Sweet Intoxication

Chapter Four

The next few days were a blur. I was unbelievably content just knowing that I was given leave to give lessons to my one and only, Christine. We had decided on having a lesson every other day, after the rehearsals. She still had to think of a reason to tell Raoul, but soon it would be just like it was before. She would come down to my home and we would sing for hours every two days.

As I sat in my work room, trying to distract myself and make time pass faster, I found myself drawing her in the margins of my papers. I couldn't get her out of my head. It was as if her face was burned into my mind, and it was causing my work to go rather slow. I still couldn't believe she was going to return to my home and I would see her again. I glanced up at my clock and saw that it was time for one of her rehearsals. I got dressed as fast as I could and rushed to my private box.

Upon entering my box, I once again saw the dargoga, sitting next to my seat. It's not that much of a private box anymore, is it? I thought with an eye roll as I continued in anyways. "Why are you here, daroga?" I exhaled, crossing my arms.

"I could ask you the same thing, Erik," smiled the old man, glancing up at me. His constant level-headedness had always bothered me, most likely because I was so constantly overreacting to things.

I sat in my chair to the right of the daroga with a sneer. "It is none of your business what I do in my Opera House," I said plainly, interlocking my fingers as I leaned back in the seat. "It is, however, my business what you do in my Opera House."

The daroga shrugged, but he continued to smile. "I had a feeling you'd be here and, believe it or not, I don't have much to do now that you're not causing trouble," he said dryly. "Besides, I enjoyed playing chess with you and I had figured it would be a good way to pass the time."

Watching him carefully as he pulled out the carved chess box, I decided it wouldn't hurt to play a few games. "Very well," I sighed, sitting up so that I would be able to see the entire board. We didn't speak for the entirety of the first game, but as he was setting up for the second, he broke the silence.

"You never said why you were here, Erik," the old man said, making his first move. Why must he constantly be picking at my brain? Do I make people feel this annoyed? I thought, pursing my lips in slight irritation.

"Yes, I know," I said as dryly as I could manage, but of course a hint my annoyance rang through anyway. "Honestly, daroga, you must learn to stop meddling in my business."

"Perhaps if you gave me more of a reason to trust you, I would." He raised an eyebrow at me and smiled one of his knowing smiles. God, I hated that smile. Ignoring him I looked towards the stage and saw Christine, singing rather beautifully. I couldn't help but smile as I remembered that soon the two of us would be singing together again. "Ah, I should have guessed," chuckled the daroga. It was unsettling how clearly he read a blank faced mask, something I suppose one would pick up after a few years.

My smile turned into a sneer, remembering I was sitting next to the daroga still. "Should have guessed what, daroga?" I grumbled. If looks could kill, the one I had given the daroga would've been quite lethal.

"You're only here to see her. I thought you had better things to do?" the daroga smirked.

"I do not have to explain myself to you," I stated simply, looking back to the chess game, deciding that would be the end of that conversation. Like the first game, I beat him rather easily.

"You should really get some practice, daroga. You're a little rustier than I thought," I chuckled. I glanced up at the stage and saw that the rehearsal was over. Eager to meet Christine at her dressing room, I stood to go.

"I know," he chuckled. "It has been quite some time since I've had an opponent like yourself ." He began to put away the pieces, looking slightly disappointed. "Leaving so soon, Erik?"

"Yes. I have something rather pressing to attend to," I said, watching Christine as she left the stage.

The daroga watched me carefully as he slipped the carved chest into his coat pocket. "I hope you're not up to something, Erik," said the daroga in a warning tone before he left the box. Thank god, no righteous speech, I thought with a sigh of relief.

At once, I was in the walls and off to Christine's dressing room, worrying I was late. As I walked through the walls, I let my mind wander. I enjoyed a small fantasy of Christine telling me she had decided to leave that fop of a husband and come live with me. Oh, Erik! I've realized my mistake. You are the only man that I could ever love! I imagined her saying upon my arrival. Realizing how unreasonable an illusion that was, I shook my head and entered the hallway behind Christine's mirror.

As Christine sat at her vanity mirror, brushing her golden hair, I couldn't help but just stare for a moment. Her beauty had once again captivated me, and her singing today was beyond seraphic. I wanted more than anything to sweep her off her feet and carry her down to my home. I could listen to her sing all day and admire her beauty. Among other things, the voice inside my head murmured. I indulged this little thought for a moment, before remembering where I was and had to scold myself for such indecent thoughts. I was beginning to notice a very slight change in my subconscious, but I didn't think much of it.

I tapped the glass to get Christine's attention, and she turned around to face me, this time with a hint of excitement in her eyes rather than fear. "Erik!" grinned the young girl. "I have some good news!"

"Ah, wonderful, my dear," I said in the most relaxed tone I could manage, and of course it easily fooled the child. "What is it?"

She glanced around the room once, as if she feared someone could be listening. Most likely a habit she picked up from my constant presence during the last year. She picked up her seat and moved it closer to the mirror. "I told Raoul that the singing-manager suggested I take a few extra lessons at the Opera House after rehearsal a few days a week," she explained in a hushed tone. "He said it would be perfectly fine." She seemed slightly upset, and I was going to question it when I remembered that she was not a girl who normally lied.

However, I could not be more content. She was lying to her lover so that she could see me! "Do you have leave for a lesson today?" I asked, my hand already hovering over the mechanism that would bring her behind the mirror.

"Yes, I do," she said, finally smiling again. She moved her seat back to her vanity set, and approached the mirror, looking just as radiant as the first night. "I have two hours until I am expected home. Will that be enough time?" she asked, looking even younger than normal.

Plenty of time for plenty of different things, that little voice butted in once more and I shook my head to get it out. "Yes, of course, my dove," I said gently. "Now," I said, starting the mechanism, "shall we?"

In no time at all, Christine was in my arms and we were off to my home under the ground. The amazing thing was, I felt the same rush that I had the first time I brought her to my home. If I weren't such a cynic and a realist, I'd say it felt almost magical.