Safe With Me
Summary-
Ever since Christine Daaé was brought to the Opera Populaire, she has felt the loving and safe gaze of the Phantom, her Angel of Music. When the Opera Populaire gets not only new managers but also a new Patron who happens to be someone from Christine's past, things start to change between Christine and her Angel.
Chapter III-
Erik stood, hidden in the shadows of the flies, watching his Christine as she danced the part of a slave in Hannibal. It had been a few years since she came to the Opera Populaire, eight to be exact. And now she was a beautiful young woman with long brown hair that he wished to just run his fingers through. She had big, beautiful, ocean blue eyes that he could easily get lost in. Over the years, with his help, her voice became like that of an Angel's, fitting for her since she was his Angel. And it was high time that the world knew of his Angel's voice, it was time for her to step out of the shadows and become the Opera Populaire's new Prima Donna. Now all he had to do was get rid of the toad known as La Carlotta.
Erik's eyes suddenly fell onto some stage hands who had stopped their work to stare openly at his Christine. He snarled at them before he silently dropped behind them, still hidden in the shadows, and hissed into their ears. "Take your eyes off of what does not belong to you and get back to work before you find yourselves in a permanent sleep." After his warning, he quickly made his way back up into the flies to continue watching his Christine and waiting for the perfect time to for his next prank that would surely get Carlotta to finally leave his Opera House.
"No, no, no!" He heard Monsieur Reyer cry as he stormed onto the stage and up to Piangi, "Signor, if you please: 'Rome'. We say 'Rome' not 'Roma'." And Piangi nodded.
"Si, si, Rome, not Roma." Piangi said in a thick Latin accent. "Is very hard for me." He added before practicing saying 'Rome' correctly.
"Once again then, if you please, Signor: 'Sad to return.'" Reyer said stepping away.
"This way, gentlemen, this way." Erik heard Monsieur Lefevre, the retiring manager of the Opera Populaire. He positioned himself so that he could see Lefevre but still be hidden in the shadows of the flies. He saw Lefevre leading two men towards the stage, and Erik knew right away that these two men were Monsieur Richard Firmin and Monsieur Gilles Andre, the Opera Populaire's new managers. "Rehearsals, as you see, are under way, for a new production of Chalumeau's Hannibal. Ladies and gentlemen, some of you may already, perhaps, have met Monsieur Andre and Monsieur Firmin." Lefevre said and the men bowed respectably before Reyer was upon them.
"I'm sorry, Monsieur Lefevre, we are rehearsing. If you wouldn't mind waiting a moment?" Reyer said and Lefevre nodded.
"My apologies, Monsieur Reyer. Proceed, proceed." Lefevre said.
"Thank you, Monsieur." Reyer said before turning to look at Piangi. "'Sad to return.' Signor."
"Monsieur Reyer, our chief repetiteur. Rather a tyrant, I'm afraid." Erik heard Lefevre say to the new managers and couldn't help smirking. Monsieur Reyer was no tyrant, Reyer was just afraid to have his actors looking like a mess on the stage and risk disappointing him and encounter Erik's wrath. Erik watched as the ballet girls began their dance once more, he also noticed that the men were standing center stage watching them and were in the way. Annoyed, he silently made his way through the flies and to Madame Giry, his 'middle-man' between him and the managers.
"Get them off of my stage," Erik hissed to her from his hiding spot, making sure that she would be the only one to hear him, "And when the time is right give them my message." He said before he made his way through the flies and back to his spot. He watched as Madame Giry made her way towards the men with an exasperated look on her face.
"Gentlemen, please! If you would kindly move to one side?" Madame Giry asked them and Lefevre had the decency to look ashamed.
"My apologies, Madame Giry." Lefevre said before leading the new managers aside, allowing the dancers to freely dance. Once the men were off his stage, Erik continued to silently watch his Angel dance, but kept glancing back at Lefevre and the new managers. He noticed that they were looking towards Meg and his Christine while muttering to themselves. Erik's eyes narrowed wondering what they were talking about, he had the urge to leave his spot and listen in on them, but refused to move, it was almost time to make his move, sooner or later Carlotta would unknowingly give him his cue.
After the act was finished, Erik saw Reyer give Lefevre a nod, indicating that rehearsals were done for now. Erik watched as everyone drifted off into their own little groups and began gossiping about the new managers. Erik slowly drifted towards Christine and Meg who were standing together, luckily close to him. "Ladies and gentlemen," Erik heard Lefevre try to gain everyone's attention, but failed. "Ladies and gentlemen," He tried again and got the same result, "Ladies and Gentlemen- Madame Giry if you please." Lefevre called out, finally getting fed up. Madame Giry quickly silenced everyone with a quick rap of her walking stick against the stage floor. "Thank you." He said giving her a small smile before turning his attention back to the actors, "As you know, for some weeks there have been rumors of my imminent retirement. I can now tell you that these were all true." Lefevre said causing a wave of whispers to ripple through the actors, but with a quick glance to Madame Giry, they were silenced once again. "It is my pleasure to introduce you to the two men who now own the Opera Populaire. Monsieur Richard Firmin and Monsieur Gilles Andre." As everyone was clapping Erik saw Piangi discreetly get Lefevre's attention and discreetly point to Carlotta. "Gentlemen," Lefevre said to Andre and Firmin gaining their attention before motioning to Carlotta, "Signora Carlotta Giudicelli, our leading soprano for the past five seasons now."
'And this will be her last season, even if I have to kill her.' Erik thought.
"Of course, of course." Andre said as he walked up to Carlotta and gave her a kiss on the hand, "I have experienced all of your greatest roles, Signora."
"And Signor Ubaldo Piangi." Lefevre said motioning to Piangi.
"An honor, Signor." Firmin said.
"If I remember rightly, Elissa has a rather fine aria in Act Three of Hannibal. I wonder, Signora, if, as a personal favor, you would oblige us with a private rendition? Unless, of course, Monsieur Reyer objects." Andre said and everyone looked at Reyer, even Erik who was silently threatening Reyer not to object, this would be the perfect chance.
"My manager commands. Monsieur Reyer." Carlotta said and Erik smirked.
"My diva commands. Will two bars be sufficient introduction?" Reyer asked.
"Two bars will be quite sufficient." Firmin said and Erik pulled out his knife as Carlotta began to warm up her voice.
"Signora?" Reyer asked.
"Maestro." Carlotta said and Reyer began conducting the song.
"Think of me, think of me fondly, when we've said goodbye." Carlotta started off key, Erik quickly made sure that his Angel would be out of harms way before he started to cut through the ropes that held up the backdrop. "Remember me every so often, promise me you'll try. On that day, that not so distant day, When you are far away and free. If you ever find a moment. Spare a thought for me-AAAAHHH!" Carlotta screeched as the backdrop fell on her. As Erik silently ran from the flies and into the shadows near Christine who was hiding in the wings he saw people try to find him while helping pull the backdrop off of Carlotta.
"He's there, the Phantom of the Opera." Erik heard Meg cry as she ran towards her mother as she looked up into the flies trying to find him, "He's there, the Phantom of the Opera!" Erik saw Madame Giry motion for Meg to get back to Christine and Meg turned to run to Christine but was cut off by Firmin.
"Mademoiselle please!" Firmin cried and Meg turned and ran the opposite way.
"Buquet! Where's Buquet? Get that man down here!" Erik heard Lefevre yell before he turned to look at Andre and Firmin. "Chief of the flies. He's responsible for this." Lefevre explained and Erik scoffed at that. A minute later a fat, balding, middle aged man ran onto the stage, in his arms was the rope that Erik had cut. "For God's sake, man, what's going on up there?"
"Please monsieur, don't look at me. As God as my witness, I was not at my post. Please monsieur, there's no one up there. And if there is, well then, it must be a ghost!" Buquet cried holding out the rope that Erik cut causing the ballet girls to scream.
"No! Don't!" Lefevre yell before dragging Buquet away.
"He's there, the Phantom of the Opera." Meg cried again as made her way towards Christine again, this time succeeding. "Are you alright?" Erik heard Meg quietly ask Christine and felt his anger rise, how dare the young Giry think he would ever hurt his Christine, his Angel!
"I'm fine, you don't have to worry, he won't hurt me, I know it." Christine quietly said back as Andre helped Carlotta up.
"These things do happen." Andre told her and Carlotta's smile that had appeared when he helped her up suddenly became forced.
"'These things do 'appen'?" Carlotta repeated in her thick Latin accent, "You have been here five minutes, what do you know?" Carlotta cried pushing a very shocked Andre away from her. "Si. These things do 'appen all ze time. For ze past three years these thing do 'appen." Suddenly Carlotta's eyes landed on Lefevre who had just made it back onto the stage, she stormed over to him and all he did was hold up his hand, obviously in no mood for her tantrum. "And did you stop ze 'appening? No!" Carlotta turned back towards Andre. "And you! Well, you're as bad as 'im! 'These things do 'appen' Well, until you stop these things from 'appening, this thing does not 'appen. Ubaldo! Andiamo!" Carlotta yelled before storming off.
"Amateurs." Piangi said to Andre and Firmin before following Carlotta out. Erik couldn't help the smirk that found its way onto his face.
"I don't think there's much more I can do to assist you gentlemen." Lefevre said with a small amused smile on his face, "Good luck. If you need me I should be in Frankfort." And with that, he was gone. Erik looked over to his new managers, before going back to Christine. He noticed that Meg was looking at him in question and he nodded towards Christine and she nodded back in understanding. He was grateful to have the Giry women on his side, though the young Giry got on his nerves from time to time with her questions of Christine's safety. He would never harm his precious Angel!
"La Carlotta will be back." Erik heard Andre say and snarled at that, if she did return a battle between him and her would began, and he would rein superior, and Christine would take Carlotta's place as Prima Donna, whether Carlotta lived to see that or not mattered little to Erik.
"You think so, monsieurs? I have a message, sir, from the Opera Ghost." Madame Giry said.
"Oh God in heaven, you're all obsessed." Firmin said.
"He merely welcomes you to his opera house and commands that you leave Box Five empty for his use and reminds you that his salary is due." Madame Giry said as Andre and Firmin began laughing.
"His salary?" Firmin asked suddenly sobering up.
"Monsieur Lefevre paid him twenty thousand francs a month. Perhaps you can afford more, with the Victomte de Chagny as your patron." Madame Giry said and Erik heard Christine gasp and saw her grab onto Meg's hand.
"What?" Meg asked.
"Victomte de Chagny? Could it be Raoul?" Erik heard Christine whisper to herself. Erik's eyes narrowed at that, who was this Victomte? This Raoul? Had his sweet Christine met him before? But when? Certainly not while she stayed here, he would have known about it. Did she meet him before she was brought here? Was he an old childhood friend? And old childhood sweet heart? Erik snarled at that thought. No matter, she was his now. And if this Raoul, decided to try and rekindle their childhood romance, he would have to fight Erik for her. And Erik would win.
"Madame, I had hoped to make that announcement myself." Andre said.
"Will the Victomte be at the performance this evening?" Madame Giry asked.
"In our box." Firmin said.
"Madame, who is the understudy for the role?" Andre asked grabbing Madame Giry's arm, Madame Giry quickly pulled her arm away.
"There is no understudy, monsieur, the production is new." Reyer said glaring at Andre. Suddenly Meg pulled Christine forward to them and Erik quickly and silently made his way to his box, to listen to her sing. By the time he had made it to Box Five he saw Madame Giry standing next to Andre.
"She has been well taught." He heard her say.
"Very well." Andre said after a moment of thought.
"From the beginning of the aria then, mademoiselle." Reyer said. Erik saw Meg run over to Christine with the prop that she needed and gave it to her along with some encouragement. When Christine turned to face the house and give Reyer her nod to begin the aria, Erik noticed she looked scared and ready to run away. He wanted to swoop down there and take her fear away, but refrained, his Angel needed to learn to stand on her own sometimes.
"Think of me, think of me fondly when we've said goodbye." Christine sang meekly, tugging at his heart. He saw her turn away to run but was stopped by Madame Giry. "Remember me every so often, promise me you'll try." She continued to sing meekly, Erik gripped the edge of his box, forcing himself to stay quiet and not call out as her teacher to tell her to actually sing. He saw her glance up at his box as if she felt his frustration. "On that day, that not so distant day," Christine sang, her voice growing louder and more powerful as she continued to stare at his box, no not at his box, but at him, Erik realized. "When you are far away and free. If you ever find a moment. Spare a thought for me." After the note was done, everyone suddenly surrounded Christine. Christine had finally become the Prima Donna.