Erik

Entry 7 continued

After thinking of what Madame Giry had told me and cursing her for the interfering woman that she is I began once again to watch the performances – or, in this case the rehearsals for Ill Muto.

I soon discovered that the ballet mistress had been correct in her assessment of Christine. She was a shadow of her former self, hardly speaking to anyone other than Meg. Also, much to my anger, I watched as the boy made a nuisance of himself dancing attendance upon her. She looked so tired and upset that I just wanted to take her in my arms and tell that stupid boy to leave her be. But I did not.

Christine I soon learned had been given the silent role in the new production due to some screaming and hysterics on Carlotta's part. This angered me, but seeing that Christine did not seem to mind and judging by her body language she was more than happy to stay in the background, so I kept all thought of causing any accidents to myself.

Then came tonight. The opening of Ill Muto.

I had decided to give Christine a rose, continuing with what I had began the opening night of Hannibal, so that she knew that I was there for her. But much to my dismay the entire Opera House was in turmoil just before the curtains came up so it was not until the orchestra struck up that I was able to sneak undetected to the stables and provide myself with a rose – courtesy of the stable master.

Feeling very proud of myself I swiftly retraced my steps down the abandoned corridors only to have to duck into an alcove when a group of stage hands went ruching past.

"Where could he be?" questioned one.

Where could who be?

"Joseph has gone to far this time." stated one.

Ah Joseph.

"The whole opera heard him this time. Carlotta won't be back till she has his heart." said another one.

What?

Carlotta had left again.

What had brought this on?

But I did not care this meant that Christine would once again be the lead.

I ran quickly to the passage behind the dressing room wall and peered through the mirror.

There she was.

My heart did a flip as I saw my angel standing there in an oversized costume with a massive wig on her head.

She looked utterly adorable standing in the middle of the dressing room dwarfed in the pink, glittery wardrobe creation it being a good four inches too long for her.

I watched as Madame Giry left the room and ushered the seamstresses in, who began to pin the dress into place.

Grasping at the opportunity I sprinted back to the corridor reaching it just in time to grab Madame Giry arm.

She spun around in fright. Gasping my name when she saw who I was.

"You should not be here Erik, it is to risky." she told me, stating the obvious.

I fought the urge to roll my eyes, instead I thrust the rose I was carrying at her and instructed her to give it to Christine before returning to my spot behind the mirror.

I arrived just as the seamstresses left. It was a miracle how they had managed to fit the tent like gown to Christine small figure.

She stood directly in front of the mirror and for the barest of moments I thought that she knew that I was there, but I watched as she shook her head sadly and sat down at the dressing table and wearily dropped her head to rest on her small hands.

Memories danced through my mind as I remembered her delicate fingers gently tracing and caressing my face.

I shook my head, breaking myself free from the memories as the dressing room door opened revealing Madame Giry.

She approached Christine's still form and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

Christine who had obviously been deep in thought spun rapidly in her seat to face the other woman.

Madame Giry smiled softly at her drew her hand from behind her back revealing my rose.

I watched fascinated as Christine slowly reached for the flower and taking it from the ballet mistress she threw her arms around the older woman's neck and hugged her tightly.

She then began to dance around the confines of the dressing room, gracefully spinning around dancing dome kind of waltz with an invisible partner a smile firmly set on her face as she clutched my rose to her.

My heart swelled seeing what happiness I had brought to my love through one little token.

Madame Giry cleared her throat and announced to Christine that it was time for her to go onto the stage. She skipped over to the woman and kissed her on the cheek before leaving the room and I watched in joy as I saw her tuck my rose into her dress at the waist. I wanted to run, shout and jump for happiness at seeing this.

Did this mean that she did not hate me?

It must.

A smile had immediately covered her face and reached her eyes when she had been given the rose..

But then how did she know that I was the sender, I thought to myself panicking slightly.

But then, my Christine was smart I thought comfortingly, she would have figured out by now, connecting the last rose that had arrived for her, the letters sent to the managers through Madame Giry and the woman knowing so much of the ghost.

So surely she knew that it was from me.

And it had brought that look of happiness to her whole body, it had caused her to dance about the room.

I made my way to one of the basements in a daze, standing beneath the grates as I listened to my angels voice as she sang flawlessly.

I could not help but smile as the audience burst into cheers not much different from Hannibal. I could just imagine them on their feet as they clapped their hands together for Christine. That familiar sense of pride filled my chest once again.

I waited for the noise and chatter of the audience to die down – signalling their departure before making my way to the chapel and awaiting the arrival of Christine.

She never came.

I waited for what seemed like an age as doubts once again filled my mind.

Had she grown tired of me not being there for her?

Did she no longer want me in her life?

But then I remembered the rose and how she had danced around the room...

Making up my mind I went in search for her, keeping in the shadows and ducking behind doors as sleepy cast members staggered past me on their way to bed.

Finally I saw her, but she was not alone.

My chest tightened as I saw that boy, the viscount, wrap his arms around her waist and draw her against him. I saw her stiffen and wanted to roar in anger.

She turned in his arms and they spoke for a minute, before he released her, I felt a sense of satisfaction as some of the tension drained from her body. She did not like having him near her so much.

She embraced him quickly and turned to leave, walking in the opposite direction from him and he vanished quickly round the corridor.

Christine meanwhile, instead of heading to her room as I thought she would, ran towards the twisting staircase that leads to the upper stories of the theatre I watched from the base of the steps as she raced to the top and disappeared from my view. Seconds later I heard a door slam.

There was only one door on the top floor.

As soon as she vanished form sight I followed, reaching the door to the roof in minutes. Taking a deep breath I gently opened the door praying that she would not be just on the other side.

My prayer was answered.

She was at the opposite end of the roof – dancing.

I watched her as she gracefully spun around the roof totally absorbed in her task.

She stopped and looked out over the city before turning back and heading for the door.

My heart began to thunder in my chest.

I could not let her just walk away, not when I was this close.

Slowly I walked from the shadows and stood in the moonlight.

Her steps ceased immediately and she starred at me.

Then much to my amazement and delight she ran towards me and threw her small body against mine.

I wrapped my arms tightly around her not wanting to release her ever again.

She buried her head in my chest and I held her closer to me.

"Please don't leave me again." she whispered.

So, what do ya think?

I know that you might be getting a little fed up with the whole what if he/she hates me thing but I promise that I will have all the doubts put right in the next couple of chapters.

I just had to have him say what he thought about her in Carlotta's costumes, it was just an opportunity to good to miss. I always thought that it was pretty funny how we always get to hear Carlotta screech away with bizarre bits of music (e.g. beginning of Hannibal) and dressed in outlandish costumes but we never see Christine in the Ill Muto outfit or hear her sing the opening Hannibal sequence (all her songs are lovey dovey) – anyway just a thought :-), anyone else have an opinion on that or is it just me??)

Hope you like.