Operarealm
Part III
The residents of the castle awoke to an extraordinary snowstorm of which there seemed no end. As far as the eye could see there was nothing but white, blinding white which blew down and drifted and piled up by the foot. When Roza awoke that morning, there had to be nearly two feet of snow and the blizzard showed no signs of letting up.
"You did what?!" Liza demanded.
It was late morning and Liza and Palina had joined Roza for tea in her room. When they learned from Despina what she had done when Yevgeny arrived the night before they had rushed to her chambers.
"I couldn't help it," Roza explained. "I felt it was my fault that he was upset enough to go out in that snow storm to start with!"
Liza and Palina regarded her with great disbelief.
"Roza - it wasn't your fault!" Palina told her. She frowned and added two sugar cubes to her tea. "Yevgeny's to blame for being so self-centered! So, he thinks you should forsake everything for him? Oh, the man is purely insufferable!"
Liza sipped her tea thoughtfully. "I can understand perfectly why you did it. But you do realize that you took a tremendous risk? You provided the opportunity to arouse his curiosity, if not his suspicion. As far as I know, he knows nothing but he has been talking about "the lady of dark mystery" that aided him last night and asking everyone here what they know about this Elana."
Roza ignored this. "Then Yevgeny - he is all right today?"
Liza frowned. "Yes he is. He says he owes it all to you. But did you hear what I said? You have made him very curious! In my opinion, this curiosity is his subconscious speaking. His subconscious recognizes you, but he is consciously too dense to see it - at least at the moment. You must be very careful, Roza. Do not give him the opportunity to put two and two together. Avoid him as much as possible, even though heaven knows that you'd rather do the opposite."
"It won't be easy snowed inside this lonely castle," Roza said mournfully. "I feel imprisoned here."
"But you have our companionship," Palina offered and Liza nodded.
Roza sighed. It certainly wasn't the same of course. She was aching to be held in Yevgeny's arms more than she was willing to admit. At the time, she felt that she could not feel any worse than she did last night but she was wrong. From the moment she awoke that morning, she felt profoundly depressed and on edge. When Liza and Palina left after tea to find out what was going on downstairs, Roza felt even more alone in the world. Taking Liza's advice she stayed in her room for an hour or so and tried to read - but it was useless. The words became blurry chicken scratches on the page and she was utterly unable to concentrate. Yevgeny's image had even seemed to invade the pages of the book. All of her life, she had always found great comfort in reading, but she found no such solace here. Roza knew she had to leave her chambers and seek distractions elsewhere. She found the silver mask with the black lace veil, put it on and left the room.
As Roza was walking down a long and particularly shadowy corridor, Yevgeny suddenly appeared from one of the rooms. Roza, her nerves shots, dropped the book she was carrying and screamed loudly in surprise and sheer terror!
Yevgeny regarded her in a way that was indescribable. The closest way to describe it was a mixture of confusion and astonishment. "Elana...? What's the matter?" he whispered.
Roza was utterly unable to speak. She felt a lump in her throat and knew if she tried she would completely break down.
Everyone in the castle came running towards them from various directions.
"Elana? Yevgeny?" came Marenka.
"Oh heaven - what's the matter?" came Liza, pale and frightened.
"What has happened?" Palina asked.
"What the hell is going on here?" Despina demanded.
The others just stared at them in confused and concerned silence.
Yevgeny raised his hand, annoyed slightly by their anxious inquires. "Nothing has happened. Elana was just startled..." But he was obviously still very confused.
Now Alexandra took the incentive to ask questions. She left Yeletsky's side and went to stand next to Roza. She was every bit as confused as Yevgeny. "But why did she scream like that? She didn't sound startled to me. That scream was of one of most extreme fright and pain ... There is something someone isn't telling us," she narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
Yevgeny's temper flared. "I hope you are not inferring that I would ever harm a woman--"
"No, no," was Alexandra's quick reply. "We all know that you would never do such a thing. It's just that she--"
"That she what?" Yeletsky demanded. "I think you should keep your nose out of other people's affairs."
Alexandra ignored her husband. "Well, even if I choose not to divulge them at the moment, I do have my suspicions," she said slyly.
Liza stepped forward, terrified for Roza's sake and very angry. "Don't you think that this cross examination has gone on long enough? I'm appalled at you, Alexandra! Have you no manners? Elana told us all the reason why and as a lady you should not doubt her word."
Alexandra, taken aback, was unable to speak for several moments. She looked hard at Roza, trying with all her will to see through the mask. When she spoke at last, she thought aloud, in a low, even voice. "Elana ... what is the real reason why you wear that thing?"
Roza tried to answer her, but a great sob choked out her words. Overwhelmed with grief, fear and humiliation, blind with impulse, Roza ran down the corridor and up the stairs to her room where she could lock herself up and be alone with her tears.
Yevgeny was the last to retreat back to his previous place. He stood for a long time staring at the staircase up which "Elana" had run to take solace. There was something about her manner towards him, her very presence that caused something to stir inside of him. It was something intangible and it was starting to really frustrate him that he could not put a finger on it. It was a magnetic something that seemed to pull him towards her. He felt compelled to comfort her, and even more compelled to learn her secret. Why did he get this burning feeling that it was a secret that concerned him? Realizing that this feeling he had made absolutely no sense, he sighed, shrugged and returned to the main sitting room where the Russians and the Czechs were playing chess.
****
An hour or so later, Alexandra crept along a dark oak panel in the castle study. She had tired of the drinking and chess playing within the first half hour and was now aching to discover the secret of the mysterious and elusive Elana more than anything. Alexandra was a shrewd young woman who took pride in knowing everything that was going on and it seriously bothered her when she did not. She resented any form of concealment and deception and felt that Elana with her mask and her elusiveness was the very embodiment of this. Alexandra felt more determined than ever to learn the truth, or rather to confirm the surmise which she had allowed herself to put so much confidence in. She intended to do this by means of shameless eavesdropping via a secret passageway. Alexandra felt strongly, that had she not found opera and Yeletsky, she might have been a detective and spy. When there was a mystery in the midst, Alexandra never missed the opportunity to unravel it. And she certainly was not going to pass up the mystery of the phantomess Elana.
Alexandra flattened herself again the oak panel wall in the study and knocked on it in several places. If she was not mistaken, there was an entrance to a secret passageway somewhere in this room. She could use the passageway to observe Elana when she was not masquerading in front of castle guests. Surely she had to take that thing off sometime! Alexandra knew from her experience with masked balls that masks as extravagant as Elana's were very binding and could become very hot and uncomfortable if worn at particularly long intervals. Alexandra knew that Elana would have to take off her mask at some point...
Now, if she could only figure out where the entrance to the secret passageway was ... Alexandra had been in this castle before, but she had also experienced dozens of others as well (she was very proud that she found all of the secret passageways) while traveling through Europe with her husband and could not recall which was which. Everything seemed a blur.
After Alexandra wrapped on all of the panels and pushed and pulled at all of the fixtures on the fireplace, she turned to the large bookshelf that took up one of the walls. She began pressing and lifting the books one by one with no success. As she came to the forth row she spied what looked to be a book holder. Obscured by several smaller books in front of it, it was a subdued brass in the form of a ferocious gargoyle. Alexandra recognized it immediately and gave a little cry of triumph. Then she smacked herself on the forehead for not finding it sooner. Of course, most passageway activators were in the book holders! Alexandra gripped the base of the gargoyle, her thumbs on its wings. Then she pressed it back firmly. With a sharp click, the book holder slid back and the bookcase began to slide sideways. Alexandra stole inside the gloom of the passageway before it closed itself up again.
****
"So tell me again: exactly what was it that made you scream in the hall earlier?" Despina inquired, with a shadow of a smirk on her face. She was in Roza's room serving Roza an early dinner so that Roza did not have to take her meal with the rest of the castle residents and could elude another opportunity to make the ones who didn't know her situation curious. Eating in front of others with a mask on would not only be awkward and embarrassing but would also, without a doubt, provoke further suspicion.
"Roza?" said Despina, half-annoyed, half-amused that Roza had not answered her question.
"Oh, I'm sorry Despina," murmured Roza, slowly coming out of a reverie where she had been at peace. "What did you say?"
"I asked," Despina repeated wryly. "Exactly what is was that made you scream like that in the hall earlier. The entire castle heard you! Those are some lungs!"
"Oh, don't remind me!" Roza moaned, flushing in extreme embarrassment as she remembered exactly what she had done a few hours ago. "I know it was foolish beyond foolish! But I couldn't help myself! Depression, guilt and anxiety must have distorted my senses for a moment. I was walking down the hall and he suddenly emerged from one of the rooms. His appearance was so abrupt that I was completely overcome with inexplicable terror! And I screamed. Mine was a cry of not only fear but desperation! I am haunted by him without relent and for a moment, I submitted to the madness that has been threatening to overcome me."
Despina raised her eyebrow and shook her head at Roza. "Lyric sopranos ... you lot just adore making yourselves miserable don't you? Don't you submit to madness like those weak bel canto women such as Lucia and Elvira!" she tsk-tsked. "And people wonder what it is that gives women such a bad name! Sheesh!"
"Easy for you to say, Despina!" Roza said. She secretly envied the maid for her ability to remain so sly and untouched by pain.
Despina shrugged, picked up Roza's half-eaten dinner tray and started to leave for the kitchen. Roza had already resumed her place on the sofa with the book she was trying to read.
A sudden cry of muffled pain issued from behind her.
Roza turned to Despina who had frozen by the door. "What did you do to yourself?" she asked her.
But Despina wasn't looking at her, but rather at the great fireplace. "Shhh..." she whispered, raising her hand to hush Roza. "It came from behind the fireplace."
Roza watched, confused and a bit frightened as Despina tiptoed toward the fireplace. Despina reached on top of the marble mantle and touched a small silver box that rested between two small lanterns. She opened the box quietly and reached inside of it, pressing her hand down inside of it hard. With a loud click, the fireplace groaned eerily and began to rotate - for it was apparent that a secret passage lay beyond it!
As the fireplace spun around, a young woman was revealed from behind it. A young woman who was hopping up and down and clutching her right foot in pain. A young woman who just happened to be Alexandra Yeletskaya. She staggered, Despina grabbed her arm to prevent the opportunity of any escape and the fireplace slammed shut in its original place.
"Caught - red-handed!" Despina exclaimed gleefully.
Roza was horrified and outraged. "Just what do you think you are doing?"
Alexandra glared at Despina, released herself and crossed her arms, showing that she did not care one bit that she had been discovered. She limped toward Roza. "No, Miss. Elana, I think the question should be: what do you think you are doing?" She turned back to Despina and said in a gentle tone, "If you don't mind, I would like to speak to Roza alone."
Despina grinned superficially and left, but not before she stuck out her tongue at Alexandra when she turned her back.
Once they were alone, Alexandra limped to a chair near Roza's bed and sat down.
"What happened to your foot?" Roza asked flatly. As far as she was concerned, Alexandra really deserved what she got for such cruel eavesdropping.
Alexandra rubbed her stalking-ed foot. "I stepped on a piece of glass on the other side of the fireplace. It seems that some paranoid people had scattered some sharp objects on the passageway once to catch themselves some spies or something."
Roza stared at her. "Alexandra--why are you doing this to me?"
Alexandra sighed, the triumphant look had left her face. "I'm sorry, Roza," she said softly.
Roza glared at her in disbelief. "Sorry? You're sorry?!"
"I am," Alexandra answered solemnly.
"You've been nothing but a know-it-all bitch since I've arrived here!" flared Roza, her voice rising. "Do you have any idea how miserable I am? How horrible it is to watch someone I care about suffer at my hand? First you rub stuff it in my face whenever you have the opportunity and then you are caught spying on me! I don't know how you can do it! Why are you doing this?"
"Listen to me, Roza!" Alexandra painfully pulled a piece of glass out of her foot and moved to the canopy to sit beside Roza, desperate to convince her. "You really must believe me! Roza - I've been where you are! You must trust me on this one ... I want to help you. I can see the agony that you and the man you love are going through and I think it is absolutely ridiculous! Why torture yourself like that? Why lie to yourself and deny yourself the happiness that is so within your reach?! Do you actually think you can return to Reality now once you have glimpsed the dream that is possible and which you once thought was impossible? Roza - I heard you that day when you were in your room. I sense the wishes that are in your soul! And I find it extremely ironic that you considered a certain acclaimed opera heroine - whose name I shall not mention - a hypocrite - and now you are doing the exact same thing! I really admired you for your views on the subject, but now I think you are either really selfish or just plain foolish. Roza will you stop playing the victim?"
"What do you know about me?" Roza snapped. "Can't you see how this is killing me?"
"Roza," said Alexandra. "I was you ... bolder and perhaps more selfish in other ways...but I was much like you." She lowered her voice abruptly, as if the walls had ears. "You know...it would be much easier if you just gave in. And really ... just wonderful." She smiled mischievously.
Roza, shocked by the audacity of her words, grew pale and rose. She walked over to the ornate oak door, opened it cautiously and gestured for Alexandra to leave.
"Fine," Alexandra muttered reproachfully.
Roza caught her by the sleeve of her dress before she walked out the door. "Please Alexandra," she pleaded. "Do not betray my presence."
"I will try," Alexandra said extremely solemnly. And she left before Roza could squeeze a promise in the positive out of her. If there was one thing Alexandra couldn't do, it was make promises that she was not sure she could keep.
****
Evening came. The snowstorm continued with a fury and the wind that had died down considerably in the early afternoon, had returned with a vengeance. The bleak and even ominous weather conditions only added to the feeling of desolation that consumed the languishing souls in the castle. Those who were not prey to this state of mind, became increasingly annoyed and intolerant of those that were and only served to increase the tremendous tension that had been building in the castle. Despina was quickly losing patience and her jokes were becoming increasingly irritable and mean-spirited. Meanwhile Alexandra, having lost her former attitude of arrogant slyness, seemed genuinely concerned about both Roza and Yevgeny. Roza herself, was not sure which of Alexandra's attitudes was the worst and could only pray that she would keep her secret. However, Roza was became, if possible, even more on edge when Alexandra insisted that she attend a small party in the castle ballroom. Everyone - Marenka, Jenik, Rusalka, Fioridiligi, Dorabella, Despina, Giuglielmo, Ferrando, Liza, Palina, Gherman, Tomsky and herself were going to be there and she firmly insisted that Roza attend as well. Half a dozen nearby gypsies had even ventured out into the storm to join them and provide some violin music for the party. Roza realized that she had no choice; she knew that it would look rather suspicious if she declined. She also knew that she just had to leave her room at some point. How tired she was of hiding like this!
Roza considered carefully what she should wear to such an occasion. Oh, how she yearned to wear the sapphire silk Empire gown once again! However, not only was she not attending a grand ball (alas!), but she feared being recognized by a certain someone in it. The infamous dress was a distinctive trademark of hers! She sighed and put it back on the hanger and into the wardrobe. She chose instead a more subdued, yet very elegant Renaissance-style emerald taffeta with black velvet flowers embroidered on the borders of the dress. It went very well with the black velvet mask with the long black lace veil which hid her long curls perfectly. Once confident that she was well-disguised, Roza walked down to the party, her emerald taffeta gown rustling with each one of her tentative steps.
The sound of violin music drifted throughout the castle and Roza knew that the party had already begun. As she entered slowly, she felt extremely self-conscious as if all eyes were upon her. However, as she looked around she realized that this was not true. Everyone who had a beau seemed to be immersed in either conversation or argument - as was the case with Liza and Gherman. Liza was upset because Gherman seemed to prefer card games with his friends to being with her and Palina and Tomsky stood between the two of them trying to make peace while Alexandra and Yeletsky looked on. The two couples from Cosi Fan Tutte could not be bothered by anything except each other (much to Despina‘s disdain), while Marenka and Jenik spent their time trying to console the lonely Rusalka.
As for Yevgeny, he sat completely alone at a small mahogany table in a dark corner of the room drinking unhappily. He was adorned in the same exquisite black velvet waistcoat with the high starched collar that he wore the night of the ball in St. Petersburg and looked as sinfully handsome as ever, despite the dark circles under his eyes. Roza started when she saw him and he noticed her at the exact same moment that she did him. He set down his wine bottle and sat up, his soulful sapphire eyes at once burning pleadingly into hers like a laser.
Don't panic! Roza told herself firmly. He has every right to be here as you do and you must try your hardest not to give him more reason to become suspicious of you. But somehow, Roza knew that she had already given him plenty of reason and although she had turned her back to him to initiate conversation with the group, she still felt him watching her quite closely.
"Elana," said Alexandra. Certainly, she had been watching Yevgeny and then Roza. "Are you all right? You look as if you‘ve seen a ghost!" her voice was full of genuine concern.
Roza nodded. "I'm as well as can be expected, my dear friend, Alexandra," she said, surprised by the evenness of her own voice. She sounded so much calmer than she actually was! "And how are you this evening?"
"Never better!" said Alexandra. "Now if you please ... I shall ask those kind gypsies if they know any Russian music ... perhaps even a waltz melody. I know that you and I share a common passion for such music." And she left just as the gypsy string ensemble finished one of their plaintive Slavic gypsy melodies.
Roza stood in alone in suspense, realizing that Alexandra was most likely up to something once again. Roza did not know how much more of this she could take. She really did not! And then it happened...
Suddenly the gypsy musicians broke into melody. It was an insidiously dreamy melody that was at once familiar. It shot through both Roza and Yevgeny like an electric shock. That exciting introduction! That haunting main theme! It was the Thornrose Waltz from Sleeping Beauty. The very same waltz played the night of the ball. It was their Waltz!
Yevgeny, who had been brooding in the shadows and had almost seemed near death, was resurrected by the sound of that glorious melody. He rose slowly, savoring the feeling and utterly unable to take his eyes off the mysterious young woman in emerald and black. He felt an inexplicable magnetic pull towards her...
Roza froze, unable to move, let alone take her eyes off Yevgeny, who had locked her in his melancholic sapphire gaze, sending chills down her spine. Yevgeny walked slowly across the large room toward her, as if he were in a trance. It seemed as if they were the only in existence, even though everyone in the castle watched them in wonder. No one uttered a word. The only sounds echoing in the room were the beautiful string music playing Tchaikovsky's intoxicating melody and beneath that, Yevgeny's footsteps as he approached Roza.
Both were hopelessly speechless as they stood face to masked face. Without hesitation, Yevgeny took Roza in his arms and waltzed her around the room ... and both once again ascended to heaven. Once again, it was if they were soaring above the clouds together in a divine place to an exquisite waltz ... It seemed as if there should not be any time in such a dream-like state, but there was. Too quickly the waltz was coming to a close, too quickly was Yevgeny spinning Roza at the waltz's dramatic conclusion. The very end of the waltz had come...
Suddenly, without warning Roza's mask snapped and at the same time, she snapped back to her senses. Roza stopped short, releasing herself from Yevgeny's lingering arms. Her hands shot up to her face, desperately striving to hide it by preventing the mask from falling to the floor ... but it was too late. Mortified, and reluctant for everyone in the room to become aware of the tears that were starting to flow, Roza turned her back and ran blindly from the room.
Roza knew that she had completely lost it. She could bear no more. She never knew she could feel this way, but she wanted to die now. Anything to end this pain ... anything ... She ran and ran. Down the long corridor, around a corner, up three flights of windy stairs, around a corner and down another extremely long corridor before she came to a beautiful and inviting tower bedroom done up in elegant shades of sapphire. She glided into the room, slammed the door shut behind her, threw the mask to the floor, and then collapsed on the sapphire canopy in painful, gasping sobs.
Roza did not weep for long before she became aware of the sound of footsteps hurrying down the hall. A few moments later, the door burst open and shut. Roza knew who it was without looking up.
Yevgeny rushed into the room stormily. He froze a few feet short of the canopy bed in which Roza hid her face weeping. She felt him watching her ... his melancholic sapphire gaze regarding her in profound hope, desperation and longing. Several long moments of silence passed. Roza knew she could hide no longer, nor did she want to. She lifted her face to meet Yevgeny's potent gaze.
"Roza!" Yevgeny said breathlessly. He fell at Roza's feet, taking her hands with a fervor. "Oh Roza - I knew you were here! I felt your presence..."he broke off, savoring the feel of her hands in his and resting his handsome head on her taffeta lap.
Roza sobbed, utterly unable to speak as Yevgeny continued.
"I once believed myself never capable of love ... bound to wander the world at leisure forever. I was so mistaken then ... so foolish! And for that, I was punished most terribly. You know my story - I was shut out and denied love just when I was finally capable of it and when needed I it so desperately. I thought I was doomed - that I'd would be trapped in this dark solitude forevermore. But oh Roza ... then I met you! From the moment I saw you I wanted to live again! Like an angel you came ... an angel to save me - from myself..."
"Oh Yevgeny ... this revelation ... it can't have all been because of me," Roza said weakly.
"Roza," said Yevgeny, tenderly cutting her off. "I have never met a woman as ambitious and beautiful as you. You live every day of your life with such immense passion, a passion which has touched me deeply. And now that I've known you I know that I cannot live without you. Oh Roza ... when you fled from the ball on that night, I was terrified that I had lost you forever! I've been scarcely able to eat, let alone sleep ... all my thoughts have been of you. How I've suffered!" He lifted his head, still holding her hands in his and gazing into her eyes imploringly.
Roza gazed at him back, the tears running down her cheeks. "And do you think I have not been suffering just the same?" she said in a low voice. "I've always known you were dense, Yevgeny."
Yevgeny touched her tear-stained cheek gently. "You weep," he said as if just noticing it. "Why?"
Roza sighed in frustration and despair. "Because I love you so much!" the words came from her mouth as if a dam had burst and if she was relieving herself of a great burden.
Yevgeny moved to the bed and took her in his arms, embracing her fervently. "Oh Roza ... I've hoped..." he pressed his lips to hers, kissing her long and full and passionately. Neither of the two had ever experienced such a kiss and when it finished, they were both gasping for breath and weak with love.
Yevgeny, who had recovered first, continued to hold Roza tightly and cover her with kisses.
"Oh Yevgeny..." Roza gushed, melting completely. "You don't know ... how long ... I've dreamt of this moment..."
"Me as well," said Yevgeny. "I've loved you since the moment I laid eyes on you. And when I saw you the night of the ball I just knew... How I love you Roza!" he pressed his lips to hers once more.
Roza withdrew from his passionate embrace, though very much against her will. Just what was she getting herself into?
Yevgeny regarded her with immense confusion. "Roza...?"
"Oh this love ... it is so forbidden! Do you realize that our love can trap me in this world forever? Do you realize that, Yevgeny?"
"Da," he told her solemnly. His face fell as her words sunk in and he shook his head violently in panicked despair. "Roza ... you are not thinking of leaving me? Now that I've just found you! I cannot live without you!"
Roza moved away from him. "But how do I know that you won't tire of me like you have tired of everything and everyone else? How do I know that I am not just another one of your diversions?" she said, voicing the concern that had been preying upon her.
Yevgeny looked absolutely shattered. "Oh," he moaned with such excruciating grief that Roza was chilled to the core. "How can you believe that? How can you even think it? That I would be that shallow? Your reproach has wounded me more than you know. You know what it is to suffer like this. To yearn for such a love and to struggle against reason! Know that I love you more than I've ever loved anyone and that I will never leave you! I'd rather die! Oh, to be near you always ... to hold you in my arms and listen to the sweet sound of your voice for hours on end ... to become completely yours as you become completely mine. To live every day in love's bittersweet agony! I'd gladly die of such bliss! This is the dream of my life! Oh Roza - have pity!"
Roza was silent. She knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that he was sincere. She realized then and there that she would never love another as she did this man and she also realized that she'd never know a day's peace back in Reality if she turned her back on this love and this world where she knew she truly belonged.
"Allow me to prove my love," Yevgeny said. He knelt before her and removed a sterling ring that he always wore on his small finger. "I left the city too abruptly to purchase the proper sort of ring that they use for this in the west, so this will have to do. Roza, will be my wife?" he implored. "I cannot imagine life without you."
"Neither can I," Roza told him, as he placed the ring on her finger. "My answer is yes .... My fate is sealed: For time, literature and opera is full of cruel ones who deny and desert those they love just when they need them most and I shan‘t be one of them!"
"Oh Roza - at last you are mine!" Yevgeny moved back to the bed and took her in his arms rapturously and with complete passionate abandonment.
That night, their passion was fulfilled at long last and beyond their most sacred dreams. And so, inevitably and irrevocably Roza became Yevgeny's forever as he became hers and they enjoy still an undying pure and passionate love that is and yet is not, of this world.
The End
© 2003 Copyright held by the author.