Chapter 11: Opening night
It was the opening night of Hannibal at the new Opera Populaire, and there was a sense of tense excitement in the air. Marie Claire was sitting in her dressing room, feeling as though she was about to be sick. This was the first moment of calm she had had in several hours. Everyone had been running around, fixing her hair, fixing her makeup, her jewlery. her dress. She took several deep breaths, trying to calm herself. Then there was a soft tap at the door. It was her parents and Felix, coming in to wish her good luck. She smiled at them though she had butterflies in her stomach.
"Hello my girl," said Raoul grinning, "You look like an angel in that dress, and I am sure that you will sing like one as well. Break a leg as they say, my darling." he said, giving her a thumbs up and a kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you papa. Will you be sitting in box 7?" she asked.
"As always. And I promise that I won't make any faces at you from the box." he said, laughing. "And neither will Felix. Will you son?"
"I pinky swear." said the small boy, who standing next to his father indeed looked just like him. "Good luck sis."
"Thanks." she said, taking his pinky.
"Marie sweetie, you look absoulutely beautiful in that dress." said Christine.
Amazingly enough, Marie Claire was wearing the exact same costume that Christine had worn when she had played Elissa.
"Thank you mama." said Marie, swallowing. "Um mama, do you ever get this nervous before a performance?"
Christine nodded.
"Everyone gets nervous, even experienced proffesionals. Do you remember how nervous I was before that perfomance of 'Il Muto' two months ago? I've been singing for twenty years and I still get nervous. But once you get on that stage , you'll forget all about your nerves."
Marie Claire nodded, reassured. She felt a bit better.
"We'll we'd better go and take our seats. Good luck darling." said Christine as she winked at Marie. " I must say that this brings back memories of when I played Elissa. And of when I was reunited with a certain someone."She said, looking fondly over at Raoul.
Raoul smiled, taking Christine's hand.
"It certainly does bring back memories. How amazing it is that our daughter is now singing this part." Raoul looked at his watch. "Oh we'd better go. Good luck dear."
Marie bid them goodbye, returning her mother's wink. She felt slightly better. Then she heard another soft tap at the door. It was Meg and Lizzie. Lizzie looked perfect in her ballerina costume, her golden hair in curls and tied half up half down with a ribbon. Meg smiled at her goddaughter.
"Well Miss Marie Claire de Chagny, I must say that you look beautiful. You are the very image of your mother, except with your father's eyes. Speaking of that, I'd better go and find them. They might have a nervous breakdown with you up there. Well good luck my dear, I'll leave Lizzie to take care of you."
Meg looked over at Lizzie.
"Good luck sweetie. Just remember that if you get nervous, papa and I will be sitting in Box seven with the de Chagnys. Good luck you two." she said, flashing a thumbs up as she walked out the door.
Marie Claire and Lizzie looked over at each other with nervous excitement.
"Well, I'm sure we'll do great "said Lizzie, her eyes glowing with excitement. "After all, we are the two most beautiful girls on the stage." she said, her green eyes laughing.
"That's right. You look lovely Lizzie, you'll do great." said Marie hugging her friend.
"So will you. You have a voice like I've never heard before, Marie. And I suppose that it shouldn't be to difficult, considering that your co- star just happens to be in love with you." said Lizzie, grinning.
Marie Claire blushed and smiled brightly.
"Yes, that does rather help a bit. By the way how's William?" asked Marie of one of the male dancers and Lizzie's current suitor.
" He's fine. Really nervous, but fine. The male species just dosen't seem to have the guts that we do, do they?"
Both girls laughed until they heard a shrill voice ring through the air.
"Girls ten minutes until curtain call!" yelled Madame Giry.
The girls hugged and did their good luck handshake. But as Marie Claire was about to walk out the door, a soft voice called to her.
"Good luck, sing well, Madmoiselle de Chagny."
Marie stopped short. It was the Phantom, there was no doubt of that. Lizzie seemed to notice that there was something wrong.
"What is it Marie Claire?" she asked looking puzzled.
"It's nothing. I'll tell you later." said Marie as she walked out the door. Once outside, she saw Arthur, who had a look in his face. Marie knew that he had heard the voice to. He saw Marie's worried face and came to her, planting a soft kiss on her cheek.
"Don't worry Marie Claire, I'm sure he's not up to anything."
"You're right." she said, taking a deep breath. "Well good luck.See you out there." she said, squeezing his hand.
Marie Claire had turned in a flawless performance so far, and as she waited to sing her aria, she hoped that this would go as well. As she stood waiting, Madame Giry came over to her and smiled her odd smile. She always smiled as though she knew something that you didn't.
"Hello my dear. You have done very well tonight. I'm sure that this will go just as well. It seems like just yesterday that your mother was singing this song. I watched her blossom as a singer, just as I watched you. Good luck." she said as she ushered Marie out onto the stage.
Madame Giry sighed as she watched Marie Claire walk out onto the stage looking truly astonishing in her dress. She knew that Erik was up to something, and she knew that the whole de Chagny family would have a lot to go through before this was over.
As Marie Claire walked out onto the stage, all nerves left her. It was as though hearing the Phantom's voice had chased all her fears away. It was just her and the music. She looked up at box seven and smiled, and everyone smiled back. But she noticed them looking over at box five. She looked over and saw a shadowy figure in the box. But she didn't let it bother her, in fact it gave her a strange sense of inspiration, but also a twinge of fear. She began to sing.
"Think of me. think of me fondly, when we've said goodbye. Remember me, once in a while, please promise me you'll try..."
She sang perfectly, beautifully, amazingly. She hit every note with ease, her clear soprano voice ringing through the air as she hit the final note.
"Of me!"
The audience came to their feet in a roaring standing ovation. There were bravos from every corner. There were especially loud bravos coming from box seven. As Marie Claire took her bows, and as roses landed at her feet, she heard a soft "bravissimo" coming from the rafters, and the soft swish of a cloak leaving the box. Marie left the stage, slightly shaken, but still ecstatic from her performance. The first person she saw backstage was Arthur, who gave her a soft kiss on the lips as he spun her around.
"That was magnificent! Unbelievable! You sang like a creature from heaven. Congratulations!" he said excitedly, smiling from ear to ear.
"Thanks Arthur," she said, returning his kiss. and embracing him warmly. " I must say that you did wonderfully too, love. Well we'd better get changed, we're all going out to dinner in a little while."
"Alright see you in a bit then, Elissa." he said jokingly.
As Marie Claire made her way to her dressing room, she ran into Lizzie who was so excited that she could barely speak. It took Marie Claire a while to get to her dressing room, considering she was pounced upon by everyone she saw. When she finally made it to her dressing room, she was greeted by many boquets of flowers. One of pink roses from her parents, one of yellow roses from Lizzie and her parents, and one of red roses from Arthur. Andre and Firmin had also sent her one. She smiled, knowing that her family would come bursting in at any moment. Then she looked down at her dressing table and noticed something that she hadn't noticed before. A single red rose lay there on the table, with a black satin ribbon tied around it. Marie felt the air around her become frigid, and all the candles went out.
"Bravo madmoiselle, bravo." said a soft voice, floating eerily through the air.
Marie Claire then felt a gloved hand on her shoulder. She turned around to see Erik standing before her.
" Good evening Marie Claire." he said cordially.
Marie stared. What was the Phantom doing in her dressing room?
"Good evening Erik." she said politley, trying to hide her shock. For some strange reason, she didn't feel afraid.
"I must say that that was an astonishing performance. I applaud you." he said smiling and strange and rare smile.
"Thank you monsieur. Now may I ask what you are doing here?" said Marie, starting to feel a sense of foreboding worry.
"Why to congratulate you of course." he said slowly. "Now why don't you come with me."
Marie Claire's breath caught in her throat and her heart raced.
"Erik please don't take me. If I want to come please let me come on my own. You can't force people to do things! But please don't hurt anyone I love!" she said, tears forming in her pleading blue eyes.
Erik's eyes widened. He respected the fact that she was standing up for herself. He even felt sorry for her, but he pushed it away, he had to have her voice.
"You mean your parents? And the young performer that you seem to have fallen in love with? Come now my dear, you should know that one does not tell the Phantom of the Opera what to do."he said coming closer to her.
"But.." started Marie.
"But nothing. Sing for me!" he said as he put his hands on her thin shoulders.
Once again Marie Claire felt herself falling under a trance. She tried valiantly to fight it, but alas she could not fight the darkness that overcame her. Words to a strange song that she didn't even know started to come out of her mouth.
"In sleep he sang to me, in dreams he came. That voice which calls to me, and speaks my name. And do I dream again, for now I find, the Phantom of the Opera is there, inside my mind."
The Phantom began to sing.
"Sing once again with me our strange duet, my power over you, grows stronger yet." he sang as began leading her towards the mirror.
But suddenly the door swung open and Raoul came in to congratulate his daughter. At the sound of the door Marie Claire snapped out of her trance and both stopped singing. Raoul stared.
"What is going on?" he asked, shocked. "Marie sweetie are you alright?"
"Yes papa, I'm fine." she said coming over and hugging her father.
Erik cast a dirty look over at Raoul.
"Good evening monsieur le vicomte." he said coolly.
"Good evening monsieur," said Raoul, trying to keep the anger out of his voice and remain calm. " May I ask what you are doing in my daughter's dressing room?"
"I was simply congratulating her on her performance this evening. Now why don't you leave us Raoul." he said spitefully, his hand moving towards his hip.
"Papa watch out!" screamed Marie in terror as she saw the Phantom draw his sword as fast as a bolt of lightning.
Raoul gasped in surprise as he felt the Phantom slowly place his sword against his neck. He looked Erik bravely in the eyes.
"I had no wish to harm you monsieur, I only wanted to protect my daughter. Must you result to violence? Can't we settle this another way? Indeed you have caught me unprepared." said Raoul angrily.
Marie was panicking, tears flowing from her blue eyes.
"Erik please don't hurt my papa. I beg of you!" she pleaded.
Raoul looked at Erik with anger and pity in his eyes that looked just like Marie's.
"If you wish to teach her this is not the way to do it! Haven't you learned that by now?"
"Hush! You already messed up my plans once before boy, and you won't do it again, I'll make sure of that!" he said a wild look in his eyes. "I have you just where I want you." he said as he pressed the sword harder against Raoul's neck.
Raoul flinched in pain as the cold metal was pressed roughly up against his neck, way to close for comfort.
"You're going to make this as painful as possible aren't you?" said Raoul, gritting his teeth.
"Of course I am. Say goodbye my dear vicomte." said the Phantom, as Marie tried futiley to help her father. The situation seemed hopeless since Raoul was unarmed, and the Phantom was a magician.
"Christine,Marie, Felix..." Whispered Raoul as a single tear slid down his face.
But then the door flew open, and Christine walked in. The Phantom widened his eyes in shock.
"Erik what are you doing? Let him go, please!" begged Christine, shock in her tear filled eyes as she ran over to Marie Claire, and put her arm around her shaking shoulders. She was afraid to go over to where Raoul and Erik were, because she was afraid that Erik would seriously harm Raoul if she came near.
"I'm just taking care of some unfinished buisness, my dear Christine." said Erik, moving the sword ever so slightly across Raoul's neck.
Raoul flinched in pain, but spoke.
"Please, if you insist on destroying my life, at least have the decency to let me say goodbye to my family. Please." he said, his eyes full of pain and sadness.
"I don't think so." said Erik, pressing the sword even harder against Raoul's neck. "You've passed the point of no return, I'm afraid.'
But once again, as had been the trend for the evening, the door flew open. The Phantom dropped his sword in surprise. Christine and Marie Claire ran over to Raoul and hugged him. He hugged them back, trying to soothe them, and assure them that he was alright, as drops of blood fell from his neck. He would be fine, but that has been a close call. Andre, Firmin, Meg, her husband Jacque, Lizzie, and Arthur stood in the door, staring. A look of anger and hate formed in the Phantom's eyes.
"This is not the last you will see of me. You may have foiled my plans this time, but you can be assured that I will return." he said as he wrapped his cloak around him and dissapeared.
"What the hell was that?" asked Andre, staring.
