Chapter 12

' Breathe '

So far, eight-hundred and twenty-four men had shown up over the last three weeks to audition for the part of the Phantom; Evey, Erik and V had narrowed the field down to three. Derek Button was the youngest at twenty-four, the son of a opera soprano, he had the voice, style and grace to pull the part off . The next contender was Jean-luc Girard. A native of France, Jean-luc was in his late thirties with a muscular build, and a presence onstage that could hold an audience spellbound. The final remaining man was Adrian Levesque in his early 30's, and of French decent who had actually played at the Paris Opera House several years ago. Adrian also had the ability to hold an audience spellbound with his portrayal of any character assigned to him.

V laid the picture of Adrian down on the desk top, and sighed deeply. How he wished he could let this whole business of decision making rest squarely upon Evey's shoulders.

" Am I interrupting anything?" Evey asked as she peeked her head into V's office.

V smiled broadly as she entered, closing the door behind her. " No, my love-----you are a most grateful break from the stress of having to choose a lead for the upcoming performance."

" Still no luck?" Evey asked as she came to stand beside V.

" Alas, no." He answered swiveling the chair so he could pull her onto his lap. " I would pull every star in the night sky down and hand them to you on a velvet pillow if you would take this poison but from my hand."

" Not a chance." Evey grinned as her arms slid around his neck. " You and Erik planned this, and now you are going to make the choice."

" You drive a hard bargain, my love." V's eyes locked on hers.

" And you love it." Evey murmured as she gently pressed her mouth to the latex mask's lips, careful not to rip it.

" I do so love you." He purred returning the kiss gently.

" So, do any of the three grab you?" Evey asked as she moved the pictures across the desktop.

V shook his head slowly. " Although, I do believe that Mr. Girard may be our best candidate."

" What makes you say that?" Evey questioned as she looked at the other two photos.

" Simply because he is physically similar to Erik." V answered.

" I wish you two would tell me what you are up to." Evey huffed.

" All in good time my love." V grinned." So you agree with my choice?"

" I think he would be a very good Phantom." Evey agreed, " We just need Erik's approval."

" Then it's settled."


Erik Maurer waited patiently at the opera house entrance-----pulling the pocket watch from his jacket, checking the time once again.

" Erik....." Kristy's voice pulled him from his mindless wanderings as her hand landed lightly upon his arm. " You have that faraway look in your eyes again." She smiled up at him.

" Just musing over long forgotten memories, my love." He grinned at her as he took her hand in his. " What shall we have for lunch today? Sheppard's Pie? Perhaps Fish 'n' Chips?"

Kristy hesitated for a moment before speaking. " I thought we could have some type of dish from your country. I found a small French restaurant not to far from here.......that is, if you want to."

A huge grin broke across Erik's face. " I did not know that you liked French food, mon amour."

" Actually, " Kristy felt her face burning, " I've never had it."

" Then you are in for a most wonderful treat. We French are known for our cooking, as well as our lovemaking." Erik grinned at her, and Kristy felt herself blush. Taking her hand in his, they began across the parking lot toward the sidewalk.

Evey watched as the two crossed among the parked cars, " Do you think he will ever confess to being the Phantom?" She looked up at V.

" When the time is right." V smiled at her, his arm around her waist, holding her tenderly. Evey studied him closely. Without the Fawkes mask, it was becoming easier to read him, but yet he could still be the man behind the mask----when he wanted too, and now was one of those times.

" Something wrong, my love?" He questioned.

Evey sighed as she crossed her arms in front of her. " You said when the time is right......." She paused for a moment, then her face lit up like a candle! " That's it!"

V stepped back as she bared down on him. " What are you talking about Eve?"

" The night of the performance------he's going to reveal himself the night of the performance." Evey grinned at her mate.

V shook his head slowly, smiling at her. " No, not the night of the performance, or the night after that, or after that."

The smile dropped from Evey's face. " What are you talking about?"

" When Erik senses that all is well between the Phantom and Christy, he will reveal himself to her." V answered as he turned and walked back into the building.

Evey stared after him, a confused expression on her face. ' What the.....'' She mouthed to herself. " Stephen!" She called as she hurried after him, catching his arm.

" Evey?" V questioned, facing her.

" Ok V, " She spoke quietly looking around them, " Enough is enough-----I'm finished playing games......remember, you once told me, 'no more lies, only truth''------well, I want the truth. What's going on ?"

V sighed deeply, crossing his hands before his waist. " I really don't know, Evey."

Evey stared at him, as the red grew from her neck up. " You...." she began slowly, " you don't know? YOU....DON'T......KNOW?!"

V returned her stare as he watched the anger mount. " Evey, please calm yourself! Honestly no, I don't."

Evey stood flabbergasted her mouth moving, but no words spewing out. Oh, she had plenty she wanted to say--------it just wouldn't come out.

V watched as she turned and stormed away, a chuckle under his breath. He had told her the truth------just not all of it.


Kristy slipped her arm through Erik's as they strolled down Chancery Lane back toward the opera house. Lunch at Chez Gerard had turned out to be much more than Eric ever could have imagined. He had almost confessed his love for her that afternoon but held back, concerned that he would be moving too fast in Kristy's eyes-------and also because she was in love with his alter ego. He sighed heavily as he slid his hand atop hers.

" What is it, Erik?" Kristy asked softly glancing up at him.

" Nothing love." He smiled down at her as a gust of wind caught her hair, blowing it gently.

She studied him. He was everything she could ever hope for----loving, kind, gentle----all rolled up in one piece of magnificent sculpture with a smile that melted her heart every time he flashed it at her----but yet, she could not let her feelings go for the one true person that possessed her soul----her mysterious opera ghost, her Phantom. She felt a cold numbness travel through her veins as she thought about him, their time in the dark, dank tunnels of the underground. She loved them both---how could she ever choose between them? Allowing her heart to make the choice was something she could not do.

" You haven't heard a single thing I have been saying have you?" Erik grinned, a twinkle in his eye as Kristy was brought back to reality.

" What?" She looked up at him, a soft blush covering her cheeks." No....." She paused, casting her face

to the ground momentarily, " I guess I was thinking about other things....I'm sorry. What were you saying?"

" V and I have decided to start rehearsals Friday. All the main players have been chosen, there is no reason to delay any longer." Erik said as they climbed the steps to the opera house entrance.

Kristy stopped, crossing her arms over her chest. " I still wish that the Phantom would reconsider taking the lead------" She looked into his eyes.

" I spoke to him, but he would not give in to anything I offered." Erik turned from her, looking out across the newly paved parking lot.

" Erik...." He felt Kristy's hand land gently on his arm. " This part was wrote for him-----he is the Phantom. Would you consider speaking again to him-----for me? I know that he is no angel of music as Christine Daae thought her opera ghost to be, nor spirit---- but a man. A man who has taken on the identity of one of literature's greatest characters." She paused looking down at his hand covering hers

Eric gazed into Kristy's eyes as his mind ran chaotic with everything he wished to tell her----how he was the opera ghost that Gaston Leroux had based his famous book on----how he was the one who had kidnapped Christine Daae, and almost killed Raoul de Chaney---- and how he had ended up here, in her world----but most of all, he wanted to tell her how much he loved her. " I will try to speak again with him, but I doubt he will reconsider."

" Thank you." Kristy looked up into his eyes, and felt her heart melt more.

" Once we get back to the opera house, I have something to show you. " Erik grinned.

" What?" Kristy asked excitedly.

" The workers finished the Daae room." He replied as a grin broke across his lips. " Now, you mustn't be too upset....."

" Upset, why?" Kristy took his hand in hers. " Why should I be upset?"

" Not all of the furniture has arrived yet, " Erik paused, " But the large mirror has been installed."

" Oh, Erik," She threw her arms around his neck, " I still can't believe that you did it for me."

" Every diva must have a dressing room to reflect her greatness-----why should you be any different?" Erik removed her arms from his neck and pulled her to his chest, his lips catching hers in a soft, firm kiss. Pulling away slowly, Kristy looked at him, her fingertips going to her lips.

" Is there something wrong?" He asked, his eyes never leaving hers.

Silence passed between them for a few brief moments before Kristy spoke. " No........"

Erik's mind whirled into action-----what if she had remembered the kiss he had bestowed upon her soft lips as the Phantom in the depths of his great lair--------had she figured out that he and the ghost were one in the same? Erik suddenly felt as if his whole world were on the verge of collapse.

' Oh my god.......' Kristy's mind cried out silently. ' No, it couldn't be......' She pushed the thought from her mind------Erik-- the Phantom?-----now, she knew she was having hallucinations. There was nothing mysterious about the Frenchman---he was an ordinary man---but something about him drew Kristy like a moth to a flame.

" Kristy?" The soft voice drew her away from her thoughts. " Are you alright, mi amour?"

" Yes, I'm fine...." She flashed a bright smile at him, her eyes twinkling in the light of the day. " just day dreaming for a moment....You were saying something about rehearsals starting?"

" Yes, " Erik breathed a sigh of relief, " As early as next week."

" Wonderful! I have been waiting so long for the opera house to be finished. Soon, it will be alive once again with music and dance."

Erik chuckled softly, " You will be the most beautiful Christine ever." Suddenly, a piercing stab of sorrow strangled his heart as he thought of the time he had spent with the real Christine Daae------and how she had scorned his love for that of Raoul de Chagney but this time, it would be different. There would be no one to compete for Kristy's love-----except himself, the Phantom. The Phantom would loose and he, Erik Maurer would finally win!

" Are you coming to the rehearsals?" Kristy asked as they continued to walk back toward the opera house.

" Of course. I have to be there for the acoustic check." He answered.

" Do you think the Phantom will come?" Kristy asked as they headed up the entrance steps to the building.

" I wouldn't be surprised-----after all, this is his home." Erik grinned as he took Kristy's hand in his.

Kristy smiled up at Erik as a cold shiver traveled down her spine.


V, Evey and Kristy watched as the final prop was lowered into place for the first rehearsal of ' Phantom of the Opera'. The scenery had been placed on stage, the actors were awaiting their cue, and Kristy waited patiently for it all to fall together. She had been searching the stage and balconies for Erik or the Phantom, and so far she had seen neither. The auctioneer's voice echoes off the newly painted walls as his dialogue begins: ' Lot 665, ladies and gentlemen. A papier-mache music box in the shape of a Barrel organ. Attached, the figure of a monkey. In Persian robes,playing the cymbals. This item, discovered in the vaults of the theatre, still in working order, ladies and gentlemen.'

Porter holding it up. " Showing here." He sets the music box in motion.(1)

Standing just out of sight in the wings Erik watched as his beloved monkey played the simple but haunting tune that was etched into his memory forever. His eyes followed the two people portraying the older MME. Giry and Raoul de Chagny as they spoke their lines. After their part was finished, the auctioneer pointed toward a large covered object at the edge of the stage-----then, resumed his dialogue.

' Lot 666 then, a chandelier. Some of you may recall the strange affair of the Phantom of the Opera; a mystery never fully explained. We are told, ladies and gentlemen,that this is the very chandelier which figures in the famous disaster. Our workshops have repaired it and wired parts of it for the new electric light. Perhaps we may frighten away the ghost of so many years ago with a little illumination. Gentlemen.' Two workers move forward and pull the canvas from the chandelier. (1)

A chill ran along Kristy's spine as the opening overture erupted from the orchestra pit as the house lights flashed on and off giving the stage an eerie appearance as the chandelier rose, finding its destination, centered high above the now magnificent theatre. Kristy watched as the rehearsal for 'Hannibal' began, but her eyes darted across the empty auditorium searching for either of the two men that had caused such chaos in her young life.

" You look beautiful, mi amour." The low voice whispered in her ear as she jerked around.

" Erik! You scared the devil out of me!" Kristy exclaimed quietly as he pulled her into his arms.

" I apologize, but you looked so angelic, I couldn't resist." His gloved hand caressed her cheek gently..

" Be ready Kristy, your part will be coming up soon." V's voice broke her train of thought as she turned her attention back to the performance. She watched as 'Carlotta' went through her various dialogues, waiting for her cue. Finally, the time had come, and Kristy took her place front and center stage as the replacement for the ill Carlotta.

Erik and V watched Kristy go through her dialogue without a hitch, waiting patiently for the music for ' Think of Me' to begin----- on cue, Kristy walked forward a foot or two....

' Think of me, think of me fondly when we've said goodbye

Remember me, once in awhile---please promise me you'll try.(1)

Erik felt his heart wrench at the sound of Kristy's voice----his angel of music, but as hard as he tried, he could not stop the old feelings that started to resurface as memories of Christine flashed in his mind. He stood silently beside V as she finished up the lyrics, and continued with her dialogue.

' Bravi, Bravi, Bravissimi!' A loud voice rang out through the theatre as everyone searched the balconies. ' You have made me very proud, my angel!'

Kristy searched the right side of the theatre where the voice had come from until her eyes found what she had been searching for. Standing in Box Five, white mask shinning in the lights, the black cape standing out against the box's interior, the Phantom stood, his eyes never leaving hers!

(1) This bit of dialogue is from the original 1990 draft for the movie that Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote for Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman in the title roles. The whole script can be found at ..