It Was Always Her

Chapter 2

Yvette's POV 

The ride to the Opera Popular was quiet since we had just met Raoul thirty minutes ago. I stared out the window and watched as the little buildings in Paris rushed by. I haven't been on a carriage ride in over twelve years. I was only six at the time so I only remember bits and pieces but I remember them being there and treating us like actual people. Charlotte was only four when we went on the carriage ride, so I don't think that she remembers it at all.

The carriage halted and Raoul moved to get out first. Yvette was closest to the door so she got out next. Raoul was waiting outside the carriage and offered his land like a true gentleman to Yvette. She smiled and took his hand and lightly jumped out of the carriage. Yvette looked up at the magnificent sight of the oh so famous Opera Populaire. I heard a giggle from my sister and look over to see her and the patron flirting and talking quietly among themselves.  I roll my eyes and walk inside, interested to see what this magnificent building holds.

When I walk inside and let my eyes adjust, I can't believe the sights. There is a large marble staircase that splits at the top and leads to, what I am assuming, the balcony of the theater. I gasp and the noise echos all around me. Looking up, I see the ceiling is like a huge cathedral, decorated with many accents of marble and stone, with large statues made of gold placed on the walls and by the staircase. The floors made of  polished marble, shine and sparkle, probably polished the day before. What shocks me most is nobody was there.

I close my eyes and smile, throwing my arms back and start spinning. This beautiful place, is what I will hopefully now be able to call my home. I hear a low chuckle and stop spinning. Looking around, I see no one there. It must've been my imagination I think and shake my head walking over to the stairs. I run my hand along the smooth marble banister and think of a song that I had heard when I was little. I begin to sing softly

I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving

I walk into the theater and I stop singing. The sight takes my breath away. The red velvet seats, the gold statues that hang from the walls. They're just like the ones from the entrance of the opera house. The stage is huge and gorgeous. The thing that draws my eyes to it the most, is the magnificent, crystal chandelier. The thing must've cost a fortune. I quit staring at everything and continue singing.

Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung
No wine untasted

I start to run down the stairs and make my way towards the stage.

But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hopes apart
As they turn your dreams to shame

He slept a summer by my side
He filled my days with endless wonder
He took my childhood in his stride
But he was gone when autumn came

I reach the stage and jump onto it in a very unladylike fashion. But I could care less because nobody is there. I smile and keep singing louder and more confident than before.

And still I dream he'll come to me
That we will live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather!

I cringe as the last note went a little flat but I quickly regain my confidence and sing loud and proud.

I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living
So different now, from what it seemed
Now life has killed the dream I dreamed

I stand on the stage, out of breath when I finish my song. My voice is good, but nothing compared to Charlotte's. I walk over to the edge of the stage and sit down, hanging my feet in the orchestra pit. Thinking about all of the times that my sister and I had sung together, but her voice always out weighed mine. I sighed and jumped as I heard clapping from one of the boxes off to my left.

I scramble to my feet and look for the source of the clapping. "Who is there?" I ask, peering into the shadows to try and see the source of the clapping.

"Well done mademoiselle, but let me ask you who are you and why are you in my opera house?" His deep, powerful voice fills the room and I'm at a loss for words. I stand there with my mouth wide open, not able to think of a response. I thought I was all alone in the theater but I clearly thought wrong. "Don't just stand there gaping like a fish, answer my questions." I shut my mouth and clear my throat. I feel my cheeks heat up.

"My name is Yvette and I'm here because my sister is an amazing singer. The patron heard her singing on the street and wanted both of us to work here, even though I have no talent compared to my sister." I quickly fix my hair to cover my scar.

"If you apparently have "no talent", then what are you going to do working here?" The voice questions me. I never really thought about that, my sister would probably become a famous opera star and what would I be doing? I would have to hide my hideous face from everyone and work back stage.

"I could work back stage monsieur," I mutter the last part, "That way no one can see my hideous face." Apparently the mysterious man had heard what I said and let his voice carry throughout the room.

"Your face is the opposite of hideous Mademoiselle Yvette," she got chills when he said her name. "I could show you things so hideous, you could faint from fear."

"Monsieur, clearly you cannot see my face up close from..." I pause and look around for him, "wherever you are. Many people have ran in fear of my face, that's why I must hide it." I say sadly, looking down to the stage.

"Yvette.." He starts to say but is immediately cut off when my sister and Raoul walk into the theater.

"Oh there you are dear sister!" Charlotte runs up to the stage and gives me a hug. She pulls away. "Raoul said that he is going to show us to our rooms now! Can you believe that we are going to have our own rooms?!" She squeals in excitement and I laugh at her enthusiasm.

"This way ladies, I'll show you to your new rooms." I get off the stage and follow my sister and the patron. Before we exit the theater, I look back one more time and see a shadowy figure standing in box five.

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The first time I wrote this, it didn't save so I had to rewrite the whole thing. Ugh. Leave a comment and a vote if you guys like this story!!