Phantom Resurrected Chapter Eight

Desiree sat alone on the couch, frowning. Erik glanced over his shoulder at her, while she was fixing some medicine for her. She caught him looking and turned away, wrapping his cloak tighter around her. He could almost feel the anger pouring off of her. Sighing, he knew he couldn't blame her. Erik put a cork on the small vial of herbs, sweetened with honey, picked up a cup of water for her and a glass of whine for himself and brought it over to her.

"Here." He said handing over the vial. "This is an herbal formula which will calm your nerves." She reached for the vial in his hand, very defensively. "It's not poison." he assured her. "I have no reason to harm you." Then she opened the vial and drank it quickly. She made a sour face and snatched Erik's glass of whine and emptied it into her mouth.

"Now that will calm my nerves." She corrected with a smile. "So why am I here?" she asked.

Erik took a seat next to her and straightened in himself. "That I'm not too sure about myself. Desiree, do you believe in a person having a past life? That people might have lived, before they actually lived, but do not remember it?"

"Yeah I thought that stuff was possible."

"Well your mother and I have in a way both discovered her past lives, but you must be here because you have a past life that you don't remember." He explained.

"So what was Christine's past life?" Dessy asked, holding the cup of water in her hands.

"She was an opera singer much like she is in her present life."

"Did you love my mother?"

Erik turned to face her. She was an adult but like a child. She looked filled with wonder and amazement, but the scars of reality shown in her eyes. Could he even confess to her how much he loved her mother? How much he worshiped and adored her, and how he would sacrifice his own damned life for only a moment of her happiness. He sighed in his longing for Christine. Yes he had already decided that Desiree deserved to know the entire truth.

"Yes, I love your mother, Desiree. I always have and I always will."

"I thought so." She muttered. Exhaustion seemed to weigh down her voice. Her head started to nod back and forth until she set in back on the couch and slid it near his shoulder. "Erik, did you ever know about me?"

"No, I never did until yesterday in the theater."

"You mean about 100 years from yesterday, or something like that." She yawned.

"Once I returned you to the surface, you'll understand everything I say is true." He looked up to see Christine enter the room.

She was dressed in a tasteful travel dress of light blue green. Her hair was pinned up in a coil of braids and buns. If only he had the courage to go to her, kiss and embrace her, like any normal man. Like a true husband would.

"Do I look all right?" she asked

"Perfect." He whispered

"Swell mom." Desiree mumbled.

Erik turned to her, watching her eyelids slowly close. He gently shook her. "We need to get you dressed. You too are going to have to go up with your mother."

"Why? Go up where? Can't I just stay here and take a nap?"

"No I'm afraid not. We need toget you into more...feminine attire." Erik stated

Desiree rolled her eyes and groaned

Jacob Danvers stood up in Box Five where he could have a perfect view of the stage and the auditorium. He could see the housekeepers across from him, tending to the other boxes and the seats in the stalls. He turned his gaze down to the stage, watching a set of workers raised up a piece of scenery and the young ballet dancers practice in another corner. Box Five had such a magnificent view of the stage. It was a damn shame he couldn't sell it for a performance. Everyone stilled believed the Phantom haunted it. He still couldn't believe people still believed in those stories. Even his partner, Matthews seemed obsessed with the whole thing.

He insisted that Erik Destler, the elusive Phantom character responsible the murders of La Carlotta, and Jacob's cousin Richard so many years ago were still alive. Waiting to come back and wreak havoc upon them. Jacob had dismissed the idea entirely. He had Matthews had been forced to take over the management of the opera house after his cousin Richard, who he knew was killed in an accident, died and when Matthews' close friend, Barton had quit. They where both still very young, and while Jacob took on the task of making sure the opera prospered under his management,

Matthews had treated his duties as a bore. Until he discovered the social statues he had, then he used his position to attract hoards of women

While he was still young, and didn't actually approve of his partner's actions or behavior, he couldn't help feeling a little jealous. Mainly because of all the hours he had put into his job, he had never had time for a serious relationship. He leaned over the railing in the box and sighed.

"Besides, who would want to marry me?' he thought out loud.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door, and one of his assistants rushed in.

"Sir, I'm glad I found you. You won't believe who just walked in the door." He said breathlessly.

"Let me guess, her Majesty?" Jacob replied dryly.

"No sir, it's Christine Day, the singer who we thought died. She's come back from America! She's out in the lobby right now." J

acob followed the young man, and pondered of this news. In a way it was both a blessing and a curse. If Miss Day had returned, it would certainly be for the benefit of the company if she decided to sing a contract with them. Of course that would mean Jacob doing all the work and Matthews most likely getting all the glory, as usual. On his way down he met his partner,

Harrison Matthews in the foyer. He was dressed in a flamboyant white suit and had a wide smile on his face; apparently he had already heard the news.

"Oh my good friend Jacob, there you are! Have you heard?" he exclaimed

"Yes, Harry I already know."

"Christine Day in her triumphant return as diva of the London Opera House. Can you imagine the publicity we'll get? We must sign her up." Harry explained moving his arms about.

"No, Matthews we must ask her it she wants to sign with us, then we must draw up a contract."

Matthews put a hand on Jacob's shoulder. "Oh just listen to yourself Jake, Bloody hell listen to yourself. We be fools not to sign her on the instant we meet her."

The two walked into the lobby full of light form the oddly sunny London afternoon. Immediately, Jacob could spot the American singer. It had been almost 20 years since the singer had appeared on stage, but even in her late 30's she kept her age well. Her dark eyes sparkled still and her black hair didn't show any signs of gray. Jacob had seen many pictures of Miss Day from programs filed in the company archives. There was also another young women standing next to Miss Day dressed in a plain cream blouse and a long brown skirt. He couldn't recognize her. While Matthews proceed to impress Miss Day with his annoying charms, Jacob tried to get a better glimpse of the mysterious young lady.

"Ah, Miss Day it is such a pleasure to see you returned to us. When you disappeared all those years ago, we at the opera didn't know what to think." Matthews gallantly kissed the older singers' gloved hand.

"Well sir, I'm sure you were just a school boy when that all happened. I was fine. I had to go away to American for a.family emergency." She explained.

" That's all understandable. My partner, Mr. Danvers and I are hoping that your visit here means that you interested in singing in our company."

The singer smiled. "Now that you were so forward and mentioning it Mr. Matthews yes, I was opening to audition for the company."

"Audition! Why we wouldn't dream of forcing you to go through that dreadful process. We will draw up a contract right away. Jacob, do you think you can handle that?"

Jacob shot an annoyed glance at Harrison. "Yes I think I can mange that." He whispered with an icy tone in his voice, and then he turned to Christine. "Forgive me for, Miss Day, but you have failed to introduce your young companion." He pointed out.

Christine gave a small laugh. "So I have, pardon me. This is my niece, Desiree. Demeters." The young woman by Christine's side who had seemed to be daydreaming until her name was spoken. She then lifted her head to look at Jacob straight in the eyes. He had to restrain himself form letting out a gasp in complete wonder and surprise. This girl standing before him was undoubtedly the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

Her medium length hair, full of texture was the color of fine brandy interfused with reds and browns. Her eyes looked as if their color were made of the earth's richest soil and her skin of the palest desert sand. Even the small cut on her right check, did not seem to alter her beauty. She broke her gaze with him and started to look around nervously. Jacob reached for her hand

"Miss Demeters, I'm honored to make your acquaintance." He said kissing her figures gently. "Do you work in opera as well?"

"I did a little work back in the States." She replied.

"Well if you wish, we have many opportunities in our company for assistants. That is if you are interested."
She looked up at him again and smiled. "Yes I think I would enjoy the chance to work here very much." She said

Matthews gave an impatience grunted behind him. "Miss Day, if there is anyway we at the opera company can help you, let us know?" turning attention back to Christine

"I do need some one to help me find lodging for my stay. I do have cash to pay up in front."

"I'll get my personal lawyer on the job this afternoon. He'll have you settled into a nice home before this evening. And Jake wasn't there something you were suppose to be doing?" he asked cynically
Jacob forced a smile on his face. "Yes, the contract." He answered in the most cheery voice he could muster.

Jacob tore down the hallway, glad to be out of his stuffy office, glad to be finally done with Christine Day's contract. Now he could have time to find out more about the mysterious, yet beautiful Miss Demeters. He had hurried to get her a job within the opera, and hadn't spent much time or attention to her. Isaac the chorus master had been begging Jacob for week to hire an assistant for him, to help him with passing out scores and managing all the music on file. Discovering that Desiree was qualified for the job, he immediately put her to the task. What a fool he had been tossing her into a job like she was nothing but a piece of trash. That moved had probably lost him all respect in her eyes. Which is why he was desperate to make it up to her. There was still time left, time enough for dinner.

He turned down the corridor and ran right into someone, someone holding a lot of music in his or her hands. They both fell to the floor and the massive amounts of sheet music rained down on them. Frantic, Jacob reached for the papers.

"Please forgive me. I'm so sorry." He said grabbing for a large manuscript, just at the same time another slender female hand reached for it as well. He looked up to see whose hands this was and was delighted and shocked to look into the bright eyes of Desiree Demeters."Oh God, Miss Demeters! I'm so very, very sorry. I didn't see you there."

She smiled and stood up. "That's all right, Mr. Danvers. You already apologized once." She stated, letting him gather up the rest of the music on the floor.

"Yes but I didn't know it was you." He said handling her the music

"Well if you would excuse me, I do have to get this work done before I leave tonight." She started to walk away.

"No wait." He put a hand on her shoulder. She turned to him with a causal look on her face. Jacob gestured the nearby door of Box Five. "If you have sometime I would like to show you something." He opened the door. She sighed and he couldn't tell if she did it to tease or to express that she was bored. They both walked into the box. "This is my favorite place in the whole opera. Sometimes I come up here to think or work, or just relax and be alone." He said spreading his hands wide open.

She leaned against the railing, and looked around. "The view here is breath taking."

"Yes it is." He walked toward her and took a seat behind where she was standing. "It's shame that I can't get the box office or the public to think the same." He noted

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean I can never sell this box. Not to anyone."

She turned to him and laughed. "Are you joking? This is the best seat in the house."

"The best haunted seat, that is."

Desiree cocked an eyebrow " You English are very superstitious if you don't mine me saying so."

"It's not me I assure you, but everyone else in this company and our subscribers believe this box is haunted. Something about a Phantom." She walked behind his seat. "My partner Matthews is obsessed with the whole idea. He thinks there was some man, by the name of Erik Destler, who roamed the catacombs of the opera. He sat in this box and demanded money from the previous managers. Till this day, Matthews still won't sell the 'ghost's box'. He says if we sell it we are all dead men." He paused "But forgive me for frightening you with all these stupid ghost stories."

"No" she echoed in a hallow voice.

"Well then you must be bored and I'm keeping you from your work."

"No please go on."

"We haven't heard from the ghost in all most twenty years. Most people think he is dead, but around here legends never seem to die." He turned around in the high armchair to look at her. "But we are sensible people Miss Demeters. We don't believe in those things do we?"
But she wasn't there anymore. Desiree had seemed to vanish into thin air.