A/N: Howdy Everyone! Well it's been two years since I first posted this story of FFN and I've been meaning to go back and edit it and do some rewrites. I Finally got around to it! Yay! The plot has changed a bit, but nothing too drastic. I managed to quell my drama queen tendancies for the most part. I hope you enjoy this version as much as the first! As my first story it holds a special place in my heart and I knew that I didn't do it justice the first time around. I want to thank my Beta who has been so gracious and helped me so much, you're awesome!! Anyway, please let me know what you think! I always enjoye getting reviews!
Disclaimer: I'm only going to put one disclaimer up for the ENTIRE story. I own NOTHING of POTO! Victoria however is all mine. The characterizations and plotline in this story is mine. But I Don't own any of the original characters...sadly.
Raoul, the Vicomte de Chagny, escorted his younger sister, Victoria, up the stairs of the Opera Populaire. They and there family were the newest patrons to the Opera and were stopping by to check on the progress of the company before the gala that evening. While Raoul led the way, Victoria was smilingly taking in the sights as she and her brother strolled the narrow corridors. They approached the managers' office just as Messieurs Firmin and Andre were leaving.
"Ah Bonjour Vicomte!" Monsieur Andre boomed.
Raoul gave a little bow. "Monsieur Andre, Monsieur Firmin, I would like to present to you my sister, Victoria."
She smiled sweetly and curtsied. "It is a pleasure," she said quietly.
Monsieur Firmin took her hand and placed a light kiss on the back of it. "Lady De Chagny," he purred. She withdrew her hand and hooked her arm with Raoul's once more. He'd warned earlier her about the rather unsavory natures of the money-obsessed managers.
The men began talking about 'business' matters, and Victoria soon grew bored. She looked down the passageway before pulling away from her brother. "Excusez moi, Messieurs…but I wonder, might I be permitted to walk around?"
Monsieur Andre bowed. "But of course, Mademoiselle. Would you like an escort?"
She shook her head. "No, that is not necessary, but thank you." She curtsied, turned from them and walked in the other direction, thankful to be on her own to explore. She let herself wander around, looking with curious eyes at the sights. She entered the auditorium, where the rehearsal was proceeding. She winced when she heard La Carlotta hit a particularly sour note. A lover of the arts, Victoria found it tragic that the managers of the Opera allowed Carlotta to desecrate the music she attempted to sing.
She moved to the backstage area, trying to keep out from underfoot. There, she was spotted by Madame Giry, the ballet mistress. The younger woman was taken by surprise when the older, work hardened woman, dressed in a loose fitting dress of black with her hair pulled away from her face in a tight bun, began to speak to her. Her voice was shockingly gentle in contrast to her severe appearance.
"Excusez moi…may I help you, my dear?" she asked kindly.
"No Madame, I'm just looking about. I hope I'm not interrupting anything?" she inquired.
Madame Giry shook her head "Not at all, I am Madame Giry, the ballet mistress."
"It's a pleasure Madame. I am Victoria de Chagny."
The ballet mistress raised an eyebrow but said nothing. They stood in silence for a moment. "Would You care to see the stage?"
Victoria smiled. "Yes, please!" she answered excitedly.
Madame Giry showed her around the backstage area for a few minutes. Victoria watched the ballet corps with a touch of jealousy. When the ballet mistress began shouting at the dancers Victoria took the opportunity to continue her exploration of the backstage area.
She was browsing backstage in an unpopulated area, unaware of two sets of eyes watching her. She turned to return to the auditorium but jumped when a man appeared in front of her. She brought her hand to her throat in shock. Joseph Buquet stood in front of her
"Monsieur you scared me," she breathed with a slight tremor in her voice.
He smiled evilly. "Hello there, lass.. you lost?"
She shook her head "No, I was just looking around."
"Then allow me to accompany you...we wouldn't want the Opera Ghost to spirit you away!" His chuckle was a sound that unnerved Victoria.
"Thank you, but I believe I can find my own way," she said tersely.
She tried to bypass him but he stepped back in front of her. She crossed her arms over her chest. "Please remove yourself, sir," she said firmly.
He didn't move, but took a step towards her. She pushed passed him, yelping when she felt his hand on her arm. She felt the breath leave her lungs as she was thrown into the wall, pain shooting up her back as she was pressed roughly against the wall.
"Remove your hand!" she hissed, though he didn't seem to hear her. He pressed his body against hers; reacting purely by instinct, she raised her knee, hitting him squarely between the legs. He dropped to the floor, cupping himself.
"God damn you, you bitch!" he seethed.
With fear and adrenaline coursing through her body, she stepped over him and hurried away down the corridor. She panicked when she heard uneven footsteps behind her. She quickened her pace, her attention directed toward the man who was stumbling along behind her, so was quite surprised when strong hands seemed to come out of nowhere and pulled her into the darkness.
A leather-clad hand covered her mouth, preventing her from screaming. Victoria tried frantically to look around, but was unable to see anything in the inky darkness that surrounded her.
"Be silent," a voice breathed into her ear.
She shivered, unsure if it was from silkiness of the voice or from fear. She subdued the whimpering sounds she had not been aware she was making until that moment, and heard someone stumbling down the corridor and past her hiding spot. Joseph Buquet was still searching for her, but she imagined he wouldn't think to look in the shadows. Her breathing had steadied, and she calmed even more when the hand was removed from her mouth.. She realized then that she felt a lean, masculine body behind her. She stiffened in shock.
"Thank you, Monsieur." There was only silence. She shifted uncomfortably. "Who are you?" she queried. Again there was no response.
Finally he spoke. "You should be more careful…there are unsavory things to be found roaming about my opera house."
She raised an eyebrow. "YOUR opera house?"
She heard a deep chuckle in the dark. "Yes, MY opera house. You and your brother will do well to remember that, Lady De Chagny"
She started "How did you know who we are?"
"I know everything that goes on within these walls." She felt very uncomfortable talking to a voice without a body. "It would be easier for me to speak to you if I could see you."
"I am afraid that is impossible…you shall never see me, but do not doubt that I am always here, watching."
She shivered as his breath caressed her ear. "What is it you want?"
"Merely to welcome you to my opera. And now, with that having been said, I bid you adieu." And he was gone.
She stepped out of the shadows, looking around warily for the creepy stagehand who had accosted her. She sighed in relief when she saw that he wasn't anywhere to be found. She made her way back to the auditorium seeking her brother. He gave her an odd look that asked, 'where have you been?' She attempted a weak smile, hoping it would be enough to satisfy her brother's curiosity.
"Victoria, I was afraid you had gotten lost!" he proclaimed to her once she was by his side.
She smiled, embarrassed. "I was looking around the opera house, and got turned around somewhere." She shifted uncomfortably; she was not a very good liar.
"Fortunately you found your own way back to here. Messieurs Andre and Firmin are about to introduce us to the company." She smiled and linked her arm with his as he led her to the stage area.
Victoria merely smiled demurely as Messieurs Andre and Firmin introduced Raoul as the new patron. She wasn't paying much attention to what was being said. She was looking around at the members of the company, and someone caught her eye. She would recognize that curly head of hair and laugh anywhere…
She excused herself, and walked over to a young ballet dancer. When she tapped her on the shoulder, the young girl whirled around.
"Excusez moi, Mademoiselle …Victoria?"
Victoria smiled. "Christine, how are you?"
The younger woman laughed when Victoria pulled her into a hug. "I'm very well!" the young singer answered happily.
"Yes, I can see that. I always knew you would be here, someday." She gestured to the theater around them.
Christine blushed at her praise. "Thank you".
Victoria shifted uncomfortably. "I was very sorry to hear about your father's death. He was a great man, I always enjoyed the time we spent with the two of you at the seashore when we were children."
Christine nodded "Thank you, Victoria. We did have some fun times!"
Victoria furrowed her brow when she heard La Carlotta making a commotion behind her. She tossed a dirty look over her shoulder at the Prima Donna before she noticed the disapproving look from her brother. She plastered on her practiced smile, earning her a subtle wink from Raoul.
"I must be going. I'm sure I will be seeing you, Christine!" she said, as she turned to return to her brother.
"Au revoir!" Christine called to Victoria as she hurried off.
Victoria joined her brother as he was finishing up with the managers. He bent down to whisper in her ear, "Let's get out of here before the Diva sings this aria!"
She tried to stifle a chuckle. "Sounds like an excellent plan to me. But what is going on?" she said, referring to the whispers going around the cast and crew of the Opera, and to the concerned look on Raoul's normally relaxed, smiling face.
"I will tell you when we get to the carriage."
She raised an eyebrow. "You had better," she teased gently. They made a hasty retreat; as they were walking out she caught a movement from above out of the corner of her eye. She looked up into the flies, but there was nothing there…at least she didn't think she saw anything. She shivered, and hurried to keep up with Raoul.
Once they reached the seclusion of their carriage, he relaxed a bit. "It seems there is a ghost running about the Opera Populaire!"
She laughed. "Surely you jest! A ghost? Please, old wives tales and superstition."
He spread his hands helplessly. "That's the rumor going around anyway. They seem to be obsessed with it!" he added, as an afterthought.
"So you do not believe there is a ghost?" she asked nervously.
He shook his head. "No, I don't. Why? Don't tell me you believe those silly superstitions! Honestly, Victoria, Philippe paid a pretty penny for you to study under some of the best educators in Europe. You are far too intelligent to believe in such silly things!"
She dismissed his concern with a wave of her hand. "Oh posh, you know me better than that!"
He grinned at her affectionately. "Of course, no one knows you better!" he teased.
She threw her glove at him, playfully. "You!" she said with exasperation.
"Are you looking forward to the gala tonight?" he asked her after a few minutes.
"Of course…you know how I love the Opera."
He rolled his eyes. "Oh yes, I know. If it weren't for your love of the Opera, I highly doubt that either Philippe or myself would have endeavored to become patrons."
"Well, of course my brothers would have excellent taste!" she exclaimed.
The rest of their ride was spent in silence. Victoria hadn't mentioned Christine to her brother, though she knew how fond he had been of her when they were younger. Her childhood friend had harbored quite a girlhood crush on her brother. It wasn't hard to see why. Good looks ran in the De Chagny family, Raoul had inherited their father's blonde hair, which he wore in locks that hung to his shoulders. A strong jaw line and lovely green eyes added to his looks. He was the spitting image of their father.
Victoria had honey blond hair, like her mother, and like her mother she had brilliant blue eyes that rivaled the purest sapphire. Creamy skin, soft features and a beautiful smile added to the youngest De Chagny's charm. Many men had asked for her hand, but her eldest brother, Philippe, had left the decsion entirely up to her. This caused many tongues to wag in higher Parisian society, but the family was so well known and respected, and had enough money that such a small deviation from tradition was discretely overlooked.
As their carriage pulled into the winding driveway of her home, Raoul promised to return to escort her to the Gala later that evening.
That evening, Raoul and Victoria were seated in their box, chatting until the lights dimmed, signaling the start of the performance. It was enchanting; she watched with amusement her brother's reaction when he recognized the young soprano singing the lead.
"Can it be? Can it be Christine?" He rose and began to applaud. "Bravo!" he shouted. "Long ago, it seems so long ago. How young and innocent we were!"
She applauded as well, watching her brother with a smile on her face. He turned and abruptly left their box. He didn't have to tell her his destination. She knew exactly where he was heading. She sat forward in her seat to watch the last of the performance, and joined the rest of the audience when they rose to give her a standing ovation.
"Brava, my dear," she said softly.
She rose and took her cloak from the box keeper. She instructed the woman to advise Raoul when he returned to the box that she had decided to return home without him, and to remind him to congratulate Christine on her behalf.
She was about to exit the box when something caught her eye on the shelf by the door. Certain the shelf had been empty earlier, she looked about the box with suspicion. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, she shrugged and departed the box, picking up the object and lifting it to her nose as she swept out the door.
It was a sweetly scented crimson rose with a black ribbon tied around the stem.