The Phantom Beast: One Love, One Lifetime

by Jenn Thompson

Chapter One

I awoke in a large, soft bed that September morning. Lookingabove me I saw a canopy made of delicate lace and ribbon. Sitting upI glanced across the room. There were beds just like mine all aroundthe room. In between each one was a small dresser and a desk. "Where am I?" I silently wondered as I jumped off the bed.

"Christine! You need to get dressed. You overslept! You knowyou need to get your things together." A young woman exclaimedwalking into the room. She had sparkling green eyes and long blondehair that had been pulled into a bun. She was wearing a simple whitedress with a blue apron.

"So are you really going to go to the Opera House?" Another girlasked. This one had jet black hair falling in curls around hershoulders. She was still wearing her nightgown. Her blues eyessparkled with excitement waiting to hear my answer.

"I guess so." I replied tentatively. "What are the talkingabout?" I silently wondered hoping one of them would give memore information. And why was my name Christine?

"You guess so?" The blonde girl asked with disbelief as her eyeswidened. "How could you not. The Viscount only guaranteed you a jobwith the chorus."

"The Viscount?" I questioned before I could stop myself.

"You must really be nervous about leaving." The girl with theblack hair replied. "Raoul, the Viscount, the love of your lifesince you were a child."

"Of course." I said quickly. "I'm just a bit tired and verynervous."

"That's understandable." The blonde girl replied with a smile. "It's not everyday you get to pursue your dreams."

Hearing the door open I turned around to see an older womanstanding there. She had on a black dress with a high collar and herbrown hair pulled into a tight bun. "Miss Christine." She beganwith a look of disgust on her face. "You need to be packing."

"Of course." I responded quickly pulling items out of the dressernext to my bed. Finding a suitcase underneath the bed I placed themall in carefully. Finding a dress to put on I quickly changed andcombed my hair, which was considerably longer than I remembered it. Pulling it into a bun I put on my shoes and walked out of theroom.

The lady with the tight bun met me at the door.

"Be well Christine." She said giving me a tight hug. "You willbe fine."

"Thank you." I replied smiling back.

"Goodbye Christine!" The two girls from my room shouted as theycame running over to give me hugs.

"Promise to write us everyday." The blonde girl said jumping upand down.

"At least every other." The black haired girl said.

"And remember to come and visit us even when you are a big operastar." The blonde girl said giving me one last hug.

"Okay girls. You need to get back to your studies." The ladywith the bun said sternly. "Our buggy is waiting to take you to theOpera House."

"Ok." I said quietly wishing I knew her name. "Thank you somuch."

"You're welcome." She said walking me outside. Getting in Iplaced my bag in the back and held onto the sides. Waving as thebuggy started to move I grabbed onto the sides tighter realizing howfast the buggy moved. Sighing I wished I had an inkling as to whathappened. I was suddenly transported back to the late nineteenthcentury in a small village in France on my way to the Paris OperaHouse to become a chorus girl.

*****

"Good luck." The man said who drove me to the Paris Opera Housewhen we arrived. Looking up at the building I smiled. The artworkwas astounding. Such beautiful statues of angels were all around therooftop and the pillars. It took my breath away.

Taking my bag out of the buggy I smiled at the man as he droveoff. Walking around the building I found the entrance.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for the director. A Mr. Carreire." Iasked walking up to the door. A man stood there in a uniform. Hemust be the head usher.

"I'm sorry but the Opera has been sold. Mr. Carreire is no longerthe manager." The man said turning around. Sucking in my breathdeeply I realized I was looking directly at Pascal.

"Please." I said quietly. "The Viscount de Chagney promised mesinging lessons and a part in the chorus if I came and talked to Mr.Carreire."

"You know the Viscount?" A woman said walking up to me aftereavesdropping on the conversation. Her hair was pulled up ornatelyand she wore an extravagant dress full of lace and beadwork.

"Yes. He told me I could take singing lessons here." Ireplied.

"And said you had nice legs?" Another woman dressed equally asbeautiful asked with a laugh.

"No, he liked my voice. He heard me performing at a countryfair." I said not knowing how I knew that information. "Do you allknow him?" I asked innocently.

"Ha ha ha." They laughed opening their lockets. Inside was apicture of Elliot Burch!

*****

I looked at them with wide eyes and my mouth open. "Where did youget that picture?" I asked. I was simply inquiring, but to them itmust have seemed like I was jealous.

"From Raoul of course." One of them responded.

The other one looked at me with a pout. "You thought you were theonly one?" She asked in a mocking tone.

Giggling the two of them walked on into the Opera House. Standingthere bewildered I looked at the usher.

"I'm sorry Christine. He sends girls here about every other week. Women that he's met here and there." He said sympathetically.

"Oh, it's ok." I said waving my hand. Trying to appear like Ididn't care. But I did. Something very strange was happening and Iwanted to know what it was.

*****

Walking inside the usher lead me into the main theatre. Taking aseat near the front I looked around. There were people scattered allover waiting to hear the official word of the change of management ofthe Opera House.

Msr. Carreire appeared first explaining his reasons for leavingand how he felt the new manager would continue in the same traditionhe had. Watching him onstage I realized that I was looking atFather! Looking at the new manager and his wife, as he introducedher, I was shocked once again. They were Devin and BridgetO'Donnell. How could this be I wondered as Devin droned on and onabout the being manager and what productions he would be producing inthe up coming season. Furthermore his wife, Carlotta, would bestarring in all the roles.

Leaving the theatre I walked up to the new manager and explained Ihad been asked to come here for singing lessons by the Viscount.

Carlotta looking at me like I was a bug laughed out loud. "Whydarling, the best way to become a diva is to be around one. Howwould you like to be my costume girl?" She asked in a pitying sortof way.

"I would love to." I responded enthusiastically. Surely workingin the Opera House I would learn why I got here in the first place. Leaving Carlotta to unpack her things in her dressing room I went tofind the usher. I needed to thank him for helping me get a job.

"Do you have a place to stay?" He asked me after I found him. Shaking my head I looked down. The lady with the bun didn't sayanything about where I was to live.

"Follow me." He said grabbing my arm. He led me upstairs in anarea above the stage. Inside a small door was a room. Dusty fromyears of neglect it had a small bed and dresser inside. He didn'texplain what the room had been used for in the past, nor did I ask. Thanking him once again I set my suitcase down and began to unpack. Singing happily I didn't recognize the tune, but I enjoyed it. Itsoothed my frayed nerves from a rather confusing day. Little did Iknow that someone was listening to me from afar.

Lying down in the bed I silently wondered if this was all a dream. I wondered what would happen when I awoke the next morning.