September 16th 1892: Erik
I couldn't remember the last time I had been in such a fantastic mood. I felt positively elated as I walked from room to room, picking up things here and there and carrying them into my living room, where a suitcase stood on the floor with its lid open. Every time I entered a room I spotted several new items I had to take with me. It occurred to me that I'd probably only need half of the things I had already packed, but I didn't care. I didn't want to spoil my mood by thinking about such unimportant things.
Actually it was strange that I didn't feel uneasy and worried. After all, it was the first time in years that I'd leave the opera for more than a day. But then, I had thought about everything carefully. I had decided against telling anyone I'd be gone. It would have been too dangerous. What if the managers would have the stupid idea to start searching for my lair again? Of course I'd activate all the traps before I'd leave, but I didn't want to come back and find them filled with dozens of people. Freeing them again was such a tedious work.
If I did everything correctly, they wouldn't even notice I was gone. I often didn't show myself for a while without anyone suspecting I was no longer there. Besides, I planned to be present at a couple of rehearsals and at least one or two performances. I had to make sure that the chorus girls were truly improving their dancing. They had made a little progress, but it wasn't enough yet.
I also had to keep an eye on Signora Marchesi. At the moment she was very meek, but I wasn't foolish enough to believe this was more than a temporary improvement. When she felt that she wasn't under close observation anymore, she'd surely become as insolent as before, maybe even hurting my little pupil again. I wouldn't let that happen, not after I had spent so much time teaching her a lesson.
Moreover, Philippe would have been very disappointed if I had told him our lessons would only take place at his home all of a sudden. I had the impression that he loved the opera almost as much as I did, and it made me very proud of him. Some lessons simply had to take place here, if only for the sake of me seeing him walk down the corridors with the incredible security that came with absolute familiarity with a building.
Christine and her daughter wouldn't be a problem either. They'd be pleased about going to the opera every now and then. The girl loved watching the dancers. Perhaps I could even make arrangements for her to practice with the younger girls. From Jacqueline I knew she was a talented little dancer, and with such an action I could easily win her affection. The girl was the one member of the family whom I didn't know too well yet, but I was planning to change that. For once, I wanted everyone to like me.
This thought inevitably led me to Christine, who doubtlessly already liked me. Giving a little sigh I sank onto the floor, right next to the suitcase. The next days would be like a dream coming true. I'd live with the woman I loved, accompany her wherever she went, share her worries and happiness. Yes, it would be a wonderful time… if Christine wasn't opposed to it.
That was something I hadn't considered at all, and it didn't exactly improve my mood. What if she'd be appalled by the idea of living under the same roof as I? What if she'd throw me out of the house? No, she wouldn't do that, for it would have increased the possible dangers for her family. Only I could give them safety. That knowledge made me feel slightly better, and I continued putting pieces of clothing into the suitcase, stopping my pondering for a few minutes.
It was only when I held a couple of nightshirts in my hands that something else occurred to me: Christine couldn't throw me out of the house, but she could very well throw me out of her bedroom. There was nothing I could do about it. I had promised the Vicomte that I'd respect her opinion about that subject, and I intended to keep the promise. I'd never do anything against her will. But of course I did hope her will would be the same as mine.
That one night with her had been… it was hard to find the right term to describe it. I'd have never believed it could be like that, especially since we hadn't even made love. I had expected to be disappointed when thinking about it in retrospect, but that wasn't the case. I was content with the closeness I had felt. Besides, I'd get a second chance now. I put the nightshirts into the suitcase and closed the lid with a determined snap. Maybe she'd see me in them and maybe she wouldn't. That was something only time could show.
Looking around in the room to make sure I hadn't forgotten an important object I wondered whether in another part of the city the Vicomte was just packing as well. No, it was probably his wife who was doing that, while he sat somewhere, holding a lecture about she was she allowed to do in his absence.
It was a pleasure to imagine how uncomfortable he had to feel in these minutes, knowing I'd soon be with his wife and unable to prevent it. I had got a hint of those feelings when he had been here at the opera this morning, but now they had to be even stronger. I wouldn't put it past him to try and use a chastity belt to keep me from touching Christine. Well, it was good that I was skilled with all kinds of tools.
I was still chuckling to myself as I left the house, my suitcase in one hand and a lantern in the other one. I didn't use the gondola, but chose the longer way around the lake, activating the traps as I walked past them. Of course I could have also done that from my home, yet I preferred checking whether they were all still working. Nobody knew I wouldn't be here, but one just couldn't be too cautious. Some of the stagehands could become ridiculously curious when they had had a drink too much, and those traps would make them turn around and run away.
Since I didn't want to draw attention to my departure, I went out of the opera through the Rue Scribe entrance and entered the coach that was already waiting for me in the street quickly. It was the perfect time for leaving. The people working at the opera were either still inside the building or in one of the restaurants around it, enjoying their lunch. When the coach started moving, I threw a brief glance over my shoulder, feeling a strange melancholy. I told myself sternly not to be this stupid; I'd probably come back here as soon as tomorrow. Still the feeling remained.
Although I didn't pay much attention to the way, I knew it was too early as we came to an abrupt halt that nearly threw me off my seat.
"What's wrong?" I asked the coachman. "We're not there yet. That's not the address I've given you."
"Yes, Monsieur, but the coach over there made me stop," he replied. "That man seems to want to talk to you."
I hadn't even noticed the other coach next to ours, but as I turned my head in the direction the coachman had indicated with his whip, everything fell into place. The man sitting there was the Vicomte. I gave the driver a sign, and he brought the coach so close to the other one that we could talk to each other without leaving our seats. I certainly wouldn't stand up for him.
"I thought we had agreed that you wait for me at your house," I reminded him instead of a greeting.
"I know," he replied shortly. "But I didn't want to meet you there. Too many people watching…"
"Watching what?" I wanted to know with a smirk. "Do you feel the overwhelming urge to finally declare your love for me?" Now I was almost grateful that we had met here. I'd have hated to miss this last chance to taunt him.
He threw me a furious glance.
"No!" he spat. "I just didn't want to see… you and her… and everything."
Finally I understood him. He wanted to avoid a scene in which I took over all that he considered his, while he had to leave. Naturally I would have liked such a scene, but I decided to let him have things his way for once.
"Goodbye then," I called cheerfully. "Enjoy yourself in Norway and don't hurry with coming back!"
This remark earned me another furiously glance.
"Yes, goodbye!" he said. "Take good care of my family! If anything happens to them…" His voice dropped to a whisper, so that no one but me could heard it. "…I will kill you."
I merely shrugged and gave the coachman the signal to go on. Even if the Vicomte had been capable of anything more than empty threats, I wouldn't have been frightened. There was no way in which I'd let anyone harm his family. His family? No, of course it was mine now. My family. I liked the sound of it, repeating it over and over in my head as we approached my new home.