Chapter 5: Raising Standards
3 months later
Erik looked at Antoinette as she sewed something for him, he began to play the organ a melody of slight joy then sadness. She looked at him as he played and then she heard him singing the song.
" Erik, your voice…it's so beautiful," Antoinette said, " Where did you learn to sing?"
" I picked it up, being in an opera house allows me to focus on my own hidden talents," Erik said
He continued to sing and Antoinette looked at him and smiled. She continued to sew until it was done, then she lifted it up.
" There, I finished," she said
Erik looked at her as she lifted the black dress coat and Erik stood up. He walked over and removed the current one he had on, then tried the new one she finished. He looked at it and smiled, the tail of the coat was different, it was not one, but split in half.
" It's the latest style in dress coats," Antoinette said
" It's nice, where did you get the fabric," Erik asked
Antoinette looked at him and said, " Some money I was given, I went and bought several yards. I bought different kinds too, I'll make you some pants to."
Erik knelt down beside her and kissed her hands and then looked at her. She looked down at him and touched his face. Erik thanked her several times, but not for the same things. Erik looked up at her and she stared at him, then stood up.
" Mademoiselle, let us dance," Erik said
" Dance, but we have no music," Antoinette said
" No, matter I will sing," Erik said
She took his hand and he pulled her to him, they danced as he sang a beautiful song. Antoinette's eyes never left Erik's and Erik's never left Antoinette's. Erik stopped on the last note and then without warning Erik kissed Antoinette on her lips. She was surprised that he would do something so out of place . Erik stood up straight and Antoinette looked at him, she touched his face.
" I love you Antoinette," he whispered
" Erik," she whispered
" Don't you love me?" Erik asked
" I do, but you are my friend," she whispered
Erik looked at her and said, " But I can give you everything…I'm the king here, this is my opera house. Antoinette, what can I do to show you that I care."
" Erik," she whispered silencing him
He grabbed her hand and looked at her in her eyes and saw there was something she wanted to say.
" Erik, Vincent and I are engaged," she whispered with tears
" Engaged?" he questioned, " but you said you weren't."
Erik turned away and sighed then turned in anger to her.
" You lied to me?" he exclaimed, " You said you weren't engaged…how could you betray me? You promised me that we would get married Antoinette, you promised!"
Antoinette looked at him and turned away with tears in her eyes.
" I love you Antoinette, I love you with all my heart," Erik confessed
" I just got engaged," Antoinette replied, " I know you love me."
Erik walked to her and wrapped his arms around her.
" You said you would never leave me," Erik said, " You said you would stay here and be happy."
" Erik, my life has changed," Antoinette said, " Vincent and I are getting married and we want you to come with us. Vincent wants me to move out the opera, but he knows that I won't leave unless you are with me."
Erik looked at her and with drew his embrace, he walked to his organ and the sounds that the organ spoke; made Antoinette shiver.
" Erik," she said
" Shh, she speaks," Erik said
Antoinette felt tears fall from her face and she heard the dreadful music come from the organ. Erik played the hideous melodies over and over and Antoinette turned on her heals running with haste. Tears draping her face as she climbed up each cellar, the music haunting her mind.
" Stop it!" she cried
She covered her ears as she climbed up and cried trying to block the horrid sounds. She stepped up on step, her foot slipped and she fell back hitting her head on the next step below. She fell unconscious, but found minuets later by a stagehand.
Hours later Antoinette opened her eyes feeling a cloth on her head. She looked around and then moaned, Madame Totter walked in seeing her awake.
" Your awake Mademoiselle," she said
" What happened?" Antoinette asked
" You were found in the first cellar unconscious," she said, " how do you feel child?"
Antoinette sat up and moaned a little and said, " I have a headache."
" Will you be able to dance?" she asked
" I think so," Antoinette replied
" Good, because the ghost demands that you dance," Madame Totter said, " He seems to have a liking for you."
Antoinette laid back and Madame Totter looked at her as thought she was ill. Antoinette turned to her side and closed her eyes again once Madame Totter left. She fell asleep and failed to realize that Erik had come to see her upon hearing some of the stagehands talk.
" I'm sorry," he whispered, " forgive me Antoinette."
He touched her face with his ungloved hand and kissed her head.
" I am your guardian now and forever," he said, " but you must leave me someday and I can not help that. Go without me…my place is here in the cellars of the Opera Populaire."
Erik fled and went onto the roof top and leapt onto a statue. He looked out into the streets of Paris and wrapped his arms around the statue.
" I will find that one who will love me!" he called out, " The Opera Ghost promises this! Woe is the person who gets in my way!"
2 months later
Antoinette stood before a mirror and looked at her wedding gown, it was beautiful and yet there was something that wasn't right.
" You make a beautiful bride Mademoiselle," Erik's voice echoed
She looked around and Erik walked from the shadows. She smiled softly, though tears were trying to break through. She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him, he took her into his arms.
" I'm so afraid," she whispered, " I'm afraid that my life will no longer be the same."
" Your life will not be the same, but become brighten by love," he whispered
Antoinette looked at him and touched his cheek and he placed his hand on hers. He kissed it and then looked at her.
" Erik please come," she whispered
" My place is at the opera house, not with those beyond the walls," Erik said
Antoinette nodded and kissed his cheek and Erik looked at her.
" I will be with you," Erik whispered
Antoinette walked out and walked down the isle. She came to the alter and Vincent took her hands as they stood together. Erik watched from the shadows and listened to the ceremony.
" She stands so lovely, an angelic beauty that deserves this life…not the one I would give her," he whispered
He walked off and Erik took the back way to the Opera Populaire. He walked down the halls and walked to his domain and began to build again. He worked none stop that night and mostly into the next day with no stopping. Erik carved and set up several sculptures between the fourth and fifth cellar. He made candles and made a third room, a room where the music would be created. His domain reached to the third cellar and so did his reputation as O.G.
Weeks and weeks turned to months and the ghost showed his new way of life. He was showing no mercy to any who spoke ill of him or disobeyed him. Set pieces fell, violin strings popped, the chandelier sang once or twice, box five became his, and his salary became another priority. Monsieur Friar called it quits once his life was threaten two or three times.
" You can't leave," Madame Totter pleaded, " not with this ghost."
" I am Madame and the new manger will be here tomorrow," Monsieur Friar said, " Damn O.G. for his heinous acts against this opera house."
Monsieur Friar made the announcement and introduced Monsieur Lefevre. Though the young manger was briefed about everything, he was unaware of O.G. His first awakening was when he received the welcoming letter by Erik. Monsieur Lefevre only laughed as the heads of each department.
" You shouldn't laugh," Madame Totter said, " He's as real as you and I."
" Then he's mortal," Monsieur Lefevre said
" He's a ghost," the acting manger said
" What about my musicians?" Monsieur Reyer asked, " They have no money to fix their instruments…O.G. has done it again."
" What about my girls?" Madame Totter question, " O.G. has them spooked, He must be dealt with."
A knock came on the door and Monsieur Lefevre answered it and everyone turned too look. Erik watched and tossed a note on the desk and then vanished. Monsieur Lefevre shut the door then sat down. He looked on his desk and found another note and opened it.
" I have a feeling this will be a long season," Monsieur Lefevre said
Everyone in his office gave a helpless sigh to the young manger and then left.
" Far to many problems for him to handle," Madame Totter said
" That leaves us for another season of O.G." the action manger said
" The show must go on," Monsieur Reyer sighed
