Chapter Four: The Opera Ghost
Jurah had returned, with a fresh batch of customers. The teenage boy in the pen bit back a groan, and waited for his fate.
"And here, we have a genuine demon, hand-plucked from the gates of darkness. I assure you, ladies and gentleman, that the fur is completely genuine. Stand up, Demon!" Jurah ordered, cracking his whip once across the bars of the cage.
Sighing, the captive boy did as he was told. That whip hurt terribly, whenever the gypsy used it on him.
xxXxx
The patron held one hand to his chin, as he walked down the hallway of the opera house. "So, it is my uncle's ghost that brought Miss Haru to your attention?"
Toto nodded. "At least, we're pretty sure it's him. I mean, who else would have known that she sings to herself during those early shifts?"
The young lord was silent as he tried to think of an answer. "Who else, indeed," he mused out loud.
Renaldo started laughing under his breath while petting the purring cat's fur. "I'm just glad her fears about stage fright were hollow."
"Only because we used the entire staff on her for rehearsals, remember?" Toto asked in an irritated tone, entering the back portion of the opera house.
"Seriously guys; will you please put me down?" Haru begged, her voice somehow ringing above the noise everyone else was making as they celebrated their successful performance.
Grinning like identical cats, Toto and Renaldo politely pushed forward through the ballerinas and prop people, with the patron close behind them.
Then he saw her, just as the judge and king were easing her back onto the ground to cuddle her possessively between them. She was still in the long, plain white shift that she had been wearing for the trial and burning, and her feet were bare.
"Haru, you are the best thing to happen to this theatre since the new electric lights came in!" the actor king beamed.
"No way; don't demean her with the lights! She's way better!" a random angel shouted out.
"Stop! You're embarrassing me!" the poor girl protested, her cheeks stained a dark cherry red. She struggled to break free, but the two actors were cuddling her a little too hard.
"Three cheers for promoting maids!" the judge yelled, immediately getting an enthusiastic response out of just about everyone in the hallway.
The patron had to feel for the poor girl. She didn't look like she could get any more mortified from all the attention they were showering on her. The dark-haired lord stepped forward to help her out, but he was too slow.
Mewing indignantly, the tawny cat jumped out of Renaldo's arms, wove expertly between the actors, and hopped into Haru's eager embrace.
She gripped him tightly for a second, a blissful smile on her face. Then he wrapped himself around her shoulders, hissing threateningly at the judge and king while showing off his claws.
They immediately backed off with fearful expressions. The girl sighed thankfully as she rubbed her shoulders and her feline protector.
"My little hero," she giggled while scratching one of his ears, making him purr with pleasure.
"That's another thing you need to know about," Renaldo whispered to the young lord. "That cat considers himself her body guard, so try to stay on his good side. Otherwise, he won't let you near her."
"Thank you for the advice," the lord said in a low voice, miffed that the feline had managed to beat him to the punch. How was he going to impress this girl?
"Well, Baron? Did you enjoy the show?" she asked while rubbing her forehead against her cat's fur.
"I most certainly did," the patron said without thinking.
Haru flinched and turned around in puzzlement as everyone else fell back a bit, so that they could see each other. Her large brown eyes locked with his ice blue ones. She stared at him until he took off his black top hat and held it over his heart in salute. She quickly looked down; her eyes wide with… shock?
Well, perhaps she was expecting someone older for the patron. She wouldn't be the first one to mistake his age before meeting him.
One of the co-managers coughed nervously to cover the awkward moment. "My lord; she was talking to the cat. The cat's name is Baron," Toto said as delicately as he could.
"Ah," the man said softly, still looking at Haru. "That will prove to be confusing after some time."
"Hey, everyone," Renaldo said in as loud a voice as he could manage, which was a rather impressive level. "This is our new patron, Baron Humbert von Gikkingen II. I think he has a few things to say about tonight's performance."
"Indeed I do," the young baron said softly, still gazing at the prima donna as many of the actors gasped with shock.
The significance of the name 'von Gikkingen' had not been forgotten over the years.
"Tonight's performance was the most touching I have ever seen. I'll never be able to read about Jane the Zealous again without thinking of tonight. I greatly look forward to sponsoring the Sunset Opera for a long time," he said sincerely, still staring at the young soprano in that almost reverent manner.
Haru stared at him, closed her mouth, and gave him a neat curtsy. She kept one hand to her tawny cat's back while doing so, to keep him from falling off her shoulders. "Thank you sir," she replied in a small voice, making the other actors break out of their shocked silence.
A chorus of 'Thank you, sir's rang out for the next few minutes.
Still grinning from ear to ear, Renaldo and Toto walked up to Haru, one brother on each side. "All right, Chicky; you held up your end of the bargain. Now you need to let us hold ours," Renaldo gloated.
"Yes, sir," Haru replied in a resigned tone, letting the co-managers take her by the arms and escort her through the crowd.
The young baron quickly followed after the trio, hoping for another chance to speak with the fetching young brunette. There was just… something about that girl that reached out to him, and he wanted to know what it was.
Over the girl's shoulder, the tawny cat turned toward the patron and gave him an incredibly dirty look.
'I wonder why that cat dislikes me so,' he couldn't help but wonder.
After a few minutes, the baron followed them to what was obviously the girl's dressing room, the door almost closing in his face, since they didn't realize that he was following them. The threshold of the room was literally flooding with flowers from newfound admirers. The baron mentally cursed himself for not thinking of grabbing some flowers himself.
On the other hand… would his token of esteem just have been lost between all the others? Yes, he needed to think of something more original.
"I could have sworn there were chairs in here," Haru said with a nervous laugh from the other side of the door. "Oh, here's one. You guys didn't warn me that my dressing room would get turned into a flower shop," she muttered under her breath.
"We kinda figured you knew, Chicky. It comes with the prima donna territory," Renaldo laughed, a slight squeak indicating that someone had sat down.
"To business then," Toto said excitedly. "Haru: that was a wonderful performance. You had his lordship convinced that you really were Jane the Zealous."
"I thought that was the idea," she giggled.
The Baron von Gikkingen leaned against the side of the door, absorbing the sound. She had such a lovely laugh…
"Did you enjoy being the lead?" Renaldo asked intently.
"Surprisingly, yes," Haru admitted. "I'm glad I forgot about the audience, or I might have frozen up again."
"Heaven forbid! Well, to get to the point, Haru, we're willing to offer you five thousand tules a month if you stay as our female lead," Toto said, his tone nearly begging.
The baron could hear a loud gasp issue from her throat.
"What on earth would I do with that much money?" she demanded. "That is far too much!"
"It's one-twentieth of what Mr. Evans was paying Milady Rosaline," Renaldo said in a dry tone.
The baron choked hard on the idea, shaking his head in disbelief.
Haru was stunned into silence for a full moment. "… That… would explain a few things, but it's still too much."
"You could move into a bigger home," Renaldo offered.
"I'm really attached to the one I have."
"But is it in a safe neighborhood?"
"Quite safe, but thank you for caring."
"Well, what about clothes?" Toto asked curiously.
"What about them? I have the ones I need, and the opera provides the costumes for the show."
The baron turned a little closer to the door, a little surprised at her reaction.
"B-Besides," she started stammering. "I thought you brought me into the picture just to humble Milady Rosaline."
"Is that what it sounded like, Chicky?" Renaldo asked, sounding a little sheepish.
"That was how it started out, but that's not the case anymore, Haru," Toto cut in. "You're a better singer and actress, you're nice to everyone, and I have yet to see you really throw a temper tantrum. We have no intention of ever bringing back Milady Rosaline. Please; just take the money."
There was silence for a few minutes. Then she said something that would forever endear her to the lord on the other side of the door.
"Will the rest of the staff be getting raises, too? They're the ones that suffered every time Milady Rosaline starting acting up."
"Absolutely," Renaldo assured her. "Getting rid of her has opened up all sorts of opportunities. I think even O.G. has earned a raise."
The girl remained silent for a few minutes. "Can I ask for one more favor, before I accept the money?"
"Name it, Chicky."
The lord heard a soft sigh, almost like the coo of a dove. "I'm a very private person, sirs, and my instructor is even more reclusive."
"You have an instructor?" Toto asked with shock.
"Of course. My favor is that you do not question my life outside of the opera house. I am here to serve and sing at your command, but let me keep my personal life private, please."
"That's going to be a little hard to do, Chicky," Renaldo warned her. "We got stopped by three different reporters on the way back here, and all of them want to know as much about you as possible."
"That's flattering, but do I really need to talk to them?" she asked in a sick tone. Suddenly, the sound of slapping flesh was made clear, as if the girl was smacking herself on the forehead. "Oh drat. I just remembered that my instructor wanted me to come home as soon as possible. He wants to hear how tonight went."
"He didn't even come?" Toto asked in a strangled voice.
"He wanted to, but he had some business from work to take care of. Please, sirs. I really should change into my own clothes and head home."
"Would you like us to call a carriage?"
"Thank you, but I'm used to walking."
"In the dark?"
"I know a safe route. Please sirs. My privacy," she begged.
"… all right, Chicky. Hey, before we go, can you tell us what you know of O.G.?"
The baron's heart seemed to stop, and he nearly flattened himself against the door in order to hear better.
"I know nothing," she quickly asserted.
"Haru, has anyone ever told you you're a bad liar when you're off the stage?" Toto asked tightly. "Come on; our new patron would love to know anything at all about him. I'm certain that you can understand why."
"Of course I can, but… it's not wise to speak of him."
"Haru, we've read his notes and heard his voice because of you. It's fairly obvious that he has a soft spot for you."
"And if it's all the same, I'd like to keep it that way. Those who cross him have a tendency to… run into accidents."
The baron narrowed his eyes slightly. 'Accidents', indeed.
"Accidents?" Renaldo asked suspiciously.
"Please don't ask me to say any more, sir. It's dangerous for both of us."
"All right, Haru. We'll hold off the reporters long enough for you to get away," Toto sighed, presumably standing from a chair.
The baron quickly tore himself from the door, and took several steps to the left so that the lovely brunette wouldn't suspect him of eavesdropping.
Renaldo and Toto stepped through her door, kicked three bouquets back into the room, and shut it behind them.
Toto noticed him first, and sighed as he and his brother approached. "I'm sorry, my lord. We tried again, and only got a little more information."
To ensure that they didn't realize he had been listening, he allowed them to repeat Haru's words. But inside, he was wondering.
Who was her mysterious instructor? Where did she live? How was he supposed to get close to the girl if she refused to talk about the real her? Who was the 'real' her?
On top of that, how much did she really know about his deceased uncle? And how could he persuade her to share that information?
"Ah, my lord Baron!" a disgustingly familiar voice fawned from behind him.
Fighting back a grimace, the black-haired lord fixed a politician's smile firmly in place before turning. "Mr. Lugard," he said formally, a slight nod to the man's direction.
The balding old businessman panted a little as he stopped running, and brushed his sleeve against his sweaty forehead. In one hand was a bouquet of red roses, perhaps two dozen. "Magnificent performance, wouldn't you say?" he asked in a nasal tone.
"Quite so. Miss Yoshioka was quite impressive."
"Wasn't she though? I don't suppose you could arrange for an introduction, could you?" the fat man asked hopefully. "I would dearly like to give her my regards in person."
"Sorry, Mr. Lugard, but Miss Yoshioka is unavailable," Renaldo said in a stiffly polite tone.
The old businessman wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Now see here," he said in an imperious tone. "I came all the way back here to meet Miss Yoshioka, and that's what I intend to do!"
"She is unavailable," the baron repeated in a stiff tone, his stomach sinking even lower as he recognized even more unwanted guests coming up behind the older man.
"Mr. Moon, and Mr. Moon! Where did you find Yoshioka Haru?"
"Who is her tutor?"
"How long has she been acting? Because I'm certain I've never heard her voice before!"
"Calm down, one question at a time!" Renaldo barked at the reporters, making a barricade with his body.
Toto helped, only able to answer one or two of the questions that were being thrown at them. Obviously irritated with the lack of answers, two of the reporters tried breaking through the co-managers. The man and his photographer seemed to realize that the only way they were going to get answers was to seek out the diva herself.
The young baron allowed himself to drift to Haru's door, and softly rap on her door. "You may wish to hurry, Miss Yoshioka. The reporters are quite determined to have a word with you."
There was no answer.
Puzzled, he knocked again. "Miss Yoshioka? I am certain that you can hear me." After all, he had no trouble hearing her earlier, and she hadn't been speaking all that loudly.
Still no answer. Hoping that he wouldn't earn her hatred, he opened the door a crack.
The diva made no outraged protest. He opened it slowly, shocked at the sight that greeted him.
The room was carpeted with flowers, mostly red roses. Other than that, it seemed modest enough. There were a few chairs in a corner of the room, and a long mirror hanging on the far wall.
Over the side of the dressing screen was carefully hung the white shift she had been tried and burned in, but the diva herself was clearly not in the room.
A simple brass candelabra had been freshly put out on her dressing table, but the electric lights were still on. There was a pile of flowers surrounding the table, as if it had been quickly cleared off. The only thing next to the candelabra was a single flower, with a black ribbon tied around its stem.
It was a white rose.