Unmasking the Phantom – Part 5

That night, Edmée received a note from Meg. It included tickets to the next night’s Gala performance of Gounod’s Faust. When Edmée presented the to Raoul, he mentioned that he wasn’t feeling well enough to go to the opera, and that she should go on her own.

So, the next night, Edmée dressed in her blue evening gown and signature veil. She went out the door, being sure to kiss Raoul on the cheek on her way out. Their carriage was waiting for her to take the short ride to the opera house.

Edmée always loved the Palais Garnier on Gala Night. All of the lamps were lit making the gold filigree sparkle and the crystals of the foyer chandelier glitter. The grand staircase and foyer were packed with people in evening dress. There was a rainbow of different color gowns, with the men being in tails. Reluctantly, Edmée walked through the crowd of people, anxious to get to her box as soon as she could.

“Edmée!”

Edmée sighed. She did not need Meg to stop her in the middle of the crowded foyer, but was still not used to having someone grab her hand unexpectedly as Meg did now.

 

“Come! I have something to show you,” were the last words she processed as she was whisked away from the crowds and down less populated corridors leading to backstage area. Meg was babbling on as they passed curious stage hands and half dressed dancers with full faces of bright makeup. Edmée had not felt this exposed in a long time and tried to keep her eyes focused solely on Meg.

 

“I have a surprise for you!” finally registered on Edmée’s ears when Meg came to a stop in front of a door to a studio used for dance rehearsals when the stage was occupied.

 

Edmée was surprised that the room wasn’t empty when the door opened as all the dancers should be getting ready to take places. There was a woman settled in a wheelchair staring at her. She was well beyond Edmée’s age and the face was almost unrecognizable; one that she hadn’t seen in years – not since Christine Daae’s was alive.

 

“Speechless, I see. Surprised to see me?” came a voice spoken barely above a whisper, but it still had that stern, commanding element.

 

“I am sorry, Madame, but I am not sure we’ve met before,”Edmée managed to get out. She shifted so she was standing straight and her jaw set in a defiant manner.

 

The woman across from her nodded. “I see. You still blame me for everything that happened. I apologize that you see it differently than what it is, but we must talk. I warned you not to marry the Vicomte DeChagny and you still defied me, as you always have done.”

 

“Enough!”  Edmée’s voice rung out. “I will not be spoken to in that way by some senile old woman.”She turned to face Meg. “I do not know what games you play, but I am leaving.”

 

“You think that I did not recognize you from the moment you stepped into this building?” Meg’s voice had changed from a bubbly pitch to that of an accusing one. “Do you really think I was such a fool that I would have never noticed?”

 

“I beg your pardon?” Edmée acted affronted. “I will speak to the new managers about the way I have been treated.” She headed towards the door, but Meg stopped her.

 

“Oh my little Edmée,” Madame Giry wheeled towards the two other women in the room. “I was a fool to bring you here. Why did I imagine that a curious little girl gifted with the voice of an angel could be comfortable with a life resigned to hiding in the shadows of a place such as this? Yes, it was my fault in the beginning. It was your fault to reveal yourself as if you had not been shunned from the world since birth.”

 

When her mother spoked the word “reveal” Meg reached up and took the veil from the Vicomtess’ face. Underneath the veil, was a half mask that was colored to match her skin tone.

 

“Tell me,” Madame Giry continued, “does the Vicomte know that his wife is the cause of his blindness? Or that his son from his first wife is not the only heir he has?”

 

Edmée’s face was flushed with fury. “How. Dare. You,” she sputtered out. “How dare you! You have no right invading my personal life. You have no right meddling in affairs that do not concern you. I may have befriended Christine against your wishes, but you did not try to stop it after. Everything I went through was because of you! Everything that I have done for myself is to give myself what you tried to take away. My identity, my freedom, my right to be a human being and not a phantom as Christine had so lovingly called me.” Edmée laughed at the mere thought of her friend turned rival.

 

“My mother saved you!” Meg countered.

 

“Your mother imprisoned me as my mother had. I saved myself.” With that, Edmée grabbed her veil from Meg and stormed out the studio. Meg looked at her mother, but Madame Giry lifted her hand to signal for her to let Edmée go.

 

They would soon see each other again.