Chapter Ten: "Don Juan Triumphant"
Paris, France, January 21, 1882
Christine was shaking as the seamstresses surrounded her and helped her into the costume. Her stomach was twisting itself on its own accord. The seamstresses parted until she could see her reflection in the mirror.
Christine supposed the costume could be called attractive. However, the fact that she had to wear it in Don Juan Triumphant,and she had to be all but seduced wearing it, made her want to tear apart the cloth and burn it.
The callboy knocked on the door and called out, "Fifteen minutes until opening!" Christine felt nausea rising in her throat and fought it down. She murmured her thanks to the seamstresses and left. When she reached the backstage area of the stage, the space was filled with worried murmurs. The company made a path for her, as if determined to be immune to the phantom's curse. Through the wings, she caught glimpses of policemen stationed at every door in the auditorium. The chief of police came beside her and walked alongside her. Christine could have laughed if she wasn't so worried. Do they really think a policeman would protect me from Erik?
Almost as if responding to her thought, the policeman suddenly stumbled forward, his temple covered in blood. As the performers and more policemen surrounded the lifeless police officer, Christine slowly backed away.
She caught sight of Raoul and made her way towards him. "I suppose there's no way of canceling the performance, is there," she said softly. Raoul sighed and embraced her. The overture started— a horrible noise full of clashing notes.
Christine pulled out of the embrace, preparing to say the words that had been running through her head. "Raoul, I have to tell you something before I go onstage." Raoul nodded, his eyes never leaving her face. "Whatever happens out… there, whatever the phantom does, I want you to know I am acting. You know how I feel about this. If I could do something, anything, to stop the performance, I would. As it is, I cannot. Therefore, know that I am not in support of what I have to do onstage. I love you, Raoul. No one but you."
"I will by praying for you, Christine." He took her hand in his. "Make sure you come out of this alive, love."
She smiled shakily. "I will. And—"
A callboy came and tapped her shoulder. "Your cue is coming, Mademoiselle Daaé."
Christine quickly smiled and nodded at the callboy, and he left. She turned back to Raoul and kissed him briefly. Then she tore herself away, before she could reconsider her actions. She composed herself and stepped onstage, signing her solo.
No thoughts within her head but thoughts of joy!
No dreams within her heart but dreams of love!
She went to the table and picked up a shining, fake apple, tossing it gently. She heard the actor playing Passarino say his last line: "Master?"
The voice that answered did not belong to Piangi.
Passarino— go away,
For the trap is set
And waits for its prey...
For a moment, Christine could not remember to whom the voice belonged.
A figure in a black cloak, a large hood covering his face, entered on cue from behind the curtain and pulled the fabric shut. He turned to Christine.
You have come here
In pursuit of your deepest urge,
In pursuit of that wish,
Which till now has been silent…
Silent...
With a start, Christine remembered where she was. She smiled and acted as genuinely as she could. As she sat on the bench, the man came behind her and caressed her shoulders. She tensed briefly. You are acting, she reminded herself.
Past the point of no return
No backward glances
The games we've played till now
Are at an end...
I have brought you,
That our passions may fuse and merge
In your mind you've already succumbed to me
Dropped all defenses
Completely succumbed to me
Now you are here with me
No second thoughts, you've decided
Decided...
The man took the apple from her hand, his fingers brushing her skin.
Past all thought of "if" or "when"
No use resisting
Abandon thought,
And let the dream descend...
The man took her wrist and pulled her upstage, almost dragging her. Christine would have jerked out of his grasp if the circumstances were different.
What raging fire shall flood the soul?
What rich desire unlocks its door?
What sweet seduction lies before us...?
The man released his tight hold on her wrist. She massaged it briefly, trying to keep a furious expression off her face.
Past the point of no return
The final threshold
What warm, unspoken secrets will we learn
beyond the point of no return...
The man ended his solo. Christine could not help but break character and look at the audience. No one seemed to think that anything was wrong. She gathered herself and continued the scene, singing her line.
You have brought me to that moment
Where words run dry,
To that moment
Where speech disappears into silence,
Silence...
Gradually, she began to walk towards the man. Who are you? her mind all but screamed.
I have come here, hardly
Knowing the reason why...
In my mind, I've already imagined our bodies
Entwining, defenseless and silent –
And now I am here with you
No second thoughts, I've decided
Decided...
She reached out a hand to touch his face, but in a flash, the man's hand was again on her wrist, stopping her. With as much control as she could manage, she freed her wrist.
Past the point of no return
No going back now
Our passion-play has now, at last, begun...
Past all thought of right or wrong...
One final question: how long should we two wait
Before we're one...?
When will the blood begin to race
The sleeping bud burst into bloom?
When will the flames, at last, consume us...?
She couldn't take anymore; the tension, not knowing who this man was. She turned to leave, but the man caught her arm. She closed her eyes, turning away from him, trying not to show fear, as she joined the man in the song.
Past the point of no return
the final threshold
the bridge is crossed,
so stand and watch it burn...
We've passed the point of no return...
Before her mind could react to what she was doing, Christine reached forward and ripped the hood off the man's face, revealing him for who he was.
A man with dark eyes, his face half covered by a pallid mask.