Chapter Eleven
After living with Erik for nearly three weeks, I decided that it was time for me to see more of Erik's world. I knew he would probably not even protest, not after the peculiarly happy mood he'd been in the last couple of days. I myself felt as though everything in my life was finally coming together. I had a man who cared for me, a home I knew was gorgeous, even if I could not see it, and I had my faith that God would see Erik and I through any troubles we might face. Life was an ultimate good.
It didn't take long for me to convince Erik that a walk around the Opera house would be a wonderful excursion for the two of us. He was slightly hesitant, but his "fears', if they could be called that, didn't last long. Erik carefully helped into a small boat- a gondola, he called it- and we set off across the underground lake.
As we traveled, I noticed by the echoes I was hearing that we must have been in a tunnel.
"Very observant," said Erik as I voiced my discovery. "Yes, this tunnel leads directly to one of the dressing rooms upstairs. We should be there shortly." And he was right- within just a few minutes the gondola was docked and we were traveling up a ramp to the dressing room within the Opera.
"Wait here a moment," requested Erik. He gently pressed me to the wall and walked away. A few moments later, he returned. "It's been left alone, as I requested. There's no one there; we can go in."
I heard a soft "whoosh" and before I knew what was happening, I was no longer walking on uneven rock, but on a plush carpet!
"Where are we?" I queried softly.
"The dressing room of the Opera's former star, before the fire… a Miss Christine Daae." His voice trailed off, sounding slightly sad.
"Who was she?" I asked innocently. There was no reply. "…Erik?"
He cupped my cheek in his hand. "She's no one that you need to worry about. She's long gone from here, most likely never to return. Don't concern yourself with thinking of her."
"But Erik, I thought you said the Opera burned down… how is this still her room, then?"
"The dormitories were unscathed, it was the main building that was destroyed."
I nodded my head slowly. "Why won't you tell me about Christine, then? What is her story?"
Erik's hand flinched and left my face. "I told you, don't worry about her. Come, let's see more of the Opera… there's nothing of interest in here."
Bewildered by Erik's sudden closure toward me, I grasped his hand and slowly exited the room with him.
Jeanette's questions unnerved me. I didn't want her to know about Christine, especially not now. Not when my life was finally as I wanted it to be, or nearly so. I knew that my sudden quiet was disturbing Jeanette, so I told her in a cautious whisper that we must not be found here in the Opera. She nodded without questioning me, seemingly content to follow wherever I was leading her.
I brought Jeanette into the grand auditorium. It was roughly the same size and make as the original had been, but with more box seats this time. I noted with some amusement that Box 5 was desolate and empty, not richly decorated as every other box was. No doubt the managers of the Opera, Richard Firmin and Gilles Andre, had decided that absolutely no one was to purchase the box of the Opera Ghost. With a slight smile, I led Jeanette past the rows of gilt chairs to the stage. I assisted her with climbing the stairs- she had no way of knowing how tall each step was- and brought her to stand at the center of the stage.
"We're here," I said gently. Jeanette smiled.
"And where is 'here', precisely?"
"You, my dear, are on stage… the prima donna of the Opera Populaire." How I had once longed to see Christine accept that role… shaking my head slightly, I turned back to face Jeanette, and began to sing…
You have come here
In pursuit of your deepest urge
In pursuit of that wish, which 'til now,
Has been silent… silent…
I have brought you
For one purpose and one alone!
Since the moment I first heard you sing,
I have needed you with me, to serve me, to sing
For my music… my music…
Jeanette closed her eyes and listened with rapture to my powerful, yet gentle voice as I sang.
Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation…
Darkness stirs, and wakes imagination…
Silently the senses abandon their defenses!
Jeanette hummed along, knowing the song by heart, as I had been working furiously on it for the last several days. She picked up and sang the next verse along with me.
Slowly, gently, night unfurls its splendor!
Grasp it, sense it… tremulous and tender!
Turn your face away from the garish light of day!
Turn your thoughts away from cold unfeeling light…
And listen to the music of the night!
Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams!
Purge your thoughts of the life you knew before!
Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar!!
And you'll live as you've never lived before!
I stopped singing to listen as Jeanette's tremulous, yet beautiful voice continued.
Softly, deftly, music shall caress you!
Hear it, feel it, secretly possess you!
Open up your mind,
Let your fantasies unwind!
In this darkness that you know you cannot fight…
The darkness of the music of the night!
Let your mind start a journey to a strange new world!
Leave all thoughts of the life you knew before!
Let your soul take you where you long to be!
My voice joined hers once more, and we sang together, lifting our voices to the heavens…
Only then can you belong to me…
Floating, falling, sweet intoxication…
Touch me, trust me, savor each sensation…
Let the dream begin! Let your darker side give in!
To the power of the music that I write…
The power of the music of the night!
I held Jeanette close to me as we finished the song together.
You alone can make my song take flight…
Help me make the music of the night!
Jeanette smiled and rested her head on my shoulder. I was about to praise her, to tell her once more how much I loved her, when I suddenly heard the distinct sound of someone clapping.
Slow, deliberately menacing claps.
"Bravo, Monsieur le Fantome…" said a low, eerie voice…
A/N: Please review!!! Things are about to get reeeeally interesting...