Through Phantom Eyes: Volume Five - Christine

by Theodora Bruns

  I was once again pleased with her actions. She talked to them with respect and almost like a true diva, minus the arrogance. She had no problem getting what she wanted, especially since Carlotta had refused to come back to the stage since her visit with the toad. She even was trying to get out of her contract, and I had to place my fingers over my smiling lips, feeling quite accomplished.

  From there she went to the rehearsal studio and waited until Gabriel was free to talk to her. She told him what was happening, and he was also pleased. It appeared he’d been having problems with Carlotta’s understudy and was beside himself with frustration. He suggested she start rehearsals the next day, and she could start in the productions when they both felt she was ready.

  While she was in the studio, she also talked to Meg. They were too far away for me to hear them, but it looked as if Christine was telling her about the gifts I’d given her. She held her skirt out and turned in a circle, and then showed her the new watch. They talked for a few minutes, hugged, and then Christine left. I followed her until she was in a brougham and drove away.

  Excellent, was my thinking. It looked as if the day was going to go her way, and it made me smile on my way home. I hadn’t gone far when I realized I had no reason to go home, but I did have a reason to stay on the main levels. I’d been so busy with Christine since the gala that I hadn’t taken the time to get to know my new managers, and I knew the importance of knowing my opponents before doing battle with them.

  Therefore, I stayed in that area and listened in on every conversation I could. I listened to workers, ballerinas, Madame Giry, and my managers. When they left to have lunch, I snuck into their office and went through their files. After several hours of reading and listening, I’d found out all I needed to know about them and what they were currently doing.

  Armand Moncharmin knew nothing about music and was more of a silent partner while Firmin Richard was a distinguished composer in his own right. He’d published a number of successful pieces. But he also had a nasty temper, so he was the one I needed to focus most of my attention on.

  They’d been selling my box on a regular basis, and my wages were overdue, causing me to think, how quickly they forgot about the chandelier disaster. But then perhaps it was partially my fault for neglecting my note writing, which would have kept my wishes in the forefront of their thoughts. I knew I had to start whipping them into shape, but the timing was wrong. I was still too focused on Christine and her success on the stage, and in her personal life, so I needed to wait until I could talk to her again before starting anything with our managers.

  I was home for about two hours when I heard Christine enter the music room, and, in an instant, I was on my feet and joined her there. Then I chose my words carefully, since I couldn’t let on that I already knew how part of her day went.

  “Well, Christine, you look much better today than you did yesterday.”

  “And I feel much better also. The managers agreed to my demands easily, and I felt such relief.”

  “That’s wonderful, Christine. I knew you could do it. And how did it go at Madame Valerius’?”

  “It went well there also. Mummy is so sweet. I explained I would be spending more time here rehearsing and performing, and she understood without complaint. When I told her I would be in lead roles, she was even more pleased. She gave all the credit to my angel, and she was right in doing so. I wouldn’t be where I am if it weren’t for you.”

  By then, she’d walked up to me and placed her hand on my chest. That familiar action of hers made my heart smile, and I laid my hand over hers and gently squeezed it.

  “And you wouldn’t be where you are if it weren’t for you. It’s your voice. All I did was direct it.”

  “No, it’s more than my voice. You gave me confidence. Without that confidence, I couldn’t sing, and I think you know that.”

  I nodded. “And what about Raoul? Did you see him today?”

  She removed her hand and sighed deeply. “No, he didn’t show, and Mummy didn’t say he’d been there.”

  “Now, about your schedule, do I keep my plans for a special evening tomorrow night or do I cancel it?”

  “Tomorrow night will be fine. I probably won’t be performing for a few days.”

  We went in by the fire and talked more until she left for bed, while I sat there for a long time, thinking and making the final arrangements for our special evening. The next morning when she headed for rehearsals and then a visit with Madame Valerius, I headed out to do my errands. When I got back, I put her packages on her bed, three black boxes tied with red silk ribbons. After I got everything ready for our meal, I spent the rest of the day composing something inspired by Christine’s new zeal for life. That’s where I was when I heard her coming down the steps toward my music room.

  She smiled when she saw me sitting at my piano, and I smiled when I saw her in that little boy costume.

  “Working on something new?” she asked.

  “As a matter of fact, yes I am. Again, you inspired me,” I replied while getting to my feet and taking a tapestry satchel from her hands. “And what is this?”

  “Just some things I needed, and my green dress is in there also. I didn’t want to leave it in my dressing room.”

  “You seem in better spirits tonight,” I commented while following her into the parlor. “Did things go better today? Did you have that talk with Raoul?”

  “I’m not sure if they went better or not. I did have a nice time with Mummy. I gave her that leopard statue and she was so thrilled, and she’s really enjoying the book. But I didn’t have that talk with Raoul; however, I did see him, and I’m sure he saw me.”

  She stopped and turned toward me with her hands on her hips. “Can you believe it? He sat in his coach up the block from Mummy’s home for over two hours, I’m sure just waiting for me to do something wrong. He doesn’t trust me, and he must think I’m an idiot not to recognize his team and coach. I think that angers me more than his out and out accusations. He was spying on me as if I were his chattel.”

  She huffed and shook her head while I stammered, knowing I’d done exactly the same thing. “Hmm, that’s interesting. Perhaps, it’s not so much that he doesn’t trust you as much as he doesn’t trust me.”

  She shook her head adamantly and spoke just as strongly. “No, no. It’s the same thing. If he trusted me, he wouldn’t have to worry about you. No, he doesn’t trust me to make the right decisions and to handle myself if necessary, and that angers me.”

  Since I was feeling quite guilty, I tried to change the subject. “Well,” I said as I walked up to her and took her hands from her hips and held them between us. “No more anger tonight. I want you to relax. You’re starting off on a new and exciting career, and we’re going to celebrate in a fine fashion.” I ran my fingers across her forehead and then shook them. “I want you to wipe all thought of Raoul out of your mind and enjoy the evening. Can you do that?”

  “Yes, I can,” she replied with determination and then headed for her room.

  I followed her since I wanted to see her reaction to her presents. She opened the door, and, shortly after she turned on her light, she gasped.

  “Erik! You must stop this!” she exclaimed. Then she turned and looked at me. “But I know you won’t, right?”

  “I can’t stop. Every time I see something beautiful I think about you, and I just have to get it. Please, don’t make me stop.”

  “Very well,” she said softly while placing her palm on my cheek.

  When she opened the large box and saw the red evening gown, she actually got tears in her eyes.

  “It’s the most beautiful gown I’ve ever seen. Thank you so much.”

  Then she rushed toward me and gave me a big hug before she held it up against her chest and turned in circles. When she’d examined the dress to her satisfaction, she sat in her chair and opened the other boxes. Unlike the dress, when she saw the ruby necklace and hair combs, she was almost speechless and sa
t quietly running one finger over them.

  “They’re so gorgeous. I don’t know what to say or how to thank you.”

  “The expression on your face is all the thanks I need. Now, you take all the time you want to relax and get ready, but, again, give me at least an hour to get prepared. Understand?”

  She gave me another hug and then looked up at me, but only for a few seconds. I couldn’t take more than that without having to take another cold bath, so I left and prepared for the evening. After I got myself ready in my best evening attire, I set the table with a white linen cloth and candles. At the turn of the hour, the place was lit by only candles and the fire, and the food had been warmed and was on the table along with one of my best wines.

  Then I leaned against the doorframe to my music room and waited. After about ten minutes, her door opened and she stepped out. At that time, my heart stopped, my lungs stopped, and I believe all brain activity also stopped. She was radiant. No, she defied description, and all I could do was stare at her. She moved across the room toward me like a goddess, and I could swear there were clouds encircling her.

  “Do you like it?” she asked, while holding her arms out from her sides and turning slowly.

  I stepped toward her and shook my head. “I love every bit of it—every bit of you.” I took her hands in mine and kissed them repeatedly, since I didn’t dare think about kissing her ruby lips. “You make all the goddesses in the universe envious tonight, my angel. I’ve never seen a more lovely vision—and neither have they.”

  Then she turned from me and looked over her shoulder, batting her eyelashes. “Why, monsieur, you surely make me blush.”

  In that instant I knew I was in serious trouble. I’d like to say I had a wonderful evening, but I didn’t. I was miserable from beginning to end. She was breathtaking. She’d swept her hair up on top of her head and held it in place with the gold and ruby combs, completely revealing her soft and sensuous neck. A few tendrils hung loose on her neck and around her face, and I would normally sweep them back, but I didn’t dare come that close to her right then.

  Once she was sitting, the small lace sleeves fell from her shoulders, revealing the creamy skin of her bare neckline and décolletage. It was there that the ruby teardrop hung from a delicate gold chain, much too close to those smooth curves. Like a child sneaking a cookie, when she looked away, I snuck repeated glances at her feminine beauty and wanted to caress her so badly.

  Therefore, I spent the entire time fighting my desires, so much so that I don’t even remember what we talked about. While I watched her talking, with the candlelight flickering on her perfect complexion and her golden hair, I made the decision never to buy her another dress or prepare a special evening like that one.

  Somehow, it bought out the seductive side of her—or maybe it was the red dress coupled with my growing weakness, I’m not sure, but I couldn’t put myself through another evening of torture like that again. It was too dangerous. I was nearly going mad with passion, and my thoughts were far from gentlemanly.

  She smiled across the table and acted so flirtatious and alluring, as if she actually knew what she was doing to me, but I’m sure she didn’t. My thoughts almost embarrassed me, so, if she had any idea what was going through my mind, I’m certain her face would turn just as red as her dress.

  I’d fought many battles in my life, but none was as hard as the one I fought that night. I wanted her so badly, and in every way possible. And, what made it worse, I knew if I maneuvered the situation properly, I could seduce her and end up in her bed before the night was out, and that’s where I battled the hardest. I knew I had powers, and if I locked my sights on something I wanted I could always attain it, and that night my sights were locked on her.

  Since I first met her, I’d gone through advancing stages of love, and I believe I’d managed to conquer each of them successfully, but what I felt that night was new, and it frightened me terribly. I’d had to take cold baths to overcome my lustful desires fueled by love, but right then a cold bath would be as impotent as death.

  I can only explain it as being akin to my anger. My violent anger was fearsome to anyone watching me, but my controlled anger was much more dangerous and death-dealing. Oded had questioned if I was seducing her, and I could honestly say I wasn’t, at least not intentionally. But that evening the stakes had changed, and I was on a deliberate path of seduction before I realized it. Then, once I realized it, my full power was in play, and I knew she was no more than clay in a sculptor’s hands—my hands. For the first time, I saw myself lying on that pillow beside her—not as a wish but as a reality.

  It’s strange how the most unlikely thoughts or memories can surface at the most inopportune times. While taking her hand from across the table and kissing it tenderly, I thought about my father and his conversation with our doctor about my birth. He said it was his lack of discipline that led to it, which led to my mother’s guilt and fear, which in turn partially led to my lonely life.

  In addition, I also thought about the role I’d coached her in so often, the role of Marguerite. If I took her to her bed and she became pregnant and then something happened to me, I would be leaving her as a living Marguerite. My insides trembled at that thought. So, with my lips pressed against her tender hand, I knew I couldn’t do that to the woman I loved.

  In the end, it was my love for Christine that saved us both from what could have been a terrible mistake. That one act could have destroyed any respect she had for me. I loved her too much to treat her the way Raoul believed I would or already had. I didn’t want to lie beside her for only one night—I wanted to lie beside her for the rest of our lives.

  Thirty-Nine

  For almost a month, we continued in our new routine. She’d have a small breakfast and a short lesson with me to warm up her voice, go to rehearsal, spend a few hours in the afternoon with Madame Valerius or Raoul, who was temporarily keeping his thoughts to himself, be back at the opera house to perform, and then come back to me for a simple late supper by the fire before retiring.

  She wanted to spend the house’s dark days with me, and that pleased my heart. Since she needed to rest her voice those days, she only had her lesson if there was a problem she was trying to work out, but even then it was a short one. We would spend the day playing chess, reading a new book, cooking, and usually going on a carriage ride in the evening.

  I stayed away from my home as much as possible when Christine was gone, it was simply too quiet. So I’d take long rides in the countryside on the back of a horse or conjure up ways to whip my new managers into shape. My wages remained overdue and my box was still being sold on a regular basis, and I wasn’t going to allow them to continue in their neglect. So I did what the Opera Ghost was famous for—I wrote them a note.

  My Dear Managers,

  I believe you’ve had sufficient time to settle into your new positions; therefore, I’m now reminding you about a matter you must have overlooked. I trust your intelligence would prevent you from trying to test my power, especially after the costly repair of our magnificent chandelier.

  If you’ll recall, your predecessors showed you clause sixty-three, the additional clause to the building’s lease. Now just because it’s an addition doesn’t make it any less important than the rest of the contract. That clause is just as significant as the section regarding the lighting, the props and sets, the security, and the use of certain sections of the building, such as the foyer of the ballet that was used the night of the gala. If certain aspects of the lease are neglected, then use of those props or premises could be rescinded, which would make producing an opera extremely difficult.

  You might consider my demands to have Box Five reserved for my use as being of little concern to you, but, I can assure you, it’s of no little concern to me. It’s quite disturbing to arrive at the opera and have nowhere to sit comfortably. I really dislike having to wander around and miss out on a line here and there. It’s most distracting.

  In additi
on, for any true lover of opera, which I’m certain most of your patrons are, it’s rather unsettling to be disturbed during a performance. It almost makes you wish you hadn’t bothered to attend at all and perhaps even reconsider ever attending again. Therefore, to make sure my wanderings don’t distract someone else, I recommend you make certain I have somewhere to sit—namely Box Five.

  And, by the way, I now have a lady friend who’d like to attend the opera with me, so if you would be so kind as to provide her with a small stool for her feet, we would both appreciate that kind gesture. And while you’re supplying me with the stool you might as well supply me with my wages for the month also, considering they’re late. Just leave it in the usual place on the shelf in my Box Five.

  I look forward to an uneventful and successful performance this evening. I so hate a scandal and the effort it takes to create one. I much prefer to live in peace and harmony—don’t you?

  Respectfully yours,

  O.G.

  P.S. Enclosed is your misplaced watch. I hope when you look at it you’ll be reminded about the importance of always taking the time to consider my needs.

  I delivered the note and then waited for them to enter and read it. It took a while, but it was worth the wait in order to understand their thinking. After reading my note, they called in Madame Giry and questioned her about the history of Box Five.

  “The former managers,” she began, “learned the hard way that the Opera Ghost always gets what he wants, so they stopped trying to prevent him from having his Box Five to sit in during the performances. Over the years, I’ve learned to understand him well, and I know he’s unhappy about the way you’re behaving, namely selling his private box to someone else. When he’s pleased, he leaves me a token of his appreciation, so, since I haven’t heard from him in a long time, I know he’s displeased with the way his opera house is being managed.”