A.N: Hello everyone allow me to properly introduce myself. My name is TheCartoonGoddess and this is my new fanfic: "Beneath the Skin" Now, I love "Phantom of the Opera", I love the songs, I love the story, I love the characters! This is the first fanfic I've written for this fandom so please be nice. Obviously I do not own the "Phantom of the Opera" or it's characters those belong to Gaston Leroux, and the musical belongs to Andrew Lloyd Webber, also this fanfic takes place after the musical not counting "Love Never Dies" in this case "Love Never Dies" didn't happen obviously XD...Okay, let's do this… :)
Paris, France: April 1871
The air was crisp on this fine spring morning, it felt slightly warm but still seemed to slightly linger with winter's chill. The streets of Paris were quiet with the exception of the birds that were chirping softly to the bright light of the morning which was pushing away the last remains of the night. Not a living soul was on the streets for it's residents were not quite yet awake.
A carriage rolled quietly down one of the cobbled streets. Inside the carriage sat a young man with brown hair in a rather fancy suit, across from him was a woman about his age perhaps a year or two his junior who also had brown hair but in delicate curls and wore a gorgeous periwinkle gown.
"We're almost there, my dear. In no less than a few minutes you and I shall be home." The man said happily taking the young woman's hands in his own, then it caught the man's eye that the woman was looking out the carriage window kind of lost in thought.
"Dear wife...What seems to be troubling you?" He asked, The lady didn't respond,
"You're still thinking of "him"...aren't you?" He asked, the woman looked to her husband with a look that now displayed guilt and worry. "It's only been a few months, Raoul!" She said sounding upset, "The only evidence they found was his mask...No one knows what that means. I'm just fearing that...that..." She hesitated, "...I'm fearing that he might come back for us…" She finally finished,
The grip that Raoul had on his wife's hands only tightened, "Christine, the officials have inspected his lair and have said that he is gone, long gone." Raoul told her, Christine's look didn't change.
"Listen here, you need no longer fear that so called "Phantom". Look at us, we're wedded, you're my bride, and we will soon be home where we will start anew and put this whole incident behind us." He told her, Christine just smiled faintly at her husband. "I hope you're right…" She said,
Down the street inside a grand estate, the numerous servants who cared for the place were rushing around dusting the furniture along with sweeping and mopping up the floors.
"Oh! We really must hurry!" One maid said to another, she was rather chubby and her reddish brown hair had a few visible grey strands. The other maid whom was a thin young blonde just nodded in agreement. "Oh yes! Everything must be ready, they should arrive any minute!" She said, A butler ran down the stairs hastily carrying a silver platter.
"Also there's that new maid that's coming." The butler spoke up, "Of course! Annie! By the looks of her resume she sounds like a smart, hardworking youth." A woman cut in, the woman was a middle aged one and went by the name Clarissa. She had gray hair and her face was wrinkled.
In the distance they could see the carriage that was carrying the Vicomte and the new Vidame coming down the road to the house.
"Here they come! The Vicomte and Vidame are here!" One of the servants shouted, all of the other servants began to talk and gush excitedly as the carriage rolled to a stop in front of the house.
The footman stepped off the side of the carriage and went to open the side door. When he opened it out came Christine and Raoul. Raoul stepped off without any problem while Christine was taken by the hand and guided out of the carriage by the footman.
One of the butlers walked up to them and spoke, "Ah! Master Raoul Mistress Christine! We welcome you both home!"
"Thank you, Charles." Raoul said giving a nod to the butler, the young newlyweds then entered the courtyard where everyone was still anxiously waiting.
"We are so honored to meet you, Christine." Clarissa said gushing and giving a curtsey, Christine smiled flattered of the complement and looked down at the ground. "It's very lovely to meet you all too." She replied returning the kind gesture, "Come, and we shall get you both settled in." Clarissa said, Christine and Raoul smiled at each other as Raoul took her hand and they all began to head inside.
Once inside Christine marveled at the large estate building, with it's high ceilings and grand staircases, it reminded her of the gala in the Opera Populaire, thinking of that made her think of Meg and Madame Giry, and the chandelier crash, and of…
She shook her head to clear away the thoughts, they were events of the past and this was supposed to be a new start, for her and for Raoul.
All of the servants began to disperse as Clarissa gestured towards the left staircase. "You're room is up this way." She said, as the three headed up the staircase she led the young couple up the stairs and down a long hall to their room. It was a pretty spacious room with a gigantic bed and a huge vanity for Christine, there was also a balcony.
"Such a beautiful room!" Christine said looking around, one of the butlers came in carrying Raoul and Christine's trunks and set them down on the bed.
"Yes, only the best for you both." Clarissa smiled sincerely, "Now, we have a new maid arriving soon so we shall leave you two to settle in. Come Walter." She said referring to the butler who brought in their luggage, the two servants left the room and the newlyweds to unpack.
Outside of the house another carriage pulled up. The door opened and out stepped a young girl about the same age as Christine. The girl herself had gorgeous eyes about the color and shade of moss. Her long healthy brown hair was up in a loose braid with a few strands escaping.
Clarissa instantly ran out into the courtyard and ran to the girl ecstatically.
"There you are, Annie! Welcome my dear we are happy to have you!" Clarissa said taking both of the girl's hands in hers, the girl known as Annie just smiled and replied, "Thank you very much, I'm so honored to be here."
"Yes of course, let me show you to your room." She then turned and they headed inside. All of the servants were still running around cleaning like there was no tomorrow. This confused Annie a bit.
"Clarissa, I must ask you, why all the commotion?" Annie asked, Clarissa turned to her and replied, "Oh! Of course, I forgot to tell you! The Vicomte arrived home today!"
"Oh! The Vicomte!" Annie said nodding finally understanding, Annie of course knew of the Vicomte Raoul De Chagny, she had never met him personally but she had heard that he was a kind man and he certainly treated the rest of the servants well.
"And he returned with his new bride, the new Vidame Christine De Chagny. However you may remember her as Christine Dáae, she sang for the Opera Populaire some time back."
Annie also knew of Christine very well. She saw her when she performed "Think of Me" in place of Carlotta back in November at the Opera. Such a lovely voice Christine had, Annie envied her and her voice only hoping to someday sing as beautifully as her.
"Of course, that was before...the incident occurred…" Clarissa said her face now grim, "What incident, Ma'am?" Annie said confused, "Child don't you remember? It was all over the media!" Clarissa asked slightly surprised, Annie still eyed her in confusion.
"The chandelier incident, my child." Clarissa spoke again, "The chandelier that crashed in the Opera Populaire a few months ago! The chandelier crash that was caused by…" She paused and checked to make sure no one was listening.
"The Phantom of the Opera…" She sang softly, Annie was now slightly taken aback.
"The Phantom, Madame?" Annie said stunned, "He was the one who caused the chandelier to crash?" Clarissa just nodded. "Yes, and it was rumored that the Vidame Christine herself was taken down to his lair and was almost forced to marry him, and he almost killed monsieur Raoul as well! But then he let them go...Ever since then, the Phantom of the Opera has not been found, the only evidence that they could find in his lair was his mask…" Clarissa finished.
Annie now stared down at the floor completely lost in thought. During her years in Paris she had heard rumors of the strange phantom that resided down in the dark cellars of the opera house, the rumors about his deformed face such as his skin being as yellow as parchment, a large hole in the center of his face in place of his nose, and worst of all, his punjab lasso that was said to be his tool for murder. But she had also heard the rumors of him being a talented composer, and a master magician and architect. A genius. She didn't really know what rumors were true and which ones were false. On the whole, she didn't think that someone should be berated for looking different...Beauty wasn't just on the surface, it was also found within…
"But enough about that, child! Let's get you to your room!" She then led Annie up the same staircase she did Raoul and Christine and turned down a different hall and until they stopped at a door.
Clarissa opened the door with a quick jerk of the knob and said, "This is your room, dear." The room was rather small but big enough for Annie to fit all of her things in. It was complete with a bed and wardrobe and a large window from which she could view Paris very well.
"You can start tomorrow, Annie. If you need anything just holler." Clarissa stated, "Okay, thank you madáme." Annie smiled with a nod, then the middle aged woman left the young girl to unpack as well.
After unpacking only half of her luggage, Annie collapsed hard on her bed desperate for sleep. The journey here from the countryside just outside of Paris was a rather exhausting one. She searched through her luggage and threw on her nightgown and put up her hair, and climbed into bed. She reached over to turn down the oil lamp on her nightstand and closed her eyes. It didn't take long to fall asleep, but for a brief moment before she drifted off she could've sworn she heard organ music coming from the ceiling.
And there's chapter 1, leave a review, favorite, or follow if you enjoyed, constructive criticism and ideas are welcome :) I will see you guys in the next chapter ;)