The Phantom's Daughter (Book 2)

Performance Of A Life Time

Several long hours later, Elise was stood in her room, looking at herself in the mirror, making sure that her costume was perfect.
She wore a medium length purple dress with long sleeves and purple leggings, and her hair had been tied back into a pont tail with a black ribbon.
After not performing for quite a few months, Elise was nervous about getting up on stage, for what might be the last time.
She wanted to do well, but she also didn't want to outshine Meg too much, as she knew that Christine was going to perform better than them both, and Elise didn't want Meg to feel even more down hearted.
A show that should have been Meg's chance to shine, had become all about her and Christine instead.

The sound of her door suddenly creaking opening, snapped Elise back to the present.
"You know, you could knock" sighed Elise, as Erik stepped into the room.
"Forgive me. I just came to wish you good luck" replied Erik.
"Thank you... Are they ready for me downstairs?" Asked Elise.
"I believe so, which is why I came up here to encourage you to perform well, before you headed downstairs".

"Will you be watching from your private box?" Questioned Elise.
"I will watch you and Christine, but I probably won't bother watching the rest of the show" answered Erik.
"You should watch it all, as it's going to be a great show" admitted Elise.
"I have no interest in watching the other acts, and I am a busy man"
"Fair enough, I guess a lot is riding on the outcome of today's show"
"Yes, it is... Have you rehearsed your tricks enough?"
"Yes, you don't need to worry about me falling, I know what I'm doing"
"Good. I was just a little concerned about you, since you haven't performed in so long".
Elise raised an eyebrow at Erik's behaviour, "Save your concern for someone who needs it".

Elise placed her feet into her shoes, and walked passed her father as she headed out the room.
Once she had made her way down to the wings, she found Madame Giry, Meg, Christine, and Gustave waiting for her.
"What are you doing here, shouldn't you be getting ready?" Asked Elise.
"We want to watch your performance from the wings, before we go back and continue getting ready" admitted Christine.
"Oh, well, thanks" replied Elise.
"Are you nervous?" Quizzed Meg.
"A little" answered Elise.
Meg wrapped her arms around Elise, giving her a quick hug.
"You will be amazing" reassured Meg, as she stepped back.
"I hope so" mumbled Elise.

Madame Giry placed her cane under Elise's chin, lifting up her face, so that she could inspect her.
She lowered her cane and flattened down a stray piece of Elise's hair.
"Have you warmed up?" Questioned Madame Giry.
"I did some exercises in my room" replied Elise.
"Well you should do some more stretches before you go on"
"I will".
"Good luck" Gustave said encouragingly.
"Thank you little one. Prepare to have your mind blown" smiled Elise.
"I haven't seen you perform in 10 years, so I'm looking forward to watching you" admitted Christine.
"I've improved a lot since then, as you are about to see" replied Elise.

"You should get ready to go on" instructed Madame Giry.
Elise nodded, and ruffled Gustave's hair, before making her way towards the gap in the curtains that she would be entering from.
As she kicked off her shoes and began to flex her limbs, her father's trio arrived.
"Good luck mistress" Miss Fleck said as she passed.
"Yes, break a leg" added Dr Gangle.
"Thanks guys" replied Elise.
Mr Squelch patted her back before stepping onto the stage, closely followed by his companions.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is time for a spectacular performance by our very own Miss Y!" Announced Dr Gangle.
As Elise heard the audience applaud loudly, she felt her stomach churn, as her nerves increased.
"This is going to be an act, unlike anything you've ever seen before. A one off performance for our premiere this evening" added Miss Fleck.
"So, here she is. Please, put your hands together, for Miss Y!" Mr Squelch said loudly.
Elise took a deep breath and walked onto the stage as boldly as she could.
The trio nodded encouragingly at her as they exited in the opposite direction.

Elise took centre stage as her silks were lowered down from the ceiling.
The conductor raised his hands, and the music started playing, which was Elise's cue to start.
She wrapped her wrists around the sliks and began to shimmy up, until she was as high as she could get, without being hidden.
After taking another deep breath, she began to start her routine, making sure to always have a big smile on her face for the audience.
Every time they gasped and held their breath at one of her tricks, she was filled with a sense of joy.
She enjoyed making it look like she was going to fall, before easily catching herself with one hand or foot.
For most people, the things she was doing were impossible, and dangerous, before for Elise, it was no harder than doing a normal dance routine.

When she reached the end of her routine, Elise slid down one of the silks upside down, before somersaulting and landing with her feet on the ground.
As she bowed her head and the orchestra stopped playing, the crowd began cheering loudly and throwing roses onto the stage.
Elise smiled triumphantly, and looked up to her father's private box.
He nodded his head, signalling that she had done well.
Elise bowed once more, before making her way off stage, as a stage hand lowered the curtain and someone else ran on to collect the flowers and other items that had landed on the stage.

"You were amazing" squealed Meg as she jumped into Elise's arms.
"That was incredible" agreed Christine as Elise put Meg back down.
"I've never seen anything like that. It was brilliant" added Gustave.
Elise looked to Madame Giry, seeking her approval.
"Yes, you did very well. But Meg needs to get ready for her performance now. And you need to get changed" reminded Madame Giry, before placing her arm around Meg and escorting her out of the wings and toward her dressing room.
Despite her lack of enthusiasm, Elise was not put off by Madame Giry's attitude, as she knew her guardian was more concerned about her own daughter right then, and that didn't bother her.

Elise placed her shoes, which had been brought around to the other side of the stage for her, back on her feet.
"You need to get ready too" commented Elise, as Christine still had her dressing gown around her, instead of the fabulous dress Elise knew she would be wearing for her performance.
"Yes, I suppose I do" sighed Christine, as she placed her arm around Gustave.
The fact that Christine was still there, and Raoul was nowhere nearby, made Elise think that perhaps her father had won the bet.
But since Christine hadn't performed yet, and there were still several numbers before then, she knew it was too early to tell.

"Are you coming back down to watch Meg?" Continued Christine, interrupting Elise's thoughts.
"Yes, I am a fast changer" admitted Elise.
"I wish I could watch her too, but there's only one act between us, so I won't have time, since I'll be getting ready" replied Christine sadly.
"Don't worry, Meg knows that, so I'm sure she won't take it personally"
"I hope not".