Of Phantoms and Angels

XV. Le Bal Masqué

     Lilienne scurried through the opera house, trying to make herself as small as possible lest she get in the way of the grand preparations; tonight, they celebrated another successful year - tonight was the Opéra Populaire's famous Bal Masqué.

     She watched the decorations being put into place as she kept out of the way - Lilienne LaClaire wanted nothing to do with any ball.  The only thing she would be concerning herself with tonight was the book she clutched to her chest.  Yet, she did still marvel at the splendor they were arranging; it was always an breath-taking experience, to watch the transformation of the opera house.

     Moving into a quieter section of the opera house that wasn't undergoing decorating, Lilienne took refuge in her room.  She closed the door behind her, sealing out the rest of the world, intending to sit upon her bed and read the day away until the whole ordeal was over and the corridors were once again safe to walk without being bombarded by ribbons and anything that sparkled.

     Entering her room, she deflated.  She was met with the giddy chatter and girly squealing of Minet and Pauline, who were talking dresses and shoes and gloves and such.

     "Oh, Lili, isn't it so exciting!?" Minet asked in a tone that hurt Lilienne's ears.

     "Is what exciting?"

     "Why, the masquerade ball, of course!  I was just showing Pauly my dress."  She held it up in front of her body, showing it off for Lilienne, who really couldn't have cared less.

     "I absolutely love this shade of green - it's so exotic!"

     "Oh, so exotic!" Pauline echoed.

     "And you should just see the way the jewels on the hem look when I twirl!"

     "You're going to be the belle of the ball, Minny!"

     "I know!  And these are the gloves - I found them in this little boutique..."

     Lilienne let them carry on, drowning out their girlish giddies in her book - Le Bossu De Notre Dame; a deformed man who was cursed to hide above the cathedral, when he fell in love with a pretty young girl, but she loved another man, handsome and valiant, and a total fop.  Lilienne loved this tale for its irony; the handsome man was no more than his appearance, yet the man who hid his deformed face from the world, he was the man who was truly beautiful.  This book asked the question of what makes a man, and what makes a monster.

     Minet and Pauline eventually left Lilienne in peace as they went to pamper themselves for the big night, much like all the other girls of the Paris Opera - with one exception.

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     Lilienne closed the cover of her book, heaving a satisfied sigh.  She had read this story many times, and loved it more each time.  She placed the finished book beside her on the bed, looking up for the first time since she'd lit her candle, perhaps an hour or two before.

     Her room was dark, save for the single candle on her nightstand.  The world outside had grown dark, and with the night, the ball commenced.  Lilienne could hear the music drifting up to meet her where she sat on her bed, tucked safely away.  It floated around her as if to tease her, to tempt her.

     "But perhaps you should be a little less smart for one night.  A little fun has never done anyone harm - and you, my dear, should see some more of it."

     Mme DuPont's words rung in her ears, and she could feel the pull of the music and glamour.  Perhaps I should try something new.  The Angel of Music is always telling me to break past my walls, maybe tonight is the night I start.