Spanish Angel (Phantom of the Opera)

Chapter 14

Chapter 14:

As weary as she might be, Candela pulled herself together and washed out the teacup. No matter how mentally exhausted she might be, she had no excuse for leaving more dishes for Darius to wash whenever he returned from the market.

Watching the remainders of the tepid tea flow into the soapy water, Candela muttered to herself,

"Unravel your thoughts, mad girl. Be rid of your doubts. This is for the best." Closing her eyes, the Spanish maid took several deep breaths and returned the cup to the cupboard, pleased to find her mind more at peace then before.

Her compass had been set.

"I shall be Candela Valentina, the Marquesse de Bonnaire. It is so pretty." After straightening her skirts and confirming her hair and expression were once more to her pleasure, she slinked from the kitchen and on her way to the front door, easily evaded the hearing and sight of Nadir, still hold up in his study.

A few sidewalk scurries and a scamper across a busy thoroughfare, Candela found herself standing, in the fading light of the Paris afternoon sun, before the Opera House once more. A week had passed since she had promised the managers to speak to the Opera Ghost.

Perhaps she shouldn't have gotten so engrossed in securing her own future.

Putting any concerns or reservations aside, she straightened her shoulders and marched once more into the foyer of the Opera House, ignoring the gilded finery. Once more she was met by the same blond ballerina, a Ms. Giry if the Spaniard remembered correctly, and was escorted a second time to the office of the managers.

After a brief thank you to the helpful girl, Candela lightly knocked on the door.

"Come in!" She heard and recognized the voice as Firmin. Clicking open the door, she entered.

"Good afternoon, gentleman. I hope I'm not disturbing you from anything important." A glance between the two men confirmed she was not. A light that had been absent until her departure on her first visit, still glowed in both of their eyes, burning brighter with hope at her reappearing.

"Mademoiselle! Did you speak the Phantom?" Nodding, she took the proffered seat and folded her gloved hand in her lap.

"Yes, I did speak with him. If you keep to your promise of upholding the conditions stated in the contract you signed when you initially became the managers, he will resume his former position as the Opera Ghost. I was hoping perhaps we could schedule a meeting? Perhaps sometime tomorrow or the next?"

Both managers glanced at each other and Andre stepped away to consult their appointment book before he spoke up,

"Ten o'clock tomorrow would be wonderful. In this office?" He offered.

"Very well. It is understood that no one save for yourself, me, and the Phantom shall be present?"

"Of course, Mademoiselle. It would not be helpful to either of our positions in society for anyone else to be aware of our connect with that entity." An agreeing grin was sufficient communication between the three of them as Candela saw herself out of the office.

E-OC

"Señor Phantom!" Candela called out as she entered the house by the lake and hung up her coat and gloves. After bending down to stoke the fire to remove the chill from the air, she continued into the dining room and hallway, in search of the ghost. Determining those rooms empty of the man, she raised her hand to knock on his door when it opened unexpectedly.

"You called, Candela?" He inquired, leaning against the doorway and balancing once hand on a lean hip. Straightening her shoulders, she folded her hands behind her back and rocked on the balls of her feet.