Phantom of the Opera
"We have a new patron." Antoinette announced to Erik out of the blue one day while they waited to watch that night's opera from box five.
It has been three years since Erik revealed to Christine that he was not an angel, but instead a human. He was still taken by surprise when he thought about how easily the girl had accepted his truth, though she insisted on calling him angel. Erik had protested the first few times but gave in because he did not see the harm in the name. Christine had also taken a liking to sleeping down in his home whenever she could. Erik made sure that did not happen often, especially after she officially became part of the chorus and dancers for the Opera Populaire. She no longer slept in Mme. Giry's quarters but, instead, with all the other dancers. Meg would be joining her the following year when she was old enough to live away from her mother.
Erik could understand why his protégé did not like sleeping with all the other girls, it has made things difficult for her training with him, as she could not be caught sneaking away at night all the time. Ill-favored rumors would spread and that was not something Erik wanted for her to deal with. But while they now had less sessions, they made it work. For the most part, he had her sing throughout the day the few brief moments she could to keep up with her practice. Also, it does not hurt that Christine knows that she could have a whole room to herself if she were to spend the night in Erik's home.
Because of that, she used every opportunity to ask him if she could sleep in his quarters, but majority of the time he was able to deny her.
"Who are they?" Erik asked his friend as he stared down at the audience, making sure that even if someone were to glance at the box they would not see him. He noticed that Farren was leaning too far out into the open and brought her back in. She gave him a look but did not stretch her neck that far out again.
"The Count de Chagny, though it is his brother, the Viscount, that will be the one visiting us and making the recommendations." Antoinette answered simply.
"I have heard about the Count, he attends the opera regularly which obviously means he has some taste. What about the brother? This Viscount, who will be around often." Erik inquired, scowling at reading the name Carlotta as the lead soprano.
Ever since that Italian woman came to be an employee under the opera house almost a year ago, Erik has found a dislike for the shows he has always loved. That was how much she ruins each performance. She was a talentless woman who believed she was the greatest thing to ever come onto the stage, and she tried to make sure everyone knew it. She was temperamental and arrogant, her peacock companion Antonio also displayed the same unflattering characteristics as his human. Erik had no idea what the manager was thinking when he hired that woman.
He made sure that a lot of his recent tricks had befallen on the prima donna to show his displeasure and to hopefully get the woman to quit, but sadly it has so far been in vain.
"Well, from what I have heard, the Viscount is more interested in the girl's in the show rather than the performances. Some even say that he has flirted with some of the male dancers as well." Antoinette informed him distastefully at the boy's flirting ways.
"Fantastic, as if we need another person who plays with their status to get what they want and nothing that is in favor for the arts." Erik mumbled back.
"We have already warned Meg to stay away from him." Valere added. "Shall we do the same with Christine?"
"Christine already knows not to dwindle in the games of seduction." Erik answered. "We have an agreement that was from my angel days but she keeps her word still. Does this Viscount believe in ghosts?"
He saw Antoinette shake her head in the corner of his eye. "I cannot tell. He is supposed to visit us tomorrow, I guess we will find out then."
Erik sent her a grin.
"Not to worry, even if he does not, I will make my introductions to the boy. I will make him believe soon enough."
Raoul exited the carriage with a wide smile. He looked up at the large building in front of him. The Opera Populaire loamed over him in all its magnificent splendor.
He could not wait to see what goes on during the day before the opera performs. He was especially excited about meeting the dancers.
Tyce lifted his head from Raoul's shoulder as he began to walk to the entrance, the rest of his body curled around the back of Raoul's neck like a scarf.
"Today we're meeting with the staff, aren't we?" the otter asked his human, who nodded.
The doors were opened for him and he was immediately greeted by the manager, an older man that looked like he would be retiring soon.
"Viscount, such a pleasure to have you visiting today." The manager greeted enthusiastically, taking Raoul's hand in his and giving it a firm shake.
"Pleasure is all mine. I am looking forward to what you have to show me. I'll make sure my brother hears every detail." Raoul replied with a grin.
"Let's make sure he only hears good ones then!" The manager stated eagerly. He gestured and the two of them began the tour.
Raoul had only been there a few times, mostly because his brother has dragged him along. He cannot say he is a big fan of opera, but was willing to take on the responsibility his brother, Phillipe, had bestowed upon him.
Though he would not mind taking extra time with the staff, particularly the dancers and chorus. What can he say, he's a free lover to all.
As he was taken through the opera house, he had to admit that he was impressed. As an audience member, one could only see so much, but as a patron, one gets to see a lot more of what happens behind the scenes and the lives of the employees when they are not doing a live performance.
He met with a lot of people that day. The heads of every department, and some of the lower workers. Raoul nor Tyce minded, both of them loved to meet new people.
When the manager told him that their next stop was the stage, Raoul eagerly followed. He was finally going to meet some of the people who everyone gets to see and admire but never talk to in person unless they had the right connections.
On stage there were many people, some were dressed up, others were not, Raoul figured that they were taken to the back one at a time to be put in costume, but who was he to know?
They were doing a scene from Faust, one of the few operas Raoul has seen and could recognize a scene from it. The woman who was playing Marguerite was singing and Raoul had to hold back a flinch when she hit a particular high note that did not sound as smooth as it probably should have been.
"Our lady Carlotta is showing great promise in improving our numbers in attendance this season." The manager told him, pointing at the woman who was Marguerite. "I am sure the Count would be please to know this."
"Probably should leave out the part where she sounds more like a dolphin with how much her voice squeaks." Tyce whispered in his ear, low enough that only Raoul heard him.
He had to hold back a snicker, and when the manager faced him again he quickly nodded.
"I'll be sure to let him know." He told him, fighting to keep his lips from twitching.
Suddenly, there was a shriek and Raoul's head whipped around to see what had happened.
Everywhere on stage people were crowding around each other, one girl with blond hair that was one of the dancers was pointing upwards towards the catwalks.
"He was there! I saw him! The phantom of the opera! He caused this!" she yelled in terror.
Ignoring the manager's protest, Raoul quickly ran down the auditorium and onto the stage. When he got there, he saw that a can of paint had fallen a few feet from where a screeching Carlotta, whose dress had taken a hit with the paint, was standing with a chubby man trying to calm her down. The can of paint was open and had splattered all of the stage.
He looked up but found no one there. No even one of the staff.
The phantom of the opera? He thought.
He wanted to go talk the girl who had blamed this phantom but he was grabbed by the arm and escorted out by the manager.
"Who's this phantom?" he asked, not giving the older the chance to change the topic.
"No one, Monsieur! It was a harmless prank that's all!" he answered quickly.
"Okay, then who was the one that did this prank?" Raoul countered. "Surely you will punish whoever is responsible for this?"
"Plus, I doubt the lady Carlotta saw it as harmless." Tyce grinned. Raoul shushed him.
"If only I knew and could!" The manager admitted then sighed dramatically. He waved his hand for Raoul to follow him, which he did.
They went to the manager's office and when Raoul entered, the older closed the door behind him.
"Your last statement was vague, Monsieur. Care to explain?" Raoul probed, not wanting to let this go. It was far too interesting!
"Viscount, this is difficult to explain, but I cannot tell you who splashed lady Carlotta with paint because no one has ever known who pulls these tricks at the Opera Populaire." The manager announced as he walked to his desk and sat down in the chair behind it.
Raoul cocked his head to side. "How long has these tricks been going on?"
"Years, Monsieur. They were occurring before I owned this opera house, and have lasted till the present. The employees believe it to be a ghost." The reply was.
"Do you believe it is?" Tyce asked, jumping from Raoul's shoulder and onto the desk in front of the manager.
"After all these years I still don't know what to believe." The manager confessed. "I have a deal with him, if you can believe that."
"What is it?"
"If we do as he bids, the tricks and pranks go away for the most part, if he becomes displeased for whatever reason…"
"The pranks go up?" Raoul finished when the manger trailed off. The older nodded in confirmation. "What are its demands? Is there a reason why it would play its pranks now?"
"Considering what he has been doing in the recent months, I would say he's not a big fan of lady Carlotta since they mostly target her." The manager confessed. "His biggest demands revolve keeping box five empty for his use. And a monthly salary of 20,000 francs. Other than that, he wishes to be left alone."
Raoul's eyebrows rose at the mention of a salary. "Strange for a ghost to demand money."
The manager shrugged. "Which is part of the reason why I question whether the phantom is a ghost at all. However, what I do know is that this ghost knows his way around the opera house and is not seen unless he wants it to happen."
The manager stood up from his desk. "Besides, the ghost has quite the creative mind and has given me valuable information and advice through the years, another reason why I do not think too hardly on this matter."
"How does he communicate to give you such advice?" Raoul questioned, watching the manager make his way to the door.
When he got there, the older turned his head back to him. "Letters. He has one of our staff deliver messages to me. Excuse me for a moment, Viscount, I must attend to the staff on stage. They are always worked up once our opera ghost strikes."
Raoul nodded his acceptance and the manager left. He watched Tyce sniff around the manager's desk.
"Strange that a ghost would ask for money and be able to write letters." Raoul stated. "Any thoughts?"
Tyce shrugged. "I don't really care for that kind of thing. Though if you must know, I don't think it's a ghost. Maybe a very clever human but definitely not a ghost."
"Another nonbeliever? What will I do then?" a voice inquired abruptly, causing Raoul and Tyce to straighten up.
Raoul turned his head from side to side, trying to find the owner of the voice.
"Do not try to find me, Monsieur, for you will injure yourself long before then." The voice instructed, coming from all around him.
"Opera ghost?" Raoul asked, feeling slightly strange that he was addressing an empty room, but his curiosity got the better of him.
"Indeed." The voice answered. "Though you may call me Phantom or simply Monsieur if you wish. It is easier, yes?"
Raoul had to admit that the voice sounded pleasant to hear, though it was weird to not match a face with it. It was smooth yet powerful, a voice that sounded use to getting what it wanted but remained humble about it. The way it bounced from one wall to the other gave it an unearthly echo that was not unkind to the ear.
"Yes." Raoul agreed, thinking Phantom would not say anything else if he did not reply. "Excuse me, Monsieur, but from what the manager has told me, you only communicate through your tricks and letters. Why are you speaking to me?"
There was a pause, long enough that Raoul believed that the ghost might have disappeared. He shot a side glance to Tyce. The otter was standing on the desk on his hind legs, waiting attentively.
"Some people have had the gift of hearing me speak." Phantom replied slowly. "Most of the time I do not trouble myself with it, therefore, the letters."
Raoul did not realize how much he had wanted to hear the voice again until it replied. Raoul mentally slapped himself.
Get a hold of yourself! He thought.
"And me? What would have made me worthy of hearing the gift that is your voice?" Raoul figured flattery might get more out the Phantom. A little flirtation did not hurt either.
"I could not figure out whether you would believe my existence." Phantom responded. "I made sure to play my trick in your presence and took note of your reaction."
"The trick was for me?" Raoul could not help but feel partly pleased with that.
"It was going to happen today anyway, I only made sure to wait until you were there."
That took away his pleasure. "Oh…well, how did I do? Did I meet your expectations?" Raoul asked, truly curious about the answer.
"I know now that you are at the very least curious about me. Whether you believe me to be a ghost is another matter." Phantom concluded.
Oh, I am most curious. Definitely. Raoul thought.
"Then how about you continue to try to convince me?" Raoul suggested.
There was a small pause.
"You wish for me to show you I am real? Be a victim of my power?" Phantom responded with a hint of confusion as if he has never had someone want to be around him in any way.
Considering Phantom was supposedly a ghost that played tricks on people, Raoul could understand the hesitation.
"One cannot be a victim if they are willing." Raoul countered and he was pretty sure he would be very willing in a number of things if the voice was up for it.
"Raoul!" Tyce hissed at him but he ignored it. He waited for Phantom's answer.
"You are…a strange one, Viscount." Phantom finally stated.
"Please call me Raoul!" Raoul replied with a grin.
Later, Raoul went back home to tell Phillipe about the opera, not once mentioning the ghost.
He wanted that lovely voice to be his own little secret for however long he could.
And…Raoul has arrived! Hope you enjoyed their first meeting! Can anyone tell me who the blond girl was on stage? ;) Here are the animal companion notes:
Raoul Tyce (French-Fiery)
Otter- Laughter, curiosity, mischievous, playful, friendly, dynamic, joy, helpfulness, sharing, love of young, sensibility without suspicion.
Carlotta Antonio (Italian-Praiseworthy, priceless)
Peacock- Immortality, dignity, self-confidence, self-esteem, knowledge, refinement, beauty, sexuality, pride.
Piangi Dante (It-Enduring)
Skunk- Reputation, presence, strength, demands respect, sensual, steady, pacifism, taking your time.
Leave a review! I like hearing my reader's thoughts. Next chapter is in Erik's POV.