Angels of Music (chapter two)
*****
Michael sat on the couch in the Phantom's parlor listening to Erik teaching Christine. Christine had a lovely, bell-like voice, but it *was* obviously untrained. It sounded younger than the typical voice of a professional singer her age. More like she was 16 instead of 20. Erik would stop her periodically to make her work on particularly difficult parts of the music. As Michael listened to them, he allowed his mind to wander. He started thinking about what kind of things he was going to have to do to make sure that everything would come out right this time. He felt like he'd been thinking for only a few minutes, but it must have been at least an hour, because Erik came into the room. Christine was not with him.
"Michael, do you have a place to stay?"
Michael looked away. His lack of preparation was embarrassing. "No." He said shortly.
Erik was having an inner battle with himself. What should he do? This was a stranger . . . would it really be wise for him to let a stranger stay for an extended period of time at his house? Well, perhaps only for a few days -- until he could find a flat to stay in. Yes, that would be best. All that Michael saw of Erik's conflicting fears was a momentary flicker of uncertainty. It disappeared as soon as it had been there. Erik looked up. "I suppose you'll have to stay here, then. At least until you can find a flat."
Michael was shocked. Erik must really trust him to let him stay there. "Thank you, monsieur. I'm in your debt."
Erik waved his hand in dismissal. "No debts, Michael. None of that." He scribbled something on a slip of paper at a nearby desk and handed it to Michael. "These are instructions to get you in and out of the labyrinth whenever you please. You're not my prisoner. However, no one is to see these ever -- not under any circumstances."
Michael nodded. "I promise."
At that moment, Christine entered the room. "Ah yes, Christine," said Erik, "I believe that it's time we took you back to your dressing room. I've no doubt they're worrying about you. Unfortunately, I have some business to attend to." Michael had a feeling that this business he was going to attend to was a little more like messing with the managers' minds -- leaving notes around, perhaps? Erik continued, "Michael, would you kindly take Christine up. After that, you're free to do as you like. If you come back down here though, kindly remember to stay out of my room. All music but my compositions are free for you to look at, and the library's open to you as well. But now I must be off, or I shall be late. Allow me to say, Mademoiselle Daae, that it was a pleasure having you here with me." Christine blushed. He bowed to her, put on his hat and cape, and disappeared into the darkness.
*****
About five minutes later, Michael and Christine were on their way back to her dressing room. Erik's directions were complicated, but they were also very thorough. They were silent on the way there, but once they got to Christine's dressing room, she finally spoke.
"I wonder what it was that Erik had to do."
Of course, Michael knew what it was, but he decided not to tell Christine what the Phantom was up to. "Well, whatever it is, it must have been important for him to send me with you instead of going himself. He cares a great deal about you."
"I know. But he does have a funny way of showing it, doesn't he? I mean, he's never even touched me. He's practically scared to even look at me."
Michael sighed. "I think he's afraid that you'll find him repulsive. At any rate, you've done wonders for his confidence, Christine. Just whatever you do, don't betray his trust. You must promise me that."
Christine looked a bit confused, but all the same she said, "I promise."
At that moment, Michael heard voices outside the dressing room. He looked at Christine, and she nodded. Michael went out the way he came in. He had only just disappeared behind the mirror when Meg Giry and her mother, Mme. Giry entered.
"Oh Christine!" exclaimed Meg. "How long have you been here? We've been looking everywhere for you!"
"Yes my dear," said Mme. Giry, "We've been very worried ever since you disappeared after the show last night."
"Christine, it was such a great success!! All the reviews and all --"
"Meg. That's quite enough," said Mme. Giry sternly. Her expression softened. "Christine, you must be exhausted. You can get some rest at our house. Then, afterwards, you can tell us where you've been."
"Thank you, madame," Christine said, wondering how she was going to manage to avoid telling them about the Phantom. She sighed, gathered her things, and the three of them left the room.
*****
Meanwhile, Michael was on his way back down to Erik's lair. He was in the third cellar when he found Joseph Buquet among the scenery, with a crowd of ballet girls around him. He was telling them stories about the Phantom, including what his face looked like. Michael suspected that Buquet knew these things about the Phantom from experience, since he was down in the cellars so often. Michael moved away from the scene and kept going down. He was glad that Erik was not there to see it. Not there to see it . . . Michael gasped. Now, becuase Erik didn't know that Buquet had seen his face, he would not kill Buquet during the later performance. There would be no disaster with the chandelier. Having realized how much of the story he had just changed, Michael hurried down to Erik's house.
Erik was already there. He also appeared to be grinning broadly (it was difficult to tell with the mask on.) Michael wondered briefly why he seemed so satisfied with himself. Then he realized. Of course, he must have had fun causing mischief in the managers' office.
Michael, now also grinning broadly, approached the Phantom. "Did you enjoy yourself, Erik?"
"Yes," he replied. "Immensely. They're such fools -- they don't deserve this place." He paused. "How is Christine?"
"I left her safely in her dressing room. Right after I left I heard Mme. Giry and Meg come in."
"Good," said Erik. "All is well if she is well.
****
To be continued . . . please review.
~ Erik's Angel ~
*****
Michael sat on the couch in the Phantom's parlor listening to Erik teaching Christine. Christine had a lovely, bell-like voice, but it *was* obviously untrained. It sounded younger than the typical voice of a professional singer her age. More like she was 16 instead of 20. Erik would stop her periodically to make her work on particularly difficult parts of the music. As Michael listened to them, he allowed his mind to wander. He started thinking about what kind of things he was going to have to do to make sure that everything would come out right this time. He felt like he'd been thinking for only a few minutes, but it must have been at least an hour, because Erik came into the room. Christine was not with him.
"Michael, do you have a place to stay?"
Michael looked away. His lack of preparation was embarrassing. "No." He said shortly.
Erik was having an inner battle with himself. What should he do? This was a stranger . . . would it really be wise for him to let a stranger stay for an extended period of time at his house? Well, perhaps only for a few days -- until he could find a flat to stay in. Yes, that would be best. All that Michael saw of Erik's conflicting fears was a momentary flicker of uncertainty. It disappeared as soon as it had been there. Erik looked up. "I suppose you'll have to stay here, then. At least until you can find a flat."
Michael was shocked. Erik must really trust him to let him stay there. "Thank you, monsieur. I'm in your debt."
Erik waved his hand in dismissal. "No debts, Michael. None of that." He scribbled something on a slip of paper at a nearby desk and handed it to Michael. "These are instructions to get you in and out of the labyrinth whenever you please. You're not my prisoner. However, no one is to see these ever -- not under any circumstances."
Michael nodded. "I promise."
At that moment, Christine entered the room. "Ah yes, Christine," said Erik, "I believe that it's time we took you back to your dressing room. I've no doubt they're worrying about you. Unfortunately, I have some business to attend to." Michael had a feeling that this business he was going to attend to was a little more like messing with the managers' minds -- leaving notes around, perhaps? Erik continued, "Michael, would you kindly take Christine up. After that, you're free to do as you like. If you come back down here though, kindly remember to stay out of my room. All music but my compositions are free for you to look at, and the library's open to you as well. But now I must be off, or I shall be late. Allow me to say, Mademoiselle Daae, that it was a pleasure having you here with me." Christine blushed. He bowed to her, put on his hat and cape, and disappeared into the darkness.
*****
About five minutes later, Michael and Christine were on their way back to her dressing room. Erik's directions were complicated, but they were also very thorough. They were silent on the way there, but once they got to Christine's dressing room, she finally spoke.
"I wonder what it was that Erik had to do."
Of course, Michael knew what it was, but he decided not to tell Christine what the Phantom was up to. "Well, whatever it is, it must have been important for him to send me with you instead of going himself. He cares a great deal about you."
"I know. But he does have a funny way of showing it, doesn't he? I mean, he's never even touched me. He's practically scared to even look at me."
Michael sighed. "I think he's afraid that you'll find him repulsive. At any rate, you've done wonders for his confidence, Christine. Just whatever you do, don't betray his trust. You must promise me that."
Christine looked a bit confused, but all the same she said, "I promise."
At that moment, Michael heard voices outside the dressing room. He looked at Christine, and she nodded. Michael went out the way he came in. He had only just disappeared behind the mirror when Meg Giry and her mother, Mme. Giry entered.
"Oh Christine!" exclaimed Meg. "How long have you been here? We've been looking everywhere for you!"
"Yes my dear," said Mme. Giry, "We've been very worried ever since you disappeared after the show last night."
"Christine, it was such a great success!! All the reviews and all --"
"Meg. That's quite enough," said Mme. Giry sternly. Her expression softened. "Christine, you must be exhausted. You can get some rest at our house. Then, afterwards, you can tell us where you've been."
"Thank you, madame," Christine said, wondering how she was going to manage to avoid telling them about the Phantom. She sighed, gathered her things, and the three of them left the room.
*****
Meanwhile, Michael was on his way back down to Erik's lair. He was in the third cellar when he found Joseph Buquet among the scenery, with a crowd of ballet girls around him. He was telling them stories about the Phantom, including what his face looked like. Michael suspected that Buquet knew these things about the Phantom from experience, since he was down in the cellars so often. Michael moved away from the scene and kept going down. He was glad that Erik was not there to see it. Not there to see it . . . Michael gasped. Now, becuase Erik didn't know that Buquet had seen his face, he would not kill Buquet during the later performance. There would be no disaster with the chandelier. Having realized how much of the story he had just changed, Michael hurried down to Erik's house.
Erik was already there. He also appeared to be grinning broadly (it was difficult to tell with the mask on.) Michael wondered briefly why he seemed so satisfied with himself. Then he realized. Of course, he must have had fun causing mischief in the managers' office.
Michael, now also grinning broadly, approached the Phantom. "Did you enjoy yourself, Erik?"
"Yes," he replied. "Immensely. They're such fools -- they don't deserve this place." He paused. "How is Christine?"
"I left her safely in her dressing room. Right after I left I heard Mme. Giry and Meg come in."
"Good," said Erik. "All is well if she is well.
****
To be continued . . . please review.
~ Erik's Angel ~
