9.
The figure sat on the top row watching the pianist coached the young
lady. It has been some years then when he was back in Paris, he would sneaked
in and looked at her. She has changed from the young teenager to the full blown
lady but the most challenging change was her voice. She have then dual role to
play, the dancer for the mother and the soprano for the guardian.
“Oh, Raoul. mother had agreed to me to be coached in singing by Master Valerian.”
Christine then hugged him. It was their first hug and he had barely even touch
her hand since. The young man then was only fifteen knew little of love and
kisses but hugging was he was used to from the many visitors to the Manor. They
all wanted to hug ‘Little Raoul’ for it may lead to more hugs from Comte de
Chagny and perhaps his sharing of wealth.
“I am happy for you.” The young lad held the lady closer to him. He felt
the softness of her body on his and then he felt the irritation inside his
pants but he won’t let go. He could smell her hair and the skin on her neck.
“Raoul, can I…” The lady was pushing him off her. He pulled away and
apologies for his action.
“I …I am sorry.”
“It’s okay. I had seen many hugged …and they kiss…”
“May I kiss you?” Raoul asked out hastily. Then he retracted back. “I am
sorry. I was carried away.”
“It’s …okay. Yes, you may kiss me…. On here.” Christine handed out her
right hand. Raoul leaned down to kiss her hand and then he stopped there. He
looked at her wrist and then to her elbow. He was to shift his eyes then when
she leaned over and kissed his forehead.
“Mother does that often to me.” Christine smiled when he leaned up. He
was at eye level to her. He was unsure what made him do it but he moved forward
to kiss her on the nose. He stayed there and when she moved her head, he laid
his kiss on the side of her lips. He lingered there and it was her who moved to
kiss his lips before she pulled away.
“You should kiss on the lips but you need to move your nose out of the
way.” Christine told him. “Elaine told me so.”
That was their first kiss then and subsequently there were more but the
young couple dare not ventured further. They were in public places and he has
not heard of the hunting lodge.
“Monsieur Raoul, your friends are here.” The young man then of nineteen
looked to the usher who spoke to him. He nodded and followed the other out to
the lobby of the House. There were his three friends from the Military College.
“Hey,Raoul. We are going over to Cabaret de L’Enfer Montmarte.” Enrique
the Moroccan hollered out. The other two grabbed hold of the idiot who told the
whole world where they were going. The young man laughed and then followed his
friends to the place where all that was evil lurked. That was what the priests
condemned at their sermons.
The Cabaret de L’Enfer was everything a young man wanted to get into
then. Its entrance was like stepping past the gates of Hades with the gaping
mouth made to resemble the door. Once inside the place, you will be transformed
to the hellish decorations of demons and harpies that were carved into the
walls while demonic midgets served drinks there. There were the tables and
benches for those who needed company and seats but beware the one that may
share your table held amorous request. It could be for free or be dispensed
with an exchange of money for pleasure.
“Raoul, if I am to die at battle bury my soul here. I shall be pleased
for eternity.” Enrique voiced up his final request but then he was considering other
more immediate request from the lady seated next to him. She could have been
his aunt but she held all the attributes a young horny man needs.
“Vous voulez que je vous suivez? Comment puis-je
faire confiance à vous ne m'avez pas volé là-bas.” (Translated: You want me to follow you back? How can I
trust you will not rob me there.)
“She offered me love.” Enrique was then drunk and his purse near empty.
The others cheered him on regardless that the one he was sacrificed his
‘millions’ was ghastly looking. So were all of them in the Hall after all they
were demons in disguise.
“Go, Enrique. At least you won’t die a virgin.” Raoul shooed him off to
his personal venture. The remaining three young men then continued with their
drinks until Raoul later found himself alone at the table. The other two were
taken away by some ladies for groupe de quatre mois. He had declined on the
reason he was not into sharing.
“You have a place to stay?” Raoul looked to the lady seated next to him.
She looked like Christine and held the same looks from the neck downwards. The
man nodded and then he was off with her to her place for his was too far. He
stepped into the small room overlooking the Pigalle other offerings. The place
was with a bed and cupboard and a table stacked with kitchen utensils. The room
was lighted by the single gas light near the table but it was better that way
not to see the peeling paints and the worn carpet.
“Do you have the money?” The lady stood there in her evening dress. She
had discarded the shawl that was to keep the cold away. Raoul reached for his
purse and drew out some notes. He then looked at her.
“Do you sing?” Raoul asked. “Faust? Carmen?”
“What is your name again?” Raoul asked once more.
“Whoever you want. And I can sing. I am loud and deep.” Raoul could not
tell the difference then for he was drunk but he did know who she was to him
then.
“Christine, I love you.” Raoul then slumped forward on the lady body.
She heaved him over and then stepped to the bowl of water. It was cold but she
wanted to clean herself. She slipped on the night robe before searching his
pockets. He had some small changes and two cigarette sticks. She took one and
lighted up the other end. She sucked in the smoke and then puffed it out. That
was her only luxury then to suck without gagging.
10.
Everyone had been to his domain but none have seen him. He cared not for
them nor cared if they did of him. Life was meaningless for him from birth to
his year when he learned that pain came from love. Yes, he was born deformed
and only his mother protected him. When he was old enough to understand why the
incessant pain was there, it was too late to feel it. He recalled then at the
early age of five, his mother pulled aside to speak to him. He listened hard
for he could not speak much.
“Emil, you must be brave.” The ailing woman sat on the only chair in the
house looking at her son who was seated on the flooring. He was dressed in some
rags but they provided him comfort for his body. He was normal in every limb
but his disfigurement was his head. He held a deformed head shape with the
right side larger and it affected his facial expression to that of demonic
expressions. The later made his speech slurred but the disfigurement gave him
more to think and aided in his movements. He was quick on his feet and arms.
And somehow the senses on pain have dulled while his hearing perked to higher
levels.
Emil was brave but there was so much a child could do. With the
limitations of the options after his mother passed on, Emil was sent to the
circus. The Circus then was the main trend for family entertainment.
“See the Hunchback of Notre Dame ….here alive once more.”
“Hideous creatures from the high mountains.”
“Devil’s child…Poor mother ravished and then given birth to this child
before she died.”
They were all spectacular captions to showcase Emil to the public. He
was with them for over fifteen or was it twenty years. He lost count and for a
person like him, the time was the break of dawn to the fall of the night. There
was no other measure of time or would it have mattered.
The hideous part was the people paid good money to see him. And children
threw him their half-eaten meals. Emil was never happier for he had food to eat
and place to stay with no beatings. Kindness came in many forms too and one was
a young lady who extended the muffin she was to eat. He took it from her before
she could pull back.
“Mother, why is he there?”
It was a simple question.
But did you see the kindness behind it.
Emil did.
And so did Madame Giry.
They came that a few nights later. Not the girl but the mother and
another older couple.
“Break opened the lock, Jean.” The elderly man took out the cutter he
had borrowed from the carpenter. It was not a huge lock but the man took some
time to break it while the ladies kept watch. The hyenas howled and so were the
bears but who cares. They always do howl regardless of the time of the day or
night. The caretakers were too drunk or exhausted to care.
“Come with me.” Madame Giry offered the child a coat. He did not know
but he followed them like a child he was before. He followed them out and then
after a short distance, he was led into a huge structure.
“Where shall we keep him?” The other lady asked.
“The lower levels. No one goes there.” Madame Giry voiced out.
“No, we are not agreeable. He may come out and harm the others. He must
be sent to the ….country side. We can find a home there for him.”
“We can do that but for now, he needs to stay hidden. Where can we go?”
So the call was made and the choice selected. Emil was led to the bottom levels
of the House. Once he was there, somehow he felt at home. He rushed ahead of
the trio and disappeared into the darkness.
“I think he is home.” Madame Giry spoke out. “We shall take turns to
come here and feed him. And then we shall move him out to his proper home.”
That was ten years ago and soon after the ownership changed to the
French business partners. It was also the words that Madame Valerian entrapped
the other to secure guardianship of the lady named Christine.
“I never expected you to …do me in that manner. I am disappointed,
Madame Valerian.”
“And I do apologies. Christine is a special child with a unique talent.
I want to see what is good for her like you but to me that is in her singing.
She has a superb voice for soprano.” Madame Valerian explained. “Christine will
still be yours but we will help her in the singing. We have no children of our
own and we shall take her from you. We asked is that you give us the chance to
see her sing.”
There was one other who found singing was a relief for him. Emil never
knew any comfort till he heard the singing. He sat there in the darkness and
listen. Soon he was mimicking them with his own voice and despite his efforts,
he failed to hum properly but his ears were able to distinguish the chords, the
notes and the vowels of the singers. He knew the intensity of the voice and how
with training, he learned their techniques. In his mind he was singing like
them, in his ears he was listening like the masters, in his mouth he was
muttering the instruction, and into his soul, he was a soprano singer.
Not until he heard her voice. She was a diva…no she was not yet one. She
was a rough gem but with training, she will be one great soprano singer.
Like his mother was
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