Chapter 37- Masquerade
The Opera Populaire was buzzing with excitement. The day of the Masquerade ball had finally come. Meg, as usual was making a big drama out of the whole thing, much like she did with productions, only this time it was about her dress and mask.
André and Firmin were to be found in the entrance hall where the ball was to be held. They were making sure that things such as tables for food and drink were in place, decorations set, and above all making sure that the space designated for the Orchestra was up to standard.
"A bit higher… a bit higher… no lower!" Firmin was currently instructing a stage manager where to put a decoration. "That's it!"
Madame Giry then entered the hall, looking quite tired, but perfectly cheerful. "Good morning messieurs." She chimed merrily.
Firmin and André both looked round, surprised. It was a rarity to see Madame Giry out of her office these days.
"Good morning." They both replied at the same time.
"Well?" Said André, looking up expectantly at Madame Giry for any reply.
"Well… what?" Madame Giry looked puzzled; she could not think what André was asking her.
"What do you think of the decorations?" Asked Firmin, so loudly that one of the stage managers nearly dropped an ornament he was currently trying to place on one of the balconies.
"Careful!" Shouted André.
All of a sudden Meg ran into the hall. She looked in such a panic that everyone present stared at her, lost for words.
"Mother!" She shouted, running up to Antoinette, "Mother, I need your opinion." She held up two masks, one in each hand, "Which do you think looks better, the black one…" She held forward the mask in her right hand, "… Or the white one?" She held out the mask in her left hand.
Madame Giry looked at the masks, and tried to act interested. "Well, what colour is your dress?"
Meg clapped and hand to her forehead. "I need your opinion on that as well. Will you come with me quickly?"
Antoinette had to do some very quick thinking to get herself out of this situation. "Erm…" She began, scratching the back of her head. "… I would like to but I… promised the managers that I would help them with the preparations."
"Mother please." Meg was almost on her knees.
"Why don't you ask Christine? I'm sure she will help you." She replied calmly. Antoinette really had other things to be doing besides helping her daughter.
"Christine! Yes!" Meg said in a panicked and excited tone. "Thank you Maman." She gave her mother a brief hug before she ran like a bolt of lightning up the main staircase.
Firmin bent over and whispered to André: "At least we are not the only ones with the jitters over the ball."
André chuckled. "I'm surprised you are not acting as you did before the production of Faust. You were not the one performing, yet you still managed to get yourself overly worked up."
Firmin shot him a look as if to say 'Shut up!' but his cheeks showed the embarrassment.
"I mean…" André continued. "You are actually doing something besides sitting in box 1 watching the performance. You are going to be dancing."
"So are you!" Firmin snapped. "So is everyone else but you seem to forget we are the owners!"
"Dear Richard please calm down. You're already getting yourself wound up too tightly."
"It is not that André. My concern is the Opera Ghost." He said in an almost inaudible whisper.
"He is no longer here. We have not heard from him for months." André replied.
Indeed no one had spoken of the Opera Ghost. No one had heard anything from him, apart from Christine and Madame Giry. All the rest had not spoken of him as he had not been around, or indicated that he was still keeping his eye on them all.
Firmin shrugged off the thought of the Opera Ghost. Nothing had happened at all in any of the recent performances. Why would anything happen tonight? No it was all going to be perfect.
Madame Giry walked over to them. "Can I help with anything Messieurs?" She asked politely.
"Ah, yes." André boomed. "Would you please come along with me to our office? There are just a few things I need to clear up with you about tonight's dance. You can continue with the decorations for the moment can't you Monsieur Firmin?"
Firmin did not have time to answer as André and Madame Giry had already begun to head off in the direction of the managers' office.
-
Meg knocked on Christine's door three times. There was a low mumbling sound from the other side, which she interpreted as 'Come in'. Opening the door, she saw Christine lying in bed, looking absolutely exhausted.
"What is it?" Mumbled Christine, then she opened her eyes to see Meg standing in front of her, the two masks still clutched in her hands.
"Good heavens… what happened to you?" Meg had just about managed to forget her worries over her outfit.
"Just tired from… from…." She yawned, and just about managed to get herself out of bed before saying. "…practicing."
Meg looked confused for a few seconds but then a sudden rush of realisation showed on her face. "Oh! You mean your dance, don't you?"
Christine did not answer but simply nodded and moved over to her dressing table. She opened one of the drawers and pulled out a new rose that Erik had given her the previous day. She placed it in her hair, which seemed to remind Meg why she had come to see Christine.
"Which mask do you…"
"The white one and wear the lighter dress." Interrupted Christine, she knew that Meg was going to ask her something like this and she already had an answer planned.
Meg seemed happy with Christine's decision. "So…" She began, "… how is your dance going, well?"
"I'd say it is pretty good…" Answered Christine, readjusting the rose in her hair. Her voice then dropped to a whisper, "… but then I have got a very good dance partner, haven't I…"
Christine had expected Meg to make some snide comments about her and Erik about now, but Meg surprised her. She clapped her hand to her forehead like she had done when she had remembered the dress.
"I'm going to dance with Byron... what if he thinks I am awful?"
Christine gave a small laugh, which earned her an evil glare from Meg. "Meg, if you were awful then you would not have been in the ballet."
Meg considered this for a moment, but it did not seem to ease her worries at all. She simply said, "See you later Christine." Before she walked out of the door looking absolutely mortified.
Christine could now concentrate on her own thoughts and concerns about the ball, most importantly, getting back at the Witch, Catherine.
There was another knock at the door. Christine expected it to be Meg returning to ask her something else.
"Meg... I told you the lighter…" She started.
"Christine, it's me Zurie." Came a girl's voice from the other side of the door.
Ooops wrong person. "Sorry Zurie, come on in." She said feeling the colour rush to her cheeks.
Zurie entered. "Sorry I have not seen you recently. I just thought I would come and see how you were."
"That is very sweet of you. I am very well. Are you all ready for tonight?" She asked.
"Yes." Zurie said. How ever her gaze fell to the floor. "But, my step-mother is going to be there. I have tried to explain to my father about Erik, but he will not listen."
An idea suddenly hit Christine so hard. That's it! Ivan!
"He says that I am making it all up and things have been so difficult between us." She finished.
Christine walked over to her and put a hand on her shoulder. "Zurie. Your father will eventually find out the truth. It is because…" She shuddered at the thought. "…He loves her that he won't listen. It is not your fault. If he were to believe it then it would bring shame on your family."
"I know it would, but she has been lying to him for all these years. He is just so blind that he has not seen through her, as we have."
"That is only because of Erik. She has only shown us her true nature." Christine told her. That she is pure evil.
There was a slight pause. They were both thinking the same thing.
"I hear that you're doing the closing dance. That will be good to see." Zurie said taking the subject off of Catherine.
"I hope it goes well. Luckily, I have got a great dance partner." Christine could not help but smirk.
"I bet Erik is very good." She said in a cheeky manner.
Zurie can help me. She is the only way I can get to Ivan. Maybe it would be a good idea to let her in on what has happened.
"Zurie…" Christine began, trying to word this just right. "…I need your help."
-
"Right… what do you think?" The ball was only one hour away, and everybody was now starting to get ready, or in Meg's case, just finishing.
"You look fantastic!" Answered Byron, admiring Meg in her outfit of light blue, complete with a thin white mask that covered just the eyes. "Right, I suppose I had better put mine on…"
Byron was wearing a white suit, with a matching bow tie. His mask however was black, which created a very nice contrasting effect. He was originally going to wear a black suit, but the managers announced that since they were in France, they would be wearing the French colours or red, white and blue.
About half an hour before the start of the ball, Christine came to find Meg. Christine, like Byron, chose to wear white, but unlike Byron decided to have a matching white mask to go with it.
"You look amazing!" Said Meg, a look of awe on her face. "I knew I should have got a white one…"
"Meg you look fine in blue… anyway I can't stay long. I have to go and give these music scores to the managers." She held several pieces of parchment, which Meg assumed had the music for the different instruments.
"For your closing dance?" Christine nodded, and then she noticed the look of panic return to Meg's face. Christine tried to give her an encouraging look, but felt that she probably failed and made it look more like pity.
Turning and leaving, Christine headed in the direction of the managers' office. She passed Catherine on her way to the office, but fortunately did not speak with her. She looked extremely ugly in Christine's opinion, wearing a scarlet dress.
It was only when she was half way office that Christine realised that they would not be there. They would obviously be in the entrance hall, making last minute changes and preparing to welcome the guests.
The Orchestra were all in place when Christine got there. The managers were having a talk with Reyer, and Christine had a suspicion she knew about what.
"Miss Daae!" Firmin looked as though he was about to faint, just like he did at Faust. "Not to nag at you or anything…" He paused, and then nearly shouted, "… But we really need the music for your dance!"
Christine held out the music she was carrying, which seemed to put Firmin and André at ease a great deal. Reyer was also in a panic, Christine could tell that the pressure of having to provide the music for everyone, including several nobles, was clearly unnerving him.
"And… Miss Daae…" Began André, looking as though he had been sentenced to death. "…Who is your partner for the dance?"
This was a question that Christine was hoping to avoid, especially if it was one of the managers asking. Trying to do some very quick thinking, she was rescued by the first few people arriving.
Firmin checked his watch. "Good lord! Where has the time gone?"
He and André went to welcome the guests, giving Christine the chance to sneak back up to her room. Once she was finally there, she found standing in front of her, a very different Erik to the one she was used to.
He was dressed in a blood red costume, complete with a cape to match. His mask was very different to the half one that he usually wore, this one covered both of his eyes and looked like what appeared to be a skull, only a bit less frightening.
Christine was lost for words. "You look…" She could not think of what to say, 'Amazing, spectacular', none of them seemed to fit. She just stood there, but Erik seemed to understand.
"You look quite good yourself…" He said, giving her a small smile and walking over to her, "… shall we?"
Christine took hold of his arm, and the two of them left, heading for the entrance hall. Erik seemed to be a little nervous.
Of course! He has never done anything like this before, has he? She thought to herself, this was true of course; he usually prowled the Opera House using his secret passages.
Arriving at the hall, they both saw that it had filled up with many people in the short time that Christine had been gone. The Orchestra were currently playing a waltz, making the floor fill with dancers.
Fortunately for both of them, there was no sign of Catherine. Christine and Erik made their way down the grand marble staircase, shaking hands with people they passed. Most of the people who were not dancing were holding drinks and enjoying the food.
It was very fortunate that it was a Masquerade ball. It meant that Erik could avoid awkward questions about who he was. After all, nobody would ever dream of 'The Phantom of The Opera' even daring to come to the ball.
They decided to join in with the waltz. Christine saw Meg and Byron dancing together. Meg looked extremely relieved about something, and Christine was pretty sure that Byron had told her that she was a very good dancer.
Meg caught sight of them. As they came close to each other, she gave Christine a cheeky smile and said, "Lover boy's looking good…"
Unfortunately for Meg, Erik heard this. He did not do much however, just scowled at her, underneath his mask, menacingly. Meg of course saw nothing.
Christine could not help but giggle. As they continued with the waltz, more and more people decided to join in.
"It's a good thing they decided on the colour scheme of red, white and blue." Christine whispered.
"Yes, I suppose it is." He said not looking at her.
Christine knew exactly who he was looking at. "Don't worry. She doesn't know it's you."
"I'm not worried about that. I'm more concerned about the fact that she is coming over." He whispered.
"It's fine. The plan can go ahead now." She whispered back.
She looked around and managed to lock eyes with a figure dressed in deep blue with a light blue mask to match. She gave a nod, which was returned.
"Ah!" Came an all too familiar voice. "My dear Miss Daae. And who might this be?"
Christine and Erik stopped and turned to face her. "My name, my dear mademoiselle, is Charles Darrell. But please call me Charles." He replied in a very French accent to disguise his own voice. "You look exceedingly beautiful Miss…?"
"Oh!" She giggled. "Catherine Beaumont."
Erik took her hand in his and kissed the back of it. "Beaumont? That would make you the Patron of the Opera Populaire, no?"
"Yes monsieur you are correct." She smiled at him completely ignoring Christine. "Well I hope I get to dance with you sometime."
"It would be my pleasure." I just hope my stomach can keep calm. "See you later then." He replied.
She headed off to join a crowd of women who had just entered.
Christine just stared at Erik who muttered: "Femme stupide et pathétique!" Under his breath.
Christine smothered a giggle. "What did you say Monsieur Darrell?" She said, smiling.
"I called her a stupid pathetic woman." Erik growled. He looked up and looked around to where the mangers were standing talking to each other. He smirked at them.
"What are you smiling at?" Christine asked curiously.
"It would seem my managers have had a little too much to drink." He looked back toward Christine. "I think it is time I delivered this." He said pulling a leather-bound folder out from underneath his cloak. "I will be back shortly." With that he streaked over to where the mangers were.
"Yes, this is turning out rather well." Boomed André.
"Quite a night!" Agreed a rather tipsy Firmin.
"I am very impressed." Erik said as he stopped in front of them both.
"Well… one does one's best." Firmin chuckled.
"I was wondering, Gentlemen if I might speak to you both alone?" Erik put on his normal voice.
Both Firmin and André turned very pale. "It's… It's…" André stuttered.
"Me?" Erik finished for him. "Did you think that I had left you for good? Have you missed me, good messieurs? I have written you an opera! Here I bring the finished score." He handed the folder over to Firmin.
"Don Juan?" Firmin read out loud.
"Triumphant." Erik finished for him. "I advise you to comply. Do I make myself clear?"
André and Firmin said nothing, just looked at him in complete terror.
"I will take your silence as a yes." Erik turned to leave but stopped and looked over his shoulder. "Oh, and enjoy the party." He added.
He headed back over toward the dancers when a hand was placed on his shoulder. "May I have this dance?" It was Catherine Beaumont.
Erik turned to face her fully. "Why yes Madame Beaumont." You will be lucky if I don't kill you right here and now!
"Oh please, call me Catherine." She said childishly. "It is only fair as you have told me to call you Charles."
"Very well, Catherine. It would be my pleasure." To kill you! He held out his arm, which she took and they both strode up to join the dance.
Erik had to muster up all of his acting talent to act as if he was enjoying the dance. This was extremely difficult since it was the woman who had ruined his life that he was dancing with.
"I did not think that a patron could dance…" He said, as cheekily as he could without it sounding false.
"Oh… you flatter me Monsieur Darrell." She said, as they continued to dance round the hall. "So tell me… how do you and Miss Daae know each other?"
Erik fortunately had an answer planned for this. "She is a distant relative… My cousin, I don't know how many times removed, on my mother's side." Erik's stomach gave a particularly nasty lurch when he said the word mother.
The dance finally came to an end, and Erik breathed a sigh of relief. "You are not a bad dancer yourself Monsieur Darrell."
"That's not the only thing I'm good at." Erik's stomach was about to burst as he said these words, but he knew that it was necessary. He gave a meaningful look to the figure in blue then said, "Come with me…"
Catherine did not hesitate to do this. Erik took her hand, and then led her through a door to the right of the hall. The room was completely empty. Erik locked the door behind them as they went in.
Catherine walked into the middle of the room, then turned round expectantly, but found herself looking along the blade of a sword. She looked at Erik, fear and trepidation written in her face.
"What are you doing?" Her voice was shaking so madly that Erik could barely understand her.
He let out a high, mirthless laugh. "Isn't it quite obvious what I am doing? Or has the drink impaired your vision?"
Catherine stood rooted to the spot. Half of her wanted to scream, the other half to run, yet she could do neither. Terror kept her where she was.
"Well, I hope you can see well enough to see this!" He pulled his mask off his face, leaving Catherine to look at the face that had haunted her for so long, and the face that she thought she was rid of forever.
"You're supposed to be dead!" She whispered, both fear and anger in her voice.
"Can you really kill a ghost mother?" He asked in a loud, sarcastic voice, letting out a howl of laughter.
"Shame… that stupid woman could not even kill you properly…"
Erik held the sword hard against Catherine's throat. "Don't you dare insult Christine. You are a coward. You had to get her to try and kill me because you were too afraid to try yourself."
"A coward am I?" She asked in a whisper, "Well, if anyone else had a son with a face that hideous then I think that they would be petrified as well."
Erik used all of his self-control not to kill her right then.
"So that is why you sold me to the circus?" Erik asked through gritted teeth.
"If I had not of done that, I would have drowned you, you rat!" She hissed at him. "The circus was the best place for you. You have always been and always will be a freak!"
"Tell me." Erik paused and swallowed. "Would you have kept me had my father stayed with you?"
"Your father left me because of you!" She let out a sigh. "He was the only man I have ever loved."
"I didn't really think you cared for your husband or your step daughter." He said almost pitifully.
"They are both fools. Oh yes being married into wealth could get me the things I wanted, but it could never give me my old life back." She said nastily.
"My life was fine until you walked back into it. I gave you the chance to walk away but no, you did not heed my warning. Instead you stayed in my Opera House and poisoned Christine to try to kill me. Then you burned the remains of my home." He yelled, his voice rising with each sentence.
"It was to get rid of the memories that haunted me ever since you were born. Pierrick leaving me made me change into the woman I am now. I blame you for ruining my life." Her voice also rising.
"I may be deformed, but that doesn't make me evil! You sold your only child who was then subjected to terror for 2 years! Then you walk back into my life making my scars re-appear again." He had kept the sword perfectly still against her throat.
"So what?" She said softly. "You are nothing but the spawn of Satan. You deserved it."
"Did I? But did Ivan and Zurie deserve to have you enter their lives when all you cared about was wealth?" He retorted.
"What they don't know can't hurt them!" She snapped.
Erik lowered the sword slightly. "Is that a fact?" He lifted the sword again to indicate someone behind her and nodded.
Catherine turned round to come face to face with Ivan. Ivan said nothing just looked at her in disbelief.
"Ivan…I" She began.
"I don't want to hear anymore." He shouted at her before storming out passing Erik and shutting the door.
"Think of this as mercy, a small gift from me." Erik said to her wickedly. "I could have killed you several times. But now you will suffer as much as you made me!"
Catherine said nothing, just bolted out of the door after Ivan. Erik replaced his mask and then turned and went after them to find Christine.
"How did it go?" She asked as he approached her.
"Even better than we could have hoped." He replied, a note of triumph in his voice.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, can we have your attention please!" Boomed Firmin, standing in the middle of the grand marble staircase.
"The night, we are afraid, has almost come to an end, but before you all go, we would like you to please put your hands together for Christine Daae and her partner, as they delight us with one final dance."
The guests clapped loudly and cleared the dance floor. Christine and Erik walked out into the centre hand in hand. They waited a few seconds, and then the Orchestra struck up the tango.
Christine kept her face as serious as she possibly could. The tango was a dance where it was as if the male and female were challenging each other. The success of their plan gave them such a morale boost that they both danced their very best, back and forth across the floor.
About half way through the dance, Erik took the rose out of Christine's hair and placed it in his mouth; this earned them a cheer from the audience, and caused them to clap along with the rhythm for the rest of the song.
After what seemed like a lifetime, the song came to an end, and Christine and Erik were left in their finishing pose; Erik behind Christine, holding her with her head tilted towards his. There was a loud burst of applause, and they both took a bow.
As soon as the clapping and cheering died down, Firmin spoke. "Thank you very much for a splendid performance…" He began, walking onto the dance floor slightly, "…however, I think that I should take this opportunity to say something; that we no longer take orders from Ghosts!"
There was a gasp from many of the guests, followed by a lot of loud muttering.
"I strongly advise you to take that back, good monsieur…" Erik whispered, softly.
"Or what? You are going to kill me?" It was clear that Firmin had had a little too much to drink.
Erik smiled. "Of course not monsieur…" Then his voice went very quiet so that only Christine could hear, "…look as though you are trying to get away." He barely moved his lips as he said this, Christine did as she was told.
There was a great burst of red flame, followed by a lot of purple smoke. Firmin was coughing violently where he stood, and when he looked at where there had once been two people, he now saw nobody.
"But now I have your leading soprano…"
