Xx~Prologue~xX
Christine led Charlotte down the stairs.
"Now...Don't be afraid of him, remember what I told you." she said, turning her daughter to face her.
Charlotte nodded her little head, her dark brown locks covered her cheeks.
"Good girl, come along now," she chirped, taking Charlotte's hand and leading her further down the darkened corridor.
"Erik?"
The composer stood at the far end of the corridor, in the shadows.
"What is it you want this time Christine Daae?" he questioned, stepping into the light.
He noticed the child then, hiding behind Christine's dress.
"What did I tell you Lottie?" whispered Christine.
The child gazed up at her mother.
"But mamma-"
"She can play. And I mean /play/. Like I've never known a child play before." Christine called out into the darkness.
Erik appeared behind them.
"I don't teach, Christine, you know that."
"You taught me."
"You were different."
"And so is she."
"No."
"Won't you even listen to her?" begged Christine, pulling at his cape before the child stroked the piano keys lightly and started to play a tune from one of her music boxes.
"Where did she learn that-?" he hissed, grabbing Christine's wrist.
"Learn what?" stammered Christine, alarmed.
"/That/. The French time?"
The child stopped, afraid at the anger in his voice.
"Nobody taught her she just goes to the piano herself - she copies the music from the old music box I...I..."
Lottie carried on twinkling out the tune to the masquerade music box.
Erik's eyes flashed towards the child.
She gazed back at him curiously. Only then did he notice that she had a lazy left eye.
He turned back to Christine, a little calmer.
"There's only two other people who I know can do that, Christine..."
"Who?"
"A friend in London."
"And the other...?"
The phantom paused and turned to face Christine squarely in the face before he responded.
"Me..."
A/N
I have been mulling over this for a while - if you want more, please click the lovely button below and let me know!