Chapter 30
A layer of snow covered Paris, giving the city a dreamlike quality of frozen ice sculptures and white grounds. Snow was falling as Elle's eyes stared out the window of her bedroom. Icicles hung down over the top of her window, threatening to break off and drop to the street. She watched as a carriage pulled past the opera house, leaving its tracks through the snow behind it along with the prints from the horses' hooves. The way the snowfall left nothing untouched by the milk white crystals was beautiful, almost poetic, and as it fell the sight was enough to put anyone in a trance. The sound of a door opening was enough to pull Elle away from her daze. Her eyes left the outside as she turned to her side, her arms wrapped around her middle.
Nadia stood at the door, closing it behind her and looking at Elle. She was wearing a deep red dress with a shawl over her arms. Her long black hair was pulled up and twisted into a bun. With one hand she carried a lit candle on a golden candleholder, and she placed that down on the table before proceeding into the room. In her other hand she held a mask that was plain and undecorated, yet ruby red to match her evening dress. The opera house, due to its size, was more than a bit drafty, but as Nadia stood there her comfort was the last thing on her mind. "Elle, shouldn't you be dressed already? People will be arriving within the hour."
"Yes, yes I suppose so," Elle answered vacantly, her large green eyes blank. Nadia could tell that her mind was straying off, that although her friend's body was there her mind wasn't. Elle wandered away from the window, seemingly indifferent to the time it was.
"Come, come, let's see what you are wearing tonight," Nadia said, walking over to Elle's wardrobe and opening it. The dress Elle was going to wear was made recently, after Nadia's insistence of her getting a new dress made for the occasion. It was made of dark green silk, with off the shoulder straps that turned into long sleeves. Sitting on top of Elle's vanity was a matching mask, emerald green and ornamented with black feathers and sequins.
That evening L'Opera Magnifique was holding a masquerade to celebrate the New Year. It was a tradition; the original opera house had done the same each year before it was burnt down. Elle felt distant that day, and was not quite sure why. The New Year was more about anticipating the future, not reflecting on the past. She was supposed to be celebrating her new ownership and looking forward to a successful year, but instead there was a dread deep inside her- dreading the party that was awaiting her. Madame Giry had handled the invitations without question, her experience making her the perfect candidate. Large attendance was expected for high-class members of society cherished the opportunities given to them to flaunt their expensive gowns and jewelry.
Elle had no interest in any of that, but she listened to her friend nonetheless. Nadia helped her change into the new dress, commenting on how lovely she looked. Green was an agreeable color for Elle, complimenting her eyes and her fair complexion. Her dirty blonde hair was experimented with, but eventually Nadia decided to simply pull it up and place a silver comb there to hold it in place. Although she was dressed, something was missing. Nadia stared at her for a moment, trying to think of what it was. Then an idea hit her and she asked Elle where her jewelry box was. The dark-haired girl went through it, eventually pulling out a silver necklace and placing it around her friend's neck. The transformation was now complete.
The two descended together, with an air of refinement. As she walked Elle's gown trailed behind her, her movements appearing all the more elegant. By the time they entered the foyer there was already a crowd forming, including some of the wealthiest and most influential people in the city. The opera house was the place to see and be seen, and they would not miss the chance. Men escorted their wives and daughters about the room, greeting those they knew with a smile and a nod. Women whispered to each other in small clusters, stopping when someone passed by. When Elle entered many glanced up to look at her. People had been gossiping about her since the news was printed about her single-handedly taking on the management of the building. The women could not decide whether she was simply naïve, or if her move was one of courage and daring.
Elle gave a short speech, welcoming the people there and toasting to the future of the opera house. She seemed unaware that most the women present were talking about her amongst themselves; if she had then she would not have cared. Nadia stayed by her side and when she was done speaking they wandered through the crowd together. They had no aim and no destination, only to keep out of the way of the dancing. Standing by the wall they watched the swirls of colors, moving in circular motions. People were dancing, and the women's dresses swayed as they moved, creating a sea of various colors: shades of red, green, blue, gold, plus the traditional black and white. The jewelry they were wearing reflected the light from the chandeliers, almost as if the necklaces and bracelets were made from little square mirrors, and at times as they moved there were flashes of luminosity. The men wore suits and formalwear, generally black with a white tie.
"Quite a gathering," Nadia commented, drawing Elle's attention from the crowd and back to her. "Did you expect so many people?"
"Yes," she answered, glancing from Nadia and back out over the room. She was looking for someone, but she was not sure who. Most of the people she saw did not look familiar, but then again many of them were wearing masks. Frowning, she continued. "Madame Giry arranged it, but you know how these events are. People come for the sake of being seen."
"Well, this event is not for them. It is for you. You have a new year ahead of you now, full of potential to be better then the last one was. I told you that we would see each other again, and here we are. Once I told you that things will get better, and I truly believe that they will. We just have to wait and see. There is a lot of difference that a year can make."
"Did I ever tell you how wise you are for your age?" Elle asked, smiling at her friend. Nadia always managed to say the right thing and help her calm down. She had a quality about her and, although she was younger then Elle, could be a mix of mother and sister to her at the same time. The red mask was on Nadia's face, covering part of her forehead and the top of her nose. Her brown eyes had gold specks in them that shined through two holes in the mask, the glint sparkling humorously.
"No, but you can tell me when I return," Nadia replied playfully. "I am going to get something to drink. Do you want anything?"
"No, I am fine. Thank you anyway." She watched Nadia in her crimson gown get lost in the horde of people as she moved across the large room. Elle stood by herself, observing people as they danced and laughed, the music serving as a background for the entire evening. The music picked up and the dancers seemed to spin around in a blur. The room was hot and stuffy due to too many people placed in one space, although outside there were several inches of snow. The thought of sneaking out of the ball and into some fresh air was tempting.
Attempting to get away for at least a couple minutes, Elle tried to maneuver her way towards the nearest exit. That was not an easy task in itself; she had to cross the dance floor in order to make it to the doors. As she was moving she politely excused herself and people allowed her to pass. Elle was almost across the entire room, her eyes on the doors, when she was stopped. The woman in front of her was about her height, but a bit plump and far into her sixties. Her grayish-blonde hair was down and she held the stem of a mask with her wrinkled right hand. On the same hand were three rings, one containing a large sapphire that looked about the size of a small rock and reflected enough light to blind someone if they were staring at it and the other two a bit less gaudy. Her voice was strained, and the first time that she spoke Elle could not hear what she said over the noise.
"Excuse me?" she asked, looking over the older woman quizzically. She leaned in closer so that she could hear her better.
"Are you Mademoiselle D'aubigne?" the woman asked again, trying to speak louder. Despite the mask Elle had given a speech earlier and therefore everyone knew who she was.
"Yes," Elle answered, wondering what the woman wanted. She wanted to leave, but she struggled to remain polite as she smiled courteously. "Can I help you with something?"
"No, my dear," she replied. "I wanted to congratulate you on your endeavor."
"Thank you," Elle responded, relieved that that was all she wanted. Her eyes scanned the area before looking back again at the person in front of her. She was ready to walk off and about to, until she was spoken to again. She stopped trying to move when she heard the lady continue.
"Not many young people appreciate the opera these days," the woman droned on, not noticing Elle's lack of interest in what she had to say. She seemed to enjoy listening to herself speak. "It is nice to see a girl so young be dedicated to it. You know, I always said…"
The woman was interrupted. A man had walked up to them with a manner demanding their attention. He took long strides and walked so gracefully that people turned to watch him as he moved. Once he passed they whispered to each other, wondering who he was and why they did not recognize him. The man wore a black mask covering most of his face, except for the mouth and chin. He was dressed like all the other men present, except wore the formal clothing with much more poise, giving the impression that he was high in social status. His dark hair was slicked back neatly without a strand out of place. His eyes appeared to speak for him through the two slits in the mask. He looked down at both the women simultaneously, but his eyes were focused on Elle.
His voice was deep and melodious. It was pleasing to listen to, but he spoke low, so that only they could hear him. "Excuse me Madame. Mademoiselle, may I have this dance?"
He offered a hand out to Elle and the woman nodded for her to take it. The next thing she knew, Elle was spinning around the floor with the masked stranger, as if in some sort of trance. His voice sounded so familiar, but she was not sure if it was him. She had not expected his appearance at the masquerade; she had not heard from him since the letter. Yet although her mind doubted that the man who was now holding her hand and dancing perfectly was him, somehow she knew she was wrong.
"Erik…" she whispered, glancing down at the hand that held hers. It was strong yet graceful, just as she remembered his. Her grasp tightened slightly, as if she were afraid that if she did not hold on tight enough he would slip through her fingers like a ghost. A part of her wanted to let go completely and run, to get as far away from him as possible, but she could not bring herself to do so. She felt powerless over her body and moved loosely with his, allowing him to lead her wherever he desired. Her eyes slowly moved their way back up to his and as she stared into them she knew for sure that it was him.
"Congratulations Mademoiselle," he said, ignoring her recognition and twirling her around again. His voice did not have even a slight trace of familiarity as he addressed her. He spoke to her with civil courtesy, sounding as if he had just met her. His eyes betrayed this manner though, for they showed his awareness of the past in their grey depths. As Elle stared into his eyes she noticed that they looked like clouds gathering before a storm. She felt helpless against them. "This proves to be a successful night for the opera house."
Elle found it hard to reply. There were so many things that she wanted to say, but she knew that she could not, at least not there. Although a part of her wanted to put him behind her, into her past where he belonged, their relationship was like an unfinished symphony- it lacked closure and finality. There were things unsaid between them and things that would never be said. She knew that it would never end as long as she remained in the opera house, but she refused to ever leave there again. Most of the saddest and the happiest moments of her life took place there, like highlights of her past. Elle could not bring herself to leave the place where she most felt at home. She knew Erik would always be there, his presence lurking around every corner and behind every door, and yet that was a part of why she loved the building so much. He was one with the building and she had loved the building since she first saw it. If he hadn't been there she wondered if it would have been the same.
"Surprised to see me?" he whispered in her ear, noticing the strange look in her eyes. It held a mixture of emotions- shock, hesitation, uncertainty. In a way he enjoyed being the person who knew everything that went on in that place, and at the same time being a person whose activities no one was aware of unless he wished them to be. The power was in his hands on when he wished to be seen or when he appeared to vanish in thin air. "You didn't think that I would miss this, did you?"
It was then that Elle realized he was who she had been looking for earlier. Somehow she knew that he would come, that he had to come, but the rest was up to him. As they danced she felt that it was really only them in the room, even though they were surrounded by people. The people around them were as unaware of the couple as they were of them. Noise filled the room, but they did not hear it. Elle spoke to him quietly, in an unintentional whisper. The words came out, answering him and at the same time affirming her realization. "No, I knew that you would come," she paused a moment before continuing. "I just didn't think that I would see you."
The song ended and a new one began. Erik let go of Elle and stepped back, bowing slightly. "Well I am sure that you will do a wonderful job," he stated, politely bringing her hand up to his mouth and barely touching her knuckle to his lips. Then he dropped her hand and looked at her one last time. "But just in case I will keep in touch." His eyes added 'I'm always watching.'
Elle stood stiffly and firmly, stunned. She could not move as she watched Erik disappear into the crowd around her. Her mind could not think of what to do, as if for that minute she was frozen in time. She did not realize that she had been standing and staring at nothing when she felt a hand on her arm. The touch was light and gentle, bringing her back to reality. Elle followed the length of the hand up to the arm and eventually to the face of Nadia. She was smiling happily, her cheeks flushed with vitality. Her hand held a glass that she was offering to Elle.
"No, no thank you," Elle said, pushing the glass away. She recovered from her stupor. "I'm not thirsty."
"I saw you dancing with that man," Nadia commented, not appearing to notice the difference in her friend. She spoke joyfully, unaware of the impact that that dance had on Elle. "Who was that dashing gentleman? I didn't want to disturb you two, but now that he is gone I want to know. Is he a possible suitor?"
"No, I'm not quite sure who he was," she replied calmly, her eyes scanning the room trying to find him. It was to no avail, all she saw were people- people with masks, people dancing, people laughing. Elle turned her glance back to Nadia. "Did you see which way he went?"
"Yes," Nadia answered, set back by Elle's behavior but not questioning it. She turned and pointed towards a set of doors. "He went that way."
"Thank you," Elle responded, taking off into the direction that Nadia had pointed. Nadia was left standing alone and confused. This was not like Elle, but she was sure that whatever she did there was a reason behind it. With a shrug she looked down at the drink in her hand and took a sip. Then, looking back up, she began walking with no destination in mind.
The moment Nadia had pointed towards the doors Elle saw one close abruptly. Without thinking she set out into the mass of people between her and the doors. She made it there quickly because she had sprinted; the people around her noticed but did not say anything. Instead they watched as she opened a door and vanished, silently wondering what the urgency was and then returning to their activities with dwindling interest. As Elle stepped out of the room her head darted to look at both ends of the hall, deliberating which way she should go. Her instinct told her to go right, and as she ran down the hall she found that she was right. A cloak fluttered around a corner and she knew that she was close behind. He moved fast though, so she took off her shoes in order to keep up. Her small feet made barely any noise as they moved over the carpet, her dress made a swishy sound as she ran.
Minutes later Elle looked up and around, now walking down an aisle. She found herself in the theatre. It was quiet and dark, no candles having been lit there. Elle used the rows of seating as a guide, although she knew the room very well. She inched her way slowly down to the stage and when she arrived she heard a noise. It was someone moving something, a prop perhaps, and the object was making the sound of something heavy being dragged across wood flooring. Then abruptly it stopped. Elle found the stairs and carefully stepped onto the stage. Her eyes were gradually adjusting to the dark. She moved in the direction that the sound had emanated from. Darkness surrounded her, but Elle could faintly make out an opening on the stage.
To be continued…
A/N: There is still more to go, but I wanted to get this up so that you all have something to read. Hopefully the rest will be up by next week. Thank you all for the reviews! There were so many and I really appreciate it. I don't have time to respond to everyone like I usually do, but I still want to thank each one of you who left one. I love you all! (Please review this too) Gracias!