The sun beamed high and proudly as it shined it's ray on the opera house, signaling the start of day. It was early October, the weather had cooled down. The leaves had turned to luscious green to arrays of orange, red and yellow. The stores opened, beckoning any potential customers to come and buy their goods.
A young couple or perhaps, siblings walked arm in arm, whispering and smiling about something in their conversation as they headed towards the opera house. The doors opened as the couple came in, and still to this day, the opera house was a glorious sight to see. Gold was all around, molded into statues or became ceiling arcs with beautifully hand painted arts on the ceiling.
A maid past by the couple, holding a bucket of water that was sloshing back and forth as she tried to run up the second floor where the theater was. As she opened a door, she arrived in the backstage area. Whereas outside was peaceful and quiet, backstage was loud and rowdy.
Ballerinas were dressing in their nicest clothes to greet their patron that was soon to be arriving. Stagehands were trying to clean up any mess that was left, and also secure any backdrops from dropping like last time.
"Quickly, quickly, we haven't much time!" Monsieur Andre barked. His white hair had been trimmed and he was dressed in his best clothes. He felt handsome today. Monsieur Firmin walked over to Andre but paused in his steps when one of the ballerina's gave him a flirty wink.
"Gather around everyone!" Monsieur Andre ordered. The theater hushed as everyone stopped what they were doing and listen to what the managers had to say. One ballerina stepped forward, keening to hear what they had to say. She had curly brown hair that reached halfway down her back, brown large innocent eyes. Her name was Christine Daae. Her friend, Meg, a blonde and blue eyed ballerina, was beside her with her mother, Madame Giry.
"As you've all heard, Vicomte de Chagny has come to an early retirement due to his newfound business: Shipping." Monsieur Andre said, smiling. He knew many of the patrons before had quit because of the incidents that occurred during the past few years. He hoped the new patron wouldn't do the same, and hope none of the workers would mention O.G.
"He is a close friend of Vicomte de Chagny so I want you all to greet him kindly, " Monsieur Firmin supplied.
"That wont be necessary at all," A strong voice spoke behind the managers.
The ballerinas peeked behind, some stood on their toes and craned their neck to see who it was. A yoing man, in his 20s, appeared from behind the managers with a kind smile. The girls sighed in at the sight over him.
"Handsome," One of the girls said dreamily. Handsome he was. He had dirty blonde hair that makes every girl want to run their fingers through and green eyes that held warmth in them.
"Finally, this opera house needed some good looking patrons," Meg said winking at Christine. Christine was left blushing in red and left her in a fit of giggles which she had to surpressed.
"Ladies and gentleman, I'd like to welcome you, Mattieu Beaumont."
A round of applause came from everyone; the loudest were the girls.
"Thank you, and please, call me Matt. It's an honor to work with talented dancers and singers. I'd like you to meet my little sister, Aimee." Matt turned to his left and everyone did the same. A small hand took Matt's hands first and the young woman gave a warm smile.
She had dark chocolate hair that was wind swept and a dimpled smile. She stood only to Matt's neck and there was something strange about her eyes. They were silver.
"Bonjour everyone. I hope we didn't interrupt any rehearsal," She spoke with kindness and so soft, no one could hear her.
"Your eyes, they're a strange color," Meg perked up. She received a disapproving glance from her mother.
Aimee only smiled, "I'm blind." Everyone was a bit taken back at this young beautiful woman was blind.
"Don't feel pity for me, really," Aimee said. "It'll take me a week to learn the ropes of the opera house. And of course, everyone's name."
"Are you here to dance?" Meg ask. Another disapproving glance came from her mother that came along with a warning nudge to make her stop.
Aimee smiled, "No, I'm here to sing." Aimee knew there was a slight change in the atmosphere when she said it. She knew what they were thinking. A blind girl, wanting to sing? How will she able to read the words?
"I listen by my ears. Remember I have four other senses," An amused chuckle came from the group.
"I'm Christine Daae, the leading lady." Christine spoke. "I'll teach you, if that's alright." She looked at Matt for permission.
He gave a nod, "Aimee sing something."
Aimee opened her mouth and sing the scales. Her voice was clear, pure sweet and more melody than Christine's. It seems Christine has competition.
An applause came from everyone when she finished. They were in awe by her voice. Aimee blushed and curtsied.
"Perhaps you would like to be shown to your room-" Monsieur Andre stopped after what he just said. "Pardon, I didn't mean-"
"It's quite alright, monsieur." Aimee said. She felt Matt's hand around her elbow and she was pulled along. She listened as the two managers spoke to Matt about the different levels of the Opera house. The first floor was the foyer and ballroom. The second floor was the theater and the ballerina's dormitory. The third floor was where the costumes were held in shelves but where the stage hands also were. The last floor was the roof, with statues of horses on top.
It sounds wonderful to Aimee to absorb this information. Now if she'll just have a time for herself and she'll wander around the corridors, feeling and familiarizing herself. In just a week, she'll know this place like the back of her hand.
Aimee slowed down when her body picked there was another presence with her. She turned her head slightly to listen to the footsteps that didn't match along with the group. None.
"And here is where you'll be staying, Aimee." Monsieur Andre said, pulling her out of her thoughts. Matt tugged on her arm and lead her inside.
He let her go and all three men watched as she timidly touched the dresser. Her foot slowly touched the floor. Aimee's hands found the bed, vanity table and chair, and some art work on the walls.
"What do you think?" Matt ask.
Aimee's hands stopped when she touched something smooth and cold on the shelf. It was a small object, she turned it around feeling the bumps.
"Small," Aimee replied, still touching what this object was. "Is this…." Aimee frowned in concentration. "One of those little trinkets?" Both managers were impressed and Matt only smiled at his sister.
"Why, yes, Mademoiselle." Monsieur Firmin replied.
She neatly placed it back on the shelf and sat down on the bed.
"Excuse me gentleman, I'd like to have a word with my sister." The two managers nodded and closed the door after him. Matt kneeled down in front of her, eye leveling.
He looked into her silver eyes. They were looking at him but not exactly looking at him.
"How do you feel?" Matt ask, holding her hands.
Aimee shrugged casually, "This is our new home now." She replied. Their parents had died due to pneumonia and both were left with nothing but clothes on their back and little to no money.
Luckily, Raoul had given them a home to stay until they could get back on their feet. Raoul handed the Opera house over to Matt while he took care of the shipping business. They were both grateful and promised to make it up to Raoul.
"I know, but I promise mama and papa to take care of you." Matt said. Aimee squeezed his hands with her small ones.
"Do you think they hate me because I'm…blind?" she ask. Aimee wasn't born blind. Before she was blind, she was in awe at how beautiful France had looked. She would see her parents face, her brother's handsome looks and herself.
It had been a year since she had gone blind. She remembered like it was yesterday.
"No, no, absolutely not!" Aimee said, frowning as she walked down the path with Matt beside her.
"Come on, Aimee, you need someone to take care of you. What happens after papa and mama died, and after I married? Hmm?"
Aimee stopped walking and stood in front of him. The dirty blonde hair and green eyes that match her own.
"I want to marry for love. Just like papa and mama. I'll sing and he'll hear my voice and fall in love with me."
"Just be your voice," Matt said dryly. She whacked him lightly on his arm.
"Yes, my singing. And I will not be accepting an arranged marriage,." Aimee continue walking but she stopped suddenly when the doors open to the bar and two bodies tumble out. One was holding a bottle of what seems to be a chemical which Aimee couldn't clearly make out.
Suddenly the man on top raised his bottle too quick and the liquid spilled in Aimee's eyes. She let out a cry of pain and clutched her eyes, almost scratching to get the stinging and burning pain out.
"Aimee!" Matt shouted, running to her side.
Aimee's eyes had been damaged by the chemical, which she never knew what the substance was. She had been blind over a year. Aimee remembered the difficult times of just getting up in the morning, feeling and touching her way to the water closet.
She would stay in bed because she was afraid of getting lost and wound up outside and getting lost.
But Matt gave her hope and she began to use her other four senses and slowly, she began to pick things up and walked around the house with no problem. She didn't want to use the stick because it was too much of a hassle. She rather use her hands and feet to feel and her ears to hear.
But if she had needed help, as to say, going somewhere, she had Celine, her personal maid to guide her. Her arranged marriage had came to a stop, when they found out the news of her blindness. She had friends that treated her nicely, but no one would come and court her.
It came to Aimee's senses that no one would want to a marry a blind girl.
Aimee's hands touched her brother's face. Her eyes looked back and forth but really nothing at all.
"You must be quite dashingly handsome now," Aimee said softly. "I heard the whole theater sighed when you appeared."
Matt chuckled amusingly but didn't say anything.
"I wish I could see how I look now," Aimee said sadly.
Matt cupped her face and she made eye contact at him, or at least she thinks where he is.
"You're beautiful, just like mother. You don't need a mirror to see that." Aimee smiled and Matt kissed her cheeks.
"Celine will arrive tomorrow with our bags. You have time today to…explore around." Aimee picked up his little ironic joke but didn't say anything. She decided to rest her eyes before she start a new journey of exploring and adventure in the Opera house.
AN: yes, another idea struck my head and had been gnawing in the back of my head telling me to upload this. well here it is, another phantom of the opera story. I thought of it as a unique way and seeing how Erik would react to seeing her.
Aimee means Love in french. I've been arguing with myself last night trying to find a name suitable for the main character and Aimee struck my head. Mattieu means Matthew. and of course we all know who Erik is :p hehe. carlotta is gone (yay) and christine is now the leading lady soprano. raoul is gone and matt is now the new patron.
I also realized I write better in 3rd person. maybe I'm more descriptive. Eh, who knows?
I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did writing it!