Not So Prima Donna - the Phantom of the Opera

Caught In The Act

Months passed and soon Ane could easily play difficult parts that were required. Her Angel began to teach her the songs of Hannibal. The play was getting close to hitting the stage and preperations were non stop.

During the day Ane felt useless, like always. Her sister was as she has been.. a mean snobby Prima Donna that she had to follow around.

At night, she was completely herself. Even when her Angel was not there at the other nights, she would practise what she had been taught, and practise, and practise, and practise untill her fingers bled from pressing them on the metal strings. On those moments she could not use her fingers the next night again so she made shure to never go that far on nights before she met up with her angel.

Nobody in the Opera House noticed her fingers becoming rougher by the week. Nobody seemed to notice the strange girl on stage every night for the past few months. Well, except one.

Madame Giry observed from the shadows how the Opera Ghost gave the innocent girl lessons. She was scared of her future with the man she knew best than anyone. Erik was unpredictable and having him take advantage of this girl was not good.

"Again" the ghostly voice sounded and Ane played the part with the little tips he gave. She admitted that it sounded much better. Her angel definitly had an ear for music. Well.. he wouldn't be an Angel of Music if it was not like that.

Ane sighed and lowered her precious violin. Her shoulder and elbow hurting. She was used to it by now but getting the little sleep she was getting every night already, did her body not help.

From his seat Erik saw her massaging her hurting shoulder and his stern expression dropped. He shouldn't overwork the child much. She was already better than the whole violin group in the orchestra combined.

"I'm proud, little bird. You should rest early today" he spoke, his voice hauntingly beautiful in the big Opera room. "No! No.. I want to.. I want to keep on practising! I am okay, I can do this!" Ane argued to the voice.

That is when she heared a loud bang of a cane on the side of the stage. Ane, spooked, jumped and almost dropped her violin. She turned to the source and to her surprise stoot Madame Giry there.

Ane knew Madame Giry from observing her where she always stoot with Carlotta and her maids. Giry was a strict woman from what she saw. And now, she was here.

Ane's face paled. 'She heared me. O no she heared me' Ane's toughts went in overdrive as she shakily took a step back.

"Mademoiselle," Madame Giry began "Wh-" but before she could form her sentence, ran the petite girl off stage and down into thw Opera House, leaving an irritated Giry.

Madame knew exactly what she had to do now. To the Hole of the Beast.

~°~°~

It did not take long for the woman to come. Erik sat at his organ as usual, blankly staring at his work for Don Juan Triumphant. His toughts swirling.

"What do you think you are doing?" Giry had asked him. Erik did not respond, hoping that she would leave if he ignored her long enough. She never left.

Madame Giry repeated her question and Erik sighed, hanging his head. "The girl wants to play for the world to hear. I offered to teach her. She accepted. Nothing more, nothing less. Now, leave me alone" he grumbled to the dance teacher.

Madame Giry glared at the boy. "You are leading her to believes that could never be true, just like Miss Daaé. What are you trying to accomplish, Erik? Force them to love you? Force them to love an idea?

"Be very careful where you tread. These girls could be your downfall if you keep on being blinded" Erik had hung his head over his organ but shot up when Giry said the last part.

"I am not blinded, woman! I know what I am doing! Leave me alone!" He sneered, his short temper getting the best of him. Madame Giry just shook her head.

"Then do not come crying when it is too late. Goodbye Erik, have a nice evening" and with that, the older woman had left his lair.

Erik smashed the keys of the organ. An unflattering noise came out of the tubes, exactly representing Erik's toughts.

~°~°~

Meanwhile, Ane has reached her room and paced it. She was pretty shure that her life would be over now. Giry would tell Carlotta, or worse the manager, of her nightly lessons and she would definitly be kicked out.

Carlotta didnt need anyone "tainting her good name" so she would definitly kick Ane out without a tought. She had no where to go. And altough she has lived in Paris for a year now, she was still very foreign to the city.

Altough her French has become better, no one would help an Italian girl with no money or food.

A panic attack treathened to burst trough. She was always very insecure and overthinking. This did not help her any good.

On moments like these I wished that Papa was here.. she tought sadly. Shakily, she layed down on the bed. Fully expecting that tonight will be the last time sleeping in a semi comfy bed like this.

Madame Giry on the other hand, doesn't plan on telling anyone. She was smarter than that. The whole Opera House would hunt down the so called Angel of Music and Christine Daaé would definitly feel betrayed and replace if she heared that her Angel had another student.

Erik sighed. He knew he was in deep trouble now. He looked over to the wall plastered with drawings. He walked trowards it and grabbed two drawings. One of a girl amids an aria, the emotion on her face as she sang. The other also a girl, her beloved instrument on her shoulder and getting lost to the music.

"Don't make me choose.. please.." he whispered

--
AN

Okay so this chapter wasn't that good in my opinion but I need more ideas since I write without a plan. So if anyone has any ideas please let me know ♡