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*Special thanks goes out to misscemo for her help in the most appreciative way."

It was a year since the horrific tragedy befell the Opera house. None spoke of
it since. They were convinced that the ghost of the past was gone and decided
on a reopening. It was an enormous task since most of the building lay in
ruins, and they had needed a redesign. Many had sought employment with the
reconstruction and a small group was established to begin restoring it to its
former glory.

None of the splendor it once had remained. It had been burned and was almost a
complete loss. Even the untouched parts that the fire had missed had been torn
apart. The now broken statues were thrown on the floor and seats were torn.

Imbris hand flew to her mouth, and her eyes misted as her thoughts of
resurrecting it came to a halt. She hadn't thought of it as that bad. Her
dreams of restoring it had come at a price. It would take all of her
inheritance to right the wrongs that befell the once beautiful Opera Populaire.

"Well, my dear, it seems we must hire a staff before we will get this ...," he
looked around losing his words. He finally found them when he looked at his
brother's daughter "…once artistic domain to that of its past."

Imbri looked at him shocked. Is he literally trying to scare me?

He saw her uneasy stare, but continued, "Well, except for one part of it." He
looked around as if making sure his own words wouldn't condemn him.

Imbri stared at the opera stage. She closed her eyes and tried to remember how
it had been when she and her father had visited before. It was always so
beautiful and she had told her father that one day she would own it.

He laughed at her. “The owners would never sell their gold mine,” he had said
to her. Thinking on his words, she looked up towards the ceiling making a
silent prayer to him. Look, Father! I did it! I'm here. I will show you,
angels will sing here once again.

She grabbed a large broom and began sweeping up shards of glass that had once
been the magnificent chandelier. As she swept on and on, her hands become
inflamed. She eventually stood against a wall and rested the broom next to her.
She looked at her hands studying them and saw tiny blisters beginning to form.

She smiled as she was always a hard worker; and even with wealth, she had always
taken pride in doing things for her self. She looked over to where her Uncle
was interviewing for the maid staff. So few she gasped. Only four had
actually showed up, and she would need all of them. As the last of the girls
were given charges, two more had peered in. I smiled at them welcoming them.
They sat in silence as the last girl was given her lists of duties.

As Imbri began to pick up the broom, the youngest girl flew to her side and
offered her help.

P.O.V. – Imbri

I was going to decline but as my hands started to burn, I decided it would be
best. As I made my way to the dormitories to find a quiet room to sleep in, I
stumbled onto a huge room in total disarray. I looked at the mess on the floor
noticing shards of glass were scattered everywhere. I looked at the mirror and
noted it looked new.

I walked towards the mirror and placed my gloved hand on its surface. Why
are there shards of glass, but a complete mirror. Surely her staff would
have picked up the glass before replacing it. She reminded herself to have a
word with them. She brought out her blanket and pillow from her small bag she
had dragged with her.

Her head ached and her eyes burned as she lay down upon the small bed. As her
eyes closed, she could have sworn there was a clicking noise. She was too tired
to care what could have made the small sound. Her eyes remained closed,
gradually her breathing slowed.