Chapter 7: Opera Ghost's Mask
The sounds of a mechanical music box, touched Victoire's ears. She sat up and looked around, then saw a little music box sitting on a vanity. She got up and walked out, her night gown flowing behind her, looking for the man that brought her there. The Phantom of the opera, where had he gone off too? She then saw him reading something and she walked towards him.
" I thought I was dreaming, but the vivid images were so real," she thought, " A boat on a lake, and the there was a man. He wore a make that covered half his face."
Nicolas continued to read and Victoire walked towards him. She stopped and smiled, then continued.
" Were you the shadow I saw?" she whispered
Nicola looked up and Victoire nodded, she walked around him and gently touched his face. He looked at her as her touch soothed his longing, but he felt her hand touch his mask. He grabbed her hand and kissed it, she sat beside him.
" Why do you hide half your face?" she asked
" To keep my past away from me," he said
She looked at him and saw a wedding band on his finger.
" Are you married?" she asked
" I was, a few years ago, I was a normal man with a normal life," he whispered, " Before I fell into a trap of betrayal, which took my beloved."
" You hide because of one side, but there is another side to you, it has not been touched by darkness," Victoire said
Nicolas looked at her and she stood up again, she walked around him.
" You have admired me from afar," she said, " I am here because you felt that I was worthy."
Nicolas stood up and looked at her and touched her face.
" I am a shadow of a great legend and in debt to another," Nicolas said
" Your alone, you hide here because your scared," she said
Victoire looked at him, their bodies so close to each other, she reached up and kissed him on his lips. Nicholas closed his eyes and kissed her back, Victoire reached up as they kissed and grasped the mask. She kissed him deeper and then removed the mask gently, but Nicolas noticed that his mask had be removed. He pulled away in anger and pushed her away.
" You conniving little Delilah!" Nicolas shouted
Victoire looked at him as he covered half his face. He held a mirror and looked at it.
" This, is what you wanted to see! Take a long look at it now, cause it's the last thing you will see of your freedom!" Nicolas shouted throwing the mirror down
He covered his face and breathed.
" Your fear surprises me, but your fear is just the tip of love," He said
Nicolas grabbed her by the hand and Victoire breathed deep.
" I'm sorry," she whispered
" Pandora's box has been opened, it can never be close," he said, " You belong to me."
Nicolas turned away and there was silence, Victoire knelt down and lifted the fallen mask. She walked to him, then stood in front of him. He turned away as she presented his mask to him.
" Forgive me Monsieur," she whispered
He took the mask and slipped it on, then looked up at her.
" Come we must return," he said
Nicolas grabbed her hand and led her up through the dark hallways. He got her up onto the horse and she rode the rest of the way. He opened the mirror and Victoire looked at him.
" Wear the pendant I gave you and your liberty I give to you…lose it and you will never see the light of day," Nicolas said
Victoire walked through and the mirror shut, tears touched her cheek as he vanished.
" He's in my mind," she whispered
A knock came on the door and Victoire stood there. The door opened and Meg walked in, she shut the door.
" Victoire," she said
Victoire looked at Meg and tears streamed down her face, she ran to her instructor and began to cry. Meg wrapped her arms around the young ballerina as she cried.
" Oh, Madame I was so scared, I was so afraid that I would never see light," she cried
" You are not alone," Meg whispered, " Come, you must rest, you may rest in my room away from the others."
Meg led her to her room and let Victoire rest there. She then went off and got the other girls ready.
" Where is Victoire?" they asked
" She is resting, her night was not pleasant," Meg replied, " Warm up and we shall begin."
Meg walked off and Nicolas stood in the shadows. His hand reached out with a note at hand. She took the note and he vanished, she looked at it and then walked off.
Henri looked at Jacque and held his letter up.
" Who does he think he is, calling this opera house his!" Henri exclaimed
" A fools game he is playing," Jacque replied
" What does your note say Jacque?" Henri asked
Jacque pulled out his note then read, " Dear Jacque, you have not followed my orders thus far. I have asked you nicely to removed Carlotta and her entourage out of my Opera house. She will not sing here ever again. I would prefer Mademoiselle Chaffee over her."
" Dear Henri, you perhaps have forgotten that I am still here and that I do have demands for a salary. 25,000 francs. Give it to your wife, she knows where it goes," Henri sighed and tossed the letter on the desk.
" I presume Carlotta will come soon," Jacque said
They walked out their office and right on time Carlotta came storming in holding a skull sealed note.
" No ghost you said!" Carlotta shouted, " You said no ghost!"
" Mademoiselle please, there is no ghost, its someone from the company," Henri said
" It's probably your little ballerina," Carlotta said
" Don't jump to conclusions Carlotta," Meg said
" Ah, my dearest Meg," Henri said
" We have received many notes from O.G." Jacque said, " And he seems to be connected to you."
Meg walked over to them and Carlotta gave Meg a look as she pulled out a note.
" I came to tell you that Victoire has returned," she said
" Where is she?" they asked
" She's resting," Meg said, " Here is my note."
Henri took it and opened the letter and began to read it. Demands about how he wished that his box were empty for the performance. He asked that Carlotta not sing for Victoire, that it would distract her.
" If these demands are not met, then disaster will be brought upon you and this opera house…gentlemen I remain your greatest supporter- O.G." Henri read
Henri sighed and looked at Carlotta and shrugged.
" Tonight, perhaps we should cancel," Henri said
" Henri we can't cancel," Meg said, " My girls have practiced so hard."
" Who cares about chorus girls," Carlotta snapped
" I do," a voice said in the distance
They turned and saw Alexander walking and Carlotta shook her head.
" Captain, what a pleasure to see you?" Henri asked
" I'm come to pay my tribute to the opera house, I wish to become the Patron of this fine Opera house," Alexander announced
" Wonderful!" both said ignoring the letters
" Gentlemen we have business!" Carlotta screeched
" Carlotta, you won't sing," Meg said
" Why you little ballerina," Carlotta growled
Meg turned around and walked off and Carlotta stormed off. Meg walked to the stage.
" Tell me Nicolas, why so many letter," she asked
" To get my point across," Nicolas said
Meg shook her head and walked to the stage to help her girls. Nicolas fled the scene and returned to his lair.
Victoire opened her eyes and sat up, she looked around the room.
" That's right I'm in Madame's room," she whispered, " Was what I experienced a dream?"
She got up and walked about the room and then saw a picture frame, faced down. She lifted the oval shaped frame and there she saw the picture, of Meg and a man with his face half covered by a mask.
" It's the Phantom," she whispered, " but he's older looking."
Victoire picked up the frame to get a closer look, she noticed that the Phantom's face was much fuller then the one she met.
" I must be dreaming," Victoire whispered
She set the picture down and walked out of Meg's room. She went up to the dormitories, there she changed into her practice clothes. She went down stairs and joined the others in rehearsal.
" Well, look who shows up now?" one girl said
" I'm sorry I'm late," Victoire said
" Why bother to show up, rehearsal is almost over," the girl said
" Bite your tongue Brigitte. She's the one that works twice as hard," Amelia snapped
Victoire thanked her friend and walked towards the front to speak to Meg.
" Madame, I'm sorry I over slept," Victoire said
" It's not your fault. How are you feeling now?" Meg questioned
" I feel rested and ready to practice," Victoire replied
" Then we will practice after they know their parts, just warm up," Meg said
Victoire nodded and walked back and warmed up. She did her usual warm ups and after the other girls practiced, Meg worked with her.
" There you go, that's it," Meg said, " Again."
Closed her eyes and danced alone, with music in the distanced. Meg nodded and tapped the beats, they faded away and turned into loud applauds. Victoire looked at the audience and smiled, as roses were tossed to her. She smiled and looked up in box five to see Nicolas applauding her. She bowed and looked up towards the others boxes and saw Alexander. She went back, when the others came out to get the audience's applauds
" Beautiful," the other girls came over to her
Victoire smiled and then Meg walked over to her and presented the red rose.
" He's very impressed, he sees you have become better," Meg said
Victoire smiled and took the rose, there hanging from the ribbon was a glass cut rose charm. She looked at the one she wore and remembered what Nicolas had told her. As long as she had that pendant, she would be free to go anywhere, but if she was to lose it…she lost everything, she would be his.
" Its because I saw his face," Victoire whispered