4. Theatre Ghost

Dominique

The ballet rats such as myself had been raised on tales of the Theatre Ghost. I suppose it all started with Monsieur La Barrague, the patron, who thought he could liven up things with a bit of hysteria. He told us of a dark, lonely, ghost of a man who haunted the Theatre and snatched away young ballet rats who didn't do as they were told. It was quite obvious the myths had been told to keep us all in line.

I'd never actually believed the stories, but every once in a while, a group of girls would come running into the ballet dorms, faces flushed and breathing hard with looks of pure terror evident on their faces. Then they would speak of a dark figure they saw on their way back to the dorms who lurked in the shadows with amber eyes that burned like fire. I guess I'd always thought it'd all been a hoax of some kind.

Never in my wildest dreams could I have believed any of it could be true.

Once I came back to reality, I was lost for words. I gaped, and scanned the Theatre for what seemed the millionth time for a trace of some sort of ghost. Suddenly, I realized I was only in my chemise and quickly grabbed for my nightgown to conceal myself.

"Forgive me for my indiscretion, Monsieur Ghost," I said modestly feeling the heat rise in my cheeks.

The Ghost responded with a dry laugh.

"There is no need for apologies, Miss. Chastity…Propriety means little to one such as I," he said.

I quickly pulled the nightgown over my head anyway.

"So it was you whose voice sang with me?" I asked curiously.

"Yes."

The muscles in my face twitched, forcing a smile on my face. So I hadn't imagined it after all. Suddenly I wanted to know everything there was to know about the ghost who haunted my home. I decided I'd start by asking something simple.

"So…who are you? I mean, besides the obvious….If you're ghost, then I suppose…who were you?" I asked, hoping he wouldn't take offense from the question. The moment I spoke it, I realized it could be quite a painful reminiscence.

There was a long pause before he replied, "I was a musician….A singer, specifically."

I felt a bubble swell inside my chest in excitement, and my eyes widened in delight.

"Really? That's wonderful…I might have known…I mean, you having such a voice…What else could you have been? Were you famous?"

Another pause.

"…No…Unfortunately, my life came to an end before my career had a chance to take flight."

I felt my stomach twist in knots.

"…Oh…I'm sorry…I didn't mean to make you…I mean-"

"I assure you, Miss. Chastity, I take no offense."

I made a weak smile, nodding in thanks.

"What about you, Miss. Chastity? What is your story?" he asked, asked as though genuinely interested.

His question shocked me. No one, save Lottie, had ever taken interest in the past of a mere ballet rat, and a human one at that. The inhabitants of the Theatre des Belles were viewed by propriety as nothing more than common prostitutes with a few talents tucked up their sleeves. And humans were viewed as lower than street trash. Lacking wings or any special powers, we're thought of as genetically and intellectually inferior. That combined with being an entertainer, and well, you can imagine…

Still, his sincerity and the gentleness of his voice surprised me, and before I could stop myself, I was pouring my life's story out to him.

"Papa was a composer. He loved his music more than anything in the world….That is, until he met Mama. You see, she was an Opera singer, and Papa happened to see one of her plays, and he said that he fell in love with her the moment he heard her sing. "An angel must have fallen from heaven," he said. Afterwards, he waited for her backstage with the largest bouquet of roses he could find, and after that, they were inseparable. It was inevitable that they'd end up marrying. Then they gave birth to me….I do hope I'm not boring you, Monsieur Ghost…" I asked worriedly, biting my lip.

"Believe me, my dear, you could do nothing of the kind….Please go on," came the reply.

And so I did.

"I grew up with music, dancing,…really, any type of art. It was like we belonged together, the three of us. Papa would compose the music, Mama would sing, and I would dance. It was like we all fit together, like small puzzle pieces, insignificant all by themselves, but when put together, they form a beautiful picture…And that's what we were, a beautiful picture…That is until Mama got sick…"

I felt a sharp pain in my chest, and I felt tears burning in my eyes. I quickly stood up. I had to stop…It was too much for all just one night.

"Can we please continue this tomorrow night, Monsieur Ghost? I'm rather tired, and Madame Charisse shall be quite cross if I mess up too much during rehearsals….It was very nice speaking with you….Until tomorrow, then?"

I hoped I hadn't angered him.

"I look forward to it, Miss. Chastity."

I shook my head swiftly with a gentle smile.

"Please…just call me Dominique."

A pause.

"Well, then good night, Dominique…May your dreams be sweet."

I smiled sweetly, and walked quickly into the shadows of the hallways, hoping my tears would not be seen.

---

Edan

Monsieur Ghost…That was the name she gave me. In all honesty, I didn't know why it bothered me so. I'd gone by the name 'Theatre Ghost' for so long, at times I nearly forget my real name

….Edan.

How I longed to hear my name from her lips, the sound of it rolling off her tongue…I knew it would sound heavenly. Somehow, I believed that an angel could soften the meaning of it all…

Edan…so close to Paradise, and yet so far away…

That's why I was given it, was it not? My name and I share a special bond…We are both kept from Paradise by a single factor.

Edan…could have easily been written as Eden…The Garden of Paradise, where there was no sin, no pain…only love and the glory of God and His Creations.

But no, my father made sure I would always remember how close to Paradise I'd come…I'd come within touching distance, when it'd all been ripped from my grasp, and I'd been thrown into the fiery depths of hell…

Edan…"Fire"…

---

For the longest time, I sat at my desk, a pencil in my hand as I drew her with every detail in which I'd seen her that night. The moonlight on her hair as she danced, the starlight in her eyes when I sang to her…The sweetness of her smile before she disappeared into the darkness.

For the first time in my entire life, I looked forward to what the future might hold. I smiled to myself, knowing that mere hours separated me from my Dominique.

Looking to my right out the window, I could see the moon shining, a haunting orb in the night sky. In that moment it seemed more beautiful than ever, knowing that Dominique slept beneath that same moon.

I chuckled under my breath. Someday I would have to show her how much better the view is from my home at the top of the Theatre.

---

Dominique

"I know you went back to the stage last night, Dominique," Lottie whispered into my ear at the end of rehearsals the next day.

I decided I wasn't going to give in that easily, and feigned ignorance.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Lottie," I replied nonchalantly.

I removed the ballet slippers from my feet and placed them in my bag. Lottie did the same, and as we headed back to the dorms, she said, "Oh, you can't get past me, Dominique Chastity…I heard you crying as you came back into the dorms! Now are you going to tell me what happened or not?"

"It's nothing-"

"Dominique, you're my best friend…and I've known you long enough to know that when you cry it's far from nothing!"

I stopped walking at once, and turned my head to look at her. Her eyes were narrow and serious, and her arms were crossed before her chest. Her scarlet hair was in a disarray from rehearsing, but she didn't seem to care. She was right…She really was my best friend.

"Okay…I'll tell you….but you must speak of this to no one!" I hissed as I dragged her by the arm into the shadows of a nearby hallway.

I saw as a mischievous smirk appeared on Lottie's face and she whispered to me.

"My…my, Dominique "The Saint" has a few naughty secrets of her own, does she?" she sneered, her hands folded beneath her chin as if she were praying, to tease me.

I glared daggers at her as I felt the heat rise in my cheeks.

"Oh, do shut up, Lottie!" I hissed. "No, it's nothing like that…" My voice trailed off as my thoughts wandered to the events of the night before and the voice of the man who claimed to be the ghost who haunted the Theatre.

I hadn't talked about Mama and Papa to anyone in a long time. As odd as it sounded, I was looking forward to our meeting tonight. Sure, Lottie was my best friend, but I didn't want to burden her with my problems when she already had so much to deal with. And also…I felt a strange connection with Monsieur Ghost, or so I called him, that I couldn't quite explain. Somehow I could sense the sorrow in him although I'd never set eyes on him.

Lottie's voice suddenly cut abruptly into my thoughts.

"…It's a guy…Isn't it? Is that what you're not telling me?" she squealed. Her eyes became wide and excited. She instantly grabbed my arm. "It is, isn't it? Like a lover? You really must tell me everything, Dominique!"

If it was possible for me to turn a deeper shade of burgundy at that moment, I did. I swiftly shook my head.

"No, it's nothing like that, really!" I squealed, my hands rushing to my cheeks, warm in my palms.

"Then what is it like, then?" she urged me. She crossed her arms, and leaned her shoulder against the wall. It was clear she wasn't going to let me leave until I gave her answers, and I was the one who dragged her there!"

I threw my arms into the air, fed up.

"Urgh, fine! I'll tell you everything…but like I said, not a word to anyone…Is that clear, Lottie?"

She smirked at me, her sapphire eyes shining like the gems they resembled.

"As crystal."

---

AN: I'd like to take time now to apologize to all those reviewers who I forgot to thank…I'll take time to do that NOW.

Lady Seiryu: You've reviewed more than one of my stories, yes? Thank you so much! I appreciate your support….Don't worry, the fluff will come…all in good time…All in good time…Please don't kill me! I UPDATED!!!!

Nessa Minyatur: Yes, see I updated…Now you can't hurt me (blows raspberry) Btw, thank you for your (cough) advice about Mil. Ball…

DragonLady: Thank you again for reading!

TopazDragon: (High fives back) Thanks! And this chapter is longer, just like you wanted! And thanks for your encouragement in Chemistry!

Becaboo14: Aww…I love you too!

Chibichan366: Thanks for reading my story!

Pixie in a Birdcage: I love you, Lottie! That's neat, I never really thought about that theory…But I guess it could show his authority, if you know what I mean….Edan never really bothers anyone in the Theatre…But every once in a while he'll scare the ballet rats for amusement…or if they're bad talking Dominique…Poor Edan, he loves her so much…and she's still oblivious…

AneeDegoraRose: Thank you so much! I'm glad you like it!

Jessica Turner: Thank you so much!!!

I would like to once again thank all my reviewers for all their support...I love you guys, and I wouldn't make it without you! Kudos to everyone....and Erik plushies!! (In case you don't know....Erik is the Phantom of the Opera) Laterz- Eternal Aerith