[A/N] - Hello lovely readers on this website. It is me with one more story about our dear Erik Destler aka the Phantom of the Opera.
There is one more story in my profile, 'A second chance in Love', finished and ready to be read if you are curious and need more Erik love
Also, in this story it is the same timeline as the 2004 movie and same characters but! There is no Christine or Raoul. In this story, Erik is simply preventing himself from having any human contact and feelings for anyone so far. It will be different from what you might have been used to but give it a chance.
Antoinette Giry was walking down the busy streets of Paris. Her dirty blond hair where braided and tied up into an elegant bun, her black dress smooth without any wrinkles.
Her black can echo as she walked with her back straight and her steps full of grace from the so many years of her dancing the art of Ballet. Suddenly, through the hustle and bustle of the city; her ears perked an angelic voice singing and the sound of the violin accompanying it.
Opening her eyes, she turned her head to the direction the voice was coming from and walked towards it
A few minutes of walking, the voice and the music were getting louder and louder as she approached. She noticed a small crowd and realized that the owner of the voice was in the centre. Slowly making her way there, she managed to slip between some people and spot the singer.
Juliette took a deep breath as she let her brown case open a few feet in front of her. It wasn't too early but neither too late. She had found that around this time she would attract the bigger audience.
She smoothed down her white shirt and raised her sleeves so they stopped above her elbow. Her black pants were slightly dirty but barely visible, same for her black worn boots. She made a mental note to find a way to clean them.
She tied half of her white hair up into a ponytail, held by a dark purple ribbon, the colour fading away from time but it did its job so she didn't complain. Once fixed, she let it hang above the rest of her hair.
She grabbed her old violin and fixed a few strings before placing it below her chin and holding the bow. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes as the melody of the song started to play in her mind. She opened her lavender – purple started to play, her music slowly attracting a small audience.
Now when the world is shadowed and dark
Now when the sky is empty of stars
Now when the world is wrapped in sleep
In a quiet endless and deep
In the silence of the night
Far off in the distance
A fire comes to life
A flicker of a flame breaks through the dark
Burning soft and bright
Dancing with the light
Awakening the Heavens and the Earth
Far across the ocean
A flame is rising high
Breaking through the shadows and the dark
Shining in the night
Rising with the light
Here to wake the Heavens and the Earth
Now as the light starts to rise
Now as the day opens wide
Now as the dreams slips away
You wake to the day
You wake to the light
Here as your dream falls away
Feel as the dark turns to day
Leave the shadows behind
And the dream called in blind
Turn into the light
Far off in the distance
A fire comes to life
A flicker of a flame breaks through the dark
Burning soft and bright
Dancing with the light
Awakening the Heavens and the Earth
Far across the ocean
A flame is rising high
Breaking through the shadows and the dark
Shining in the night
Rising with the light
Here to wake the Heavens and the Earth
Far off in the distance
A fire comes to life
A flicker of a flame breaks through the dark
Burning soft and bright
Dancing with the light
Awakening the Heavens and the Earth
Far across the ocean
A flame is rising high
Breaking through the shadows and the dark
Shining in the night
Rising with the light
Here to wake the Heavens and the Earth
Here to wake the Heavens and the Earth
To light
She finished, letting her voice boom powerfully. She stopped, her hands spread as she looked at the sky, emphasizing the lyrics of the song. Clapping and applause made her look at her audience who started to throw coins in her hat as she gave a bow.
Antoinette stood still. Her face stern and her posture straight while both hands rested on her cane. She had heard many people sing but only one person she knew could sing with such passion and flame.
She could see it; she could feel it with every inch of her body. She gave life to the song, to the lyrics. It was a shame she was not in an Opera or somewhere where her talent wouldn't go wasted like the streets.
As the people applause and threw coins in her case, she took the chance to study her. She was tall and slim but well fit; her experienced eye could see that she had some history with dancing. It was obvious on how she moved a little while signing.
Her clothes were old, torn and the colour faded from time. It was obvious that she was poor and it also explained the old violin who could be as old as Giry herself and the need to amuse a crowd of people for a few franks.
Then, she took in her appearance. She must say she was rather intrigued and slightly shocked when she first laid eyes on her due pale skin and a general pale complexion that stood out against everything dark around her.
Even her eyebrows and eyelashes were white, white as her hair. She found herself locking eyes with her girl, who had raised her head to look at the ballet mistress and noticed the beautiful shade of lavender they were.
"Can I help you, Madame?", she said as she put the coins in her pocket shirt and offered the older woman a smile.
"A very impressive voice mademoiselle…"
"Juliette"
"Juliette. It is a shame that only a few people can hear it"
"Thank you very much, Madame…"
"Giry. Antoinette Giry"
Juliette's eyes widen for a second as she recognized her name and Ann wasn't surprised. After all, she was famous for her dancing as well as her teachings. The girl regained her composure
"Madame Giry. However, not all of us can be lucky enough to sing for big audiences"
"Perhaps you can increase your chances"
"Excuse me"
"You have a fine voice Juliette and I can see that you also have past experience with dance. I would like you to come to the Opera Populaire and give an audition. I can see big talent in you"
Juliette didn't believe what she just heard and wanted to pinch herself in case she was just dreaming. She had passed by the Grand Opera Populaire so many times and she always wished to attend once but the tickets were far too expensive, especially for someone like her.
However, now she had the chance to not just attend but be part of the biggest Opera in the whole city of Paris.
"It… *clears throat* It would be a great honour Madame…However, I do not think I am made for an Opera…", she muttered the last part and looked down as she played with the jacket around her waist.
"Juliette, when I say someone has a talent they truly do. I am never mistaken to such cases and I say it to you. It is a shame for a young woman such as you to perform for a few coins"
The white-haired girl listened carefully. Giry's voice was strict but also caring. She really believed in her and she found herself biting her bottom lip.
"Okay, if you say so, Madame. I will come by tomorrow"
"Excellent. I will inform the managers and I will see you tomorrow"
She gave Juliette a smile and started to walk away. The albino girl passed her fingers in her hair and left out a deep sigh. That was when she noticed that the sun had changed position and soon her place would also be hit by the warm rays of it.
She had to move or she would get a nasty burn. Putting the violin in the old brown case, she grabbed the sack behind her and strapped it across her shoulder. Once everything was taken, she took down a street to find the next place to perform.
It was night, the sun was down and the city was empty minus the few people on night walks or romantic dinners and the occasional drunk males that lured into the shadowy alleys.
Juliette reached her destination; a dark alley between two buildings.
"You are late", a deep voice said and the girl looked at her feet as the man approached her.
He was around the same height she was but more muscular. He wore a tight black shirt and black pants. A gun was placed inside his pants and only the handle was visible. His hair was an ash blond shade with black highlights and tied in a small ponytail at the base of his neck.
Tattoos covered his arms, a whole sleeve with different figures that had slightly to worn over time. He stopped in front of her.
"I am sorry, but if you want me to gather all that money for today I had to be a little late", she said as she took a deep breath and looked into the man's brown eyes.
"Do not be cocky with me now girl", he growled and extended his large calloused hand. Juliette placed a small pouch on it that was filled with coins." Hmm", he said as he felt the pouch. "Not as many as I asked"
"This is all I have managed to gather so far. Maybe if you gave me more time"
"Or maybe if you stopped singing and did something… more useful", his eyes travelled on her body and his hand went to her cheek but she slapped it away.
"No. I won't turn into a whore for anyone!", she said as she looked at him in the eyes.
He grabbed her upper arm, his strong fingers pressing against her skin with enough force that made her hiss but he ignored her as he dragged her into an alley and slammed her against the wall.
"You will be what I tell you to be? You hear me?!", he raised his voice as he brought his face closer to him.
Juliette listened but her ears started to buzz since she hit her head against the cement wall but she still kept looking at him unafraid.
"I let you try your little singing but next time, if you do not bring all the money", he grabbed his switch knife and placed it against her neck. "It will be the end of your little filthy career. I will make sure you will never sing again"
Her eyes widen in fear, not of the knife but of losing her voice. It was everything she had; the only thing connected her to her mother. The man saw her face and placed the knife back at his pocket before tossing her to the ground.
"Consider yourself lucky for today"
Was all he said and walked away, leaving a scared and shocked Juliette on the ground.
Song: Awakening - Celtic woman