~No One Would Listen~ (POTO) - Part Five

Having both of them as students. The one with the voice and the one with the…well heart. This offer was tempting enough.
The Phantom looked at the girl before him. She was keeping her head down; it was more then obvious how hard it had been for her to ask that question. He thought it over again. He always knew it would be easy with Karla, but now…Klara was very different from her sister. He could already tell she was stubborn, short tempered (which would probably be a big problem since his temper was quite dangerous too), obdurate, wilful...
*Well?* Klara's voice interrupted him fro his thoughts. All right, put impatient in the list too.
He looked at her. She was looking him back this time with a gleam of irritation in her gold-like eyes.
*I will try.* he answered smirking at her.
She tried hard to hide her triumphal smile…and she did…only smirking a little.
*You and your sister will not study together. Meet me in the chapel about this time tomorrow.*
Klara tried to process the information. Why be separated from Karla? He answered her question before it could even find its place in her mind.
*Your voices are too different and I will teach you* that word was getting her angry…and he knew it. *different thing too. So it is necessary.*
*All right but…* she looked at her nightstand to collect her thought, however when she looked back, he was not there anymore. *Hello, I am having a question here!* she said angrily knowing he was still there, feeling his presence. Then…nothing. She was now alone in the room.
The girl sat on her bed with only one thought racing in her mind.
~What did I get myself into? ~
 
*Klara?* Karla's voice broke through the door. *You awake?*
~I think I will not be able to sleep in this room from now on. ~
*Yes, come in!* she called letting herself to fall down on the bed and staring at the ceiling.
~What did I get myself into? ~
*Raoul's here too – are you decent?*
~For the sake of Hell! ~
*Yes!* she yelled this time, not so her sister would be able to hear from outside the door…simply because she was angry. She sat up in the bed, her legs hanging, and glared at the opening door.
*You better?* Karla asked looking at her with concern entering the room, Raoul right behind her.
*Do I look ill, sick, or dead? I am fine!*
*You are pale.*  Raoul pointed out.
With a frustrated sigh, she got up and went over to the mirror on her nightstand.
~He is right. Have you seen a ghost or something Klara? ~ she asked herself staring at her tired eyes. ~Oh in the matter of fact I did Klara! The Opera Ghost! ~
*Oh I am fine.* she smiled back at her siblings. *It is just…I almost died about thirty minutes ago!* she hissed out the last part. If their mother had been there, she would have asked her daughter to…'stop acting like a harpy'
It was true she sounded intimidating when she was angry… whether she was yelling, screaming, hissing or whispering. In addition, she had the tendency to start a sentence with the calmest tone you could except of her…and then scare the living hell out of you by shouting…loudly…and a lot.
Karla and Raoul flinched at her voice but kept silence like people who were used with those outbursts. If they only knew the reason of the way, she was acting…
*We found nothing on…or above or around the stage.* said Raoul rather annoyed of his little sister. He always was.
*Did you try under?* Klara mocked, her amber eyes shining with triumph.
Karla sighed. Why was her sister always acting like this? Why could not she be…nice and kind? Not her usual sugary sweet mask…but real gentle feelings.
 *Do you want to come while we rehearse? You probably do not want to be alone right now…with all of this not sorted out yet.* the older twin asked.
Actually being alone was everything Klara wanted right now. However, thinking back to the conversation she had with the Phantom right in this room about five minutes ago…she changed her mind.
*All right* she said tiredly and followed her brother and sister towards the stage.
They had started the same day they found someone to sing the main role. Why they wanted this to be the opera…no one knew. Some suspected Raoul wanted to show the world (or rather only Paris) he is not afraid of the Phantom. Nevertheless, after what happened with Klara…he was afraid. He already thought about canceling the opera and rejected it. That would only show weakness. He was not weak or cower full.
*When did she get the role?* Klara asked. They both had sung and as far as she knew (or heard), they still had not chosen who to sing.
*Well umm….* her brother started *we thought it would be safer for you if you just…don't play…after what happened a while ago*
The Phantoms plan had worked. He wanted Karla to get the role and she did.
~ He said he did not want me to take the role from his student. Nevertheless, we are both his students now. ~ Klara thought.
She sat down on one of the seats in the front and listened as they sang song after song and danced dance after dance for good two hours. With a half hour break by some point of course and a few smaller breaks.
*Hello Klara! May I sit with you?*
The Black Pearl looked up to meet Christine's warm brown eyes. For her relieve the other girl did not have her usual smile on. She was just looking at her. No smiling, no anything.
*Sure.* she said almost happy that someone had come. She was quite bored right now. She was singing along in the start but soon she grew tired out of it.
The brown haired girl sat next to Klara and looked at the stage. An awkward silence took over. Klara could feel that Christine had something to ask her. Therefore, she just waited.
*Klara I…* Christine started looking up to meet her eyes and looking down again. *You have great voice.*
*I know* Klara answered with tone that just made Christine continue.
*I am worried…may be…you understand what I am talking about?* she looked at Klara quizzically.
*No, I do not* but she did. She just wanted to torture her a bit. It never hurt and it was…well fun to manipulate people. Klara had always been interested in psychology and tried different methods on several occasions. Moreover, that knowledge mixed with her cold nature…had caused quite a lot tears to be shed.
Christine took a deep breath.
*I thought the Phantom might have visited you with an offer to become his student?*
Klara stared at the girl next to her.
~I offered him. ~ she thought bitterly. However, she would have been crazy to say it out aloud.
*I think you should ask Karla that. After all, she was not attacked and I was. Meaning he likes her not me.*
For a second Christine looked at the curly girl before her with suspicion. Why would Klara say something like that?
*I already asked her.* she said dryly.
Klara's heart jumped. Did the Phantom offer her that already? Did she accept? He seemed sure she would accept…may be she had.
*And…* she nudged Christine to continue hoping the answer would be 'no'. She hid her excitement…only her amber eyes showed her feelings sparkling with yellow-gold glow.
For Klara's luck, Christine was not looking at her eyes.  She was staring at Karla as she sang on the stage. She did sing nicely, with a lot of feeling…but she was not in Klara's class…and they both knew it.
*She said he had not visited her…but…* this time she looked towards Klara and their eyes locked *I think she is lying.*