Here is a nice long one for you! Thanks for your continual support!


Chapter 9: A Curse on the Opera House

That evening, everyone else had been dismissed for the night and Nikki was rehearsing the intimate songs with Monsieur Fermond.

"On your line '…do I love you, don't you know by now' that is when you circle the bench and take each others hands," Monsieur Dubree instructed.

"Got it," Nikki nodded.

"All right, take it from the beginning," the conductor gestured for the pianist who then began to play.

Nikki started on her cue and followed the blocking. Monsieur Fermond came in and took her arm from behind and wrapped her arms around her with his overtop. She turned toward him and he put his hands on her back. As they continued to sing, she felt him slide his hands down to the lower part of her back. It made her uncomfortable, but she continued singing, hoping he would remove them quickly. She felt him inch his hands lower and she took his hands and brought them around front then gently let them go. As she did this, she gave him a stern expression.

She sat down on the bench and he came up from behind her on his knee. It was just her singing now and she felt him press his head against hers and sniff her hair. Her spine tingled and not in the good way. She pulled forward then stood and came around the bench on the appointed line, took his hands and held them tightly, so not to let them wander. They finished the song and he went in for the directed kiss. Nikki turned her head and he kissed her cheek.

The piano stopped and Nikki immediately pulled away. Monsieur Fermond turned to the conductor, "Maestro, she-uh is not-ta giving her all. She-uh pulls back-uh."

"I am sorry, Monsieur Dubree," Nikki said quietly.

"I am sure as the time nears, Miss deChagny will perform it to the fullest," he said encouragingly. He knew it must have been hard for the young star, but admired her professionalism.

Nikki nodded, "I promise. I am a little tired."

Monsieur Dubree grinned as he closed his music book, "We are finished for the night. Go home and rest."

"Thank you," Nikki went to her dressing room as quickly as she could and locked the door. She sighed and threw up a small prayer, hoping she could out maneuver the tenor's advances until the performance was over. She sat down at the vanity and felt her body sag with exhaustion. She had been running a mile a minute and in this moment, fatigue had caught up with her. She took a swig of water and looked at herself in the mirror. "Three more weeks," she saw her music book on the vanity and knew that she should look through it while she waited for Troy but she couldn't see straight. The staves blurred together and the notes were no longer legible. She shut the book and took a drink of water then collapsed on the vanity.

There was a gentle knock on her door and she went to let Troy in, "Hi, Troy—"

Monsieur Fermond smiled, "As you can see-uh, it is not-ta this Troy."

She wanted to shut the door and lock it again. Instead, she put her foot on the inside of the door with her heel on the floor to act as leverage in case she needed to make a hasty closing. "Good evening."

"If you would forgive me, you have an adequate voice – but your acting – you hold back-uh."

Nikki nodded, trying to end this conversation as quickly as possible, "Thank you. I will try harder."

"I thought that-uh maybe we could go over what I meant-uh," he tried to let himself into her room.

Her foot kept the needed barrier and she pushed it forward, "No, if you will excuse me, Monsieur Fermond, I am too tired. Maybe tomorrow during rehearsal."

"See – you hold back-uh," he took a step back.

"Yes. Yes. I do, thank you. I can see that now, if you will excuse me—"

"But, Mademoiselle," somehow he had leverage over the door and pushed it open much to her surprise. "I really think we should practice."

"I do not," Nikki backed away from him; she felt her body tremble but tried to remain strong. She had to if she was going to get out of this. She looked around for something she could use as a barrier between them or a hard object she could use to knock some sense into him. The vanity chair. She stepped behind it. "Monsieur Fermond, I do not want you in my dressing room. Please leave right now."

He pouted, "Monsieur Fermond. You must-ta call me Gerome. With any luck, you will repeat it several times and with pleasure," he grinned as he came closer.

That was it! Nikki was so disgusted. She picked up the vanity chair and shoved the legs into his stomach. He heaved over and wheezed. As he regained his breath, she rushed passed him. She was almost to the door when he caught her and pulled his arms around her. She fought him desperately but he was too big and too strong.

He managed to turn her around and leaned in to kiss her, "Stop fighting, many have enjoyed Gerome."

She screamed but he quickly covered her mouth. She bit his hand and he jerked back. That gave her enough space to knee him between the legs. He let go of her and she quickly backed out of her dressing room, "I, Monsieur, must bid you goodnight-ta!" She said sarcastically, turned and ran out the back exit. She ran as fast as she could to the front. Her adrenaline was pumping fiercely. She slowed down when she was in front of the Opera House in the well-lit area.

"Nikki!" Troy called as he got out of his car.

Nikki quickly adjusted her shirt and smoothed back her hair. She slowed her breathing and tried her best to subside the tremors. "Just the man I wanted to see."

He smiled as he approached her, "How was rehearsal?"

"Oh, you know," she took his arm and forcefully guided him back to the car.

"What is your rush?" Troy frowned as he was practically pushed into the car. "Nikki, is something wrong?"

"No, what would be wrong? I am just so happy to see you, but I am also tired. So very tired. Can you take me home please?"

Troy stared at her for a moment, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she smiled then gestured for him to start the car. The car ride was quiet and awkward. Nikki held tightly to her hands in her lap. She was still shaking and tried so hard to hide it from him.

The next day, rehearsal was scheduled for full company at ten in the morning. Nikki took an extra-long shower that morning and tied her hair back in a low, messy bun. She did not put any make-up on and wore slacks and an oversized sweater. She wanted to look undesirable. Looking at herself in the mirror, she nodded with satisfaction, then called for a taxi.

When she arrived in the auditorium, everyone was there. Jennie spotted her and fluttered toward the starlet. She frowned at Nikki's unusual appearance, "Are you okay?"

"I am fine," Nikki insured.

"Is the baggy, homeless look the latest fashion?"

Nikki looked down at her appearance, "Yes. Yes, it is."

Jennie then grinned and shrugged, "You actually pull it off well. I think you look adorable."

Nikki frowned, "I don't want to look adorable."

Jennie giggled and grabbed Nikki's hand, "Come on, we're waiting for Monsieur Fermond."

"Oh? He's not here yet?"

"Nope. Well, maybe. He might be in his dressing room."

The retiring and the new managers all entered the stage and looked at their watches, "Where is Monsieur Fermond?" Monsieur Vanois asked the conductor.

"I do not know," Monsieur Dubree shrugged as he turned his music book open on the stand.

"Well run the company numbers while we wait for him," Monsieur Shante requested, "we are going to sit in on rehearsals today."

The company ran through a series of scales as the dancers stretched. Nikki was invited to join the managers in the first row as the company ran through the first number vocally. They then sang through it again with the blocking and with the dancers.

Nikki noticed the managers continuously looking at their watches and at the doors. As the second run through was coming to an end, Monsieur Vanois asked a stage hand to check Monsieur Fermond's dressing room.

The company hit their final positions when the stage hand came running back on stage, "Messieurs! Come quick! Monsieur Fermond, he is dead!"

Everyone froze and gasped. Nikki shot out of her chair and followed the managers up the side stairs and back stage to the tenor's dressing room. Upon entering, they found the rotund tenor lying on the floor with a thick rope still tied tightly around his neck. Nikki covered her mouth and turned away quickly.

"I'll send for the police," Monsieur Armund put his arm around Nikki's shoulder, "Come back to the stage, Little One," he guided her passed her dressing room.

"Wait. I think I better go in my dressing room for a moment," she stopped.

"I will send someone to be with you," he went off to phone the police.

Nikki heard commotion outside of her room. She could not believe what happened. Monsieur Fermond was dead – obviously murdered. She covered her mouth again, but this time to stop from crying. She could still feel his hands all over her. Nikki shivered. She then wiped away the tears, took a couple of deep breaths and sat down at the vanity. She tried to focus her thoughts; one thing was for sure, the opera was going to be cancelled without a leading tenor, the anniversary celebration was not going to happen.

Nikki jumped at a soft knock on her door. She hesitated before answering, "Who is it?"

"Jennie. May I come in?"

"Please," Nikki watched as the petit blond slipped inside and shut the door. "Are you okay?"

Nikki shook her head and started to cry again, "Oh, stop crying," she muttered to herself.

Jennie quickly knelt at Nikki's side, "It must be hard to see a dead body."

"That is not it. I am almost glad he is dead," she calmed down, "I shouldn't have said that."

"I won't tell anyone. Nikki, what is the matter?"

Nikki heaved a sigh, "Last night, Fermond tried to – have me."

Jennie's eyes widened, "Nikki, you didn't –"

"No! I didn't kill him! How could you think that?"

"I didn't think you did, but – oh, Nikki I am so sorry," Jennie wrapped her arms around the soprano. The two passed the time talking about what was going to happen now.

Nikki used this time, as she calmed down, to make herself look more presentable. She let down her hair for starters.

Jennie leaned forward, "The company is already saying that this opera is cursed."

Nikki frowned, "What? That is ridiculous," with an extra make-up supply in her vanity, she applied a little rouge and some concealer under her eyes. It brightened up her face.

"First Mademoiselle Sellie, then Monsieur Fermond, and the opera itself!"

"What do you mean?"

Jennie looked at the door then spoke quietly, "You cannot tell anyone. My mother told me that this opera has an anonymous composure."

"What?"

"It was just found in the manager's office. They were going to throw it away, until they heard how beautiful it was. They thought it would be perfect for the anniversary."

"But they do not know the composure?"

Jennie shook her head, "No. I think the reason we're having so much trouble is because the composure's ghost disapproves of us doing the opera."

"That is silly."

"There have been other problems. The costume department has complained about the stars costumes."

"What about them?"

"During Mademoiselle Sellie's time with us, her costumes had been destroyed, along with Monsieur Fermond's, then set pieces have gone missing. I've talked with the head seamstress and she is fed up with all the spookiness going on."

There was a knock on Nikki's door, "Come in."

A man with black hair, dressed in a long winter coat, popped into the room, "Hello, Mademoiselle deChagny. My name is Detective Antony Matthieu, can I ask you a couple of questions?"

"Sure," Nikki stood and offered the gentleman a seat on the couch.

"If you need me, I'll be right outside," Jennie excused herself.

"How can I help you, Detective?" Nikki sat on the opposite side of the couch.

"I understand you are the lead soprano in the opera, is that right?"

Nikki nodded, "Yes."

"And did you know Gerome Fermond well?"

"No, only as a co-worker."

"A Monsieur Dubree told us that you and Monsieur Fermond were rehearsing late last night."

"That is correct; Monsieur Dubree was with us, as well as the pianist, Terrance Arden."

The detective jotted down some notes, "Ma'am, may I be blunt with you?" Nikki nodded, "He was murdered. Someone strangled him. Now, it had to have been someone with access to the Opera House."

"You mean someone inside the company?"

The detective nodded, "Did you notice if there was anyone who did not like Gerome Fermond?"

"I will be honest with you, he was not the most agreeable man, but that's all. I cannot think of anyone who would want to see him dead."

The detective wrote down a couple more notes then pocketed his notepad and pen, "Well, you have been very helpful, thank you. If we come up with any more questions, is there a way we can contact you?"

"Yes," Nikki jotted down her home phone number on a pad with her name. "If there is anything I can do."

"Thank you. I'll see myself out," the detective left and Nikki shut the door behind him.

She went back to her vanity and dropped her head on her hands.

"My sweet Angel…"

Nikki jolted up and looked around the room. She whispered, "Was it you?"

There was no response.

"I am grateful that you feel it necessary to protect me, what I did to deserve your kindness, I will never know. But you mustn't kill. It is wrong."

"I saw what he tried to do to you."

"But I handled it. I am fine. See?" She stretched out her arms, "But I am sad. You have made me sad. You killed someone. And now he can no longer sing. We all can no longer sing."

"You will sing, my Angel of Music…"

The rest of the day, policemen questioned the entire company and crew. Monsieur Fermond's body was taken away and reporters were hoarding outside of the Opera House to get the latest scoop. Nikki had called Troy and told him what had happened. He quickly came to her side and they talked in her dressing room.

"It was so hard to see him just lying there. Dead. He was so full of life yesterday," Nikki felt comforted when Troy squeezed her hand.

"You know what I think? He was killed the same way as Officer Leroux," Troy shook his head, "there is a coincidence."

Nikki just bit her lip.

"You were here last night too," Troy shook his head again, "something could have happened to you."

"I don't think so," Nikki looked away.

"I think I'm going to take some time off. Stay close until this whole thing blows over."

"That is very sweet, but I will be fine, Troy."

Troy saw her music book on the vanity, "It's a shame. I was looking forward to seeing the performance. The music is beautiful."

"I bet Messieurs Shante and Vanois are having a heart attack right now. I better go make an appearance. Thank them for the opportunity," Nikki stood and Troy followed her out.

She went up to the second story to their office and heard the four men speaking loudly behind the door.

"I'll wait outside. Maybe we could go to Les Café? Get reacquainted?"

Nikki smiled and squeezed his hand. She then knocked on the door. The voices became quiet and there were a few moments of silence before the door opened. "Miss deChagny," Monsieur Vanois greeted her with a grim expression.

"I just wanted to come and say how sorry I am that this tragedy happened. And I wanted to thank you for the opportunity to play Colette. I will be forever grateful for your trust in me."

All four men nodded.

"We will have to refund the whole house," Shante sat down in a stuffed, leather chair.

"Could we scrape together another opera? One that is well-known?" Monsieur Armund asked.

The retiring managers shook their heads, "There is no time. The costumes, the sets, the music, not to mention blocking," Monsieur Vanois explained.

"We were so close to being sold out," Shante put his head on his hands.

"No, Monsieurs Fermond's death will be in the papers by morning. And the anniversary will be cancelled."

"The town will want our heads," Monsieur Shante groaned.

Nikki was about to slip quietly away when she turned and saw Troy at the bottom of the stairs. She watched as he stopped to talk with Gerard. She stared at him for a moment. Nikki bit her lip. It was a long shot. It was a terrible idea, but what did she have to lose? She turned back and stood in the doorway. "There might be a way to still save the opera? That is, if the police let us continue rehearsals?"

All four men turned to face her. She gestured for them to follow her. They did and stopped as she pointed to a young, good looking man talking with Gerard.

"That is Troy Adar, my tutor."

"That boy?" Monsieur d'Avignon exclaimed.

"He is actually extraordinarily gifted. He teaches piano and voice at one of the prestigious conservatories here in Paris. He has been coaching me even when I was still in the chorus. He is very familiar with the songs. He even said he caught himself singing Monsieur Fermond's parts of Raymond."

The opera managers looked long and hard at the young man. They then exchanged glances. They turned back to the office and had Nikki follow them inside. They shut the door. Monsieur Vanois went to the phone and called the conservatory to get Troy's credentials. The young man's references actually impressed the managers. Troy had grown up in the conservatory as their exceptional protégé and when he turned nineteen, he was granted a position there to teach; the youngest teacher there. He had been there for three years and has had many students go on to be successful musicians.

Nikki twisted her fingers anxiously as the men debated with the idea. Monsieur Vanois then called the police station and asked on an update on the case. Monsieur Vanois then stated that they had the opportunity to continue with the opera.

"If you feel it wise, you could post guards or police or what have you around the Opera House to investigate the identity of Fermond's killer. It would then insure our safety as well," after a short conversation, Monsieur Vanois hung up the phone with the police. He stood up and smiled at his beautiful starlet.

"Miss deChagny, you say he is a gifted singer?"

"A tenor," her eyes sparkled.

The four men guided her out of the room all in agreement. They descended the stairs.

Troy glanced their way, he saw Nikki with them, "There you are, I was beginning to wonder what happened," Troy nodded at the gentlemen behind her.

"Troy, these men have a wonderful opportunity they would like to present to you," Nikki beamed a grin.


Up Next...Chapter 10: Jennie Learns Nikki's Secret