Opera Ghost Chapter Three
Tony glanced around the terminal in Paris airport with it's bustling traffic and signs he couldn't read and felt more confused than ever. He wanted to jump back on the plane where it was quite. The ride over was very pleasant. He had a chance to talk with his new companion Jessalyn and got to know more about her and her work in the theater. She seemed to be very helpful on this trip, in fact her and Daniel's knowledge of theater and opera together, made him feel like the weak link in the group. The plane had been nice and relaxing compared to their arrival. He was tired from the time change and every thing around him was loud, bright and rude.
Dan gave him a pat on the shoulder than took the strap of his messenger bag and pushed it up higher on his shoulder. "Thanks" Tony said sleepily.
"Don't give up on me now, Tony. The opera was suppose to be sending a guide. She'll be meeting us any moment now." Tony had no clue how his friends remain so enthusiastic, especially since he had been the one who slept the lest on the trip. After a very long wait through customs and security, they where finally released into the commercial part of the airport. Daniel rushed down the long hallways at a mile and minute and he and Jess had to struggle just to keep up with him. "Keep an eye out for our guide." He called back. "I hope she didn't leave because we caught held up so long."
Surprising, Tony spotted her first, a young woman in the crowd holding a sign that simply said "Wellion University Group" She looked more like a Hollywood starlet than a local Parisian. She had medium length bright, and blond hair with was teased into many tight curls. Her face was round and pale with accents of makeup on her lips and eyes. And she was dressed in the height of fashion in a very cute skirt outfit. Tony tapped Dan on the shoulder, and when his friend turned to ask him, he simply pointed at the girl holding the sign. He saw his friend's eyes widen like his had been noticing the stranger's apparent beauty. Jess had also spotted her and walked up first to make introductions.
"Hi, we've from Wellion. I take it you're the tour guide. I'm Jessalyn Greene" The girl nodded. "Yes the management sent me to pick you up from the airport." She noticed Tony and Daniel they approached.
"Bonjour, my name is Claudine Bruyere." "Pleasure to meet your Claudine." Tony said as he bent low to shake her hand.
"Me too." Chimed in Daniel copying Tony's movements. They stood there starring at their lovely hostess for along time. Then Tony began to wonder why she wasn't saying anything back. He glanced at Dan, who seem too enchanted with Claudine, then he looked over to Jess who kept making a gesture with her head trying to tell him something. Then it hit him. They didn't say their names.
Jess sighed. "This is Tony Candom, and Daniel Payne. Mr. Payne is the leader of our trip and is anxious to publish his study of his findings here." She offered introduction them both. Tony jabbed Daniel in the ribs, both feeling ridiculous for gawking so long at Claudine.
"Well now that introductions are over, there is a cab waiting outside." Claudine announced leading the way.
There they were, standing across the Avenue Opera, starring at the majestic site before them. Crowds of people past by unnoticed, as if they didn't care under the shadow of what moment loomed over them. Daniel didn't bother helping unpack the luggage as he and Tony starred longingly at the Paris Opera house. Each column of marble glistened in the sunlight. Jess snatched a bag off the top of the luggage rack and threw it at Dan's chest jokingly. "Looks like if you two stand there any longer, you are going to melt into a puddle. I'll have to carry you around for the rest of the trip."
Together they gathered the luggage from the taxi, paid the driver and made their way across the street into the famed building. Now even Jessalyn had to gasp in front of the sight before them. The main stairwell was absolutely stunning, shining with peach colored marble and gold statues. Tony dropped his bags and ran over to one of the rails, stroking it tenderly. The group watched him as he tenderly caresses the stone. "Have you ever seen such masterfully craftsmanship?" he asked out loud.
Claudine gave a small giggle. "Well I do work here. Come I'll get someone to gather your bags if you leave them here, and we can go on a tour of the opera."
"That's sounds like a wonderful idea. Lead the way Mademoiselle Bruyere." Daniel said encouraging. They started to walk through the large corridors as the three Americans continued to gaze in wonder at the sheer beautiful presence of the place. Claudine walked by with a brisk pace, unaware at her guests and they frequently had to hurray their step to keep up with her. She pointed out a large double door on their left.
"That is our library, it contains a very extensive collection of music and works of opera."
"Thank you miss but we are not exactly here to study opera." Dan chimed in trying to strike up conversation. "Do you know the reason we came?"
Without missing a beat, Claudine replied. "Yes you are here to study the history of this opera. We have many book on that subject too if you wish to use them." Daniel went to correct her, but received a firm shake of the head from Jess suggesting him not to. Jess had decided that the group real motive on a need to know basis. So far the college and the opera management and security knew. It not if she didn't trust the other workers, she just wasn't sure how they would react. In fact she had been wondering how the employees of the Paris Opera today regarded its infamous ghost legend of long past. Did they still believe in it, or did they put up with it just to please tourists? She gathered if the management still had superstitions about the Opera Ghost of any sort, they would have not let them partake in this expedition. But they offered no objection, so she didn't believe it was a problem. But that still didn't answer her question.
They kept walking until they reached a large open hall with many identical doors placed side by side. She approached one of them but before opening she turned to them. "And now my American friends, I'd like to present the auditorium." She pushed on one of the handles and gave a sly look in Daniel's direction. "Brace yourself sir."
Within seconds of opening the double doors and stepping inside, Tony, Daniel and even Jess were running around the empty palace theater like little kids in a candy factory. Tony and Daniel stood in the center admiring the fabulous architecture and massive chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Jess however ran up to the stage ignoring the workers who sat in the corner taking their break. Her head tilted back as far as if would go, she took in everything she saw, the scenery flying high above their head in the rafters, the blood-red velvet curtains, the perfect sealing of the hardwood stage floor. Claudine followed behind her.
"I take it you like it?" she asked in a sotto voice.
"Like it? It's beyond impressive. It makes the theater back home at Wellion look like it was held together with duct tape and twisty ties." She commented. Claudine took a seat on a discarded hamper that sat on the side of the stage.
"So you are in theater back in the States? What did you do?" Jess took the seat beside her, since she offered no objection.
"Oh a little bit of this a little bit of that. I was pretty much known as a deck chief, you know the person who in charged of moving scenery on stage during the show."
Claudine nodded. "Oh I see. Not many women here have that type of job. It's interesting to met someone like you who does." Jess cast a glance over to the stagehand, all men watching her and Claudine like they were moths dancing about a flame more than just girls talking. She rolled her eyes at Claudine.
"So it would seem. So what about you Claudine, how did you get involved here?" Claudine sighed folding her hands in a ladylike pose over her lap.
"Well I have always loved opera. I'm studying music at the university here in Paris. But the opera was looking for tour guide, and English is my second language, I signed up for the job. The management here is very nice. I even have a small dressing room I can use as a locker since I'm almost working full time." Jess pulled a pack of gum out of her pocket, took a piece and then offered some to Claudine, who politely refused. "But my dream is really to be on stage. I would love to go to America. There seems to be so many opportunities over there, like Broadway. Have you ever been to New York City, Mademoiselle Greene?" Jess starting to chew on the gum, shook her head no. "Well then is this your first time visiting Europe then?" "Yep first time out of the country.
Well I did go to Canada for dinner once." She answered. Jess's attention became directed out at the hundred of seat before her, a sea of maroon, mahogany and gold. She noticed a line of boxes on both side of the wall. She pointed to them. "So I take it those are the opera boxes up there?" she asked.
"Yes those are the grand tier boxes." Claudine replied in a matter-of-fact tone.
Jess laughed. "Back home we use the old boxes to put lights and the boards for the sound guys. Do you use them for seats or what?"
"Yes they are house seats there. They always have been." Jess kept staring up at the boxes and not Claudine. Each box was surrounded by a decorative golden frame made of sculptures of gods and goddesses, and across the frame where velvet curtains of deep red concealing the inside. "Why do you ask?" Claudine question.
Suddenly Jess saw something in one of the boxes, something brief across her vision large and black. Then she noticed distinctly the curtain move as if someone of some size had been behind there and have moved along sides, perhaps trying to watch through the cracks. It was so startling that Jess edge up on her seat, her fingernail pushing her up, and the hair on the back of her neck went stiff like the rest of her body. She turned and saw Claudine looking at her confused. Desperately she tried to control of her raspy breathing.
"No reason." She said gasping. She turned to leave but walked right into another person. She gave a startled scream in spite of herself until a strong pair of arms steadied her.
"Mademoiselle! Calm yourself please!" Jess looked up into the face of an older man, tall and strong with sandy blond hair and glasses.
"Jessalyn, this in one of our managers, M. Bernard Ambler." Claudine said to give a rapid introduction.
"How do you do Mademoiselle...Greene I presume?" he said releasing his grip on her for a moment to offer his hand.
"Very well. Forgive me. I was just . . . startled for a moment there." Jess stumbled to think of the right words, feeling ver embarrassed.
"My fault entirely. I should have snuck up on you like that." He apologize. Jess looked him up and down again. From his dress, the way he carried himself and the smooth flow of his speech gave the very distinct impression of Ambler as a true gentleman. She turned to see Tony and Daniel making their way up to them, shaking hands and introduction themselves in turn. Ambler smiled at Daniel. "So you must be the young man everyone been talking about, the student leader. We are so thrilled to have you here, in fact it's all what my staff has been talking about for the past two weeks. Delighted to meet you."
Daniel almost shook in the older man's handshake. "Well I very happy to be here too, sir." Ambler leaned in closer to Dan's ear and whispered so that everyone could still hear him.
"Tell me like what you see so far?"
"Indeed. It's beyond anything I could have imagined, or dreamed." Ambler nodded in agreement.
"Pictures can't do much justice for this building. It truly is a place you have to see to believe." He clasped his hands together. "So I take it Claudine has shown you around so far?" "Yes" Claudine replied.
"We were just looking at the..." she swallowed hard and then looked over at Jessalyn."Private boxes."
"Ah thank you for reminding me Claudine." Ambler announced as if he was just struck by a thought. "As part of the management, we would like to offer you our guests tickets for tomorrow evening's ballet in any private box of your choice."
Daniel perked up. "Any?"
Ambler nodded repeating himself. "Yes any of your choice." Dan gave himself the small satisfaction of a sly grin.
"What is playing tomorrow?" Tony asked
"The Nutcracker, a Christmas staple really." Claudine replied.
Tony arched an eyebrow. "But I thought this was an 'opera' house?"
Ambler butted in. "Yes that is true, but the L'Opera Garnier now a day, is the traditional home for ballets. There is another opera house in Paris that does most of the operas performed in the city." Tony sighed. "Well enough talk." Ambler suggested. "Let show you all to your rooms. You must be tired."