Magdalene Denzel rushed around her room within the apartment she shared with her dear friend. Humming excitedly to herself as she packed for her and her room mates trip to Paris
"Cosette, are you ready yet? I do not wish to be late for our plane" She said, her strong middle class English accent clear as crystal in every word she spoke
"Just need to shut my suitcase." As usual, Cosette had over packed, but these were things she needed! Film for her camera, her camcorder, tapes for that, sheet music, and of course clothes and other essentials. She snapped the suitcase shut before it could flip open and double checked that her beloved flute was safely in its case. "All set." Cosette was anxious to be on their way. Although she had strong French ancestry she'd never been to France before. She couldn't wait. Mag sighed, shaking her head.
"You say that and then you forget something. It's always been like that, no matter what... Well I think that's the last Phantom based thing I have which I can take" She said placing her half face mask into her case. "Come along Cosette, Paris awaits" There was a blast of a horn outside "And so does our ride for that matter" she said, making her way to the door with her many cases. Grinning, Cosette headed to the door, where she suddenly froze
"Crap! The plane tickets" She rushed to grab them from the table, handing them to Mag. "Maybe you'd better hold on to these." Mag sighed, snatching them from her friend as they got into the cab. They were just in time for the plane.
The journey passed uneventfully and soon they were making their way to one of the best hotels in Paris. Magdalene's parents may have disapproved of her lifestyle, and her, but when it came to expenses they only got the best for their daughter and her friend. Mag, who was wearing her Luna Lovegood glasses, beamed at the building
"My parents have really out done them self this time, come on Cosette." Cosette let out a whistle as she followed her friend.
"Nice. Very nice" Mag walked up to the front desk and began to speak fluent French with the young lady behind the counter. She soon received the key to their room, waiting for the bellboy to get their bags. Cosette could understand most of what was being said, but she still needed to take a few more years of French before she could be truly fluent at it. She followed the bellboy along with Mag. Mag looked round boaredly. She took off her glasses whacking them with her hand
"These things don't work, come on we best take the elevator since we're on the top floor" She said grinning at Cosette as she pressed the button for the elevator. Cosette nodded, looking forward to seeing the view from their room. She loved being up high, being able to take in so much that way.
Mag walked in with her cases into what was the most expensive room in the hotel, sighing looking round boaredly
"I guess it'll do" Cosette headed out to the balcony. The view was great, but there was a view she wanted to see even more.
"When we go to the Opera Garnier, we have to go up to the roof under Apollo's Lyre."
"My dear, you can have the roof, I want box five. Encase Erik shows up" She sighed happily "If only" Cosette laughed too, and teased
"Just remember, if you go there-" she sings it the way Madame Giry would have "Keep your hand at the level of your eye." On a roll with Phantom destinations she wondered aloud "Think we could find which dressing room was Christine's and try the mirror?" Mag clapped happily, beaming
"Oh most definitely, speaking of which excuse me for a moment" She said, running into the room where she had put her cases. Cosette watched her friend, knowing she had a large collection of Phantom collectables and wondering which one she'd gone to get. Mag rushed back out in her Think of me Christine dress from the stage show. She spun round, smirking. Cosette grinned and said
"OK, now you have to sing it. And remember, Erik could be listening." She loved to hear her friend sing. Mag smirked, nodding
"I know, but I shall when we are in his home. He may have good hearing but not so good that he'd hear from across the city" She picked up the scarf like thing which went with the costume and her original Gaston Leurox book. "Come on you, Erik awaits" Cosette didn't have to be told twice, happily following her friend to the Opera.
Mag skipped along the streets, her eyes never leaving the pages of her book as she went and yet she never once walked into any of the people near her. Cosette noticed how easy it was for her friend to read and walk. How she wished she could do that.
They were soon there, with the Opera house right in front of them. The history and significance of this really was a bit overwhelming.
"We're actually here, where it all happened." Mag looked up as if she had just woken up
"Oh we're here. Well come on, my grandparents arranged so we can have the keys to every place in the building" she chuckled "being spoilt has its up points"
"Definitely" This would be so brilliant! They could go anywhere in the Opera they wanted! "Which stop is our first one?" She smiled having a guess it would be box five.
"Where do you think?" She said, rushing ahead, up the grand stair case, spinning round singing 'Masquerade' madly. As much as she loved her friend's singing, Cosette's mischievous streak took hold and she couldn't help joining in, but instead of "Masquerade" she started in with "Why So Silent?" Mag sighed, shaking her head, as she ran up the two large flights of stairs with ease to box five. To Cosette, there was an eerie, almost mystical feeling to this place, the box from which Erik had watched his beloved Christine perform, where he'd been when he made Carlotta croak, left messages for the managers, left boxes of English sweets for Madame Giry, and there sat his armchair. Cosette looked at it.
"Dare I?" Mag rolled her eyes, pushing Cosette aside and sat in the arm chair, smiling happily
"Mmm, Erikey goodness" She laughed. Cosette laughed too. This was the best. Mischievous again she imitated
"Did I not instruct that box five was to be left empty?" she said laughing again as she did
"My turn" Mag stood up, shoving her friend into the seat, as she rushed behind the pillar "Excuse me, this is my box" she said, in a ghostly voice. Cosette fought the urge to laugh, pretending to look around frightened. She chuckled, spinning round the pillar, singing randomly yet perfectly as ever.
"Just don't send any chandeliers crashing down," Cosette teased. Mag immediately stopped, glowering at her
"Are you saying that I sound like Carlotta?"
"I didn't SAY that," Cosette teased. "Oh don't worry, you sing as perfectly as ever." She smirked, curtsying
"I know, but thank you." Cosette grinned
"So, ready to find Christine's dressing room?" she asked.
"Yes, but first, how about a walk back stage" She said, as she opened the door.
"Good idea. That's where everything happens in an Opera house, after all" Mag led the way, her nose buried deep in her book as she walked. Cosette grinned again at her friend's ability to read and walk without walking into anything.
"I'll just stick to keeping my eyes on where I'm going."
"Hmm, oh yes I guess" She said, walking through the curtains to the front of the stage, where she began to sing the Jewel song from Faust. Cosette let herself wonder what it would be like to really perform on stage, her playing the flute and her friend singing. Mag's certainly was well on her way. Mag gasped, stopping suddenly
"Cosette, I can see him! He's in box five!" Her friend must be joking, but Cosette soon realized by the way she had stopped her song so suddenly that this wasn't the case. She looked up at box five and gasped, herself seeing a figure in a black cloak disappearing.
"That- that was him! It was really him!" But Erik had lived over a hundred years ago. No way. Was someone playing a joke? Or was it really a ghost? How could it really be Erik? "We have to go see about this." Mag burst out laughing. She moved her wrist and it was gone.
"Cloak on a string, can't believe you fell for it Cosette" She said, still laughing.
"Hey you can't do something like that! Only Erik can," Cosette said in fake anger. She chuckled, as she continued on, walking on with her book in hand. Cosette shook her head. "You know, if Erik were here today, you and him would probably be a good match for each other." It was true; they were alike in many ways.
"Yes well..." Mag walked into someone, her book went flying from her hands landing splaying open on the ground "Watch..." She gasped, walking on was a man who could only be one person. The Persian "Cosette, are you seeing this?" Cosette nodded open-mouthed.
"I'm seeing it but-" she looked at her friend. "This is something else you came up with, like with the cloak, right?"
"What? No! I am many brilliant things, but I am not that brilliant a magician... Oh this is so -brilliant, but that can only mean one thing, the torture chambers open..." she said, picking up her book and running on "Come on Cosette." Cosette didn't have to be told twice. This was the chance of a lifetime. She didn't know how this was possible, but right now all that mattered was that it was happening. Mag ran on, leaping easily through and past everything that got in her way, laughing happily as she went. Cosette followed, getting a bit of a stitch in her side but not caring. The Persian- The Persian- was behind them. Would they see Erik too? What would happen when they went into the torture chamber? She laughed wildly, spinning round and yet not falling over "Come on Cosette" She said, in a sing songy voice
"Coming, coming" This was so surreal. Cosette's heart raced wildly. Mag swung on ropes to doge people, props and sets with ease. At this pace they would be there soon. Cosette could only imagine what it would be like. She knew whatever magic was letting this happen there was no telling how long it would last so they had to hurry encase it ended all too soon. Mag suddenly let go of the rope and flew right down through a trap door. When she landed she burst out laughing
"Mind that drop Cosette!" She called. Cosette laughed.
"OK. Coming down" She dropped and looked around at the room made of mirrors. "Wow!"
"Shush you ninny brained twit! The doors open, so watch your step, we wish to make it seem like we came in the front door and not the window" She said, tip toeing into the room, her ballet classes coming great use now. Cosette followed quietly, wondering how exactly they'd explain being there at all if they run into Erik. Mag gasped silently, rushing soundlessly to the bed "My goodness, this is just too real" She whispered as she tip toed out of the room.
"But- but how can it be? I mean I know it's possible to find this place but how did we see the Persian?"
"How do you think? We have somehow travelled into the book or just before it... Somewhere in Susan Kay's if not near the end if I am correct" She whispered. Could time travel really be possible? What had they done that would make them travel back in time? Perhaps it was just the strength of the magic and history in this place.
