."

Erik left her a few minutes later sneaking into the bedroom where Ada lay awkwardly. "You are late." She sighed turning toward him. Erik changed before crawling in bed. "Did I wake you?"
"No" Ada laughed attempting to get situated, "I can't get comfortable my back and shoulders hurt, I just ate 10 minutes ago and I'm already hungry again." She cried. Erik couldn't help but laugh. "Roll on your other side" he said softly. Ada listened turning her back to him. He massaged her shoulders and back, she moaned Erik continued moving to her neck. And then back down to her lower back.
Once Ada had fallen asleep Erik stopped curling up next to her.

Ada woke up and rolled over to face Erik who was just waking up. "School is starting soon." Ada sighed, "Angel, the baby won't be in school for several years you have no need to worry." Erik grumbled pulling the covers tighter over his shoulders.
"I was talking about Mary. She needs to meet with people her own age."

Erik closed his eyes. "Only her parents can enrol her."
Ada rolled onto her back "true."
Erik sat up like a rocket his thin wisps of hair every witch way. "What if?"
Ada smiled knowing just what he was going to say. "What if she did have parents?"

"We would have to see if any of her family is living and if they want her." Ada told him with a laugh, "and if she wants to stay here."

Erik kissed his wife, "she will! I'm sure of it!"

Erik spent the day rushing about the opera house fixing props, and making some last minute changes to the opera. The dress rehearsals were on there way people started buying tickets for opening night.

Mary knocked on the door of Erik's office as he poured a glass of brandy. "Who was your fathers family?" Erik asked as Mary plopped down in the chair across from him. Mary looked down, "The de Changy's." she said in a faint whisper.