I do not own POTO!
Chapter 2: Practice and Planning
By PittsBurghFuzz
Once Christine woke up, Madame Giry entered the room and nearly dropped a tray she was carrying.
"Christine! You're back!" Madame Giry yelled. "I wasn't expecting you for days!"
"What are you talking about?" Christine asked. "You knew I was-."
Madame Giry placed a finger on Christine's mouth. "Never mind that, you must be tired!"
"Yes, I gonna lay down for a bit." Christine said while yawning. She collapsed onto her couch.
Erik returned to his domain. When he got there, he noticed something was strange. It didn't feel right, the way his lair felt. There was something missing. Erik knew very well what it was. Christine. Erik knew well that at this stage, he could not take and keep Christine down in this dismal hell forever.
"You alone, can make my song take flight." Erik sang to himself. Erik went to his small play set of the Opera House. It consisted of the stage, a curtain, a chandelier, and figurines he made of the performers. He was looking at the ones he made for Ill Muto. Erik knew that the managers would foolishly disobey him, and cast Christine at first, but will ultimately replace Carlotta not even midway through the show. Erik had concocted a very peculiar drink, which will help change the managers' minds. It would make Carlotta croak like a toad, which would not only lead to Christine's triumph, but would also give Erik a few laughs. If that did not work, he would crash the chandelier onto the stage during one of the scenes, without Christine, to be sure that the chandelier would not kill his angel, but annihilate her competition. Erik was acting very giddy throughout the entire planning of this elaborate scheme. He also planned on watching Christine practice, and give her some lessons. Anything to be with Christine, Erik thought to himself. Erik was looking at his small model of the grand stage and was playing around with his figurines of the opera players, as if he were God toying with his human creations. Erik also had the plans to the chandelier's counter-weights, after all, he did make the chandelier!
Christine was in her dressing room, preparing for dress rehearsal. Christine was supposed to play the pageboy, but the Angel's frightening promise proved otherwise. Christine hoped she would not see him act up like that again. She was fond of the Angel, liked him, maybe something more...
"Christine, are you in there?" a familiar voice said as he knocked on the door.
"Raoul! Come in!" Christine said.
"Raoul came into the room and gave Christine a big hug.
"Christine, you are cold. Are you alright?" the young man asked.
"Yes, I'm fine, just a little cold that's all. Why the surprise visit?" Christine asked.
"Well, I was going to ask if you cared to go out with me to dinner."
Christine looked to the side for a moment. "I can't Raoul, I will be practicing for many days and the show is expected to have a long run."
"You can spare a mere two hours, I will let them blame me!" Raoul said as he was leaving the room.
"I will pick you up at six, good day Christine!"
"Raoul wait!" Christine was too late. He had already left the room by the time she made her statement. Christine started to cry. She then heard a voice.
"Christine!" the voice called out. "Christine!"
It was the Angel of Music! He would surely be mad at the way I passively allowed Raoul to talk me into dinner, she thought to herself.
"You need not worry about what I heard. I understand." the Angel told Christine.
"But how will I decline his invitation?" Christine asked.
"Don't."
"But-"
"No, please. I am truly sorry about this morning. I know you love this young man very much and-"
The Phantom was interrupted. Raoul slammed the door opened.
"Christine! You have deceived me!" Raoul exclaimed.
"What are you talking about Raoul?" Christine asked.
"There is a man in this room!"
"Raoul, there is not man. Now please, I have to get ready for rehearsal.
Erik placed his hand over his mouth. Christine usually questioned why she had to practice. Erik was stunned that she desired to practice.
"Yeah right Christine," Raoul said, "I was outside the room hearing in on your little conversation."
"How dare you!" Christine said to Raoul.
"I love you."
Christine turned away from Raoul for a moment. Christine was shedding tears, but she was not crying.
"Raoul, please do not use our childhood friendship as a reason to love me. You can see there is not man in the room, now go!"
"But-"
Raoul was interrupted by the entrance of his older brother, Philippe.
"Raoul, how improper of you to stalk Christine like that!" Philippe yelled.
Raoul gave Christine a glare and left the room. Christine cried.
"Christine, you know what you could have done to end his suspicion." the Phantom told Christine. "You could have excepted his invitation for dinner."
"But master, I need to practice."
"We will practice later my child, now you must call for him later."
"But Angel,"
"Please, I want you to get out into the world and mingle with other people, not stay cooped up in this dark and dismal place."
"Alright then. I will do as you say master."
"There's a good girl, now get dressed, and go to the vicomte."
Christine got ready and left the room. Raoul wasn't far from the exit.
"Raoul!" Christine said running to Raoul. "I changed my mind, I will go to dinner with you."
"Great! I will pick you up at six. I'm glad you changed your mind!" Christine walked back to her dressing room.
Erik was stalking the dark corners of the opera as he over heard gossip and the stage crew mingling amongst each other as they discussed Christine, the Opera Ghost, and the new management. Erik was very happy that Christine was going to dinner outside the Opera House. He then saw La Carlotta and Raoul in the stables, kissing each other.
"Raoul, what about the little thing, what's her name?" Carlotta asked.
"You mean Christine? I am meeting her out to dinner tonight. That doesn't mean our relationship will end." Raoul told her.
Erik was appalled that Raoul would do such a thing. Maybe he was drunk? Erik ran off from the stables and went away from that horrid sight.