Journey Into The Past - Part 2
Part One
Never had a day gone by so slowly. Even on the verge of collapse I attended and drudged through my daily lessons. Madame Giry took one look at me and said that I looked ill and needed my rest. I was sent to bed with a warm cup of tea and a good book courtesy of Christine Daaé. Lacking sleep from the previous night, as soon as my head hit the pillow I fell into a deep, dream filled sleep. My thoughts drifted back to the cellars and his music, his beautiful music.
I awoke to the clock striking eight o’clock. Even though I had a few hours before my departure I hurried about to get my things together. Being ready I journeyed down to the kitchen to ready myself a lite supper. Even though I took plenty of time in the kitchen to sit and gossip with some of the girls I had a few more hours. I wandered down to the stage where La Carlotta and a few other cast members were still practicing for tomorrow night’s opera. I hid in the back and went over my steps in my head, letting any nerves come and go now. It did not last long for my mind soon floated to what would occur tonight during lessons.
A sharp shrill note from Carlotta brought my mind back down to Earth and ended their rehearsal. I watched the cast, including Carlotta, her maids, Piangi, and the majority of the musicians file out. A lobe violin player stayed behind. His gaze caught mine and we stood in silence for a moment, eyes locked from across the room. The silence was broken with the cries of the other instrumentalists. “Hurry up Dimitri! The cab won’t wait forever,” and with that he left leaving me to my thoughts.
The gas lamps started to dim and I took it as my cue to leave the auditorium before everything was black. I wandered the hallways until I came to the passage into the cellar. Making sure no one was around I darted into the secret door and started my way down into the darkness of the fifth cellar.
I had found my way quicker then the night before. Erik was waiting for me at the dock. “I apologize for my tardiness,” I said with a slight curtsy.
“You’re early,” he replied.
He helped me into the boat and we crossed. About half-way across an eerie voice filled my ears. I turned to catch the look on Erik’s face in the dim light. He seemed to be un-phased by the noise. The farther we went the louder and stronger it became. Intoxicated by the sound I leaned over the edge of the boat to find its source. Not realizing my senses were too overwhelmed I leaned over too far. “No!” I heard Erik cry. I had fallen in and began to sink and yet the pleasant sound still filled my ears and overtook my senses. The iciness of the water began to take hold and brought me back to consciousness. I fought against my water-logged skirts but to no avail. I only sank farther. Realizing my efforts were fruitless I gave up my fight and just let myself sink into the depths. As the last of my breath escaped my already straining lungs and the blackness enveloped my mind I felt Erik’s gloved grip as he pulled me from my watery grave. The air of the cellar had never tasted sweeter. I coughed and spit up water as Erik slowly brought me into an upright position on the opposite shore. The look of rage that I could see through his mask was unfathomable. My head swam in confusion as I awaited a flood of scorn for my senselessness. He said nothing and carried me into his home and put me in bed. “You’ll never learn will you,” he murmured as he got me dry clothes to put on as to not catch cold.
I said nothing and started to undress. Erik left the room and returned with a cup of hot tea with lemon and honey for me and English tea for himself. He picked a book out of the bookcase and sat in the chair by my bed. The warmth of the tea down my throat took the chill out as well as the heat from the fireplace. He sat for a moment with the book upon his lap. He studied me for a moment before speaking. “What am I to do with you? You really are one for trouble are you not?”
I was not sure how to respond. I just bowed my head in shame.
“I told you not to let your mind go astray. It was our first lesson and you have already forgotten that. Will all my efforts prove as fruitless or will we aspire to our dreams and beyond?”
“Beyond,” I replied. “I want to go beyond but, it could not be helped. That voice. It filled me with such ecstasy. My mind was not its own!”
“You must keep your mind as it is. If you’re not sharp and quick down here unthinkable things will happen. I could have let you drown.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered as I started to choke on tears. I had not thought of how close to death I had actually been. The very idea shook me to the core of my being. “I owe you my life now. If I could ever do anything to repay you,” my voice trailed off.
“For now, child, just rest. You have a long day ahead of you.”
He opened the book and began to read to me. My head filled with his words of wonder and his voice. The voice of an angel that would guide me back home.
Never had a day gone by so slowly. Even on the verge of collapse I attended and drudged through my daily lessons. Madame Giry took one look at me and said that I looked ill and needed my rest. I was sent to bed with a warm cup of tea and a good book courtesy of Christine Daaé. Lacking sleep from the previous night, as soon as my head hit the pillow I fell into a deep, dream filled sleep. My thoughts drifted back to the cellars and his music, his beautiful music.
I awoke to the clock striking eight o’clock. Even though I had a few hours before my departure I hurried about to get my things together. Being ready I journeyed down to the kitchen to ready myself a lite supper. Even though I took plenty of time in the kitchen to sit and gossip with some of the girls I had a few more hours. I wandered down to the stage where La Carlotta and a few other cast members were still practicing for tomorrow night’s opera. I hid in the back and went over my steps in my head, letting any nerves come and go now. It did not last long for my mind soon floated to what would occur tonight during lessons.
A sharp shrill note from Carlotta brought my mind back down to Earth and ended their rehearsal. I watched the cast, including Carlotta, her maids, Piangi, and the majority of the musicians file out. A lobe violin player stayed behind. His gaze caught mine and we stood in silence for a moment, eyes locked from across the room. The silence was broken with the cries of the other instrumentalists. “Hurry up Dimitri! The cab won’t wait forever,” and with that he left leaving me to my thoughts.
The gas lamps started to dim and I took it as my cue to leave the auditorium before everything was black. I wandered the hallways until I came to the passage into the cellar. Making sure no one was around I darted into the secret door and started my way down into the darkness of the fifth cellar.
I had found my way quicker then the night before. Erik was waiting for me at the dock. “I apologize for my tardiness,” I said with a slight curtsy.
“You’re early,” he replied.
He helped me into the boat and we crossed. About half-way across an eerie voice filled my ears. I turned to catch the look on Erik’s face in the dim light. He seemed to be un-phased by the noise. The farther we went the louder and stronger it became. Intoxicated by the sound I leaned over the edge of the boat to find its source. Not realizing my senses were too overwhelmed I leaned over too far. “No!” I heard Erik cry. I had fallen in and began to sink and yet the pleasant sound still filled my ears and overtook my senses. The iciness of the water began to take hold and brought me back to consciousness. I fought against my water-logged skirts but to no avail. I only sank farther. Realizing my efforts were fruitless I gave up my fight and just let myself sink into the depths. As the last of my breath escaped my already straining lungs and the blackness enveloped my mind I felt Erik’s gloved grip as he pulled me from my watery grave. The air of the cellar had never tasted sweeter. I coughed and spit up water as Erik slowly brought me into an upright position on the opposite shore. The look of rage that I could see through his mask was unfathomable. My head swam in confusion as I awaited a flood of scorn for my senselessness. He said nothing and carried me into his home and put me in bed. “You’ll never learn will you,” he murmured as he got me dry clothes to put on as to not catch cold.
I said nothing and started to undress. Erik left the room and returned with a cup of hot tea with lemon and honey for me and English tea for himself. He picked a book out of the bookcase and sat in the chair by my bed. The warmth of the tea down my throat took the chill out as well as the heat from the fireplace. He sat for a moment with the book upon his lap. He studied me for a moment before speaking. “What am I to do with you? You really are one for trouble are you not?”
I was not sure how to respond. I just bowed my head in shame.
“I told you not to let your mind go astray. It was our first lesson and you have already forgotten that. Will all my efforts prove as fruitless or will we aspire to our dreams and beyond?”
“Beyond,” I replied. “I want to go beyond but, it could not be helped. That voice. It filled me with such ecstasy. My mind was not its own!”
“You must keep your mind as it is. If you’re not sharp and quick down here unthinkable things will happen. I could have let you drown.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered as I started to choke on tears. I had not thought of how close to death I had actually been. The very idea shook me to the core of my being. “I owe you my life now. If I could ever do anything to repay you,” my voice trailed off.
“For now, child, just rest. You have a long day ahead of you.”
He opened the book and began to read to me. My head filled with his words of wonder and his voice. The voice of an angel that would guide me back home.