Disclaimer: I don't own Erik, Christine, Raoul or anyone else, not matter how much I would love to. I do however own the mysterious Luna, not matter how many times she tells you I don't. Also ignore her if she says something about a certain phantom being tied up in my closet. * looks around nervously * I swear, he did that himself.
Erik: dhohfjfvbvjjvbfvjhfwojf.
Me: * Pulls gag out of his mouth * I'm sorry baby, what did you say?
Erik: If I ever get out of these bonds, You will meet your demise.
Me: * swings lasso around * Erik, Erik, Erik. What did I tell you about making threats? I wasn't bluffing when I said I would burn your organ.
Erik: * Gasps then narrows eyes * You wouldn't.
Me: * Lights a match near the organ * Don't try me... Now apologise nicely and read the piece of paper.
Erik: * Clears throat while glaring at me * I'm sorry and... * Sigh* I hope you enjoy the story.
Me: See? Isn't that easier then all this fighting.
Erik: What do you want?
Me: To own you now hush. It's time for them to read the story. Hope you like it!
Think Of Me, Think Of Me Fondly When We've Said Goodbye. Remember Me, Once In A While. Please Promise Me, You'll Try.
Carlotta's awful squeaky voice filled the opera house while I watched from high above in the rigging. When she hit the high note however, I cringed as the great acoustics amplified the racket so the stale note hit my ears easily. The architecture was flawless in design, doing it's job perfectly but Carlotta was abusing it's perfection by polluting the air with her singing. She'd sound so much better if she stopped tensing her throat, letting her voice out properly but no. she carried on to restrict throat movement and made high squeaky noises when they should be smooth melodies.
She carried on, hitting a sore note which made me tighten my grip on the railing and grit my teeth together. How could the manager keep this women on the staff? She was going to murder the opera! Music was made to inspire and stir emotion, not cause deafness and disgust. It was supposed to flow like a stream and not gush like a waterfall.
" You know you shouldn't grit your teeth Ma Douce. It's not a very attractive feature" a deep baritone voice whispered in my ear as a hand rested upon my own. I revelled slightly in his voice, enjoying it's musical quality. By concentrating on it, I managed to block out Carlotta and stop my ears from bleeding. Giving a slightly bitter laugh, I turned to face the man. The white porcelain mask standing out against his black suit, creating the air of mystery around him that others found scary and intimidating.
His face turned a few seconds later so we were facing each other, his green eyes bright and sharp from behind the ivory mask. I could see the wit there, the wisdom that came with hiding out over the years. He has said I share the same light in my eyes that he possesses yet every time I look, I can't find it. I wasn't wise like him but rather childish really. I took comfort in the small things in life and unlike Erik, I preferred the simple and cheap things.
He liked his expensive silks where I chose cottons. He wore a suit with a waist coat, shirt and cape while I wore simple dresses. The only thing I owned of value was the mask that sat on the left side of my face. I had to make myself one when I was 16 so I could go to the market with Erik and continued to make them when they didn't fit.
It was rather simple in it's design. It covered the left side of my face but there was a part that covered my right eyes so no one would be able to see the scaring there. The extravagance of it was in the details Erik had painted on it. It was silver, rimmed in darker grey with deep crimson lips and thick outlined eyes which held flicks in the corner. Along with that, he decorated it with ebony swirls and curls.
" Neither is my face Erik but it doesn't matter. What does is how long are we going to wait before we send everything crashing down? Our dear Christine can actually sing this song in the way in which it was intended to be performed. " I asked, my voice betraying the impatience I felt. We had been teaching Christine for 9 years, a year after she came to the Opera house. For the first year we watched her carefully, offering her comfort during the night when she woke with nightmares or cried into the darkness. We would watch her through the mirror, singing lullabies so she'd sleep peacefully and within that year, she called Erik her angel of music.
One night however, I visited her alone to offer her singing lessons like Erik instructed. I remember how she looked around the room, nodding happily before asking who I was. I told her how I was a friend of her angel and was also taught by him. From that day on, I became her other angel of music. It warmed by heart that night. She was on the edge of sleep while I sang to her and just as she was about to succumb to it, she let out a small whisper.
" Goodnight my angel".
Erik sighed deeply, sounding fairly frustrated as he looked at me. His emerald gaze glared into my eyes as I watched him closely. His chest rising and falling quickly which was a sign that he was trying to keep his temper around me. He tried often but on more then one occasion he'd trash where we lived. Pieces of music and old books would litter to damp stone floor but I'd sit in my room so he could get it out. Once it was done, I would go tell him that he better clean the mess up because I wasn't going to. Usually by morning, it was immaculate again.
His hand released mine before moving , taking off my mask. Before he could really see it, I turned around and began walking away from him, pulling my hood up as I went. I know it's stupid because I actually live with him but I didn't like anyone seeing my face. Madame Giry had seen it when she had treated it but after that, no one had seen it. I couldn't bring myself to look in mirrors so I couldn't expect anyone to see it and not go running towards the hills.
" Luna! Get back here" he hissed. I could hear his heavy footfalls following me but I didn't look back. I just kept on walking, letting the shadows swallow me whole. Sadly though, I felt a hand on my arm but before I could pull away, it had turned me around. My hood was then ripped away.
I raised my hands, desperately trying to cover the ugliness that graced my face but all my attempts were stopped by Erik. He kept hold of my wrists, pulling them to my sides so I couldn't reach. His grip was strong and no matter how hard I squirmed in his hold, it didn't falter or loosen. With a heavy hearted sigh and tears stinging the corner of my eyes, I remained still.
I didn't look into his eyes however, I just couldn't bring myself to do it though I felt his eyes on the left side of my face. After a few moments, I scraped up the courage to look at him. His eyes were still dark from the anger but were slowly beginning to return to normal as they scanned the skin. Even he didn't know what happened to me. My mask kept me from prying eyes, keeping secrets hidden with my face but I knew that once he had seen it, he'd want the story behind it. I guess it would only be fair as I knew his.
" Happy now La fantôme?" I spat, my voice coming out sharper then intended but at that point, I didn't care. I didn't go around and rip his mask away. I waited those 5 long years until he trusted me enough. I waited until he was ready to show me what he hid! Why couldn't extend the same courtesy to me?
" W-What happened?" he murmured softly. I took my mask from his hand then quickly fixed it back on my face. There had been enough of 'staring at the monster' for one day.
I wasn't ready to deal with my nightmares right then, the ones that came with my story. We had more important things to do then indulge in the past so without a word, I quickly untied the rope beside me. Suddenly the set fell forward, nearly landing on Carlotta.
"He's here! The Phantom and his Voice!" Meg cried, looking around. Her eyes briefly scanned past us but even from way up there, I could see the excitement there. If only she knew what her mother had done to help both me and Erik.
Lefevre, the old manager who wasn't exactly the brightest bulb in the box, walked forward and helped his Prima Donna off the floor. She looked ready to pop but I didn't care as I watched the show from above. Erik had also turned to the action so I had succeeded in buying some time before revealing my past.
One of the stage hands ran towards our direction so we moved into the shadows once again, letting it conceal us from sight. Even if he did see us, who would believe him about seeing le fantôme de l'opéra?
"Signora! Are you all right? Bouquet! For God's sake, man, what's going on up there?" the old manager shouted.
"Please Monsieur don't look at me. As God's my witness,I was not at my post. Please Monsieur, there's no one there and if there is, well then, it must be a ghost!" he begged, his face seeming to grow more frightened as the seconds passed. Sometimes I'd like to know what they're thinking but I could almost guess what was running through his mind. I wasn't here when it happened because it was the ghost... meaning he could still be up here.
Meanwhile Carlotta was having a fit on stage, stomping around like she owned the damn place. Hello... that was mine and Erik's role like it had been for the past 20 something years. Well, 23 years for me and 28 for Erik. Our joint ownership was rather fun at times, especially when it came to our pay.
" Signora, these things do happen" one of the new managers tried. Andre, I think his name was. Obviously, Carlotta didn't appreciate that and intensified her role as a grown women throwing a temper tantrum like a 3 year old brat. Seriously, Lefevre was spoiling her too much. Always giving into her wishes. If it were me, she'd have been out on her ear the moment she hit a sour note.
" For the past 3 years, these things do happen and did you stop them from happening? No! And you two, you're as bad as him. These things do happen! Until you stop these things happening, this thing does not happen! Baldo Andamio!" she yelled before throwing her arms up then walking off the stage. All I could do was snicker quietly but with one harsh look from Erik, I shut up.
" Gentlemen, good luck. If you need me, I shall be in Australia" and with that said, Lefevre left the same way Carlotta had. You'd think I'd have felt a little pity wouldn't you? Sadly I didn't. Those emotions were long since locked away and the key's has perished in the fire with all prospects of a normal life.
Just then, madame Giry burst into the room holding our letter. The scarlet skull was just sitting on the back, it's jaw disconnected from when it had been opened.
" I have a message, sir, from the opera ghost and his voice". She told them firmly. I smiled slightly when she mentioned me. Clever huh? The famous opera ghost and his voice were a known legend around here. Erik even taught me some tricks like throwing my voice, blending in, fast escapes and also made me learn every tunnel in the whole opera house.
" Oh god in heaven, You're all obsessed!" the other manager, Firmin, claimed.
" They welcome you to their opera house" madame Giry started, smiling slightly.
" Their opera house!"
" And commands you to continue to leave box 5 empty for their use... they also remind you that their salary is due". He had better keep the box open. We found out a few years ago that when you sit in box 5, you can see the whole stage. This also made it the best box in the house so it did annoy the old manager but his fear out shadowed his annoyance and he gave in every time.
" Their salary?"
" Monsieur Lefevre paid them 20,000 francs a month". She informed him. Yeah, he was so scared of us that he always paid it on it the first of every month without fail. A few times he's even paid a little extra, depending on how successful each opera is.
" Perhaps you could afford more, with the Vicomte de Chagny as your patron"
" madame, I had hoped to have made that announcement public tonight when the Vicomte was to join us for the gala but obviously we shall have to cancel, as it appears we have lost our star. A full house, Andre, we shall have to refund a full house" Firmin complained, shaking his partner.
" Christine Daae could sing it, sir. She has been well taught". Well of course she's been well taught. Did she honestly think we were going to teach her so she was mediocre? No. We spent our precious time, moulding this girl into the best Prima Donna that this opera house will ever have.
The moment her sweet voice filled the hall, I used that as my cue to leave. Turning, I began down the rigging again but like the last time, a hand was placed on my shoulder. Without looking around, I addressed the pesky phantom.
" What do you want Erik?"
" To tell you that I won't be forgetting about it and you will tell me. One way or another". And here comes the stupid threats. He should have known by now that I don't bend to his demands and will, he bends to mine... on occasion.
Rolling my eyes, I walked away and let the shadows swallow me whole once more.