Meet the Phantom
Disclaimer: I don't own phantom of the opera. But if I did, it would be great. Rated for language and sexual themes/content.
Erik did his best to stay away from her. But she made it rather difficult. No matter how much he wanted to go back up to the surface world and observe her a little further, he knew he couldn't, and he didn't. He kept himself hidden away in his lair writing operas, painting, and anything else he could think of to keep his mind where he belonged, off of the pretty, spunky redhead ballet girl.
He slammed his fists on the table. He was doing it again, he was thinking about her while he was telling himself not to think of her. He knew better, or at least he should- since he knew that dealing with another Christine on his hands wasn't something he could do. He didn't want to, and he wouldn't. He belonged in the opera house cellars, and that was where he planned to stay.
But even though he'd convinced himself to stay in the cellars, away from her; he did not convince her to stay from him. He was all she was able to think about for the days following the day that he'd helped her off the catwalk. There were times when she considered going back up there to find him, but she was too afraid of the height to do so.
So she didn't, but she did go around and find out about a man in a mask. Meg Giry was her best source, since she'd been at the opera house since before the fire. She knew everything about the man in the mask, and she was more than willing to let Lily know everything she knew.
Lily found her reading in the dormitories after everyone else had gone to enjoy what little free time they had left of the day. Lily approached her and asked simply if she knew anything about a man in a white porcline mask covering half of his face.
"I do," Meg informed her, moving so Lily could sit on her cot and listen to the tale. Lily did, and was mentally taking notes of everything Meg told her. "OK, it goes like this: Years before I was born, my mother went to a traveling fair in the city. Gypsies. They mad many oddities, such as contortionists, some guy who ate fire, a fortune teller, and far stranger things.
"Among these was the Phantom, a small child at the time. Mother says he was no older than maybe nine or ten or maybe he was younger- I forget sometimes. Well either way, he was in a cage, with a potato sack over his face. His master beat him and flaunted his face; and that night that my mother went, the phantom just lost his mind.
"He took a rope that was in his cage, and strangled the man to death. My mother saved him from being put to death by an angry mob, and she hid him under the opera house. He's lived there ever since, what was once his playground is now his home.
"I was kept in the dark of everything that was happening until Christine came to me years ago, and told me that she'd been visited by an angel of music. At first I thought she was just being silly, talking in riddles- it wasn't like her. But eventually I learned that it was no angel, but the phantom who had been visiting her in her dreams.
"But then- the night of the Gala and the night I learned of the Phantom from Christine- her childhood sweetheart, Raoul De Changy came and resumed flirting with her. But the phantom didn't like that one bit, because he loved Christine; and he doesn't take too well to competition. They went on and on for a year, fighting back and forth over Christine; until finally the phantom was done playing games, and decided to end it all in one night.
"That was the night of Don Juan Triumphant. Piangi was playing Don Juan up to the 'Past the point of no return' scene, after that Carlotta found he was strangled by the Phantom's Punjab. The phantom had taken the role of Don Juan in order to steal Christine away right on stage. It didn't work, and ultimately that was the straw that broke the camels back so-to-speak. He took her to his lair below the opera house after cutting loose the Chandelier and crashing it into the audience.
"He took her below to his lair- and after that I'm not sure what happened. I know that somehow- Christine and Raoul got out and resumed their lives as if nothing happened. But I'm not sure what happened to the Phantom, everyone thought he died, but if you're seeing him you're either insane or he's not dead." As Meg's story ended, Lily found herself dumbfounded and shocked. But at the same time remorseful for the Phantom, and even though he did terrible things, It sounded to her like he was only trying to hold onto someone he loved. She couldn't very well blame him for that could she? Especially after he'd helped her down off the catwalk.
For the next few months- give or take a week and a half- Lily found herself in a hypnotic state. The only thing she was able to think about was the opera house fire, the man who had caused it, and his chain of reasoning. It seemed like a logical response for someone who had been abused by gypsies, but somehow she couldn't sympathize with him just yet. Something kept her from seeing why he did the things he did, and unless she talked to him herself, she feared she would never know.
One day after practice, Lily was surprised by Claire popping up behind her, and making her jump in fear. Yes, not only was Lily clumsy with a mouth of a sailor, she was also very easy to frighten. Anyone could scare her if they come up from behind her and tap her on the shoulder. Hell- someone in front of her could scare her.
"Boo!" Claire teased her friend, whose heart was racing. "Ha-ha! I love doing that."
"I hate you" Lily said angrily, but Claire knew she was joking. The two walked together and talked together, but not about anything in particular. They just chatted like the old friends they were, and Lily didn't give Claire any hints on what she was thinking.
That night, she lay in bed unable to sleep. Her mind reeling with the phantom, and wanting to meet him. It sounded absurd when she said it aloud, but she wanted to see what was so strange and hideous about the phantom. She wanted to know what Christine Daae had given up the day she ran off with Raoul.
So quietly, she rose to her feet and quietly changed into her black and white striped dress; and went to Meg's cot. Meg knew more than anyone where the Phantom was, of that Lily was more than certain.
Meg woke slowly as Lily shook her shoulder. She looked at Lily a moment before asking what she wanted.
"Show me where he lives." Lily demanded in a soft whisper. So she wouldn't wake any of the other ballet girls. "I want to see the phantom." Even in the dull Moonlight, Lily could see Meg's eyes grow wide in surprise, and her head start to shake.
"Don't be stupid" Meg whispered back to her with a scolding tone. "He'll kill you."
"I still want to see him Meg. I'm curious to see what Christine gave up."
"Curiosity killed the cat you know."
"I know." Meg heaved a soft sigh before sitting up and changing out of her nightgown and into her clothes.
"Well, I see I'm not going to change your mind. Let's hurry and get there." Lily nodded and followed Meg.
It was a long journey, but Meg led Lily to the edge of a large lake. They were obviously miles below the opera house, the walls were made of brick and there was no light anywhere. It was damp, dreary, and cold. It was there that she stopped and looked at Lily.
"This is as far as I can go. But good luck to you." She turned to leave, but paused and turned back to Lily. "I might be sounding like my mother but—keep you're hand at the level of you're eyes." And when Lily raised her hand to her eyes, Meg nodded and left. Leaving Lily to make the rest of the journey alone.
Truthfully, it was a long, wet journey to his lair. She often wondered if she was going the right way. If she went the wrong way, she feared that she would be forever lost in the cellars of the opera house.
After an hour or two- or maybe three, she couldn't remember- she had finally seen him. He was sitting at an organ, his fingers tapping on the keys and producing a melancholy tune. She was as still as a post until he had finished his piece, and noticed the redhead ballerina standing in the lake, her eyes wide and her hand over her heart. His song had tugged at the deepest, darkest recesses of her mind and made her feel suddenly depressed. But she shrugged it off when she noticed he was looking at her.
"What are you doing here?" He bellowed, his voice echoing in the lair. She gulped and gave her reason.
"I-I came to find you." She began. "B-Because I-I wanted to-to" To-what? See what caused Christine to leave him underground and all alone? No, she didn't want to get on his bad side, especially if he could kill her. "-to thank you, for the help you gave me in the catwalk. I-I know it was a long time ago, but I still want to thank you." She saw him sneer at her and go looking for a sword to beat her with.
Quickly, she ran onto the land and stopped him before he was able to get a sword.
"W-Wait!"
"Wait for what?" He snapped. "I don't need thanked Miss Lily, and most of all I don't want to be. You shouldn't have come down here, Get out now before I have to drag you're lifeless carcass back up." But Lily stood her ground, even though she was terrified of him killing her, she wouldn't budge, she refused to back down from him. He was not to be feared, even if everyone else feared him. "What are you waiting for? Get going! Get back up to the surface and tell everyone that I'm not dead. Send armies of you're little policemen down here to arrest me, right now I don't give a fuck what happens to me!" But still, she didn't move. "Get going!" She shook her head.
"No"
"No? What the hell do you mean no?"
"I'm not going to tell anyone you're here, nor am I going to turn around and go back so soon." She paused, and then started walking to him. "Do you really think I'm going to turn in someone who—" He watched her fall over her skirt and hit the floor. Sighing, he supposed he should have seen that coming.
