"Under the weight of your wings, you are a god and whatever I want you to be, and I wonder if you are truly as beautiful as I believe…" Anna Nalick, In My Head
A/N: This is a crossover between the Phantom of the Opera and Carole Nelson Douglas' Irena Adler novels. (Yes, the Sherlock Holmes stories' Irene Adler)
Practicality is forcing me to use the latest movie version for the Phantom timeline. (Read: I don't own Phantom or the original book.) I will, however use some tidbits from them.
Alright, a LOT of the background for the Sherlock Holmes universe is from Carole Nelson Douglas' Irene Adler mysteries, so some of the facts may change from what you are familiar with, and Dr. Watson will most likely NOT make an appearance.
As to the timeline, the story, due to the rather unforgiving Irene Adler timeline and plots, will have to begin in the autumn of 1889, nineteen years later than the movie, roughly ten after Leroux. I'm sorry, but it had to be done. The story begins just before the gala performance, and a few months after Spider Dance, the eighth Irene Adler novel.
Disclaimer: Irene Adler characters belong to Carole Nelson Douglas (sort of…) Gaston Leroux and Andrew Lloyd Webber own the Phantom characters and plot line. Susan Kay owns Ayesha, should she choose to appear. I own any random minor OCs I come up with, and Allison Montgomery. Sherlock Holmes is the tricky question. Technically public domain, but he's an I.A. character., so…
Chapter One- A New Case
"Melancholy and cool kind of bittersweet love on repeat, I'm echoing all your philosophies..." Anna Nalick, In My Head
My dear friend Irene Adler was reading the note in her hand with a contented, cat-like smile on her face. Oh dear. The last time I saw that smile; she had embarked on a highly dangerous plan that nearly got her killed. And forced me to turn to That Man, also known as Sherlock Holmes, for help. I do hope to avoid that type of situation again, though it will most likely happen.
"Nell, you do remember Mr. Dvořák?" she asked.
"Yes, I do, the composer who was so enamored of your singing. What does Mr. Dvořák have to do with anything?" I was growing worried. Irene's mentor was currently in Bohemia, and that was one of the three places I have no desire to visit again, New York City and Transylvania being the other two.
"He has procured us three tickets to see the Opera Populaire's latest production of Hannibal. Apparently there is a new lead soprano." Irene's warm brown eyes seemed to gleam slightly. Oh dear indeed. Some dratted mystery was involved.
"And why is that an occasion to look like Lucifer should he eat Casanova?" I asked archly, referring to my lazy black cat and foul-mouthed parrot. "I don't suppose the old soprano was found poisoned?"
Irene laughed at this, furthering my worries. "Nothing as dramatic as that. She merely had a backdrop fall on her, and refuses to work until she is convinced that no one wishes her ill. Mr. Dvořák recommended me to the managers, knowing my fondness for such little mysteries, and they wish me to clear up this little matter. It is perfectly simple."
I held back a most unladylike snort at that. "Irene, I highly doubt that it is as simple as that, given that they wish to seek outside aid."
Irene looked at me impishly. "The opera house is rumored to be haunted, and several such incidents have already happened, over the course of three years."
I knew something like this would happen. Nothing is ever simple, not with Irene around.
"Irene, when is this gala?" I asked, half dreading the answer. "And why are we attending it at all?"
Irene looked at me. "Tonight. And we need to see this new singer. She's extraordinarily young, only sixteen. I wonder at her having the voice for it, covering even one night for a prima donna is something few, if any, her age could do."
A/N: Way shorter than I wanted it to be, dang it! Oh, well, look for Chapter Two, Little Lotte, coming soon.
-Cricket.