Chapter 5: First Lessons
Caroline walked through Paris' nightclub section. It looked different during the day, not so shady or evil. The nightclubs looked normal in the sunlight, the Moulin Rouge resembling an average windmill. She normally didn't walk through this district during the day because she thought the area would look as dismal and gaudy during the day as it did at night to Caroline. She walked up to the stage door of Le Cirque Boheme and slipped in.
She went to turn on the stage lights. The stage manager had taught all the girls how to work everything just in case his boys couldn't make it. Caroline uncovered the piano that was on the stage and folded the cover up. Lastly, she opened the bar to get two glasses of water. Caroline finished her set-up and sat on the stage to wart for Guilliame.
The door opened and closed. Caroline held her breath, hoping it was Guilliame and not any of the crew. Footsteps sounded through the hallways, devoid of any other sound. Caroline looked up and breathed a sigh of relief to see the masked man. "I hope you haven't been waiting long, Caroline," Guilliame said.
"No, not at all," she replied. "Ready?"
Guilliame sat down at the piano and made sure it was in tune. "Don't worry about the piano. Monsieur Myrcel has it checked every month. It was last checked last week," Caroline explained.
"Can never be cautious," was all Guilliame said in response. He began to play an eerie song that sent chills down Caroline's back but filled her soul with excitement. She waited until the song was over to speak.
"That was beautiful. What was it?" Caroline asked, breathless.
"That was a musical composition my guardian wrote for his pupil. She left him before he could write the words and have her sing it," Guilliame said. Caroline fell silent.
"Are you ready?" he asked her. Caroline nodded as Guilliame had her start a scale. They progressed on, moving to short singing exercises and then on to longer songs. No words were spoken between student and mentor as the lesson continued on. Caroline had many questions to ask the masked man, but decided not to. They were still too unfamiliar with each other to share personal information.
A few days later, Guilliame ended the lesson about an hour before the crew would normally show up. "That's enough. We don't want to stress your voice before the show," he said.
Caroline said. "Do you want to stay for tonight's performance?"
Guilliame shook his head. "I saw yesterday's and it was the same as the first time as I saw you. Besides, I'm needed at the Opera House."
Caroline smiled. "To scare the little ballerinas?" she asked.
"Yeah, and the managers. Depending on my mood," Guilliame said.
Caroline shook her head. "You aren't the pranking type," she said.
"Guilty. Alright, I don't scare the Ballet Chorus or the managers. Just the occasional spooking of Meg Giry. It's a matter of life or death with my mentor," Guilliame said.
The two were at Caroline's dressing room. "Come in." she invited. The two opened the door and went inside. "Why is it a matter of life or death?" Caroline asked.
"Do you read the papers?" Guilliame asked.
"Yes, I do," Caroline replied.
"Well, remember the legend of the Opera Ghost?"
Caroline racked her brains. "Yes, I do. He killed two people—a member of the crew and the opera's leading tenor," she said.
"The Opera Ghost is my guardian. He's still alive, hiding from everyone. IF I were to give any hint he was still alive, a riotous mob would start up again to kill him for Buquet's and Piangi's deaths. Then I would be all alone and left with just my guilt," Guilliame said.
"But I'm sure people have forgotten. I mean , it's been over a year since Piangi's. Who remembers that far back?"
"La Carlotta," Guilliame replied.
"La Carlotta? The former Prima Donna of L'Opera Populaire?"
Guilliame nodded. "She was Piangi's lover," he explained. "She still wants blood. Erik's blood."
Caroline went to her dressing room's dresser. Opening the bottom right draw, Caroline pulled out a whole bunch of papers tied with string. "I save any article about the Opera," she said, flipping through the papers. She came to a more recent edition of the paper. "La Carlotta to leave Paris," she read. "The date is last month. She's returning to Spain," Caroline said.
"I thought she was Italian," Guilliame said.
"No, according to this, she only spoke Italian because of Piangi," Caroline said. "Common misconception, though. I think it is safe to terrorize the Opera House again. And if worse comes to worse, masquerade as the ghost of the Opera Ghost."
The next week's lessons went smoothly as both pupil and teacher continued to open up to one another. Neither told the other deepest secrets—but Caroline did mention Carly's betrayal without mentioning any other names. "And so she just blabs it all out, even though I told her I wasn't even supposed to tell her. And then my friends start trying to control my life. I am independent. I can make my own decisions and I will see whomever I wish to see," Caroline declared, pacing the stage.
Guilliame followed each of her movements with his green eyes. "They're obviously trying to protect you," he said. Caroline threw him an exasperated look.
"Great! Even you are taking their side," she sighed.
"I am taking no one's side, Caroline," Guilliame said in his defense. "But apparently this man has hurt you before. As your friends, they don't want to see you get hurt again."
Caroline sighed. "I guess you're right. It's just that I hate it when people try to control my life and tell me what to do. Do you know what that feels like?" Caroline asked. Guilliame was silent. "No," Caroline answered for him, coldly, "I guess not then."
Guilliame slammed his hands down on the piano, startling the woman. He faced her, anger flashing in his eyes. To Caroline, he seemed to have grown several feet taller than her rather than his usual several inches. She was shocked by his sudden transformation. "Don't," he said, in a tone that would freeze the water in the glass next ot him, "ever answer for me. And don't say I don't know what it feels like to be ordered around or have my decisions made for me. You don't know my step-father." The two stood there, fire dancing in his green eyes and her blue ones drowning in fear.
The moment was broken by Caroline's sob. The sound shattered the cold tension in the room and especially startled Guilliame. He had expected a rebuke, maybe an argument, but not tears. Yet there she was, crying her heart out. Guilliame made a move to comfort her, but she recoiled and ran to her dressing room. After a moment's hesitation, Guilliame decided to go after her.
He found Caroline sniffing on the outer window ledge of her dressing room. "Caroline?" he asked.
"Oh dear God! Don't come in here, I look a fright!" Caroline exclaimed wiping away tears with the side of her hand.
"Here," Guilliame whispered, offering her his handkerchief.
"Thanks," she replied.
"I'm sorry," Guilliame began, but Caroline cut him off with a wave of her hand.
"Don't be. It's my fault. I shouldn't have made assumptions since I've only known you for a week. I guess your stepfather was just as bad as my grandmother," Caroline apologized.
"I guess," Guilliame agreed.
"I can't believe I started crying. I normally don't do that," Caroline said.
"Well, you surprised me as well," Guilliame said.
Caroline smiled and looked at the clock nearby. "You better go. The crew will get here soon and I need to freshen up. Can't let the girls think I was crying over him, can I?" Guilliame agreed and took his leave.
Caroline closed her door and took out a small picture frame. Inside was a photo of her grandmother, who raised Caroline after her parents died in a boating accident. Caroline took out the small newspaper clip she had about her parents' deaths. Her grandmother had save it for her granddaughter to read. It also provided Caroline with the only picture of her parents since her mother's side of the family decided that since her paternal grandmother got custody of Caroline, they would get custody of the couple's possessions. Only a few of Caroline's father's possessions were returned and given to Caroline as a keepsake, as well as the jewelry her mother was wearing when she died. The police had given it to the first family member that showed up—Caroline's uncle Max. Max was married to Caroline's aunt Veronique, but had always been like a brother to her father.
Uncle Max was the one who noticed Caroline's talent and potential. Her aunt even helped foster it—all under the guidance of her mother. Caroline's grandmother thought it would help foster cultured in her granddaughter, but refused to let Caroline sing professionally. Caroline's future was the constant fight-between Caroline and her grandmother, between Max and his mother-in-law, and her paternal family and her maternal family. Everyone had a say in her future, except Caroline herself. Her grandmother wanted her to marry well and had already decided Caroline's future husband. He was a member of an upper middle class family and a total bore, not to mention a complete idiot. Her other family had also decided her future husband for her. This time Caroline was to marry the son of a French admiral, who was also seeking a naval career of his own. He wasn't as boring as the suitor her grandmother had picked out, but was very controlling. Caroline was never included in any of their conversations; he became her ideas and opinions for her.
Of course, the problem was which one Caroline would marry: the boring idiot or the controlling jerk. In her and Veronique's opinion, there wasn't much of a choice. It looked like Caroline's future was going to be bleak. Then, fate smiled on the poor girl. Her grandmother unfortunately passed away. Caroline grieved for her main caregiver, but rejoiced in losing the force of pressure to marry Monsieur Boring Idiot. The glorious moment of Caroline's life thus far came at the reading of her grandmother's will. In her will, Caroline's affairs were left up to her. Upon hearing that, Caroline sent a grateful look to her uncle, who added the clause into the will. Caroline promptly ended both engagements and headed to Paris to live out her dreams.
Now, here she was at a nightclub as a performer. Her grandmother would surely die of shock if she saw Caroline. Caroline put the photographs and newspaper articles away and took a good look at herself in the mirror. She didn't look too bad. Some make-up would cover the face she had been crying earlier and all her hair need was for a brush to run through it. She heard doors open and close as well as Olga singing in her native tongue. It was a song Caroline knew as well and found herself singing it in French. An English version son followed as well as an Italian version. A soft Spanish voice soon graced the hallway as another French voice joined Caroline. Lastly, a Gaelic version completed the song as all the girls arrived. Caroline knew Tymara wouldn't know the Swahali for the song they just sang.
A knock came at Caroline's door. She opened it to reveal Carly, not yet ready for the night's performance. "Hello, Caroline, how was your lesson?" Carly asked. Caroline had forgotten completely about how she told Carly about Guilliame. She then realized no one else knew.
"It was an interesting one," Caroline said.
"Were you napping?" Carly asked.
Caroline realized her appearance would give the impression she had been. "Yes, yes I was," she agreed.
"Well, then you better freshen up. Can't go out on stage looking like that, can you?" Carly said good-naturedly. Caroline agreed.
Adair came bouncing into the dressing room. "Good evening lasses, or top o'the morning to you Caroline. Were you napping?" the Irish girl asked.
"Yes, yes I was," Caroline said again.
"Raoul been keeping you up late at night again?" Adair asked.
"No," Caroline replied. "I haven't seen him for awhile."
Carly sniggered. "Christine probably isn't letting him out," she remarked. The three got a good laugh.
"You guys have accepted me and Raoul?" Caroline asked.
Carly and Adair looked at each other. "Yeah, we've accepted it. We still think you are loca, though," Carly said.
Caroline smiled. "I never asked for you to be happy with it," Caroline said, getting smiles from her two friends.
Adair turned to leave the room. "Our last night of this performance," she said.
"We're changing the show?" Carly asked.
"It's been a month. The nightclub is going to be closed for a week while we get everything ready. Rehearsals begin tomorrow," Adair said. Carly gave Caroline a look and headed down to her dressing room. Caroline smiled; she knew that look all to well. It was Carly's "I hate it when Myrcel changes the show" look. Caroline finished getting read and then realize something important: she was going to have to rearrange her and Guilliame's singing lessons.
AN: Thanks to all who reviewed! I know that I'm not so forceful about reviews but they are like little shots of self-esteem boosters. Not that I have low self-esteem, but they still have the same effects! Thanks. Mac