What Lies Behind the Mask (Phantom of the Opera x OC)

Chapter Five: The Mirror

Heart wildly thumping against her chest, Adina hurried down the hallways, checking every room for any sign of her little daughter. As she was frantically searching, she did not notice her brother that was strolling down the hallways. Adina let out a shriek of shock as she slammed up against his body.

"I didn't see you! Tell me... Have you seen...?" Adina's words trailed off as she noticed that her daughter's wrist was held in Breton's hands. With a great sigh of relief, Adina bent down to arrange the collar of Maria's dress. "Why weren't you in my office, pet?"

"I found out where the tapping came from," Maria suddenly announced, her words gaining a confused look from Breton.

"Tapping?" he asked, looking toward his younger sister for further clarification.

"She and I could hear some incessant tapping from my office." Adina turned back to ask Maria in Irish, "Where was it?"

"Behind the mirror. I went out to check if there were mirrors like that!"

"Mirrors? Yes, they are...rats that move in wall," Breton brokenly explained, letting out a laugh when Maria's nose wrinkled in disgust. "Yes... Little girl should not mess with."

"You're the manager. Can you not call up a rat-catcher? You certainly have gotten enough money to do so," Adina asked, standing up and grabbing her child's hand.

"You see, some of these rats have a mind of their own. Very smart devils. However, I shall call the rat-catcher again. There is absolutely no need for you to worry yourself about such things, dear sister."

"What about the blood that was coming out of the faucets?"

"Oh, some of the ballet girls are petulant little creatures. They love to put something into the water to turn it red. If anything, they wish to have their practice called off due to mass hysteria. Madame Giry can be an imposing character, yes?"

"It is best for you to keep better control over the rats and ballet corps."

Adina's brows knitted together as she turned on her heel, hurrying toward her office. Thankfully, the room was devoid of any tapping. Maria stiffly moved over to her assigned chair, sinking down into the ornate cushions.

"I don't like the uncle," Maria commented as she watched her mother sit down behind the desk.

"Oh, why not?" Adina's eyes flicked up from the chequebook.

"He's very creepy, and he didn't look very happy to find me inspecting one of the mirrors."

"Well, I'm sure that no one would like for a child to snoop around their place of work."

Maria fell silent as she picked up her fairytale book, choosing to not respond to her mother. The only sound that filled the room was Adina's quill that was scratching across the cream papers.

---

"Oh, Orianne?" the dark-haired woman, Jasmin, called out as she sat down on the plush chair that was settled before the vanity.

At the sound of her name, Orianne let out a soft hum, occupying herself with readying the prima donna's wardrobe.

"I can already feel my throat beginning to scratch. Could you go and fetch me a beverage from the kitchens?"

Orianne quickly left the dressing room and hurried to the kitchens, earning a curious look from one of the cooks. Noticing that his eyes were caught on her, the young woman hurried over and sweetly called out his name.

"Pierre, could you please give me a tonic that will help Madame Pelletier's throat?" Orianne requested, her lips tilting up in a small smile.

"Are you sure that you don't want to steal again?" he teasingly replied as he turned his back to Orianne.

"Yes, I am quite certain. I almost got beaten by Madame Giry. You should have seen the look on her face," Orianne said, wrapping her fingers around the glass that he handed over to her. "I do appreciate you setting aside some food for me to take."

"At the very least, were you able to give some to your son?"

"Thankfully. I'll be sure to let you know if he enjoyed the flavors," Orianne replied as she turned on her heel. "Now, I really must get back to Madame Pelletier, or she will go complain to my superiors!"

---

At the sound of the dressing room door opening, Jasmin peeked over her shoulder to find Orianne rushing back inside with the drink. Extending a hand for the drink, she used the other to straighten up her hair, which was pulled into a bun. As she took an indulgent sip from the glass, the door opened to reveal the manager of the opera house.

"I wasn't expecting you to be here," the prima donna said, a smile playing on her lips. "What could you need from me, monsieur?"

"I needed to have a talk with that one," Breton replied, his eyes flitting over to Orianne.

"What a pity. Don't you want to see me?" Jasmin carefully watched his stony expression in the mirror as he turned on his heel, leaving the room without any other word.

Orianne, her heart sinking, quickly followed after the man, choosing to train her eyes on the polished floors.

"Why were there taps heard around the opera? I thought that you were supposed to watch over that confounded creature."

"Monsieur, I tried to keep an eye on him. However, there was no one to watch him while I was doing my job," Orianne responded, her cheeks coloring in embarrassment.

"You're that thing's mother. You should be able to keep an eye on him-"

"I was not his mother by choice!" Orianne cried out, her mouth twisting into a rage-filled grimace. "I can't possibly keep a hold on him when I am here-"

"It is best if the two of you keep it down since you are giving me a headache," Jasmin interrupted, her head poking out of the door. "What in the world are you two even yelling about?"

"Oh, I had heard that Joseph Buquet has been doing unsavory things with some of the ballet girls. I was just trying to verify this claim," Breton quickly answered, wiping sweat off of his forehead with a handkerchief of his.

"I'm surprised that there has not been any sort of scandal," Jasmin commented, shaking her head in disbelief. "Do be prompt and make sure none of the ballet girls are with child."

"Yes, we would not want a similar situation. Would we?" Breton responded as Orianne let out a soft sigh.

With a flippant wave of the hand, Jasmin returned back to the dressing room. As soon as the door had closed behind her, Breton turned his eyes back to Orianne.

"Now, get ahold of that thing, or people are going to talk. I will not hesitate to toss the two of you out into the streets."

"Could I not have some more help, monsieur?"

"I am already giving you a considerable amount of money. Is that not enough help?"

"If you could provide me with some people, that would be extremely helpful."

"That is absolutely out of the question."

"Then, I will not be able to keep my eyes on him. He could do whatever he pleases-"

"You must find a way to control the situation. I am not going to offer you any more help to raise that creature."

"I never asked to raise that..." Orianne's words trailed off as her eyes shifted over to the mirror that sat in front of them, rethinking her words. As she looked back at Breton, she noticed that the blood had begun to slowly drain from his face. "He is a genius, monsieur. In fact, I find that his intellect is scary at times. One day, he is going to grow tired of his surroundings. I try to teach him, which can entertain him significantly. However, I only know so much. A tutor should be able to quench his thirst for knowledge. I am sure that you can find someone to educate him while I am working in the opera."

"I will not provide you with money for the tutor. I would suggest that the abomination does not use up all of your funds," Breton said, stalking away from the young woman.

Shaking her head in frustration, Orianne gave one last look at the mirror and hurried back into the dressing room.