Bittersweet Chapter 29: Strange events
Stefano's PoV
I walk quickly through the Palais Garnier, heading for Celia's room. The prima ballerina Meghan Giry warned Berenger, Rosalie, Angelique, Victoria and me that our dear friend was attacked by a stagehand last night and I'm really worried about her. I sigh, thinking of our difficult relationship. Celia is an amazing friend and I truly love her, just not in the way she wished of me. Part of me still feels guilty of breaking her heart but what was I to do? Lie to her? That would have hurt her even more and although I have plenty of flaws, I'm not cruel.
Just when I raise my hand to knock on the door of Celia's office, I hear a voice. My mouth drops, for it is the most beautiful male voice I have ever heard. Rich and warm…and strangely familiar. Where have I heard it before? It is not the voice of the male tenor of this opera house. Speaking of which, why isn't this man lead tenor? If his voice is so shockingly beautiful when he speaks, he could be the best tenor in Europe, the moment he sings. I listen again and raise an eyebrow when I hear Valere's name mentioned. Knowing Celia only tells friends about his tragic life, she and the owner of the voice must be close. I wonder curiously if she ever introduced me to him and search my memory for a man with such a remarkable voice. Suddenly I realize I've been eavesdropping and I knock on the door, my face colored in embarrassment. When I hear Celia's permission to enter, I curiously walk inside.
She is alone in the room.
Berenger's Pov
I pace around, deep in thought. As glad as I am that Celia is relatively well despite the attack, I've got the gut feeling something else is going on. As the quiet, observing member of the group of friends, I noticed Celia was apprehensive about telling me about her savior, as if she was hiding something. It does nothing to decrease my worries. Rosalinde, my wife, notices my unease. Just when she opens her mouth to ask what's troubling me, I voice my concerns.
"You saw that pig that attacked Celia once, didn't you? What did he look like?' She scrunches her face to try to remember.
"Big, burly. Tall as well. It's a good thing Celia was helped because really, she had no chance against that man. He's a giant, certainly compared to a petite woman like her."
"Do you remember the man who saved her?"
"That sweet foreign gentleman, you mean?" Her eyes widen in realization. "Celia told me he was the head of police in Persia. He must have learned some tricks here, or else he couldn't have won that fight. A man with an average amount of muscle and average height couldn't have won the fight from such a big and burly man by strength alone. Perhaps he had some help?"
"Could be. But we basically met everyone Celia talks to in the entire opera house. Surely she would have introduced us to her second savior?"
"Are you saying she deliberately hides the possible second man who might have saved her, from us? Berenger, do I even need to say it?'' She raises an eyebrow at me.
"I know, I'm being overprotective." As the eldest of the group, I have always tended to behave like a mother hen over a bunch of ducklings but I feel I've grown even worse since Valere's death.
"In all honesty, can you blame me? Everyone in our group of friends has been attacked, verbally and even physically, because we're the eccentrics of Paris, by people of all social classes, from beggars to Barons. We've already lost Valere because of it, your virtue is being questioned because of depicting nudity in your art, even though we married years ago and I'm even more worried about Celia, Angelique and Victoria. The three of them are more outspoken in either the suffragette movement, the desire to be an unmarried woman of science or to manage the opera house more thorough than any manager and if they're being attacked in whatever way by some idiot who feels threatened, there's no one to protect them for Stefano and I cannot always be there, should it be necessary. As much as I admire them, I know that not every Parisian citizen appreciates their boldness and all it takes is for one of them to get drunk and aggressive. That's exactly what happened last night."
"In that case, someone could learn Celia how to defend herself." My rant is interrupted by Victoria. Angelique, who nods approvingly to Victoria's statement, is standing behind her in the doorway.
"Victoria is right Berenger. You know Celia would never quit her job as long as she's able and allowed to do it. She wouldn't let her hard work go to waste and she loves the Populaire far too much," Angelique points out.
"Celia should be able to defend herself," Victoria adds. "Valere taught me a few defense tricks, I can always offer Celia to teach them to her?''
"It won't ease my worries completely but I guess it's the best solution for now," I reply
"Berenger, nothing eases your worries completely." Victoria rolls her eyes before winking at me.
Rosalinde sighs. "I'm less enthusiastic about this plan than you two are because its riskier but I'm afraid I know no other solution. We mustn't forget that in training Celia's fighting skills, there won't be just the problem of her lack of physical strength because of her gender, but also the fact that Celia is physically weaker than an average woman. We all know that how clumsy she is. I'm sure that a few fighting lessons are always helpful, if done discreet to avoid even worse rumors about her virtue and decency than there already are but do be cautious and not give her the hope that she, as a petite and physically vulnerable women can win in a fair fight against a man nearly twice her size in width and nearly half a meter* taller than her. Maybe, if she's lucky and appears to have natural talent she'll do some damage but any more than that isn't realistic."
"I guess you're right, Rosalinde. Caution could be helpful in this situation. However, we also mustn't forget that Celia isn't standing completely alone in this. She has us and even though we do not live at the opera, we can support her like she supports us. Also, she has friends and protectors in the Garnier. People helped her then and people will help her again," Angelique points out.
I immediately react to Angelique's use of the plural form. "So you believe as well more than one person rescued her?''
''Berenger…." Rosalinde scolds gently.
"Look, I know I'm overprotective and I fully admit it but I just think it's strange that a man of average build and an age of forty is able to fight a winning fight against a man half his age and twice his size, so I believe he has had some help. Second, Celia has introduced the entire opera house to us by now but yet she gives me the feeling she's hiding something, or rather someone, from us right now. If she wants to do so, I don't mind, don't get me wrong, I just think it's out of character for her."
"You're right. Well, I guess we'll find out in time. Perhaps monsieur Khan is really her only rescuer, perhaps not but no matter who helped her, I'm glad she was helped," Rosalinde ends the discussion.
At that moment, Stefano walks in and notices the looks on our faces. He raises an eyebrow.
"Have I missed something?"
"Stefano, have you noticed something strange lately? You're the one who knows the Garnier almost just as well as Celia."
"Other than the attack on her? Well, now you mentioned it, I heard the most beautiful male voice I've ever heard in her room this morning but when I entered, she was alone."
"You both look and sound like a mooning girl. Should Dominique be worried?"
I snort and even Stefano laughs. Victoria is right, normally the look of affectionate wonder on Stefano's face when describing that masculine voice is normally reserved for either music or Dominique.
"We just discussed the possibility that Celia was saved by two men, not one and she is so mysteriously silent about the identity of the second one it's out of character for her. Perhaps that voice belonged to a secret protector?" Angelique tells him.
"Yes, a man she masks in mystery," my wife adds.
As much as I love her, she does love those gothic romance novels too much. I have to admit though, that the Garnier, with all its beautiful halls and dark cellars, is the perfect location for such a story.
At her words though, Stefano pales in realization. Victoria suddenly look wary too and when Stefano exclaims he has to go back to the opera house to check something, she follows him, leaving the three of us behind in confusion.
Erik's PoV
I had been checking Celia's bandages when Stefano D'Evanchy knocked on her door. He entered after I had hidden behind the two way mirror that gives access to my lair and I try not to make audible noises to vent my annoyance. I wish I didn't have to hide.
When Celia smiles at Stefano my annoyance only grows. Thankfully, he leaves shortly after and I return to my lair.
In my walk back I realize that my annoyance isn't really for my faith as a deformed monster, it's irrationally and for the mere presence of Stefano. In all honesty, I can't resent him for anything: when I met him, he treated me with the same politeness as Celia did when we first met, when it comes to music, we discovered in our single conversation we shared similar views and even when it comes to Celia, I cannot blame him for anything. True, he hurt her because he didn't return her feelings but as far as I know, he never took advantage or abused her unfortunately love for him, nor did he ever lie to her. I pause in my musings.
Could I be jealous of Stefano because Celia was once in love with him? Because a part of her will always care for him, just like I will always care for Christine?
I shake my head, trying to physically remove my last thoughts. I guess I'm still busy to digest the events of last night. When I saw Mallhomme attacking Celia I felt an anger that surprises me, in hindsight. Sure, if the Giry's, or even any other woman was assaulted, I'd feel anger too but the last and before last night, only person I'd felt this possessive, hot-blooded anger for….was Christine. Also, when I was busy strangling Malhomme, the thought of losing Celia just like Christine over my temper, was the only thing that stopped me.
On top of that, when she sought comfort in me (of all people), confided her deepest insecurities and held me tight, I couldn't help but to notice the warm feelings I have in my heart for her.
But of what nature are those feelings? I'm not blind, I can see she's beautiful and the fact that she isn't aware of it, only increases her charm. Also, when I praised her in front of Nadir, I meant every word I said. I even dare say she's one of the few people on this Earth I trust. Sort of, at least. However, those simply could be the feelings of a love-starved man towards any showing of kindness.
The moment I tell myself this, I remember how I had looked at her when I was her date for the masquerade ball. Even her friend Victoria noticed it. I remember how I accidentally saw her in her sleeping dress once and no matter how embarrassed we both were, I did notice how beautiful she was. How beautiful I think she is, every time I see her. I remember how irrationally jealous I felt last night when she mentioned off-handedly she might have been married to the fop's brother in another life. I remember how jealous I feel now of the thought of her past feelings for Stefano.
I groan and put my head in my hands. Maybe I should I admit I have a weak spot in my heart for her. Heaven help me if that weak spot develops into something more, something deeper, for I'm sure that Celia would never feel anything else for me, other than friendship. Who would? I'm even surprised she's willing to be my friend.
Suddenly her words of last night come back to me: "I want a strong, intelligent man who truly loves me for me and understands my passion for music.'' Well, if there's one thing I understand, it is her passion for music. I know I'm not exactly dumb either and after all I've been through, I do consider myself strong in more ways than one….and wait a minute, what the hell am I thinking?
I really need to stop this train of thought.
*I use the European metric system. To the American readers: I picture Celia as 5.4ft (The French are generally not very tall) and Mallhomme as 6.4ft.
