O.K. So I was telling this idea of mine to one of my friends and she told me that I MUST write it… I fear she might have punjabbed me had I denied her. This is not only my first E/C phic, but it is also my first modern day story (I generally like modern day Christine's more, they tend to have a bit more intelligence), so do take pity on me if this isn't very good at first, it will pick up, though I daresay updates will be switching between this and my other story (an Erik/OC). This is of course with Monsieur Gerard's Erik, but there will be a few things similar to both Leroux and Kay's book.
It had been a cool day in the city, the temperatures were dropping fast for the winter and it seemed most college students had taken to staying home preparing for their upcoming classes.
Except for Christine that is.
"No Meg, I can't come back yet, I've got to find this if I expect to make it in my music class, you know how important this is to me!" Christine argued into her cell phone with her best friend. Meg clicked her tongue in annoyance "All right Chrissy, but don't blame me if you catch cold, and don't expect me to be the one to drag your little sick butt around either, I have my own classes you know," she reminded her. Christine laughed at Meg's fiery attitude and said "I've only one more stop which hopefully will be my final one, and then after dinner I'll be back at the dorm, talk to you later Meg." she hung up her phone and pulled her coat closer around her waist. If she became sick or not, it didn't matter, she couldn't go back to her class empty-handed.
Four hours. Four long hours she'd been out trying to find the perfect violin, by request of her professor who had stated that her old one was worn and would be best suitable for firewood. She hated to have to buy a new one with how expensive they were, but if she was to be a great violinist like her father, then she would have to do as told. So far she had been to six other music stores, which if the violin wasn't the right quality then they would be far too much for what little she had, and it seemed no one was willing to negotiate on prices. Well, that was Boston for you.
"O.K. Last place and if they don't have one I'm calling it a night." She said to herself and made her way to a rather beat down, two-story brick building. At first glance it looked like an old bookstore, nothing but papers stacked up in the windows to where you couldn't even see the inside. Were it not for the wooden sign hanging outside she wouldn't have even noticed it for a music shop, there was no writing but instead a painting of a red rose entwining with a silver treble clef.
She came up to the door and peeked inside to find… more papers. It was as if the owner of the shop did nothing but collect music sheets and books, then unceremoniously piled them wherever it pleased them to, she couldn't even see a front desk, staff worker, nothing! She pressed on none-the-less and pushed the door all the way, a small bell announcing her entrance. "Hello?" she asked curiously "Can someone help me?" She walked on a bit more between a few stacks, reading the titles of some pieces that stuck out from the others, till she heard a low muttering. From where though, she wasn't quite sure, it seemed to echo from all around her. "Please, is there someone out here?"
How someone could work in a place like this, she wasn't sure. The entire building seemed to be covered in years of dust, giving the whole room a grey look, Christine felt as if she were standing in a haunted house. "Hello?" She said again.
She heard something heavy drop and a man curse, then the shuffling of heavy feet and creaking across the old wooden floorboards. "What do you want?" An irritated voice called out "Surely you must be in dire need of something to not be able to wait a few minutes, so what is it?"
Christine was becoming agitated as well with whoever this rude man was and quickly replied "As a matter of fact, it is quite dire, I'm in need of a violin and I go to my class in two days. I was wondering if you had anything of well quality that I might examine," she tried to look over some of the shorter stacks to catch a glimpse of the man, but it was to no avail. She let out a huff "Where are you? I can't very well continue speaking to you in this manner,"
"I'll be with you in a moment, in the meantime go to the counter and you can see what I have," His voice seemed to be traveling from one side to other, and she felt as if he might have been close by. Christine again took note of just how many things were around her, blocking her view from everything. She asked the voice "Which is where exactly? I'm sorry, but you have too many things just thrown about for me to actually know where I'm even at," She heard the man's pace pick up and before she knew it she could see the very tip of a head with slicked black hair, appear behind one of the piles. A hand raised up and pointed to the very back "The counter is that way, now go there and wait," he said with a definite tone before walking off again.
Christine walked slowly through the labyrinth of books and music sheets, trying to listen for the man's voice, she could hear him speaking in a low growl, "Too many things thrown about, what does she know? This place is just as I want it…" before he faded out again.
She finally found the counter and was amazed at everything she saw. "Oh.." she let out softly at the sight before her.
Violins, flutes, clarinets, even a harp, there were so many classical instruments it was nearly overwhelming to her. She bent down to peer into the glass case with all of the violins, there were so many kinds; nail, kit, even a stroh violin setting on display. As she sat there admiring them all, a figure darted past her behind the counter and she quickly stood up to face him. Yet he kept his back to her, holding a number of large folders in his hands, placing each one in a different section, labels over the areas with different names; Mrs. Denere, Mr. Teno, etc. Christine mused on the idea that they must be clients of his.
"Is there anything that is of interest to you?" He asked her, still sorting out what folder was to go where. Christine looked at the violins again for a moment, thinking on what she was needing. "These are all very good, but I need something real special for my classes, I'm in a music college near here and I want to do well in the orchestra, so my professor advised I find the best," she replied, watching him as he moved about. His shoulders were hunched as he worked, and he was wearing a black, high-collared silk shirt with matching pants. He turned his head just the slightest to the left to look at her and asked "Why is it so important that you have the best? If you do not mind my curiosity, those violins are as good as any other, so what makes it that you, a mere student right now, must have the highest quality possible?"
Christine had a faint smile as she said with caution "It was not my decision to make it so important, but the world and all it's people that have set this upon me because of my father. You see sir, I am the daughter of Gustave Daaé,"
He stopped, set down his work and turned his head entirely to the left where she could she half his face. With a cocked brow and wide eye he said "Gustave Daaé, THE Gustave Daaé who was world renowned? Then you must be Christine," She nodded to him and said "I can see you read the articles about our family. Yes, so you can see now why it's important that my violin is well made, nothing less is expected of me,"
The man could only nod a bit at this revelation before walking off further into the back and disappearing. Christine wondered what he was doing and called out to him "Where have you gone to?" His face appeared between some books and he said "I think I've got just what you're in need of, I'll only be a minute,"
She stood there waiting on him, looking over at the documents he had been handling, she could see a few music pieces sticking out the tops of them. Among them she saw Mozart, Beethoven, all the great musicians of old. She heard him return but he came to an abrupt stop behind a tower, as if he had frozen in place. "Are you okay?" She asked him. He was silent a moment, the only sound that could be heard was his breathing, before he said "Yes, I just, it's… Well, I don't normally have my customers actually come into my shop."
Christine cocked her head and replied sweetly "Well, that's no reason to hide. You have someone who would like to buy from you and it's your job to give full attention, am I not correct?" She pondered silently why he was so scared all of a sudden. "Please come out," She said softly.
He finally did so, walking very slowly, keeping his head to the right. Christine could see something black lining the hidden side of his face, but only the very edges of it. He looked at her cautiously before fully turning his head, shutting both of his eyes. Christine widened her own eyes looking upon him. He was wearing a black leather mask that went from the line of his hair and dipped all the way to his lips, covering up nearly the entire right half of his face. As for his unmasked half, it was… well, it was gorgeous. A strong jaw at the bottom, followed by a tight, firm, cheek with a high bone structure, then at the very top of his forehead, though a bit wrinkled, was mainly smooth, tanned skin.
She noticed that he held something behind his back, and though his eyes were still held closed, he had an almost excited look. Fear or pleasure, she didn't know but asked him "What is that you have there?" He opened his eyes, a little surprised, and brought out the instrument he had wanted to show her. Christine gasped when she saw it, she'd never seen something so magnificent.
The violin was pure ebony, with silver strings, the padding on the bottom a dark red. She reached out and took hold of it with careful hands and held it up to see it better. It was then that she noticed on the right side at the bottom that there was a small rose carefully painted in full detail, all the way down to tiny, dark little thorns along the stem. It was the same as the rose on the sign outside.
"Who is the maker of this? It's like nothing I've ever seen," She said breathlessly. He smiled a little bit at her and gave a bow saying "That would be me Miss Daaé, I am Erik Destler, owner of this shop."
Christine gaped, examining the instrument when she heard the familiar jingle of the door's bell. "What a horrible, filthy place this is! Is anyone actually working here, I need assistance this very moment!" A woman screeched out in an annoyed voice. Erik groaned and spoke aloud "In the very back, just walk forward from the entrance," before turning back to Christine and handing her the violin's bow. "I've never enjoyed the sound of a factory made instrument, so any that I use are of my own making," Christine nodded and held up the bow, it was all the same except for at the very top. A rose had also been added, but rather being painted it was carved onto it. Christine asked him when realization dawned "Then this is your violin?"
He nodded his head and opened his mouth to speak when a very flustered, very snubbing looking woman came up to the counter, pushing aside Christine and said to him "I need the very best violin you have, I don't care who made it or how much it cost, do you understand?" Christine scoffed quietly at this terrible person and the woman turned to give her a mean look, then catching glimpse of the black violin she smirked and snatched it from her hands, turned back to Erik and said "This one, I'll buy it. How much?"
Erik glared at the woman with a deep intensity before grinding out "It already has an adequate owner, now kindly return it to Miss Daaé and leave my shop immediately, Madame." The woman could only stutter for a minute then sniped back "How dare you speak to me like this, you have no right!" Erik leaned down closer so he was eye level with the woman and said in a whispered voice "This is my store and my home, I have all the right I need and if you do not leave now I assure you that I will throw you out, do you understand me?"
The woman just gawked before turning to Christine again and shoving the violin back in her hands roughly, then turning on her heel and bustling back out, the whole time yelling "See if I ever come here again, and see if you ever have any good business! The nerve of you to speak to me like this!"
Just when the two at the back thought she was done they heard a very loud crashing that sounded like one of the mighty towers had fallen. The small bell rang as the door was opened again, then all was silent. Erik put his head into his hands and leaned on the counter, groaning at what just occurred. He said in a low voice "Please tell me I didn't just hear that…" Christine looked at him with sympathy and, not knowing what else to do, reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. Erik flinched and shot back up, as if coming to his senses and asked Christine "Are you all right, she didn't hurt you did she? Shoving you like that…"
Christine shook her head, then asked him seriously "Did you really mean what you said to her, that I can buy this one? Mr. Destler, I don't know if I have enough for your violin, especially since it's handmade and-" Erik leaned across the counter and said with a smile to her "Miss Daaé, it would be an honor to know that I helped the daughter of one of the world's greatest violinists, the price does not matter to me, I'll take whatever you want to pay,"
Christine practically squealed in delight and took out her money, 365 dollars, and handed it all to Erik. "Let me go get a case for it," He said before again walking off to the back. Christine stood there a moment, but then had an idea. She gently set down the violin and bow on the counter, then walked to the entrance the shop, where she had heard the crash. To her expectations she found just what was to be expected, the books, papers, a whole mountain of work had been knocked over by the invader.
Bending down, Christine began trying to organize some of the works, putting them all into much smaller piles based on who the writer was or if it was labeled for a specific client. As she went through them a piece caught her eye, it was labeled specifically Destler. Curiosity getting the better of her, she stood up with it and read the notes, it was a piece for a violin and organ with the title The Dance of Angels and Demons.
"Miss Daaé?" Erik called out. Christine quickly dropped the piece back onto the floor and answered "I'm here, just at the front trying to clean up a bit after that awful woman!" She heard Erik's footsteps rushing to where she was, and moved over away from the music sheet, worried he would be upset at her for looking at his personal writing. Erik came through and looked down at the fallen sheets and sighed "I do hate it when this happens, but such is my life. Why are you cleaning it up though? It's not your problem,"
"I think it's the least I can do after you selling me your violin, wouldn't you agree?" She smiled at him, bending back down to collect some of Tchaikovsky's work. "Besides, it's much faster to have some help right now rather than doing it all on your own," Erik nodded and set down the case he was holding and also bent down to help Christine. She watched him out of the corner of her eye as he saw his own piece and picked it up, but instead of putting it into any pile, he rolled it up and stuffed it in his shirt.
After they had most of the main writers sorted out and quite a few of his customers, Christine asked him "You said that this is also your home?" Erik looked at her and nodded saying "Yes, I live on the second floor of the shop, I've done so for ten years now," Christine was about to respond when she heard a clock chime, five, six, seven times. "Oh my goodness! I'm going to be late for dinner with my friend!" Christine said standing in a panic. Erik stood up and asked her a bit uncertainly "Would you like a ride? I can close up shop early if you'd liked," Christine put her hands together in thanks and exclaimed "Oh! Thank you Mr. Destler, I would love that, thank you so very much!"
Erik picked up the violin case and handed it to her saying "I'll only be about two minutes, you just go out to the front, I'll pull my car around." He headed off again into the abyss of music and disappeared. Christine did as he instructed and walked out the door. The moment she came in contact with the cold air a shiver went through her.
She vaguely wondered though if it was just the air doing this to her or something a bit more… mysterious.
