Greetings and salutations. This is my very first Phantom Fic. Reviews are welcomed. I hope you enjoy the tale and I do not own the Phantom of the Opera. (Much to my dismay) And if anyone can come up with a better title..PLEASE share. :) Happy reading.
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Discoveries Old and New
She couldn't believe she was actually here. Christine Winters thought. Her shoulder length brown, red highlighted hair blowing in the breeze as her green eyes stared at the Great Paris Opera House. It was still in ruins from the Great Fire of 1871 but still had is impressive aura that ruled over the square. Christine could still fantasize what it would have been like even without the old pictures in her brief case. What is was like to attend the Opera. To be in a beautiful gown instead of her slim black jeans and light blue blouse. What it was like to see him. Nevertheless, something always brought her out of her fantasies and back into 2005. "It doesn't look like much." Her brother, Armand, walked up behind her. "I still don't understand why you won't shut up about it." Recently graduated from the Police Academy, he begged her to follow her on this latest dig, though he did nothing but complain the whole way over.
"It didn't always look like this. In 1870, it ruled over mostly all of Paris. Kings and Queens attended here. But the Great Fire of ..." Armand interrupted and finished for her.
"Of 1871 when the chandelier came crashing down caused by the mysterious Phantom of the Opera." Armand chuckled. "By the gods you are obsessed." Armand grinned. He loved to tease his sister. Christine stuck out her tongue at her kid brother.
"I'm not obsessed! I'm just...passionate about the subject. Now come on before we are late." Christine said as she started to walk towards the Opera House. At only 28, she was the leading archeologist on the East coast of America and had been trying ever since she had graduated to organize a dig over the Great Paris Opera House. But something always got in her way. Usually the De Chagny's. They owned the leading enterprises of Paris, not to mention half of Europe and had been the ones who were trying to bulldoze the ruin to try to rebuild the Opera House but strange things kept happening. Machines would break down or things would go missing. And of course, a mysterious figure seen out of the corner of their eyes. But during one of their blasting, they uncovered a tunnel. A tunnel they believed was used by the Phantom proving his existence. It wasn't until De Chagny enterprises were put under new management that she was called. She still couldn't believe that they had called her when they clearly stated that there would never be a dig. Then suddenly they were practically banging down her door offering her everything she had asked for and more. Not to mention a stay at one of their luxurious hotels. She knew it had something to do with the newest owner and with the De Chagny's always passing the business down through the family but she didn't press the matter much. Even though his mysterious benefactor still failed to show himself. She shook her head as she walked up the crumbling steps towards the man who awaited her at top.
"Ah Miss Winters. Please to meet you. I'm Simon Danvers. I represent Mr. De Chagny. He would have liked to be here but there was some urgent business he had to attend to." Simon smiled as he shook her hand.
"I see. Well I am happy to be here nonetheless. This is my brother Armand Winters. He will be accompanying me throughout the dig." Armand walked forward and offered his hand, but Danvers just looked to him almost in disgust and then looked to Christine.
"I wasn't aware that you were bringing a guest." His tone was annoying as Christine stepped forward.
"He is here for my protection. I understand that here have been saboteurs thought out the site." Danvers interrupted.
"No Madame. The Opera Ghost still haunts here." It was then Christine looked to the grave looking man and smirked.
"You expect me to believe that the ghost of Erik still haunts here 135 years after it was burnt down?" Danvers face gave another look of annoyance.
"You do not believe in the legends?" He asked. Christine nearly growled.
"I know all about the legends and stories Mr. Danvers but that is not the point. The point is that I require protection and since your boss Mr. De Chagny had stated that I was to be given anything I asked for, I demand that my brother accompany me for protection. And if that is quite clear I will require to see the site now." Danvers bowed.
"Forgive me Madame. I didn't mean to insult you. Please. Follow me and I shall introduce you to the site manager." And with that, he turned and walked off. Armand walked next to his sister and whispered.
"Maybe it's not wise for you to insult the man who represents this De Chagny guy."
"I didn't mean to insult him but come on! He wasn't going to let you in and he insulted me first. Do I not know the legends?' HA! I probably know more that him." Christine whispered back. With all the noise from the dig crew, she knew that Danvers couldn't hear them and right now, she didn't care. "Besides..There is another reason why I want to dig here."
"You mean that it isn't to prove the Phantom's existence?"
"Oh everyone knows he did. It is practically a fact. But with my research I have discovered something." It was now that Armand's interest was finally peaked.
"What did you discover?" He asked. His blue eyes twinkled. Christine smiled.
"I don't think the De Chagny's are really De Chagny's." Armand stopped and stared at his sister in disbelief.
"You mean.." Christine nodded.
"Yes. I believe that the child to come of the Union between Christine Daae and Raoul De Chagny was really Erik's."
"WHAT!?" Her brother exclaimed causing their leader to turn. Christine smiled at him.
"Sorry. He is just excited to be here." Danvers smirked and turned leading them to the Site manager who was already walking towards them. "We shall talk about this later at the hotel." She whispered to her brother as she turned to greet the manger who was a stocky man with a kind manner. Far better than Danvers.
"Ah Miss Winters! Glad you could make it." His handshake was firm and friendly. "I'm Jonathan McGregor. But please call me Johnny. "He looked to Danvers and nodded. "I think she is good hands now so you can get back to do whatever you suits do." Danvers nodded and walked off already on his cell phone. "Grave lookin' man if ya ask me. Don't worry Miss Winter's. I'm sure he'll warm up to you in about a year or so." Johnny grinned. Christine couldn't help but chuckle.
"I have no doubt and please, Call me Christine." Johnny chuckled.
"You'll have to be careful with a name like that around here. You might invite the ghost of so many years ago." Christine couldn't help but chuckle.
"Of course. Oh and this is my brother, Armand." Johnny and Armand shook hands.
"A pleasure lad. Well I suppose you want to see the site. Down here." He hands Christine and her brother a hard hat and they follow him towards the over view of the dig site.
Armand and Johnny walked ahead of her as Christine took in the entire site. Here she finally was. In the Paris Opera House. She smiled once more about to catch up with her brother and site manager when a cold chill swept through her. She shivered and looked around. There was a whisper on the wind. "Chrissstine.." She looked around. She was either hearing things or someone was playing a sick joke. Just then, she caught a shadow out of the corner of her eye. She swirled around furious about to tell who ever was walking around that is wasn't funny but no one was there. "Impossible." Christine whispered. Suddenly out of nowhere, something screeched and jumped at her. She jumped and screamed in surprise when she saw that it was just a Siamese cat. Johnny and Armand were already running back to see what happened.
"Miss Winters! Are you al.." Johnny stopped when he saw the cat. "Ah I see you have met Ayeshia.." Christine was still trying to catch her breath.
"Ayeshia?" She looked to the cat that was rubbing herself against Christine's legs. Christine bent down to stroke the cat.
"Aye. She just showed up one day and took a liking to me and the crew. So we kept her and named her.."
"After the Phantom's cat." Christine finished for him. Johnny grinned.
"Well I see you have done your homework. Well anyways, she is harmless. The lads here think she's a good omen. But come on and I'll introduce you to the crew." Johnny turned as Armand who was giggling the whole time followed. Christine shot her brother a glare and then turned to the cat.
"No more jumping out at me and we will get along, alright?" Ayeshia meowed and rubbed against her hand before walking over to sit next to something that seemed be made of brass. She meowed again as if to beckoned Christine over. "What do you have there, little one?" She walked over and examined the object. It was a key. An old-fashioned brass key. Christine brushed off the dirt and turned it around. Where did this key belong? Christine was about to call to her bother and Johnny that she found something when the chill came back. But this time with the sense of something watching her. But it wasn't threatening. She stood and looked around. No one was there. She shook her head and slipped the key into her pocket. Something wanted her to have it. Suddenly Christine heard her brother.
"CHRIS!"
"COMING!" She yelled as she raced over to her brother and Johnny, convinced that she had found an important clue.
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Danvers growled as he turned away from watching the young woman walk away from cat. He thought he saw her pocket something but was too far away to be sure. He took out his cell phone and called his contact. "Hey..It's Danvers. She bought her brother for protection. But I don't think she will be hard to scare away. But I think she might lead us closer to it than before."
"But what is she finds it!?" The voice on the other end asked. Danvers grinned sinisterly.
"Then unfortunately she will have an accident'. Sure, there are enough rotten boards to cause a cave in. But don't worry. I shall take care of it. I have to go. I'll keep you up to date." With that, he hung up and walked over to his car, driving off. . He had to prepare. For if this Christine found what they were looking for, his other employer would be very unhappy. He just hoped that meddlesome ghost would leave her be.
