Chapter 1 – Entwined in Love's Duet.
Written by Stephanie Destler
Authors Note/Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or any of the music...sadly...I wish I did. This story is based on the 2004 ALW movie. Enjoy. Read And Review Please!!! Sorry for making Raoul like a bad guy mwahaha. Anyways... On with it.
Raoul jumped off the horses back quickly after they arrived safely at the Opera Populaire. He extended his hand towards Christine to assist her off of the horse, but she refused and brought herself over the horses back, slipped and fell into the snow. He extended his hand once more, but she refused and pulled herself up once more, dusting the snow off of her dress, giving him a look of pure loathing and hatred. She stared at him like this for several moments before her eyes began to water and she began to sob uncontrollably.
"How could you….my angel…you were going to kill…my angel….how dare you!" She screamed in between breaths.
Raoul forcefully took her into a tight embrace, stroking her chocolate curls roughly before pulling her an arms length to look at her.
"I only did what you would have wanted Christine…can you blame me for caring about you? I would have killed that thing if you hadn't stopped me. He's caused you enough torment Christine!"
Christine managed the courage to try and pull away from him, but the Vicomte sensed her next move and pulled her roughly to him. Christine looked at him in horror and saw the gleam of madness in his eyes, but she did not look away for she knew if she did she would regret it later.
"Please Raoul let me go! It's not meant to be like this. Please let me go and visit my sanctuary, I need to think, I beg of you, please…" She trailed off.
His eyes immediately softened at her pleas but they turned menacing once more and he looked into the eyes of his fiancée. He looked around quickly before giving her a rough kiss on the lips and let her go quickly.
"You have half an hour. I will come and see you then. I must speak to the managers anyway. We may finally be able to rid that wretched monster from our lives and then we can continue to plan our glorious wedding, my love! Half an hour, that's all." He said threateningly.
She nodded in compliance ran towards her dressing room in the opera house. She needed to talk to her angel and get him to help her. Something was wrong with Raoul and she needed her angel's help. As she entered her dressing room, she noticed a single red rose lying on the table, tied with a black ribbon. He hasn't abandoned me! Her mind soared and she clutched her rose to her breast and smiled. She walked her vanity table and grabbed a pen and a sheet of parchment, then proceeded to write a note to her angel.
My dearest angel,
I am in desperate need of your guidance. Something is wrong with the Vicomte and I fear that he might do something to harm us. Please meet me in my sanctuary in 20 minutes. He is coming to see me in 30 so I must speak to you. I am scared to go through with your production, but I will do it for you my angel. I hope to see you. I leave the rose at the mirror as a sign of truth. Please angel, I need you.
Your Obedient Student,
Christine Daae.
Christine quickly sealed the letter and changed quickly before placing her rose carefully by the mirror and running off to find the only person she knew could get her letter to him quickly: Madame Giry. She ran to her friend Meg's dressing room to enquire about her adopted mother's whereabouts, only to find Madame Giry sitting at the vanity.
"Madame Giry! I need you to deliver this notice to the Opera Ghost at once! I know you know of his whereabouts, and M. Reyer has requested that you deliver this to him as soon as possible, it's regarding tonight's performance."
Madame Giry's head shot up at the sound of her name and she looked into the face of her adopted daughter and could see worry apparent in her face.
"Christine my dear, yes I will go to him, he will have this letter in ten minutes time. Shall I expect a response from him?"
Christine nodded her head quickly and crossed her hands in front of her
"Oui, Madame tell him to write you a short note and have it delivered to me in my sanctuary. I am expecting his answer within 15 minutes. Thank you maman."
Madame Giry nodded her head and got up to leave as Christine descended her familiar path to her sanctuary for her father. She walked into the room gracefully and sat down in front of the candelabra clasping her hands together before looking around the room. At that moment, Madame Giry ran into the room with a note for Christine.
"He insisted you read it before you give it M. Reyer, Christine. I hope it is good news. I have to run and get the ballerinas prepared for tonight's performance. Good luck my dear."
With that, Madame Giry turned and ran for her rehearsal. Christine fumbled with the note her hand and hesitated to open it, clutching it in her hands as though her life would end if she let go. Finally, with trembling hands Christine opened the envelope with the red skull seal on it and read aloud.
Christine,
Your words have touched me and I am honored that you require my guidance. I am very anxious to see you perform as Amnita in my opera, and I know you will not disappoint me, so do not be afraid. I cannot come to you as of yet, but I will come visit you. Try to stall for time with the Vicomte. Make an excuse to prolong your presence at your sanctuary and I will be there post haste. I am formulating a plot to get you away from the hands of the Vicomte. So do not worry Christine. He will not hurt you. I will not let him. Be safe and be wary of what you say in his presence. Lie to him if you must. Do not aware him of my visit, for I fear it will cause you harm.
Love,
Your Angel.
Christine smiled inwardly and looked at the letter several more times before placing it beside her and lighting a candle for her father. She smiled and bowed her head in prayer and thought 'My angel will save me. Thank you father' her head lowered deep in thought, she did not hear footsteps toward her location. As Raoul called her name, her head snapped up in fear and her eyes strayed to the note. She quickly grabbed it and tucked it inside of her dress before resuming her calm appearance, although on the inside, she was anything but calm. She was afraid of his reaction if he found out that the Phantom was coming to visit her. Raoul made a mock smile towards Christine and walked to her.
"Your half an hour is up, Little Lotte, come to my salon so we may discuss these matters more privately. For you see, I have formulated a plot to rid the world of that accursed Opera Ghost…or 'angel of music' as you so foolishly believe."
Christine gasped as Raoul unveiled his plan to her. Unbeknownst to him, that angel of music watched him from the shadows, secretly urging Christine to stall for time. Christine stood up abruptly and as a result, the note from the Phantom slid out from under her dress. Christine stared in horror as the letter floated to the floor. Raoul noticed this as well and before Christine had a chance to react and snatch the note off the floor. He read the note before his face twisted with rage. He raised a hand to Christine's face and growled.
"You DARE defy me? You associate with the likes of him? Christine! You have insulted me. I could have given you everything! You were going to be a Vicomtess! How DARE you! You…You…YOU WENCH!"
With this Raoul reached his hand back and hit Christine full-force across the face, sending her flying head-first into the candelabra she had been sitting in front of. He ran to her side and dragged her up by her hair and growled into her ear.
"There is nothing for you now. I will see to it myself you are thrown into a convent for your foolish beliefs of your angel! What of him now? Where he is now? He is not here to save you because he doesn't care. He never did! Ha! No-one cares about you Christine. I thought we could have gone places. But no, you had to betray me. You've got nothing my dear. You are bound to become a common whore. Now, you have two options. You can come with me like a good little girl and be my personal bed maid if you will. Or, you can stay here with your foolish beliefs of your angel and rot away in this Opera house. What shall it be?"
Christine had never seen Raoul so angry. Why was he treating her like this? Where was her angel? Raoul was right, no one cared. She looked at him, her lip bleeding slightly. He smiled triumphantly and yanked on her hair once more. Not receiving an answer he threw her to the floor. Christine saw the face of the man she loved, standing over her like a madman, before letting the black veil of unconsciousness absorb her.
"Christine? Christine, Oh god please, mon ange you must wake up!"
Christine could faintly hear a voice urging her to wake. She didn't want to for fear it was Raoul to come and harm her again. She resisted her body's urges to wake up and hurt him, but she slowly eyes and looked up to see none other than the face or her angel. His face was blurry but she could distinctly make out the white outline of his porcelain mask. His hand reached down slowly to her and he could feel her hands supporting her head. He moved one hand to brush some of her chocolate curls out of her face. He moved beside her and brought her to rest on his chest. Christine's eyes closed again, snapping open as reality struck her. 'My angel came for me'. She thought as she looked up to his face. She could tell he had been crying and his face and eyes were red. She instinctively reached a hand up to caress his face, slowly gaining her strength back. She willingly moved her body to support itself before moving away from him slowly.
"I thought you weren't coming. Why didn't you protect me? He…I needed you angel."
His hands took hers lovingly and he pulled her to him once more.
"Christine, I would have come, but the Vicomte had police with him. He plans to execute me tonight after Don Juan Triumphant. I couldn't bear to watch so I decided against coming sooner. Please Christine, rest. You need your strength. In half an hour, when the curtain comes up, please do your best for me. Ignore the police and sing for me. I have a plan which will be set in motion. Do not worry for me Christine. I will be fine. Are you well enough to walk?"
Christine nodded as he stood up and extended his hand to her. She accepted it and he helped her to her feet before she dusted herself off and looked to the picture of his picture. He has not forgotten about me she thought gratefully as she looked into his eyes once more. She could see all the love and worry all apparent in his face at the same time. She gathered his note from him as he handed her another rose. She smiled and nodded her head to him before speaking.
"I have to go. They will be looking for me and I must get into costume. I have faith in you angel. Please be safe."
With this Christine took her angel into a fierce embrace. He wrapped his arms around her lovingly in return. After several moments, they reluctantly separated and walked towards the door. She looked at him with love once more and walked upwards towards her dressing room and towards fate. The Opera Ghost went downwards, down towards that familiar lair he called home. In time, it will hopefully be home for two. Christine, your destiny awaits you. He thought to himself as he ran to get his final preparations set for tonight. Tonight, their fates were sealed.
