Chapter 5: Celebration of a Successful Year
2 weeks later
There was activity in the opera house to celebrate the engagement of Isabelle Fleurs and Philippe DeVan.
" Oh, it's beautiful," the dancers gawked at the ring
" I know, he's such a wonderful man," Isabelle said
The streets spoke of the engagement and all wish to congratulate the young diva and her fiancé. Michelle walked around the market, that was not to far from the opera house. She was trying to pick out a flavorful wine for the celebration. She stopped when she saw a red rose, with a black ribbon on it. The man handed it to her and she went to pay him, but he pointed to a stranger standing on the side of a building. She lifted the rose to her nose and slightly smiled. She bought some fresh vegetables and bread, that the cooks asked her to get.
" It seems we always run into each other here," Pierre's voice said
She turned around and smiled and he held some things.
" All of Paris is talking about the engagement," Pierre said
" I can understand why," Michelle said
" And I see you have bought the same wine as I have," he said with a smile
Michelle looked at the brand and said, " I guess you can say we have the same taste."
" Can I invite you to dinner, on the roof top of the Paris opera house tonight about 9, that way I treat you to dinner and you don't leave the opera house?" Pierre asked
" I would love too," she replied
" So, after the celebration, we will have our moon light dinner," Pierre said
Michelle smiled and kissed his cheek, before he left to finish some business. She smiled at the rose and held it close to her.
Leon watched her smile brighten when Pierre came. He lowered his head and vanished into the shadows back to the opera house. He looked at the music and sighed, he did not expect to truly keep Michelle's interest.
" She has become more interested in him," he said
" You are still her angel Leon," Madame Cuivre said
" If I know his motives, it will be tonight that he tries to claim her as his own," Leon said
" She's only seen him a few times, there is no way," Madame Cuivre said
Leon looked at a box on the organ and opened it, the diamond glistened in the soft candle light. Madame Cuivre walked over to him and sat with him by the organ. She hugged him and stroked his head.
" You will find that right girl Leon, but you must step outside your boundaries," Madame Cuivre said
" I know," he whispered
Madame Cuivre and looked at him and kissed his forehead.
" You are the great Leon DeVan, write a piece for her, tell her how you truly feel. Tell the world how you feel," Madame Cuivre said
Leon nodded and Madame Cuivre fixed him something to eat. He sat down and she left, to leave him some peace.
Philippe looked at the elaborate costume for the next opera. Isabelle came holding Champaign.
" A toast shall we," she said
" Of course," he said
He went and got to glasses and she poured him a glass, then herself. Both had their kicks before more people came to congratulate them.
Later, the celebration took place and there were endless smiles. Pierre was talking to the Monsieur Love, when Michelle walked down. Her lavishing red gown flowed behind her, she was noticed by a few as she glided down. Pierre walked over to her and put out his hand. She smiled and placed her hand into his, he walked her over to her father.
" Monsieur Ecorce," Pierre said, " May I present you, your daughter."
Her father smiled and said, " You look beautiful Michelle. And you two, make a lovely couple."
" Papa," she said
" Go and enjoy yourselves, leave this old fool to talk with the others," her father said
" Thank you sir," Pierre said
They walked off and mingled with everyone there, but then snuck off to the roof top.
" Dinner is served Mademoiselle," he said
Candles lined the ledge of the opera house, it mixed with the beauty of Paris' own lights. There was the sound of music playing for them and private waiters to serve them the next course.
" Oh Pierre, it's beautiful," she said
" It's just for you under the moon light," he said
They sat down and began their evening with the first course. Michelle and Pierre had engaged into a lavishing conversation. They were unaware though, they were being watched, by the Phantom of the opera. Leon hid behind a statue and watched the flourishing flirting become more intimate and personal. Leon could not bare to see Michelle with another man, none the less a handsome young man, with no flaws. Leon continued to stay out there and then he saw the one thing he did not wish to see. Pierre kissed Michelle on her lips, and Michelle did not pull away. He felt it crush his heart and tears fell from one side of his face.
" Come let's go inside, it's getting cold out here," Pierre said
Michelle and Pierre walked inside and Leon came from behind the statue. He knelt down by a fallen rose, that came from the table, and pick it up. Tears fell into the snow and he crushed the rose.
" I gave you everything, my young student," he whispered, " I have nurtured your gift of music. You have showed me a gentler touch than I have seen, but now I see it was only a dream. You've betrayed me, taken all I have given you."
He fell completely to his knees and covered his face.
" I was only a fool," he whispered, " How could I think she would love the monster I am."
He stood up and looked at the table and the candles that sat on the ledge. He breathed deep and in rage turned the table over, then knocked the candles off stepping onto the corner statue.
" You will regret the day that you didn't do all that I have asked of you!" he shouted, " Michelle, curse the day you have chosen to ignore the Phantom's request!"
Michelle opened her eyes and looked around. She sat up and saw everyone else sleeping. She got up and slipped her robe on and there walked down the desolated hallways. Michelle walked upstairs to the roof and saw the turned over table and chairs. Smashed glass on the newly fallen snow. She saw the crumpled rose in the snow and sighed, she walked to the ledge feeling a chill.
Suddenly without warning Leon jumped up on the roof of the opera house. Michelle fell back into the snow and looked at him. She stared at him and he knelt down and looked at her.
" Please, forgive me if I scared you Mademoiselle," he simply said with a smile
" What are you doing out here?" she asked
" I came for some fresh air," he replied
Leon stood up and put out his hand and she grabbed his hand. She looked at him, his soft eyes were no longer as soft as they were that day. She was afraid and he turned and looked at her.
" What happened here?" she asked
" Perhaps the wind blew it," he answered
She lowered her head and he looked at her.
" I saw you yesterday at the market, the rose was from you wasn't it?" she asked
" Yes," he said
His gloved hand reached over and touched her cheek. She looked up at him and grabbed his hand.
" I am still a naïve girl," she whispered
Leon stared at her and moved away from her, then pulled her to him, her back to him. He wrapped his arms around her, taking her hands into his.
" To fully understand the music," he whispered, " you must fully give yourself to it…not letting anyone distract you."
His hands trailed up her body and rested on her shoulders.
" The sunrise breaks through the night sky, because it is stronger, let the music be stronger Michelle, let it take you through every waking moment," Leon whispered in her ear
Michelle closed her eyes listening to his voice touch her delicate ears. She turned and looked at him and touched his face.
" I'm willing to give up what have to fully understand music," she whispered
She gently reached up and pressed her lips against his and kissed him. Leon did not hesitate to return her gentle kiss. She pulled away and touched his face and turned to look over the sleeping Paris.
" You have decided then to fully give yourself to music," he said
" Yes," she said
Leon vanished into the shadows as the sun began to break through the morning sky. He went down to his domain and stayed in the shadows. He found himself falling deeply in love with Michelle.
3 months later
" Well, it looks like the end of a very successful year," Monsieur Love said
" I couldn't agree better myself Monsieur Love," Monsieur Ecorce said, " Monsieur Puissant, I trust you and I will be giving a little more to the Opera house."
" Did you have your doubts Monsieur?" Pierre joked
Monsieur Love pulled out some wine to celebrate.
" Then here's to us," Monsieur Love said
" To us," Monsieur Ecorce and Pierre said
The company had decided to do a masquerade for their first year celebration and to bring in the new year. Isabelle and Philippe along with the rest began to make costumes for the masquerade.
" Ah, a successful year with very little threats from our phantom," Isabelle said, " Now to get through this without him."
Philippe smiled and touched her face
" Trust me, he will not harm us," Philippe said
Michelle looked at Pierre as he came in with flowers in his hand.
" Mademoiselle," he said
" Pierre," she said
The dancers looked at Pierre and Michelle and then left. She walked over to him and he kissed her on the lips.
" Tonight, beautiful I wish to escort you to the masquerade," he said, " Is that alright?"
" Yes, I would be happy," she said
" Then I will be here before it starts so I may help you shine," Pierre said
He kissed her head and soon went off to find a nice tux to wear. Michelle smiled and smelt the flowers, she gave a soft sigh. She stood up and looked at all the dancers that came back.
" Oh, Michelle, you are the luckiest woman alive," they said, " Monsieur Puissant is your key to a better life than just singing."
" I'm not going to marry him, I'm just seeing him," she said
Michelle looked at her dress that was hanging in the closet and smiled.
" Perhaps it will be that way later," she said
The music of the festivities began, the companies show inside the opera house lobby, was the highlight of the night. Dancers that danced back behind the performers were stars, Isabelle and Philippe welcomed the guest with their duet prepared for the greeting. Michelle looked around for Pierre and then she saw him. He placed a rose in her hair and grabbed her hand.
" Mademoiselle, is an angel tonight," he whispered, " But can I make this angel shine a little more?"
She looked at him as he got on one knee and grabbed her hand. She looked at him and breathed deep.
" Please make me a happy man Michelle," he said
" Pierre, of course," she said
He slipped the ring on her finger and smiled. They walked down the stairs and Michelle and Pierre danced. The stagehands joined later on to help bring in the new year with a different beat. All planned by the company to bring laughter to them. Michelle and Pierre laughed together and then kissed.
" It's a celebration for even love," Michelle's father said to congratulate them
Suddenly, there was a small explosion and everyone stopped. A man dressed in red, black boots just under his knees. His white gloves stayed under his elaborate red dress coat, a long extended cape over one shoulder followed behind him. His mask, a golden skull like design, covered both sides, but cut off before his mouth, a blade dangled from his side as he stood there and looked at everyone. They stared at him in fear and he smiled with a nod.