XXV
Meg tugged on Christine's hand as she led her out of the theatre. The dancer's had all been given the day off and Meg wanted to go into the city to look at the shops. Christine was against this however, first of all it was threatening to rain and second of all, Antoinette did not approve of them going out in the city alone. Meg of course didn't find reason in her mother's advice.
"Oh hurry up Christine, nothing bad will happen."
"What if Madame finds out?"
"We won't tell her and she won't find out. Please Christine, I just want to look in the shops. We might even have enough to buy something."
"We get paid less than the horses Meg."
"The horses get paid?"
"Meg, Madame said that we shouldn't go out alone."
"We'reeleven years old, we can take care of ourselves."
"Meg..."
Despite her objections Christine followed Meg out onto the streets. Antoinette would occasionally take them out to shop or browse the stores. They never purchased much, maybe a hair ribbon or at the most a new dress or shoes. It was still fun to look though and Christine soon forgot about her objections as they looked at some hair ribbons in a shop window.
"I wish we could buy them," Meg pouted, "they're so pretty."
"Maybe for Christmas," Christine suggested, "Madame will probably get them for you."
"But that is nearly a month away," Meg sighed, "in fact it's more like two months!"
"Well yes…but it is coming."
"And what about you Christine? Maman doesn't buy gifts for you."
"That's alright, I don't need any new hair ribbons…we should probably go Meg. Its getting late and Madame will get angry."
"I guess so...but lets look in the candy shop first. Just to see what there is. Maybe we have just enough for one little treat?"
"Well…alright, but we have to hurry."
"Hurry up then!" Meg giggled and ran off towards the shop, Christine following behind her.
Erik meandered through the cellars, stopping and investigating items that had long been forgotten in the years that the theatre had been operational. Most of the items were old costumes and props that had been used and forgotten about. He absently picked up a piece of broken glass and regarded his reflection in it.
He didn't have lessons with Christine that day, though he would occasionally sit in the chapel when they weren't scheduled. Sometimes she would come to talk and he liked to be there for those instances. Today he knew that Christine had gone out with Meg and didn't expect her to visit their secret place.
"What have we here?" he asked, picking up a piece of broken glass. He frowned at it and tossed it aside, "apparently nothing of value."
Erik was surprised at he way boredom seemed to gnaw at his mind; it had been a long time since he had actually been bored. Usually he would have something to do, whether it was teaching Christine, composing music or simply wreaking havoc on the theatre.
"Boring," he sang softly, kicking a piece of wood out of his way.
Taking a last look around the cellar he decided to go and see what his manager was up to. It had been weeks since he had actually spied on the poor man, hopefully that would provide some amusement.
"Thank you Monsieur Reyer and good day."
Erik watched as the conductor left the office and Monsieur Lefevre sat back in his chair. The manager flipped through some papers before sighing heavily and looking at the calendar. With resigned efficiency he moved across the room and opened the safe behind the painting on the wall. Taking out two ten thousand franc notes Monsieur Lefevre made his way back to the desk where an envelope remain open.
"Here you are my friend," he sighed and scribbled something on the front, "twenty-thousand francs."
Erik smiled, the man was a bit late paying his salary, of course he hadn't really noticed, actually using the money was quite rare. Everything he needed could be obtained through the theatre. Clothes, food, anything else he could possibly want for, it was all in the theatre. In fact the money was more a test to see how far they would go to please him, and they certainly had gone far. Twenty thousand francs a month, that was over twice the amount a regular architect might receive in a year.
"Foolish man," Erik chuckled, turning and moving back down the passage. There were better things to do then watch a man do paper work; all he had to do was find them. He vaguely recalled that there was to be a small gala at the theatre that night, yes, that would provide some amusement if he planned it correctly.
"See, I told you we wouldn't get in trouble," Meg teased as her and Christine sat down in the dormitory, "maman will never even know."
"Never know what?" Simonette asked, "Where have you two been all day?"
"Out," Meg replied.
"In the city?" Simonette asked, "Oh, Madame doesn't like us to go out by ourselves."
"We weren't alone," Christine, pointed out, "technically we were together. The two of us."
"Still…you'd better hope she doesn't find out."
"How would she?" Meg asked, "Christine and I certainly aren't going to tell her and you're not going to tell her either…right?"
"Of course not!"
"Then she won't know. Besides we didn't get in any trouble. What did you do today Simonette?"
"Not much, Susanne and I helped with the little ones and then we gossiped a little with the others."
"About what?" Christine asked, "is there anything new to hear about?"
"Nope, nothing at all really. Just who is whose lover and who is going to get sacked."
"Someone's getting fired?"
"Who knows," Simonette replied, "no one knows whose going to leave the theatre except them, the manager or the Phantom of the Opera. After all he is the one that fires everyone…I hear that Elisa might be leaving the theatre."
"Oh?" Meg and Christine leaned in, "why is that?"
"Rumour is that she's pregnant," Simonette whispered, "and you can't dance when you've got a big belly."
"My maman danced when she was pregnant," Meg said.
"Yeah, but she was already the prima, or so I've heard. She could keep her job. Elisa can barely get into the lines as it is…anyways it's just a rumour. Probably not even true."
"There's a gala here tonight," Christine commented, "I wonder what that will be like."
"I think it will be a bunch of rich men and women dressed in their finest suits and gowns and jewellery," Meg giggled, "just like all the other galas, except this time there is no performance before it…speaking of performances, what is the opera doing next?"
"No one knows," Christine replied, "at least none of us. I thought it was going to be announced tomorrow."
"Madame did seem busier than usual, that can only mean she was choosing lines," Simonette commented, "hey, why don't we go and get something to eat?"
"Alright," Meg agreed, "Christine?"
"I'll come."
The next morning Monsieur Lefevre announced that the theatre would put on a performance of Macbeth if the Ghost approved. The lines had been decided and the music had been handed out, but the announcement was overshadowed by rumours that the Opera Ghost had attended the gala the night before.
"They say he was dressed all in black with a cloak and a white mask," Jacqueline murmured.
"I've heard that he's terribly ugly and that is why he wears the mask," Simonette added.
"What did he do at the gala?" Christine asked.
"They say he insulted the Comte de Querat," Meg said, "and he is one of the theatres most generous patrons."
"What did he say to him?" Simonette asked.
"I don't know," Meg, admitted, "I wasn't there. But he was apparently really angry and left. He might stop supporting the theatre now."
"Really?" Christine asked, "but that can't be good."
"Girls," Antoinette said sharply, "if you would please go to the practise room, you must begin learning the ballets. Go and no more gossiping."
Erik rested his chin on his hands as he stared at the wall in front of him. The gala had been far more amusing then he had ever thought possible. Completely by accident he had ended up insulting one of the theatres most prominent patrons. Of course the other man had started it all by criticizing Erik's mask. It had been some snide remark about it not being a masquerade, he didn't really remember nor did he care.
"Angel?"
"Yes Christine?"
"Oh wonderful, you're there."
"Of course I am my dear, have you been practising?"
"Yes Angel, I did my scales before I came."
Very good my dear, why don't we start where we left off, do you remember?"
Christine nodded her head and began to sing the aria of Queen of the Night from The Magic Flute. Erik was pleased when he had to do very little but listen. She still needed reminders about posture and other trivial things, but in a few years all that would pass. Even now his few criticisms could wait until after she finished the song.
"You are improving greatly Christine, I am proud of you. Still try to remember not to reach for the notes, it will not do you any good."
"I know, it's just hard."
"It will get easier with time. You are singing difficult songs now and it will be harder to reach the high notes, but with time they will come. Trust me Christine."
"I always have…"
Erik couldn't help but smile at that remark, to have someone trust him completely was new to him, "Thank you Christine."
"Do you think that I could try it again? I'll try not to reach this time."
"Why don't you try something a bit easier?"
"I'd rather try the aria again, please Angel?"
"Alright Christine, you may try it again."
After the lesson was finished Erik returned to the lair and sat down at the organ. He depressed three keys in turn and sighed, pulling a piece of blank paper and a pen towards him he began to record the notes he played. In the end he gave up and just let the music flow from him, he could record it later if he remembered, no one would ever read it anyways.
Christine flopped back on her bed, "Rehearsals, rehearsals, rehearsals."
"That's a very good description of our lives," Meg murmured, "but you left out rehearsals, rehearsals, sleep."
"I really want to sleep," Christine muttered, "I'm exhausted…"
"Can we eat first?"
"Hmm…yes."
The two girls wandered towards the kitchen to get a small supper. In the theatre you normally ate when it was possible, which meant a small quick breakfast, a very rushed lunch and then supper, the largest meal if you chose to go to it. However with rehearsals in full swing many of the performers found it rather difficult to make it for a full supper. Bread and cold ham in hand Meg and Christine headed back for the dormitory.
"I wonder if the Ghost will attend the opening performance," Meg mused, "he hasn't shown up a lot lately."
"I don't know…besides him not coming could be considered better then him attending."
"Yeah, but its not as exciting. Its funny to see Monsieur Lefevre all worried, did you see him after that gala?"
"Yes, he was running around here like a madman, lucky that the Comte decided not to leave the theatre eh?"
Meg giggled, "Yes, but it would have been funnier if he did. I think Monsieur Lefevre would have had a fit."
Once back in the dormitory the girls finished their meals and talked. Several of the other dancers were already in and by the end they all ended up gossiping. The older girls had news of the masquerade that was to be held yet again on the new years. Apparently it was already being planned despite the fact that it was over a month away.
"I think it snowed today," Simonette said, "one of the stable boys told me so."
"Really?" Meg asked, "We should go outside and see."
"Its dark out Meg, and where would we go to look?" Simonette asked.
"Fine…but tomorrow I want to go and look, right after rehearsal!"
"Alright," Christine agreed.
The next day after rehearsals the girls all scurried towards the stable yards. It turned out that the stories were true, little white flakes drifted from the sky and melted and the backs of the warm horses that were being lead around the yard. Christine smiled and left while Meg talked about Christmas, she had a lesson to attend and did not want to be overly late.
Erik hummed absently as he waited; he wasn't worried that someone might hear. If they did they would only say that it was the Ghost and let it be. Besides, no one ever came into the chapel unless it was a Sunday, and even then it was rare.
"That's lovely," Christine, commented, "what is it?"
"It is nothing Christine. How are you today?"
"I am wonderful, did you know that it is snowing?"
"Really?"
"Yes, its so pretty, it makes Meg think of Christmas. She wants some new hair ribbons and that's when she's going to get them."
"Is that so Christine?"
"Mmm hmm, Madame will get them for her."
"And what will you get Christine?"
"Oh…I don't get anything most years. I don't have a maman or papa to get me a gift."
"That is a shame," Erik said softly, it was hard to believe that he hadn't learned of this in the past years, "what is it you want Christine?"
"I don't know…I kind of like the hair ribbons and it would be nice to have one. It doesn't matter though, Christmas is a long ways away."
"Would you like to begin now?"
"Yes Angel."
"Very well then, I have something new for you to try today…"
When the lesson was over Christine sat down again, "I was hoping we could talk today."
"You can always talk to me Christine. What is it you wanted to talk about?"
"Nothing really…did you know my papa used to play me the prettiest song on the violin?"
"What song was that Christine?"
"The Resurrection of Lazarus. It was my favourite song for the longest time, I think if I heard it again it still would be…do you know that song Angel?"
"I think I do Christine, would you like me to play it for you at our next lesson?"
"Would you?" she asked, eyes brightening, "oh that would be magnificent!"
"Then I will do that for you."
"Thank you so much Angel…I must go, good bye Angel!"
"Good bye Christine."
Upon returning to his lair Erik began to sift through the papers and other devices that had somehow made their way into his home. He had promised her music and would give it to her, if only he could find it. He had not used his violin in many years and was not entirely sure where he had left it. With a heavy sigh he realized that he also had no idea where the music was, somewhere lost in the endless piles of scores that he owned."I need to clean this place," he muttered as he began the endless search for the instrument and the sheet music. He could already tell that it would take him until the next lesson to find them.
Wow, look at how long the chapter was! Alrighty Chibi, it sucks when life gets in the way doesn't it? I know, school takes up so much time, especially chemistry...ugh! Anywho, I am glad you liked sick Erik, there is somethini fun about torturing the characters you love, especially the hero and thank you for the ice cream, i loooove ice cream! Lotte Rose 37, glad to hear you broken record like self again, I'm glad that you are in love with the chapter, I loved writing it, and you can give Erik a get well kiss, watch: (runs up and kisses Erik), its not that hard and very fun. Mouse, happy early birthday, in case I don't update or remember and yes that talk is always...fun...yeah, ever so much fun. Keep reviewing my wonderful readers and I pray to have some new people reviewing hmm (hint, hint, nudge nudge). Love you all!
