Hei, as we in Finland say.
Big thanks to all who've reviewed and given support. It always help when writing the next chapter.
Disclaimer: see chapter 1.
Chapter 10 Toccata and Fugue in D Minor
"Is this the right address?"
Charles de Chagny, Harry Hunter, Phillip Carriere and Gilles Andre stood before a building that, according to the introduction, was supposed to be Count Paradise's residence. Yet, they hardly could believe that. The building was old and certainly didn't look like something where a rich noble man would want to live. In fact it seemed to be one of those buildings that should have been ripped to pieces decades ago then but was now occupied by homeless people.
"Your count certainly has an eccentric taste" Andre said dryly and light himself a smoke.
"I…this must be a mistake. We must have a wrong address. I can't believe Count Paradise would lower himself to live in there" Charles de Chagny said.
"But Charles, the address is right" Phillip said, looking at the letter he had received from the Count.
"I knew he was a fraud" Harry said under his breath.
Suddenly the old doors opened before them and out came none other than Count's dark skinned companion, Nadir.
"Welcome, young gentlemen. My lord, the Count, welcomes you to his house. Please, enter" he said.
Looking somewhat hesitant, the four men started to walk forward to the building that looked like ready to collapse any given minute. When they had entered they realised that the interiors of the house were no better than façade. The hallway, if you can call it that, was dirty, smelling and had pieces of glass and other junk all over it. Kids had painted the walls with spray paint.
Nadir led them through the hallway to an elevator which, compared to everything else, on the other hand was in perfect condition and walking in to it was a relief to all four of them. Nadir pressed the button and soon the elevator started to go, to everyone's surprise, down. All had thought it was only logical to go up.
When the elevator doors opened they were greeted with an almost dream like sight. They were obviously below the streets of Paris, all around of them were brick walls and before them was a lake. An underground lake, that seemed to have a beautiful blue glow in it. The walls were decorated with candles so it was very easy to see in, what would otherwise be pitch black, tunnel.
"Where are we?" Charles asked in utter astonishment and wonder.
"In ancient catacombs, that goes all around the underground Paris. They were built in the Middle Ages" Andre said, throwing his smoke away and taking a picture.
"If you'd be good enough to climb aboard" Nadir said and indicated the boat in the lake.
All four men sat down on the boat and Nadir started to row it through the tunnels. Charles, Phillip, Harry and Andre looked with bewilderment of the magical surroundings. Then suddenly they heard music. First they had to listen very carefully to hear it, but soon it became apparent that they were approaching the source of the sound. As the music became clearer they saw their destination. In the end of the tunnel they saw a house, or at least what seemed to be door and two windows in the stone wall. Nadir brought the boat to the shore and four men jumped off. This close Charles, who had been close to music all his life due to his mother, was able to recognise the piece.
"Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by Johann Sebastian Bach" he muttered more to himself than anyone else.
The door opened and bright light greeted them. Out came the other servant of the Count, Lajos. He was dress in identical black suit as Nadir. Without saying anything he indicated the men to come in. When they entered not one was able to hold a gasp. They had entered to a house that would satisfy even the most demanding emperor. The cold stone floors were covered with carpets of the orient countries. The walls were covered with different paintings from the ancient masters of Japan to Michelangelo and Hieronymus Bosch. There were also paintings of expressionism and portraits and pictures of the great composers and actors of the previous centuries.
In the end of the great hall was a huge pipe organ that covered the entire back wall and before it sat Count Paradise, playing Bach's composition in complete trance. He had his back to them so they couldn't see his face, or what kind of mask he happened to have now. He was dress in dark red coat.
In a chair near organs sat a young woman with hazel skin and silvery-blonde hair. Her green eyes looked at the four men and she raised one finger to her lips to silence them. She just sat there listening, mesmerised. She waited until Count came to the end, until the last breath had been pulled out of the organs. The woman stood up, filled a glass with wine and brought to Count who drank deeply.
"My lord, your visitors have arrived" she said softly.
The reaction was immediate. Count jumped up and turned to them, revealing his bronze coloured mask. "My young friends, welcome! Welcome! I hope I didn't keep you waiting for too long" said his rich voice coming through his mask.
"Oh, not at all, Count. In fact we just arrived to hear the end of your beautiful playing" Charles hurried to say.
"Music to me is one of the many ways to escape this world and its brutal reality. Music offers me temporary freedom to see the world as I wish to see it. You could say that for me it is like dreaming, since I haven't been able to dream for years" Count said.
This declaration was so sudden that Charles didn't know how to answer. Sensing his discomfort and sudden opportunity, Harry spoke. He looked at the young woman and spoke as respectably as he could.
"Do we have an honour to be in the company of Princess Ayesha?" he asked.
Ayesha seemed to be startled to hear her name spoken. Count spoke to her softly. "No need to stay quiet, my dear. Our visitors have come to see us, after all" he said.
Ayesha bowed to Harry. "I am Ayesha" she said, "nice to meet you Mr. Hunter".
Harry felt his cheeks to warm in a way they hadn't in years. "The pleasure is all mine" he said.
"Are you the relative of the Count" Andre asked, who was not known for his subtlety but knew that asking "are you his mistress" was out of question.
"Not by blood, but my lord is the only family I have" she spoke, admiring eyes looking at the count.
"Now, please, join me to the table" Count said and indicated a huge table filled with food.
Once they were seated down and plates filled with food, Phillip couldn't help but ask. "Count, may I ask what you meant when you said in your invitation, that you invited me because you wanted to get to know me because of a mutual friend?"
"Ah, well you see, the name Carriere is not stranger to me. Your father Gerard Carriere was a manger of the Opera Populaire before Monsieur Cholet, was he not?"
"Yes, but how do you…?"
"I heard about your father from the mutual friend of ours, Mr. Sandor Korvin, a man who has been good enough to advice me in some of my businesses" Count said.
"Mr. Korvin? He is the man who saved my father from complete bankruptcy two years ago then. If you are a friend of his then I am honoured and would like to know you also" Phillip said.
Charles smiled. It was exciting to learn more about the Count and see more of his friends starting to warm up to him. Charles knew that Harry still didn't trust him and was little upset by this. However, at the moment it seemed Harry's attention was not with the Count, but with the young woman sitting beside the Count. While Count was talking with Andre, who was smoking his third smoke already, Phillip noticed this also.
"Hunter, it's quite ill-mannered to drool after another woman when you are already engaged" Phillip whispered to Harry.
"I'm not by my own will" Harry absentmindedly answered.
"Then break the engagement".
"I've tried, but you don't know how hard headed my future father-in-law is".
"So you are just going to get married with her and then cheat her while you can" Phillip now hissed through his teeth in anger.
"It's not something I want, believe me it's not. But marriages nowadays hardly have any love at all in them. I know this and so should she".
Suddenly there was a sudden sound of Phillip's fist connecting with Harry's face. Time seemed to slow as Harry fell to the floor and looked at Phillip, whose eyes seemed to burn.
"HUNTER! I CHALLENGE YOU TO DUEL!"
To be continued…
I couldn't resist having Count playing Bach. In 1962 Hammer POTO version Phantom, played by Herbert Lom, also played that piece.