Chapter 6: What Unspoken Secrets Will We Learn?

Tears still came down form Christine's cheeks. It was three years ago that she last saw his face until today. Rumen looked at her kindly and waited a moment before asking.

"Ms. Christine?" She looked up at him with wide eyes. He sighed and took a handkerchief and handed it to her. She gave a shaky smile and wiped her eyes. After a few moments she spoke quietly.

"I love that man. I love him with all my heart." Rumen looked at her then.

"Then please, Ms. Christine, why wouldn't you go to him?" New tears began brimming.

"I broke his heart once Rumen. I don't want to do it again. And I will never let him feel that he is nothing more than a comforter for my own being." Rumen saw in her eyes the memories of the past. He had to do something for her. He smiled at his employer and patted her hand.

"Don't worry, Ms. Christine. Everything will work out fine." She smiled at her friend and gazed out the window the rest of the way home.

Later that night…

Rumen sat down around the kitchen table with the rest of the staff. They consisted of Floricá, his wife, Branko, the cook, Yanoro, the gardener, Valentina, his wife, Corin, the stable manager, Luminitsa, his wife, and Ion, the main house manager. He told them what happened and Floricá looked at him in disbelief.

"Miss Christine is in love with a man?" Branko ran his hand through his dark hair.

"What did you say he was employed in?" Rumen sighed.

"The opera. That might explain the music room. The only time I ever see her in there is once a year, always on the same day." Floricá went to the pantry to get out something to snack on.

"Rumen, I think you should talk to this Erik Lavonné. Go now, it's not too late to see him. Miss Christine is asleep." Corin looked at her with a smile.

"I thought you believed in following her orders." She shrugged then put the cookies she baked earlier out.

"If she loves this man, she should be with him. She deserves a good man after that "husband" of hers committed such a crime." She eyed her husband. "If you ever do such a thing, I won't just leave you. I'll cut you to pieces and feed you to the dogs." They all laughed as Rumen tried to reassure his wife it would never happen. He did leave for the Paris Opera House. He wasn't received but said he wished to speak to Monsieur Lavonné. They let him in and brought him to the composer's office. The man knocked. A dark, frustrated voice answered.

"What is it?" Rumen was having second thoughts.

"A gentleman is here to see you." He heard scuffling.

"Tell him to leave." Before he could be dismissed by the doorman he spoke up.

"It's about Miss Christine!" There was silence until he heard footsteps. The door opened and there stood the masked man he met earlier. His hair was a mess, his jacket and vest was gone, only his pants, shirt and shoes remained. He nodded to the doorman and he left.

"Come in." Rumen walked in and looked around. It was a spacious place but covered with papers. Erik walked to the desk and sat down.

"What do you want?" Rumen took a deep breath before advancing.

"I wish to speak to you about Miss Christine." He didn't look up from his work.

"Yes I heard you the first time." Rumen went further in.

"You do know, she loves you, Monsieur." Erik stopped and looked up at him with burning eyes.

"Where would you get an idea like that?" Rumen didn't back down.

"She told me herself. I came to see if you truly loved her as well." He got up from his chair and started advancing.

"You know nothing of the things I have done in the name of my love for that woman. If she loved me so much, why did she leave me?" Rumen looked confused.

"I don't know, but she says that's partially the reason why she won't run to you." Erik's eyebrows furrowed together in confusion.

"What are you talking about, gypsy?" He took a deep breath of the name.

"My name is Rumen." Erik seemed to be getting more annoyed than before.

"Alright, Rumen. What are you talking about?" The gypsy took a minute to compose himself.

"She said she didn't want to break your heart again. She didn't want to use you for her own benefit." The masked man laughed.

"A little late for that isn't it. Leave, tell her the angel of hell will not care if she pleads." A sudden idea popped into Rumen's mind. He peered at the composer.

"Did she ever call you her Angel of Music?" Erik went ridged.

"What?"

"Did she?" He turned around to look at the valet.

"How do you know that?" Rumen smiled.

"She has a special gift for you in the music room." Erik smiled.

"I don't suppose she would sing for me." The gypsy looked puzzled.

"Sing? Miss Christine can sing?" This time it was the older man to be puzzled.

"What do you mean? Of course she can sing. She has the voice of an angel!" Rumen held up his hands in defense.

"I wouldn't know sir, I have never heard the Mademoiselle sing." Erik laughed at the title then stopped. He turned back to the young man.

"How long have you been working for her?" He seemed to be pondering.

"About two years." Two years! She hasn't sung in TWO YEARS! Once again he turned to the gypsy.

"How did you know about the angel?" He only smiled.

"She has a grand piano. Beautiful, pure black with gold vines and leaves decorating it. There's a gold plaque on it as well that says, "To my Angel of Music, As you own my heart and soul, you also own my voice." I never knew what it meant until I met you." Erik seemed to be deep in thought. He looked at the valet again.

"Why have you come here?" The man smiled smugly.

"I've come to help you."