Christine stirred in her sleep. Erik was sitting on the end of the bed watching her. Sensing that dawn had broken, he stood up and walked silently out of the room, making sure that he closed the door carefully so as not to wake his sleeping beauty.
He headed toward the kitchen where he found Porsche already waiting for him.
"Alright breakfast coming up." He smiled at the cat, who responded with a soft mew.
He decided to get her breakfast done first as it was early, then he would prepare Christine a breakfast fit for a queen as he knew that this evening she would be performing Il Muto.
He placed Porsche's bowl down on the floor near his feet and gave her some of the meats that were left. She tucked in happily, while he placed some milk in a saucer for her to drink and put that next to the food.
He stood up and pondered for a moment; what would he cook her? Something which would release energy slowly? He smiled. He had just the thing. He set to work on finding some ingredients, equipment and of course his very handy recipe book.
-
Christine yawned heavily, and opened her eyes slowly; it took her a while to register completely where she was. She sat up and looked around her and then she knew. She took a sniff of the air as an absolutely gorgeous smell had filled the room. Her mind focused on the scent, trying to work out what it was. When the door opened Erik came in carrying a silver tray with plates of food on it.
"Good Morning. Did you sleep well?" He asked.
"Yes, very." Christine replied smiling. "Erik what is this? It smells like heaven."
His blue eyes looked at her sparkling. "This is cheese omelette, served with fried mushrooms and fried cinnamon-scented French toast. The cinnamon is probably what you could smell, but I hope it is to your liking."
Christine didn't reply. She had tucked into the cheese omelette at once.
She looked back up at him, and swallowed a mouthful before saying: "Erik this is wonderful. Where did you learn to cook such great food?"
He gave her a cheeky grin before replying: "Where did you learn to sing so superbly, even after Cecilia left?"
She stopped and looked at him. Her eyes were wide. "How do you know her name? I never told you. You knew her didn't you?"
"Yes I knew her. I used to listen to her practice, and of course she never knew I was listening. I never used to reveal myself then. It's only been recently that I took up the name of the Phantom of the Opera and began to make my presence known to you all."
"Why did you choose to reveal yourself to me like this? What makes me different?" she asked curiously.
I wish I could tell you the truth but I will leave that until I feel you are ready to hear it.
"Because I trust you. You're the only one I feel would understand me and judging by what you said to me last night, my guess was correct."
Christine blushed as she remembered what she had told him last night. "Thank you, that's very kind of you to say so."
Erik smiled back. "Please eat." He indicated to the half-eaten breakfast on her plate. "You will need your energy for your last minute preparations before tonight."
"Oh goodness I almost completely forgot. I had better get back" She cried, trying to rise.
Erik reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder pushing her back down gently. "Don't worry. The morning is still young and I thought you liked my food."
Christine blushed slightly before finishing the remains of the cinnamon toast. "Yes of course I do, but I will go back as soon as I'm dressed and have finished. Alright?"
"Very well my dear." He replied softly.
For the first time Christine had noticed that she was in a nightdress, and she could neither remember changing during the previous evening, nor falling asleep on the bed.
He must have changed me last night."Erik, did I fall asleep by the piano last night? I was still in my dress. How did I end up in this nightdress?" She asked sheepishly, even though she guessed what his reply would be.
It was Erik's turn to have some colour in his cheeks. "Yes, you did fall asleep, and it seemed unfair to wake you and so I carried you to the bed so that you would be more comfortable, but no I didn't change you."
Christine looked puzzled. "If you didn't change me then who did?"
"Madame Giry, I felt it would be inappropriate to do it myself. She came down to my lair and got you changed."
"So Madame Giry knows you? How?"
"That doesn't matter for the moment. I will explain later. You had best get changed and I will return you to your room."
Christine decided not to ask any further questions. He had said that he would tell her later on so she would wait. She went to her room and began to change.
-
The mirror once again had slid into the ground as Erik pulled the switch, allowing Christine to see how she could get past the barrier from his lair to her room. She already knew the switch from her room to the passageway.
Before she crossed the threshold, she turned to face Erik. "Thank you for the breakfast and for letting me stay."
"My pleasure, I wish you luck in your performance tonight."
"Will you be watching?"
"I'll see you, but you won't see me." He replied monotonically.
"I'll take that as a yes then shall I?" She giggled. Before stepping into her room, she didn't bother to turn around as she knew he would have done his vanishing act.
Christine sighed and began to pace her room.
How does Madame Giry know of Erik. Why didn't she tell me? How long has she known him? Should I go ask her? But Erik did say that he would explain later. I can't wait for later. I'm going to ask her.
Christine headed out of the room and rushed down the corridor toward Madame Giry's office. It was still fairly early, so she wasn't sure whether she would be up. She reached the door, took a deep breath, paused and then knocked on the door.
"Come in." Answered an icy voice which belonged to the ballet instructor.
Christine carefully opened the door and timidly walked in.
"Ah, Christine my dear, you're up rather early. Is there something you wished to see me about?"
Christine swallowed hard before whispering. "Erik."
Madame Giry sat back in her seat. She looked at Christine for a moment, and then indicated a seat for her to sit down in. Christine crossed the room and placed herself in the red, velvet looking chair opposite her.
Madame Giry leant forward slightly, before asking. "What of him?"
"How long have you known Erik?"
"Long enough."
"You've known all along about him being the Phantom of the Opera?"
"Yes indeed I have."
"How did you meet him?"
Madame Giry paused for a moment. "You ask too many questions."
"Madame Giry, please."
A third voice entered the room, making Christine jump.
"My dear have you ever heard of the expression 'ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies'? I said I would explain later. I know you're curious, but I would rather tell you myself. That is if Madame Giry has no objections."
"None at all." She replied.
"Erik, I'm sorry." Christine whispered.
"Don't be, it's understandable for you to be curious, but I will explain later, however in the meantime you should focus on your performance."
"We had better go down and start rehearsing. The other girls will probably be down there already, including Meg Giry or she had better be." Madame Giry said warningly.
Christine smiled as she got up to follow Madame Giry.
"We will talk later Madame." Erik said softly.
Madame Giry looked back and nodded before heading out of the door with Christine following.
They walked down the hallway saying nothing for a while until Christine spoke up.
"I'm sorry for the trouble Madame Giry."
"What trouble child?"
"For you having to come and change me last night."
"Its nothing my dear. Erik did not wish to do anything inappropriate and so came and found me. Personally, I didn't know you were that deep a sleeper."
Christine smiled. "It's his music. Have you heard it Madame Giry?"
"Oh yes, many times. He is very talented with his music, as I'm sure you know."
"Oh yes, he certainly is."
"I'm sorry we didn't tell you before, but we both thought it best not to say anything just yet. I'm sure you can understand."
"Yes, I understand."
"CHRISTINE!" Meg Giry's voice rang out from across the stage.
Christine grinned and ran out to greet her friend on the stage.
"Right everyone, to your places." Madame Giry commanded.
-
Rehearsals had gone well during the day and everyone had come a long way, especially Christine. She was ready in costume with half an hour before the performance was due to start. The Managers had kept her playing in the role of countess at Erik's request, and amazingly enough they had persuaded Carlotta to perform as the page boy, which meant that Piangi would perform too.
Christine sat quietly waiting, whilst the others were busy going through last minute lines or parts of the dance. She felt something furry rub against her arm.
"Hello Porsche, come to wish me luck?" She giggled.
The cat mewed and jumped up onto her lap. Christine began to stroke her when a hissing voice came from behind her.
"Christine my dear, you do know that b-black cats bring bad luck." It was Madame Giry.
Porsche jumped off her lap and looked at Madame Giry. The cat then extended the claws of all four paws and arched her back so that her fur stood on end. She then hissed very loudly.
"Go on off with you, shoo!" Madame Giry hissed back at the cat.
"Madame Giry, Porsche won't hurt you." Christine said defensively.
Madame Giry ignored Christine, and swung her foot at Porsche in an attempt to make her go away. Porsche flattened her ears and stood her ground, her yellow eyes glowing.
"Madame Giry please!" Christine cried. Not wanting Porsche to get hurt.
"Go Porsche!" She commanded.
The cat obeyed streaking away quietly.
"I'm sorry my dear, I do not like black cats."
"I know Madame."
"Just please in future, keep it away from me."
"Why do you have this fear of black cats?"
"One scratched me when I was a child, black just like that, never liked them since. Anyway you're due to start soon. The best of luck and I'm sure he will be greatly pleased."
"Thank you." Christine smiled.
She turned round to see that Carlotta was already in full make-up and costume and moaning to her maid in Spanish. Piangi was at her side trying to get her to lower her voice.
At least Piangi is trying to calm her down for once, pity she's throwing a tantrum because poor Madame toad doesn't get what she wants. Christine smirked.
"Can I have your attention for a moment everyone please?" Firmin's voice bellowed over the cast. Andre was standing next to him.
All eyes turned to face them, and the voices became quiet.
"The Performance is about to start so we both wish you luck in the first performance. May I say that you have all worked very hard and that all the staff including myself and monsieur Andre are very proud of you all. So go out there and break a leg."
There was loud applause and some laughs. They all then waited with anticipation for the curtain to rise and the performance of Il Muto to begin.
-
A man in a black cape occupied the seat in box 5. However no one noticed as their attention was focused upon the stage.
Erik could hear the muttering of the audience below him. He caught the words. "Where is Miss Daae? Oh I do hope she is performing. She truly is great and very pretty too." Erik smiled at the topic of conversation.
He was just going to watch the performance without taking any notes, for he had a very good memory, but he had noticed that they had really improved and excelled themselves since the first time he had seen them and this pleased him greatly.
The curtains opened and onstage were three servants of the manor, one female and by her side two male servants. The woman was wearing a purple frilly dress. The man on her right was wearing yellow tights with a matching jacket and the other on her left was wearing the same only it was blue. All three were waving their fans cooling themselves.
The maid that Meg Giry was playing entered from the left, carrying a basket. She made a small curtsey as the female servant began to sing:
"They say that this youth has set my lady's heart aflame."
"His lordship sure would die of shock." Cut in the servant in yellow.
"His lordship is a laughing stock." Followed the other servant.
All of them sang this next bit making the singing level three times as loud. "Should he suspect her. God protect her, shame, shame, shame! This faithless lady's bound for Hades, shame, shame, shame!"
Meg, who was standing on the right side of the servants, made a 'telling off' gesture with the corresponding shames.
The audience began to applaud the opening.
So far so good.
A second curtain parted revealing the countess and her lover to the audience. They were kissing behind a hand held fan. When they pulled away the pageboy gasped. Only, as it was Carlotta playing the page boy, she let out a squeal instead of a gasp, making Erik smirk.
The setting for this scene was of a grand master bedroom, with Christine as the countess wearing a huge pink dress, and with a very tall hair do and Carlotta as the page boy dressed in a blue striped costume similar to the servants at the beginning.
"Serafimo, your disguise is perfect!" Exclaimed Christine in a very posh accent.
Three loud knocks were made from off stage.
"Why, who can this be?"
Meg went to the right side of the stage to open the door.
Piangi entered wearing a huge, white wig, much like Christine's only a little smaller, Lime Green leggings with a matching jacket and a very big bow tie. He carried a cane in his left hand and his make up gave him the appearance of a male china doll.
"Gentle wife, admit your loving husband."
He then grabbed Meg's behind, making her squeal, which sounded like 'Whoa!' and headed over to stand beside Christine centre stage.
"My love, I'm called to England and must leave you with your new maid."
In the Background Carlotta was cleaning the room, Piangi sneaked up behind her and gave her bottom a little tap. Carlotta turned around to gawp at him; Christine however was not amused and her face had a sour, grumpy look.
Piangi stepped forwards and whispered to the audience: "Though I would happily take the maid with me."
The audience started laughing at this.
Very good, keep this going.
"The old fool is leaving." Christine said in a slight sarcastic tone.
They both moved centre stage and began to sing with each other.
They don't sound bad at all together; they harmonize reasonably well, better than Piangi and Carlotta together. He shivered at the thought of her high pitched squeal ringing in his ears.
Piangi moved over to where he first entered.
"Serafimo away with this pretence!"
Carlotta then threw her disguise off making all the servants on the left side of the stage Gasp: "Oh my!"
"You cannot speak, but kiss me in my husband's absence!" Christine said in that posh accent that she did before.
Carlotta and Christine faced each other, Christine held out the fan as they leaned in to make it look like their characters were kissing.
Piangi who was by the door shook his fist holding his cane, and had an angry, jealous look. Making the audience laugh and applaud.
"Poor fool, he makes me laugh ha ha ha ha ha, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha… Time I tried to get a better half." Christine sang.
The servants and maids then cut in with: "Poor fool, he doesn't know, ho ho ho ho ho, ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho… If he knew the truth he'd never let her go!"
The audience started to applaud again. Erik knew that the play was soon to come to an end and so decided to wait to see Christine once she had changed. He strode out of box five and headed in the direction of the dressing rooms. Extremely pleased with how it had gone for a first performance.
-
Christine stepped out of the dressing rooms after having changed out of costume and everybody congratulated her on a successful performance. Everyone except Carlotta that is - she was still annoyed about having to be the page boy and not being the number one at the Opera Populaire.
She headed down the corridor to her room, unaware that two bright blue eyes were watching her.
She headed up some stairs.
"Well Done Miss." Joseph Bouquet called out to her.
"Oh thank you very much monsieur." She said warily. She could smell that he had been drinking.
"Let me take you out to dinner sometime."
"That's a very kind gesture. I'll have a think about it."
"You know you're so much better than that squeaky Carlotta." Christine noticed that Bouquet was looking up and down at her, and wore a strange smile. "And so much more beautiful."
Bouquet had lunged forward and grabbed her wrist.
"Please Monsieur Bouquet, let go!" she cried. She attempted to free herself from his grasp, but in doing so he tightened his hold.
"Monsieur Bouquet!"
Bouquet ignored her pleas and shoved her against the wall. She struggled as she felt his hands try to move up to her chest.
Christine then lifted her leg up sharply kneeing Bouquet where it hurt most.
He howled and let go of her, falling to the floor.
She ran as fast as she could back to her room. She slammed the door and locked it, crying.
While she went over to the bed shaking violently, she was totally unaware that Erik had seen the whole incident. He had followed her back to her room to check that she was alright. There wasn't any harm done to her physically but mentally and emotionally she was so shocked at having been attacked like that.
Seeing Christine in a state infuriated him. He was so angry that he was shaking with rage. He only had one thought going through his head.
He then stormed off. Christine was sobbing into her pillow. "Erik… Erik." She choked between sobs. She slipped under the covers and brought her knees up to her chest. She shut her eyes allowing herself to enter her dream world and escape from the memory of her encounter with Monsieur Bouquet.
