The Opera House Chapter 31 to 34

Book of Ruins and Sacrifices.

31.

Monsieur Coligny lowered the tabloid that he was reading before he reached for the cup of coffee that was served to him. He was seated at the Gentlemen Club. The headlines were all about the opening play tomorrow evening but that was the sub-headline. The main headlines were on the series of mishaps there at the Opera House.

“The Clarinet fell on his seat during the rehearsal. Was it a sign of the Phantom’s anger?”

Coligny snubbed at the tabloid. He knew the clarinet player well, and those chairs they were sitting on were past their use and were to be replaced. It could be a case of accidental occurrence but whatever happened there was consider as the Phantom wrath. The ghostly apparition was given a more than diva status compared to his tenure then as the Phantom. He did some weird things like spillage of blood on the corridors or the eerie howls in the night or the tabloid leaks that there were skeletons found in the basement. The authorities jumped on that and an investigation was carried out. They found parts of the real skeleton but one the Coligny took from the surgeon school with some coins exchanged with the errant students. The authorities closed the Opera House for a week before it re-opened to full house performance. More so they were playing ‘Faust’ then.

 “Mephistopheles.taken the Opera House as its lair.”

All of it worked but then the Phantom was to have left when he left then. Someone brought back the Phantom but who was it. It could not be the Chief Inspector. He had confessed to the later and was let off the hook for no one was hurt during the previous incidents.

Not that the recent ones. The most distinct one was the metal piece that fell close to the Diva.

Someone was reviving the Phantom. But who? Coligny narrowed down the name to one.

“Lenier.”

“Monsieur Coligny, I am glad to see you here.” It was the current owners; Frimin and Armand. “Is Monsieur Debieme with you?”

“No, I am alone. Please join me if you have no other plans.” Monsieur Coligny was being polite then but he actually wanted to be alone. The other two gentlemen declined on the excuse they were meeting someone else. They took to their meeting in a private room. Monsieur Coligny was ever curious that he signalled the attending butler then. An exchange of coins concluded the needed deal.

“Comte de Chagny, I am ever glad to see you.” Monsieur Firmin greeted the other seated by himself at the private room. The Comte was indulging himself with a bottle of the finest cognac from the region did not rise up. The two took to the available seats there and even helped themselves to the cognac.

“Monsieur Firmin, your guns are ready but you have not taken delivery. Your next deadline is tomorrow, and I am hoping we will honour that.” The Comte came straight to the issue. “I will not hold it any longer than then. So take it or I will sell it to another and there will no repayment to you.”

“Comte de Chagny, I am truly disappointed that you are telling us this.” Monsieur Firmin replied. “We have some issues with our transport hence our delay.”

The truth was the authorities was searching the city for the shipment which they have information was there but no one will consider the Manor of the de Chagny as the place of its holding. So the buyers have delayed their delivery till the scheduled hour.

“When are you picking it up?” The Comte expressed his irritation.

“During the play tomorrow evening. The city will be focus on it. That’s when we move.”

“The play at ….your Opera House? I will not be there….” The Comte voiced out his protest. “I will be at the play myself. I need to …”

“Get someone you can trust to open the door to your Manor. I will not delay you anymore.”

So was the rehearsal at the Opera House when the Diva insisted that everyone involved be there in the full dress rehearsal. The singers and the dancers then hired to the full complement took to their costumes while the symphony cleaned their equipment. Even Lenier was busy at the final repairs that needed his attention. He took to the high rampart and sought out his assistant.

“Boy…” Lenier whispered out the name for fear he was heard below. He made his way past the repaired roofing which was crude but effective. He checked the railings and saw the joints were secured. He then looked at the clips on the chandelier chain. It was changed and secured.

“You… called….” Lenier turned to look at the assistant of his. The boy had grown but he still looked hideous. He saw the grotesque head and told the boy to cover it.

“You do not ever remove our head cover.” Lenier told the other off. “I want the clips re-checked. I won’t have an accident on my hands.”

Emil nodded and the other told him of more works to be done

“You could only do it tonight. There will a lot of people here today. I don’t want you to be seen.” Lenier was taking extra precaution. There were talks among the dancers that they saw the Phantom.

“I saw a moving shadow on the roofing there.” The rumours spread and the owners told Lenier to check. He did and told them that there was nothing. He was not taking chances then and wanted the boy to be below in the catacombs.

“Food will be delivered to you as arranged.” Emil took to the back staircases and then descended into the catacombs. His adoption by Lenier had given him some freedom and he valued that. Above all, he was able to listen to music once more. It was his only solace in life.

And to see one he reminded of his mother.

Christine the young singer.

He had left her gifts including the drummer monkey toy. It was his once before given by his mother. He had seen her playing it. Since then he had given her gifts. The gifts were not new but discarded ones that he found in the catacombs. He cleaned or restored them. They are made from his heart.

That made him happy.

His happiness was soon to be shattered.

32.

“Madame Carlotta, I am sure we can come to an agreement.” Monsieur Valerian pleaded with the Diva. “Christine had improved.”

“Yes, she has but you amended the notes to cater to her voice level. If we are to play the original pieces, she will be drowned by the music.” The Diva voiced her view. “I am not surprised that you influence her singing after all, you are her mentor.”

“My mentoring does not mean I…”

“I will hear no more of it from you.” Madame Carlotta turned her focus towards the Conductor and then Madame Giry.

“Are you with me or shall I approach Monsieur Firmin. He can tell the audience tomorrow evening why I won’t sing.”

“Madame Carlotta…” The Conductor tried to reason with the diva but she ignored him. Instead she had turned to the other Madame.

“You do want to continue your tenure here.” It was not a question but a statement towards the Madame. “I can speak to the owners.”

Madame Giry clenched her teeth for she was not able to reply without jeopardising her stay there. She then nodded. She got up and asked to be excused. The departure of Madame Giry had the decision decided then by the others. Even the pianist knew his position was precarious to decide otherwise.

“Christine, you will re-join me as the dancer tomorrow.” Madame Giry told her daughter. The other was distraught at the mention of it that she left the Opera House. She was upset and in her anger, she wandered the street of Paris. She soon found herself in the darker end of the street and was confronted by the appearance of two men.

“Mon Cherie’, are you looking for us?” One of the men voiced out. He was dressed in the ragged tunic and pants with his feet tucked into worm shoes but above all he smelt of bad wine. His companion was the same and they staggered in their walk. The one who spoke approached Christine but the later retreated.

“Come no closer or I will scream.” Christine backed away but she knew she could not out run the two men, not even in their drunken state. She then screamed before she turned to run. She took two strides before she felt the hand on her left shoulder. The grip there caused her to trip and fell on her side. She was to get up when she felt the hands grabbing her legs. She kicked out hard but she was unable to break the grip. She felt the hands reached from her legs to her waist and then the stench of bad wine was on her. Her pursuer had vomited on her body and she screamed out even louder.

“I got her first. She is mine.” The drunken one on Christine shouted out in glee while his hands pawed her body. She struggled and screamed but the second man was not giving up his position for another. He reached down and grabbed the other man to pull him off.

“She is mine. Unhand her!” The second man threw a punch at the other but he missed. He then took up his fist to throw another punch but he was knocked from the rear. He fell onto his face and before he could move, he was kicked and punched from all sides. He curled up like a child but the blows came.

“Stop!” The command was given. “Bring her to me.”

Christine was pulled up and brought to the lighted carriage. She was still in shock when she found herself inside the carriage. She did not know who had saved her but her rescuer immediately held her with his body. She fought against the man who hugged her but the other held on.

“Christine, it’s me.” The lady heard the voice. She stopped her struggle and snuggled up to the arms that held her. She knew then she was safe.

“Thank the Gods, you are safe. I will be with you.” The voice belonged to the Comte.

Later, the Comte standing in his library held the glass of wine inside his library. He was glad that Raoul was not there. He knew where his brother was. The idiot was servicing the whore but he was paid for his effort. The brother of his was earning his own keep. He was not upset at his brother but the Diva was getting back at him. She had asked him to marry her but he had declined and this was her retribution.

The Diva was fucking his brother to get even with him

His brother was stupid and stupidity was never to be rewarded.

“Comte, the lady is in full rest now.” The servants have placed Christine into the guest’s room. He dismissed the servant. He was surprised how sometimes things worked for him by ….miracles. He was in the area earlier to inspect the latest shipment of guns when he heard the scream. He would have ignored it but the scream was louder than most. He took to the carriage with his servant and investigated the incident. He saw the lady was in the clutches of the two men when he told his servant to intervene. He did not expect it to be Christine and was wondering why was she there. More so when the play was due tomorrow evening and she was to back the Diva.

The Comte signaled the servant

“Report to the Opera House. Tell them that Mademoiselle Christine is here and safe.”

The news reached the Opera House and eased the concerns of the mother, her companion and the Valerian’ who waited there. They were relieved and the emotions flowed. Unknown to them, their relief was not shared by one who sat on the rampart.

“I ….will fight…for you.” Emil muttered out. He was upset at what had happened to Christine. It was all the Diva’s fault. “She will pay for it.”

Emil knew then that the one responsible will pay for it.

33.

Firmin opened the door at the building that he had rented for a short period. It was a distance away from the Opera House but it has the catacombs below. The stretch of the catacombs covered the lower basements to the river where part of the catacombs will be used as passageway for the sewage that was discharged into the River Seine. He had not the whole design; no one have it for it was built over in stages and by different builders but there were sections interlocked or given access.

“Monsieur Firmin, the transports are ready.” It was the man he has hired for the task of arranging the routes in the catacombs. The man had used the catacombs for his routes when he needs to evade the authorities. His body stank of the catacombs refuse but he was a reliable servant to handle he task. Firmin previous delivery by the wagons on the surface was intercepted by the authorities and had hoped the new route will be trouble free.

“Monsieur, the guide is also here.” The hireling named Marcel Loren introduced the guides; a pair of ex-workers who used to clear the catacombs of any blockage. “Martin and Marius …”

“I do not need to know their names except their knowledge.”

“Oui, Monsieur. We know the catacombs. We used to work there.” The one named Marius replied. He was trying to showcase his ability when in actual he had been down there in only some sections, and his stays were brief. He had claimed that he had marked the routes to the river to secure the task then.

“Good, the goods will arrive tonight at the Opera House just before the play began. The goods will be delivered to the basement and from there you will retrieve the goods and delivered it to the river.” It was a simple instruction but the hireling was concerned.

“Monsieur, I was advised that the authorities are in full search; house by house for the …goods.”

“I am aware of it but the opening night of the Opera House will also be the talk of the city, with a full house expected. The authorities will be focus there for I have arranged it. They will be there to protect the dignitaries who will be attending the play. What is safer than the lion’s den?”

“Oui, Monsieur but how will we slip in the goods unnoticed?” It was a good question by Marcel then.

“As new props for the Opera. Who check those cases?” Firmin replied. It was then the banging appeared on the door. Firmin dismissed the three men and then proceeded to the door. He opened it and was surprised to see an officer of the enforcement there.

“Monsieur, we are here to check the buildings. May we come in?” Firmin admitted the officer who took the step in. “I know this place has been empty for some years. I walked the area here. Are you its owner?”

“No, I am not. I have just rented it to store some items. I am from the Opera.” The man offered his hand. “Richard Firmin. The Opera House.”

“Oui, I heard of your name. The Opera House plays tonight.”

“Yes, and there are a lot of old things there. So I am going to move it here. Dangerous to have it there; what the building is old and if fire breaks out, it will be …” Firmin raised his hands to mimic the blazing fire,

“Oui, bad for everyone. I know. It’s good you move it here. It’s empty this place. If fire breaks out here no one gets hurt. Maybe the backers, huh?” The officer burst out into laughter.

“Yes the underwriters to the place.” Firmin also laughed.

“And less place for me to check, oui?” Both men laughed. It was a crude joke but soon the officer excused himself.

Firmin looked at the departing officers. Once the door was close, Firmin sighed then. He had taken a risk to rent the place but he needed the place to stage the crates

“Monsieur, the others are away. We will be ready.” It was his aide reporting back to him. “I will leave now by the rear door.”

The aide took off and soon Firmin also proceeded to leave the building. He took to his carriage and even waved at the officer that he passed on the street. The officer waved back before he stood there on the walkway. Another carriage arrived to pick up the officer. Once inside the carriage, the officer reported to his superior who was reading the book that was a sensation then.

“Pardon me for disturbing you, Chief Inspector. “The officer saw the other lowered the book then. It was titled ‘Les Miserables’. It portrayed the authorities in the bad light and gave prominence to the Battle at the Bastille.

“No, please do report to me what transpired.”

“Chief Inspector, the gentleman I met was Firmin. He was alone when I walked in.” The officer named Emile told the other. “The place was empty.”

“Oui merci for the report.” Chief Inspector Buquet leaned back on the seat and pondered why the gentleman will be keen on another old building. The Opera House may be a good buy and if not for the fabled Phantom he then knew to be fake had lengthen the use of the Opera House or it would had been torn down earlier.

What concerned the Chief Inspector then was what does a man like Firmin knows of the opera and above all, the one in Paris. He knew of the man’ connection to some organization that was not in favour of French in Haiti but the sudden investment in an Opera House made no sense. He dug deep into his mind on the notes regarding Firmin, and all he could come up was more questions,

But one visible link was the Opera House.

“We need to look at the Opera House. What made Firmin wants to buy it?” Chief Inspector told his officer.

“Oui, do we also investigate the Phantom?” The officer was making a mockery statement. The Chief Inspector nodded and then laughed.

“Oui, perhaps even Jean Valerian while you are there. He may be the Phantom coming back to haunt the….” The Chief Inspector stopped momentarily. “Be on your way. I have other matters to attend to.”

Another patron of the Opera House sat at the long dining table at the Manor of the de Chagny looking at the fine food served on the plate was all quiet.

“You have not eaten, Christine. Please do for strength if derive from food.” The Comte seated across the twenty four seats table motioned to his guest.

“I trust you had a good rest. It’s not…”

“I was wandering and got lost. It won’t happen again.” Christine picked up the fork but her appetite was not there. She was thinking of the event last night and attributed it to the Diva who took her off the play.

“I am …..not hungry.” Christine pushed the fork away. She was to stand up when the Comte stopped her.

“You …need not feel bad. It was unfortunate but it’s over. No harm came to you.” The Comte motioned to the servant to change the meal to dessert. He then pressed on with the issue he came to know about.

“I heard that you were removed from the play. Was it the Diva?” Christine was stunned by the question and then she nodded.

“Do you want to sing?” The Comte asked and tried to cheer the lady. “I can make arrangements. The Paris House at the Boulevard will be playing ‘La Boheme’.”

“No….. I will not need that. I need is some rest.” Christine stood up and was given another shocker to her composure.

“Then would you be my guest tonight at the Opera House? I am without ….one. The Diva is no more my guest.”

“Let me…” Christine was cut off.

“We will leave at seven tonight. So it’s set.” The Comte then stood up to bow at the lady before he left her standing there still unsure.

34.

Raoul - he loves me but flees from me, torn by jealousy. A glance, a gesture, a smile, a flower arouses his suspicions, then anger, rage... Sometimes at night I pretend to sleep, and I feel his eyes trying to spy on my dreams. He shouts at me all the time: "You're not for me. Find another.

You're not for me." I know it's his jealousy speaking, but what can I answer, Marcello? Taken from ‘La Boheme’ Act Two and adapted for here.

Christine held the pillow close to her heart. She had not seen her lover for some days then ever since the scene at the café. She had heard rumours that he was with the Diva, sharing her bed and waking there. He may have changed after all. She sighed then. Her last rejection of him was then when she needed time to know him. She had not seen for months and all he wanted then was her…body.

Like those men who attacked her.

They were savages.

Why can’t they be like the Comte? He is truly a gentleman. He is kind and …

Christine thoughts stopped there.

“No….:” Christine muttered out. She may be in the wrong if she was to take the trail. She was to be with Raoul but the other was not with her then. She could find another but to one so close to Raoul was taking on unnecessary pressures. She then saw the napkin she had brought with her from the dining table. It reminded her of the tale in Othello.

“Like Desdemona, I do not want to be seen by Othello as deceiving and loses the love I knew.” Christine cherished her moment with Raoul but a part of her tells her that she may wish upon the stars that will never be reached.

“Or am I to be like Emilia, the blind love to Iago, I could be the fool here.” Christine sighed. She was confused then.

Unlike Christine, Raoul was ever insistent in his ways to get back at his brother. He laid there looking at the ceiling that adorned the suite occupied by the Diva. The later was away in rehearsal while he was taking the time to be there alone. He had lived to her expectations, and rewarded with the coins in his pocket, not enough to topple the brother but it was growing. He wandered there his mind to Christine.

“Bitch!” Raoul hissed out. He had heard from the servants that were still fond of him on his brothers’ movement. The bitch was seen at the Manor in the guest bedroom but inside the home of the de Chagny. Never once had she asked to be taken to the Manor when they were together and within days, she was sleeping there. Twice he was humiliated by ladies then and vowed to get even. He heard the knock on the door and approached it dressed in the dressing gown. It was one of the servant of the Manor.

“The exchange takes place tonight. They will ship the goods by wagon. I know not exactly where but the whispers told me it would be to the Opera House.” The servant held out the right hand for the coins. Raoul paid the servant and then walked to the small table where the wine bottle was kept. He saw it empty and pulled the string to signal the suite’s servant.

“Cognac and be quick.” Raoul called out when the servant arrived. Drinking then was odd at the late morning but it was drunk for different reasons. So was it across the Parisian City at the Opera House.

“It’s not Cremas”, the sweet and creamy alcoholic beverage native to Haitian. “Not the Rhum Barbancourt but it’s close to home.”

Firmin raised the glass that he had poured half with the Jamaican Rum. He toasted his partner and his lover, Trevor who was seated there cross legged in the dining area of the Opera House. He then turned to the others who made of the cast for tonight with members of the symphony.

“I trust your glasses are filled with cognac or brandy unlike mine. I am Haitian born, and then raised in Florida in the Colonial Continent. I find the occasion called for me to toast my own but this Rhum is the only available drink here. Shall we toast to the Opera House and to …”

The sound of a loud bang reverted to the dining area. Everyone mumbled a prayer there but not Firmin. He looked at them and smiled. Trevor his lover looked pale in the expression.

“Did not someone pour a glass for our Phantom?  Never mind, we will leave the bottle for it.” With that, Firmin drank his glass and then told everyone not to worry.

“We will appease the Phantom tonight. Our music will soothe the anger there and peace will reign at the Opera House.” Firmin then dismissed everyone but he held back Lenier and Armand.

“I have grown tired of the Phantom. Get rid of it.”