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.
The premise of control is but an illusion and obtainable only at great cost.
The true secret of control is free, one must only learn to let go.
A Fool's Book of Wisdom
Chapter Twenty – Control
Christine placed a finger over his lips.
"Shh … you need not say anything until you are ready, Erik. But, I think that I feel the same. We are not dreaming. I am much too happy for this to be a dream."
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Christine burst through the back door of the cottage and breezed into the kitchen with Erik following close behind her.
"Helen! Helen! We have wonderful news! Where are you? Helen?"
Erik smiled as he softly closed the door and leaned against the door jamb as he waited for the scene before him to unfold. The old woman tottered into the kitchen and huffed.
"Merde! Such a ruckus! What on earth are you on about, ma petite? What news? Mon Dieu! You could not possibly have eloped. I did not leave the two of you alone long enough for that, so come, Christine. What is your news?"
The young woman blushed deeply while at the same time, she grinned impishly.
"No! We did nothing of the sort, Madame! But, Erik has offered to act as my vocal instructor. Is that not wonderful news?"
The rictus of wrinkles that surrounded the hole that was Helen's mouth, turned up in a smile.
"That is truly astonishing news." The old woman turned her eyes to the man in the doorway. "So, Erik, what brought about this sudden change of heart? I thought that after turning away that young man in Melbourne, nothing would ever entice you into teaching."
Erik cocked an eyebrow.
"Young man? Melbourne? Oh! You mean, Frederick Matthias Alexander¹. Well, I did not turn him down. He and I did not see eye-to-eye on some of the specifics I developed and decided to part ways. I helped him as far as he allowed by telling him why he experienced so many problems with his voice. He did not require a vocal teacher; he needed to reeducate himself in the area of his entire body's posture. He needed to learn primary control. I brought to his attention ways he held his head and neck when he attempted to project his voice. I showed him with mirrors and told him he needed to rid himself of these compressive movements. However, I believe that having someone make the corrections for the subject is most likely more effective. By electing to reeducate himself, Monsieur Alexander most likely requires substantially more time than if he received assistance. You see, the only time he can properly observe his body is while using at least two mirrors and he cannot do this while he is on the stage performing. Without the mirrors, he most likely will fall back on his dysfunctional habits and once again lose his voice …."
He cleared his throat and blushed as he noticed Christine's befuddled expression and Helen's smirk.
"I apologize, but I believe that this method of training can help more than actors and vocalists. It could help persons suffering from neck and back pain, perhaps, even asthma. It really is quite revolutionary. I implemented the techniques and noticed an improvement in my bowing of the violin."
He gazed deeply into Christine's eyes and murmured.
"While observing you, I have not seen much that needs correcting, but you do have a habit of tensing your jaw and biting your lip. Once you unlearn these habits, I believe the improvement of your voice's resonance will astound you. That is … if you will allow me."
Christine cocked her head and bit her lip. Erik laughed and she pouted.
"Of course, I will allow you. What must I do?"
He grinned widely.
"That is the beauty of this technique. You do not need to do anything. I observe you and then make correction using verbal and manual guidance."
She frowned.
"What do you mean by manual guidance?"
Helen snorted and it was Erik's turn to look uncomfortable.
"Well, you must lie down … fully clothed, of course, on a board and I explain the corrections as I perform them. You must execute the corrections in your mind only. I quite understand how strange this sounds, but it does work …."
Christine cut off his words.
"Erik, I trust you. You do not need to convince me."
The young man sighed in relief as the young woman slid into his welcome embrace. He nuzzled her neck with his lips and she giggled. Helen rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"Somehow I do not believe that manual guidance is an intelligent activity for either one of you to indulge. I believe manual activity actually becomes hazardous activity where the two of you are concerned, but I will withhold my final opinion on the matter until after the first couple of lessons. Now, Erik, cease your nibbling on that girl's neck! She is not on the menu tonight and I need her to help me prepare supper or we all go hungry. If you have so much excess energy, perhaps you could work it off by splitting some logs for firewood. You know where the axe is, garçon. Go make yourself useful and keep out of trouble!"
The women laughed merrily as they began to busy themselves about the kitchen. Helen paused only long enough to shoo Erik outside and close the kitchen door behind him with a soft thump.
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"He really is quite an amazing person … for a man, you know." The old woman commented quietly.
"Oui, from the moment we first met, I have known he is special." Christine mumbled in a husky murmur.
Helen laughed. The glorious sound caused Christine's head to whip around and stare in surprise.
"What?"
Merry ice blue eyes met confused warm brown ones. The young woman tilted her head slightly and her eyes looked to a place Helen could not see. After a few moments of silence, Christine's gaze returned to Helen and she smiled shyly.
"I do believe that both of you are very special, Tante² Helen."
Shocked, the old woman turned away to hide the flood of emotion that threatened to spill from her brimming eyes. She quickly blinked back the tears and cleared her throat.
"Well, it seems that it must be something about this cottage as it seems to me that all of the people living in it are special."
She paused and turned to watch Christine as she awkwardly chopped carrots.
"Enough of this foolish blathering, ma petite! Merde! Mind your fingers! That knife is wicked sharp! It would be a shame for you to lose one or two while you daydream. And, by the by, if you tell Erik what I said, I will forever deny it."
Christine giggled and smirked at the old woman.
"I will never tell. We women need to stick together. After all, men do not need to know everything about us. It will remain our secret."
Staring at the knife, she frowned.
"Tante? Can you teach me how to use this thing? I worked as an upstairs maid, mostly I changed the bedding and gathered the linens and soiled clothes for the laundress. When I was not busy with those duties, I helped the scullery maid with the dirty pots and pans."
She set down the knife on the counter and showed her rough, red hands to Helen.
"These hands know only how to strip beds, carry dirty laundry and scrubs pots. I never used a knife before today."
Helen stopped stirring the stew and placed down the spoon. She waddled over to Christine and took the knife into her hand.
"I would be honored to show you, ma petite. Watch me. It is quite simple. There is no secret to using a knife other than this … let the knife do the work. This knife is quite sharp. Most people cut themselves with knives because the blade is dull and they have to force the knife to cut. With a properly sharpened knife, the blade does the work. All you have to do is guide the food to the blade, the knife remains in the same spot. You never hold the food, but push it. See? You raise and lower the knife as you push the food across the cutting board. There! All done! Would you like to watch me do that again?"
Christine nodded her mouth slightly agape with surprise.
"You make that look so simple!"
Helen snorted.
"Years of experience, ma petite. Years and years of experience. You know, I believe I have some attar of rose that would help your hands. I will find it and give it to you tonight. Tomorrow's prima donna should have hands as beautiful as her voice."
The sound of the two women's laughter drifted out of the house to where Erik stood swinging the axe and splitting a log. Their merriment surrounded him and caressed his bare torso. The sound of Christine's joy made him ache with desire for her. The axe slowly fell to his side where it hung unnoticed in his hand. He closed his eyes, his head lifted to the rapidly darkening sky.
"Mon Dieu! I am in deep trouble." He whispered.
◊ ○ ◊ ○ ◊
Helen left the two young lovers in the parlor after extracting promises from them to behave like a proper gentleman and gentlewoman. She shook her head and said a silent prayer as she heard Christine let out a small shriek and Erik's resultant chuckle as she moved down the hall to her bedroom.
"I am just going to have to trust them alone sometime. After all, he will be alone when he is teaching her. I am just going to have to have faith in the two of them."
She walked into her small room and closed the door behind her. After turning up the wicks on her oil lamps and stoking the banked coals of her fire back to life, she went to her writing desk and sat down. Sliding open the drawer, she removed her most treasured possession, a fountain pen, and a sheet of stationery, placed the paper on her desk then slid the drawer shut. She placed pen to paper and began to write.
9 April, 1899
My Dearest Nadir,
I hope this letter finds you well and your business ventures prosper. I am certain that this letter took you by surprise, especially considering the means by which you received it, but I have important news that could not wait for the vagaries of the standard post. We found her! Erik and I found my niece, Christine. All these years, we searched and she was right under our noses in France. After Christelle died, her father became a music teacher and a noble family, the de Chagneys, hired him. Her father died a victim to one of the many epidemics, which do so plague our winters and died when Christine was nine years of age. The Comte allowed the girl to stay and she served as one of his household staff ever since. Can you believe it? A de Blanc woman, assistant to a scullery maid? I never thought that I could feel disdain for those of the serving class, but you cannot imagine the relief I feel that Christine seems to share my feelings. The girl inherited her parents' gift of music and Erik says her voice is a rare and beautiful instrument. He offered to teach her and she accepted. I know! I know! I apologize if the shock caught you unprepared, but …. Yes! Erik offered and Christine accepted. I believe he intends on beginning their lessons on the morrow.
Now, on to the true purpose of my letter. I need to ask a favor of you. If you are not currently involved in the midst of negotiating a business deal, would you pay us an extended visit? I need your steadying hand here, mon ami. Now, for the biggest surprise … Diamanté consented to bring you here, with your permission, of course. And, I have finally bowed to the ravages of time and decided that if you have not changed your mind, I wish to purchase Edgar from you, so I ask you bring him with you as well.
As in the past, please write your reply on the reverse of this letter and speak the words, "Go home," when your reply is ready. I look forward to hearing from you and, even more, to seeing you.
Fondest wishes,
Helen
She placed the pen back into the drawer, folded the paper in half and then placed it in the center of the desk. Holding her hands over the letter, she spoke. Her voice ringing with a sudden power.
"Go to Nadir! Now!"
The room seemed to grow dark although the lamps still burned as brightly as before. The light they cast simply did not reach beyond their chimneys. The hair on the back of Helen's neck began to tingle and then all of the hair on her head stood straight on end. A small flash of light enveloped the letter, which immediately disappeared. The old woman's hair relaxed immediately and fell to her shoulders. The lamp lights brightened and once again cast their golden glow into every corner of the small room. Helen sighed and lowered her hands to rest them atop of her desk. She bowed her head and found she was unsure whether it was in supplication or defeat.
"Well, I guess it is out of my hands now. I hope he decides to visit and at the same time not. It is such blissful torture to have him so close. Merde! So close and yet not …."
¹ Frederick Matthias Alexander (1869-1955.) In the 1890's in Melbourne, Australia, an actor who began his career as a Shakespearean orator, developed chronic laryngitis while performing. Determined to restore the full use of his voice, he carefully watched himself while speaking, and observed that undue muscular tension accounted for his vocal problem. He sought a way to eliminate that restriction. Over a period of nine years, he discovered and articulated a principle that profoundly influences health and well-being: with the reduction of neck tension, the head no longer compresses the spine and the spine is free to lengthen. Alexander named this principle, the primary control. Alexander restored his own natural capacity for ease by changing the way he thought while initiating an action. From his work on himself and others, he evolved a hands-on teaching method that encourages all the body's processes to work more efficiently – as an integrated, dynamic whole. F. M. Alexander set down the theory of his technique in a book entitled, "The Use of Self." [Source of Information about The Alexander Technique garnered and compiled from numerous articles obtained at alexandertechnique dot com.
² Tante – Aunt