Chapter 7: Endless Games
Claire chose a room that had a small stone balcony but the most stunning view of Paris which sat in the far distance from the Chateau's location; Her room had a four poster bed made from rose wood which sat across the room from a grand fireplace that would easily keep her warm during winter nights; Claire smiled softly as she placed her black rook upon the mantelpiece before looking up at the portrait that hung above her. It was a painting of a stunning woman with brunette hair and amber eyes... Erik smiled as he entered her room to find her admiring the painting,
"That is Christine Daae. An upcoming prima donna at the Opera Populaire" he explained,
"Why is there a painting of her here?" Claire asked curiously,
"During the five years we were separated. I found refuge beneath the very same opera house in which Miss Daae lives thanks to Madame Giry... It was one night that I heard Miss Daae singing. At first I thought it was an angel singing and I had gone to investigate... She was a mere chorus girl back then. Her voice was glorious but obviously untrained... I heard her praying to the spirit of her father in heaven to send her an angel of music that he had promised to her on his death bed. I knew that my mask would make her uneasy so... I became the angel she desired and began teaching her during my spare time" Erik explained and Claire couldn't help but smile softly,
"That was a wonderful thing you did for her... You always have had a great talent for music as well as a kind heart" she praised causing Erik to smile,
"Why thank you... Perhaps we might attend the Opera tonight. Hopefully La Carlotta will not be performing" Erik grumbled to himself and Claire giggled,
"Who's that?" she asked,
"An banshee whom happens to unfortunately be another prima donna within the opera house but it is no matter... Will you come?" Erik asked, happy as he saw Claire smile brightly as she nodded,
"Yes, I would love too" she told him and Erik told her that he would have Madame Giry lend her an appropriate gown until she had some of her own.
Claire was excited but couldn't help but be confused when Erik told her that he was sending her ahead to the Opera in a coach and he would meet her there,
"I shall find you in box five" he told her with a reassuring smile, beckoning to the coach in an encouraging manner,
"Alright... I'll see you there then" she replied before climbing inside the coach and closed the door, waving to Erik as the carriage carried her off to the Opera Populaire.
Claire listened to the instruments of the orchestra being tuned as she sat in box five, waiting for Erik. She was growing anxious as the performance was about to begin and Erik had still yet to arrive... She picked up the playbill and discovered that tonight's production was 'Cinderella' A fairy tale she knew all too well and it happened to be her favourite; Claire noted that La Carlotta whom Erik had mentioned was listed to be playing Cinderella,
"Sorry for my tardiness. I had business to attend too" Erik said suddenly causing Claire to jump as she had not heard the box door open but she still smiled in relief,
"Well you're here now. What business did you have to attend too?" she asked curiously as Erik took the seat beside her own and smiled,
"Oh nothing that you would find interesting. I find it quite boring myself" he assured her as the oil lamps turned down low as the curtain raised and the show began.
Claire noticed Erik's fist clench as 'Cinderella' made her way onto the stage during the opening scene of act one and began... Unfortunately singing some very high and sour notes that made Claire cringe. She now understood Erik's dislike for La Carlotta... However Claire couldn't help but frown when the opera singer... Croaked like a toad, disturbing her singing; Erik began laughing and Claire looked at him with a frown,
"Erik..." she scolded, watching as his laugh became a light chuckle and he smiled in amusement. Claire turned her gaze back to the stage when she heard La Carlotta begin singing again but once again she croaked causing Erik to chuckle even more,
"It's not funny, Erik. Something's obviously wrong with her voice" Claire scolded unimpressed with his behavior but he continued to smile,
"More so than usual. Don't worry, Claire. They will change her for the understudy and if I am unlucky then La Carlotta will be back to performing tomorrow" Erik grumbled to himself and Claire frowned... She looked down at the playbill in her hands and found that the understudy was none other than Christine Daae... Erik's student... Claire suddenly recalled the 'business' Erik had mentioned when he arrived and she looked at him firmly,
"... Erik, did you do this?... Did you do something to that woman so that Miss Daae would sing tonight?" Claire demanded,
"The managers continued to disobey the requests in my notes. I warned them that a disaster would occur should La Carlotta remain as the leading female performer" Erik replied simply,
"What did you do?" Claire demanded and Erik looked at her confused by her upset tone and expression,
"Nothing drastic. I simply slipped some powdered chilly into her throat spray... Why are you getting so upset?" Erik asked her,
"What did you mean when you mentioned something about notes to the managers?" Claire asked,
"... I told you. I resided here during our years apart. I became a ghost of sorts... The managers are incompetent fools and do not know the first thing about the arts nor do they truly respect them. So I became what some people call: The Phantom Of The Opera. I make simple demands and they follow them unless they want something bad to happen" Erik explained as if it were the most reasonable and simplest thing in the world,
"What exactly do you demand from them, Erik?" Claire asked firmly with a horrified expression,
"That they remove La Carlotta from all shows performed within this house, that this box be kept empty for my personal use and that they pay me 20,000 francs a month to keep my 'supernatural' tricks at bay" Erik told her, frowning even more when he saw Claire's stunned and horrified face and he watched her stand quickly, pulling on her cloak,
"Where are you going? The show is not yet over" Erik tried and Claire looked at him angrily,
"It's stolen, Erik... All of this is stolen" she told him, gesturing around the box and her expression grew sad,
"... I thought... I thought you were different. You've found a form of power here and you've used it to create fear... and then you use that fear to get what you want..." Claire murmured, looking away from him and Erik stood with a sorrowful expression,
"No, Claire don't even begin to think what I know is starting to enter your mind... I am nothing like him. I am not the shah" Erik told her and Claire looked up at him sadly,
"... The Shah made me his mistress because he wanted to make me fall in love with him just like he had done to all the other girls within his harem... I swore that I would never fall in love with him... But I guess I was foolish because I had already fallen in love with another man whom is obviously just like him" she whispered before turning away and left the box; Erik could only remain where he was as her words began swirling within his mind... Erik moved to follow after her but he heard his student, Christine begin singing on stage having replaced La Carlotta as Cinderella... It was a long moment until Erik forced himself to close the box door and retake his seat and began enjoying the performance.
It was midnight when Erik returned to the Chateau; He found Nadir in the parlor drinking a cup of tea,
"How angry is she?" Erik asked causing Nadir to look confused,
"Who?" he pressed,
"Claire... She left the opera early... we had a disagreement" Erik explained and saw Nadir develop an expression of concern as he put his cup down and stood,
"Erik, Claire isn't here... She never came home." Nadir told him and Erik felt himself grow very worried. Where on earth would she have gone if not back to the Chateau?
Uh oh! Where has Claire gone?! (Heads Up! She has NOT returned to Persia) haha ;D Review for Chapter 8!
Kind Regards,
TheAuthor1996