I know this chapter is late today but I spent most of the day buying a new car. Enjoy.
Chapter 12
Aisling was grateful when the signing was done. She never had a great like for crowds and today was no exception. But now that it was over, it was time to return to the hotel and prepare for the evening. She was planning on taking Rosetta and her father out to dinner somewhere and afterwards would go and see The Phantom of the Opera. She had, after all, promised her daughter they would see it. She wasn't sure if her father would want to go, but she would offer him a ticket if he wanted to join them. When she reached the doors to the suite, her mind went back to that morning. She so desperately wanted to believe she heard his voice at the theater, but what if she was finally losing her mind from her grief?
She let out a heavy sigh as she approached her suite. As she reached for the handle she noticed a black envelope tucked behind the knob. She removed the envelope and looked it over.
Where did this come from? She wondered. She stuck the envelope in her back pocket and opened the door to her suite to have her daughter launch herself into her arms.
"Welcome back mommy!" She said happily causing a smile to spread on Aisling's face.
"I'm back." She said. Gary soon walked out of his room hearing his daughter's voice.
"Welcome back." He said and Aisling nodded to him, still a little peeved at him for before. But as she returned her attention to her daughter, she felt her joy return.
"Rosie, guess what?" She asked setting the girl back on the ground.
"What?" The little ten-year-old asked.
"Tonight, we're going out to dinner. And then…" she reached into her back pocket and pulled out three tickets, "…We're going to see Phantom!" Rosetta began jumping up and down and squealing before hugging her mother. Gary just smiled and shook his head at the little girl. In a way, he was a little envious of her. This child was given so much love and attention by his daughter when all he and Aisling would do was argue. He believed that perhaps she could still be his little girl Just like before. The happy little girl he use to tuck in at night or chase around the house while her high pitched giggles echoed off the walls. But that girl is gone now. "Dad, I have a ticket for you to, if you want to join us." Gary looked at the three tickets in her hand and smiled. At least she offered.
"Perhaps I will join you." He said. Rosetta still didn't really like her grandfather. The Phantom of the Opera was something that she and her mother shared. whenever she tried talking with her grandfather about it, he only thought of the Phantom as a villain. After a while she got frustrated and just went to do something else.
"Now, why don't you go get ready for tonight?" Rosetta let out a delightful squeal and ran into the next room. As Aisling's attention returned to her father she noticed he was uneasy. "Is something wrong?" He turned to her and gave a not so convincing smile.
"Fine, everything's fine." He said. Aisling gave him a scrutinizing look. He was hiding something. She decided to drop it for now not wanting to ruin the evening. She thought back to the envelope in her other pocket and decided to keep it to herself for now.
The night had been very calm and relaxing for the most part. And the trip to see Phantom was very pleasant as well. When Rosetta watched the show, she was bouncing in her seat most of the time before curtain. But when it started, she stopped and became mesmerized by the show as it played out. Aisling could not help but smile at this since it reminded her of her first time watching Phantom. Gary, on the other hand, had a hard time paying attention to the show. As he watched the actor playing the Phantom, he couldn't help but think about him. Every now and again he'd glance over at Aisling who was enraptured by the show and contemplate the Phantom's offer. What if he does tell her he's in the city? Should he tell her? Then he shook the thought away as soon as if formed in his mind. He didn't trust him. He thought back to when Aisling as fourteen; when the Phantom kidnapped her the first time. No, this was for the best.
On the walk home, Aisling carried Rosetta back to the hotel. After a block or two along the way the young girl fell asleep with her little head resting against her shoulder. When they got back to the room Aisling tucked her daughter into bed and said her goodnights to her father who seemed all too eager to retreat to his own room.
When she returned to her room she remembered the note she found earlier. She pulled the envelope from her pocket and looked it over.
Whoever left this has nice taste. She thought. She turned it over and undid the seal. Inside was a single piece of paper with a black border and red ink.
Dear guest,
I come bearing an invitation for you to visit Theatre Phantasma
tomorrow. It would do me a great honor if you would visit my
theater. Many of my employees are fans of your works and would
also be honored if you would visit them as well. However, the choice
is your alone Madame.
Your host and obedient servant,
Mister E
Mister E tried to contact her. But why would he just show up at her residence and invite her to his theater like this? Does he do this with his other guests? Either way, she had a strange feeling at the idea of visiting the theater. Something was urging her to go. Perhaps her daughter would enjoy it as well. She decided she would suggest it to her tomorrow morning.
"Mommy, can we go see Phantasma?" Rosetta asked while eating breakfast. Aisling was a little surprised at first.
"Go see Phantasma?" She asked.
"Yeah, Mister E said he wanted us to come." Now this certainly came as a surprise to the woman.
"You met Mister E?" She asked.
"Yeah, he was here yesterday. He said he would show me the theater." She didn't expect this. Mister E was here and she had missed him. And the way Rosetta spoke of him… she never like strangers. This man had to be something else to catch her child's interest like that. Aisling smiled at her.
"Well, it just so happens that I was thinking about taking you to see Phantasma." Rosetta bounced in her seat.
"Let's go! Let's go!"
"Okay, but you have to go get ready first." Rosetta sprang from her chair and ran into the bedroom to get ready. At that moment Gary walked into the room.
"Everything okay?" he asked.
"Yeah, she's just excited for today." She said.
"I see, well I was planning on going out today myself." He said. "I'll probably see some of the sights and head down to the park for a walk."
"Okay." Aisling felt reluctant to tell her father about going to Theatre Phantasma. She had this feeling that he would not approve for some reason. "Rosetta and I were going to take a walk along Broadway today."
"Alright. Then I will see the two of you later." He said and returned to his room. She was somewhat surprised that her father was avoiding her. She thought he would have wanted to spend more time with her since they haven't seen each other for ten years. She would have to talk to him about that later.
"Come on mommy!" Rosetta said pulling her along towards the theater. She practically dragged her up the steps to the large, gothic looking building. When they arrived at the entrance, the doors opened up revealing the young man that Aisling had run into a few nights before.
"Ah, Madame Destler. It's good to see you again." Edward said smiling broadly. Aisling walked up to him and shook his hand.
"You as well… Edward?" She said barely remembering his name.
"That's right." She let out a large sigh when she guessed right. "Now, Mister E has given me specific instructions to accommodate you until he is ready. Right about now we are preparing for rehearsals, so we can possibly take a quick peek if you wish?"
"That sounds great." She answered. Edward nodded to the woman then momentarily caught sight of something small hiding behind her. He looked again and saw Rosetta peeking out from behind her mother.
"Well, hello there." He said kneeling down to her height. "And what is your name?" Rosetta darted back behind her mother.
"This is Rosetta. She's my daughter." Aisling explained. "She's a little shy around strangers." Edward looked back up at Aisling and smiled.
"She looks like you." He said. Aisling shook her head and had a distant look in her eye.
"She's more like her father." She said. Edward could sense the sadness in her voice and knew that this was probably a sore subject for her.
"Well, let's not waste anymore time." He said springing back to his feet. "Shall we?"
Rosetta ran ahead being far too excited to wait up for her mother or their guide wanting to see more of the theater for herself.
"Rosetta Erika Dester!" She stopped when she heard her mother use her full name. She never used her full name unless she was angry so she knew her mother was definitely mad with her. "I told you not to run off like that. There are people working here so you need to be careful." Aisling said taking the girls hand.
"But I wanted to find Mister E! He promised he'd show us the theater." She whined.
"I'm sure he'll send for us when he's ready." Aisling assured her.
"I must say Madame Destler; your little girl is quite the ball of energy." Edward said catching up to the two.
"I have no idea where she gets it." Aisling muttered.
"Heaven help me, can it be?" Aisling turned around to see a tall blond woman standing a few feet away. And standing next to her was a woman of similar height with long chestnut brown hair.
"Excuse me, do I know you?" Aisling asked the blond who she assumed was the one who spoke before.
"I believe you do." Her head snapped to the brunette and she soon felt a sense of déjà vu. "Go on, take a guess." Aisling took a longer look at the women before her then it finally struck her.
"Oh, I remember you. You two were at my book signing the other day." She said. She didn't fail to notice the two deflating a bit at her words. "Is everything okay?" After a moment they regained themselves and smiled again.
"Yes, we're fine." The blond said. Meg was a little disappointed that she didn't know them but it has been ten years and she wouldn't have expected to see her friends here in this world after all this time. They must also look different from the last she's seen of them.
"You were right, we were at the signing." Christine said. "We really admire your work." Aisling blushed a little. Even after all this time she could not take a compliment without getting embarrassed.
"Well, I'm glad to hear that." She said.
"Mrs. Destler, allow me to introduce our prima ballerina, Meg," Meg stepped forward and curtsied and Aisling curtsied back, "and our company's diva and my fiancé, Christine." Christine then stepped forward and gave a small bow. Something clicked in her brain at that moment. Christine and Meg. Her two best friends from Paris. She took another long look at them.
No, it isn't them. She thought closing her eyes. They're not Christine Daaé or Meg Giry. It's impossible. She took a few deep breaths then walked over to shake each of their hands.
"It's nice to meet you… Christine…" She looked from Christine over to Meg, "Meg…" The two women felt hopeful for a moment. Aisling was beginning to recognize them. But that moment disappeared after Aisling realized her daughter was nowhere to be seen. "Rosie?" She suddenly started freaking out. "Rosetta!"
"Who?" Meg wondered.
"My daughter!" Aisling said frantically. "She was just… Rosetta!" Without a second thought, she dashed off in search of the girl.
"Wait!" Christine shouted and ran after her friend with Meg and Edward close behind.
Rosetta did not think much about wandering away from her mother, but she was too anxious to see Mister E again that she finalized looking for him herself. She wandered around back stage for a while trying to find her way around, then she tripped on a trap door that was left slightly ajar. She opened it up and found it wasn't just some trap door; it hid a flight of stairs. She checked to see if anyone else was around then began descending the stairs.
The workshop in the penthouse was not the only one Erik had. Some years ago, he built a second workshop underneath his theater in case he wanted someplace close to work. No one knew of this place except for Christine and the others while almost everyone knew of this other one. This was where he had been all night preparing for his guests. All the while, he had been thinking about Aisling's daughter. There was just something about that child that he could not place…
"What is this place?" He heard someone say. No one knew how to enter this place besides him, so who else could have gotten down here? He turned to see who was there and caught sight of Rosetta descending the stairs into his shop.
"This is my realm, my dear." He said as he approached her. She noticed how he was once again wearing his black mask. "This is where all music, beauty, and artifice reign. You must excuse me little mademoiselle, I was not expecting to find you here." Rosetta spotted the large black piano in the middle of the room and ran over to the bench and climbed up.
"May I?" She asked eagerly. Erik eyed her with a hint of intrigue.
"Does the young miss play?" Rosetta began playing a few notes on the piano. She played what seemed like a simple melody, but that simple melody stemmed into something more. "What is this?" Rosetta stopped then looked back at Mister E.
"Just a song in my head." She answered simply.
"Go on." Erik encouraged and Rosetta soon began playing again. Her once simple melody became a beautiful flow of notes and sounds that weaved around them much like a magic spell. As Erik listened to her play, he noticed something about her music. She played much like he did.
This girl… it cannot be. He thought.
"How… old are you?" He asked.
"Ten." She said never once ceasing her playing.
Ten years old! He said to himself. She's ten years old! Then… that could mean…
"My God." He could not deny that some of her musical talent may have come from her mother, but not even Aisling had this much talent. She even confessed to him that she could barely play the piano at all! And he knew Aisling would never give her heart to another, so it all made sense. He walked over to the piano and lifted Rosetta off of the bench and placed her back on the ground. "Come with me. I want to show you something." He said and took her hand leading her towards another flight of stairs. "Come with me. I want to know what you think!"
Back at the hotel, Gary was pacing around the living area, anxious about what to do about the Phantom. He didn't like the idea if his daughter back in the grip of that... that... he didn't want to think it. What would happen if he told her he was here? Surely she'd go running back to him but would he ever see her again? The Phantom wants her all to himself. That time sixteen years ago when Aisling was kidnapped there was no way he'd see her again if he didn't do something. However, he knows if she ever finds out he knew all along the Phantom was here, she'd disown him for life. This was his only chance to make amends to his daughter and he's already on thin ice. What a dilemma he was facing now! As he continued his pacing, there was a soft knock at the door. He went over and opened it revealing…
"Good morning monsieur." Gary had not seen this man's face in ten years. The years have been good to the young man he met ten years ago and he certainly looked well off enough wearing a very expensive looking suit and new shoes.
"What do you want?" He asked hesitantly.
"My sources told me that you were here." He said moving past the old man and into the suite. "I heard you're here with your daughter." Gary didn't look at him.
"She agreed to give me one last chance." He said. "But that doesn't explain why you are here!"
"I was in the city on business." He explained. "I must say, this world is much… more than back home." Gary still refused to look at the man. After all, he was the reason that his daughter hated him in the first place.
"He is here." He muttered but loud enough for him to hear. He merely raised an eyebrow at his statement. "And he knows that Aisling is here."
"Is that so?" He was aware the Phantom was alive. It's true that his intention was to burn him alive all those years ago, but even if he did survive, he would not be able to go after that lying harlot for some time. What he had not anticipated was the two of them finding each other. Things were going to become more difficult from this point. "My offer still stands monsieur." Gary then turned on the young aristocrat.
"No! Not after what you did! Because of you, I lost my daughter. And if I let you finish the job, she'd never forgive me!"
"But, if you recall, back when she left I told you that she would come around." He said. "He bewitched your daughter, and now when she has chosen to give you this chance the spell he cast on her began waning." Gary pretended not to listen to him, but could not help himself. It's true he'd told him that Aisling would come around if given time, and she has. He could be on to something here. But he cannot risk losing his daughter again after what happened ten years ago. He wasn't sure what to do. "Should you ever change your mind…" He took the pad and pen by the door and began writing something down before taking the sheet and placing it in Gary's hand, "…you can find me here." He gave one last confident smile then turned towards the door making his leave. As soon as he was alone, Gary looked down at the piece of paper without reading what Raoul had written. He wasn't sure what he should do at this point. But if something should go wrong… He took the paper and placed it in his back pocket.
"I hope you're right, Phillipe de Chagny."
