Chapter Four
Calling For Maria
The Phantom stood in the rafters, silent. His dark clothes, blending with the shadows, hid him well. He watched as Maria, his Angel, talked to the young peacock, who called himself a man. He couldn't hear everything that was being said, but he could see Maria smile.
She's perfect when she smiles, he mused. Her whole face lights up along with her eyes.
He turned back to them. He wanted to step out and show Maria that he was there. Suddenly his heart jumped into his throat. The young man had kissed Maria's cheek. He flushed with anger and hurt. He stood there a moment longer, waiting. The young man still held his Angel's attention. He wanted to walk away but couldn't. His patience was growing weary when the young man finally walked away.
He went to disappear when he saw that Maria was looking at him. He wanted to turn from those eyes so full of love and hope, he wanted to walk away and forget her. Yet he found himself standing in that one place.
He held her gaze for what seemed like an eternity, when he noticed her lips moving. She was trying to say something to him. He moved closer, and so did she. He stopped when he could see her in the light.
"Forgive me," her lips said.
He wasn't sure what to do. She had seen him and cared enough to ask him for forgiveness. He looked at her and nodded. Then he quickly disappeared into the shadows.
Maria sat in her room trying to pick out a dress to wear to dinner with Raoul. She had a beautiful light blue one, but it had gone missing along with some other items. She stood up and looked at the two she had. One was a light pink that fell off her shoulders. The other was black. It was the most beautiful with lace outlining the bodice and sleeves that were long and graceful. It wasn't meant for dinner. She only wore it when she went to see her father. She sighed. Then a thought came to her.
"I bet Meg has a dress I can borrow," she said to the two dresses.
Maria grabbed her robe and rushed to the ballet dorms. She went in and found Meg sitting on her bed, reading. She started toward her and noticed the other girls were gathered in a circle. She started by when all the girls jumped. She did the same, following their reactions.
"Light, yellow parchment is his skin," Buquet said from the center of the circle.
Maria turned at hearing him. He had a blanket over his head and was pretending to be the Phantom. He did this routine almost nightly to scare all the young girls into a nightmarish sleep.
"A great, black hole severed as the nose that never grew, and you must always be on your guard," he paused to watch Maria. "Or he will catch you with his magical lasso."
Buquet pulled a rope from his side and threw the loop around Maria. She struggled, trying to throw it off as he pulled her closer. He stopped when she was only inches away and started to growl and kiss at her.
Maria felt his liquored breath on her skin and pushed him away. He pressed up against her, rubbing his filth onto her. Maria gritted her teeth and turned away. Then she felt a strong grip pull her away.
Madame Giry now stood between Buquet and Maria. Maria threw the rope aside and walked over to Meg. She pulled her robe closed quickly.
"Those who speak of what they know of him find too late that prudent silence is wise," Madame Giry said, collecting the rope.
"Joseph Buquet, hold your tongue," Madame Giry said as she slapped him hard. "Keep your hands at the level of your eye!" She took the noose and put it around Buquet's neck. She quickly pulled the rope tight, frightening him.
Maria watched the situation play out. She turned away when Buquet left. She felt dirty and used as she always did when Buquet was near. She also hated that man and didn't want him to see it.
"Are you alright?" Meg asked.
"Fine," Maria sighed. "Do you have a dress I can borrow?"
"For what?"
Maria avoided Meg's eyes. She didn't want to explain, but she would. "I'm going to dinner."
Meg smiled brightly and pushed her friend jokingly. She walked over to a trunk that was sitting in the corner. She opened it and pulled out a dark blue party dress. It was made off the shoulder with thick straps and had a small white rose on the bodice. Maria gasped at seeing it.
"Meg," she said breathlessly. "It's perfect!"
Meg hugged Maria. "Better go get ready."
Maria took the dress and quickly ran to her room. She shut the door and started to change when she heard humming. She froze, listening to the beautiful sound. She waited for it to stop, but it only seemed to get louder. She walked hesitantly toward the door, forgetting the dress and her dinner date. She stepped out into the deserted hallway and heard the humming get louder. She followed the sweet song until it stopped. She looked around, waiting for the melody to start again.
The hallway remained silent. Its cool air gave Maria an uneasy feeling. However she wanted to find the source of the humming. She looked around, noticing a light in Carlotta's dressing room. She slowly started walking toward it. Suddenly the humming started again, giving her a start.
This tune wasn't as sweet; it was harsh, demanding, and somewhat sinister. Maria felt a shiver go down her spine as she listened. She didn't want to go to it, but the sound called to her. She walked silently into the dressing room.
It was empty and dark except for one candle burning on the table that illuminated the mirror. She crept over to the table and listened to the music that echoed throughout the room.
"Is someone there?" Maria called.
The humming ceased. Maria looked around. She felt everything in her standing on end. She quickly turned to leave.
"Insolent boy," a voice out of the darkness sang.
Maria froze. She looked around and still saw no one. She was shaking now from the fear of what was about to happen to her.
"This salve of fashion, basking in your glory," the voice continued. "Ignorant fool, this brave, young suitor, sharing in my triumph!"
Maria stumbled to find her voice. She was shaking almost uncontrollably, and then suddenly it hit her. This unseen voice was the Angel of Music. There was no other person it could be. Words on the note also flashed in her mind. She was supposed to meet him in the dressing room but not tonight.
"Angel, speak and I'll listen," Maria said back.
The voice was silent. Maria slowly regained her composure. She looked around and felt a breath of cold air. She turned to the mirror and saw her reflection along with someone else. She stepped back, nearly knocking the candle off the table.
"I'm here with you," the voice started again. "Look at your face in the mirror. I am there inside!"
Maria turned back to the mirror and slowly saw his reflection join hers. She felt horror pulse through her as she saw the man from Box Five. She could make out the handsome features. But on the other side of his face was a white mask. She found herself being scared, yet drawn to his perfect voice. She moved silently toward the mirror. Mist started swirling around her, turning reality into a dream.
Maria stepped through the mirror and saw bright, beautiful light. Whatever room she was in was flooded with brilliant candle light. She stared in awe and noticed that the Phantom was holding out his hand. She hesitantly put her in his and followed him down the hallway.
They passed down the hall of light and into a stairwell. The Phantom held tightly to her hand and glanced back at her often. He paused for a moment at the top of the stairs. She looked at him, and then followed his gaze. There at the bottom of the stairs, stood a black horse. He was tied to the wall with a silver bridle and black side saddle. She felt a smile creep across her face as they walked toward the horse. The Phantom stopped at the bottom of the stairs and tossed his torch aside, casting shadows over the steed. He turned to Maria as if asking permission to do something. She didn't know what he wanted, but she nodded her approval. Delicately he scooped her up and placed her on the horse.
Maria took the reins as the Phantom pulled the lead shank from the wall and started leading the horse farther into the catacombs.
Maria sat proudly on the horse looking around. Slowly she turned and looked over her shoulder. She turned back as the Phantom walked toward her. He held out his arms, and she slipped off into them. He slowly slipped his arms around her waist as she touched his arms.
The Phantom took her hand again and led her to a small lake. There was perfect black boat waiting for her. He gently helped her into the boat and climbed inside. He pushed it off from the dock and started down the river.
Maria started to sing. She wasn't even sure why, but she did. The Phantom turned to her as she started to hit all the notes.
"Sing," he said.
Maria took his order and started to sing louder. The Phantom smiled as her voiced flowed over him.
"Sing, my Angel of Music!" He bellowed.
Maria felt a surge of energy go thorough her as she listened to him. She put another note behind her voice and felt amazing. Slowly they came around to a wall. Maria turned back to the Phantom as the wall started to disappear. Maria looked through the gate and saw thousands of candles. She felt her heart flutter as candelabras started coming up out of the water. The candles lit as the water fell from them, giving the room a brighter look. The Phantom brought the boat to the edge of the small island. He jumped out and took off his cloak. Maria could only stare in sheer awe of this world that he had created beneath the opera house.
There were candles everywhere and it made the darkness look like daylight. There was also an organ against the rock wall. It was beautiful with the sheet music littering its ivory keys. Maria could see two other chambers. She assumed that they were bedrooms.
"I have brought you," the Phantom said, snapping her out of her thoughts. "To this seat of sweet music's throne, where all must pay homage to music."
Maria stared at him. She thought of how handsome he was, and how he had seen only her. She went to stand, but the boat was very shaky. He quickly walked over and pulled her from the boat.
"You have come here for one purpose and one alone," the masked man said as he left Maria for the organ. "Since the moment I first heard you sing." He turned to Maria. "I have needed you with me. To serve me and sing for my music."
Maria gazed at him, wide-eyed. His world, voice, and his need was all she could feel. He gently took her hand again and started leading her around the candles, the sheet music, and the paintings he had made of her. He was singing something that sounded so wonderful, but she didn't hear him. She could only feel him. His words were flowing over her like a cleansing river. He suddenly pulled her close and put her hand to his face. She breathed in the smell of him and felt intoxicated. This world and this man was all she could ever want. She followed him as he moved toward one of the rooms. She no longer looked at the lair but at him. He had to be the most handsome man she had ever seen with a true genius for music.
The Phantom stopped at the entrance of one the small rooms. Maria looked at him questioningly. He loved the way she looked at him, with her bright eyes seeing only him. He also loved the way she pressed up against him, as if she didn't want him to leave her side. He nodded toward the doorway and pulled the curtain aside. Maria looked inside the room and almost screamed.
There was a sewing dummy in the room dressed with a beautiful light blue dress. The dress was off the shoulder with a little bit of lace hanging from the small sleeves. The dress was Maria's! It was her party dress that had gone missing. She slowly felt her knees go weak and her head spin. She fell back against the Phantom, lost in a deep dream. He scooped her up and carried her to the bed chamber. The pink, velvet sheets were pulled back as he sat her down in the folds of the eagle's wings.
"Help me make the music of the night," he sang as he caressed her perfect face.
He watched as she slept. He reached over and pulled a small curtain rod, dropping a black lace curtain over the bed. He spared one last look at his beautiful, sleeping Angel. He then smiled and slipped off to the organ.
