Everything fades (Marguerite Jules Giry)

[Marguerite Jules Giry]

"Mortals aren't all that bad. Trust me I've met a few bad ones in the past and it isn't that wonderful" she said sighing. Remembering her encounter with the Phantom during the last scene of Don Juan when he took her best friend away and she went to go find him. Coming back to reality Meg looked at Adina again and said nothing. "You've not spoken to other people in a while I take it..." she whispered as she started to examine the flowers. They were already happy with the water they've gotten.

Meg was to involved with the flowers that she hadn't noticed what Adina was up to. Grabbing the water barrel she started to water some flowers and she heard her exclaiming. Tilting her head she looked upon the woman who was now holding a flower. It had been dead before but now suddenly it was brightly colored again. How'd that happen. "I-I'm not sure to be honest Adina. I didn't see what had happened" she told her with a small frown.

The blonde came fourth towards the girl and she knelt down and looked at the flower and she looked back at her. "Perhaps you did. Are you a healing spirit?" she asked curiously as she smiled upon her new friend. Meg was curious if she was or not. "I've heard of them...in the past and in some books" she said softly as she started to water the others again from where she was.

[Adina Gillespie]

Perhaps Meg was right... Maybe Adina was a bit too cautious to see the very person in front of her was truly someone she could call a 'mortal friend'. "No, I have not spoken with many people here... Honestly, I just recently woke up here. I must have been dead for quite a few centuries; everything is so different in the manor... When was the Opera House built, Meg?"

A healing spirit? Was she, really? It had to be possible. Adina looked back at a small patch of dead grass and laid her hand upon it. The once dark and curled brown area began to sprout up and shift to a light green. Her eyes widened and a happy smile stretched her pale lips. "It is amazing!" She cried, looking up at Meg. "I had no idea I had such powers!"

"I simply reached out to touch the dandelion there and its color came back, as if by magic... Do ghosts have magical properties?" She was overjoyed! She had such an amazing power. Perhaps this came about because of her violent murder? That she was killed in such a cruel manner and that sparked some sort of energy inside her ghostly form? Whatever had caused it, Adina was glad that she had such an ability.

[Marguerite Jules Giry]

As she stood staring the flowers that were bright and colorful she only smiled softly at them. Hearing Adina's words she turned over and looked at her. Her smile disappeared when Adina told her that she hadn't spoken with many people here. It was a big place, and Adina was truly very nice and gentle. Why wouldn't anyone want to talk to her. "You should get out more Adina..." she said in a hopeful tone. "I mean, You're very wonderful to talk to. I don't see why people won't want to talk to you" she said smiling a moment later. When Adina asked about the Opera House she tilted her head for a moment. "I'm not sure to be honest on when it was built. But its a lovely place to be. I've been there for as long as i can remember. Its the only thing I can call home really.." she said turning her attention back to the pink rose she was staring at.

The blonde pushed a smile upon her face as she heard Adina exclaiming her powers. "Really?" she asked curiously as she made her way back over to her. Sitting beside her. "You should test them out more often.." she said as she crossed her legs and looked at the flower that began to sprout up and get to life again. "I wish I had powers sometime.." she said letting out a laugh. "It would be amazing to see what I can do..." she said underneath her breath. Meg looked at Adina and watched her for sometime.

"Magic?" she repeated as she listened to her speaking. "I'm not really sure to be honest. The one I've seen lurking around in the Opera House, most certainly doesn't have magic. But he does scare people when their not doing what is need to be done. Meg sighed and looked down then looked back at Adina. "You're the first spirit I've actually seemed to be liking here. I've had an encounter with Mr. Dalimar, and he wasn't too friendly.. He seemed to be a rather dangerous one" she said sighing. "But, you should test them out more often" she said again as she looked at her. Then she looked around and she picked up a rose that was dead and she looked at her. "Here, try this one?" she asked curiously as she held the rose in her hands.

[Adina Gillespie]

She only looked up at Meg and lightly danced her fingers over the flowers as they grew. She sighed and touched another one, watching it bloom into a large white rose. This moment was perfect and serene as she listened to the sweet girl speak to her. "Perhaps I should," She said, half to herself and half out loud. She mused over Meg's words as she spoke about the Opera House. It had to have been built shortly after the manor was. But why didn't she know about it? Perhaps it was a secret commission, but what for?

Adina was nervous; she wanted to try her newfound powers yet she was very nervous. What if something went wrong and she accidentally hurt something or someone? She didn't want to take that risk, at least, not now. She listened as Meg smiled and mused over what she could do with powers. "I'm sure you would do amazing things if you had powers, Meg."

Lurking? There was someone living in the Opera House? Adina tilted her head as she listened to Meg speak of the man who often scared people... But why would he do such a thing? "Does he live in the Opera House?" She asked, listening intensely to Meg. Then she spoke of her encounter with Dalimar and it made Adina shudder. She nodded in agreement with Meg when she thought that he seemed dangerous. "I do not doubt that, Meg."

Then Meg presented Adina with a wilted and dried rose. She reached out then drew back, slightly nervous of touching the flower. Her finger touched one petal and instantly, the flower grew whiter in color and the petals became more supple and soft. She smiled as she watched the flower come back to life. "It's so beautiful."

[Marguerite Jules Giry]

The young blonde was silent for sometime as she listened to Adina speaking about the Opera House. "Indeed it would, wouldn't it" she said softly giving a small smile. Meg went back into her own little world as she examined the flowers for a bit and then looked back up at her again.

Turning back her direction to Adina she listened to her speak. "Yes, he lives below the Paris Opera House. I've seen it" she said meeting her gaze. "He likes to terroize us singers and ballet dancers.." she said rolling her eyes at the thought and giggling a little. "Its all in good fun at times, I suppose. But it could turn deadly when you're not careful." she told her. "A stage hand worker had gotten killed there for telling everyone where he lived" she stated softly.

Meg smiled at her friend and giggled softly. "You have wonderful talent Adina, for bringing flowers and many other things back to life" she said smiling. "Tell me.....c-can you bring the dead back to life?" she asked curiously wondering if it was true or not. "Y-You don't have to answer that Adina..... i'm sorry I asked" she said frowning. Knowing her mistake.

[Adina Gillespie]

Adina's eyes widened as Meg spun her tale about the Opera House and the man who terrorized both it and its inhabitants. This was all so very intriguing as she had never heard about this man before nor the Opera. She raised a hand to gently nibble on one of her nails in thought.

"Killed? Gracious me!" Adina placed a hand over her heart in stunned shock. But when Meg mentioned 'us singers and ballet dancers...' the maid was very much interested. "Do you dance or do you sing, Meg?" Why keep up with the formalities at this point? The two were becoming rather relaxed and comfortable around each other. She was very glad to have met someone as kind as Meg.

She smiled back at the blond girl and then tilt her head. "The dead?" She questioned then shook her head sadly. "I'm afraid I do now have such powers. My talent only extends to caring for the gardens and tending to the servants quarters... No! Please, do not apologize; you did not know. I am just sorry that I do not have such an ability."

[Marguerite Jules Giry]

Speaking about the Opera House always made Meg smile. It was her home after all she never once let down a tale of the masked man who kidnapped her best friend and then later on venturing down there herself to look for her. Meg looked up at Adina and smiled as she spoke about his killings.He was always very gracious and silent about it never once making noises.

Meg nodded her head a little and she looked at her softly. "Yes, He's killed a few people within the years I've lived there" she told her. "I only saw glimpses of him because it would seem that he had taken my best friend on rare occasions" she told her softly. When Adina had asked if Meg danced or not she nodded excitedly. "Yes, I dance. I'm a ballet dancer" she said smiling. "Whenever we go back inside I can show you in the ballroom" she said grinning brightly.

Hearing the words that she couldn't bring back the dead she frowned a little. "Oh.." she said softly. Looking down at the ground then back at her. A small smile reformed upon her face when she spoke to her. "Shall we go back inside Adina? It really is starting to get quite cold out here" she said a moment later.

[Adina Gillespie]

Adina was shocked. She never knew that there was such a man who could be so cruel. Kidnapping her friend? Murdering innocent people? A shudder ran up her spine as she tried to block out the horrible images in her mind. "I am so sorry. I had no idea such terrible things had happened like that in the Opera House."

The maid was deeply saddened by hearing such awful atrocities. How strange, that there was someone killing and kidnapping and yet he had not been caught yet. Then the mood lifted when Meg offered to show Adina some ballet dancing! A real ballerina dancing for her! She was completely overwhelmed by all this. "Oh, Meg, that would be wonderful. I had never seen anyone dance before. Father wouldn't allow it. But, now I am thrilled! Thank-you so much, Meg."

Adina's smile faded a bit when she saw the disappointment in Meg's face. "I'm so sorry," She told the ballerina. "I wish I could help you, but it seems my 'powers', as they were, are only good for small wounds and dead plants." But then Meg asked if they could go back inside. "Oh! Of course. I will meet you in the foyer." With that, the ghost disappeared and reappeared in the entrace to the manor as she awaited her friend.

[Marguerite Jules Giry]

Just thinking about the man in the opera house made her smile a little more. Which was strange, because she was deathly afraid of him. He was a masked man who murdered people and stole her best friend. Meg had only seen glimpses of him with Christine. Meg remembered that night all too well during one of the performances. "Oh, don't be he was just... I believe misunderstood" she told her gently. "And my friend claims that he was her angel of music her father once sent to her, but I didn't believe it" she said chuckling. "They were just stories" she said looking upon her.

A shaky sigh escaped Meg as she looked at Adina and nodded her head a little. "Yes, many terrible things had happened there. However, I believe the Managers didn't want any part of it. But they would always try to push him over to the edge where he would do those things. He would also just threaten people as well" she said looking at Adina. Then she giggled whens he listened to her words about not seeing anyone dance before. "Your father wouldn't let you dance?" she asked curiously. Meg brightened a little. "Oh! You're welcome Adina. I'd love to show you a few pointers" she said giggling. "I'm a ballerina, so...I'm sure it won't be hard to teach. After all I'm hoping to become a Ballet Mistress sometime in the next few years like my maman" she said smiling.

When Adina apologized about her father she sighed. "Its alright, Don't worry about it Adina" she said smiling as she walked towards her and placed her hand upon her shoulder lightly. Then she blinked when Adina vanished and she blinked for a moment. Chuckling a bit she headed inside as she looked around. "Adina?" she called curiously as she entered the foyer. Hearing the doors close by themselves she looked about before moving on and wondered where she was.

[Adina Gillespie]

"Misunderstood?" She repeated… Perhaps Meg was right. Perhaps not all men were evil or wanted to harm other women. Perhaps they- well, at least some of them- were 'misunderstood'. This made Adina pause in reflection… Maybe her own father wasn't evil. "Could it be that-?" She paused, her throat tightening as she tried to force out the words. "Could it be that my father was not evil just as you say this other man is? That he too was misunderstood?" She sat down again and looked at the green grass beneath her feet… Maybe it was time to finally let it let. To let go of her anger towards her father and stop hating him for what he had done to her.

"I am so sorry to hear abut what happened in the Opera," She gave a small sigh and listened as Meg continued the story of the Opera house and the madman. She was about to ask about the managers only to hear Meg in shock at how her father would not let her dance. Adina only lowered her eyes and shook her head. She was ashamed, deeply ashamed that her father had held such power over her and still did even in death. Then Meg offered to show her some pointers for dancing! The maid's eyes grew wide with surprise, her mouth hung open just a bit. "You-…. You mean that??" She asked, stunned with overcoming happiness.

Adina was feeling so much happier now, so much joy in her afterlife! She had met several wonderful friends- even if they were human-, managed to heal the gardens and help them grow, and now she was going to visit a real Opera House and see a real dancer! "Merci, Meg! Oh, merci!" Tears of soft light welled up in her eyes and she quickly vanished then reappeared on the second floor of the manor before Meg could even respond, she was that excited. She quickly looked around and realized what she had done. When she heard Meg calling for her, Adina hurried down the stairs and smiled at Meg. "Je suis ici."

[Marguerite Jules Giry]

The young blonde nodded her head simply and she looked at him. "Yes, he was very misunderstood" she said softly. "He helped one of my best friends to sing and everything" she said to her with a small smile. Tilting her head she listened to her friend speak about her father. "Maybe, I'm not entirely sure Adina to be honest. But it could be because he's lonely or needs help moving on. Or maybe it could be he might be also misunderstood" she told her gently.

With a wave of the hand she rolled her eyes then looked over at Adina and chuckled softly. "Don't be sorry Adina, it happened months ago there's no need to be sorry" she said smiling. Meg looked at her and she smiled softly. "Of course! I'd love to teach you! I'm hoping to get the position of Ballet Mistress if we ever return back to our home worlds and all" she said smiling. "My mother is planning on retiring anyway and such" she told her a moment later. Meg couldn't help but giggle at Adina. "I'm sure you'll be a wonderful ballerina Adina" she said smiling.

"You're welcome" she said a moment later. Then she watched her vanish and she entered the manor and she looked around her surroundings. Hearing the voice she followed it. "Ah, there you are Adina!" she said smiling. "So where should we go next? The Ballroom?" she asked looking upon Adina curiously waiting for her response and she smiled a little.

[Adina Gillespie]

"Perhaps," Adina managed, sighing a little. "But I am not sure I do not know if I even believe that such a thing is possible with my father. Misunderstood? Non, not from what I had seen." She sighed again and felt that same odd wetness upon her cheek again. They were not tears, she couldn't really cry. It didn't matter, all that she knew now was that someone was trying to genuinely talk to her. No ulterior motives, just talking. And she was glad.

Adina's world brightened considerably. This was going to be a wonderful friendship, she just knew it. "Ballet Mistress?" She tilted her head a little. She had read about the ballet and other dances in books but they were very old. Perhaps Meg knew more than what was contained within the books. She smiled and looked at the floor. "Well, I certainly hope that I am able to live up to your expectations, Meg."

The ghost-maid looked around the room and studied the doors and hallways. Upstairs was the library and the dormitories; the main floor held the dining hall, kitchen, and other rooms. She talked herself through the layout of the manor before recalling the ballroom. "Yes!" She finally said, walking behind the staircase and pointing to a large door. "Just through here, Meg."

[Marguerite Jules Giry]

The young blonde looked at Adina for sometime and said nothing. "Give him time to calm himself down before you go visit him again Adina. There are things you probably don't understand why he's acting the way he is and it would be best to let him cool down a bit." she said placing a hand on her shoulder for a moment. "Alright?" she said offering a friendly smile.

Meg smiled a little more and she looked upon her. Nodding her head she said "Thank you Adina." Moments later she looked around then back at her. Placing a hand to her stomach for a moment and breathing a bit lighter. "Lets go...to the ballroom. There I can show you what I know" she said giving a small wink.

As she heard the directions to the ballroom she giggled. "Thank you" she told her again and she walked towards the staircase and went behind it. Opening the doors to the ballroom her eyes widened. It was truly beautiful and very spacious. "Its so beautiful and large in here" she said looking her surroundings at first. Her boots made clicking sounds as she walked around and they were echoing throughout the room. Then she looked back at Adina. "Not really sure upon what to show you since I'm wearing normal shoes instead of my normal flats. I don't want to scrape up the floor with these" she said chuckling a bit. "But maybe i could try to find something in my head that i could show you" she said nodding. Within minutes she began dancing slowly around the room trying not to scrape up the beautiful wooden floor.

[Adina Gillespie]

Adina nodded and smiled at Meg. "Oui. Thank-you, Meg… I am very glad to have met you. You are the first real friendly face I have seen here in the manor." she paused and looked at Meg's hand. "You-… Can touch me? How is this possible?" She tilted her head and looked at Meg again, wondering how she could be touching a spirit.

"Oui! Que magnifique[/i]!" She quickly moved ahead of Meg and the two made their way to the ballroom. All the while, Adina felt a great weight lifted from her shoulders. Perhaps it was time to let go of the past and move on with her life as a ghost. And perhaps meeting Meg was a sign of good things to come in her life.

She looked around the ballroom in amazement. She forgot how beautiful it was! It may be a little dusty, but it was still just as beautiful as it had been when she first arrived. She looked around the room and smiled then turned to Meg and watched as she had already begun to dance. Such beautiful movements! It was like something from a real opera! Adina's eyes widened as she watched Meg spin and glide across the floor with ease.

[Marguerite Jules Giry]

Removing her hand away from Adina's shoulder she frowned for a moment and she looked at her as she backed away to go into the ballroom. "I-I'm not sure to be honest" she said looking upon Adina lightly. "I mean, I can't see through you anymore. I suppose it comes naturally or something. I'm not sure. Strange.." she said softly looking at her. Stretching lightly before she began her performance to her. Meg always did stretch before she danced or practiced. It always helped. "Your welcome once again Adina and I'm honored to be the friendly face you meet" she said giggling.

Meg was lost in her own little world as she continued to dance around the room. Remembering a few things her mother taught her and the performances she done. It felt wonderful to dance in such a big open area. She always loved dancing and she was very graceful as she did it. Meg then stopped and smiled softly did a little curtsy and giggled. "I can try to teach you a few things if you like Adina. What is it you'd like me to demonstrate?" she asked looking at her standing straight and tall.

The blonde then pulled out a ribbon out of her pocket and tied her long flowing hair back up into her ponytail. It always helped when she was finished to tie back up again. Sometimes she would just leave it down. Not bothering to put it up. But today since she was going to be in teacher mode, she would tie it up and be professional.