Disclaimer: Phantom not mine. Nope sorry, but thanks for asking.
A/N: Hey all you people out there! Guess what? I'm calling for Cameos. That's right. I fell behind on my stories over December but I'm working hard to catch up. So the cameo chapters will be taking place during November, and if all of you are good and review I might let you stay for Christmas! See info on the bottom of the chapter to see what needs to be included in your review to get a cameo! You'll have about a week to send them in. so enjoy the chapter!
This chapter has no title because the Authoress's brain melted because of the evil creation of finals
A depressed sigh came from the other end of the table. Philippe peered over his paper to see Raoul at the other end of the mahogany table swirling his fork in his breakfast of eggs and toast. Philippe rolled his eyes and set the paper aside. Valmont, a distinguished looking gentleman with a full head of gray hair, stepped forward with the day's mail on a silver tray. Valmont had been on staff since Philippe was still in short coats. Philippe flipped through the stack and casually addressed his brother, "what is it that could have you so depressed on this fine morning?"
Raoul shifted his attention from his eggs, "and what could have you so insufferably cheerful?"
Philippe found the letter he was looking for, he pocketed the missive before stating his retort. "what else? The opera was one of the best this season, Sorelli performed wonderfully, and Mademoiselle Delarox was delightful company."
Raoul rolled his eyes, "and how long do you plan to spend with this one?"
"excuse me?" Philippe's eyes narrowed at his little brother.
Raoul sat up starter, an instinctual reaction to his brothers glare. "I just want to know when I need to be prepared to comfort some poor soul after you break their heart."
"this one is different."
"How?" Raoul challenged.
Philippe growled, "besides the fact that Tamara is engaged. If you came out of your moody silence at all last night you would have heard her speak. She isn't normal in any sense of the word. She is opinioned, and more than that she argued with me over the effectiveness of a monarchy versus that American ideal of democracy. I'm just showing her the city until she returns to the country."
Raoul blinked, "Since when did she give you leave to use her Christian name?"
Philippe's expression darkened as he stood and strode from the room, "Finnish your breakfast and I will see you in my study. Consider this conversation over."
Raoul's gaze lingered on the door for a few seconds. Either his brother was serious or someone was impersonating him. Wishing to get this morning over with, he placed his napkin on the table and exited. Walking down the hall way he paused slightly to glance at the portraits of his ancestors. The somber looks and general looks of disapproval gazed down at him, even though the men and woman were gone Raoul still felt their criticism over what he did. It was hard to live up to the Chagny name. Philippe on the other hand seemed to have no problem living with this burden.
That was the difference between him and his brother. Raoul lived hoping not to make any mistakes and disappointing the family. Philippe, on the other hand, seemed to have inherited the family air of nonchalance and power. Nothing really seemed to phase the elder man. Raoul often looked the part of a fool, compared to his brother the most distinguished gentlemen of the ton became void of any intelligence. One thing in common with these two was that they both enjoyed a good party, as long as they avoided the matchmaking mama's of young social climbers. They had avoided the alter at all costs, well until Raoul found Christine again.
Keeping the fact that he fell in love with a poor stage performer from his brother was taxing. Avoiding him had been the best thing so far, but living in the same house they were bound to run across each other sometime. He just thanked his lucky stars that Philippe was distracted by this new arrival.
Far sooner than he would have wished Raoul reached the dark mahogany doors of Philippe's private study. With a fleeting farewell to a peaceful morning he pushed open the door.
XxX
"ERIK!" Christine's voice cut through the quiet like a chainsaw. Sitting in the main room, Tammy felt a twitch develop under her eye. Giving up on folding laundry in peace she pulled out a notebook from under the seat cushion. Pulling out a pencil she started writing in her messy scrawl.
Day Six of Christine torture, she still hasn't discovered she is blue. Erik asked about it the other day and I told him that she was sensitive on the subject because the ballet rats did it to her it was just hard to see when he brought her here because it was so dark. I know it's wrong to blame the rats but I fear for consequences if he finds out what truly happened. She smells like fishy lake water, Ayesha has become semi-permanently attached to her leg. Padded Erik's door with pillows so he was oblivious to Queen playing all last night. I called her smurfett yesterday but she didn't get it. Typical. Reminder to self: place fencing equipment under her mattress tonight, think of more smurf jokes to make fun of Christine, and get supplies for water balloon fight.
"ERIK!" Tammy snapped her book closed. She couldn't plan like this she had to get out soon. It was a good thing Philippe invited her to the horse auctions. Her hearing, sharpened by years of being a musician, picked up Erik's deep rumble from down the hall, "What is it, mon cher?"
"look what you're demented servant did!"
"what did she do exactly?"
She could practically see Christine blink like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I'm BLUE!"
"It wasn't the ballet rats…"
"of course not they love me!" Lies! All Lies! she thought stashing her book away. Loud resounding footsteps echoed down the hallway. She took her cue to exit stage right. Ducking behind a partition, setup for her to change behind while Christine was here, she quickly undid the laces of her dress. Lame excuse she knew but it was the only way she could guarantee he wouldn't strangle her. Striping off the dress she threw it over the partition and grabbed a corset to tie over her chemise.
"TAMARA!" Erik barged into the room. She held out a pale hand beyond the screen to stop him, "kind of busy!"
He halted about a foot away, glaring at the barrier he sat on her makeshift bed, seething. He heard a kind of squeak behind the screen. Her voice was strained, "What can I help you with?"
He lifted a brow, "You were the one that turned Christine blue? I thought I told you not to touch her."
There was a sound of rustling fabric and of discomfort, her voice rose a tad higher, " I didn't touch her. I haven't laid a hand on her. Ask her yourself! I told her under no circumstances was she to touch me, and I wouldn't touch her."
What is going on back there? His brows knitted. "Are you all right?"
"Just…"the red partition fell to the ground with a crash. Her blue green eyes wide, Tammy stared at the fallen barrier. She Turned her head and met Erik's amber gaze. Her voice faded to a strangled squeak, "…peachy."
Her red hair was draped over her shoulders, and her eyes were wide with surprise. Her soft mouth was shut in a tight line. She held the corset close to her chest the white cotton chemise hugging her curves. He averted his eyes with a hiss, "please make you're self decent."
She blushed, "Ok, first off I showed more skin in my tank top and shorts the other day. Secondly ," she held the corset out in disgust. "This torture device isn't designed to be put on by one person."
"I see what you mean," He looked at the offending piece of clothing. She looked at him hopefully, "Could you help? I have to meet Philippe soon."
His amber gaze grew violent as he moved to stand behind her. His voice grew low and clipped, "You're meeting him?"
She rolled her eyes and handed him the strings to her corset, "Come on Erik! It is an innocent visit, we're going to the horse auctions. I love riding horses, and he needs a few more stallions for his stables. Raoul's coming as a chaperone (that should give me the perfect opportunity to use this itching powder I'm dying to use),and it gives you the perfect opportunity to take Christine back to the opera…..meep…too tight…can't breathe! OXYGEN! O2 please!"
He looked down and realized he had pulled the corset so tight her waist shrunk to the point where he probably could encircle it with just his hands. Loosening the string he heard her gasp at fresh air, "thank you! Unlike those narrow-minded-air headed socialites up there I don't want to die of oxygen deprivation and having my internal organs implode. Got a ribcage."
He tied the thin strings and she pain fully stretched lifting her arms over her head, "thanks. Besides I think he saw my ring the other day and believes I'm engaged."
Erik sat back on the settee, "How can you women stand to wear those things?"
She shot him a green eyed glare, "Oh, I don't know to make us more appealing to the other half of the population of this small rock circling the sun who doesn't seem to notice us until after they hit puberty. HOW THE HECK AM I SUPOOSED TO KNOW! We didn't have these things in my time." She grabbed a dark red morning dress. Holding it up to herself she faced him, "The only corset you see then will be in museums and period costumes. What do you think, is the neck line to low?"
He shook his head, "the pains you put into your appearance."
"Speaking of appearances," Tamara pulled the dress over her head and laced up the front. "You promised me to keep the mask off in front of me. Christine won't be out her room till she's not blue anymore."
He stood, fists at his side he looked down at her. Amber met aquamarine, he hissed. "No, I don't care what promise I made you."
She placed a hand on her hip and poked him in the chest with her index finger. "Excuse me, I honored our agreement as being your servant for a whole week. I haven't finished my sentence, but I will. And I expect you to do the same. If you're willing to hold someone to a bet then you better (poke) keep (poke) your (poke) promise (poke)!"
He grabbed her wrist, "don't do that."
"don't make promises you won't keep. You spent an afternoon with me without it , why not know?"
He sighed. She wasn't going to back down. He turned away from her and pulled his off his black prison. Turning it over in his hand, he placed it on the side table. She had to be the most confusing creature at times. She sat on the settee, attempting to untangle her long red locks, which he now noticed were much longer than when she arrived. An idea formed in his mind, "You are still my servant for three more days, am I correct?"
"Yeah so?" She held up a hand mirror he had bought for her. Lifting the back of her hair to pile on top of her head, she frowned at the style. "there something I can help you with tex?"
"Might I inquire if you would…"
"No I won't stand up Philippe, clean Christine's room, or install indoor plumbing for a shower just because it's so cool." She let down her hair, cocking her head to the side she smiled. He blinked, "what's a shower?"
"it's like taking a bath, only you're standing up and the water falls on you." She set the mirror aside, "It's sort of like a private controlled rain storm minus the sixteen gigawatt lightening strikes."
"ah," he folded his arms across his chest. "I actually wasn't going to inquire you for anything like that. But now that you mention it, could…"
"no I won't stand up Philippe, no matter how much you dislike him." She picked up a pair of soft leather boots, they had a smaller heel than her future pair, and pulled them on. "what do you really want?"
"Fine," he leaned against the settee. "may I borrow your ring ."
She paused and glanced up from lacing her boots, genuinely surprised, "can't understand why you'd want it. I'll give it to you on one condition."
He tried to look innocent, the effect was minimal. "what, may I ask is that?"
She pulled off her ring and handed it to him, "you won't try and bring back any gliders, planes, and or other flying objects. Please do me the favor and leave technical evolution to itself."
He glared, so much for that plan. He took the ring, his long fingers brushing hers, "as long as I can use it for my experiments."
Her aqua gaze widened, "as long as you don't break it, remember I don't even know what's tying me to this century, I believe it may just be that ring."
Pocketing the ring he turned to look at the mantel clock, "what time will you be back?"
She laid her book to the side. "some time around five. Now if you excuse me I have to finish getting ready. Philippe will meet me at the café near the corner across from the front door of the opera house."
She stood and searched for her jewelry box. Her tracked her with his gaze, She held up a silver necklace and struggled to clasp it. He stood and crossed to her, "you will be careful. I don't want to have to come to your rescue just because I was right about that Comte what's-his-name."
She re-clasped the chain behind the nape of her neck and sighed, "you know you really are playing the part of an older brother perfectly. Can't you just trust me? I have a very good jerk-o-meter, in tiptop condition. If anything doesn't feel right I can guarantee that I will be back here before you can say stuck up Prima Donna. "
She grabbed her black cloak and threw it around her shoulders. Adjusting the red and silver broach holding it in place she smiled, " I over heard Firmin telling Monchrim that Carlotta would do wonderfully in the next performance of Carmen … I mean just because their rising star has gone missing."
He suddenly felt a head ache coming on, "Fine. I'll return Christine... Tomorrow. Just be careful and use the Rue Scribe entrance, remember…"
"make sure the street is clear before leaving, if I think anyone is following me ditch 'em, and that means anything goes. Madam Giry knows I'll be gone so if I'm in any trouble come through the opera house, and if somehow gravity decides to turn it's self off grab onto something that won't move." she smiled at him, "don't worry, I didn't grow to become the accomplished fully capable twenty five year old you see before you by being stupid. Relax and enjoy an afternoon with your music and muse in the same house, maybe you can fix that noise she makes."
He lifted a brow, "what noise?"
She hugged him goodbye before reaching for the door, "her voice."
XxX
Philippe gazed out the window of the black covered carriage at the café. An older woman wrapped her shawl tight around her to ward of a sudden breeze. It was unusually sunny for the second day of November, but still a chill nipped the air with a promise of snow to fall soon. It was, probably, the last day anything could be held outside on the streets of Paris before people retired to their country estates to await the next season. The Chagny's were one of the few noble families that had decided to stay in the city for the holiday festivities. Mainly because of their patronage to the opera, but also because Philippe had decreed it so.
Raoul sat across from his brother on the black seat, the weather outside contrasting with his mood profoundly. Arms folded across his chest, and muttering dark curses he found time to reflect on his lot in life. And so far by doing that he only grew more depressed. His brother was as bad as a tyrant, the love of his life didn't know he existed, and to top it all off he was playing chaperone on one of his brothers more questionable affairs. He wasn't even at his families ancestral home for the festivities. So life was just peachy.
Philippe checked his pocket watch for what seemed the tenth time in the span of five minutes. Glancing out at the street he finally had had enough of Raoul's curses. He snapped, "are you going to be this unpleasant all afternoon?"
"are you going to drag me along on every time you try and court a young woman, who happens to already been spoken for?" Raoul retorted. Philippe glared daggers across the coach before retuning his brown gaze to the street. A small pale figure in black and scarlet was outside the little café looking at the sign and checking her reflection. Smiling he stepped out of the coach and out on to the sidewalk, the heels of his Hessian boots clicking along the cobblestone.
She turned and flashed him a brilliant smile. His gaze raked her from head to toe, yes the man who had claimed this aqua eyed beauty was a lucky man indeed. "how nice to see you again. I do hope to find you well," Offering his arm he smiled, "Shall we mademoiselle?"
"We shall." She placed her left hand on his sleeve, he immediately noticed the lack of a certain sparkling piece of jewelry. He refocused his gaze on her face, "Where is you ring, I wouldn't want your fiancé to think you lost it."
Inwardly she flinched, of course Erik had to borrow her ring. Manipulative shadowed geniuses always have to complicate things. If she told him the truth, her label of untouchable fiancé would be lifted. Leaving her open for his courting and not to mention keeping up her façade would become incredibly hard. Coming up with a convincing lie however wasn't her style, she hadn't been able to fool Erik and she had a sinking suspicion that Philippe was just as smart. He probably had one of those blasted genealogy books of the French noble families, sometime the temptation will become strong enough to make him not want to resist the urge to crack it open. Plus he could always want to search her out in the gossip column or marriage announcements, finding none he would demand an answer. Meeting his gaze she decided she might as well tell the truth since he'd probably find out anyway, "what on earth are you talking about? I have no fiancé. I'm currently and plan on remaining, at least till I have at least one small adventure, single. The ring was something I found at this adorable little shop near Perros."
"Really?" Philippe quirked a brow, Tammy saw the glint in his eye that she couldn't place. All she knew is it suddenly seemed very warm for a November day. Strange she hadn't felt this before, normally she only felt this way around Erik. Surely it would pass, this would only be her fling in the past. He placed his free hand over hers, keeping it firmly in place on his sleeve. "how very interesting. Surely you will grant me the full story on our way."
She cast a longing glance back down the alley from which she came. Life was complicated and fate seemed to think of her as it's new favorite plaything. With a prayer sent heavenwards she coyly smiled at Philippe. "I'd be honored."
XxX
Erik lounged in his chair, black mask back in its place. Christine had refused to leave her room. That left him with an afternoon to waste. He normally would compose, but he was feeling very uninspired at the moment. Twirling the small ring in his long fingers he considered. A ring in similar design would look lovely on Christine. Pale colors always flattered her, brought out a sparkle in her eye that he loved. Pastels like pink and blue also gave her an innocent look he adored. Gazing at the diamond he was almost memorized by the fine cut that made the precious stone seem to almost glow with a light from it's center. He couldn't have made a better ring if he had designed it him self. It reminded him so much of his beloved angel. (Authoress: (rereads paragraph) I think I'm gonna hurl! Erik: Oh do shut up! Besides you wrote it! Authoress: Against my will!)
Tammy was completely different then his angel. Instead of innocence she had a distinct air of experience. She could be as sarcastic and distant as he was, but when she let down her guard she was strange and oddly endearing. Of course she wasn't cruel and heartless, in fact he had the suspicion that she might actually care for him. He scoffed at that thought, she more then likely saw him as her protector, if any thing he was just her guardian.
Yet for all his speculations and observations he barely knew a thing about her. He ran a finger over the ring, tracing the diamond. If this trinket fetched her every whim why couldn't it work for him?
He leaned forward and gripped the ring in the palm of his fist. What to ask for? The possibilities were practically endless. He could ask for items he hadn't even fathomed could exist. Fantastical things that won't exists for years possibly centuries.
The thing he was most interested in, however, were these "phangirls". He wanted to meet these women, Tammy claimed to be a phan, but he couldn't draw conclusions from just one "phan". Letting his mind wander he formed a visual of what he figured a group of phangirls would look like. He didn't have much to go on, seeing as Tammy was the only phan he had ever met. But he imagined they might look like some of the singers in the chorus, except from what he interpreted from Tammy they were much different. They couldn't be all that diff….
He heard footsteps from out side the hall. He snapped back to reality, perhaps Christine wanted a lesson.
More footsteps resounded from the hall. Hushed voices were talking quickly outside the door, they were definitely feminine but it wasn't Christine's higher pitched voice. These voices were closer to Tammy's and it sounded like there were a lot of them.
Erik grabbed his Punjab, he had intruders.
Short chapter I know. But bear with me finals just about killed me and my Seahawks are going to win tomorrow and I can't write while rooting for my team.
Okay here's the deal. If you want a cameo you have to include the following information on your review.
1. Name (it could be user name or not, just put what you want to be called)
2. Description (both you and your outfit)
3. Weapon (DBCA special: there will be fop torture if I can fit it in Erik: (shoves authoress aside) there will be fop torture or someone will pay!)
4. Present for Erik (the more creative the longer the appearance!)
5. Favorite dark cloaked Character (For those non DBCAians this includes Batman, Zorro, Jack Sparrow, Snape and others. NO OTHER ERIK'S, he's still dealing with the shunned by the world thing don't make him have an identity crisis too!)
Remember this will be a multi chapter cameo appearance. So creativity counts. To my reviewer who wanted me to include Tom Riddle, um I don't do crossovers but I'll make sure he's mentioned.
P.S. sorry for not replying to reviews. I'm such a bad authoress I've just been dealing with a lot of junk in my life and I will respond to reviews this time. Promise!