My Angel of Music

Mama's Here

Going to see the children was next on my agenda, so I mounted the horse in the direction of a few hotels I knew.  I entered the first one, farthest away from the Opera Populaire.  It was small and modest, but it seemed roomy.  I quickly went inside and asked the old woman at the front desk if there was a woman and two children here.  She replied in the negative, and I left for the next stop.

It took me three hours, and seven stops to find one with the children in it.  They were at a large hotel that was right next to the opera house.  It was managed by a young, portly woman and her husband who seemed to be around forty.  When I asked her, she nodded and pointed to the dining area.  Before I could turn around and see, I heard a familair, young voice.  "Mama's here!"  Annabel sqealed as the nanny held Elsa in her arms.  I grinned and bent down to recieve the happy child.  She lept into my open arms and buried her face in my neck.  The moment didn't last long though.  She pulled away and started to glance around the room.

"Where's Father?"  She asked sweetly.  I sighed and picked her up.  I carried her to the table that she had been sitting at and sat down, across from the nanny and Elsa.  I put Annabel on my knee and held her tiny hands in mine.  "Do you remember when Father told you that he might go awat for a while?"  I asked.  A sad look crossed her face and she nodded slowly.  "Well he was right.  He might not be here for a very long time."  I explained quietly.  

Tears began to stream down her pale cheeks and she buried her face in my chest.  She sobbed quietly as I stroked her hair.  I looked up at the nanny.  "Come, I'm going to take the children to where I am staying."  I ordered kindly.  She nodded and with a smile passed the sleeping Elsa to me.  "Thank you for all you have done."  I gushed and passed her a bag of gold coins.  She gasped at the weight and smiled a toothless grin.  "Thank you, Madame.  Thank you!"  She cried happily.  I smiled.  "Now you may return to the country house.  But I don't think you should expect us back anytime soon."  I said quietly.  She nodded, and with one last pet to Annabel's head, scurried off to catch a carriage.

I sighed and stood the sniveling Annabel up on her feet.  "Come, darling.  I'm going to take you somewhere.  But you must walk."  I commanded gently.  She nodded, wiping her eyes.  

***

We reached the Opera Populaire, in once piece.  I was panting from Annabel's weight(she insisted that I carry her).  I entered the opera house through the back door, and motioned for Annabel to not make a sound.  We crept through the kitchen, and up a small staircase that not many people knew about.  We reached my dressing room, and I led the children through it, and into the mirror.  Annabel gazed through it in astonishment.  I stopped before it and knelt down to her level.  "Annabel, listen carefully.  I want you to pay careful attention to how to get here.  If something ever happens, or you ever feel frightened, just come here."  I commanded softly.  She nodded and looked up to the open mirror once more.

As I led her down the passageway that I had lit with candles, she took my hand and smiled.  "I think it's beautiful."  She whispered, a gleam in her eyes.  I smiled and tugged her along behind me.  We got to the lake, and a small gasp escaped her throat.  "Mother, I've dreamt of this place."  She whispered in awe, looking around, her eyes wide.  I helped her into the boat and she sat down in the front.  "In sleep he sang to me.  In dreams he came.  That voice which calls to me, and speaks my  name."  Her voice sang confidently.  I stopped rowing and stared at her.  How did she know that song?

"Annabel, what voice?"  I whispered.  She slowly turned around to face me, a hynotic smile on her lips.  "My Angel of Music, of course."  She whispered.  I gasped.  That was a story.  Only a story.  What was she talking about?  "What do you mean?"  I asked.  She turned back around and faced the black lake.  "He takes me here and makes me sing for him.  I do it, and he sings with me sometimes."  She said carelessly, while still analyzing her surroundings.  I crinkled my brow.  "What does he look like?"  I asked another question.  She shrugged.  "I've never seen him."  

She refused to answer anymore questions.  But as we entered the lair, she got extremly excited.  "Mama, I've been here!  In my dreams!"  She exclaimed happily.  I simply smiled.  Of course she would have dreams about this place.  Erik told her stories about the lair ever since she was a baby.  He always forgot to mention the fact that it was real, though.  

We reached the shore, and Annabel jumped off excitedly.  I smiled and hurridley herded them into their room.  Erik for some reason had an extra room.  He used it to store things like paper and wood for the things he built.  I grabbed several blankets and a pillow and made Annabel a pallet to sleep on.  Later I would take a matteress from the dorms, but this would have to do for now.  I sighed and made her lay on it.  "But Mama, I want to explore."  She whined.  I shot her a death glare.  "You are not to touch anything in here unless I say so, do you understand?"  I snapped.  She pushed out her lip in defiance, but finally nodded.  I quickly planted a kiss on her cheek and lit a candle beside her.  "Goodnight.  Sweet dreams."  I said gently before sweeping out of the room.