The OPERA HOUSE Chapter 47 to 49

47

Firmin picked up the glass containing the cognac. It was French and not Haitian. He had to declare his affinity to the French wine but to maintain his disguise with Armand, he had to side step his affinity. The wine was twice distilled in copper stills and aged two years in the oak barrels.

“Celebrating so early?” Firmin turned to look at his partner who had just stepped into the office at the House. “Our House is brimming with dignitaries and the rich. I wished I could just tell them of our cause…”

“You will not do that.” Firmin cautioned his partner. “There are enemies out there which we have not …known yet.”

Armand looked at the other and smiled. He took up the other glass that was on the table and poured himself a drink.

“I wondered sometimes Firmin if you are real. I meant if you are really for the cause. I have seen you giving me disbeliefs in your ….mind.” Armand looked to the other. “I recalled the day we were asked to work together. You were the one with the arrangement to the funds, and me I was the arms dealer. I was sold then that you believed in our cause but I have my doubts. It was in London last when I saw you meet someone that I was unsure then. I got my memories sorted and recalled he was one of the groups that opposed us.”

Firmin recalled then the first meeting he had with one named Clive Matthew. It was short and direct.

“Firmin, I want you to work with Armand here on the acquisition of certain shipments.” Clive was direct. He had to be being the leader in the group that arrange the financing. Unknown to Armand, Clive was snared by the team and offered a deal to get out. His betrayal was to be rewarded with a new identity and a long stay at the Bahamas. He left soon after and was not heard of. Until that moment.

“The one with Clive, yes, it was so …. Binding.” Firmin replied. “I wondered why you asked. Whom did I meet at London that…”

“Clive.” Armand dropped it then. Firmin recalled he met Clive then who was thinking of asking for more money. It was supposed to be a clandestine meet but it seemed that he was sloppy.

“You were not mistaken. Clive was there. He returned to the Group.”

“He returned? He was branded a traitor and you should kill him.”

“Killing is not my ….skill. I leave it to the …” The reply from Armand placed Firmin on the wrong footing.

“Trading in arms was only one of my skills. I am also a killer.” Armand revealed his other skill. “The group tells me whom I am to kill. And your name had appeared.”

Firmin looked at the other hard in the eyes before he lowered the glass. Armand had done the same but he refilled his glass.

“I will be direct. You are marked but I will give you a second chance. Be honest to me and I will spare your life.” Armand was serious. So was Firmin.

“Then kill me but wait till the show is over. Can we agree to that?” Firmin glared at that other. “Should we?”

Armand did not stop the man leaving. He was not sure why he gave that opportunity to Firmin. He was prepared then to kill with his dagger inside his left sleeve but something stopped him. He was not sure then. He felt someone stopped him. But there was no one there.

Maybe a Phantom did.

“Jean Balerius, you looked fine in the uniform.” Jean Valerian had donned the cloak and the mask when he wore as member of the Phantom. He looked at Lenier who was addressing him.

“I see you are having reminiscent of the past. Well, forget the nostalgia. The Legion is going to assemble today. And a new leader will be appointed…..” Lenier was cut off by the pianist.

“The new leader? What happened to the …. Where is Jaga ….Ivan is he dead?”

Lenier nodded. He then told Jean the news.

“I did not know Coligny was Jaga Ivan. He did look similar but I ….no, he did not ever tell me.” Jean asked irritated. “I was ….”

“You were the pianist then. You were Jean Valerian, and not Belarius. You were living…”

“My life in exile and never did I ever …Why did Coligny tell me then?” Jean pulled the mask off. “I never would have expected to wear this.”

“Well, you may be one. I am nominating you as the new leader. I have called the members here. We numbered about  twelve and we will act on my ….no I meant your call. We will announce our return. The Legion revive today. The intermission to Act Two of the play.”

“You must be mad. I am…” Jean shook his head.

“No, Jean Belarius. You will be the new leader. We do not mourn our losses. We only rejoice in our gains.”

Rejoicing was what Debierne doing then. He was elated that the Diva was doing her last minutes preparation. He stood at the box booked by him. He had not stood in the private boxes for some time. Ever since he bought the House, he had sold the boxes there for the exorbitant prices and for many nights they were filled to the brim. As most successful tales, there were also failures. He felt then when the boxes were not filled and the decision to sell. He was elated then when he saw the boxes were once more filled that night.

“The Opera coming around. I hope the Phantom does too. The House was not complete without it.”

48

The Comte viewed the boxes that he could sight. He identified the patrons. They were all notable names. There was the Mayor with his wife, the Senior Diplomat from London, the exiled tyrant from the South American and among others. He was looking for Raoul and he was not to be found. He was adamant that Christine was with him. He will catch her in the other arms, and then he will kill them both.

“No one takes my love.” The Comte muttered out. “Not even my brother.”

“Ah, there you are.” The Comte looked to his rear. He saw Lorraine standing there. “Can I come in?”

Lorraine was not alone but with the fiancé of her’. The Colonel stepped in to the front of Lorraine.

“I came because she wanted to see the play. I knew that she wanted to come to see her previous lover.” The Colonel turned to look at the lady. “Was it Raoul his name?”

It came with a back handed slap on the lady left cheek. Lorraine fell against the wall there but her tears did not flow. She was her father’s daughter; tough and vengeful. She glared at the man who was her fiancé not by choice of love but of survival. She will bide her time to gain her vengeance later. For now, she will endure

“I will allow you to see him but soon after, you will remain mine and mine alone.” The Colonel glared at the Comte. “Comte de Chagny, you will bear witness to this. And she betrayed me, God alone won’t protect her from me.”

“Colonel, here in the Opera House, there is one other who surpassed God in the influence and power. The ….”

“The Phantom? I heard tales that it’s here. I have the power to defeat it.” The Colonel revealed the ceremony sword on his belt waist. “I have coated it with silver and with it the Phantom will cease to exist.”

The Comte was to react with violence but the untimely intervention of the Chief Inspector avoided that.

“Pardon the intrusion.” The Chief Inspector saw the lady leaning on the wall. He reached out to help her but the uniformed officer had beaten him to it. The Inspector saw the red welt on the cheek and questioned it.

“I knocked myself against the wall.” Lorraine replied and then allowed herself to cling to her fiancé. “I am always clumsy.”

“Deeply regretted, Madame. I am in the same …May I say train.” The Chief Inspector laughed. “I am checking on the guests. The play is about to start. And I have many more guests to look out for. Rejoice please.”

When the Chief Inspector left the box, the Comte glared at the Colonel. 

“Perhaps later after the play, we can work on restoring our honour.” The Colonel clicked his feet before he led his fiancé to their own box. The Comte turned to look towards the stage where the play was to take place. He saw then Armand talking to a staff near it. He recalled then his conversation with Firmin. It made sense then the promise made by Firmin. He wanted to regain the influence the de Chagny in Paris and that was one way. When his father died, he had tried to do that but the shift of power had moved. He had consented to the request and with it came his personal case. It was his father’s and handed to him. The case contained the gun that was his father’s. He just needed the chance to get close to the man to shoot him.

“I want the shipment ready to move to the catacombs during the recess between Act One and Two. Do it as if you are moving the props.” Armand gave his instructions. He then saw the new faces at the back stage. “Who are those new workers? I don’t recall hiring any.”

“They are new. Some of ours did not turn up and I had to get replacement. Lenier cleared them to work here.”

Armand heard the other. He was upset that he was not consulted. There was no time to discuss that and he left it as such. He saw then Firmin approaching him.

“Firmin, tell me are we not the grandest Opera House in Paris tonight?” Armand gloated over the number of patrons that came that evening.

“It’s one of a lifetime opportunity, Armand. I live for this moment.” Firmin smiled. It was for most of them, including Jean Valerian. He had donned the mask and cloak to be the Phantom. He turned to look at his lover. She was seated there at the corner with hands held together in prayer.

“If you are praying, my love. Pray for me please. This is my lifetime recital. It will be remembered by many.”

Trevor had plans with Coligny. They were to travel far but with his death, there was nothing to look for. He was not the lover of the man but the confidante. He knew of Coligny’s past when he was a leader of the Legion. There were little secrets when both shared the same bed. Coligny did not stop being the leader of the Legion. He created a new Legion in Paris but they remained hidden unless called. It was a small unit of members. He was to call on them for their duty to him then as the new leader. He met them; the six members in the private box. Outside of the box, they were members of society and held some influence.

“Monsieur Trevor, you are the new leader now. We will find the killer that took our leader’s life.” That came from the uniformed officer of the Surete. “I am checking with my other officers but I cannot arouse the suspicion of the Chief Inspector.”

“I asked not for you here to find the killer of Coligny. I wanted you here to protect me. Whoever killed our past leader may come for me?” Trevor smiled. “I am not afraid of dying but I reckoned whoever kill our past leader will come for me next. I am placing myself as a target. When the killer moved on me, all of you will moved on him.”

Trevor turned to the near wall. He moved the panel there and revealed the arms that were stored there.

“Armed yourselves. You need them to kill the killer.”

49.

MÉPHISTOPHÉLÈS Allons donc! ... Prenant la coupe restée sur la table Et maintenant, Maître, c'est moi qui te convie A vider cette coupe où fume en bouillonnant Non plus la mort, non plus le poison; mais la vie! FAUST prenant la coupe A toi, à toi, à toi, Fantôme adorable et charmant! Il vide la coupe et se trouve métamorphosé en jeune et élégant seigneur. La vision disparait. MÉPHISTOPHÉLÈS Viens! FAUST Je la reverrai? MÉPHISTOPHÉLÈS Sans doute. FAUST Quand? MÉPHISTOPHÉLÈS Aujourd'hui. FAUST C'est bien! MEPHISTOPHELES We are set! He takes the beaker from the table. And now, Master, I myself invite you To drain this vessel In which smokes and bubbles No longer Death, no longer poison, but life! FAUST seizing the beaker To you, divine and bewitching vision!

He drains the beaker and is at once changed into a young and elegant lord. The vision vanishes. MEPHISTOPHELES Come! FAUST Shall I see her again? MEPHISTOPHELES No doubt you will. FAUST When? MEPHISTOPHELES This very day! FAUST Very well! MEPHISTOPHELES Away, then! FAUST and MEPHISTOPHELES Away! Pleasure will be mine/yours, So will young mistresses, etc.

The audience applauded the of Act One. The Diva was divine in her singing despite the shaky dancing by the ladies; maybe they were out of sync for their coach was missing and the stand in was not influencing then. The orchestra was better despite the conductor amending for the missing pianist. The applauding did not cease until all the actors have left the stage. The workers ran on stage for the props behind the screen. Armand was irritable with the workings then from the props to the ticketing. Nothing was right to him but he stepped around whenever he saw Firmin. He was not ready for the confrontation.

Armand saw the potted plants then at the walls. He did not expect to have potted plants and worse it was placed in the walking paths. He told the worker near him to remove it but Firmin intervened.

“Do not move the plant. Be on your way.” Firmin looked to Armand. “I brought those plants here. So leave them there. I am still part owner.”

Armand was not taking it easy. He glared back at Firmin.

“And what may have you growing there? Some more guns or money?” Firmin heard the other and replied in hard words.

“Do not go near it. I warn you.” Firmin told him. “We have agreed that we will only kill each other after the play.”

“Monsieur Firmin. Monsieur Armand.” The voice distracted the two gentlemen. It was the voice of authority. “A splendid show.”

“And I hoped it will last to the end.” Firmin replied to the Chief Inspector. “Pardon me, Inspector but I am needed in another meeting.”

Firmin stepped away leaving Armand to handle the Inspector but the later was evasive in making another excuse. Soon then the Inspector was left alone and he was not offended; only curious to the happenings then. In facts there was none to work out his concern. Not even the appearance of Raoul deChagny in a separate box from the usual family box. The Diva was doing fine and the other guests were all entertained. He was still looking for the missing fugitive and had assumed the person had left the House.

What could possibly go wrong when he had so many officers in the House?

The Chief Inspector was wrong.

The commotion came soon then.

Tweet tweet 12/03/18 Coming attraction in the next feature

Van Helsing had looked forward to the life of non-existence then. He was tired of the hunts and the kills when his elusive prey; Dracula still remained at large. His forefathers have hunted the King of Vampire through the ages with each of them perishing close to their prey but never to kill it. The King had been in existence for generations and it was fabled to the beginning of time. He was claimed then to the soul taker, the skin walker, the archangel of death, the great priest and even God. Or God-like in their sight. The claimant was praised by some and hated by the others. It died many times but only by their eyes and never in their mind. It existed then for the survivals to pick it up the pieces and reformed the form.

Dracula was it last name.

And if he was to know more of the King, maybe Shang-ri-la held the clue.

or this one

Watson thought slipped back to his case with Sherlock on the love of a lady. It was not that he was outwitted by the lady but she left him with the unique remembrance of the photo he still kept of Irene Adler. Watson did ask him on the lady and the reply was expected of the cold man with the mind that was rarely rivalled then. He had not mentioned much of the lady although he did reference to one in the “Five Orange Pips” case. “Defeated” was his word then but it was never pursued on by Watson. He believes that everyone deserved to keep their skeleton in the closet.

I have been 'busy' and busy; dragged out the older laptop that had seen the previous evenings into fun since my current Samsung is undergoing repairs (they need to get the part from China and given the Lunar New Year holidays, I have to wait until they launched the next APOLLO.)

But work went on and fun had to be created and promises to be kept. I typed on my lines and from there, I done the THE OPERA HOUSE and now on the final chapters of the next adventure of TEAM SEVEN III. I am enjoying doing some consolidation to the characters, and may kill one or two heroes, introduced some new ones, and .....I will restraint myself now. Don't shoot me. The ideas came after having watched two seasons of the medical series HOUSE and a few episodes of CRIMINAL MINDS....etc; okay, I am a freak TV fan. 

Which will come to my tales. 

I stuck to the original heroes. I may had them in a different dimension; steam punk but I kept their images as close to their origin. You may argue if you read the latest TEAM SEVEN that I tampered with some heroes characters. I will say yes, but I did not divert from their origin. I gave them more but retained their exploits. I explored WATSON who was always the narrator in the printed tales, gave a new life to MYCROFT which was a side character, and in my latest I gave life to MRS HUDSON. I am building NAYLAND SMITH and Mr HYDE. I gave an insight into DRACULA with his link to VAN HELSING, and how FU MANCHU affected them. And the relationship of SHERLOCK and WATSON; it was a pained relationship. 

TEAM SEVEN III will be the finale to the SEVEN but I have build in new trails for new characters. You will see it in the tale. 

But before I embark on that I will complete my other unfinished tales. No leftovers anymore; all be written. 

And till I migrate to my next role at Saint Peter's Gate as the Receptionist there, be nice to me. I may just reject your reservation. At the other Gate, I am the TASK MASTER. 

Till then, I am late for my tea with Mrs Hudson. 

Cheers

The OPERA HOUSE Chapter 44 to 46

44.

Trevor sat there with his facial expression drawn in horror when he was told the news of Coligny.

“He is dead….” Trevor uttered out before he cradled his face on the hands. The Chief Inspector had just known of it but due to the Opera House, he had not visited the scene of Coligny’s death. He had met Trevor and told the other. He did not why he did it but the dead man will tell no tales but maybe one that was hurt may do so.

“Tell me of Monsieur Coligny? I want to know more about him.”

“He …” Trevor broke out in tears once more. “He should not had died. We have plans…”

“What plans?” The Chief Inspector asked.

“To…. No, you would not understand.” Trevor looked at the Chief Inspector. “We were ….Never mind. Let me off here. I will need some time alone.”

With that Trevor himself signalled the carriage driver to stop for him to disembark. He stood by the pavement watching the carriage carrying the Chief Inspector leave before he took the walk to his next destination. He stopped another carriage. He gave the destination and then leaned back. He then muttered to himself.

“Vengeance is mine.”

If only vengeance could be seen it was in the eyes of the Diva. She was seated in the dressing room hours before the play for she felt no place to go at all. The hotel room was not her place to relax since Raoul have left her feeling dejected. She had tried to see the Comte but he is not responding. She tried singing but she held back afraid to hoarse her voice. The pianist was not to be seen and the symphony is trying out with a replacement. Madame Giry was also missing; presumably looking for her daughter. Yes, the bitch is missing. She had heard rumours that the bitch was with the Comte.

“Mon dieu, I need some relief.” The Diva screeched out. She looked at the hair brush and smiled. “No, not today, Cherie. I need something more robust.”  

“Madame Diva?” The Diva was distracted by the knock on her door. She gave consent for the visitor and was greeted by the presence of Monsieur Firmin bearing a huge bouget of flowers.

“Something for me?” The Diva spurned surprise at her facial expression.

“For the opening night. You deserved it.” Firmin replied and placed the three feet high flower stand to the corner. It was a beautiful assembled of flowers like a peacock displaying its feathers.

“Tell me, Firmin. Who will be here?” The Diva trying to spark a conversation while diverting her mind off her boredom. The other replied with a list of names and ranks which the Diva expected at her opening performances but her sight was on the man standing there. He was not young like Raoul but he held a splendid frame and the tightness at the crotch was not be dismissed. Firmin caught her stare and then decided to take leave of the dressing room. He stepped out and bumped into Lenier. 

“Pardon me, Monsieur Firmin. The cartloads of flowers have arrived. I am placing them on the aisles and corridors. They are heavy by the weight.” Lenier balanced on the stacks of lilacs housed in an oblong vase.

“Perhaps they are explosive.” Firmin commented back before he saw Debierne storming in. He intercepted the later and was given he shocking news.

“Coligny dead? But who will do that?” Firmin asked. “He …”

“Yes, he was without enemy.” Debierne attested for his partner. “I had known him for years. I am concerned on Trevor who ….love him.”

Firmin ignored the grieving partner and went on his other arrangement for the evening. The hour was drawing close. He saw then the crates of new props brought in and had them taken to the basement. He then saw Armand was there and left the task to the other.

Armand looked at the crates and smiled. At least, they have the shipment and then to move it to the catacombs. To him, he does not care what the guns will be used as long as the gold gets into his hands. He was not like Firmin who was more conscious of the political issues. He was concerned when he saw the officer demanding to check the crates. He stepped in to intervene on the argument then.

“Monsieur Armand, I have to check the crates. It’s the order of the Chief…” The young officer remarked to him.

“And I am telling you no. I have a show due to open in another hour and these items have to be stored. I cannot have my men diverted from their works to please your Chief.” Armand stressed his reply. “Unless you want to tell the Mayor and also Surete Chief; that due to your insistence, I cannot have the show start on schedule.”

Armand did not wait the reply and instructed the crates to be moved then leaving the officer red-faced standing there. The men carried the crates towards the lower levels and soon the officer left in an embarrassment. Armand then went onto arranged the other works with a satisfied look on his face.

So was Trevor when he emerged from the tavern where he met some old associates. He was once with them from the streets before he ascent to the more affluent bedrooms but never once he forgotten his past. He then knew of the murder details, and it was involved one named Viscomte who was seen leaving there with a lady. He knew where to find that Viscomte.

“An eye for an eye.”

And nothing escaped the eyes of the one named Emil who stayed above but his keen ears picked up conversations. He saw the works from above, and his movement unhindered for he was familiar with the narrow corridors and a few hidden ones. He knew where the planks are weak and avoid them. He will give them an opening they will never expect at all. He then made his way to the catacombs.

45.

“Jean, you are frightening me?” The elderly lady looked at the man who was then rummaging the crates there. The man who was her lover for years stooped up holding the mask that he once donned in the back years as the member of the Legion. He found also the pistol among the items there. They used to carry that to terrorized the people. It brought him back memories of those moments when the mask also struck terror into the faces of the people they were trying to coax then. He sighed then, when he recalled the escape when the people revolted against them; they were hunted like animals. He wondered why the news were reporting that they were tyrants when all they wanted to do was restore their heritage for their own kinds. Was it unkind to fight your own survival when you were part of the suppressed then, when berating their rights was met by violence. They retaliated in the same manner back; eye for an eye. They won themselves reprieve when they formed the ruling party and from there, the Legion took on the task of the cleansing. It was not what they do that was considered a repeat of previous happenings in that country but the way they do it. The Legion methods were most vile in comparison then. The killings, or said by many to be murders were done in grisly manner. The bodies were desecrated and the heart placed outside the chest. It was an expression that they have a dark heart. And it was when the organ was darkened when exposed to the elements.

“Jean, you are not listening to…”

“Darling, I am happy….No, I meant happier now. I am back with my own.” The man replied to the irritating voice of the lady. “You were my happy points but compared to these…No, the Legion is my family. Do you know what it’s like to be with your family?”

“Jean, you do know that …I am without my family.” The lady replied in anger. “You were …”

That drove the man to reach out for the lady but she moved away.

“Jean, you are disgusting. I regretted having…” The lady looked away but the man had reached for her. He caught her right arm and pulled her towards him. He apologies to her and held her body close to him/ She struggled and then relented to the familiar feel of the warmth body. He leaned over to kiss her on the forehead as a sign of affection. He then pulled back when he saw the person or the grotesque for one watching them.

Emil had been to the catacombs before he was kept there during his initial stay, he lived there as it was considered safe from the prying eyes. He was glad then for the imprisonment; another cage to him then and instead of iron bars they were stone pillars and wider area for him to explore. He had the rodents for company for most times; there were others. The lady who was his saviour and the other who also brought him food. Neither speak to him, and he had welcomed that. He had not like the talking at him when he was in circus or the shouts that followed the whippings. Pain was something that he learned to bear then. When he took the beatings, he subdued the pains with the lovely thoughts of his mother. She had told him that in the bad times, think of God but to him, God was too busy to know him so he held another in his mind.

Memphisto.

Emil recalled the lines that gave him the face.

(In French) Parmi vous, de grâce,

Permettez-moi de prendre place!

(I crave that you will allow me to take a place
In your midst.)

Emil stumbled on the elderly couple. They were in each other arms; he had seen it before but one he had not seen in his eyes and only in his mind. He had seen his mother with his unknown father. He had no face for his father but the kind face. His father image was that of the friendly faces he had seen in the circus or of late with his stay, another face appeared.

It was the lover of Carmen.

Jose.

Not Escamillo the Matador.

“Who…. So it’s you, the one we rescued.” Emil heard the elderly man. He looked away but the elderly man called him. “Stay away from here. You here do not belong here.”

Emil turned and ran away. He was familiar with the catacombs and soon found he was not alone. He saw the two wagons there. The wagons were small more like carts but the men were armed. He had seen others before but they were never armed. That was why he preferred to stay on the roof areas and only come there for his meals. He had seen evil before and more so on the expression of Man.

Those two were of evil and he wondered why they are there.

The one night when the Opera was to open.

“It’s abominable…” The Diva was clearly upset then. She pulled at the left sleeve of her gown. She was upset that an hour more to the opening act and her pianist was missing. The coach to the dancers was also missing. Christine was missing. So was her Roaul.

“Diva, I am sure we can …” Debierne tried to comfort the Diva. He was there on the request of the new owner, Firmin. He did wonder why dragged him there when he was to leave for London with his wealth.

“So I heard that your …”

“Yes, Coligny died today. He was ….murdered. I am saddened by it. Who will kill my partner? We made our wealth.” Debierne turned away. “Do this for his memory, Diva. You owed it to us….. to Coligny.”

The Diva looked at the man. For once after so many years, she felt emotions welled up in her. It was not Coligny or the new owners. She came back to the House because she felt the belonging there. She was once the dancer there; young and clumsy but she had aspiration to be better..”

Like Christine.

“I will sing.”

For the House was her Romeo. She will die for it. Like Juliet.

46.

“Welcome, Monsieur Mayor.” The Chief Inspector greeted the guest the carriage. “I trust you will enjoyed the Opera tonight.”

“Oui, I hoped the Phantom will do so too tonight.” Both men laughed at the remarked by the later. “And the Diva is singing tonight?”

The Chief Inspector nodded but his company was soon dismissed when the Mayor sighted the arrival of a Baron who he was keen to gain some favours. The Chief Inspector looked at the man whom he was supposedly to serve then took to heel like the hound on a blood trail. He had his own trail but the scents were all missing. He looked to his men at the Opera House. He had posted over thirty officers there; petty numbers compared to the two hundred distinguished guests. If he was hampered the need to evacuate them he could called on the reserves of fifty more he had positioned nearby. The question would they come in time. He had wanted to place them there in House but that would raise alarm and the papers will see him crucified for over cautious.

“Crucified? Ain’t we all?” The Chief Inspector muttered to himself.

“Pardone, Inspector.” The officer standing next to him looked over. “You have an order.”

“No, I … was just talking to myself.” The Chief Inspector have four officers with to relay his orders in the case of an emergency. “Tell me of the Coligny murder, and the one that we were find in the House?’

“None, Inspector. The so named fugitive was not to be found. We have searched everywhere.”

“Including the catacombs?”

“Oui.” It was not a convincing one but it surpassed then for the Chief Inspector was distracted the arrival of the Comte. He approached the Comte who was alone.

“You are alone?” The Chief Inspector looked to the departing carriage.

“Yes, most unfortunate. My ….escort was not well.” The Comte replied and made his way to the House. He was most disappointed by Christine who had gone missing. She was not in the chamber and her dress untouched. He had the servants searched the house but no one could find her. He reckoned that she may be there at the House. Maybe Raoul will be there too.

“Phillipe de Chagny!” The Comte heard his name called. And it was rude for he was never addressed by that in Paris. He looked to the voice and saw an old friend from the Regiment.

“Major Pierre, Alain Pierre. And this is …” The Comte looked to the young lady clinging then to the arms.

“Lorraine Dupont, the ….”

“The daughter of the Commandant. Yes, I remembered. You were a …younger then.” The lady smiled.

“Lorraine is my fiancé” That shocked the Comte but the next remark did not. “I am Colonel now.”

The Comte missed the rank colours on the shoulder and then congratulated the couple before he made an excuse to see another he saw at the corner. At the last moment he stepped away to move towards the serving staff with the serving glasses of wine.

“If you are looking for the incompetent…” The Colonel cautioned his fiancé.

“Raoul is the past. I am engaged to you now. Lorraine looked to her older fiancé. She did harbour the temptation to meet Raoul but all in good time. After all, she loved her new lover for he was with power and rank. She did look around and was amused by the different people she was introduced to. It was so different from the army camp with the same faces or the new nervous ones. She was wondering how Christine will looked like.

“Raoul, I know of a side entrance to the Opera House.” Christine had mentioned to Raoul and it was decided that she will get inside. Raoul himself then made his way to the carriage that will take him there. He decided to come in the grand way and surprised his brother. His carriage arrived soon after the Comte but before he disembarked he saw Lorraine. She was dressed in pink strapless gown and hardly need to concern with any sloppiness.

Raoul felt his heart beats then but it turned to rage when he saw the man next to Lorraine. It was the bastard Major but from his uniform, he was a Colonel then. He saw the couple spoke to his brother and then mingled with the others. He made his way to the private boxes without meeting anyone. He had booked one under an assumed name and with the exchange of some monetary value, it was secured for him.

“Christine?” Raoul called but there was no one at the box. Christine was gone. He looked at the corridors but she was not to seen. He could not risk asking the staff there and surrendered himself to hide in the box. He was there to take down his brother.

“Mother?” Christine called out when she opened the door to their sleeping chamber. It was empty and she looked around. She stopped a passing staff to inquire but the reply was they do not know. They asked have no news on the Valerian’s.

“I think they left.” That was the clear reply Christine got. But to where was the question on Christine’s mind. Not all was missing for Lenier learned of the death of Coligny. He was startled by the news and then he ran out of the House. He took to the one place where he knew that justice will be served.

“I am here to see Henri.” Lenier glared at the bartender of the tavern which was the place he sought his justice. “Tell him the Legion calls upon him. We have to reunite for the Phantom.”