Chapter ten: Masquerade

"Christine?"

Erik and I jumped as Raoul knocked at the door. Erik took me by the arm and led me out the door. My huge skirts barely made it out the door.

Raoul's eyes bugged out, "on my honor? Where did that come from?"

I spun around, "do you like it?"

"It's very loud Christine," he said. "It doesn't seem like you."

I stiffened and glared at him, "I like it Raoul."

"But Christine, "it's got red in it. People will talk."

"Let them!" I said. "You know what I am, and everyone here knows what I am and that's what counts." When he opened his mouth, I added. "I'm sorry you don't like it, but I love it."

Erik gave me a tug and I followed him down the stairs, his dark green cape swirling around him. Mrs. Chagney gaped at me the moment I appeared on the stairs. Erik swept me out of the door to the carriage before I could say a word. Raoul and his parents joined us and the carriage ride was awkward.

"Erik," I asked. "What's your favorite color?"

All eyes snapped to me. Erik frowned slightly but he answered, "red."

"Really? That's my favorite color to." I turned to Raoul. "If I remember right, yours is blue."

Raoul nodded and looked out the window. I frowned and stuck my tongue out at him. Erik snickered and I glanced up at him. This was the first time I really had seen him smile and he had the kind of smile that made you smile back. I laughed and that made Erik start laughing harder and we both launched into a private laughing fit of our own. Raoul and everyone stared at us. Erik and I finally regained our control. Then, Erik introduced me to Chinese handcuffs and I was humiliated when I couldn't get my fingers free.

"It's impossible!"

Raoul stared at my fingers, "all right Erik! Let her out now!"

He pinched them off me and put them on his fingers. I watched as he took his fingers in and out multiple times.

"How do you do that?" Mrs. Chagney asked.

Erik eyed her cautiously, then motioned for her to hold out her hands. She stuck her fingers in, "now the trick is to get them out." I said. "But it's impossible."

However, Mrs. Chagney had been observing Erik and after a few tugs and tries, she got one finger out.

I stared at her. Erik stared for a moment, then he smiled. Mrs. Chagney put them on Raoul who immediately started to groan about how Erik and his tricks. Erik and Mrs. Chagney actually started laughing.

"The trick," Mrs. Chagney said taking off the handcuffs. "Is to relax."

The carriage stopped abruptly and I fell forward and landed in Erik's lap. Erik's arms gripped me tightly as he carefully eased me back into my seat.

"Charles," Mr. Chagney shouted. "What's going on up there?"

"Sorry sir!" he said. "A child stopped in the road. His parent's have control of him now."

I peered out and gaped at the opera Populaire. "Oh my."

"Impressive isn't it?" Erik asked. "I own half of it."

"You do?" this came from everyone in the carriage.

"Are you a manager?" I asked. "Oh, I'm sorry you said you owned it. But how?"

"Fortunately for me, I was able to buy out many of the people who wanted out. Thanks to Carlotta. I had a pretty good fortune. As the years went by, I was able to buy everyone out. The odd thing is they've never seen me. Mr. Firmin is the only one who refuses to sell."

"So, you're like a ghost?" I asked. "How are you able to take?"

"I leave them notes."

"How long have you been in charge of the opera house?" Mr. Chagney demanded.

Erik glared at his father, "since I was nineteen."

"Seven years?" Raoul asked.

I did a quick calculating. Erik was twenty-six. That made him six years older than me. Raoul was two years older than I was.

"Here we are." Charles said.

Erik jumped out of the carriage and pulled me out. He handed me a scarlet mask, which matched his. "Keep this on." He said. "We'll be leaving before midnight."

"Yes Erik."

"Aww come Erik," Raoul said. "That's when the fun begins."

"The fun begins before midnight." Erik corrected.

I cleared my throat. At midnight, all the masks were removed. Erik couldn't remove his. Erik took my arm and we climbed the stairs.

I groaned, "I hate walking up stairs."

Erik flashed a grin at me, "race you up?"

I hesitated. Then I grabbed my skirts and ran up, Erik laughed and ran behind me. He won of course, seeing as how he had the advantage. With a laugh he pulled me in the grand hall. "Tie." He declared.

I rolled my eyes. "I lost and you know it!" I stopped at the stairs and stared.

The ballroom was a swirl of colors and masks. Various costume, king, beast, clowns, and many others. Each swirl of a gown made it seem like a mad ride on a merry go round.

Erik laughed and pulled me down the stairs. I couldn't help but stare at the seas of people all around. Raoul and his parents stared at us as Erik waltzed me around the floor. I hadn't realized we were dancing. We'd just been pulled into the mad merriment of the splendor. Raoul didn't have a pleasant expression on his face.

I smiled at Erik and he actually smiled back. "Having fun?" I asked.

"For the first time in twenty years."

"I'm glad."

Erik was a marvelous dancer. It was like floating on a cloud, but all too soon the music ended and Erik tugged me over to a group of two women and a man. I immediately recognized two as Mr. and Mrs. Firmin.

"Monsieur Firmin." He said, extending him a note. "Mr. Y said he would like you to put Miss Daae his production of Don Juan." I gaped at him. "With her playing Amanita."

"What!" the other woman shrieked. I noted how when she shrieked everything grew silent. "I'm playing the role of Amanita!"

"You were, la Carlotta." Erik said. "But Mr. y says Miss Daae has the youth and he prefers her to you."

"Damn that Mr. Y.!" she shrieked. "I'm a great artist."

"Whom Mr. Y. said should have been buried years ago!" Everyone gasped at that remark. Carlotta went to slap him, but Erik caught her wrist. "I wouldn't hit his messenger, it won't go well for you."

"La Carlotta," I stammered. "I honestly had no idea."

"You!" she spat. "You little toad!" I grew anger but held my tongue. "What makes you think a chit of a girl like you can sing better than me?"

"Shall we put that to the test?" Erik baited her.

"I accept!" she spat.

"How about you both singing the same song?" Erik suggested pulling the music from his coat. "Therefore allowing the audience a clean opinion of who's the better singer?"

"I agree." She said.

Erik took my elbow and moved me towards the piano. "What are you doing?"

"You're making your debut." He said giving me a glare. "Now, don't give her any reason to prove that you are a toad!"

I glanced at the music. "Masquerade?" I asked.

He smirked. "I planned it."

"You devil."

He sobered. "That I am, angel."

I froze. "Erik. I didn't mean it like that."

He immediately began playing the intro. I straightened and prepared myself. This was for Erik.

Masquerade! Paper faces on parade. Masquerade! Hide your face, so the world will never find you! Masquerade! Every face a different shade. Masquerade! Look around -there's another mask behind you!

I pointed at the audience and everyone glanced around. The drummer picked up the beat and I felt the adrenaline in the room pick up. I strutted around on stage swirling my gown.

Flash of mauve. Splash of puce. . Fool and king. Ghoul and goose. Green and black. Queen and priest. Trace of rouge. Face of beast. Faces. Take your turn; take a ride on the merry-go-round in an inhuman race. Eye of gold. Thigh of blue. True is false. Who is who? Curl of lip. Swirl of gown. Ace of hearts. Face of clown. Face. .Drink it in, drink it up, till you've drowned in the light in the sound . But who can name the face?

The audience applauded me halfway, Masquerade! Grinning yellows ,spinning reds. Masquerade! Take your fill -let the spectacle astound you! Masquerade! Burning glances, turning head. Masquerade! Stop and stare at the sea of smiles around you!
Masquerade! Seething shadows breathing lies. Masquerade! You can fool any friend whoever knew you! Masquerade! Leering satyrs ,peering eyes. Masquerade! Run and hide but a face will still pursue you!

Erik ended the song and I took many curtsies as the audience cheered and applauded me. I took Erik's hand and curtsied, acknowledging him. Everyone applauded him as well. I alone could see the emotion running through Erik's eyes.

His eyes scanned the room, he leaned over and hissed. "Here comes Carlotta."

She snatched the paper from my hands. "Ha! You call this gibberish art? Music? Ha!" she studied the music. "Impossible! No one can sing those notes!"

"Christine just did," he said. "Ready Madame?"

Erik launched into the song and when Madame Carlotta sang, masquerade. The whole world stopped and stared at her. Raoul whispered, "I guess she really can't sing anymore."

Carlotta didn't notice as she carried on through the song. It was unbearable, she stressed notes that weren't stressed and she had taken all the fun out of the song. I groaned and turned to Raoul; "I can't bear this."

"I'll get you some punch."

I nodded and focused on Erik. His expression was so painful I laughed softly. My mistake. For in moments, the entire opera house was laughing at Carlotta. Her face grew sour, then red and she fled from the stage.

Erik stood up from the piano, he took me by the arm, "well, how does it feel to be the next leading lady?"

I stared, "I can't believe it."

"Believe it." he said. "I've been waiting for years for someone to come and sing the songs right. You're perfect for my play."

"But Erik, I don't like stealing roles."

"Stealing?" he frowned. "I gave it to you!"

"Yes! By humiliating Carlotta!"

"You my dear did that!" he said. "I saw you start the chain of laughter!"

"I did not!"

"You did so!" he said. "I was watching you."

"I was laughing at you! Not at her!"

I winced, as Erik's expression grew dark. "Me!"

"You looked…so peculiar as she sang that I couldn't help laughing."

"I'm glad to see my anguish amuses you!"

"Oh Erik, it wasn't that bad!"

"Wasn't it?" he snapped. "Do you know how it feels to hear someone shred a masterpiece Christine? Would you destroy a painting by Leonardo da vinci? Would you burn a sonata by Mozart?" I stared at him. "My art work is my paintings, I won't let anyone destroy them."

He stalked off with a huff. I grabbed my skirts and made my way through the mad crowd to a balcony.

I exhaled and leaned against the rail. A handkerchief was clapped over my nose and I struggled not the breath in the sickly smell.

As my vision blurred I heard a voice say, "hello Christine." That was all heard as the world went black.