Disclaimer & Author's Note: Here is a Christmas fic that I originally was going to enter in a contest. Sad to say, I ran out of time to finish writing it and submit it in. I decided to finish it later so I would have the time to edit the story and make it more beautiful. I hope you enjoy reading this and I also ask that you please leave a review! I would love to hear feedback with any praise or constructive criticism. Last but not least, I do not own the Phantom of the Opera or any of its songs, the libretto, or copyrights. Here's to a belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
The Gift of Music
It was the most tranquil night. Snow silently drifted downward form the heavens above to cover the surrounding buildings in a blanket of white. The city of Paris, normally bustling with night life, was unusually quiet that evening. Mothers had tucked in their children hours ago and even most of the night crawlers had gone to bed.
For this one night, everyone seemed to be at peace-except for one lone man standing on the roof of the Paris Opera. He donned a cape and a mask covered half of his face. This man would haunt the opera house with his mysterious letters and his enchanting music. Not to mention he was infamous for stopping several shows/creating problems for the people acting on stage. He was known as the Phantom of the Opera.
However, the Phantom had not had any company for a while now. Several months had passed since his lovely opera house held a performing show. Now he was the only one left to reside in the once glorious theater. This reason was partly why he stood on the roof during this cold winter night with a heavy heart. However, it greatly troubled him that one particular person had left the opera house: His beloved Christine.
"Christine," the masked man murmured to himself.
"You miss her, don't you?" a feminine voice asked the troubled Phantom.
The unexpected voice almost made the masked man jump. The opera ghost turned around to see a middle aged woman approach him. She had her long brown hair tied back into a bun and was dressed warmly from the cold. Even though she carried something bulky wrapped in a blanket, the Phantom still did not hear the graceful lady draw near him. This woman probably attained her elegant stride from her years of dancing and working with other ballerinas. He had forgotten how quiet his old friend could creep around the theater.
"Madame Giry," the Phantom greeted her, "I hope you've been well lately. You don't visit very much anymore."
"No, I don't," the ballet captain ashamedly answered him, "And I could be better off. I've been searching to direct another dance troupe ever since the theater was closed. None of the other respectable theaters will hire me. Would you like some tea Monsieur?" Madame Giry offered the Phantom a mug and he could see that she carried a teapot within the folds of the blanket.
"I suppose, since you went to all the trouble," The opera ghost took the mug and Madame Giry began to pour some steaming tea before he continued, "I'm sorry, Madame. I wish I could help. Maybe I could pay a visit to one of the dance captains and-"
"Erik! No! I won't allow you to kill anyone else!" The previous ballet captain stopped pouring the hot liquid. "I appreciate your concern for me, but I can't let you kill someone just so I can work! I don't need the money that much, considering that Meg is in a new dance troupe."
"Really?" the Phantom inquired, "Has she been in any current shows?"
Madame finished pouring tea for the Phantom and said, "At the moment, Meg has a short break from performing since it's the Christmas holiday. She recently danced in a reproduction of Carmen at the Opera Comique and I must say it was a huge success."
"Well, good for her! At least someone's continuing to publically use their talents." Erik took a long drink from his mug. At the same time Madame Giry told him, "Meg is also excited that she's the maid of honor in Christine's wedding."
At that point, Erik spewed a lot of his tea. "What?" the shocked Phantom exclaimed, "Christine is getting married to the Viscount?"
"Of course!" Madame Giry answered him, "Raoul proposed to Christine last winter. It's about time they are married! Erik, please don't try to interfere with their plans. It'll just end in heartbreak for everyone!"
"Don't worry, Madame!" the Phantom tried to console her, "I won't get into any of their business. I let Christine go with him and I won't try to take her back. I was just shocked to hear that they're to be married soon." Despite his promise the opera ghost couldn't help but ask Madame Giry, "When is the wedding?"
"New Year's Day," the former ballet captain replied as she took her mug away from the Phantom, "They will be married in seven days."
"Wait, wouldn't it be eight? It's the twenty-fourth-"
"Not anymore," Madame Giry corrected him.
As if on cue, the bells from the nearby clock tower began to chime. The bells clanged twelve times to signal the arrival of Christmas day. Hearing those bells made the Phantom sigh.
Normally Erik wouldn't have even acknowledged Christmas but something about the holiday this year made the secluded opera ghost even lonelier. Perhaps it was the fact that people never celebrated Christmas by themselves. They always gave each other gifts and threw gay parties. Now, the Phantom realized just how much he missed his Angel of Music and her lovely singing voice. He wished he could spend his Christmas with her and sing to her again.
To distract himself from the pain, the musical Phantom took out a black, leather covered book that he'd kept hidden in the folds of his cape. He opened it and read over some of the notes he wrote in it.
Madame Giry gently set her blanket with the teapot and mug wrapped inside down in the snow. Then she approached Erik and asked him, "What are you reading?"
"This book has the current score for my latest opera," the Angel of Music replied. "What do you think of the title?" the Phantom asked Madame Giry. The cover read: The Phantom of the Opera.
The former ballet captain looked at the book and said, "I think it's rather captivating. Is this an opera based off of your life?"
"Yes, you could say that. I'm planning on it being a little more extravagant than my actual life so it'll make things much more interesting," the Phantom revealed to Madame Giry.
"Why do you need to do that?" his friend inquired confused, "Your life is very interesting already. Almost too interesting." The masked opera ghost couldn't find any way to argue that point so he tucked his book away without saying a word.
The two good friends remained quiet for a little while. It wasn't until the Phantom spoke that the silence was broken. "So, how is Christine coping with the prospect of marriage?"
"Christine is looking forward to marrying Raoul but she is very stressed about plans for the wedding. She's in charge of all the necessary preparations for their wedding and she's also helping with the renovations for their new house. Raoul helps a little bit but he's occupied with his duties as Viscount a great deal."
"By duties are you referring to hosting lavish parties?" the Phantom asked sarcastically. Madame Giry gave him a scathing look.
"Sorry," the miserable masked man apologized. He turned away from the former dance captain.
The two of them reservedly stood there watching the white snow fall. The moment would have been peaceful if not for the awkward tension between the two old friends. This time it was Madame Giry who broke the silence, "I can tell that Christine has been having a hard time adjusting to this new life of hers."
"I can imagine so. Has she been taking good care of herself?" Erik asked concernedly.
"I think Christine eats and washes regularly, but she could use some more rest. Every time I see her, she looks so…weary. She has gray circles under her eyes from the lack of sleep. She'll always keep a smile on her face but I know that she's tired of getting everything ready. Now she even talks of her wedding like it's just an enormous hassle."
"Well, I can see why-"
"She's working herself too hard," the ballet captain spoke through the Phantom's interruption, "and she's not giving herself enough time to relax. Besides, I think another reason why Christine's not happy is because she's too busy to sing or do anything with music."
"What?" the Phantom angrily exclaimed, "You're telling me that because Christine is occupied with marriage plans she doesn't have time to sing?"
"Erik-"
"Christine was born to sing! No wonder she's so miserable! I can't believe that there's no music in her life anymore! How can you let this go by, Madame?" the Phantom asked in disbelief.
"I've tried to expose Christine to music again. Raoul and Christine went with me to see Carmen but I think watching the performance made Christine feel depressed. She hasn't performed since Don Juan, you know. I think it's been hard for her being away from the theater."
"Of course it is!" the opera ghost exclaimed. Madame Giry jumped back from surprise. "The Paris Opera was, basically, her home for most of her entire life! Now that she's away from the theater, it's only natural that Christine isn't happy! She needs to sing again!"
The Phantom stopped his rant to think to himself. "I wonder…" the Angel of Music said as he pulled out his book. Once again, he opened it up and stared at its contents. A melody formed on his lips. "In sleep he sang to me, in dreams he came…"
Erik closed the book and exclaimed, "Aha! And I know how to fix that!"
With a twirl of his cape, the Phantom of the Opera turned and started striding toward the door leading to the theater below. Madame Giry quickly followed behind very concerned. "Erik, what are you going to do?"
The Phantom stopped his determined march and turned toward the flustered dance captain. "Madame, I'm going to get my Angel of Music to sing again! Maybe I can find you a job as well!"
"Really? How are you going to do that?" the former ballet instructor asked him in wonder.
"You'll see," the opera ghost assured her, "And if you would be so kind to help me gather my most valuable possessions, I would be most grateful."
"Certainly, Monsieur, but what are you doing with them?"
"I'm selling them of course. I have no source of steady income now so I need to attain the money some other way. After that, I need to conduct some business with Monsieurs Andre and Firmin…"