Chapter Five – The Music of the Night
Christine was brushing her hair. It leapt around in curls that caught on the comb. She put the comb down and sighed. She surveyed her reflection in her small mirror, she looked pale, her hair tamed a little from the brush.
Christine rose from her dresser and headed for the door. Suddenly the candles in her room snuffed out. She stopped dead in her tracks. The feeling of someone watching her seeped into her head and she stood, rooted to the floor in terror. Christine's breath came in short gasps and she tried desperately to slow it as she turned towards the door. Her hand went for the handle and a deep, booming voice flooded through her just before she could touch it.
"Angel of Music! Come to me, Angel of music!" Christine knew the voice of her Angel. She turned round again to face her room and replied,
"Angel I hear you, Speak – I listen,
Stay by my side, guide me…
Angel my soul was weak, forgive me,
Enter at last, Master!"
The Phantom sighed slightly from behind Christine's large mirror. Her voice was so pure, so heavenly... He regained his posture and continued, his voice reaching out to swell into the room,
"Flattering child, you shall know me
see why in shadow I hide…
Look at your face in the mirror,
I am there, INSIDE!"
The Phantom slid away the glass in the mirror and he appeared to materialize from no where to Christine. Her jaw dropped as she found new music coming into her head,
"Angel of music, guide and guardian,
Grant to me your glory!
Angel of music, hide no longer,
Come to me strange Angel…"
She walked slowly towards the figure of the Phantom, trance like. She was barely aware she was moving at all. He offered his hand out to her. She took it without a second thought. Christine stepped through the mirror, entranced by her Angel.
"I am your Angel of Music..." The Phantom said, "Come to me Angel of Music…" Christine had reached the Phantom; A shiver went through the him.
'At last' He thought, 'you're mine, sweet Christine...' He took a flaming torch from a bracket on the stone wall and began to lead Christine away to his Lair.
Christine walked behind the Phantom, her Angel. Who would have thought this Phantom of the Opera, whom everyone feared, was her guardian, her Angel? She was in a total trance. Christine felt she should say something, then, her mind filled with music and she knew what to sing.
"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 lead her down a candle lit corridor and round a large spiral staircase. His cape flowed like a liquid shadow behind him, and he looked back at Christine. He opened his mouth, his full, sensitive lips, and sang back to her.
"Sing once again with me,
Our strange duet…
My power over you,
Grows stronger yet…
And though you turn from me,
To glance behind,
The Phantom of the Opera is there,
Inside your mind…"
He led Christine to a tall jet black horse, which she rode it till they reached a vast lake. A single gondola floated on it, decorated with fine silver scrolling along the edges. Christine's finders traced the designs as the Phantom helped Christine into the boat and began to skillfully scull them across. Christine's eyes took in everything around her with amazement. More words flooded into her mind.
"Those who have seen your face,
Draw back in fear…
I am the mask you wear…
The Phantom cut in, turning back again,
"It's me they hear..."
They continued together, voiced melting in perfect harmony,
"My spirit and your voice,
In one combined,
The Phantom of the Opera is there,
Inside my mind…"
As they glided round a curve, Christine could have sworn she heard voices chanting,
"He's there the Phantom of the Opera! Beware - The Phantom of the Opera!"
The voices echoed, but Christine saw not another soul. The caverns they were going through were eerie and glistened with damp from the lake. Every so often, a face loomed out of the shadows, a large Greek theatre mask or others faces like it. They became more and more extravagant and more and more ghostly. The Phantom continued to sing...
"In all your fantasies,
You always knew…
That man and mystery,"
Christine cut into his song,
"We're both in you..."
They continued together again...
"And in this labyrinth,
Where night is blind…
The Phantom of the Opera is here,
Inside my mind…"
They entered a large cave, the gate in front of them rose up, and the Phantom sculled under. Candelabra's rose from the waters of the lake and surrounded the cave.
"Sing, my Angel of Music!" coaxed the Phantom. Christine began to vocalize strangely, as she did so, her song became more and more extravagant, and she sang higher and higher. She began to come to the limit of her voice.
"Sing for me..." The Phantom cooed. "Sing! My Angel..." He said. Christine gave it everything, she rose past her highest note and they finally docked. She finished her song, and the last traces of the note echoed round the cave. The Phantom stepped out of the boat and took off his cape with a twirl. He walked towards Christine and began to sing again, this time softer, almost a whisper.
"Night time sharpens, heightens each sensation…
Darkness stirs, and wakes imagination,
Silently the senses, abandon their defenses…"
He took Christine's hand and led her deeper into his Lair. As they walked, Christine saw a model of the stage, complete with a doll of her and the rest of the cast. She turned back to face the Phantom...
"Slowly, gently, night unfurls its splendor,
Grasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender,
Turn your face away,
From the garish light of day…
Turn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light...
And listen to the Music of the Night..."
He let Christine's hand drop from his, and he darted away up a flight of steps towards a huge Organ, around it scrolls of paper with notes, drawings and strange sculptures.
"Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams,
Purge your thoughts of the life you knew before,
Close your eyes let you spirit start to soar...
And you'll live as you've never lived before... "
The Phantom returned to Christine and took her hand again. He walked with her to an open space surrounded by many candles. He brought his face closer to hers, they were so close, they could feel one another's breath.
"Softly, deftly, music shall caress you,
Hear it, feel it, secretly possess you,
Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind,
In this darkness that you know, you cannot fight…
The darkness of the Music of the Night."
Again he left Christine's side, and walked behind a curtain of yet more candles. Christine walked with him, on the other side of the curtain. Shadows flickered across his face and they drew Christine ever deeper into her trance.
"Let your mind start a journey to a strange new world,
Leave all thoughts of the life you knew before,
Let your soul take you where you long to be!
Only then... can you belong to me..."
The Phantom reached for Christine's face, and cupped his gloved hands round her chin. He slid his hands around her waist and turned Christine round.
"Floating, falling, sweet intoxication... "
The Phantom took Christine's hand, still her back was to him, and put it to his unmasked side. He made her stroke his face, and she turned to face him.
"Touch me, trust me, savor each sensation…
Let the dream begin, let your darker side give in,
to the power of the music that I write...
The power of the Music of the Night..."
He led Christine to a curtained alcove, where he pulled back the curtain to reveal a perfect wax impression of Christine. The real Christine could only stand and stare at it. Overcome with confusion and shock, she fainted gracefully. The Phantom caught her in his arms and he walked over to a bed, covered in gold, and shaped like a swan. It had red silk lining and velvet bed sheets. He laid her down in the bed, and stroked one finger along Christine's jaw-line.
"You alone can make my song take flight...
Help me make the Music of the Night..."
The Phantom stepped back, fighting his urge to cover her perfect lips with his. He pulled a black lace curtain over the bed and paused a few seconds to gaze upon the sleeping Christine. Finally, he turned back and walked towards his organ. Christine had felt his fingers on her jaw-line and a shiver had tingled down her spine. She watched the Phantom walk away, and then let her hand go to her throat. The necklace! It wasn't there! Her body tensed in shock. She had left it in her dressing room. Was it safe? Her mind whirled with worry. But her body was too weak to worry, and she fell into a deep sleep...
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Madame Giry felt a stir in time. 'Oh no, God help me, no...'She thought, fearing the worst, 'Erik, no...NO!'
Madame raced down the corridor, skirts flying wildly behind her. If he had taken her, Christine couldn't go back. Time only stopped for a while, just long enough for the performance, and a little extra. She hurried past the Opera Populaire's foyer, and out into the cool night air. A sharp turn right and she cam to an iron window frame, which she opened with a tiny key, and climbed inside. Before her lay a small chapel, which in turn led to the spiral staircase the Phantom had led Christine down. Madame Giry slowed her pace and descended the stairs. She turned to her left and slipped through a by-passage which over-ran the underground lake. She finally arrived in the Phantoms Lair. Madame Giry looked about her, and found Christine lying asleep in a swan shaped bed. Another look around, showed her the Phantom's position at his organ. He was playing, a deep, sad, soulful tune. She approached him silently. The Phantom sensed her arrival and ceased to play. He turned round, and spoke to Madame Giry,
"Bonjour Madame," He said softly, "What brings you here?" Madame Giry shot him a dangerous look.
"You know very well what brings me here Erik!" She snapped. "Do you know this girl is like me? A Futora. She could be stranded here if she doesn't return soon!" Erik stood up sharply.
"Truly?" He asked striding towards the bed. He raised the curtain.
"Yes Erik, you must let her go. For now, but she will be back." Madame Giry went to stand beside the Phantom.
"I wish you wouldn't call me Erik," Muttered the Phantom, "It opens old wounds..." Madame Giry put a warm hand on his shoulder,
"But it is your name, none the less," She replied. Erik sighed deeply. He stroked a finger once more along Christine's hairline.
"Goodnight then, my Angel of Music..." He whispered. Madame Giry took out Christine's silver necklace and slipped it into the sleeping girl's hand. Erik stared at the mask for a second; it was an uncanny resemblance to his own. Then he and Madame Giry stepped back as Christine turned translucent and then vanished completely. Madame Giry's hand returned to Erik's shoulder.
"Don't fret" Was all she said.
"But I love her..." The words were a whisper from Erik's lips.
"I know" Replied Madame Giry solemnly. She turned and left Erik to stare at his bed.
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