Just so you all know I have not given up on Apres L'Opera, but I have writers block and so I started this story.
Chapter 1
"Oh What a Circus"
Elizabeth and her father sat down in the carriage. They were headed to the Opera Populaire. It was the first time Elizabeth had gone to the opera, even though her father could defiantly afford it. No, they stayed away from the opera for a different reason. A reason Elizabeth had only been permitted to hear once. The reason was the infamous Phantom of the Opera. Her father had told her the story about two years ago, when she was 14, and she had not forgotten it. To her father's dismay, she pitied the poor Opera Ghost. She dared to be the one to look upon the poor creatures face and not scream or flee.
"Papa?" she questioned
"Yes Lizzie?"
"Why today do you choose to visit the Opera?"
"M. Andre and M. Firmin would like to talk to me about an important matter. You can look around while we talk." This answer pleased Lizzie.
Her mother, Christine, had died during the process of having Lizzie. Although Raoul told her time and time again that he did not blame Lizzie for Christine's death, she never fully believed him.
The carriage stopped in front of the grand opera. Lizzie felt the excitement inside of her build as Raoul opened the door to get out. As the two walked up the stairs Lizzie heard a familiar voice call out her name. Lizzie turned to see Fredrick Heaton standing behind her with a smile. Fredrick was her betrothed, Raoul had chosen him for her. Fredrick was the duke's son and was very much in love with Lizzie. Lizzie was fond of him but did not know if she loved him. To most women he was definitely the perfect man he had light brown hair and deep green eyes. Not only was he handsome but he was kind, gentle, and sensitive. But Lizzie longed for a little more… adventure, and romance in her bright boring life.
"Why Fredrick, What are you doing here?" Lizzie asked sweetly.
"I was eating at the café, when I noticed your carriage. I came over to ask if you would give me the honor of a walk around the city?" Raoul, who had his back turned to Fredrick, smiled and continued inside the opera.
"I am sorry Fredrick but as you can see I am about to accompany my father, with businesses of the opera," Fredrick's smile faded some but Lizzie quickly resolved the situation by saying "But you are welcome to join me." she said smiling.
"I would be happy to Mademoiselle." He said walking up the stairs, to close the space between them. He offered his arm and she took it.
They walked happily into the opera and came up beside Raoul. Once he noticed their presence he said:
"Monsieurs you remember my daughter Elizabeth." He said motioning to Lizzie
"Why yes. Elizabeth you have grown to a beautiful women." Andre said kissing her hand. Lizzie giggled but not before Firmin could chime in by saying:
"Yes you look so much like your mother. God rest her soul."
"Thank you Monsieurs."
"And this is Fredrick Heaton." Raoul said
"Yes the Duke's son." Andre said in fascination.
"Yes, he and Lizzie are to be married." Raoul continued. Andre and Firmin's faces grew a little more grim. Not being suddle at all in their first intentions with Lizzie. "You two my walk around while we discuss a few business matters."
"Yes but be careful there are a few places that are being renovated." Andre said as Lizzie and Fredrick walked towards the theater.
Once inside, Lizzie marveled at the beauty. The chandelier sparkled with crystal and diamonds. The scenes on the ceiling were quite lovely, showing scenes of angels and clouds. As her eyes wondered farther she let go of Fredrick's arm and began to walk farther down the aisle.
"Look Fredrick," she said motioning to a box near the stage. "It's box 5! That was the Opera Ghost's box."
"You don't believe in that rubbish do you?"
"With all my heart." She said looking quite hurt at his judgment. He quickly caught on and went to her side. He gently grabbed her hand and kissed it.
"I'm sorry Love I did not know you believed in it so strongly." Lizzie smiled and said:
"It's alright. I know you did not mean to hurt me." The two explored the rest of the theater and did not notice a shadow back stage watching them very closely.
'Christine?' Erik thought to himself 'Was this her? But it could not possibly be her. Were is that so called boy she married? And who was this young suitor? But she did look exactly like her.'
"Lizzie?" came Raoul's voice from the foyer.
"Yes Papa I am in here." Raoul came into the theater and said:
"I want to let you know that I am going to run a few errands, but I should be done in an hour or so. Would you like to stay here or come with me?" The question was irrelevant, and there really was no point in asking. Everyone already knew the answer.
"I will stay here." Raoul nodded and turned back around the way he had came.
"Vicomte?" Fredrick called after him. Raoul turned around and Fredrick asked "Do you need me to help you retrieve your carriage?" Lizzie knew Fredrick was just trying to please her father and there really was no need for him but her father happily obliged.
Once Raoul and Fredrick were gone, Lizzie sat down in one of the seats. She thought to herself 'Wow I really am in the same place the Opera Ghost lurks.' Raoul had told her that the Phantom was long dead, but Lizzie always refused to believe it.
As she sat lost in her thoughts, she heard a voice say:
"Christine… Christine" It sounded like it came from behind her but when she turned to examine the area no one was there. Why was this voice calling out her mother's name, surly everyone knew she was dead. But there is one person who never had any contact with the outside world and that is the Phantom of the Opera. Lizzie almost jumped out of her skin when she got the idea.
She did not know why she wanted to meet this Opera Ghost so badly, but she decided to see if he was there or not:
"Hello?" she whispered as she stood from her chair, and started to look around for this Phantom. "Are you there Monsieur Phantom?" She felt foolish, calling out a name many believe does not exist.
Erik looked at the young women curiously. 'This could not be Christine. She is referring to me as "Phantom" and when that fop came into the room she called him Papa. This must be her daughter.' Erik was pleased with him self that he had finally thought of a logical explanation.
He turned his attention back to the young women and noticed that she was still looking for the voice that had so clearly called out her mother's name.
When she finally gave up hope he could not help but notice a saddened expression on her face. 'Had she truly wanted to see me that badly' Before getting to caught up with the young girl he quickly turned around with a 'swoosh' of his cape and disappeared.
He walked down the dark passageway to his lair and quickly began to think of this woman who had been so fascinated with his life. 'Christine had a daughter? But where was she now?' He had told Madame Giry and Nadir almost immediately after returning to the Opera house, after the chandelier crash, that he wished to here nothing about Christine's life and wanted to forget about her. Neither of his friends had said anything about her for over 17 years. And although he wanted to keep it this way the story intrigued him very much.
Once he reached his home he immediately went to his study. He sat down at his desk, and began to write a letter to Madame Giry.
Dear Madame,
I thank you for accepting my wishes and not telling me anything about Christine, but I have changed my mind and desire to know everything. I thank you for your understanding through the years, and I hope you will grant me my request.
-Erik
He hoped he did not sound to forward, but before changing his mind he placed the letter in an envelope and quickly made his way to a passage that led to box 5. He silently crept through the door and placed the letter on a shelf by his normal seat. He was sure Madame would be in there shortly to make sure everything was clean and tidy before the Opera that would be taking place in the next night.
Before he left he noticed the new suitor was back and the couple were leaving the theater. Erik hurried back to his passage way, so that he would not be seen.
XXXX
Erik hastily opened the letter he had received from Madame Giry. It read:
Dear Erik,
I am sorry to be the one to inform you but Christine has died. She died while giving birth to her daughter. After wards the Vicomte never remarried he claimed to the papers "I have loved with all my heart, now my darling daughter is the only women in my life." I believe she is about 16 or 17, according to M. Andre she is to be wed to the Duke's son Fredrick Heaton. Rumor has it that she is already with child, but that is just rumor so I would not classify it as a fact.
Monsieur I hope you are not saddened by this news and will join us for the opera tonight. But I am sure my hopes will not be answered. Please consider it.
-Madeline Giry
Erik sat down the letter on his desk. He was not sad just shocked. The last thing of Christine he remembered was when she left him but gave him a sweet smile to remember her with. 'How could that young spirited child be dead?' He thought as he leaned fully against the back of the chair. 'It did not seem possible. Not only that but the Vicomte never remarried. His daughter is supposedly with child? This did not make sense, surly the Vicomte would not raise a child to be so foolish.' Erik got up from the chair and walked into the swan bedroom. He went over to a beautiful redwood end table. He grabbed the small box that was sitting on it. He stuffed the box into his pocket and headed towards a secret passage, that lead to box five.
Okay in Most or all chapters I will also post lyrics to a song I think it resembles. Well the stories are getting so similar on FanFiction I had to make mine different somehow . . .
MADONNA - Oh What A Circus Lyrics
Oh what a circus, oh what a show
Argentina has gone to town
Over the death of an actress called Eva Peron
We've all gone crazy
Mourning all day and mourning all night
Falling over ourselves to get all of the misery right
Oh what an exit, that's how to go
When they're ringing your curtain down
Demand to be buried like Eva Peron
It's quite a sunset
And good for the country in a roundabout way
We've made the front page of all the world's papers today
But who is this Santa Evita?
Why all this howling, hysterical sorrow?
What kind of goddess has lived among us?
How will we ever get by without her?
She had her moments, she had some style
The best show in town was the crowd
Outside the Casa Rosada crying, "Eva Peron"
But that's all gone now
As soon as the smoke from the funeral clears
We're all gonna see and how, she did nothing for years
You let down your people Evita
You were supposed to have been immortal
That's all they wanted, not much to ask for
But in the end you could not deliver
Sing you fools, but you got it wrong
Enjoy your prayers because you haven't got long
Your queen is dead, your king is through
And she's not coming back to you
Show business kept us all alive
Since seventeen October 1945
But the star has gone, the glamour's worn thin
That's a pretty bad state for a state to be in
Instead of government we had a stage
Instead of ideas, a prima donna's rage
Instead of help we were given a crowd
She didn't say much, but she said it loud
Sing you fools, but you got it wrong
Enjoy your prayers because you haven't got long
Your queen is dead, your king is through
She's not coming back to you
Don't cry for me Argentina
For I am ordinary, unimportant
And undeserving of such attention
Unless we all are, I think we all are
So share my glory, so share my coffin
So share my glory, so share my coffin
It's our funeral too