Unmasqued

How could she have forgotten Erik, even for the moment? The excitement of her second debut, the thrill of conquering the audience yet again… of being the beautiful lady of her dreams… and then Raoul had appeared to sweep her off her feet before she knew what he was doing.

But only her angel could make her feel… truly feel. Only with him was she able to leave the grief and emptiness behind her.

It was for him that she sang.

Perhaps… perhaps tonight, she would be able to see and feel him at last. "If I've pleased him," she whispered to herself as Raoul took her arm with a proprietary air, following Madame Giry down the busy passageway.

"Pleased who?" he asked, slipping a finger down beneath the edge of her now-in-place bodice to smooth over her areola.

"My tutor," she replied, pulling gently away.

"Tutor? You did mention a tutor. Who is it?" asked Raoul, his brows drawing together in an annoyed fashion.

"Do you remember when my father used to tell us about the Angel of Music? He promised to send him to me… and he has. My tutor is the Angel of Music! He will be waiting for me. And if I have pleased him…" Her heart raced in anticipation.

"What is it you are talking about, Christine? Waiting for you? Who is this man?"

She stopped in the hallway, pulling Raoul to the side so that the bustle of stagehands, dancers, and musicians could continue unfettered. "He is the Angel of Music, Raoul. He… he lives here at the Opera House, and of course he will be waiting for me in my dressing room. It is because of him that I am able to sing as I do."

"He lives here? He's not… he isn't this-this thing that they call the Opera Ghost?" Raoul looked horrified. "The creature who ran Carlotta off the stage tonight? Did he put some sort of spell upon her?"

Christine reached for his cheek. "Raoul, he is not a ghost. And he is a friend to me… and a teacher." A lover. "He's been my tutor for more than three months, and since he has come to me, I have been so happy. You should be happy for me too. Since I lost Father, I have not been able to find peace… until my ange."

"But Christine… a man? In your dressing room? Why, that's improper!"

Christine smiled fondly up at him. "Improper? I am an actor, a singer… I live in the world of the theater. And you were in my dressing room as well."

"Christine, you cannot see him anymore." Raoul was greatly agitated. "You must tell him that he cannot visit you."

Now she dropped her hand from his face, her heart beating faster. She could never agree to that. "But why? Raoul, I would never do that."

"Because… because my future wife cannot be meeting with strange men in her dressing room."

Christine stared up at him in shock, but before she could respond, a strong hand gripped her arm. It was Madame Giry, and she had a most urgent, annoyed look on her austere face. "Christine, you will anger him if you tarry further."

"Yes, of course," she said, and started off down the hallway, bringing Raoul along with her.

"But, Christine…you…"

"I must go, Raoul. The angel is very strict and I do not want to anger him. It is because of him that I have had the success that I have. You saw what happened to Carlotta tonight when she failed to follow his instructions."

"But… you will dine with us tonight, will you not?" Raoul looked at her so pleadingly, his blue eyes as desperate as the grip on her wrist. His hold caused her to stop just outside her dressing room door, and he spun her from her path to look at him.

She couldn't turn him down. "I will. I must speak with the angel first… and then, yes, I will be pleased to have dinner with you, if he permits."

"If he permits? Christine, what are you saying? That he is in control of you?"

"Raoul, no, not really… but he is a strict taskmaster. I will never reach my greatest potential if I do not follow his instructions. And… if I do not follow his instructions, he will cease to visit me. I could not bear that."

"But, Christine, I do not understand. How can you allow this-this creature to control your life?"

"It is simple, Raoul. Without him, I would not be singing as I am today. I would still be simple, shy, lonely Christine Daae. Under his tutelage, I have blossomed at last. Do not lie and say that you do not find my voice and my talent part of your attraction to me. I have seen it in your eyes."

"Christine, I do not deny that my love for you is even greater with your success. But if you stopped singing tomorrow, I would still love you."