Chapter 6: Fleur Dansante
1 year later (1851)
Antoinette and Vincent went down to the fifth cellar and Antoinette went first. She called to Erik and he walked out to see her and gave a nod to her.
" I trust your life is going well Madame?" Erik questioned
Erik fixed his shirt in presence of a woman and company.
" Monsieur you might as well show yourself," Erik said
Vincent walked out and looked at Erik, he noticed a change to Erik. Antoinette looked around and saw books piled high, clothing all around, but it was neatly placed. She saw Erik was working on something and started to lift up a sheet, but he quickly covered it.
" I'm afraid that is off limits," Erik said
" You've done well," Antoinette said
" We are under new management and this young man has no idea what he is doing," Erik said, " He has not listened once since he has come."
Erik poured them a glass of wine, one of the finest brands that France could offer.
" So, you go out Erik?" Antoinette asked
" On the roof," Erik replied
" You must go out to fetch such a fine wine," Antoinette stated
" One doesn't have to go outside to fetch such a fine wine, when it is provide in the kitchen of the opera house," Erik said with a smirk
Antoinette looked at Vincent as he looked about the domain and Erik looked at him.
" Your are a gifted man Erik, would you be willing to build a home for Antoinette and myself?" Vincent asked
" I do not design for other people Monsieur, I only design for myself," Erik replied, " I do not set foot out into the world beyond my kingdom."
" All due respects Erik, but it's not healthy to remain here in the cellars. You will develop diseases. You will take years off your life," Vincent said
" Then I will do that, until I have found her, I will not set foot in a world of sneers," Erik said
Erik flipped his cloak slightly around him as to say that part of the conversation was over. Erik was insulted that Vincent would continue to pry into his life. Antoinette sighed she walked around and hung up his clothing, piece by piece. She saw the cloak with golden trim on it and lined in gold. She looked around for that set of clothing she had also trimmed in gold, but found it no where. The mask she found shattered into pieces and she knew that Erik probably burnt that set.
" How could I have forgotten?" she thought
She found underneath some very fine red fabric and a beautiful red dress coat and vest. The coat was embroidered with gold on the sleeves and some on the actual coat. A black ascot and red pants, she was impressed by the technique, it was perfect.
" He's learned a lot, but why has he mad this?" Antoinette thought, " It is far to big for him."
She finished picking up some things and walked out with a sack of dirty clothes.
" All of these need to be clean I will bring them back Erik," Antoinette said
Erik nodded and said, " Your married and yet you take care of me, this disfigured fool."
" You are my friend Erik, there is no shame that I have to raise you to be a gentleman," she said
" Raising me?" Erik questioned
Antoinette smiled and kissed Erik on his cheek.
" Erik, it's only right that I provide a loving hand to hold onto in this world," Antoinette said
Erik sighed and looked at Antoinette and her husband, they were there for him while he lived beneath the opera house. Erik played a piece music that he was writing and Antoinette smiled.
" Erik, you are a musical genius this piece will be one that all will love," she said
She kissed his cheek and Erik kissed her hand, he looked at her with eyes of true caring, but yet there was coldness to them. Her reflection did not show in this part of his eyes, he had truly lost his innocence. The boyish look on his face was becoming that of a man and that of a dark man too. His voice losing it's boyish tone was now that of a young man's and yet it spoke of darkness beyond the cellars of the opera house. Antoinette knew she could not save him, but perhaps someone else would, the teen longed for the woman's touch, he ached for the gentle voice that would continue to sing to him when he could not sing. Antoinette knew no one who showed the compassion that she and Vincent showed, but perhaps one day.
2 years later
Erik, now 18, climbed into the dark rafters and watched from the dimly lit stage. A young dancer practicing on stage and he watched; her long brownish gold hair flowed behind her as she twirled. He jumped down and got a closer look at her and could see her complexion was almost like porcelain.
" Une fleur sensible danse avant mes yeux," Erik whispered
Erik walked out on the stage, but remained in shadows. His eyes continued to watch the girl, she touched the stage with such tenderness. Erik could only hear the sounds of his heart beating against his chest. She stopped and Erik remained there and she looked around.
" Brava, Brava," he said
She looked around and back away from the stage.
" You were beautiful," Erik said
" Who's there?" she called
" Do not fear Mademoiselle, I am the protector of this opera house," Erik said
The girl looked around and said, " Show yourself."
Erik walked out ever so slowly, not wanting to scare the girl and have her run away. She looked at Erik as the shadows wove themselves into his attire, he covered half his face. She looked at Erik and breathed deep and then walked over to him ever so gently.
" Monsieur, I only see half your face," she said
" My face is but a nightmare to those who lay eyes on it…I do not wish to show an innocent girl my repulsive face," Erik said, " tell me, what name are you given?"
" Christelle," she said
Erik slowly removed his hand seeing the curiosity in her eyes. He revealed the white mask that laid under his hand, she slightly gasped.
" Christelle, what a beautiful name," he said
He turned his masked half away and looked at her with the suave half. She reached over and turned his head.
" What name do I give you?" she asked
" O.G." he replied, " My name is a secret to those who do not know me."
She curtsied and then Erik kissed her hand, he walked around her and she looked at him. She giggled a little and Erik gave her a questionable look, she only replied that he seemed as though he was going to attack. Erik put out his hand and she looked at him and then took his hand.
" You are the understudy of whom?" he asked
" Madame Giry," she said, " she is pregnant and will not be dancing for awhile."
" I see, when is she due?" he asked
" In 7 months, she's been living with her husband Vincent Giry," Christelle replied
Erik nodded and then looked at box five, he told her that is where he sits and to look for him there. He was the all seeing of the opera house, he knows all and sees all behind closed doors. He's everyone's shadow and is not to be messed with. He bid her good night and let her reflect on the conversation. He watched her from stage right and then vanished for good.
He slipped into a hidden doorway and went down the cellars. He then took the boat to his domain and from there began to finish what he was working on.
" Almost done my friend," he whispered
Erik looked at his creation and slightly smiled…he got up and wrote a note to tell his daily demands. He looked at the organ and began to play a soft hearted tone, his hands glided across the keys. Erik closed his eyes as he swayed to the music and tears fell from his eyes. Erik knew only sadness as he played the song, the song had been written for Antoinette when she promised she would never leave him. They were children when he asked her and she said yes, but he was serious when she thought it was a child's question.
Flash back
5 years ago
Erik stood on the roof top staring out at the stars as he sat on a ledge of the opera house. The door that lead to the roof shut and Erik looked over and saw Antoinette, she held the red rose in her hand.
" Erik," she said
Erik looked forward and glanced up to the sky.
" They called me a ghost, did you hear them?" Erik said, " Opera Ghost."
" You hide in the shadows like one," Antoinette said, " So, mysterious it's no wonder that you are called that."
Antoinette walked to the ledge where he was sitting and she leaned forward. His eye shinned with innocence and curiosity about the world beyond, that he almost forgot where he was.
" The world needs a king, to govern it…show it that people are different," Erik whispered, " One day I'll show them."
Antoinette smiled and grabbed Erik's hand and he looked at her.
" I'll help you Erik," she replied, " No one should be judge by how they look, but by how they do things."
Erik jumped down and took her hands into his own, he stood taller then average little boy, his dark brown hair was covering portions of his disfigurement. Antoinette looked at him and pushed back some of his hair. Erik looked at her and kissed her hand.
" Antoinette, would marry me?" Erik asked
" Erik of course I would," she said
Erik smiled and hugged Antoinette, he felt himself to young to kiss her so he embraced her.
" I don't want to live in a world where you live day to day wondering what tomorrow holds," Erik whispered, " That day will come soon."
Flash back over
Erik finished and walked off to prepare for bed and there he reflected on his day. He drifted off to sleep in his palace's comfort and safety.
2 weeks later
Antoinette woke up and looked about the room. She had the strangest dream that it possibly would be the future. She got up and began to make breakfast and she was feeling ill. She sat down in the sudden feeling of being nauseated. Vincent came in and looked at his wife, she looked at him with eyes of sickness.
" Are you alright Antoinette?" he asked kneeling down
" I feel so ill," she said
" Then you should rest," he said, " Go back to bed."
" No, I have to bring Erik's clothing back," she said
" Then I will do that," he said, " go back to bed, I will make you tea."
Antoinette nodded and went to bed and Vincent made her tea. He brought it to her and she pointed to the followed clothing that laid on the chair.
" Vincent you have to make sure he is well, Erik doesn't always look well and never tells you either," Antoinette said
Vincent kissed her and told her he would do everything that was needed to do. He went off carrying the bundle of clothing and took the back way. He went down the slippery stairs and stopped before the fifth. He called down and waited to hear Erik call back up, but he didn't. Vincent called again, but only heard his echo come back to him. He walked down and came to the edge, not unsure what to do.
" Erik," he called
Vincent walked in and set the clothing down, he walked around looking for Erik; but found he was not there. Vincent wrote Erik a note and told him that he had left his clothing in one of the bedrooms and that he would return later on to check on him. He climbed up the steps and heard noises coming from the fourth cellar. There were gunshots and Vincent breathed deep and saw a shadow of a person fall.
" Stay away from her monster," the voice said
Vincent saw the other shadow vanish and he walked up and saw Erik lying there. His mask laid upon the cold ground and Erik laid not to far from it's hold.
" Erik," Vincent said
Erik's eyes remained almost clouded until Vincent knelt down to the wounded man.
"Fleur Dansante," Erik whispered, " Fleur Dansante."
Vincent helped Erik up and walked him carefully to his domain. Erik repeated the same words over and over.
" Where is this dancing flower?" Vincent asked
" Fleur Dansante," Erik whispered
Vincent sat Erik down and saw Erik was wearing a chain around his neck. Vincent lifted the chain that fell into Erik's shirt and looked at it. A bullet fell from it and Vincent sighed.
" Antoinette would kill me if you got hurt," Vincent said
Vincent noticed blood on Erik's right leg, there was torn fabric and Vincent sighed.
" Your lucky its your leg Erik," Vincent said
Erik's eyes were distant and then there was a sound that brought him back to the world of the living. Chimes began to ring and Erik's eyes returned to and then he looked at Vincent.
" Who's here?" he asked
" No one," Vincent said, " The chimes just went off."
Erik rose and limped towards the stairs and leaned against the wall.
" Those chimes do not ring unless someone is here," Erik remarked
Footsteps were heard and Erik waited, he slipped his mask on. He waited and Vincent walked over to stand his grounds and helped Erik.
" Monsieur O.G.?" a soft voice called
Erik slid his dagger back into his boot upon hearing the voice.
" Return to the surface Christelle," Erik called, " I am not decent for a ladies eyes."
The footsteps ceased and then he heard sniffles and then more tears. The young dancer confessed that the man who shot at him was her brother. Erik walked up the stairs with a limp and stopped in front of her.
" O.G. I'm sorry," she cried
She stood up and wrapped her arms around him, Erik was astonished by this gesture. He returned the embrace as he let her cry and assured her that he was not hurt. She looked at him and smiled and then kissed his cheek.
" O.G. please meet me on the roof top tonight, I wish speak to you in private," she said, " My brother watches me, I do not know if he is watching me now."
She ran up the steps and Erik watched the chorus girl vanish from his sight.
" Fleur Dansante, dance more me," Erik whispered
