Chapter 5
Nicole stood looking at Erik. She was terribly cold, and new she would get sick if she remained in the water much longer.
"Monsieur Erik, may I please take your hand so that you may lead me to shore?"
She say him start at her request.
Had I gone too far? Surely he must know that I am freezing. Oh no, I must look like a very loose woman asking to go into his home with no one else with us!
"I assure Monsieur I only wish to get out of this water so that I may not catch cold."
He nodded, looking only a little confused. He came to stand next to her, and stuck out his arm for her to take. She did so, and was very relieved to be getting out of the water.
She looked up at him as they walked. His eyes stared straight ahead clouded with confusion.
She couldn't believe she he was right next to hear. It was like an answer to a pray, one she prayed for daily. He was her ticket to earning her mother's love. He would be able to help here.
But what if he doesn't? Why would he? I am just some strange girl that barged into his home! I can't believe he is here!
She nearly slipped on the mud, but he quickly put his hand around her waist and steadied her. His grip was strong, and possessive. And she found that she liked it. It was a fleeting thought, for as soon as she thought it he removed his hand as if she had burned him. His eyes burned with anger for a moment, then turned away from her. She did not like the way he looked at her as if she did something horrible to him.
They reached the shore of his home and he led her to a chair in front of a small table. Upon the table stood a small replica of the Opera house, clearly before it was burnt down.
She sat admiring it, forgetting for a moment where she was and who she was with.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw him shift uncomfortably where he stood.
Nicole felt embarrassed by the silence and decided to start some conversation with small talk.
"I am so sorry Monsieur how rude of me. May I ask as to what you do for a living?"
"I used to compose and teach music."
"How long have you lived in Paris?"
"Most of my life, I came and went often though."
She knows who I am why is she asking me these things?
"Mademoiselle Lafette, you know who I am, correct?"
She responded quickly with, "Yes, as I said before you are The Phantom of the Opera."
"Then why do you sit so calmly, asking me questions about my life? You know who I am then you must now what I am!"
"I have heard nothing but rumors and gossip, I prefer not to believe such nonsense."
As she said that her eyes avoided his just slightly and clouded with memory. She seemed to be hiding something, something important.
He decided to let it go for a time.
He thought back to how holding her just a moment ago. He liked the way she felt in his arms, she was soft and warm. He had recoiled as soon as he realized that he was too close to her. No woman should ever have his unworthy form hold them. He shook his head to try and get back to the moment.
Now he had more important things to be concerned about, like his own safety.
"I must now ask for you to leave. And never return."
She was so taken aback by this that she stood up and protested instantly by saying, "No Monsieur please I implore to reconsider! I know the reason I have found you, this was no chance meeting!"
He was surprised by the desperation he heard in her voice. He was intrigued to hear her out.
"What do you mean by that?"
"You must teach me to sing!"
Nicole stood there not believing how unladylike she had been. Practically jumping out of her chair and begging this man for help.
She knew in her heart that this would be her only chance to gain her mother's love.
He seemed to be seriously considering what she had said which gave her hope.
When she had said she knew who he was and what he was she hid something from him. She hide from him the fact that she had actually seen him once before in her life.
It was a warm night, for winter. Nicole and Belle watched as all the crème de la crème of Paris entered the Opera Populaire. A new play was being performed, Don Juan Triumphant. No one had ever heard of a play like this before, and Nicole was determined to get in.
Belle was not so determined, "Nicole I really don't think we should be doing this! If we are caught my father would kill me!"
Nicole turned to her cowardly friend and said, "All right you don't have to come, but I am still going. Just wait on the steps for me to return."
Nicole hugged Belle then turned to face the building.
It was so large and beautiful. She had often dreamed of joining the ballet troupe, but knew her mother wouldn't let her.
She wore a heavy dark cloak to hide her dress from view. It was the nicest one she had, and she knew she would need it to blend in. She had tried to buy a ticket to tonight's performance, but they had sold out in record time. Christine Daae would be performing and this new opera was said to be something completely different from everything else.
Nicole had to see it at any cost.
She looked for an entrance into the building that wasn't so heavily guarded by police. She came here often just to watch people go in and out for the performances, but never had she seen so many police. She walked around the exterior of the building waiting for her chance. Near the front she saw a window one story up cracked open. There was her chance. As fast and quietly as she could she climbed the side of the building. It wasn't that difficult she had perfect balance and there was plenty of hand and foot holds. She was half way to the window when two policemen walked right under her and paused. She froze where she was. She thanked God for her strong legs, and prayed to him for the moon to go behind a cloud. The moon was shining so brightly that if they looked up they were sure to see her. She knew she would be thrown in prison, and she did not want to go there. She was only twenty years old she still had her whole life ahead of her.
But her prayers were answered when the two men walked on without even so much as a glance in her direction. She almost considered climbing back down and running to Belle. But then she remembered that this may be her only chance to see a real opera with her idol, Christine Daae singing.
She climbed the rest of the way reaching the window and she peeked her head over the rim to look in. No one was there, and she climbed in. It appeared she was on the balcony overlooking the grand foyer entrance. The performance must be starting any minute for there was no one but police in the foyer. She then noticed a man walking into the audience chamber. He was tall with long red hair and very handsome. He had two guards with him. She assumed he was a prince or something with all the extra security.
She crept along the railing, keeping to the shadows. For how heavily the opera house was protected she was surprised she got in so easily. Ever one seemed to be distracted by more important things.
She took off her large cloak and hid it in broom closet she found. She patted her hair hoping it wasn't too messy from her climb. She then walked in the auditorium with a larger group of people and blended in.
The auditorium was filled to the rafters with people all bustling about finding their seats. She stood in awe as she took in the grand room. Statues, gold and velvet made up most of the decorations but what drew her attention was the large chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
She was jolted from her wondrous trance of the room by a young man trying to get to his seat in a hurry; he muttered his apologies and moved on.
She then was struck with a realization. Where was she going to sit? It was a sold out performance, someone was sure to notice the girl standing in the back with no ticket stub.
She panicked unwilling to believe her dream was ended, when she heard a wondrous thing. A few rows in the back a man's wife and suddenly fallen ill and wished to leave at once. The man was very upset for having paid for the tickets and now had to leave before the performance even began.
She lingered near their seats pretending to observe a statue until they finally left. She waited until the orchestra started to warm up, and she slid into the set that once occupied by the sick woman. No one questioned her being there. And she sat back to enjoy the show.
The play started shortly after and she smiled, she had done it.
The play was new and very exotic. It seemed almost too exotic for most, and she saw many leave the theater. She had to admit it was very sensual, but there was something about that she liked. The dancing was something she would never do, but other than that the music was wonderful. She could hardly contain her excitement when Christine Daae walked on stage. Her voice was just as good as Nicole imagined it would be. She was so excited by this that at first she didn't notice the change that happened. The main actor, who was the famous Piangi, had gone behind a curtain, and now came out and looked completely different. And his voice, was so strong, so beautiful. It was clearly someone else, but everyone didn't seem to care.
The way he sang made Nicole shudder. His voice was so strong, so masculine. She then wished that she was in Christine's place. She wanted to be sung to by this man, this mystery.
In that moment she was in love.
Then Christine and the masked man walked up the bridge, and for a moment he held her tenderly. Christine turned to face him and ripped off his mask. Most audience members in the front started to scream. Nicole had no idea why she couldn't see that well.
Then suddenly the man cut a rope and he and Christine disappeared. But no one cared. The chandelier was falling, and the building was on fire. Nicole got up and ran for the door. She got through barely, and found Belle crying on the steps. They both ran home.
Nicole knew now that the masked man that night was The Phantom. Everyone knew when the newspapers ran the story front page next day. She had so loved his voice, his presence on stage was so strong. She sighed remembering all the fantasies she used to have of that man. How she dreamed of him. And now she had seen him and spoken to him. And it wouldn't be the last time she did.
She laughed to herself, thinking that she had loved a ghost for the last two years of her life. And now here he was standing in front of her.