Chapter 3: The Phantom's Music
Insolent men! These slaves of fashion basking in your glory!
Ignorant fools! These brave old managers sharing in my triumph!
It shocked Christine that her Angel could make his beautiful voice to turn harsh and cold instantly. But as she listened to his words Christine began to assume that the new managers must have been praising themselves for discovering a singer in the ballet. Half of herself wanted to sigh and roll her eyes and the other half wanted to console her Angel, and that half ended up winning her internal argument.
Angel! I hear you! Speak I listen…
Stay by my side guide me!
Angel my soul was weak—forgive me
Enter at last, Master!
Christine knew that her apology and appraisal must have worked on her most beloved Angel because almost instantly his voice changed back into that warm safe sound that she became accustomed to hearing throughout the ten years that he has been there for her.
Flattering child you shall know me, see why in shadow I hide!
Look at your face in the mirror, I am there inside!
Christine felt her heart race as she slowly turned to the mirror. This is it, Christine began to think. I finally get to see my Angel—I mean the man—that my Angel has turned into. Oh dear god please let this not be a dream! Christine thought to herself as she slowly began to see the outline of the most handsome man she had ever saw!
She noted how his chin was strong and firm, he was dressed in the most impeccable black suit with maroon and grey accents, his hair was very neatly combed back, very muscular and on his ride side of his face laid a white leather mask. In that one instant she knew that mask from anywhere.
It was not uncommon to hear some of the ballet rats to tell scary stories of the phantom of the opera. Some of the stories included him tying a noose around a neck, others said that his voice alone will seduce anyone into doing anything that he wishes, and a few have even gone as far as saying that he will murder those who defy him. But not matter how the stories vary one thing remains, he wears a stark white leather mask on one side of his face.
Christine knew that this discovery would have shocked even the most sensible of girls, but when had she ever been sensible? She was the one girl that would have rather ran through the mud without a care in the world about how dirty her dress got rather than sit through a tea party and listen to idle gossip about the various women in town.
Christine smiled at the man before her because she realized just how much this man was and has done for her. The man in return nodded his idea and held out his hand to her as the mirror vanished into thin air. Christine was only hesitant about taking a strangers hand, however the protectiveness she felt radiate through the man before her calmed any and all of her fears about what laid ahead.
As they walked through a damp passageway Christine could not stop herself from admiring the tall, dark and mysterious man in front of her. She knew that he was masculinity incarnated, and she knew that he was so powerful that he could make anyone do anything he wanted to in the opera house. He need only a simple reason to bring upon a week of terror for the entire cast and crew during rehearsals. Never has he ever interrupted a performance, the phantom may be considered mean but never was he that rude.
Christine found she could not speak to him, and remembered what he had taught her to do instead: In the absence of words one learns to music to communicate.
In sleep he sang to me in dreams he came
That voice which calls to me and speaks my name
And do I dream again for now I find the phantom of the opera is there inside my mind
Her Angel looked back to her and Christine swore she saw his lips twitch upwards trying to compress a smile that simply refused to stay hidden. She knew that he was remembering the lesson of the power of music in the absence of words as well.
Sing once again with me our strange duet
My power over you grows stronger yet
And thought you turn from me to glance behind
The phantom of the opera is there inside your mind!
His rich melodic voice filled Christine's soul as their voices intertwined in the most perfect harmonious sound she had ever heard. It seemed like their voices were almost made for each other and that they were meant to sing together. As Christine began to learn that her Angel was indeed a man, but not just any man, the Phantom himself and she was his outlet to the world!
Those who have seen your face draw back in fear
I am the mask you wear…
She let him know that she realized the connection, but also told him that she was happy knowing that she alone knew him unlike how anyone else knew him.
It's me they hear…
Christine shuddered as his voice growled seductively.
Your/My spirit and your/my voice in one combined
Than phantom of the opera is there inside your/my mind
He's there the phantom of the opera!
Christine began singing higher and higher, proving to her Angel that she was worthy of his presence and that all their lessons created her into what she is able to do now. As she reached her highest note possibly they finished rowing their boat into a cavern home of some sorts, but the beauty of the forlorn place outshone any and all strange qualities it possessed.
Christine stood mesmerized by the splendor of the different things in this little island. To the right held bookshelves upon bookshelves crammed with many different sorts of books that she could not wait to delve into. Along the left held paintings and blueprints of the early stages of the opera house all the way to its current design. Past the paintings were set replicas and further to the right held the largest organ Christine had ever seen. On top of the pipe organ held many pieces of sheet music with the sole title "Don Juan Triumphs".
She quickly glanced down at the music and was thrown back by how complicated each measure was. Christine began humming along but was too soon caught by various notes and the advanced way they were all written together. As soon as she picked up the sheet music to get a better look she felt a warm and gentle hand rest upon her shoulder and heard his voice fill the empty void she held in her heart when he was not by her.
"Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation
Darkness stirs and wakes the imagination
Silently the senses abandoned their defenses…"
The soft lullaby caused Christine's mind to grow foggy about everything except for him. Yes, she knew she loved to listen to his music that he created for her and her alone but now she was truly beginning to feel as this Angel sang of the music of the night. She silently watched and listened to his voice yearn for her to abandon the light of day and stay with him in the darkness that everybody tries to fight. She placed her hand in his warm gloved hand and followed her mentor, her friend, and her protector as he taught Christine to understand just how beautiful the dark music could be through his song. Christine allowed herself to close her eyes as she felt their spirits soar intimately within the music as she joined him in his song:
"I'll let/let my/your mind journey through a strange new world
I'll leave/Leave all thoughts of the life I/you knew before
And I'll let/Let my/your soul take me/you where I/you long to be
Only then can I/you belong to you/me"
As their duet hung in the air with their last note mingling in perfect harmony, Christine took ahold of her moment to show her Angel how much he meant to her while it seemed he was still in shock. She placed one hand on his perfect cheek and the other hand over the place of his heart.
"I'll touch you, trust you, savor each sensation
I'll let the dream begin and let my darker side give in
To the power of the music that you write"
Christine sang her heart's desires out to the Angel in front of her. Nay, not an angel anymore she reminded herself, but the man that her Angel turned himself into so that he could be with her from now on. She knew that her Angel must have loved her enough to be willing to give up all of heaven's glory to be with her on Earth. She watched his reaction to her pledge to her Angel and smiled as she saw a tear slip through his eyes. Gently she wiped it away with her thumb and gladly accepted her Angel's hand as he slowly, and shakily, offered it to her.
With one of his hands in hers, and his other on her lower back, her Angel guided her along to a secret hallway she had not seen earlier. As they walked through the hallway she noticed many doors and became instantly curious to the secrets laying behind the hidden doors that were as old as the opera house itself.
Without realizing it Christine was gently, but forcibly, stopped walking. With the surprise that was most likely evident in her eyes Christine looked towards her Angel that was for a moment smirking at her with a half smile. Then with a little nod to her left Christine saw what made her and her Angel stop in this particular place.
There, standing not ten feet away from her, was herself but bearing a wedding dress instead. Her first reaction was to go into shock but she knew better than to do that because when she looked closer all she saw that is was just a mannequin bearing the exquisitely detailed white ballroom gown.
She looked at her Angel once again and gave him a big smile to show him how much she appreciated the little, actually big, surprise he had just shown her. As she looked into the piercing blue eyes that reminded her so much of the ocean Christine saw appreciation, warmth, and something stronger that she had not seen since her father was alive—in her Angel's eyes she saw love.
"May I touch it?" Christine's tentive voice make out quite shakily despite the strength she summoned up while staring into her Angel's eyes. She saw his eyes widen in surprise, good or bad she was still unaware of it, and he cleared his throat.
"Of course, my darling, it is made just for you after all." His gentlemanly behavior and the fact she was able to see more of the dress made Christine's heart soar. Without thinking twice Christine flew to her Angel and pressed herself against his chest in a tight embrace while she silently thanked him for everything he has done for her now and in the future. For a while she felt him stand there as still as a statue very tensely, but Christine persisted to hug him. It was not until he finally wrapped his own arms around her waist and returned the warm embrace that she finally freed him from her grasp.
Christine slowly moved towards the dress once more and felt the fabric of the train. The satin felt smooth and held a beautiful ivory tint to the entire ensemble made for a bride. The veil was so thin and soft that it was almost like a spider's web with its intricate detail and fragile state. Christine felt tears well up in her eyes as she wondered what it would be like to deserve something so beautiful, for the wearer must be just as beautiful in order to fully compliment the dress. Somehow she knew that her Angel had this for her, but she couldn't exactly say how she knew it.
"Oh Angel…" Christine half whispered and half awed in wonder. Her angel was so amazing Christine felt some of the tears escape from her eyes as she stood up to walk back towards the man waiting for her at the entrance of the room.
Once more, he offered his hand to her and she readily accepted the offer. She watched as his other hand hesitantly raised itself to gently hold her chin and slowly lift it so they could look at each other. Christine couldn't stop the tears from welling in her deep brown eyes as she searched the depths of her Angels clear blue ones. She felt his hand rest upon her cheek and she relaxed against it and closed her eyes as she sighed in contentment. Ever so softly she felt his thumb wipe away her tears as she did for him not long ago.
"My name is Erik," her Angel—Erik—said to her with his hand still kept on her cheek.
"Mmm, Erik," Christine sighed with a yawn and immediately fell asleep in her Erik's embrace.
The second Erik heard Christine grace his name on her soft lips he felt his soul begin to soar. She finally knew that he was a man. Not an intangible Angel, but a real and touchable man. As he felt her body go limp in her arms Erik reprimanded himself for not realizing just how much Christine had went through today and was mad with himself for making her exhausted to point of passing out.
He gently carried her to the back of the hallway they were already in and saw her room he was still in the process of preparing for her was locked. With a small grunt he carried her further down until they reached the last door on the left—his room.
Erik thanked whatever diety that was out there that he had left his door slightly ajar from earlier. Yes he could open his door with her in his arms but it was had most likely awaken the angel he held in his embrace in the process. With the front of his shoe he gently put pressure against the door immediately causing it to open completely with no trace of a sound being produced.
He walked with her towards his swan bed that he had salvaged from years back during a darker version of the Swan Lake that was not doing very successful. Erik laid Christine down against the blood red satin sheets and saw just how much the color complimented her ivory skin and dark hair. He leaned down and caressed her cheek once more as he sang,
"You alone can make my songs and life take flight
Help me make the music of the night…"