Hi everyone! I hereby proudly present my first PhanFic ever, it's been getting some wonderful reviews on Aria and now I put my fate entirely into your hands...Enjoy, and please review! It's much appreciated! -x- Lotte.

Paris, le 25 ième Février 1876

Monsieur,

I hope this letter finds you in good health. Paris has grown to be a dark and sinister place. Friends are scarce now that the brave men and women of the Opéra Populaire seem to have scattered to all corners of the continent, searching for new employment. I'm sure you have heard of the sudden departure of our loyal manager, Monsieur Gilles André? Found in his home with a rope around his neck, and for the first time in many years, they did not have you around to blame. His partner Monsieur Firmin has abandoned his futile attempts to sell the Opera House and has now started an impressive reconstruction project, no doubt financed by his lovely young bride. He is planning to restore the Opera in her full splendour, and draw the loyal crowds back in. He has enquired if I would know of the whereabouts of the original building plans, but I have sent him a negative reply. How is he to comprehend, my dear friend, that most of those drawings exist only in your mind?

But I will not try your patience with these idle reports. I have a more important request to make of you. One that might unleash your eternal rage upon me, I am fully aware, but from my bleeding heart I hope you will indulge me none the less. It concerns my dear child and your former protégée, the Comtesse de Changny. I immagine you are aware of her husband's death this last cold winter. Her very sanity it seems, has since followed him to the grave. She does not eat, she does not sleep, she has abandoned all her friends claiming she has no desire for company save that of her dearly departed. She roams the cemetary for hours on end in thought and prayer, seeking an absolution that I fear will never come, for sins not committed.

Monsieur my heart fears, should no one come to her aid, she will soon remain at that dreadful place beyond eternity for she seems very poor indeed. Her eyes have lost their spark, her skin its brilliance, her body its voice. Allow me to speak plainly mon frère. Christine de Chagny needs her guardian, her mentor, her Angel… or she will be beyond any mortal salvation before long. I beg you to return to us and deliver her from sorrow, should your proud and wounded heart allow it. I ask you as a friend, a sister, a sorrowful mother.

I will pray for my pleas to be heard and rely solely, my friend, on the goodness I know your heart possesses.

Your most obedient servant and affectionate friend,

Marie Giry.

The serenity of the Palazzo Persico was rudely disturbed by the breaking of glass. Renzo Barbari quietly entered the library, and without a word started to clean up the fragments of crystal that before had formed a lovely decanter filled with a very fine brandy. "Such a waste", he pined the loss of the sweet liquor.

"Renzo, start packing when you are done!" He was shaken from thought by his master's voice, filled with frustration and anger.

"Prego Maestro. Where will you be traveling Maestro, and how long will you be away?"

It took a while before he received an answer. " Paris. As short as possible. The sooner I can leave that Hell Hole, the better. And you will come with me."

Renzo's heart started pounding heavily. he had never left Venice in his life and now he would be accompanying the master, to Paris no less!

"Hurry Renzo, I have no desire waiting about!" Renzo quickly got to his feet, and turned to nod at his master, only to find he had already left the room…