Prologue:
Christine's kiss had put him in an eternal sleep, preserving his body as the century passed. The times changed, the world grows through three wars, social changes and entertainment changes. Opera became an outdated notion, but musical prodigies still filled the halls of the Paris Opera House. One child from America has come abroad to play violin and sing in the Opera, but her own fate has decided to place her with the legendary Phantom of the Opera.
Chapter One:
Bethany Harper sat on her bed, her violin perched on her shoulder as she played music from the Phantom of the Opera movie. She bow moved gracefully across the strings as she played 'Angel of Music.' She resided in her room at the Paris Opera House, her new home as long as she pursued her love for music. She had just turned nineteen, moving to Paris with her twin brother. Austin Harper was born and raised for the fashion industry, following his twin sister to Paris to be the head of costumes for the Opera House. Being a fashion designer, Austin was also homosexual; often sharing a bed with his twin sister because that is how they slept as children. He also shared a room with her in the Opera House, currently sewing together a dress for Bethany for opening night in two weeks.
Bethany finished the piece and set her violin down in its case, packing it away carefully and closing the case. She set her music and such on her desk and walked over to her brother's bed collapsing on it dramatically. "Oh, the life of a musician; I am so bored. I've practiced all my music for three hours; my writings are done for today and I finished all my books. Ugh," she complained in a song-like voice, resting her head in Austin's lap.
"I would give you a suggestion, but I am busy making your dress for opening night. Why not go explore the Opera House? Maybe you'll run into the Opera Ghost," Austin teased his sister, knowing how she loved that novel.
"Great idea!" she exclaimed, sitting up and giving her brother a kiss before leaving their room.
Bethany wore a black Victorian blouse with purple as a secondary color, a royal purple and knee length skirt with black edges, black ballet flats and her shoulder length, sun golden blond hair was hanging at her shoulders with her dark blue highlights visible to everyone. Her honey brown eyes sparkled with excitement as she headed for Christine Daae's old room to see if she could find the entrance to the Phantom's home. She made sure that she had a flashlight in her backpack that she always kept with her and entered the room.
It was old, that's for sure. Dust and cobwebs were everywhere and the candleholders were overturned onto their sides. She walked carefully, being wary of the holes in the floors. Walking to the mirror entrance, she was surprised to find it open for her. She walked inside, taking out her flashlight and iPhone. She opened a message to go to Austin and wrote: Found the entrance! Going in! Love, Beth! She turned her flashlight on and walked carefully through the empty corridors, wary of something popping up to scare her. Her phone vibrated with Austin's reply: Don't do anything stupid! Come back to the room! She typed back: This way YOUR idea! I'm going! She put her phone on silent and put it back in her backpack.
Bethany walked for a while, soon coming to the staircase. She nearly squealed in joy, but kept quiet. She walked down the stairs and came to the lake, seeing the Phantom's home right across the lake. A gondola sat on her side of the river so she climbed in, rowing over to the Phantom's home. Upon reaching the little island area, she climbed out and was in shock. Maybe Gaston Leroux wasn't crazy and the Phantom was really here, Bethany thought to herself. She sees a door left slightly ajar and slowly walks over to it, cautious of what could pop out.
She enters the room, expecting to find someone alive; but, she finds her hero lying in a black coffin-like bed. His mask was not on his face and he lies peacefully on his bed. Bethany bravely reaches out and touches the right side of his face where his deformity was. She wasn't disgusted or scared of it, but accepted it all the same. She feels sad for him and begins to sing:
Bravi, Bravi, bravissimi
Where in the world have you been hiding?
Really, you were perfect
I only wish I knew your secret
Who is this new tutor?
Father once spoke of an Angel
I used to dream he'd appear
Now as I sing I can sense him
And now I know he's here.
Here in this room, he calls me softly
Somewhere inside, hiding
Somehow I know he's always with me
He, my unseen genius
Christine, you must have been dreaming
Stories like this can't come true
Christine, you're talking in riddles
And it's not like you
Angel of music, guide and guardian
Grant to me your glory
Angel of music, hide no longer
Secret and strange Angel
He's with me even now
Your hands are cold
All around me
Your face, Christine, it's white
It frightens me, don't be frightened.
Bethany places a soft kiss upon the Phantom's cold lips before standing and leaving the room. She climbs into the gondola and rows away, unaware of what she had just unleashed.
Back in his room, Erik heard the sweet and gentle voice of a young woman. His sleep had been lifted and when he opened his eyes, his awakener was gone. His new angel was gone and he didn't know what she looked like. He gets up from his bed, realizing his mask was not on. His angel had seen his face, but sang to him all the same and kissed his lips. He donned his mask and left his room only to find the girl climbing from the gondola on the other side of the lake. He could see her sun golden hair and clothes, but had no voice to call to her with. She disappeared from his view and he had a new girl to seduce, to sing to, to love.
Bethany hurried up to Christine's old room and walked out of the mirror. She dashed to the room she shared with her brother and glomped him with excitement. "Oh Austin, I found him!" she exclaimed.
"You found him?! I wasn't being serious when I said you might find him and yet you find him. Is his lair really under the Opera House?" Austin asked.
"It is, and I can't believe no one believed Gaston Leroux about him! He's real… but I found him in some type of eternal sleep. He wasn't dead; I could hear his heart beating and see his chest moving with each breath he took. His deformity wasn't as I thought, but I still find him handsome. I just wish I could hear him sing to me." Bethany fell onto her brother's bed, sleep taking over her.
"You overdid yourself again, Beth. Into bed with you," Austin said, taking his sister into his arms and tucking her into her own bed. He pulled the blankets up to her shoulders and kissed her forehead. "Good-night, Sister," he whispered before returning to his work.
Erik watched the two interact through the window. He was relieved to see the man was his angel's brother, though he could have guess with the similarities between the two. The boy had her sun blond hair hanging in waves at his ears and sky blue eyes glittered with love for his little sister. The girl, whom the boy called Beth, had honey colored eyes that were full of excitement when she told her brother of her discoveries. As it turns out, the world knows of his past deeds with Christine and his angel knows about them very well. As it turns out, she was happy to have found him in his home and was excited to know about it. "Be wary, Young Beth; I am coming for you." He whispered into the air before leaving his post to return to his home, a new array of music playing in his head for Bethany.