Chapter 2: Reopening the Books
Patricia looked at the conductor and he looked at her. She looked at everyone as they looked at her. She took a deep breath and on cue began to sing with such grace and everyone gazed at her. In the distance Gaston watched her and suddenly he was mesmerized by her voice.
" This voice," he whispered, " It can't be from this world."
Patricia reached out her hands as if she were singing to someone. The conductor nodded as she captured everyone's attention and then as her song ended she breathed.
" Mademoiselle that was just perfect." The conductor said
Patricia smiled and looked at everyone then looked in box five as a shadow walked off. She looked in the back to see Gaston and he stood and clapped for her.
" Bravo!" he called, " her voice can reach every ear in this theater!"
" Mademoiselle you will take Mademoiselle Sabine's spot for now. She has fallen ill and cannot sing the part." The conductor remarked
" Oh, I can't believe this!" she exclaimed
" But she will return as an understudy for Mademoiselle Sabine." Henri's voice came
Patricia looked up at the old man and shivered a little.
" I think that is up for the audience to decide." Gaston remarked
" Yes, I agree." Victor said
" Victor this girl's voice is wonderful yes, but it needs training. Our opera goers will not applause to an amateur." Henri said
" She has a teacher." Victor said
" A teacher? Who is this great teacher Mademoiselle Sommer?" Henri asked
" I do not know his name Monsieur." Patricia said
" Ha! You see she needs a teacher with a name. Like all opera singers they earn a place here. I will give you a week mademoiselle Sommer to become a great singer. I will wish to meet your teacher." Henri said
" You dare doubt that her teacher does not exist!" a voice rang
People gasped and Henri looked up at box five, but then a shadow rose over them all.
" He's here the Phantom of the Opera." Agatha gasped
The shadow vanished into smoke and Henri looked at Patricia and breathed deep.
" One week mademoiselle." Henri remarked
He walked off and Gaston looked at Patricia as she stepped back before fainting.
" Patricia!" Victor exclaimed
" Get a doctor!" someone said
Victor walked up the stairs and looked at the pale young girl. He looked at box five and saw the shadow push the curtains back.
Henri looked around and sat down in his chair.
" This man can not exist." He whispered, " ghost stories."
" Monsieur Henri, do you really believe that he does not exist?" a voice whispered
Henri jumped up and looked around and saw a shadow on the wall opposite of him.
" Who are you?" he questioned
" Your worst nightmare Henri." The voice said, " let the girl sing or I shall reveal my horror on the opera house."
Henri shook his head and turned around to see where the shadow was coming from. He saw no one and then look to see the shadow was gone.
" She will sing." He thought
Patricia opened her eyes and saw Gaston reading a book. She moaned and he looked up at her then put his book down.
" So you are awake." He said
" What happened?" she asked
He got up and sat on her bed then removed the cloth.
" You fainted, I believe you got frighten of the spirit that haunts this opera house." Gaston remarked
" Spirit?"
" Only the one feared by all man. He's as old as time now."
Patricia sat up, but felt dizzy and fell back onto the pillow.
" Gaston, why does everyone fear a man who feared himself?"
" The story goes that he held power over this opera house. Everything went his way and no one could change his mind. He lived in the shadows and ruled there."
Patricia sighed and listened to Gaston's voice. He looked at her and smiled softly then looked around.
" How about you rest and I'll have the cooks make you something." He said
" Sure," she remarked, " thank you."
" Your welcome." Gaston replied
He walked off and Patricia reached under her bed to pull a journal out. She began to read until she felt weary and let the book fall to her side. It was then a hand reached for the book and pulled it to him.
" Patricia, this book belongs to those who succeed the formal man." He whispered
He slipped away and went off to a room that only he could find. He lit candles and proceeded to open the book. To his surprise he could not read it, it was in a different language than his own.
" What!" he growled
He flipped through the pages and then a note fell from it. He reached for it and began to read the note.
You have found that you cannot read my journals. I have written them in another language different from our own so you cannot find what really happened. My life is written out for only my family. But I can tell you that my reign was very bloody and I repent for my sins. You are destine to always wonder about the Phantom of the Opera. Who was he? I will tell you I was a man of my word and you should leave it at that. My great, great grandchild will hold something special that allows only her and those before her to read my journals. How do I know my great, great grandchild is a girl? Well I will tell you that, I have made sure that my children marry with the genes of more girls. She will be the last Sommer to hold the secrets of my reign. You have no choice, but to leave my past alone. Trust your own future and do not dwell in the past.
Erik
" Damn it!" he growled" Do you really think my great, great grandfather was an idiot?" her voice sounded
" Patricia!" Gabriel exclaimed
" My journal please." She said, " return it to me."
" Not just yet. I want you to read this to me. I must know."
Patricia shook her head and walked over to him.
" You read the note…do him this last favor and leave the past alone."
Gabriel looked at Patricia and reached the book out and she reached for it; but Gabriel was quick and pulled it and her to him. She gasped as his arm was wrapped around her neck.
" Listen to me now dearest Patricia, I will give you the world." Gabriel whispered
" You disgust me!" she spat
He looked at the journal and tighten his grip on her neck. She began to feel the air becoming light and her eyes becoming heavy.
" Read it to me and I will give you life again." Gabriel whispered
" My life…is…" she stuttered
" Pointless…as long as you die with his secrets." He whispered, " I know…I believed that once."
Patricia's eyes shut and Gabriel released her from his grip. He lifted her up into his arms and carried her down below. Below the opera house was a world that was different from the one that he lived in. Gabriel managed to change it to his liking and he laid Patricia in a soft bed.
" My work with you is not done yet." He whispered
He stroked her cheek and walked off to wait for her to wake. He looked at the journal and narrowed his eyes at it.
" Mother, help me." He whispered, " Give me the strength to finish what I dreamed of."
He turned to the organ and the musical instruments that laid to rest in a corner. He stood up and took the violin and began to play it.
" All shall know who I am." He whispered
Patricia opened her eyes and looked around, feeling the dampness nipping at her skin. She sat up and pulled back her hair and then got up to explore the underground world.
" Am I here?" she whispered
Patricia looked and pushed opened a door that lead to another chamber and a smile caressed her lips.
" I have come to your world." She whispered
As she went on she heard music playing and went towards it. She opened the door and saw Gabriel playing the violin.
" You!" she exclaimed
Gabriel turned and looked at her then set the violin down.
" Welcome to my palace under the surface." Gabriel remarked, " his palace has become my own now."
" And you have brought me here so that you can harass me more. Possibly threaten those who are close." Patricia remarked
" No, I have come to make a deal. You have week to become greater than the legendary woman Christine Daaé." Gabriel said, " I will teach you what you want to learn and I will provide you with everything you need to be as great as her. It is up to you to take what I teach you and use it."
" Why do you want the journals?" she asked
" My life depends on them." Gabriel said, " my survival here depends on them."
" Who is after you Gabriel?" she asked, " Who do you fear?"
Gabriel looked at her and smiled then walked to her. His cold hand touched her face and she stepped back. He smirked and then turned towards the darkness that echoed through out the passageways.
" Even you wince under my touch." He whispered
" I wish to return above." She said
" And you shall. My offer remains." Gabriel remarked
He walked past her and lifted the journal up then handed it to her.
" If you so wish to become a singer of great majesty then I will be waiting." Gabriel said
Patricia looked at Gabriel and then walked into the darkness. Gabriel sighed and took a different passage to the surface. He heard Gaston and Henri talking just outside the auditorium and listened closely.
" That girl she is a threat to the opera house." Henri remarked
" I do not see this threat your talking about. I just see a girl who loves the past." Gaston replied
" Do not let her get to you."
Henri presented her Gaston some money.
" Take care of her." Henri told him, " I will not let that girl succeed in what ever she's doing."
Gaston looked at Henri and gave him the money back.
" I'll do this one for fun and using my own money." Gaston said
He walked off and Gabriel narrowed his eyes as he watched the old manager look about before entering the auditorium.
" So, I suppose they are planning to interfere with my plans." Gabriel remarked, " I suppose I must make plans to protect this young woman. I will not let them harm her."
Gabriel vanished into the shadows as people came and he then saw Patricia making her way toward the auditorium. He watched her as she walked with grace and for a brief second he could almost see him standing behind her. He smirked then vanished.
" I'll be waiting Mademoiselle Sommer." He thought