Disclaimer: Erik, Christine and Co are all property of Gaston Leroux, Susan Kay, Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber etc. I own the plot.
Chapter Eight: Opera House
Erik and Nadir took a leisurely walk to the café. They walked in to see Christine, Meg and Antoinette sat in the back corner, at a five seated table. Antoinette was facing towards them and could see the two men but Christine and Meg were facing Antoinette, so were oblivious to their presence. Nadir placed their orders and told the waiter which table they would be joining. Erik was pleased; these waiters were much more polite and didn't stare at all. He crept forward and stood behind Christine. Meg immediately spotted him and choked on her tea. Christine patted her back. "Are you alright Meg? You looked like you saw a ghost."
"I-" Meg stopped when she saw Erik motioning furiously for her not to give him away. "I just spotted an old friend." She turned slightly away from Erik. "Nadir! Do come join us." Everyone except Christine was silently praising Meg's acting skills.
When Nadir sat next to Antoinette he valiantly restrained his laughter. "Mademoiselle Daaé, it is a pleasure to meet you." He said, flashing a smile. Then he had an evil thought. "Where is your fiancé today?" Erik glared furiously at Nadir from behind Christine who shrugged then said, "Wait…Isn't he supposed to be with you?" A pair of hands in black leather gloves covered her eyes. She instantly knew it was Erik and felt his warm breath on the back of her neck. "Erik, I wondered when you would show yourself." This stopped the cloaked man in his tracks; he removed his hands from her eyes and sat in the seat between her and Antoinette; at the head of the table. "You knew I was there?"
"Not exactly. I knew you were somewhere nearby." Erik was bewildered; no-one had ever spotted him once he had hidden himself, ever. "How did you know, my love?"
"I have no idea. I always seem to sense your presence, that's why I knew when you came to visit back at the opera house." Erik looked visibly curious, but he dropped the subject. The food arrived on time and the meal went well until Antoinette decided to confess.
"I have been to see the managers of the Opera Populaire." She announced, ignoring Erik's glare. "They say that the opera house will continue to run, after repairs have been made. Meg and I are able to keep our jobs and the little apartment that we use during galas." Meg smiled happily at the news; she really loved dancing and would have been sad to have to stop. "The other good news is that no-one died on the night of the disaster. Nine people have been given compensation because they were crushed by the panicked crowd and injured. Ubaldo Piangi has mild damage to his throat but will probably be able to sing again soon. Unfortunately, La Carlotta has quit and gone to an opera house in Italy, taking her 'darling' Piangi with her. This brings me to the big point. Christine, the managers have requested a meeting with you, concerning the place of lead soprano." Christine glanced at Erik quickly before turning to Antoinette. "Of course I will see them, though I will need to talk to Erik first."
"The managers say that you must see them as soon as possible and that they are free most afternoons." It was decided that the group would split up after dinner. Nadir had some errands to run, Antoinette and Meg had to track down the rest of the corps de ballet and Christine needed to talk to her husband-to-be alone for a few moments.
Erik and Christine walked to the nearby park where they had reunited not long ago. "May I go sing at the opera?" Christine asked, with her sweetest expression.
"Why are you asking me?" Said Erik, bemused.
"If you do not wish me to return then I will not go." She replied. "I would also be very lonely there without my angel."
"You want me to return with you?" He exclaimed, taken utterly by surprise at the unspoken but still present question in her voice. "They would never hire me. To them I am but a monster, a murderer and a ghost." Christine's face then adopted a sly expression that made her usual innocence seem like a distant memory. "But Erik, they are desperate. I'm sure once I have set my terms and told them about your talents they will hire you." She smiled. "Would you not like to have your compositions played onstage, for the world to praise your glorious music?" He nodded. "Well we may as well go now. We haven't a moment to lose."
Monsieurs Firmin and André sat at their desks, discussing the current financial problems of the opera. "Moncharmin, we can't possibly afford a new chandelier! The patrons and insurance combined will only just pay for a new ceiling and orchestral pit. The front seats, stage and chandelier have no funding at all. We're ruined; we should never have left the junk business"
"Scrap metal." Interrupted André. "We have to find a solution; I refuse to give up on this opera house, especially after the work that has gone into it." The managers debated furiously until a quiet knock was heard at the door.
Within seconds, the managers composed themselves and Firmin called out, "Enter." Christine Daaé stepped in; looking pretty and innocent with her wide eyes and slightly nervous expression. "You wished to speak with me, Monsieurs?" They nodded hastily, realising Mademoiselle Daaé was their last chance. "Please take a seat Mademoiselle." André said kindly as he was quite fond of the girl anyway.
"What is the reason for this meeting?" Christine questioned, because although she already knew, she had to seem polite. "I will spare you the details." André responded. "But to be quite blunt, the opera house is short on money. We were wondering if you would like to be our Prima Donna and perform concerts somewhere else to raise money to repair the damages. Once the opera house is ready you could return and perform as our lead soprano without La Carlotta's…interesting music."
"The idea seems wonderful Monsieur but the problem is… my betrothed. He is very talented musically and currently out of a job. If I was to travel and sing, it would mean being without him and that would be terrible, considering he is my voice teacher too." The managers were not put off at all.
"I am sure he could come with you, Mademoiselle. In fact, I'm sure we could find him a job. He could compose, assist Monsieur Reyer or even sing in Piangi's place." Christine looked pleased with the results she was getting from the managers. "Perhaps you would like to meet him? He is outside this room right at this moment."
"Of course we would." Exclaimed Firmin delightedly, glad to have at least one thing going right. "Bring him in at once."
"Please promise me that you will hear what we have to say before doing anything rash?" Begged Christine. The managers frowned, but agreed anyway, to her relief.
"Erik, please come in." She called into the hall. He came right in upon hearing her. In two swift, graceful movements, the door was closed and Christine's love was sat next to her in the other spare chair. "YOU!" Cried Firmin losing his infamously short temper. André shut him up quickly and scolded him. "We gave the girl our word that we would do nothing rash. Sit down at once, Richard! You are disgracing us." The other manager did as he was told but was still not pleased. "Monsieurs." Erik said in his most firm and commanding voice. "I have this to say before Christine speaks her part. I am very sorry for the bad things I have done in this opera house. I cannot justify the murder of Joseph Buquet. But you should know that before he came to this opera house he was once in the same travelling fair as me. He murdered a close friend. I was there after Buquet shot my friend. I was with him as he died and swore to him that I would get revenge on his murderer. I always keep my word. As for the chandelier, that was an accident. Someone had moved the rope holding it. The rope I cut was only the one for the trapdoor as far as I knew. It was not until afterwards that I discovered the terrible truth." He nodded to Christine.
"I would just like to confirm that what happened after Don Juan was private and I will not recount it to you. Managers or not. Erik has agreed to donate a sum of money to the opera house to help pay for the damages. Now you have a choice. You can hire me as your new diva and Erik as your musical arranger or you can turn us both away. It is totally up to you."
After a tense, fifteen minute wait outside the office door, the couple were called back in. "Monsieur Destler, Mademoiselle Daaé. Congratulations on your new jobs." André said with a smile as Firmin remained silent. He was clearly not impressed by Erik at all; he only hired the man because he was the last chance they had. "Now Monsieurs." Announced Erik. "Christine and I, although it was mainly her; have come up with a plan to fund the Opera Populaire…"
TBC…
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A/N Musical arranger means composing operas and sorting out scores. In this case Erik will also help out Monsieur Reyer with advice as to who is not performing at their best.