Chapter 2
The Show and the Visit
I was on one of the several basement levels below the stage during the performance. Apparently, my plan worked perfectly. Instead of hearing Carlotta's "voice," I was hearing Christine's. She was singing beautifully. I'm sure that everyone in the theatre agreed that her voice was perfect. I wasn't mistaken when I decided to be her teacher. She had improved greatly from where she started.
"Recall those days, look back on all those times, think of the things we'll never do," she sang. "There will never be a day when I won't think of you." The crowd's applause could reach me down there as easily as Christine's crystal voice could. I knew that the crowd was enjoying her voice as much as I was. The best part of it was that she was singing for me. "We never said our love was evergreen, or as unchanging as the sea, but please promise me that sometimes you will think of me!" she finished. I sighed and began to make my way to her dressing room.
I made it there in good time. The performance was only just ending, and the performers were taking their final bow. I slipped into her dressing room through the mirror which conceals the quickest path to my lair. I placed a rose with a black velvet ribbon tied on it on her table and went back through the mirror. Knowing Christine, she was probably heading for the room in the theatre where she had set up a small memorial for her father. Sure enough, I was right.
Christine was in the small room, lighting a candle above the picture she had of her father. She was still dressed in the dress she wore for the last scene of the show. "Bravi, bravi, bravissimi," I whispered loud enough that she could hear me. To her, my voice sounded like it was coming from all around her. She smiled, and I left to return to her dressing room.
I waited for her to come, and after a few minutes, she did. I watched her from behind the mirror. This mirror was special. When someone in the room looked at it, it was a normal mirror, but from my side of the mirror, I could see into the dressing room. She came in with Madam Giry. "You did beautifully," Madam Giry told her. She noticed the rose that I had left on the table and picked it up. "He is pleased with you." She passed Christine the rose.
When Madam Giry left, Christine stood in front of the mirror and looked at her reflection. Without thinking, I raised one of my hands and touched the surface of the mirror. I wished that I could be touching the warm, smooth skin of her face, not the cold surface of the mirror. She sighed and sat down at her make-up table.
The door to her dressing room opened and a young man walked in. He had shoulder length brown hair, neatly trimmed sideburns, and brown eyes. I recognized him as the Vicomte de Chagny. His family was very well respected, and very wealthy. "Little Lotte, let her mind wander," he said to Christine, who turned around and looked at him. "Little Lotte thought: am I fonder of dolls or of goblins or shoes? Or of riddles or frocks?"
"Those picnics in the attic," Christine added.
"Or of chocolate?"
"Father playing the violin."
"While we shared with each other dark stories of the north."
" 'No, what I love best,' Lotte said, 'is when I'm asleep in my bed and the Angel of Music sings songs in my head.'"
"The Angel of Music sings songs in my head," he repeated. Christine hugged him.
"Oh, Raoul, it is you!" she said happily. They know each other, I thought. This could turn out to be dangerous. I have to show myself to her tonight. She must be brought to my lair. "My father told me that when he was in heaven, he would send me the Angel of Music," she told Raoul. "Father is dead, Raoul, and I have been visited by the Angel of Music!"
"No doubt of it! Now, we'll go to supper!" He began walking toward the door.
"No, Raoul. The Angel of Music is very strict," Christine said. Raoul grinned.
"I shan't keep you up late!" Raoul responded. This boy just wouldn't take a hint.
"No, Raoul," Christine begged.
"You must change, and I need to get my hat. Two minutes, Little Lotte." Raoul left the room. I felt a surge of anger toward him. While Christine was changing, I used the tunnel I was in to get to the outside of her room. I turned the key that was in the lock, locking Christine in the room. She was, of course, expecting this. I had been giving her lessons at this time every day for the past three months, after all.
When I returned to the tunnel behind the mirror, I saw that Christine was done changing. It was time for me to speak with her. "Insolent boy, this slave of fashion! Basking in your glory!" I said. She looked around, startled by the angry tone in my voice. "Ignorant fool, this brave young suitor, sharing in my triumph!"
"Angel, I hear you," she responded, frightened. "Speak, I listen. Stay by my side, guide me! Angel, my soul was weak. Forgive me! Enter at last, Master!" Her words calmed me.
"Flattering child, you shall know me. See why in shadow I hide," I said softly. "Look at your face in the mirror. I am there inside!" She was in front of the mirror, and I slid the mirror into the wall, allowing her to see me.
"Angel of Music, guide and guardian! Grant to me your glory! Angel of Music, hide no longer! Come to me, strange angel!"
"I am your angel," I said hypnotically, my voice echoing eerily in the room. "Come to me: Angel of Music." I extended my hand to her, and she walked toward me. "I am your Angel of Music!" I continued. "Come to me: Angel of Music!" Christine paused for a moment before finally taking my hand.