Raoul sat alone in his study, a small glass of water resting in his hands. He wasn't the type of man to drink and prided himself in that quality. After all he had everything he could hope for. He had a substantial amount of money, power and a lavish amount of belongings that he could really get by without. He was titled, had many servants to do his bidding and came from a family that was virtually scandal free. But the thing that Raoul prided more then any of those things was his wife. His darling wife. No, he didn't just pride in her. He loved her so selflessly that people assumed that they must have martial issues they were hiding. This wasn't true...not really.
Of course when they wed all of the controversy surrounding the Opera House affair followed her and thus plagued the family. Oh yes, word got out about Christine's mysterious confrontations with the infamous Opera Ghost but he hadn't cared. Nothing could make him think less of her. Even his own family had accepted that she would come with scandal. They accepted his choice and loved her like she was their own daughter.
Christine did not come from a good background in the material things and any other wealthy nobleman wouldn't have given her a second glance. But Raoul knew her from many years ago and seeing her again at the Opera Populaire...it was something that he could only describe as fate. Christine was the most beautiful, radiant woman that Raoul had ever seen and she had chosen him.
Raoul loved her more then anything. But he couldn't pretend not to notice that she was in no way the girl that he fell in love with all those years ago. Sometimes Raoul was so overcome by her morbid moods he would have a moment of complete anger and frustration. Something he wasn't used to experiencing. For he was a levelheaded man and didn't tend to act irrationally.
Raoul was jarred from his thoughts as he heard the front door slam shut. He stood and walked to the door knowing instinctively that it would be Christine there to greet him.
"Welcome home." he said joyfully, his face twisting into a boyish grin.
Christine gave him a weary smile and allowed him to bend over and kiss her hand tenderly.
"Hello Raoul,"
"How was the Opera my dear?"
Christine's mind was instantly swimming in the stressful day that she had endured, consisting of falling dancers, yelling orders, recasting, longer rehearsals, finishing sets...the mere thought of it all gave her a headache. But it was worse because now she had to tutor Helen.
Christine had absolutely nothing against Helen but the thought of coaching her to sing shook her in a way that even she herself couldn't understand.
"It was pleasant Raoul. I do enjoy my work." she said finally. Christine was too tired to get into all of the stresses of her day. "Did you straighten everything out with Josephine then?"
"Yes, almost" Raoul said, obviously very proud of himself for helping his aunt "Her child will be born in mere days Christine can you believe it?"
Christine shook her head. "It's a very exciting time"
"Indeed it is."
They were boated by a gulf of piercing silence. Raoul was suffocating in it and begging for forgiveness and it just made Christine feel drained of all the energy she had been carrying through the day. Raoul just felt as though they were on opposite sides of the world and at the moment, no matter how loud he called to her, there would be no response from his wife.
"Have you got a dress yet?" he asked politely, praying that the silence would end.
"A dress?" Christine said wrinkling her nose "Whatever for?"
Raoul let his mouth fall open whilst letting out a breath of laughter "Whatever for?" he repeated "Only for the dinner party that we are hosting tomorrow night."
Christine watched him carefully her mind buzzing with some recollection of him ever mention a dinner party. Raoul watched her carefully, waiting for that look of realization to cross her face. For her to apologize and confess that she, indeed, did have a dress for the occasion and it was hanging in her upstairs wardrobe.
"I don't recall you mentioning it, but what's wrong with the dresses I have now?" she asked curiously
"Well, nothing...I suppose. No nothing, I just...I just thought that you may want to buy a new one...that's all." Raoul stuttered, feeling utterly baffled.
"No," she answered quietly "I think I'd like to wear one of my own."
Raoul nodded slowly and his mind was trying hard to figure out something that he could say. Something to lift her spirits, something to restore all that had been lost.
But nothing came.
"I have talked to Agnes and she is willing to prepare a grand meal for the two of us. I figure that we have been eating separately for the past few nights that it would be nice to eat together." he said, his face radiating his genuine joy at the thought of eating a private dinner with his wife.
Raoul had visions of it. She would enter the dining room in one of her expensive gowns that he had provided for her and look absolutely stunning. They would sit down to dinner and talk about everything. From business, to love, to whims and fantasies and gardens. Everything they could think of. They would talk and laugh and eat and perhaps afterwards retreat to the sitting room and sit by the crackling fire and talk some more. Raoul couldn't help but smile at the lovely thoughts. That was what he wanted.
"Oh Raoul, I'm so sorry. I can't tonight. I have to return to the Opera House to teach a student...more steps and perfect her...ballet movements."
Why was just telling him that she was tutoring her to sing and be the lead part so hard?
Raoul's face dropped noticeably but tried to hide it by letting out a large, very fake cough that caused Christine to jump.
"Well, right. That's alright Christine perhaps another time."
She nodded. "Perhaps. If you don't mind I'm going to retire and rest my mind for tonight."
Raoul nodded helplessly and Christine hesitated slightly before giving him a soft kiss on the forehead and departing up the winding staircase. Raoul stood in his place for quite sometime. Allowing all the thoughts to consume him.
Love me, that's all I ask of you
Oh how those days seemed to be eons ago! He still remembered the softness of her face as he caressed it. He could still remember her crystal clear voice telling him the dark secrets of her disappearance. He could still recall how she smelled, how her hair shone and how wonderfully sweet her lips had been.
He loved her then.
He loved her still.
He would do anything to make her happy, anything to make her smile. For her smile was more precious then anything on the face of the earth and somehow, someway he was going to get her to smile again.
No matter what it took.
"Madame de Changy I don't think I can do it! I can't, I just can't! With all of those people watching me, with all those people judging me. How on earth am I going to actually sing?"
Christine watched her pupil pace the stage in complete panic. The sight humored her slightly for she was well aware of the pressures of being the star. Especially when you weren't expecting it.
"Calm now Helen, you will be fine! The performance is in a months time, a months that is long enough for you to learn two lead roles. Now please can we stop being so hysterical and get down to work here."
Helen paused her ranting and stared at her teacher curiously for a second before sighing in defeat.
"Good," Christine said satisfied "Now from the beginning of the aria please."
"What?" asked Helen, her voice rising in panic "Which one? Are there more then one?"
"There is only one aria for you in the first act... You know that now sing."
Christine couldn't help but let her voice be condescending and strict. She was used to dealing with students.
"Angels weep for you..." sang Helen timidly.
"No. Stop, try again with more confidence Helen, really you're good and you know it. Again."
Helen took a deep breath and began again only slightly louder then the time before.
"Angels weep for you"
"Stop. You're going flat on that high note. Again"
"Angels weep..."
"Almost Helen, you're close. Watch your breathing. Really it's almost there but you can't take a breath before weep. Again."
"Angels..."
"Stop. You have to hit that not head on. No wavering."
"Ange..."
"Stop," Christine said again running her hands through her curly hair "You have to hit that note. Again."
Helen closed her eyes tightly and then sang. "Angels weep for..."
"Close Helen. But not there quite yet. Take this one home and work on it. We must move on"
"Oh!" Helen said throwing her arms up into the air "It's impossible! I can't do it!"
"Yes you can." said Christine firmly as she flipped through the score.
"I didn't know you could be so strict Madame de Changy."
"Whatever do you mean?" Christine asked distractedly.
"I didn't get past the first line."
"Well, we need to strive for perfection. Or as close as we can get. Helen I know you can do this. I know you can."
"Can you sing it for me?"
Christine's hand froze and her heart ceased to beat. Her student watched her intently with a silent pleading. Her mind battled back and forth with itself. She couldn't sing, she couldn't but it would help her student reach her full potential...
"I have to admit Helen that I am terribly out of practice."
"Oh I don't care! I am really not getting the technicalities of this song."
Christine stared at her for a long moment before nodding slowly. She could taste her heartbeat in her throat as she resolved the issue internally.
"Very well..." Christine took a deep breath and imagined the introduction of the song.
"Angels weep for you..."
Christine soared through the song; she tried not to notice anything that could be potentially wrong with what she was singing. She closed her eyes and felt herself tremble as the familiar sensation of the notes radiating out of her body overwhelmed her. Her crystal clear tone echoed through the empty theatre, spreading the song through each seat, each corner and each possible place it could reach.
Christine's voice climbed higher and higher and she feared that she would be so out of practice that she wouldn't be able to hit the last note. But she did. Almost flawlessly.
The song finished and Christine opened her eyes. Her heart felt as though it would burst and a genuine smile crossed her features. The empty audience seemed to be spinning with applause and cheers. Slowly, she turned to see Helen looking at her with an amazed expression on her face.
"Madame that was...you are...that was...the most amazing thing I have ever heard you...you...I hope I can become as half as good as you are."
"Well thank you Helen but you must expect to be much better then I am."
Helen shook her head "No, I could never...You must have had the most amazing teacher. Technique like that doesn't just come...Who was your teacher Madame?"
Christine became intensely fascinated with the score on the table. She brutally fought back the tears that had formed in her eyes.
"You wouldn't know of him..."
"I know a great many teachers, please do tell me. Don't worry, I'm not thinking about replacing you..." she joked lightheartedly.
"He was...he was a...an...Angel."
Helen stared at her peculiarly and opened her mouth to ask more questions.
"That's all for today Helen, I'll see you next rehearsal."
Helen nodded and began to leave the theatre.
"Thank you Madame."
Christine nodded weakly and only when she heard the door slam shut from the entrance hall did she allow tears to roll gently down her face
