Chapter Seven
The play drew closer to the end. They were acting out one of the last scenes, when the Beast turned human. Leah was cowering on the ground as Victor was slowly rising into the air, unseen cords drawing him upwards. Soon he was out of sight and a burst of light shone down from the 'heavens'. A figure wrapped in a dark cloak was now slowly being lowered to the ground.
Leah got to her feet, scared and took a step away from the shape on the ground. It moved and shakily got to its feet, the cloak slipping away to reveal the back of a human male. Leah smiled inwardly, thinking that Simon was doing very well.
Simon looked at his hands carefully and spun around to face her. Leah repressed a gasp of shock, for it was not Simon who faced her, but Jim. Jim looked down at himself, touching his chest as if to reassure himself, then looked up and met her eyes. He held out his hand for her.
Leah remained in character, taking a hesitant step forward. She paused, staring into his face, and Jim continued to hold out his hand to her, smiling softly.
Leah gasped out loud now, seeing something in his eyes. She ran towards him and they caught each other in their arms. They stared up into each others' eyes and the curtains closed.
As the crowd applauded, Leah and Jim quickly changed into their final costumes, with no time for words. Leah finally got to wear her golden dress and Jim had put on an elaborate navy tuxedo with gold trimming. They hurried back to the center of the stage, and arranged themselves so that they were standing the same way they were before the curtains closed.
Before the applauding died down, the music started up again and the curtains opened, revealing Belle and her Prince standing the way they were, only dressed in their wedding finery, glittering coronets on their brows. Once the curtains had finished moving they began to dance, staring into each others' eyes, obvious chemistry between them sparkling as they moved.
Leah heard the music, but it seemed far away. She saw nothing but Jim and his blue eyes and felt something strange blooming in her heart. Jim's eyes were intense and Leah read love in them. But was the love for Jim and Leah or for Belle and her Prince? Leah was not sure, and at the moment, she did not care.
They spun across the stage in their intricate waltz, aiming to eventually reach the center of the stage. The music slowed and the pair came to a stop, still gazing at each other. The play was supposed to end there, but Jim leaned his head forward, coming closer to Leah.
Leah went along with him, the music still coursing through her blood. She felt intense heat course through her body and raised her head.
They closed the distance between them and their lips met, sending a jolt of electricity down Leah's spine. They kissed gently, sweetly and the music flourished beside them and the curtains began to close.
The audience was on their feet, clapping and cheering. The noise was deafening. Carlotta chose that moment to sneak out, knowing that the foolish managers would throw a party, wanting to display their new pet. She left the room and snuck around to the back, choosing a small room to wait in until she knew where the party would be held. Then she would begin her plan to ruin that little bitch's life.
Behind the curtains, Leah and Jim ended their kiss, but remained in each others' arms, still locked in the moment. Leah heard the managers announcing something, but their words did not matter. Madame Giry rushed up to them, breaking them apart. "Curtain calls!" she said. "We have to get everyone set up."
The minor actors were first to receive their applause, then Jim and Victor, still under mask and claws, were next. Leah swallowed down her laughter. Victor was probably furious that the people could not admire his beautiful face, while Jim was the one on display. Leah was last, standing on the wide empty stage by herself. The audience rose to their feet once more, giving her a standing ovation. Tears came to Leah's eyes as they began throwing flowers onstage. She curtseyed deeply and it was a long time before the applause faded.
The curtain closed for the last time that night and Madame Giry hurried over to her. "The managers have decided to throw a party backstage, for their respected guests and patrons." She smiled, her voice alight with happiness. "They want the people to meet you, their new, if not leading Soprano. You did very well my dear, well done."
Madame Giry took Leah to a small side room, where they removed her stage makeup and replaced it with colours more natural looking.
The managers wanted Leah and Jim to remain in costume, and Leah was pleased with that. She had spent many long hours making this dress and would be glad for any excuse to wear it longer. They gathered in one of the bigger practice rooms, Leah and Jim were the first ones there. Leah immediately went over to him.
"What exactly were you doing out there?" She asked, but could not keep the smile off her face.
"I was simply being the Prince to your Belle," he said and took her hand. "You were magnificent Leah, everybody loved you."
"And what about you? You acted as if you had been practicing that part." She said and when he grinned, she narrowed her eyes. "You were planning this all along, weren't you." She said, not asked.
"Oh, perhaps," he said innocently. "Now put on your lovely smile, your fans are coming."
"Hush you," she said, nudging him with her elbow, but smiled pleasantly all the same.
A large crowd of people poured into the room, making it seem smaller than it had been just moments ago, the managers at their head. They headed towards the two of them, holding out their arms, "Brava my dear!" They were saying. Soon enough Leah and Jim were surrounded by people, all talking and wanting to be heard at the same time. Before Leah could panic they spread out and began to mingle with themselves and left her to be attended by only a handful of people at once.
"That is such a beautiful gown," One elderly lady was saying to her. "Wherever did you get it?"
"Actually Madame," Leah told her. "I made it." They chatted about sewing for a time and she left to be replaced by another woman.
At some point Jim was forced away from her side to be surrounded by his own crowd. Leah caught his eye once and he shrugged. She laughed quietly and scanned the room, surprised at the amount of people there. A familiar face caught her eye and Leah frowned. Carlotta? Why was she here? Surely she would not want to be around while the attention was being focused on Leah. Carlotta slid through the crowd easily, making her way over to the stagehand.
A woman spoke to Leah, pulling her attention away from the Prima Donna. Their conversation lasted only a few minutes, but when Leah looked up, Carlotta, and Jim were gone.
Carlotta pulled Jim after her, away from the crowds into a smaller side room. She closed the door behind them and turned to Jim.
"Now what was so important you had to speak to me alone?" He asked her impatiently.
Carlotta stalled for time. "I saw you on stage," she said. "And I wanted to congratulate you. Perhaps next time you can be my prince," she said seductively.
"There will not be a next time," he told her, staying out of her reach. "That was a one time occurrence."
"But you should have been with me, not that insignificant chorus girl," She said, slowly walking towards him.
"I was exactly where I wanted to be, Carlotta, and with the chorus girl I wanted to be with," he said coldly, still evading her. Now if you have no more to say to me, then I will be going now."
In the bigger room, Leah was finally left to herself. She still could not see Jim anywhere, or Carlotta for that matter, and that troublesome feeling of jealousy began to bubble up again.
She saw Madame Giry walking through the mass of people, aimed at her. The ballet mistress had an odd look on her face, something Leah had never seen there before. She looked terribly uneasy.
"Leah," she said as she broke through the crowd. "You need to come with me. I need to take you back to your dressing room, which, by the way is to be yours from now on." Madame Giry took Leah's hand and pulled her along after her.
"Why do we have to go now?" Leah asked. "I thought the managers wanted me here?"
"I know," she said and looked back at Leah, rather distressed. "But this, this is important."
Leah relented and let herself be dragged away from her party.
Jim left the small room, noting that Victor slipped inside as soon as he left. Jim reminded himself to warn Leah about the Tenor. Nothing good happened when Victor and Carlotta teamed up against somebody.
He looked around, but did not see the face he was looking for. Jim shook his head, remembering that Leah was not the tallest person here and would be a little more difficult to find.
Jim manoeuvred through the play-goers, but was stopped frequently by people wanting to speak with him. He silently cursed that he was still in costume, but humoured the admirers nonetheless, and moving on quickly.
A flash of gold caught his eye and Jim turned just in time to see Leah's dress disappear through the door way on the other side of the room.
"So why do I have to go back to my dressing room now?" Leah asked as she was pulled quickly through the halls.
"There is a very important patron that wants to meet you. He has taken an interest with you and would like to speak with you alone." Madame Giry said in a tight voice.
"Alone? In my dressing room?" Leah asked. "Is that not rather suggestive? I am not going to sleep with him," she said, pulling back.
"No, no. It is nothing like that. He just does not like crowds." Madame Giry pulled harder and Leah had to follow, or else get her arm pulled out of its socket.
They reached Leah's new dressing room and the dancer began to feel edgy and did not want to go inside. But Madame Giry opened the door, pushed her inside and closed it behind her.
The room was full of bouquets of flowers, their scent almost overpowering. Leah's nose tickled and she fought not to sneeze. There was a man standing in the middle of her room, handsome in a black tux, muscular and blond, but with an odd look in his dark eyes. He was smiling fondly at her, with a familiarity she did not care for.
"Good evening Mademoiselle," he said in a smooth voice. "It is a pleasure to meet you at last."
"Bonjour Monsieur," she said quietly, keeping her back against the door.
"I watched you sing tonight," he said, taking a step closer. "You were absolutely glorious. I am very much a fan of the Opera House, and I see my contributions are finally paying off. I am Jacques Barton," he told her. "And I had hoped I would be able to see more of you."
"Well Monsieur," Leah said, feeling very nervous now. "It is the decision of the managers and Madame Giry, they assign the roles to us."
"No, my dear," he said smiling, and Leah felt a cold trickle of fear. "I meant I would like to see more of you off the stage. I would like to spend some time with you."
"Oh," she said, wishing her room was larger so she would have more room to escape. As it was, she slid along the wall, away from the door and further from the strange man in her room. "I am sorry Monsieur, but we are not allowed to see patrons outside of the Opera House."
His smile stretched into a leering grin and Leah held back a shiver. The man was frightening her, and he seemed to enjoy it. "I am sorry Monsieur," she said again. "But I have to go back to the party, the managers need to speak to me," she lied. "I am sure I will see you another time. Goodnight." She turned her back to him and did not move until she heard the door open and close.
Leah wrapped her arms around herself and finally allowed herself to shudder. She was not sure what it was, but something about that man, something in his eyes, had frightened her beyond reason.
A knock came at the door a moment later and Leah jumped. She hesitated, not wanting to open it.
"Leah?" Jim's voice came through the wood and she sagged in relief. "Leah are you in there?"
Leah rushed to the door and opened it, throwing herself into the stagehand's arms. He closed the door behind him and wrapped his arms around her, keeping her close. "Leah, what is the matter?"
"Did you see the man that just left my room?" Leah asked into his chest.
"When was this?"
"Just a moment ago," she said, his calming presence slowly halting her trembling.
"Leah," he said hesitantly. "This is a very long hallway and your room is the very last one. If somebody left your room a moment ago I would have seen him. Leah, there was nobody there."
Leah pressed her face tighter into him. "Perhaps he left sooner than I had thought. He was certainly here long enough! I do not know why Madame Giry wanted me to meet him. The man was terrifying."
"Did he touch you?" Jim's voice was cold with anger.
"No," she told him and felt him relax slightly. "No, but he said he wanted to see more of me, outside the theatre."
Jim stroked her hair, keeping one arm wrapped around her back. "Do not worry, the managers will not allow a patron or guest to see you, other than on stage."
Leah began to shiver again. "I do not think that will stop him. His eyes…" she whispered. "Something about his eyes."
"I will protect you Leah," he told her quietly, holding her close. "I will keep you safe…"
Leah went to sleep that night in her new room, after clearing out most of the flowers. The smell was making her nauseous and she kept only a few bouquets to keep the room decorated. She lay in the middle of her wide bed and stared at the ceiling, wide awake. She had gotten used to the quiet whisperings of the other girls and now that it was gone, she missed it. The room was unfamiliar to her and even though she had locked the door, she did not feel safe. The curtains around her bed shut out all light, and made her feel as if she were on a lonely island, alone in the world. She jumped at every noise and did not fall asleep for quite some time.
The next morning, Leah woke early. She was not sure what to do now that her position had changed, but she dressed in her 'uniform' and went looking for the other girls. Unfortunately, the first person she saw once she reached the stage was Carlotta. She was standing near the managers, looking very smug. They were welcoming her back, practically fawning over her. Leah wondered why they humiliated themselves like this when they did not even like the Prima Donna. The money she brought in, Leah supposed.
The managers finished lavishing praise on Carlotta and she swept out of the room, looking very pleased. The two men, followed by Madame Giry, next went over to Leah. "Mademoiselle," the shorter one said. "I have to apologize, but since Carlotta is back, you will have to return to the chorus."
Actually relieved, Leah nodded.
"But," the other said and Leah raised her eyebrows. "You will now be given larger roles in the operas, and since we have plenty of individual dressing rooms, you can remain in that one. Nobody is in the room next to you, so the shared bathing room is yours alone," he said, as if granting her an immense favour.
Leah bit back a protest, glancing quickly to Madame Giry and back. "Thank you very much Monsieurs, that is very kind of you." They beamed at her and walked away, Madame Giry looking into her face carefully for a moment before following them. Leah did not want to complain or ask to switch rooms in front of her. After last night, she was not sure she could trust the ballet mistress.
They would be doing nothing that day but general chores, so the girls were mainly free to do whatever they pleased. Leah caught Angie's eyes and flicked her head upwards. Angie nodded and they left the stage, heading for the small room near the attic that they always used to get away from the rest of the House's inhabitants.
They sat up against one of the chimneys, soaking up its heat. Outside, the weather had already begun to change, and ice was forming on the edges of puddles. Winter clothing was being taken out of storing and the girls were given warm, thick cloaks along with their heavier skirts and blouses.
"So," Angie said, eyes closed. "You have your own room now. That is good, I suppose."
"Not really," Leah told her honestly. "I would much rather be in the dormitory. I was only Carlotta's replacement for one night. I do not deserve all this."
"Do not be so hard on yourself Leah. Obviously they see something in you that makes you deserving in their eyes," she reassured her.
They sat in silence for a time, enjoying the heat at their backs. Something surfaced in Leah's mind, troubling her. She frowned, trying to determine exactly what it was. "Angie…" she said slowly, hoping she was very wrong. "Remember that story you told me a while ago? The one about the Phantom?"
"Yes, of course," Angie said.
"What was his name again?"
"Barton, why? Leah? Why do you ask?"
