The Crystal Rainbow
An Alternate Universe – Phantom of the Opera Story
Nyasia A. Maire
© 2007
DISCLAIMER: I do not hold the rights nor did I create any characters found in The Phantom of the Opera or Phantom, nor have I received monetary compensation for writing this story.
Men preach. Women share.
Children create.
A Fool's Book of Wisdom
Chapter Two – Seeing Helen
His thoughts abruptly ended as the woman placed a tray, which contained a bowl of soup, a hunk of bread with butter and a steaming mug of tea on his lap.
"Enough thinking, Erik. Eat. Plenty of time for serious thoughts tomorrow. For now, eat!"
◊ ○ ◊ ○ ◊
Upon waking for the second time in the home of Helen, Erik cautiously opened his eyes and found that his mind felt steadier and his head throbbed considerably less. He yawned and stretched, his slender body moving with a cat-like grace. He looked around the room, allowing his eyes to take in every detail. The room was a simple affair with rough log walls, chinked and then painted with a thick coat of whitewash. There were two windows in the room, but both had coverings of heavy, dark-colored silk brocade draped over them, effectively shutting out any view of the outside world. The sparse furniture fulfilled the utilitarian requirements of a bedroom and nothing more, but Erik felt like royalty after the way he lived in the attic.
"A bed! I have never slept in a bed. I wonder if this is what it would feel like to sleep on a cloud."
He sighed contentedly and squirmed under the comforter then the boy frowned.
"Oh, no! I am filthy! Oh, merde!"
The boy looked at the now muddy bedclothes and bit his lower lip.
"Well, I just have to tell Helen that I will wash everything for her. She took me into her home, gave me a bed and food. I need to thank her properly. My mother may be mad, but she did raise her son to have proper manners. I just wish …."
His thoughts interrupted by a soft tap at the door.
"Yes? Come in."
The door latch jiggled for a moment and then the door burst open, swinging so quickly that it hit the wall behind it and then it began to close. Helen bustled into the room and turned her backside to the door. It bounced harmlessly off her behind and she waddled into the room carrying a large wooden tray full of steaming bowls and plates of food.
"Bon matin¹, Erik! May I tempt you to eat a bit? I thought we could eat in here and talk at the same time. Why, you are looking much better aujourd'hui². Careful, now everything is quite hot, especially the coffee. I hope you like coffee. I only drink tea if it is late at night or for luncheon. Have you ever noticed that coffee always makes a gray day seem brighter? I really do enjoy my cup first thing in the morning …."
Erik winced under her verbal onslaught. He raised his hands as if to defend himself from an attack and Helen paused to gawk at him.
"Erik, whatever is the matter with you?"
He blinked, looked at his raised hands, lowered them and then chuckled with obvious embarrassment.
"I … well, I … it is just …."
He stopped, cleared his throat and began again.
"I do apologize Madame Helen, but I am unused to quite so much … uh … conversation."
His voice trailed off and his face flushed crimson.
As the woman cackled with delight, her visage wrinkled even more than it had previously.
"Yes," she spat out between guffaws, "I do suppose I talk too much."
The boy shook his head as his eyes widened.
"Oh no, Madame! I simply am not used to people. Nor am I used to anyone wishing to speak with me. I suppose … I hope you shall provide me with the opportunity to become accustomed to it."
He turned his head away from her, but shyly peeked at her out of the corner of his eye.
"Nothing would please me more, garçon."
A small pleased smile graced the boy's slightly crooked mouth.
"I do believe I would like that as well, Madame. Oh! And, thank you for everything. And, do not worry about the bedclothes. I shall wash them for you if you show me where I can do it."
"You are most welcome, Erik. We shall take care of that tomorrow. For now, do not worry yourself over it. Maintenant, permettez-nous de manger!³
The two passed the next half of an hour in companionable silence as they partook of the food Helen provided. When Erik finished, he sighed and careful not to disrupt the tray, stretched with contentment, which caused what Erik began to recognize as a pleased look to grace Helen's face. She removed the tray and without a word, left the room. Sounds of utensils and bowls clanking sounded from the other side of the door, followed by a brief silence before Helen rejoined him.
"Ah! Chores done! Now! If you do not mind, might I inquire what you were doing wandering about the forest in the middle of the night?"
Erik paled and lowered his head to gaze at his tightly clasped hands lying on his lap. He spoke in a voice barely above a whisper.
"I, uh, well, I ran away from home last night."
The woman regarded him for a moment, first cocking her head to one side and then to the other. She nodded slowly.
"And, what are your plans? Where is it that you intend to run? Surely, a jeune homme such as yourself must have had some idea of where you would go before you left home …."
Erik grimaced.
"No, I did not."
Helen shrugged.
"Well then, the reason for your leaving home must have been dire. I will not question the wisdom of your decision, as you do not seem a foolish child."
The woman seemed to resume her intense consideration of him for a moment before speaking.
"I would like to offer you a proposition … if, that is, you would like to hear it."
The boy raised his eyes from his hands and nodded his head vigorously.
"What would you say to staying, here with me? You could earn your keep by helping me around the house and I could teach you … uh, some things, if you would like. I have been told that I am a very good teacher."
The boy's golden brown eyes shone amber with happiness.
"Really? You want me to stay here?"
"Yes. Is it really so difficult to believe that I would wish for you to stay? I am not as young as I used to be and having someone to help me would be a blessing. Not to mention that you do not speak much and that would allow me to have someone to listen to me whenever I wish. I do believe I am making the better end of the deal, but then a friend of mine told me that I am quite shrewd and drive a hard bargain. I remember once when I was in Persia, I found a carpet at a stall in the bazaar and the shopkeeper and I almost came to blows bartering over the price. Oh yes, those were the days. I traveled quite frequently when I was younger. Now, I stay here all alone! Old, mad Helen, the forest witch with her potions and premonitions. Fools! Can you believe that the last visitor I had asked me to make him a love potion? Bah! Love potion! Magic can do many things, but it can never make people fall in love. Lust, perhaps, but not love."
The woman's eyes caught sight of the boy's head drooping and chuckled.
"Oh, Erik! What a pair we make. Silence and sound. Youth and crone."
Her smile slipped and her pale blue eyes chilled.
"You have a face, which frightened your Maman. She is a foolish creature! She could not see your true beauty, which lies in your soul. It shall take a bit of work, but I do believe I can help you resurrect it. And, maybe, just maybe, along the way you can help me. I am not certain of it, but I just have this feeling that you shall find her for me. Oh, yes! We shall help one another, Erik and we shall both learn many things along the way. Yes, old Helen, she will teach Erik and she can learn new things, too! Then, I think, you shall help me. Yes, Erik. You shall find exactly what Helen needs and then I can rest, but for now, rest and I shall leave you in peace."
The old woman leaned forward and carefully swept a lock of dark hair from his face. As she did, the bracelet she wore on her wrist brushed against his deformed cheek. The boy's eyes flew open and Helen jumped back. Erik gasped and sat bolt upright. He swayed as the room swirled about him. He stared at the woman before him in wonder.
"Helen? Is that you?"
The woman before him smiled sadly and nodded.
"But, you … well, you look … I mean … I am sorry."
He averted his gaze in embarrassment. Helen gently smiled and reached out to the boy. She placed her hand under his chin and turned his head towards her.
"Go ahead, Erik. You may say anything you wish to me. I shall not take offense."
Erik stared at her entranced with his mouth agape, his eyes widened in wonderment.
"How is it possible? Madame, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."
Her hand unconsciously touched the bracelet.
"Thank you, but it is the eyes of your soul, which sees me that way. Now, I must show you something, Erik."
The lithe figure glided across the room to the dresser and picked up a hand mirror. She returned to the boy's side and held it out to him.
"Here. Take it."
With trembling hands, he reached out and took the offered mirror. The bracelet once again rubbing against his hand as he accepted the mirror.
"Now, look into the mirror and tell me what you see."
He raised frightened eyes to kind ones.
"Please! No! I know what I shall see. I do not wish to see the monster. It makes me have nightmares. I will look tomorrow, but not now, not at night. Please?"
His voice pleaded, but she repeated firmly.
"Erik, look into the mirror."
Hesitantly, he raised the mirror and peeked into its depths.
"But, how?" He stammered.
The boy began to gasp for breath and he flung the mirror across the room where it shattered against the wall.
"It is not possible! It lies! I had a whole face!" He cried.
Helen nodded.
"That is how I choose to see you, Erik. For that is the image of your true self. I did not mean for this to happen so soon and I apologize. It was my intention to better prepare you, but all things happen for a reason whether I ken it or no."
The woman's words faded into a buzz in his mind as he attempted to justify the image he had seen in the mirror with the one he had seen in his mother's mirror. He began to shake his head wildly back and forth.
"Oh, garçon, calm yourself!"
She sat on the bed, took the trembling child into her arms and rocked him. Her beautiful voice sang a sweet song and after a time, the boy's quivering ceased and he fell into a dreamless sleep. Helen carefully extricated herself from the boy and slipped from the room, muttering curses at herself for her carelessness.
"Damnez-le! Poor thing was not ready for that. Enfer!4 Most adults I meet are not ready, but he will learn. Oh, yes! Helen will help Erik learn to see the truth of what lies within."
¹ Bon matin – Good morning
² aujourd'hui – today
³ Maintenant, permettez-nous de manger! – Very good! Now, allow us to eat!
4Enfer! – Hell!
Author's Note: I performed minor surgery on Chapter 1. Okay, I made some minor changes and added one or two things. You may wish to go back and read it again.
Comments, criticisms, coconut cake and coffee? Coherent critiques are critical. All right, I will cease the alliteration and speak plainly, please read and review! Fondest wishes, --ny