She watched as the distance between them became greater within moments. She watched the expression on his marred face morph from grief to bitter anguish. He pleaded with his eyes, begging her to come back yet they both knew she could not. After all, it was he who had made her leave. Then of course, there was Raoul, who's neck now bore the burn of a rope and left him still gasping for his breath as he pushed the gondola through the cavern. She supported him with her arm, but she could not tear her eyes from the man standing on the shore of the underground lake. In the distance, she could hear the mob of performers and audience members as they pursued him mercilessly. She glanced at Raoul, who was not faring well…his wet hair clung to his face and neck and he was exhausted.
Gently, she coaxed him to lie in the boat as she took over the steering. He did not fight her, only laid down. She looked back again, and the Phantom was gone, but she heard the faint sound of shattering glass. The tears streamed down her face and the final time she looked back at that underground haven, the only thing she could see was Meg Giry holding his white mask in her small white hands. Meg looked up and met her eyes for a moment, questioning, fearful. Sighing, she turned her focus back to rowing and when they finally reached the foot of the stairs, she helped her young love out of the boat, holding his weight as they ascended the spiraling staircase and into the tunnel which led to the two way mirror entrance.
Madame Giry waited for them in that dressing room, sitting on the sofa in silent prayer. When she heard the mirror slide open, she looked at the couple, her face whitening when she saw Raoul's state.
"He must see a doctor." She said, taking the other side. "We must find Meg and get him to a doctor at once."
"I am here Maman." The girl's voice came from the doorway as everyone turned to see her holding the mask. "He's gone." She said sadly and for a moment, Madame Giry's eyes flashed with passing grief, but the task at hand was more important.
Raoul suffered from a concussion, but thankfully had found his breath again. He had bruises all along his neck and arms and on his cheek. She herself had bruises all along her arms. One particularly large one on her upper arm. The doctor eyed them both as he noticed their wet tattered clothes and especially that she was wearing a wedding dress. Still, if he did think anything of it, he didn't say a word and sent them on their way. They then took Raoul to his parent's home to rest and returned to the opera, their home to sleep. The auditorium had been half destroyed, but thankfully the fire had been doused before it could spread to any other part of the opera.
She cried into her pillow that night, feeling a sense of emptiness she hadn't felt since her father had died nine years before for she knew that her Angel would not be there to sing her to sleep. Only horrid, unending silence. She was nearly asleep when she heard a slow whisper in the back of her mind beckoning her to wake.
"Christine…" She rose quickly, becoming hopeful, but realized she must have been imagining it. As she made to go back to bed, she noticed near the door to her room there was a small slip of paper. Hastily, she snatched it up and took it to her bed with her, turning on her kerosene lamp.
Christine, my beloved Christine…
Do not fear for me, for I am free now…your kiss set me free. I shall not be returning to Paris or the opera, and regrettably, you. Please forgive me for every pain I have caused you, I shall have to bear the weight of my sins for the rest of my insignificant life. I wish you every happiness in this world and I want you to know that after every horrible thing that has happened in my life, it was not a waste for you were in it, and made me better for knowing you. I didn't lie when I said I loved you…
Goodbye, my Angel…
Yours forever and always,
Erik
Her tears did not stop her from smiling as she read the last word which would play upon her lips like a sacred prayer.
"Erik." She whispered into the night. So he had a name. She cradled the letter in her hands as she lay back upon the bed, unable to cease her tears and she wept. For Raoul, for herself and for Erik…Sleep took over and she slept in a dark long sleep without dreams.
"Christine…Christine!" Christine's eyes shot open as sunlight poured into her room. She woke to see her father drawing back the curtains. Gustave Daaé grinned when he saw her awake, the lines around his eyes more prominent and the gray in his hair beginning to show.
"Get up silly child! You have an audition today!" He said, messing her chocolate curls. She jumped out of bed, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and yawned. She could hear the faint sound of her Aunt Annie and Meg chattering downstairs. Groggily she pulled her corset and stockings on and attempted to tame her wild curls. As she stared into her full length mirror, the events of her strange dream came back to her and she gasped. It had all been a dream! The Angel, the opera, Raoul, Erik…There was no Erik. She hadn't seen Raoul de Chagny in nine years and recalled reading in the paper the other day that he had married and his wife was with child. Her father was alive and well.
There was only Christine, sixteen years old and preparing to audition for the Paris Opera Populaire. Her father had trained her meticulously over the years and they both felt she was ready to audition. She touched the portrait of her mother, Josephine which sat on her night table as she tied her hair back into a blue ribbon and pulled on her favorite blue dress. They hadn't been to Paris in a long while, almost two years and the last time they had seen the opera Hannibal staring La Carlotta. Carlotta Guidicelli had resigned as prima donna just recently after marrying and having a child. Since the opera was under new management, they were desperately seeking a younger woman so as to get more years out of her.
"What are you smiling for?" Gustave asked his daughter as she bounced into the kitchen and kissed his cheek, hugging him a bit harder than usual. He chuckled.
"It's just so good to see you!" She cried, remembering the dream. She hugged Aunt Annie and Meg as she sat beside her father, who gave her a mug of warm water. She made a face but he looked at her firmly.
"Darling, it is better to drink warm when you are going to sing." He said and she sighed, drinking it.
"I had the strangest dream last night Daddy." She said, looking over the sheet music of the song she was going to sing.
"Oh?" He asked, reading his paper. She set the music down, looking from Meg to Aunt Annie back to her father.
"Do you remember when you used to tell silly stories?" She asked and he looked up.
"Yes, of course love…" He said, confused and she sighed.
"Remember the Angel of Music?" He nodded. "Well I dreamed I met him, well sort of…and I was…" She stopped herself as all three of them eyed her. She realized how ridiculous she sounded and she bit her lip.
"Well, it was just a silly dream." She said with a nervous giggle. Her father raised an eyebrow.
"Christine Daaé, you and your silly dreams." He smiled, "You're just like your mother."
At noon all three of them headed into town and to the Opera Populaire. Christine had a small feeling of apprehension, though when they arrived, she felt no fear and surprisingly, led the way inside.
"Christine, you've hardly ever been here! Be careful not to get lost!" Gustave said worriedly as she turned around, her curls bouncing.
"Don't worry Daddy, I feel like I know this place." She said and nearly died when she saw the familiar male form standing in front of her. His light brown hair was elegantly brushed back and hung nicely at his shoulders.
"Oh my God…" Meg said, stepping beside Christine. "It's the Vicomte de Chagny." She said and Christine looked down at her.
"You know him?" She asked and Meg nodded.
"Well, he's our new patron…I don't actually know him." She laughed. The Vicomte turned and noticed the four of them standing there as a small smile of recognition came over his face. He began to stride toward them, his face radiant.
"Monsieur Daaé? From the seaside all those years ago?" He asked as Gustave looked at him, trying to place him.
"Raoul. Raoul de Chagny." The boy said, offering his hand. Gustave grinned in recognition as he shook his hand.
"Ah yes!" He smiled, pulling Christine's small form in front of him. "You remember little Christine surely?" He asked as Raoul looked down at her. She was blushing furiously yet staring at him as if they had only just seen each other. He took her hand and kissed it.
"Christine! How nice it is to see you both again! My God, it's been nine years hasn't it? Still telling ghost stories?" He asked her. She was unable to tear her eyes off of the gold ring adorning his wedding finger.
"I uh…" She couldn't find words so she simply smiled up at him as he beckoned for a girl with dark blonde hair to join him.
"Christine, Monsieur Daaé…I would like to present my wife Rachelle." He said as the girl kindly took both of their hands. She was heavily pregnant. Christine's heart hurt…only hours before he had been her fiancé and now he was married to this beautiful woman and expecting a child.
"It's so nice to meet you. Actually, Raoul has spoken of you both many a time!" She laughed, looking up at Raoul. "Please excuse me…darling, I must go sit down." She looked at Christine again. "The disadvantages of having swollen feet and carrying enough weight to break your back!" She laughed and Christine couldn't help but crack a smile. Raoul kissed his wife and watched her walk into the auditorium. Meg and Madame Giry excused themselves to go watch the auditions. Gustave followed them, kissing Christine's cheek and wishing her luck.
"So, what are you doing here Christine?" Raoul asked and she sighed, realizing they were alone.
"I'm uh…I'm auditioning." She said and he nodded.
"You always were a good singer…" He said and nudged her playfully, "Little Lotte!" He teased and she had to turn her head a moment to swallow the lump in her throat.
"Yes…so much has obviously happened since those days by the sea." She said as a nervous little man stepped into the lobby.
"All ladies auditioning…please step onto the stage!" He looked at Raoul nervously. "You know how he gets if we don't start on time." Raoul nodded, rolling his eyes.
"Well, you should probably…" He began and she nodded.
"Yes…it's been nice…seeing you." She said sadly and he nodded.
"Hopefully we'll be seeing more of you around here little Daaé." He said and kissed her hand before hurrying in to his wife. She sighed and felt the hairs on her neck stand as she was sure someone was watching her, but when she turned around there was no one but here in the lobby. She sighed and made her way to the stage, remembering the way somehow.
"Please state your name and the song you will be using to audition." The same nervous little man said as the five girls auditioning stood in a row. Christine would be the last to go since she had waited so long before going onstage. The other girls were dismissed as it came down to the last two. The first girl, a heavyset redhead stepped forward.
"Cécile Bordeaux." She began shakily, "I'm going to sing L'abborrita rivale...Già i sacerdoti adunans from Aida."As the music began a temperamental voice in the back called out.
"That aria is for a mezzo-soprano and we are looking for a soprano." The nervous little man looked back for a moment and seemed to converse with the manager until he turned back around.
"Er…do you have anything else?" He asked the heavyset girl.
"No, I…"
"Next!" The manager called as Christine strained to see the audience in the dim auditorium. She could make out Raoul and his wife along with her father and Aunt Annie. She looked over and saw Meg in the wings. She felt her hands begin to shake along with her knees as the girl ran offstage crying.
"What is your name dear?" The music director asked. She looked down and was pleasantly surprised.
"Monsieur Reyer?" She asked and he grinned.
"Do I know you?" He asked and she shook her head, cursing herself for being so stupid.
"Just…heard of you." She said.
"Could we please get on with this?" The manager's voice rang through the auditorium and Christine could tell he was irritated. Yet, he too seemed familiar though she knew it was neither M. Firmin nor M. André.
"Uh…sorry. I'm Christine Daaé…" She looked at her father, who nodded supportively. "I will be singing Anges pur, anges radieux from Faust." She said shakily.
"Go on then…" The nervous man said as she cleared her throat and stepped forward.
Anges purs, anges
radieux
Portez mon âme au sein hes cieux!
Dieu juste, à
toi je m'abandone!
Dieu bon, je suis à toi, pardonne!
Anges
purs, anges radieux,
Portez mon âme au sein des cieux!…
"Thank you, that will be all." The manager called and whispered something to the small man, who nodded. Christine looked nervously at her father then at Raoul and his wife who were grinning and talking quietly together. She could not fight the jealousy she felt seeing them together, but it had been nine years and she could not have expected him to wait forever.
"We shall discuss this matter with our patron and let you all know within twenty minutes time!" The little man said as Christine sank to sit on the edge of the stage as her father, Meg and Aunt Annie met her.
"You were wonderful!" Meg cried. Christine shrugged.
"I was so nervous I thought I might die. That manager sure isn't the most pleasant person." She said and Meg nodded.
"He is very particular." She agreed.
Christine looked up at the ceiling and admired the still hanging chandelier.
"It is quite lovely isn't it?" Antoinette asked, noticing her eyes. She nodded.
"It would be a shame if it fell, wouldn't it?" She asked and Annie looked at her strangely.
"Yes, I suppose it would be…" She said, looking at Gustave who only shrugged.
"Your hard work has paid off love." He said, kissing Christine's cheek. "Now, even if you don't get chosen, you know you did your best." He said and she nodded.
"Well, you taught me and…"
"Daaé!" The manager's voice rang through the auditorium. She looked up as Raoul eagerly motioned for her to join the circle with the manager and his assistant. She squeezed her father's hand.
"Well, this is it…" She said, trying to stop her hand from shaking. They all wished her luck as she tentatively made her way to the three men.
"Miss Daaé, it seems our manager is interested in your talent." Raoul said excitedly as he pulled her into the circle. It was very hard to see their faces in the dim light, but she smiled politely at all of them.
"I…thanks!" She said and the manager stood unmoved with his arms folded.
"Where did you train?" He asked firmly. She nearly leapt out of his skin. That voice…she knew that voice.
"I um…my father taught and trained me…"
The man crooked his finger at the small man beside him, whispering to him. The little man then turned to the waiting girls on the stage.
"Thank you ladies…you are all dismissed! We've made our decision!" Christine's jaw dropped.
"You want…you want…me?" The manager nodded, unamused.
"You were the best plain and simple…you start tomorrow morning at nine. Don't be late, I despise tardiness." He said and dismissed her with a wave of his hand. The small man shook her hand eagerly,
"I'm Joseph Buquet." He said and she looked at him confused.
"No you're not." She said…this was not the drunken, red faced man she remembered from the dream. The dream…it was only a dream. And yet, he did look as she imagined Buquet might have had he not been a dirty drunk.
"Beg your pardon?" He asked as Raoul looked down at her amused.
"I'm sorry…I'm a bit out of sorts." She said, rubbing her head. A dream…just a dream…nothing more…She stepped back into the lobby where the sunlight was streaming and ran to her father excitedly.
"They took me! They want me! I start tomorrow!" She cried as her father swept her up into his arms.
"I knew you could do it Christine!" He cried happily, looking toward the Heavens. "Oh Josephine! Your daughter!" He laughed as she embraced Antoinette and Meg who had to rush off to their ballet rehearsal. "My daughter, the prima donna."
She noticed the manager was chatting to the side with his assistant as she realized she did not even know his name. The Vicomte and his wife emerged as she yawned.
"God, it will be a blessing when I don't have twenty five extra pounds to heft around! You owe me Raoul de Chagny!" She laughed, winking at Christine.
"Nice to meet you Miss Daaé!" She called and Christine could not help but like the girl. She smiled back.
"You too Madame le Vicomtess!" She said and the girl shook her head.
"Rachelle!" Christine nodded shyly as they left. She bit her lip, feeling a bit of sorrow for a moment but remembered that pitying one's self is never the way to get anything done.
"Daddy…do you want to meet the manager?" She asked grabbing her father's hand. He nodded as she pulled him over to the two men. Monsieur Buquet looked up and smiled.
"Ah, Mademoiselle…may we help you?" He asked and she nodded.
"This is my father, Gustave Daaé. I just wanted to introduce him to my new manager."
"Daaé…" The manager said, still with his back turned to them. He was obviously reading over a contract. She looked at her father.
"Yes sir…" She replied.
"As in the violinist?" He asked, still occupied. Gustave grinned.
"It's been a few years since I retired but yes…" He said and the man suddenly stood taller.
For the first time, Christine realized just how tall he was, even taller than her father. He had silky, thick black hair which was neatly slicked back. As he turned, she felt her heart fall into her stomach. Their eyes met, his light green eyes with her brown eyes, but only for a moment before he shook her father's hand.
"It is really a pleasure to meet you sir. I have seen you play at numerous parties and concerts. You were one of the best! I'm sure you don't remember me, but I believe we spoke at the LaCoste's Christmas gala around four years ago?" Gustave studied him for a moment, trying to place him and then brightened.
"Ah yes! Of course! You're the famous prodigy of Europe!" He chuckled. "Good to see you again…how funny that you are now my daughter's employer. I trust you will take good care of her?"
The manager nodded, chuckling.
"Of course…we'll give her some food every now and then…" He joked and winked over at Christine who nearly fainted as she fell against Monsieur Buquet. He shook Gustave's hand and grinned.
"Erik. Erik Destler." He said and Gustave smiled.
"I think you two will be great friends." He said, nodding toward Christine who was looking frantically between the two men. A dream Christine…it was a dream…Erik…Angel…Yet, when their eyes met again she had to wonder. Or was it?
"How about we all get some dinner?" Erik asked, and when they agreed he turned, fully facing Christine now and the shock of his face nearly killed her right there…for, it was completely and entirely the most flawless, handsome face she had ever seen in her life.
