(A/N)
Okie dokie, did last chapter confuse anyone? A show of hands? Ah, I see a few. It will all come in due time, dear readers; though, I gave plenty of hints! I'll even name a few to help you out.
Firmin's drinking, 'loss of hope for innocence', and her shaking badly; help anyone? Still a little confused? As I've said before, due time. Then again, it makes me giggle how some couldn't get that very last hint I threw in there! I was sure the surprise would be blown by now!
But, apparently, the cat is still in the bag and hiding quite nicely, I presume. To those who are still a bit boggled, I encourage you to glance back at the last paragraphs of 'A Competition of Sorts' (the latter chapter) and think on them...think on them hard. Then again, I do realize that some of you on here are not familiar with slang terms and so I would be happy to oblige you via PM message if you still do not quite fully grasp it; this is, if you want to spoil my end surprise!
Chapter Ten: Poor Fool, She Makes Me Laugh!
-* "How do you know of that day? How do you know so many specifics of that day? You were never in contact with mother" I said breathlessly, Firmin remained silent. All of the signs pointed to one thing.
He had to have been there.
He had to have seen it.
I felt ill and the urge to vomit became overwhelming.
I backed away from Firmin, rushing out of his office and to the WC, clutching the powder blue collar close to me. I hadn't time to reach the chamber pot, so, the sink sufficed; and within moments my guts laid before me in the cold, while, porcelain sink. Disgracing my eyes with their disgusting colour. As I vomited again I felt my hair lifted from my shoulders, I glanced over to see the Opera Ghost, on hand holding my hair and in his other hand was a dripping rag.
-* He carried me out of the WC and to my bedroom after my vomiting fit ended, where he laid me down on my bed and stroked my hair as my eyelids drooped. He stood quietly and told me he had 'business to attend to'; with a pat to my head and a soft kiss to my hand he left, making sure to close the door tightly behind him. I closed my eyes and breathed calmly, slowly, images from my eighth birthday surfaced, my heart rate increased and my breathing became heavier, I could feel myself tossing from side to side as the images tormented me. Image after image after image! They came like punches, one after another, and they didn't stop until my eyes shot open and I screamed.
I sat up and looked around, finding that I was still in my room, but, the clock struck seven, seven o'clock in the evening. I stood and found that I was trembling, I sighed, I was in need of fresh air. I wrapped up in a black shawl and left my rooms, taking my time in climbing back up to the surface. When I reached the surface, however, I was grasped my several people, one including Abelia. "What in the devil is going on?"
I growled as I was pulled into a spare dressing room and sat down in a chair. "Abelia, what is going on?" I asked again as a few women servants ran around frantically behind me, Abelia said to them what my dress size was and I was pulled up from the chair and a few women hurried with me behind a dressing screen, taking off my clothes and helping me into the Countess costume! "What?" I whispered as the women hurried me out and to hair and make-up.
-* After I received a huge, white wig upon my head I was pushed out and ordered to go to the curtains as fast as my heels would allow me. Something was wrong, but what? As I walked to the stage Moncharmin rushed to me and grasped my shoulders "Persephone, do you know the lyrics to 'Poor Fool, He Makes Me Laugh'?" He asked in a frantic tone, I nodded to the best of my ability, he gave a sigh of relief "good, great! You know how to sing it, do you not?"
He asked quickly, again, I nodded. He clutched his chest where his heart was "we're saved then" he whispered under his breath, he turned to me and smiled, now, I heard the chatter of hundreds of people and I realized; we were putting on a show! We were going to perform IL Muto! As Moncharmin turned from me I called his name again "what's happened, Moncharmin? I don't know what's going on, they just pushed me into the room and dressed me like this, what madness ensued whilst I slept?"
I asked, grasping his hand, he sighed and smiled pitifully to me. "Firmin is...on holiday" Moncharmin said hesitantly, as if he was trying to choose his words carefully. "And La Carlotta refuses to perform with a broken nose, naturally, you were our next choice; because of your voice, I mean." Moncharmin said, straightening his bow tie and smiling "you're on in four moments, my dear, don't fret, you'll do wonderful!" Moncharmin said excitedly, then he whispered "I took up your side in the competition" he then winked and walked away, to tend to something else.
-* I was so anxious as I sat upon the pink fainting couch, fanning myself with a pink and feathered fan as three singers ran onto the stage whilst other singers behind me pretended to be dusting the set. I gulped and my hand shook, that is, until I glanced out into the crowd and saw that box five was occupied. By whom, I couldn't see, I assumed it was the Opera Ghost and relaxed a bit. Another singer, Jocelynn, sat beside me, she was in the silent page boy costume. Piangi played the part of the old Count, and, surprisingly it went...smooth.
My heart raced the entire time I sang, I tripped only once, but when I did, I was walking back to the fainting couch anyways; I hoped it looked intentional. There must have been a thousand people in the Paris Opera House's amphitheater that night! We made jokes upon the stage, just small jokes, Piangi said that he would happily take the maid with him to England and everyone laughed! I thought of a type of comeback and quickly said it, hiding my face with the fan from Piangi "the old fool is leaving" I said loudly and the crowd busted into laughter! I smiled and the applause spurred me on!
Throughout the song (and show itself) we all made little jokes on one another, and, after I sang, the crowd got to its feet and cheered! Some throwing flowers, some asking for an encore, and some yelling their praise! I had only been this happy once in my life, and it was when the Opera Ghost showed himself at La Carlotta's birthday party.
-* We all ran backstage after bowing to the crowd and Monsieur Moncharmin rushed to me, hugging me and lifting me off of the ground during this hug. We laughed and Moncharmin gave me even more praise! Moncharmin put me down again and two woman came to me, bearing one bouquet of roses each! One bouquet of roses had black lace tied around each stem, whilst the other bouquet had no lace, I smiled, I knew at least one of them was from my Opera Ghost!
Wait a moment...my Opera Ghost?
I just claimed him as mine...
He was mine!...Wasn't he?
I changed back into my dress and took up both bouquets and sang the laughing part of 'Poor Fool He Makes Me Laugh' as I walked down to my rooms. But, as I was walking I heard an extra set of footsteps, and these were not like the Opera Ghost's quick step, nor clumsy and slow, these were stealthy steps; as if the person was trying to stay hidden from my view. My anxiety rose a bit, but I continued singing, trying to calm my nerves and convince myself that it was nothing; I finally reached my room and hurried inside, locking the door afterwards.
-* I didn't hear anything for a while, that is, until I began to sing again, after a short bath. I smiled and giggled "Opera Ghost, I know that's you, you can stop hiding now!" I called, smiling and making myself a cup of tea. There was no reply, I smiled "Opera Ghost, come now! You're just trying to frighten me-" I was stopped dead in my tracks by a man, he stepped out from behind a purple curtain that sat beside the brown, plush couch.
He wore a dark, navy blue evening suit and a dark, navy blue top hat with a bow tie to match. He held a bouquet of pink, Juliet Roses! He was a brunette with warm, hazel eyes; he was clean shaven and had an element of attractiveness to him. His cheeks were flushed a slight pink and he glanced up at me a few times as he bit his lip, he was embarrassed! Then again, he was hiding in my room!
"I'm sorry, mademoiselle, I-I'm sorry for intruding upon you, b-but, I saw your performance a-and.." he sighed "and, I felt I needed to g-give these to you myself" the man smiled and held out the bouquet to me. I was stunned, not just by the intrusion, but by the flowers! Juliet Roses don't even sell in flower shops! They're worth three million pounds a bouquet!
"Wow" I whispered, I stepped towards him and he straightened up, holding his top hat close to his chest. "Thank you...I...I don't know what to say" I added, taking up the bouquet, the man smiled proudly and took up my hand in his, falling down to one knee and kissing the top of my hand.
"My name is William, William Alexander, nephew of Count Raoul de Chagny." He said, kissing my hand a few times more. I smiled.
"My name is Persephone, Persephone Kardine, niece of Andre Firmin" I introduced myself, William smiled, his eyes shined in the candle light.
"Persephone...what an elegant name" he said, I smiled and felt my cheeks begin to pinken.
"My mother gave me that name"
"Did she also give you your heavenly voice, mademoiselle?" William asked, standing and helping me over to the couch.
"You flatter me, monsieur"
"I only speak the truth, mademoiselle"
"It is flattery-"
"It is truth" William interrupted, holding my cheek and smiling, showing off teeth as white as a fluffy cloud on a warm, spring day. I quickly snapped out of whatever I had gone into and cleared my throat, standing.
"Thank you, monsieur, truly. You didn't have to get those for me, but, now monsieur, I must rest. It has been a very trying day, to say the least. Here, take the lantern, I know my way around now, again, thank you, monsieur." I said, hurrying to the lantern, William stood and followed me; he stood very close to me as I turned with the lantern, he leaned close to me and I hurried away from him, to the door and opened it, holding out the lantern.
"Again, thank you, monsieur. But, I need rest" I said, more stern this time, William nodded and took up the lantern.
"Good night, mademoiselle, sleep well" he said before leaving.
"Good night, monsieur, I will, thank you"
-* After William left, I felt strange. I felt as if in some way I had betrayed my Opera Ghost, but...I didn't...did I? No! No, I didn't! William was only a passer-by, an infatuated fan, a pretty face.
Monsieur Opera Ghost was the real deal, the one who really cared for me. Monsieur William only wanted a fling, Monsieur Opera Ghost wanted a relationship...or...did he? I sighed, I was weary and I do not think correctly when I'm weary. I blew out the candles in my living area and wandered into my bedroom to find yet another bouquet of roses with black lace tied around the stem laying on my pillow, as they had been before. I smiled and fell into bed, wrapping my arms around the roses and sniffing them, I sighed and grinned, they were the most beautiful thing I had ever smelt!
"Goodnight, Opera Ghost, you will forever be in my heart...and my dreams" I said, placing the bouquet of roses beside the bed and blowing out a candle, curling into a ball and closing my eyes. Then, I felt a hand and then an arm lay over my side, and a soft voice whisper:
"And you are forever in mine"