Keep the reviews coming please, and any help would be appreciated
Again, I own nothing *sobs*
It had been a month since the Phantom had been heard from. Raoul and Christine had, for all intents and purposes been engaged since that night on the rooftop. But nobody except Meg knew about it, and it hadn't been made official.
As Raoul led Christine on his arm to the restaurant where they were eating lunch, he couldn't help but grip the box which contained the engagement ring he'd had for a little while now. He knew he had to wait for Christine to recover from the shock of the chandelier, but he'd become impatient and didn't want to postpone their happiness any longer.
"Little Lotte, we've been engaged unofficially for a month now," Raoul said happily "and I've decided we should make it official."
When Raoul pulled out the ring, Christine's eyes turned to saucers. Raoul took this as delight at the piece of jewellery, but he couldn't be more wrong.
Christine looked at the ring carefully. It was large, gaudy and actually looked quite heavy. It wasn't to her tastes and seemed flashy. Her Angel would've-
Christine mentally slapped herself. Why was she thinking about this now!? But not to disappoint Raoul she smiled sweetly and took the ring.
"Thank you Raoul, it's very pretty." Christine tried not to make a face when she felt the weight of the ring.
Raoul took no notice and was beaming with sheer happiness and adoration "Lotte, we shall make the plans to be wed within a few weeks! I shall inform the managers-"
"No Raoul wait," Christine interrupted to both of their surprise "I think we should keep it a secret for a little while, and wait a little while for the wedding." Christine had no idea what possessed her to say this, but she felt it was important.
However Raoul was crestfallen. "Why would we keep it a secret? Why do we need to wait?"
Christine thought to herself for a moment. What reason could she say? "Because we don't want the Phantom to find out." She said finally. "Who knows what he may do." Christine was scared of him, but she ignored the voice at the back of her mind, telling her it was more.
"But Christine nobody's heard from him in weeks!" He yelped.
"Nonetheless, please Raoul for my sake?"
When he saw the pleading look in her eyes and sighed "Okay Lotte, for you."
Christine moved over to Raoul and kissed him on his cheek. "Thank you Raoul."
"Anything for you," he said, his eyes shining with love. Christine looked away shyly.
When Raoul's carriage dropped Christine back to the opera house, she practically sprinted to the dormitories. In her room she scrambled around her draws until she found a chain. Christine removed the big ring from her finger and then strung it on the chain, before donning it, letting it hide beneath the folds of her clothes. She sat down at her mirror, picked up her hair brush, and began brushing furiously, trying to get rid of her nerves. Even if her engagement wasn't secret, she felt strange wearing it on her finger, as if it didn't belong there.
Christine threw her hairbrush down and shook her head, trying to get such thoughts away. She had great affection for Raoul. He was so sweet and understanding to her, though she didn't appreciate his tendency to ignore he protests occasionally, like the night of her debut.
She smiled as she thought of that. Raoul insisted for days on end to take her out to supper. Christine felt a little guilty at the fact she wasn't really interested. They had caught up, why did he insist on having supper with her too? But she knew now he was attempting to court her.
As good as Raoul was, Christine couldn't really imagine what being a Vicomtess. What would she have to do? She knew she'd live with Raoul at his estate, but did she have to attend society balls and other events aristocrats attended? And what about her singing?
Christine had not thought about singing recently, and frankly she wasn't up to it. But she loved it, and loved the opera. It was her own little world and home. She couldn't imagine leaving it behind, and she knew that it was unlikely a Vicomtess would be allowed to be an opera singer.
Pushing her thoughts and doubts away, Christine picked herself up and made her way to the other dormitories where Meg and the other dancers were occupying themselves.
"My, my, the Prima Donna's here in the slums of the opera house," Meg said jokingly as she saw Christine in the doorway.
"Meg, you mustn't tease so much!" one of the other ballerina's that was there scolded.
Meg just waved her hand and walked over to Christine, and grabbed her hands. "So how was Raoul today?" she asked quite loudly.
Christine put her hand to Meg's mouth and shushed her "Not so loud Meg, Raoul and I are keeping it a secret for now."
Meg's eyebrows scrunched together "Why are you doing that?"
"I asked to keep it quiet for a little while and asked for a longer engagement," Christine said in hushed tones "And it's so a certain ghost won't….react again."
Realising the seriousness of this Meg matched Christine's speech volume "He's not been heard from recently, but he may still be here, so I understand."
Christine smiled appreciatively "Thank you for understanding. I'm always looking behind me making sure he isn't behind me, though I'm almost certain he won't leave the opera house."
"Christine is it true he has death's head?" Meg whispered
"That's an exaggeration, but it isn't pretty to look at," she answered carefully
"What does it look like then?"
Christine bit her lip, "I think I'll let the man have some dignity."
Meg nodded and Christine hoped that her angel had not overheard her conversation.
Christine's prayers were left unanswered though. Erik and had been listening and heard every single word.
Erik stormed to his lair and began throwing everything in the room around
"Stupid boy! Taking MY angel!" He roared.
The foolish girl! She had no idea what she did to him did she? For his whole wretched life he'd never felt this, this madness! He hated her, loved her, obsessed over her, desired her all in one. Christine was more than a muse, she was his inspiration itself! He wanted to rip his heart out he was feeling so much, too much! And he wanted to take her for his own forever. All he wanted was to love her! Alas, nobody could love poor, unhappy Erik!
Blind with rage and jealousy, Erik bounded out of the lair and down the one of the many secret passageways that ran through the theatre. He was taking Christine from the idiotic fop.
He was careful not to make any noise, Erik intended on giving those stupid mangers a little break before the Opera Populaire opened again in a few months. He hoped they could do some things without his input.
Erik had made it to the rafters above the stage when he saw her. He saw his Christine, walking slowly but with purpose across the stage. He followed her, watching her ring her hands together, humming tunes from Hannibal. Even as a hum, her voice was seraphic.
It was very late for Christine to wandering around just daydreaming to herself, and finally when Christine arrived to her room it was close to midnight. When he saw that she was beginning to change, Erik quickly averted his eyes. He did not wish to violate his angel's privacy in that way, but when was certain she was dressed her looked back. Christine was sitting at her mirror brushing her hair, while softly singing the Jewel Song from Faust. Erik then looking thoughtfully at her reflection and the ring- That ring was completely wrong for Christine! Did the boy even know her at all?
But when Erik looked at the sight again, he sighed. He couldn't take Christine. Not like this. He knew how scared she already was and his heart broke every time he saw her looking anything other than happy. For as much as all those other feelings filled up his heart, the largest of all was purely love.
Erik let out a small sob at this and began to walk away sadly, not before he saw Christine look up from hearing the cry, before looking away again.
Christine on the other hand was feeling exactly how that cry sounded. She didn't have a clue why, but she gave herself away to tears anyway. "Will he always be there singing songs in my head?"
How are you all liking it so far? Too angsty?
