Chapter Seven
The Angel of Dance's Natal Day
The Phantom's Narrative
When the managers left their office, I entered through the passageway
through the wall. I picked up a pile of papers that Richard had left on
his desk. It was the agenda that Monsieur Firmin had planned for the
Opera Populaire. I carefully looked over the paper. Being an opera ghost
wasn't just fun and games, it's a great responsibility. William will be
my replacement when I pass away so that the Phantom will live on. I'm
sure he will enjoy the duty of making Carlotta look like a fool on the
stage.
At that moment I thought about Christine. She was a wonderful student.
William still does not know that I am teaching her, I didn't want
William to meet Christine, not yet. I looked at the calendar. The
date was October twenty-third. It was the date of William's birth. I had
known for quite some time now what my brother wanted to do. He always
had a desire to have dinner outside the theater. I had been saving
money just for this one day. I might have to cancel Christine's lesson,
but she'll understand.
I exited the office and made my way to Box-Five. William sat there,
watching the rehearsal. I took a seat next to him and observed as well.
We continued to view the rehearsal for many hours. When the run through
was over, William turned to me.
" They're getting very good at this opera, Erik. I think we're in for
quite a treat tomorrow," said William.
" Get on your best clothes William, we're going out tonight," I said to
my sibling. He smiled at me.
" What's the special occasion?" he asked.
" Today is the anniversary of your birth. We're going out to have
dinner." William reached over and hugged me tightly.
" Wonderful! This is wonderful Erik!" William took out his watch.
"It's Five o'clock right now. I can get dressed immediately."
It was that late? Christine was waiting for her angel! I must see her!
" You do that William, I have something to get done," I told my brother.
He nodded and left the box.
I made my way through the walls until I came to Christine's room. What I
loved most about that room was the mirror. It permitted me to see her,
but all Christine is able to see is her own reflection. When I looked
through the mirror, I saw that the room was empty.
" Christine?" I called. I then heard laughing. The door opened. In
walked Christine and the Vicompt de Chagny, Raoul! The patron, how I
loathed him. He had been trying to get Christine to skip the lessons and
spend time with him. They appear to be old friends, I would not mind
Christine and Raoul being friends, but I do mind that he loves her.
Raoul, my true archenemy!
" Well I thank you for taking me to supper and the trip to the park. I
had a lovely time," said Christine. I was mortified. Christine didn't
even wait for her angel. She had left with Raoul.
"It was my pleasure. My brother Philippe and I are having lunch
tomorrow, do you want to join us?" asked Raoul.
"I'd love to," said Christine.
"Good. Oh Christine, remember how I used to do this?" Raoul picked up
Christine by the waist and began spinning around. My pupil began to
laugh. Raoul then stopped and put her down. " Until we meet again my
love." Then the two kissed!
I clenched my heart and turned away so that I could not see. The Vicompt
was stealing her from me. Christine is mine. My pupil! She's mine!
MINE! I trembled violently. When I heard the door close, I looked back
in the room. Christine was alone.
"Christine?" I asked coldly. Her eyes widened with shock when she
heard my voice.
"Angel," she started. " I....I....." She was not permitted to finish.
"You didn't come for your lesson," I hissed.
"Please forgive me Angel. I shall stay longer to make up for it." I
was so full of rage. I began to crash my fists against the mirror and
snarling at her.
"I can see you care for that man more than your career! How dare you
betray me like this!"
The glass on the mirror began to crack. I stopped acting like an animal
when I saw Christine lying on the floor sobbing.
"Angel! Angel! I'll never miss another lesson! Please forgive me!
Please continue to teach me!"
I couldn't believe myself. I was the one who really didn't show up for
the lesson and I was yelling at her.
"Christine! Dear child! Do not cry! I did not mean what I said! Of
course I'll forgive you! Mind not tonight's lesson, child. You rest."
I was relieved when I saw Christine get under the covers and fall asleep
in her bed. I made my way back to the lair. William was waiting for me.
He was wearing a black suit and had a rose in the coat pocket. He struck
a pose and smiled at me. " What do you think?" he asked. I gave him a
so-so gesture.
The two of us made our way upstairs. I was a little reluctant to exit
the theater doors at first, but I gained my courage and walked out with
my brother. I sucked in the cool air. It was the first time in twenty
years that I had been outside the theater's doors.
My brother enjoyed a quick breeze. I had often heard Richard and Andre
talking about a certain restaurant that they go to all the time, where
the owners allowed anyone to come in. It was called the Golden Pond.
I decided to force Richard to give me directions. I had to keep myself
from laughing- he was somewhat between being terrified and being
confused.
When we arrived, the two of us entered the restaurant and took a table.
I was relieved, no one seemed to notice my mask. We had our dinner and
laughed over some of the pranks we had pulled over the years. We then
had a toast.
"To my dear brother, may he enjoy his twenty fifth year in life," I
said. We clinked our glasses and drank the wine. Then some intoxicated
men entered. There were about five of them. William and I ignored their
presence. One of the men looked at us and said something to another.
The others demanded that foul drink called rum. I never allowed William
or myself to have that liquid, a simple glass of wine never did us any harm.
The two drunks, who were talking to each other, walked over to our
table. One of them leaned over William and breathed down his neck. I saw
my brother frown at the odor. He looked at me, hoping that I would do
something, I didn't. Then the drunk pointed at me.
"What's with the mask mac? This isn't a masquerade!" He and his
friends burst out laughing. Intoxication can be a horrible tragedy. I
decided to try to get rid of the pests.
"Excuse me sirs, but we are trying to have a quiet night. Could you
please leave this table?" The drunk glared at me.
"We can go where ever we want! Nobody tells us where to go!" barked
the drunk.
"Please sir! We would really appreciate it if you left us alone!"
cried William. The two drunks looked at each other.
"You need to relax," said the drunk to my brother." Some of this will
calm anything down." The drunk showed the bottle of rum to my brother.
But I had taught William well. He turned away from the drunk.
"No! That stuff is rat poison!" said William. I nodded and William and
I began to continue our conversation.
That was when the drunks attacked my brother. One of them pulled his
head back while the other started to pour the rum into William's mouth.
My brother began to choke and gag on the alcohol. The drunkards laughed
at my brother's expense. I looked at the people who were at other
tables. No one dared to try and stop the ruffians. I jumped out of my
seat and literally threw the two rummies across the room. I began to pat
my brother's back trying to help him cough up some of the rum. He had
swallowed most of it. When I looked up again I saw that the alcoholics
had surrounded us. I stood by my brother to guard him from their
menace.
"Hey buddy, are you looking for a fight?" snarled one of the topers.
"I don't really care for fighting," I growled at him.
"Well then, maybe your friend wants to."
Two of the lushes grabbed me from behind and pinned my arms behind me. I
was then forced away. I watched in horror as I saw the brutes grab my
brother and throw him into a table. William quickly got up. He wobbled a
little. The rum in his system was slowing him down.
I tried to break free, but the drunks' were surprisingly strong. The
sots surrounded William. My brother instinctively dropped to the floor
and covered his head. Two of the inebriates picked him up by the arms
and held him still as the other started to punch him in the chest. Each
cry of pain sent a dagger into my heart. I shook violently trying to get
free. I could feel the animal that was inside me take over. My entire
body was filling up with fury. I even began to foam in my mouth.
"Leave him alone you bastards! Have you no pity?" I shrieked at them.
The one who was punching my brother stopped and whispered something to
his companions. They immediately released my sibling. William fell to
the floor, and tried to get up.
I then noticed that the two began to back away. I was struck with terror
as I saw the assaulting scoundrel lift up a chair and crash it upon
William. That was when the drunks loosened their grip and allowed me to
rush over to my brother. The drunkards gathered together and started to
chuckle.
I checked William's pulse. He was alive, but badly hurt. The witnesses
stared at me, wondering what I was going to do next. I picked up a table
and hurled it at the fiends. They scattered in all directions. I wanted
to make them all pay. I wanted to do something that would make them
shudder all the way to their tomb. I took off my mask and dashed over to
them.
"I'll kill you! I'll kill all of you!" I shrieked at them. All five of
them began to dash out of the restaurant screaming in pure terror. My
face will haunt them until they're dead. I had gotten my revenge. I
quickly put my mask back on so that the restaurant's customers would not
be frightened away. But many had already seen my face and a few had
fainted.
I picked up my brother and ran out of the restaurant. I didn't stop
running until I was in the safety of my own lair. I looked at my brother
who was still unconscious. He was bleeding badly and was wheezing
instead of breathing. I lowered my head in grief. " It was supposed to be
a day of pleasure William. Once again we have been cursed to the bottom
of the theater." I placed my brother in my lap as I sat down in my favorite
chair. I pulled off the blanket that was placed over the chair and covered
William. I took my mask back off and put it aside.
I just sat there with my brother in my lap. Once again he has been hurt.
It's no longer easy to protect him. He can't go back up there, but I
can't imprison my brother in this theater. I didn't want to think about
it. I raised my brother up so that I could nuzzle his head. I then
closed my eyes and fell asleep.
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