I (sadly) do not own Phantom of the Opera. Elizabeth Daae is my only contribution to this story. The rest of the characters are property of Gaston Leroux.
This Phan Phic is dedicated to Monsieur Erik, Le Fantome de la Opera, My one true love.
In a small town by the sea, where there was normally little disagreement about anything, two young lovers were in the midst of a fight. The woman, Elizabeth Daae, was already married and had a small newborn daughter, Christine. The man, Erik had been a suitor before she had married, and he was very much in love with her. He had tried many things to make her see that he was the better man, but she would have none of it. She loved her husband and new daughter. She loved her life. She did not want to leave.
"Madame Daae, I implore you to reconsider."
"Reconsider what? I do not love you, she is not your child, and I am not your wife. I cannot be bought, Monsieur. Nor can I be sold, traded, owned, enslaved, or tortured into doing something I know I would regret."
"So, you would regret choosing me? ME! I know what will happen to her. She will end up a chorus girl at that opera house, just like you. I will reveal myself to her and she will see that I am the one. She will love me as you could not. I tell you, that girl will be MINE!"
"Her father shall protect her-"
"While he can."
"And she will not be owned by you. I can see how strong she is, how strong she will be, and no matter what happens to me or Gustave, she will not fall into your traps. She will not be owned, just like I cannot be owned."
"Oh, so you do not belong to anyone? What about your pathetic husband? You seem to be enslaved by him. I am not sure how such a pathetic creature could manage to capture you, but you seem very much owned by him."
"There is a difference, Erik, between ownership and love. If you would come down from that pedestal you seem to have placed yourself upon for one moment, you would see it. I am sure of that."
"Oh, Elizabeth, I do see it. And I feel it, too. I have to live with it every damn day. I am completely in love with you. Every day I have to wake up with an ache in my heart and I am reminded of the fact that I cannot have you. I cannot love you with all of my heart as I should wish to because you belong to him. I cannot imagine my life without you, for when I do, it hurts so much that I fear for my life. I fear that my heart will break for longing to love you and have you love me in return. Do you not see this, that which you speak so freely of? Well, here I am, on my knees begging you to choose me. Leave that fool and come with me. I can provide for us. I can create a life for us, you, me, and little Christine. You shall never have to worry about picking pennies off of the ground like a gypsy. I can give both of you everything you deserve, everything you could ever want, and more! I can train Christine's voice as she grows older. I need you, Beth, please…"
"My daughter needs her father."
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And with that, she turned on her heel and left. Erik literally tore himself apart when she did. He was force to wear a mask on the right side of his face for the rest of his life because the scars were so gruesome. They never met again. Two years later, she died of pneumonia, and he became the, well, "caretaker" of the Paris Opera House. He had helped Garnier himself build it many years previously. Some say that he lived in the very stones of the place. Others that his soul haunted the canals underneath it for all eternity. But one thing is for certain. He was never seen by anyone after that for a very long time…