"December? As in this month? Why didn't you tell me sooner, I would have gotten her a gift!" I stand with Antoinette in the wings of the stage, the ballerina's going through a dress rehearsal of the full opera without Madame's help.
"Well she only told us this afternoon, after we caught her brothers pestering her in that German gibberish he uses."
"Do you know why the elder boy speaks only German? And what about the little one, he has yet to speak a word and they have been here for 4 months now." My old friend shook her head, pulling her long braid around to her chest.
"She has only been dancing for a few weeks, and hardly speaks to any of the other ballerinas. Meg has started to get her to open up, but not much. Such a strange girl…" I nodded my head. Yes, indeed... "The girl is about as mysterious as you are." We both chuckle at her statement, the Spanish pig's squeal at a high note making our spines shutter. What could I do for Belle…? I want it to be as special as she is to me… my mind drifts back to the first time we met, the sound of the busy street drowning out the diva's deplorable diction as the boys' melody fills my ears. I close my eyes and see every detail perfectly. The little girl and mother who drew my attention to Belle in the first place, her rough performance, and her kindness as she gave me the picture frame…
"Ladies that will be enough for today apparently." Antoinette's cane snapping me back to reality. I hide in the shadows of the wing, a flock of ballerina's flowing by me. I wait anxiously for a bob of auburn to pass me, only to have the usual rats who curry about. I turn to leave when another rat passes my hiding spot, hobbling along. I give a grin, Marie Foss was still out of commission and would be for a while according to Madame, her ankle broken.
"Uncle! Where are you?" she calls out. I see a dark headed man with hair as curly as the girls step out from across the dimly lit wing. He comes to her side and kisses her forehead.
"I am glad you told me about your accident, and about the girl. In return for your loyalty to the family, I shall have you put up nicely in a stately chateau outside of Paris. And of course I will present you to the finest men of Paris, with your looks, they will not resist you!" She gave an awful, nasally laugh that could shatter glass. What girl were they talking about…? Surly not Belle…I will kill anyone who touches one hair on her head! I growled and shook my head as I step from the shadows and cross the now empty stage, grumbling to myself.
"Did Carlotta upset you that badly?" I smile at the voice, not looking up.
"I have told Bandeaux and Leroux to fire that squealing pig, but they refuse to listen to me; this is my opera house after all." I feel a hand on my arm. I look up to see Belle's bright eyes, her face glistening with sweat.
"One day that squealing pig will roast on a spit!" Belle bursts in to laughter.
"There are some days that Conner sounds better than Carlotta, and he is mute!" So that is why he never speaks…
"If you do get Carlotta fired, who will replace her? I never see an understudy for her." We enter her room, her question lingering in the silent air between us. I hear her humming as I walk to the mirror. I wish to make you the star of my opera house… I stop and sigh, turning back to bid her goodnight when I see something shining in the candlelight. Belle brings the silver object into view, smiling and humming still.
"What are you holding?"
"Huh?" She turns to me "It's my mother's necklace. Father had it made for her after I was born. I was their Christmas gift." The silver necklace was dull from the years of wear, the stone covered in dirt and greyed beyond recognition. It was an ugly thing in dire need of a cleaning. Now there is an idea…
"So your birthday is near to Christmas is it mon cher?" A sweet blush rose in her cheeks.
"The night of the opera actually, 19 days before Christmas."
"Is it now? Then I shall have something wonderful to celebrate your birthday and your debut as a dancer!" She shook her head and gave a weary smile.
"The only thing I ask for this year has already been answered. My brothers have a warm place to sleep and food enough to keep both of their bottomless stomach happy."
"You wish nothing for yourself? Not a nice dress perhaps, or maybe a new adventure to indulge yourself with?" She shrugged her shoulders.
"I'm sure those things would be nice…" a yawn making most of her words run together. I gave her a soft smile and picked her up to set her back in her bed. "Erik? May I stay with you tonight…" I nodded my head and set her down, playfully holding my nose.
"Only if you bathe first!" She rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"Remind me not to work so hard then. Now hand me my nightgown while I rid myself of the smell of a long day's work." I pull the silk gown from her wardrobe and watch the two vanish in a flash of white. I help myself to her vanity and take the box containing the necklace. I slide it into my coat pocket and take a few steps back. I wander about her room; it's so familiar yet so different. The furniture was very close to the same as it was before it burned; the wall paper was no longer pink since Carlotta practically had a mansion of a room to herself now. The walls were more a peach color with white trim. Gone were the days of this room being filled to the brim with flowers and endless fan swarming its door, now it housed a simple stagehand. "Some days I am still amazed that I can beckon hot water whenever I please."
"I am glad to see you enjoy such a luxury in my opera house. Only the finest for you, mademoiselle…" I bow and kiss her hand. We quickly arrive to my abode, Belle half asleep at my feet only to be woken by the tapping of the boat to the shore. I pick her up and carry her back to my room, kissing her forehead softly as I lay her in my bed. "There is one thing I want for my birthday…" A grin rises in my cheeks as I undress behind the screen.
"Name it my dear, and it shall be yours." My mind races of what she could want. Maybe a new book, or she wants me to compose her a piece. Or perhaps a dress since she only has 3… I step out from the screen in my night shirt and come sit by her side.
"Show me what is under your mask…. please…?" My heart stopped. Surly if she saw the demented horror underneath she would run and cry in fear! She lives in innocent bliss of my curse…I shook my head, turning away from her.
"No one must know what lies underneath… You will only scream and cry out in fear saying 'dear God above what is that thing?'" She puts a gentle hand to my arm.
"You don't think I already know? I have lived on the streets with Conner and Lukas for longer than I wish to admit and everyone has their opinion on the Phantom who lurks in the shadows of this opera house." I cut her short.
"Does this soliloquy have an end?" irritation bluntly obvious.
"Your deformity does not define you; what you choose to be in spite of it does. You see a damned creature from hell; I see a musician with talent from heaven…" She didn't mean a word she said, for curiosity killed the cat.
"Liar…" I mumble under my breath, my eyes looking everywhere but at her.
"Oh… I'm to have wasted your precious time then." Her voice was empty and weak, her hand no longer on my arm. I hear sheets rustling and feet patter across the room.
"Wait…" the patter stops. I get up and walk to the door, unable to reach out to her. "If you wish to see the curse that lies behind my façade, then you shall." I look up, her back still to me. She sighs and turns, meeting my eyes. I close my eyes as she takes off my mask. I don't want to see her look of horror. Her breathing did hitch, but she didn't move.
"Is this all you were afraid to show me…?" IS THIS ALL?! My eyes snap open, a warm smile on her face. The surgeries I had, with help of Antoinette and Meg did fix most of it, but there was much they could not do. My skin was no longer sunken around my eye and nose and the redness had mostly disappeared. My ear, however, remained more a hole on the side of my head. My cheek had been smoothed, but the skin near my hairline and temple were still a disastrous mess, but at least it had skin covering it instead of being my bare skull. I was closer to normal, but still a hideous creature that crawled from hell. "You look fine to me." Her hand grazing over my face. I wrapped my arms around her tightly, kissing her cheek.
"I shall something simply divine for you after the performance. Something as special as you are…" I could feel her blushing madly. I lead her back to the bed, curling her in my arms. I will show you just how much … how much I love you… The night of the opera came quickly, but not quick enough. I dressed in my typical attire, black boots and trousers, a white shirt and bow tie with my half masking fit snuggly to my face, my black coat fitting neatly over my shoulders with my cape hung over my arm. I had just returned from the manager's office with Belle's necklace shining like the Christmas star. The candlelight reflected beautifully in the newly shined silver, the gemstone dazzling the color of Belle's eyes. I smiled and put the gift in my pocket. My clock reminding me not to be late for her performance. I glided up the stairs to her mirror when a familiar voice echoed in the passageway.
"Is the pay here good?" It was that little rat's uncle.
"How did you get in here?!" that voice I knew, terror echoing in her voice. I begin to skip steps as I race to her mirror.
"You still owe me for your father's debts." The lowlife said, his voice deep and rich. My mind was racing of his meaning. I hear the slamming of some kind as I see the light in her room. "I know one way you can pay me." I reach her mirror to see this vile creature pinning her to the dresser, leaning in to her. 'POP!' echoes richly through the passage, a grin on my face. That's my girl! He reaches for her again, my face heating up like a kettle on a stove
"Touch her again sir, and you will have to answer to me!" he looked around the room, then back at Belle. He bid her adieu and bolted out the door. I burst from the mirror and demanded answers. I felt a hand take mine and velvet lips kiss my cheek.
"I shall explain later; I am really late as is. Madame will not like this." I sigh and nod in agreement. The one way to upset Madame was to be late for a performance. I pull her to me and place a long kiss upon her forehead before sliding back into the passageway to let her change. Once she departed, I quickly entered and found my way to my box. The opera house was once again packed; the talk of Carlotta on their lips. They were in for a better performance on my beautiful Belle took the stage. The orchestra began and the whole house hushed in anticipation. Somehow Carlotta managed to learn her lines properly, though the trope of gypsies being everyone's favorite. In the background I could see Belle's auburn bun bobbing among the other ballerinas as they 'followed' the duchess across the countryside. As Carlotta sang a small solo, the ballerinas changed costumes and readied for their feature. The lights dimmed long enough for the girls to find their places. Now they will all see who is the better dancer… The spotlight returned to the ballerinas as the music began. They encircled Belle, then quickly broke away to reveal her beauty. My jaw hit the floor, several gasps echoed through as she was revealed. Her hair donned a dark blue scarf like a headband, letting her hair flow behind her, the top of the dress was white and very loose fitting, sitting just off her shoulders with a black corset to keep it in place. Her skirt flowed as she danced, hitting at her shin and matching the blue scarf in her hair. Her movements were so fluid, gracefully transitioning from one to the next and to my wonder, she balanced beautifully on top of the chest, her crimson smile dazzling the crowd. The curtain fell and the crowd gave a standing ovation to the unknown dancing girl, which drove Carlotta absolutely mad with jealousy! Sure Christine outshined her with her voice but a stagehand turned ballerina? I rushed back to her room and hid behind the mirror, in case of unwanted visitors to her door. She soon walked in and locked the door. I knocked on the glass, only to have her go to the door.
"Over here silly girl!" I took the box from my pocket and held it behind my back as I pushed aside the mirror. "Yes, it's for you, ma Cherie." The look on her face when she saw the necklace was worth it since she was in so much shock I had to put on her myself. "Follow me, I have something else for you." She quickly put her slippers on and followed me down the stairs to the boat. I led her to my piano where I left the picture frame. Her eyes were hopeless locked with mine, her hand becoming a part of mine. I let go momentarily to light the other candles around my piano, her eyes locking on the frame she gave me. She picked it up, wide eyed as her hand brushed over the frame and glass.
"Did you draw this…?" I nodded my head with pride. "I don't understand…" I took the frame from her hands, setting it back on the piano. This is it; you tell her now or you will miss your chance.
"This is how I see you. Not as a worker with callused hands or a ballerina with makeup and costumes, but an intelligent girl with beauty beneath the surface. I see charm that lasts for more than a moment, whit that would make anyone laugh, and a heart full of bravery. You put others first and yourself last, and this time I wanted you to feel what it's like to be in the limelight." I looked up, the candlelight reflecting in her soft blue eyes. Just do it you fool! Kiss her already! I took her hands in mine, pulling her close to me. My heart was going to explode if it beat any faster. I put my hands to her face, my lips softly kissing hers. The felt like velvet, how I wanted to kiss them over and over… if her eyes were any wider they would pop out of her head.
"I may be a dancer, but I am not that dainty. Care to try again, mon amour?" A playful grin gracing her face. I shared her grin as I picked her up in my arms, deepening my kiss. I felt her legs slowly wrap around my waist, letting me press her into the wall behind the piano. Her hands pulled my shirt up and slowly began to dance across my skin like lighting across the sky. Such electricity in a soft touch, I let my hands wander as well, wishing to explore as much as possible. The clock rang out the time, but I was too preoccupied with being in heaven on earth. You screw this up and you deserve to die… "I'm sorry, I must go; tomorrow is a long day for me." She whispered in my ear. I kissed her neck slowly as I set her down, her sigh making me want her all the more.
"So soon mon amoureaux enchanteur….? I wish we had more time."
"I wish we did mon amour, but I have work in the morning, bright and early. " I took her hand in mine as we walked back to the boat, my eyes hardly leaving hers as I ferried us across. I helped her out and let her to the staircase, hoping for one more kiss before she left. Surprisingly, she grabbed my half buttoned shirt and pulled me to her lips. I happily obliged her, that sigh of hers making my heart melt. I slowly returned to my abode, my mind in a blissful daze. For the first time in years, I slept through the night and most of the morning.