Chapter 3: Back to the Opera Populaire
Christine's POV
Just a week after the newspaper article had announced the reopening Of the Opera Populaire, Raoul and I found ourselves in a carriage heading for the opera house. We had arrived in Paris just two days ago, and had begun to unpack and make ourselves at home in our house that had been shut up since our last visit to Paris three months ago. I felt my stomach doing a few acrobatic like flip-flops as the Opera house came in to view. It looked, on the outside at least, as though it had never been damaged, which was slightly eerie.
I was thrilled to return, but I wouldn't lie; it was a bit frightening. But I wasn't going to let fear dominate my life, and as I looked over at Raoul, his blonde hair blowing in the wind as he stopped the horses in front of the steps of the opera, I instantly felt better. He was my light and the love of my life.
"Well here we are darling," said Raoul as he helped me ever so carefully down from the carriage. "How does it feel?" He asked as he surveyed my face for a sign of any discomfort.
"Odd, but wonderful." I said truthfully as I took his hand firmly in mine, silently letting him know that I wouldn't feel this happy if he weren't here with me.
We pulled open the grand doors and stepped into the beautiful marble floor entrance hall, and I instantly felt at home. I could almost hear the cheerful childlike voices of Meg and myself floating through the halls. I smiled as I thought of all the things that happened in this place; I had roamed it with Meg night after night during our childhood days, I had been reunited with Raoul, and I had starred in my first opera, all in this very building.
"I looks as though nothing even happened." whispered Raoul as he squeezed my hand.
"I know," I said in awe." It looks almost exactly as I remember it."
Apparently our voices drifted up the stairs, because Andre and Firmin suddenly appeared at the top of marble staircase, and came over most jovially to greet us.
"Vicomte, and Vicomtess de Chagny! How nice to see you!" Said Firmin excitedly.
"Yes it is a pleasure." said Andre with a grand smile as both of the comical managers shook Raoul's hand heartily and placed a light kiss on my hand.
"And we are so pleased to be back!" said Raoul as he looked around the room. "I must say that this place looks as good as new."
"Yes, It rather does." said Firmin." I just hope that there are no disturbances from that Phantom fellow." he said uneasily .
"Yes well," said Andre, clearing his throat. "I doubt that there will be. Christine, we were delighted to hear a positive answer to our request that you be the primma donna."
I smiled at the rather goofy man. " I was honored that you asked.I would do anything for the Opera Populaire." And it was true, I would.
Andre and Firmin then ushered us into the theater, and we chatted on the way, catching up. We had not in fact seen them since our wedding. But when we stepped into the theater, I was taken aback. The last time I has seen this room was only two days after the fire. The floor had been nothing but ash, the chairs had been nothing but dust, and the chandelier had been nothing but many pieces of shattered glass. But now, I noticed, a much smaller, much less grand chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Indeed much less hazardous than the original.
I looked around the large room to find that it, unlike the rest of the opera house, looked nothing like it had before. The curtains were navy and silver instead of burgundy and gold. The chairs too, were covered in navy blue velvet. The stage was much larger, and the ceiling, which had formerly been painted with cheribums and seraphims, was now adorned in flowers. It was different to be sure, but nonetheless grand. Raoul's sea blue eyes met mine, and we wordlessly acknowledged that we were quite glad that it was different, as it was not as likely to instantly bring the painful memories of the night of Don Juan back into our heads. Once backstage I found myself being accosted by a group of my old chorus girl friends, who began to chatter endlessly.
"Where have you been?" asked one.
"Are you glad to be back?" asked another.
"Did you marry the Vicomte?" asked a third.
I laughed at their incessant questioning. "Well, I've been in the town of Brittany by the sea for most of the year, but I'm very glad to be back. And yes, I am very happily married to the Vicomte." I said as I beckoned Raoul over.
He had been standing a bit back, talking to Andre and Firmin as though he were feeling shy of my friends. "Raoul these are all of my friends, I'm sure you rememeber them? Sorelli, Jammes, Molly, Holly, and Caroline?"
"Ah yes of course." said Raoul as he bowed to each of them, smiling.
They curtseyed in return." Bonjour Monsieur le Vicomte." They said in unison.
"Please," he said. "Call me Raoul." He nodded to them and then turned to me, and grasped my hands. All of my friends turned to look one last time before waving goodbye to go to ballet practice. I laughed at their antics. They had always thought that Raoul was much like a prince, who had come to sweep me, his princess, off my feet. But admittedly, I thought that way too, he was my prince.
"Darling, Andre and Firmin are insisting on dragging me into the office to discuss buisness." he said as he looked lovingly into my face, seemingly hating the thought of having to leave my side for even five minutes. " But I can decline and tell them they will have to wait until later if you want me too."
I smiled at his sweet concern. "No, you go ahead. They'll never leave you alone if you don't go now. And besides it would be best to have all the financial affairs of the opera in place. I'll be alright, and you'll only be just down the hall."
"If you're sure," he said, giving me a quick kiss on the lips. "I should be back in a few minutes, but if you need me, don't hesitate to come and get me. Perhaps you will find Meg while I am in the office." he said as he gave me one last hug.
"I won't hesitate to come and find you." I laughed. "Now shoo. Just don't let Andre and Firmin drink an excessive amount of brandy, you know how they get."
He chuckled as he walked away, knowing that that was most certainly true. But as soon as one blonde head left, another approached. Except this one had long hair that curled at the ends.
"Well Madame de Chagny," said Meg jokingly. "How nice of you to grace us with your presence." she said as she came over to hug me.
"Meg!" I exclaimed, my voice ecstatic at the sight of my good and loyal friend. "How are you?"
"Well not much has changed since I last saw you three months ago, well except for this. I'm so excited to be back, its like old times." said the ballerina as she linked arms with me and the two of us walked along until we came upon on of the spots backstage where we always used to sit and talk.
"This is so wonderful, to be back here," I replied. "I've really missed singing, and this opera house, and seeing everyone."
"So have I," said Meg, her green eyes full of life. "So how are things with Raoul?" she asked curiously.
I found an inevitable smile spreading across my face at this. "Oh Meg, our marriage only gets better by the day. I don't know what I would have done without him after..." I stopped, finding that even the mention of what had happened on the night of Don Juan seemed to still have a bad effect on me, especially here in ths opera house.
Meg put a comforting arm around my shoulder. "Raoul has truly been a blessing. And never forget that mother and I are here for you as well."
"I won't ever forget that. I'm just lucky to have such a loving and supportive circle of people around me." I looked up at Meg, and instantly appreciated what a wonderful friend she had been to me.
Just then, we both heard a shrill voice ring through the air.
"Meg Giry! If you plan to keep the posistion of prima ballerina you ought to take care to not be late for practice." It was obviously the voice of Madame Giry, who was advancing towards us.
"Meg, you are the prima ballerina and you did not even bother to tell me?" I asked.
She blushed, embarrassed. "Its not that important."
"Of course it is! Now both of our dreams have come true; you've become the leading ballerina, and I've become the leading singer. It hardly seems possible." I cried as I hugged her in congratulations.
Madame Giry, who had now reached our perch, echoed my words. "Of course it is important! Now get to practice, the others are waiting for you."
Meg got up and bid me goodbye as she ran en pointe towards the ballet room. Madame Giry then turned to me.
"Christine my dear, how good it is to see you," said the woman who was so like a mother to me as she envleoped me in an embrace. "I must get to practice, but Raoul has graciously invited us to dinner tommorow evening, so Meg and I shall see you then."
"That sounds lovely," I answered. "We will catch up then." I watched the stern but kind woman as she walked away, her black cane clinking as she walked, and her long braid hanging down her back.
I wondered fleetingly if the good woman knew whether or not Erik still roamed these fabled halls of music, but I decided to save those thoughts for later. There was no need for worry when there was no course for it. As I walked back up towards the stage, I waved goodbye and promised to see them all next week when rehearsals were set to begin. Then as I stepped onto the empty stage, I thought back to the many times that I had danced on it. I began to twirl around the stage, thinking of the the first time that I had made my singing debut here in this theater, singing an aria from Hannibal. I smiled broadly as I remembered that night. The night of my debut, and the night that I had found Raoul again. It had been a life changing day to be sure, but a fantastic one. I began sing softly:
"Think of me, Think of me fondly, when we've said goodbye..."
It was then that I felt a cold hand on my shoulder. I turned, only
to see an ever so familiar figure, a figure clothed all in black,
standing before me.
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A/N: Hey everyone, I hope that you like this chapter! I know that it is a cliffhanger, but I will try to have the next chapter up in a few days. I'm very excited about this story, and I hope that you will read and review! Yay RC!
Guitarprincess- Thanks for all of your support on all of my stories, my friend! I'm glad that you liked my other stories, and I hope that you will like this one as well. It will be filled with RC goodness of course.
Glitter Queen of the Ice show- Yes, Raoul is very sexy! I'm glad that you like it so far. And by the way, I'm loving the stories that you have written lately.
Amethyst- I'm so glad to see another RC supporter, and I'm so happy that you like this. Thanks for the review!
jtbwriter- Thanks for the review. And it is certainly encouraging to hear that the emotions of my characters are believable, it helps me to continue writing. I'm so pleased that you like my story so far!
Randomish- I am pleased to hear that you think my story is original. But I must say this: Raoul is not a fop in any way, shape, or form. I personally love Raoul, so please try not to insult him. But I believe that everyone is entitled to their opinion. Thanks for the review.