possible."

   "Well, maybe she wants to move on, Steele. You have to respect her decision. That's what a real male would do, you have to understand what she wants, and if it's best for her, then you have to respect her for that."

   "I guess so," Steele shrugged, "I just don't get it, Philippe. I really don't. I mean, it's not even her decision. It's her 'teachers'."

   "Hmm, that does sound odd." Philippe replied, "Why would her teacher convince her to stay?"

   Maybe this teacher doesn't like me, Steele thought, I honestly believe whoever this teacher is, he doesn't want me and Jenna to be together.

   "I think she's been at the Opera too much. It's messing with her head." Steele snickered, "Maybe there's something going against us both?

   "You think this is her teacher's doing?" Philippe asked the malamute.

   "I think so, but I'm not sure. But, I don't want to ask her. She thinks I'm crazy in love with her, and she thinks that I think she's with someone else."

   "Oh, I see," Philippe answered, as this made sense. His brother could tell that Steele would definitely do something like that.

   "So, what should I do?" Steele asked Philippe.

   "I don't know, but maybe you should try again tomorrow to talk with her, ok?" Philippe got up from his spot, "If it were up to me, I would probably speak with her about it, and nothing else. Don't try to get too involved, and try not to accuse her of doing wrong."

   Yeah, seeing how far that got me, Steele thought, as their previous arguments definitely set them apart. Still, I don't understand why her 'teacher' would do something like that. Then, a thought struck the malamute's head, What if I'm right? What if this teacher is another dog, who wants to keep us apart? What if Jenna has no control over him, and she's being forced to tell me that she doesn't want to speak with me again?

   Steele never thought that this was possible, and even though he knew it was wrong to get jealous, it almost sounded like this other dog was jealous, probably even more than the way he acted. This assumption was plausible, but he couldn't prove it, so he proceeded with the rest of his day, and he asked Philippe if they could go visit the Canine to watch Jenna perform. Philippe reluctantly agreed, unless he was with him at all times. He didn't have to worry, though, as Steele was still keeping his promise.

   They sat in the same balcony box they sat in during the Gala, and Steele remembered the day when he saw her sing. He was completely in love with the husky on stage, but he could he really admit that to her? Would that make her come back to him?

   Probably not, he thought, crossing his arms and sighing heavily, as the opera began, she probably wants nothing to do with me.

   Act 1 started with Dr. Faust, moping about his studies and lack of love for life, and he soon summons up the demon Mephistopheles in blast of smoke and fire. He plans to make a deal with him, to change his life forever.

   "Et que te donnerai-je en retour?" Faust asks as to what he should give in return for the demon's powers.

   Mephistopheles grins a devilish smile, and responds, "Presque rien; presque rien: Ici, je suis à ton service, mais là bas, tu seras au mien!"

   It's clear to Faust that the demon wants his soul, and the demon pulls out a scroll, and demands he signs his name in blood.

   "Eh quoi! Ta main tremble! Que faut-il pour te décider? La jeunesse t' appelle; Ôse la regarder!" The demon wonders as to why Faust isn't sure about his decision, and then decides to persuade him to sign by giving him a vision. The demon waves a paw over to a light begins to glow in the back, and the image of certain ruby-colored husky came into view as the beautiful Marguerite, spinning a spindle of yarn.

   Jenna…Steele stared at the husky, as her beauty seemed to be even greater with the light behind her, almost like she was an angel from heaven. It was almost like he was Faust, longing to be with his once childhood friend again. He felt terrible, as this might be the only way they'd be able to see each other. It hurt even more when Jenna didn't even see him in the balcony, despite it being rather close to the stage.

   "Brother?" Philippe whispered, "Is everything alright?" Steele wasn't paying attention to his brother, as he was fixed on the husky onstage. He felt bad for the young malamute, as he had never seen him this upset in all his life. He was somewhat surprised, as this meant that Steele really did care for the young singer, and seeing her like this was definitely not good for him.

   "Steele, I think we should go." Philippe said, tapping Steele on his shoulder. Steele responded with a nod, and the two left the Canine for the night.

   For the rest of the night, the young malamute was in complete despair, as thinking about Jenna was making him feel terrible. He sat down on his bed, and proceeded to fall asleep.

   That night, he had a nightmare. He was back in Perros, and he and Jenna were wrestling in the grassy fields, and they snuggled up next to each other.

   "I love you, Steele," The red husky smiled, licking the malamute on the cheek.

   "I love you too, Jenna." He licked her cheek back. They soon drew close to one another, and they were about to kiss each other, forever bonding them together, when Steele opened his eyes. Jenna was gone. He got up from his spot on the grass and looked around, and soon saw Jenna with a mysterious dog dressed in black, with a dark face with piercing yellow eyes. They were dancing with each other, and they gazed into each other's eyes. Steele's heart nearly broke when they kissed each other, something that he was supposed to do.

   "Jenna!" Steele called after the husky, and ran towards her, and he tried to attack the black dog, but as he leaped forward, he passed through the dog like it was a ghost, but he didn't land on the grass behind them. Instead, he kept falling, his body plummeting into some kind of dark abyss.

   "Jenna!" He cried again, as the husky and the black dog got further and further from him, as he fell and fell into the black pit.

   Steele awoke with a start, as he realized he had fallen off his bed, his head hitting hard on the carpet below. He groaned as he got back on the bed, as that nightmare of his was somewhat disturbing. He knew it meant he was jealous and angry at the fact that Jenna didn't want to be with him. He almost felt like hiding in under his bed he was so upset.

   However, things suddenly changed a few days after that, when he surprisingly received another letter from Jenna. But this one wasn't about their relationship. It was much more urgent:

   To Steele de Chagny,

   I need to speak with you as soon as possible. I have a major problem that needs to be fixed, and I need your help, seeing how you're the only one I can trust.

   Meet me at the Canine at 7:00 PM tonight at the Grand Staircase. I'll be waiting for you.

   Sincerely,

   Jenna

   Steele was surprised to read that Jenna needed him, seeing how distant they were. What could this problem be, and why did she want him to help her, of all dogs? Perhaps there's more to this plea for help than he thinks.

   Unbeknownst to him, however, it will be something far more shocking than he thinks…

Chapter 10

   Steele seemed anxious as the time passed very slowly on an oddly dreary Saturday on the 26th of September. It was apparent to Philippe that something was troubling his brother, but he didn't want to get involved. Steele merely kept it to himself, even when 6:00 finally came by. He snuck out of the estate, hired a carriage, and drove immediately to the Canine.

   It's real quiet today, Steele thought as he sat inside the carriage. He noticed that there seemed to be a lack of the regular noise of pedestrians and shopkeepers and high-class dogs in the streets and the pups that were usually at play, racing on the sidewalks. There really wasn't much of that during this time, even though it usually was. Something strange was going on, almost like the mood of the day had completely changed, the clouds above the city slowly turning from a dark orange to a deep purple and blue, the night soon approaching.

   Steele's carriage made it to the Canine, and surprisingly, all of the lights were on. He walked up the entrance of the façade and slowly opened the front door. There was almost a strange feeling as soon as he entered the House, almost like an ominous presence was about the place. The once pristine golden interior seemed to have taken a darker tone, going from a bright yellow, to a dark gold. This was obvious due to the lights and lamps, a few of the them flickering on and off. Steele could feel the presence of something, or someone watching him, as he placed himself at the foot of the Grand Staircase.

   The hell's going on today? He thought, putting his head in his paws on the marble floor. Why did Jenna want to meet here? Why