WHY WHY WHY?! Of all people to hire why did it have to be her?! I didn't actually think those two twist would actually FIRE Carlotta! All I can do is shake my head as I watch the rehearsal from my box. Her eyes flit up to my box; trying to see if the opera ghost still exists. Oh yes my dear I do exit, alive and well. But for your sake, I am dead to you… I get up to leave when a familiar aria begins to play and a voice like an angel ringing through the now hushed stage.
'Think of me, think of me fondly…' I freeze in my tracks. Her voice revives a part of my soul that I thought was once dead forever. Her music breathes life into my soul, music unlike any other, music different from Belle… My eyes dart to my little stagehand, her hands full with ropes and pushing sets as her auburn hair comes loose from her bun. I look back to Christine, still singing her aria for the new managers, almost like déjà vu. Once a young, shy girl who was taking lessons from a mysterious teacher is now a beautiful and confident woman shining like the star she is. Two women, two different lives, and the only common thread is this opera house and I. I listen to the prima donna's aria, the notes ringing pure and clean before ending. The cast and staff erupt in applause, the orchestra too going wild over her performance, everyone except one young stagehand.
"Excellent Madame! Simply divine!"
"Yes mon cher, very divine in deed! I think that will be all the rehearsal for today. Do enjoy the rest of the night off." Everyone is thrilled to have the evening, many of the ballerinas rushing to the wings of the stage to change, the stagehands waiting for the rats to scurry from their holes for a night of less than reputable things. One day I will fire all of these rats and scum of the earth from my opera house. Soon I will have only artist as dedicated and devoted as I am to the art of the opera, the beauty of the sets, to the detail in the costumes and the heavenly sounds from the orchestra and singers.
"I knew I would find you here…" I stay still in my chair.
"Old habit do die hard." I keep my voice cold and flat. I hear the click of heels slowly approach, stopping just behind my chair.
"I knew somehow you would survive, Erik." Hearing her say my name, my heart stopped beating. The one voice I yearned for, the voice I obsessed over day and night was now the one voice I hated, next to that fop husband of hers. I remain silent. "3 years and silence is the only way you can greet me?" I roll my eyes
"If I remember correctly, you left me for that rich vicomte. How would you expect me to greet you?" Her soft sigh made the hair on my neck stand on end, leave now like you did then…leave me and never return…
"I was frightened, and he was my comfort…" I cut her off
"Not to mention handsome and rich…" I stand to face her, her doe eyes wide with fear. Good, you should be fearing me… She slowly began to back step. "Listen here you little witch, you are not here because I asked for you. You are here because the managers hired you…" she soon stopped in her tracks, tears on the verge of falling from her eyes.
"I am here because Raoul needs…" she paused, "We need the money…" Oh how interesting. Trouble brewing in paradise… My eyebrow arches in curiosity.
"Do I detect trouble in paradise?" my mouth curls into a wicked grin as the doe begins to back away. The corners of her rose lips harden.
"At least it is better than being alone like you! Alone in that sad, cold, depressing cave you skulk around in and try to pass off as a home." Oh my dear but I am not alone, I have long since moved on from you… My smile broadens, as I take a step closer to her.
"Tell me Christine, what is it like being married to a man who lives in jealousy of your talent?" Her brown eyes stay locked with mine. "Does he drink away his jealousy? Or perhaps he gambles away his sorrow, the thrill of winning his only companion." The coo of an infant begins to softly rise. "And I see you are a mother now, aren't we the busy girl…" She turns on her heel, picking up the child from a basket on the floor.
"Gustave is our son. Raoul loved me enough to give us a child."
"Loved? Has his love left you dear child?" Seeing her face grow white bring a twisted happiness to my soul. She clutches the child to her chest, placing a motherly kiss upon his forehead. "Raoul has always been jealous of your beautiful talent Christine, but you were to blind to see it. He used you only to try and capture me; and he failed." She shook her head slowly.
"You used me for your own glory! Making me your puppet since you couldn't step into a room without…"
"Without what? Without having every person crying out in fear and disgust?! Or have you forgotten…" with that she darts from the box, the baby and basket in tow. Good, leave me and never return… I leave the box, my head spinning of the encounter. I duck down empty hallways, my cape flowing behind me, talking a small candle with me from the hall. Up ahead of me is another light and the figure of a woman, a candle in her hand. I slowly pull my knife from my sheath and inch toward the little rat. You will learn not to lurk in places you are not allowed… I slowly raise my knife when steel matches mine. "Qui en enfer!?" I call out, shoving the candle in the face of the rat. The glint of the candle reflects like golden sunshine in her auburn hair as her blue eyes dazzle in the light. The knives and candles fall to the ground like rocks in a pond. I pull her into my chest, my hand balled in a fist with her hair. "Mon ange, I'm so sorry, I…" her hands slide under my coat and pull me to her
"Mon amour it's ok, we couldn't see because of the dark…we are both still spooked about what happened…" I feel her press her forehead into my chest, her body shaking. I softly plant a kiss atop her head. I look out into the abyss of darkness, a pair of eyes glaring at us, a pair of doe brown eyes… "I love you so much Erik…" her voice shaken and soft. I see the eyes go wide before disappearing into the abyss. I will protect Belle at all cost from that bitch… Taking her chin in my hand and guide her worried eyes to mine as I place a gentle kiss to her hand, I soon lead her away from the trouble of the surface to our home… Our home, ours and ours alone… Just the thought of sharing a home and a life with her makes me smile for joy as we curl in bed together. I make sure to pull her into my chest, hearing her soft sigh as she curls into my warmth. She's the real reason why I can truly sleep at night like a normal person. With her by my side, I feel like I could sleep for an eternity… one day I will marry that girl, give her all that she ever wanted or needed and make sure she never lacks for anything. I dream that night of her beautiful silhouette walking down a church isle, her dress white as snow with her auburn hair softy curled and slightly pinned back, stray strands framing her face as her blue eyes dazzle. Soft white lace gracing her peach skin and laying beautifully against her body as she slowly walks down the aisle, deep red roses in her hand. As she meets me at the front of the church, the kiss she places on my cheek is almost real… the sound of the door closing pulls me from my dream. I roll over, only to find the bed cool. I put on my coat, pushing the door open. I see the tail end of a tattered black cloak turn the corner into the living area.
"Belle, darling?"
"Over here love…" I turn the corner, her arms wrapped around her to keep out the cold. Oh my darling… my sweet… I wrap around her and kiss her head.
"It's late mon amour, why are you here…?"
"I couldn't sleep to I thought a walk would help, I didn't want to disturb you…" I squeeze her tight, softly rocking her in my arms.
"Another nightmare mon amour…?" She sheepishly nods. I lead her back to the living area and set her at the piano, smoothing out her hair. I explain to her my predicament, hoping to finish a piece I wanted to write just for her. She quickly goes to work like only she can, letting her soul fill with music, and the music she brings fill mine. Every trick, every lesson, every piece of advice I gave her in our lessons she lets flow from her fingers and like only she can, adds the missing piece to the music. I quickly join in, continuing the counter melody, following her every lead until the piece came to a close. Dear God above! If angels do exist than God has granted me his best! I pull Belle into my arms, kissing her with all I have, only when we pulled away did I remember how to breathe. I gave a long yawn "Ma amour you need your rest as much as I do…" She begins to protest me
"What about Conner? Or rehearsals? What if she finds me and has me fired or" I press my lips to hers, my tongue lightly flicking against hers.
"Belle look at me. You need to sleep. You are as pail as a ghost on the rare times I see outside of coming home…"
"But I can't! He still"
"Haunts you I know ma amour." I brush away her hair and smile. She shakes her head and walks off, leaving me to my music. I begin to play over our beautiful duet, swaying back and forth until my bench moved, my hand sliding to the wrong keys. I tried again and the bench moved even more. I swore under my breath and gave up for the night. Weather Belle returned to bed or not I didn't know or care at this point. It wasn't until I woke to a letter on my bench that I knew she didn't sleep. I spent the day working on my music, that damned bench moving on its own accord and fouling up my music. DAMN YOU! You cursed bench! Throwing my music and parchment aside, I decide to see what mayhem awaits me above. A beautiful head of auburn comes into view, her arms full as she hides something in the shadows. "I got your note, what do you need?" she bids me close my eyes. My love I am not in the mood for games mon amour…I roll my eyes and indulge her as she leads me out of the boat.
"Ok, now open." My eyes open to a beautiful new bench, one fit for a royal. My knees go weak as I run my fingers over the scrollwork, and the seat even opens to store parchment and quills and ink and pencils.
"Mon amour, where did you get this?"
"I made this." I snap my head to her, her smile making me melt. I quickly put the kingly bench in the boat along with my love and row across. Throwing the old one into the closet for kindling, I make use of my new, beautiful toy. I missed not one note as the beautiful melody rang through the cool evening air.
"I can't thank you enough for the wonderful bench mon petit ange…"
"You're quite welcome…" her voice is soft, skittish. I wrap my arm around her, resting my chin on her head. I assure her that unless the dead can come back from the dead, she was quite safe, especially in my arms. For the first time in weeks she gives a yawn as I scoop her in my arms and carry her to bed. She doesn't sleep for long, her scream waking me. Her breathing was as shallow as Christine's attitude. I pull her into me, her soft lips meeting mine slowly. I kiss her harder, slowly pushing her back into the bed. I slide my hands under her silk nightgown, letting my hands wander on her soft skin as she pulls my shirt off, leaving me in my black pants. Oh you woman… my fingers dug into her shoulder, wanting her more and more…wanting all of her... Her eyes burned into mine, but soon lost their luster and began to whimper and cry.
"Belle mon ange…" her eyes flash open, her whimpering subsiding. I brush away her hair, giving her a reassuring smile as I kiss her cheek and roll her on her stomach. I gently begin to massage her back, at an attempt to calm her nervous mind, her sigh being my sign of a job well done. She soon falls asleep in my arms, breathing slowly and softly for the first time in weeks.
