Chapter Two: An Angel Of Music
Renee took her seat next to Andre, who sat nervously on the edge of his chair.
"Señor Carlotto fell surprisingly ill this morning, and we searched desperately for a substitute," Andre whispered to Renee, "Apparently the only better alternative my staff could find was a chorus boy, Daae. Christian Daae, the late violinist's son. Apparently Monsieur Firmin was quite impressed with his tenor."
"You said Christian Daae?" Renee clarified, suddenly recognizing the name. However, the orchestra began its ritualistic warming up of the instruments, and Andre had not time to respond. Then the Overture rang out and the Opera began. The curtains lifted to reveal the dancers, and as they moved, leading Soprano Señora Pianga clambered on to the stage, carrying the dismembered "head" of a fallen soldier and practically screaming her aria.
The Opera seemed to go on for hours before the entrance of Mauricio, and this was indeed the same Christian Daae that Renee had known so many years ago. He was handsome as ever, with his curly brown locks and mesmerizing eyes. His tone was perfectly light and flutey, effortlessly interchanging between chest and falsetto. And the technique! During the cadenza at the end of Act Two's Aria, he jumped the octave in falsetto without any flaw! It was an impressive performance, and Renee stood up and left almost immediately afterwards in order to run quickly backstage and find him.
During curtain call, Christian had little time to take in the audience's thunderous applause before he was swept away by the other members of the cast, who swarmed him with praise. Meg was practically on the floor, sobbing tears of joy for her brother's triumphant debut. The cast and crew bombarded Christian for nearly an hour until he was finally able to get to his dressing room, eventually joined by Meg. They hugged each other dearly, and Meg could not stop pelting him with questions.
"My dearest Christian," she asked him, "Where did you ever learn to sing like such an angel?" Meg was the daughter of Madame Giry, who had adopted Christian years ago after bringing him to the Opera House. So, of course, Meg thought she had known everything about him, for they had been raised together and were like family to one another. Though she had never heard him sing before tonight.
"You would never believe who has been teaching me." Christian's eyes darted about the room as though someone was there with them.
Meg looked around her. "What is it?"
Christian went and lit the candle which sat next to the ornate floor-length mirror. "Years ago, when you and I were only children, I heard a voice call out to me. He said he was an angel, sent by my father to train me with all the wisdom and knowledge of music you could imagine. He has been with me now all these years, guiding me and protecting me."
The air seemed to turn cold. Meg was confused. "Christian, that seems irrational. You are saying that a ghost has been teaching you how to sing?"
Christian grew tense and shivered. "I should not have told you this. The Angel of Music is very strict. He wont like me telling you about him." Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, and Christian jumped nervously. Meg dismissed herself to go get it. She slipped behind Renee and out of the door as the Viconte de Chagny entered. Christian could see Renee standing behind him in the mirror and gasped, memories flooding back.
"Renee! My dear friend! It has been far too long!" He ran to her and they embraced.
"Indeed. I have missed my 'Little Lotte'," Renee referred to the tale the two used to entertain each other with. "Oh, how I yearn for the days when we were such young children, eating chocolates and having those picnics in the attic!"
"Or when father would play his violin for us." Christian was so grateful to talk to someone who remembered the days when his father was alive.
"You sang beautifully tonight. I must hear all about your journey with the Paris Opera. Should we have dinner?'
Oh, how Christian wanted to go and talk with Renee! However, he remembered the warnings of his master. "I am so sorry, Renee, perhaps another time? I am dreadfully tired after the performance this evening."
Renee gave his hand a squeeze. "I understand, Little Lotte. Another time." She gave him another hug before she left, and Christian was left alone. Maybe it was the fact that he was using the dressing room that normally belonged to Carlotto, but something about the room made him feel oddly uncomfortable. He changed into his night clothes and went to put out the candle, when suddenly a mysterious voice rang out from the shadows.
"My sweet child, how proud I am of you!" The Angel of Music proclaimed, echoing throughout the room and startling Christian.
"Master, I am so grateful for you. Without your training, I would be so lost." His eyes searched the room frantically to find where his master's voice was coming from.
"Your voice was of the heavens tonight. Angels themselves would be envious."
"You are the true angel," Christian replied, "Forgive me, but I do wish I could see you. Please, Master, allow me to look upon the face that has shown me so much wisdom."
Suddenly the candle by the mirror was put out, as if by an invisible hand. A light breeze circled the room. Christian felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. "You wish to see me, my flattering Christian Daae? Then, look to the mirror. You shall know my face from here on." The angel's whisper called out to him, luring him towards the massive looking glass.
Christian approached the mirror slowly, and as he drew closer, he realized his reflection was joined by that of another. There was someone in the mirror. A pale man wearing a black tuxedo and cape, with a white mask that only covered half of his face. The visible side of his face was rather attractive, though he seemed to be much older than Christian. Before Christian could realize what had happened, the Angel had lured him through the mirror somehow and into a dark, smoky tunnel.