LOVE UNMASKED

Sharon Pugh

CHAPTER 3

Taking a deep breath, Christine entered the ballroom to be greeted by what looked like a sea of beautiful dresses, stretching out endlessly. A happy throng of people seemed to blur together in a mass of colour and noise and she couldn't help but gasp at the sight of the crowds. It seemed that Raoul had invited the whole of Paris.

Jovial conversation seemed to surround her as she desperately searched the room for a friendly, familiar face. Where on earth were Meg and Madame Giry?

As a few people started to notice her presence, a gradual swarm of the pretty dresses made their way towards her and she could vaguely make out a few awe filled exclamations at the sight of her engagement ring and her dress. Trying desperately to focus on the several conversations that were being hurled from all directions at her, she suddenly wished that she could turn back and escape to her bedchamber.

She became aware of several women battling each other for her hand, aiming to get a better look at her engagement ring. Another round of envious and complimentary exclamations ensued as she slowly retrieved her hand and forced a smile. She felt lost in the hustle and bustle, as if she wasn't truly there, as if she were just watching the scene unfolding in front of her.

"Christine?" one of the ladies waved a hand in front of her face "I just said, you must be very happy to be marrying the Viscount?"

"Y-Yes of course, I'm sorry for my rudeness" Christine apologised "It's just, all these people, I am a bit overwhelmed"

"Overwhelmed?" another lady laughed "You shall have to get used to this sort of affair Miss Daae, now that you are to be the wife of the Viscount De Chagny"

"And here he is now" Another lady practically squealed with excitement as Raoul approached them "Isn't he handsome?"

Barely noticing the cooing women surrounding his fiancée, Raoul gently kissed her on the cheek and tugged gently at her arm,

"Come Christine. Lets go and commence the celebrations"

Glad to be rescued from her torment, Christine allowed him to lead her to the centre of the ballroom. Raoul looked over at the conductor who silenced the orchestra. Gratitude turned to mortification as she realised that Raoul was going to draw even more attention to herself than she had already received.

"Raoul please, I don't want any fuss"

"Ladies and gentlemen" Raoul continued, unaware of his fiancee's discomfort "As you may already know, Miss Christine Daae has consented to be my wife"

A few congratulatory cheers rose from the well wishers as Raoul beamed with obvious delight.

"I cannot begin to tell you how happy she has made me" He raised Christine's hand and kissed it, to the further amusement of the crowd. "Two months ago I thought I was going to lose her but...."

Christine could see a tear in Raoul's eye and gently touched his shoulder,

"Raoul, please don't. You mustn't think about…………"

"Yes, of course, you are right" Raoul brushed the tear away and addressed the people "Tonight is about the future. A happy one. Please everybody raise your glasses"

Everybody did as he commanded.

"To the future!!!!" Raoul declared and everyone joined in the toast. "Now please, everybody dance, and enjoy the copious amounts of food and drink on offer"

As the orchestra started up again, Raoul swept Christine into a dance and kissed her, passionately on the lips.

"I love you Miss Daae" he looked into her eyes as they danced

"I love you too" Christine blushed, aware of all the eyes that were fixed on them both right now.

As the night went on, she relaxed into the dancing and resolved to make an effort and at least try to get into the spirit of things. When she had finally found Meg and Madame Giry, the night was altogether more pleasurable and she felt much more at ease. As a whole, the ball had been very enjoyable, a true celebration of a bright and promising future.

She finally managed to excuse herself from the ball a few hours later. Despite enjoying the celebrations, she felt extremely tired and after repeatedly reassuring Raoul that she was not ill, just exhausted, she made her way back to her bedchamber, leaving the jovial crowd to carry on the celebrations in the ballroom

She had barely lay down on the bed when tiredness lulled her into a dream where she was suddenly transported back into the dancing crowds. Only now, she was fully embracing being the centre of attention and dancing as if she would never stop. She felt so full of spirit, so full of life. Round and round she seemed to go, passing from partner to partner as dizziness started to set in. Briefly closing her eyes in an effort to ease the dizziness, she became aware that she was suddenly dancing with a new partner yet again. Laughing happily, she opened her eyes, suddenly face to face with....

HIM!

Christine sat upright on the bed, still fully clothed in her ball dress, her eyes squinting to make out what was going on.

"Oh god!"

In her confused, half asleep state, she tried to make out where she was. In her bedroom of course, the familiar surroundings gradually became visible as her eyes became accustomed to the moonlight. Her heartbeat slowly started to resume to a normal pace and she gently exhaled the breath she had been holding since she had awoke.

"Please stop haunting me" she whispered into the darkness of her room.

She glanced at the small clock on her bedtable and, realising that the ball was probably almost over by now, decided to go for a walk in the grounds. Maybe that would help ease her troubled mind, which was still haunted by the dream.

She glanced out through her window at the moonlight and draped her cloak around her shoulders. Slipping quietly down the stairs, she passed the kitchen where many people where tidying up and talking about the ball. Unseen, she made her way out through the big oak doors and walked down to the river where the moonlight seemed to be dancing a mysterious dance in its reflection in the water. Folding her arms around her body to keep warm, Christine listened to the silence for a short while and then quietly sang to herself,

"Night-time sharpens

Heightens each sensation

Darkness stirs

And wakes imagination

Silently the senses, abandon their defences"

"That was a spectacular ball. What a lucky, lucky girl you are Christine Daae" Carlotta silenced Christine with her voice "If only the rest of us were so lucky as to have a Phantom singing tutor"

"Carlotta.....I didn't know you were here" Christine hoped she had not been listening to what she had been singing

"I am waiting for my carriage" Carlotta walked towards her and gestured towards the chateau "Maybe I too would be living in a chateau as grand as this if your phantom friend had taught me"

Carlotta laughed, a low sarcastic laugh and touched Christine's face, with her red satin gloved hand,

"But how silly of me. I forgot that he only gives lessons to young impressionable girls like you. Naive, silly girls who he can lure to his lair and...."

"It wasn't like that" Christine angrily pushed Carlotta's hand away "It wasn't like that at all. He taught me so much…….about music"

Carlotta raised an eyebrow, then turned away to gaze at her reflection in the river, with obvious admiration. Her long, red satin dress trailed around her body and seemed to swish every time she moved. She momentarily walked away from Christine and angrily swirled around.

"There are many things that can be taught" she spat "Fine breeding is not one of them. You are a chorus girl Christine and that is how you should remain. Without the Phantom's tuition, you are nothing"

"I couldn't agree more" Christine whispered "I never meant to upstage you Carlotta. Like you, I was just realising my dream"

"Well thanks to you, we have all lost our dreams in a cloud of smoke" Carlotta's arms were gesturing wildly.

She took a deep breath,

"But life goes on. I will be playing the part of Violetta in a new production of La Traviata. Shame, you didn't go to the audition Christine"

"I didn't have to" Christine smiled "I was offered the part without auditioning. I turned it down"

"You are mad" Carlotta frowned "It's a wonderful opportunity. As much as I despise you Christine, I cannot understand why you would give up such a chance. However, it is my gain"

"Please Carlotta, don't hate me" Christine turned away "I never meant for this to happen. None of it. I wish I had never …"

"I know, I shouldn't hate you" Carlotta reluctantly agreed "As I said, you are just a very lucky girl, lucky…….. and talented"

Carlotta seemed almost embarrassed and extremely annoyed to have been forced to admit this. She turned away and looked down, seeming excruciatingly uncomfortable.

"Thank you" Christine wiped a tear from her eye

"You need to pull yourself together Christine" Carlotta looked up, and folded her arms "Raoul can give you anything you want in the world, but I cannot see you being happy with just existing. Its not you"

Carlotta stared straight at Christine who was deep in thought.

"You need to use your talent" she warned "Otherwise, you might wake up one day and realise that it is gone"

With that, Carlotta turned and walked away and Christine listened to the swishing of her dress then sank to the ground and put her head in her hands.

Carlotta was right, she knew that if she didn't sing soon, everything her angel had taught her would slip away, bit by bit. Everything he had done for her, good or bad, would all have been for nothing. It pained her greatly to think of letting him down so badly but that is what she had done. She had completely betrayed him, in every way possible.

She knew that she at least owed it to her angel to ensure that she never forgot or lost any of the skills he had taught her but just the mere thought of singing again..... she simply had no desire to. Not now.......Without knowing that her angel was there, listening to her and guiding her, the thought of a crowded house applauded her held no appeal. It would mean nothing if he was not there to share his thoughts on her singing and how she could progress.

And yet, she knew there was something missing in her life now. She had never felt so happy as when she had been singing in the Opera Populaire. She deeply missed that sensation and it saddened her to think that she may never feel that way again.

Would she really never sing again?

That thought depressed her to the core but, at the same time, she knew she simply couldn't do it, not without her angel. She would need to see him again, to seek his guidance, to be her inspiration.

But how??

She couldn't just visit him. For a start, the Opera Populaire had been deemed extremely unsafe to all, which is why the police had not ventured any further in their search for the Phantom. Should she risk going back in there, she may badly injure herself or worse......she might actually find the Phantom, and what would that achieve?

He surely wouldn't welcome her with open arms, not after the way she had abandoned him that night. Besides, seeing him would be betraying Raoul and she really didn't want to hurt even more people.

It felt so unfair that the one thing she desperately needed to do, was the one thing she mustn't do. And yet, she couldn't imagine spending her whole life wondering what could have been had she dared to take a chance...... to realise her dreams again.

Slowly, she dragged herself up from the ground and wiped down her dress. Again, she felt that her actions were not her own and that her innermost desires and dreams were urging her on, to do what, she didn't know. Again, she was a slave to her own heart and she knew that sense and practical reasoning were going to be of little help to her now.

She walked back into the Chateau and, oblivious to the kitchen staff around her, she scrambled about in the kitchen, searching for a candle. She then made her way to the stables and pushed open the door. Quickly, she chose the nearest horse and scrambled onto its back. It was highly unladylike to ride bareback like this but there was no time to worry about that now. She had to go to the Opera Populaire and she had to go now, before she changed her mind.