Author's Note:

Hey, guys! This is my first phanfic so please be nice. :) The phanfic is based on Leroux, Kay, ALW and the 2004 film. Reviews are welcome, especially constructive suggestions. Also, as a non-native speaker, I would welcome any comments on language use. Thx a lot! I'll always try my best to bring something new to all readers.

Disclaimer:

I do not own the Phantom of the Opera, which belongs only to Gaston Leroux, Susan Kay and Andrew Lloyd Webber. The 2004 film was directed by Joel Schmacher.

Der Triumph

Dedicated to Steven, who used to be music-mania and would have definitely loved The Phantom of the Opera.

Prologue

Christine had gone.

Erik sat by the table, sipping his coffee and scanning the newspaper in the apartment of the Persian.

He was worn out both physically and mentally, but not weak enough to break down, after the violent scene beneath the opera house last night. He was exhausted not for his fight with Raoul de Chagny, but for his own murderous intentions. It could have been easy for him to finish off that spoiled boy and to have Christine as his trophy, but would it work? He had lost Christine forever the moment he punjabbed Ubaldo Piangi and brought down the chandelier. He finally understood why jealousy could drive one mad… He always knew that Christine had never been a prize to win. What else could he gain from that stupid Don Juan's Triumphant other than Christine's disgust? It seemed like a childish trap set by a silly schoolboy…

Don Juan's Triumphant… Christine's words of longing were still haunting him. Although they were written by him, it felt so different to hear her sing them out to him on the stage. Her glittering eyes, her hair, her body in his arms… Oh, how he wished to believe that her feelings were true, but how could he believe so? What evil it was that the ungrateful little woman displayed his face to the world! But then came her sweet kiss… He had never been kissed before, not even by his mother. No matter what purpose it was for, she was the first person that dared to kiss him…

Now everywhere in his body was aching. He was surprised that he did not collapse after the fatal performance the night before, nor did he have any attempt to commit suicide, though he had been convinced that he would do so.

As a matter of fact, his current condition was even worse than that. It seemed to him that he had lost all senses, neither pain nor anger. Only a musical instrument could do much help, but since he was now using the Persian's poor apartment as his shelter, he could only wander in his room all day long, doing nothing.

"Erik!" called the Persian, who walked into the kitchen and immediately shrank from the sight of Erik. "The Living Corpse", the title now suited him better than ever before. He was so bony and pale that he looked as if he had just woken from a coffin buried for centuries, while sometimes his golden eyes used to sparkle, indicating the energy remained inside. However, now the flame in his eyes was put out. His skin was as yellow as parchment, and there was no sign of living in his entire being. That Phantom playing cunning tricks with the mean managers had gone; that man declaring boldly his love towards a perfect girl had gone; that Don Juan singing passionately on the stage had gone; that Erik devoted completely to the very essence of music and beauty had gone… The man was dead, leaving a senseless corpse and a dormant volcano behind him.

"Erik!" The Persian called again.

"Sorry?" Erik raised his head abruptly.

"How are the critics?"

"Not bad. The public's attention was drawn to the ghost. No one would think of the opera any more."

"I've got a letter for you." The Persian handed a small envelope to him.

Erik opened the letter suspiciously before his eyes widened in shock.

Monsieur Erik Destler,

I write to you today to express my most sincere regret for the accident during your premiere of Don Juan's Triumphant. As a composer too I realize how it feels to receive such a blow in one's premiere, especially for the first opera one has composed in his life. It was lunatic of the managers to decide to take advantage of your splendid work in order to seize the so-called "Opera Ghost", who has not yet proved his actual existence. Also I regret the misfortune of your prima donna, Mademoiselle Christine Daae, that she was obviously embroiled against her will in the siege, so please give my warmest regards to her that I appreciate her outstanding performance.

Your talented opera, despite the incident, was a triumph. It would undoubtedly bring a revolution in opera business. For decades people have worshiped Mozart's Don Giovanni reverently, thinking that no other opera on the same topic would surpass the genius work. However, as a musician from Mozart's hometown, I daresay you have achieved the impossible dream by retelling the story in such a passionate way. The opera was filled with raw emotion, and the music was quite unusual, freshly new to the audience. I guess we might expand on the topic later when we meet.

I wonder if we could meet as soon as possible since I am I departing for Vienna this Friday. As the manager of Vienna State Opera House, Austria, I am anxious to introduce Don Juan's Triumphant to Vienna. I will be honored if you consider coming and joining us to develop your further career, for Vienna has always welcome promising musicians in the past few centuries. Also we would like to cast Christine Daae as Aminta, if possible, in Vienna. Would you please consult her for this matter since she has seemingly disappeared from public eye? Please write to me if you have made any decision.

Trust my words, Monsieur Dessler, that the whole city of Vienna would applaud both of you.

Sincerely,

Fritz M. Schuetz

"Both of you"… The phrase was stinging Erik's eyes.

TBC

Please feel free to R&R!