Chapter 8: Red Roseof thePhantom
Flashback
4 years ago
" Gentlemen please, get ready," the conductor said
Nicolas looked at each musicians that would brink his opera to life. Nicolas listened and then stopped them.
" May I monsieur?" he asked
" Of course go ahead," the conductor said
He stood in front and looked at the young and old faces that waited for him to conduct the first movement.
" Let's take it a step at a time," Nicolas said
Nicolas got them ready and began to play, Nicolas got them started and the conductor copied Nicolas' steady movement. The chorus girls looked out and smiled at the young composer.
" He's so handsome, he doesn't even look like a composer," the chattered
The youngest of the was the young and beautiful Patricia. They walked out and started to dance and suddenly the music stopped.
" Ladies," the conductor said, " There are men in the pit."
They giggled and the men gave a groan of disappointment. Nicolas smiled and stopped to fix each sections' pitch problem.
" Now, lets try it again, think pretty chorus girls," Nicolas said
Suddenly, it was like a miracle, the problems vanished. The conductor was impressed, by the young composer.
" Monsieur it is all yours, good luck tonight," Nicolas said
" Thank you Monsieur," the conductor said
Nicolas watched that night as his opera came to life, with chorus girls and talented singers. He smiled and applauded as the curtain fell for the first two acts.
" Bravo!" he called out
Nicolas watched each act and nodded in approval, he loved the opera and signed it to the opera house.
" Bravo, this performance was wonderful," he told the manger, " I will sign for 2 years…if the work continues, then you just made a new business partner."
" Thank you," the manger said
" Good night Patricia," two ballerinas said
" Good night," she replied
Nicolas looked over as the young girl came to see her friends off. She turned and glanced at him, then went off. He smiled and quickly finished with the manger, he was then stopped by the conductor to thank him again.
" It was all in a days work," he said
He went down the hallways of the opera house and lost track of her.
" Monsieur are you following me?" her voice said
" Perhaps," he said
" Do you find me interesting?" she questioned
She walked out and Nicolas turned around and looked at her. She smiled and Nicolas walked to her.
" Oh, Nicolas," she said, " What a fool you are?"
" Am I a fool, beloved Patricia?" he questioned
" You love sick fool, didn't anyone tell you I am poisonous," Patricia whispered in his ear
Nicolas grabbed her hand and pulled her to him, he kissed her.
" Nicolas, not here," she whispered, " Someone will see us."
" Then let them see us," Nicolas said
Patricia grabbed his hand and led him down the hallway towards her dressing room. She locked the door and looked at him, he lit a few candles.
" My darling we will be happy together," he whispered
Patricia smiled and walked towards him and silenced him, with her finger. She reached up and kissed him.
" Don't speak," she whispered, " Just kiss me."
Nicolas kissed her and pulled her to him, she wrapped her arms around him.
" I love you," Nicolas said
" Don't speak my love," she whispered
They laid to rest after hours of passion and Nicolas looked at Patricia as she slept. He got up and dressed, then left a red rose by her side. He left and went back home and entered a small home. His friend walked out the shadows and saw his pleasant look.
" People will start to get suspicious Nicolas, you and the chorus girl will be out cast," he said
" I love her, David," Nicolas said, " She and I will marry by the end of this year."
" She will only make you lose your talent…why stop and settle down for a simple chorus girl?" David asked
" Because I am in love and without love my music has no meaning," Nicolas answered
2 months later
Patricia walked with him through the park and he grabbed her hand. He slipped the ring on her finger and she smiled. She kissed him and looked at the ring.
" Oh, Nicolas," she said, " it's beautiful."
" I thought we could get married in a week," he said
" A week…Oh Nicolas," she said
He nodded and she looked at him.
" Let's wait a few months so we don't make a big show," Patricia said, " A sudden marriage might throw them off to much."
" Alright in a few months," he said
Nicolas and Patricia were happy to keep their engagement a secret. Nicolas' career was taking off and hers was just beginning as the youngest dancer. The young 16 year old became a star in the ballet, and she always looked towards the highest balcony for her beloved. Nicolas' opera brought him in more than 200,000 francs a week. When his Opera was well attended he asked for a little more than he got a week.
A month past and the young 16 year old still asked that they push back the wedding. She was not even 17 and ready to take on the responsibilities as a wife. Nicolas understood, when he saw her dance.
Three months past and Nicolas saw David talking to Patricia in a flirtations way. This made him jealous, thinking that the reason she didn't want to marry him. Nicolas found out other wise when he confronted her about this. She looked at him and told him that David had spoken to her in an ill manner about him and her. Nicolas looked at his friend and watched him hide into the shadows.
Seasons came and seasons went, Patricia and Nicolas' love became stronger and finally on her 18th birthday the two eloped. They returned a month later and found David had known all along of the engagement. David had told the news to the Opera house manger and he fired Patricia and canceled the contract with Nicolas. That did not stop their love, Nicolas sold many of his operas to other opera houses. He bought the house he saved up for and Patricia danced.
She traveled around many Opera houses to dance, and there their life began for a year.
" It's beautiful," she whispered
" I made it from glass, now the red will never wilt away. It's your eternal rose," Nicolas said
She smiled and kissed him and Patricia pulled out a flyer.
" Nicolas, I can dance here," she said pointed to flyer
" The Opera Populaire, but it was burnt from the inside out," Nicolas said
" They rebuilt it and I know one of the girls there, I will make more money there then what I do now," Patricia said
" Then we'll both do this, my work, your dancing; we can never be torn apart," Nicolas said
It was near their fourth year of marriage that tragedy struck them. David had thrown his heart and soul in destroying Nicolas and Patricia's love. He burned the place that Nicolas got his work published at. Patricia ran in for it and he went after her, she met her fate, as David stabbed her. Nicolas ran into find his beloved dying. He knelt down and lifted her into his arms.
" Nicolas go, David wants you dead," she whispered
She died in his arms and Nicolas shouted a promise of revenge. His revenge was never met that day.
Two months after Patricia's death Nicolas found David and he raised his shaking hand up at him, the blade shook and David smiled.
" Come now Nicolas, are you really going to kill your friend?" he questioned
" Death to you," Nicolas said
He came at David and David drew his blade, both slashing at each other. David kicked Nicolas into another room, he stabbed David in his arm. David screamed out in pain. He came at Nicolas and slashed at him and Nicolas stepped back, David grabbed a shallow blow of etching acid. He threw it at Nicolas and he stepped back from the acid, then fell. Some of the acid spilt on him and he closed his eyes as it ate at his flesh.
" Die you demon of hell!" David shouted
Nicolas kept his one his eyes shut and stabbed David and ran out. He covered his face and fell into the street. A friend of his past by, but moved quick seeing Nicolas. He ran and helped his friend, then quickly moved him from harms way.
" A doctor!" Nicolas shouted, " Please, take me to a doctor!"
" Right away," his friend said
Nicolas looked back at David and narrowed his eyes. He was taken and the doctor looked at him and sighed. He dabbed burned flesh and wrapped Nicolas' face.
Days past and Nicolas bandages were removed, the doctor handed him a mirror. Nicolas threw it out the window and fell to his knees.
" Why not just kill me!" she shouted
" It will heal," the doctor said
" No, not my face, I have become a devil," Nicolas said
He ran out of the doctor's home and they chased him down. He continued on his way until he was no where to be found. Wandering became his soul purpose in life, there he carved his first mask.
" I am no one," he whispered
Four months past and he found himself on the steps of the Notre Dame. That very moment he prayed before the church for someone to save him. He fell faint on the steps and then felt hands touched his face.
" Monsieur, Monsieur are you alive?" a soft voice spoke
Nicolas opened his eyes and looked up to see a young woman standing before him. He touched her hands that laid on his face. He sat up and looked at her and her eyes grew wide.
" Can it be," she whispered
She reached for the black mask and he grabbed her hand.
" It can only be fate that brings you here Monsieur," she whispered
Her eyes gave off a look of hope, he turned away.
" Fate brings me to hell," he whispered, " Leave me woman to die on Hell's grounds."
" Come with me I can help you, I can save you…come to the Opera Populaire," she said, " You can live there."
She helped him up and walked him to the Opera Populaire.
" Madame Abney," a doorman said
" Please help me Samuel, this man is on death's door," she siad, " Take him to my chamber and I will bring him food."
" Yes, Madame," Samuel said
He helped him to her chambers and sat him down and Nicolas looked at the man.
" Who is that woman?" Nicolas asked
" Meg Abney, she's the instructor for the ballet," Samuel answered
" She's an angel of mercy, sent to save my soul," Nicolas said
" You should rest, she will be here to help you," Samuel said
Meg came and walked in and he looked at her. She came with cloths and food. She fed him in his weaken state and nursed him back to health. She led him five cellars below and told him that the Opera house was his own if he treated it correctly. Nicolas looked at her and came to his knees, then took her hand.
" I am in your debt dear sweet Meg," he said, " Allow me to be your guardian angel…and write you music."
" You may watch over me Nicolas, but please don't cause havoc."
" Let me take a name other than Nicolas," he said
Meg looked at him and stared at his black mask.
" A name, you will earn that name soon, if they do not see you," she said
" And what is that name?" he asked
" O.G." she replied
" O.G.?" he asked
" Opera Ghost," she said, " The Phantom of the Opera."
Nicolas smiled and kissed her hand then said, " The Phantom of the Opera…then let the word go out that the Phantom is here to stay."