The Mirror Has Two Faces- Chapter Three
To Kill The Phantom
(Quick note, this is WAY out of whack, Il Muto is two weeks after Erik first takes Christine to his lair in this.)
Raoul De Chagny stormed past the managers of the Opera Populaire without even a nod goodnight. He threw himself into his carriage and ordered the driver home.
As soon as the carriage stopped he was out, stalking into his home where he closed himself up in his study. He had to get her back, that was the only thought in his mind. But whose ring did she wear? The managers had not mentioned any man in her life!
She tapped his quill resolutely on some paper. He would find out who it was somehow, and then find a way to get him away from Christine. He would do anything for his Little Lotte, anything.
Christine happily hummed as she and Erik rowed across the lake. She had grown so accustomed to the boat ride now. Tomorrow night they performed 'Il Muto' and though she had a very minor role she was anyways excited.
Erik smiled as she did so, humming along as he polled them across the ink black waters, she had seemed so happy since their engagement, and he was glad he could be a part of it. He had never made anyone happy in his life, and to think she was as happy as she appeared, it was heaven.
They reached the wharf and he hopped out, assisting her in stepping onto the wooden dock and then tying the boat up. She waited with a smile and gave him a quick kiss before they went hand in hand into his home.
Erik guided her to the piano and they began work on some things, warm ups then serious aria's and such. Christine could almost feel the difference in her voice by each note she sang, amazing her. Her clear soprano seemed to follow his every instruction, making it hard to believe he was just a man, and not an angel.
After a few hours he sighed, placing the cover over the keys and motioning for her to sit down.
"You sound much better, though you should practice more."
She laughed. "I shall try, if it is even possible. Thank you, darling." She kissed his cheek and leaned her head against his shoulder, enjoying his company thoroughly.
He smiled, taking her hand and stroking it, marveling that she never took his ring off. He kissed the finger that bound her to him and found how hard it was to keep off of her.
She giggled at his sudden bout of hand kissing and turned to face him, her skirts winding in a most unladylike manner around her legs.
He gazed into her olive green eyes and then leaned in, claiming her delicate mouth. A cry of delight came from her and she returned his kiss, her hands coming up to grasp his shoulders. His need for her was strong and he debated wether or not he should take her into the other room and make love to her.
She herself was unsure wether she was ready for such an act, and her conversation with Raoul earlier did not make this any easier. She knew Raoul was now desperate for her affections, and would do anything possible to receive them. But he never would, she could not imagine loving Raoul as more than her boy hero.
Erik broke the kiss, his determined lips finding themselves on her cheek, then her forehead nose and then spreading kisses up and down her neck, lingering at her pulsing vein for a moment, then moving down to the hollow of her throat. His arms were searching her body, finding her defined muscles from her time with the conservatoire and the corps de ballet.
She gasped and leaned into him, her mind made up. He smiled against her hot flesh and lifted her with ease, taking her into the bedroom and shutting the door.
"So she hasn't come home?"
"No monsieur, she must have stayed the night at her fiancé 's house." Christine's landlady answered Raoul, a question in her eye.
"Thank you, madame." He said leaving the building. She never came home, he thought to himself. She spent the night in another mans bed!
He angrily stormed down the street to his carriage, which he ordered to take him to the Opera. Perhaps she went in. He thought hopefully.
He arrived and went straight to the mangers office. "Where is she?"
"Carlotta?" Firmin asked.
"No, Miss Daae`."
"Oh," Andre` started., "Haven't the slightest clue."
Raoul rolled his eyes. "Great, you and the rest of the world."
Firmin looked curiously at him. "Is something wrong, Monsieur?"
Raoul snorted. "Lets just call it a lovers quarrel."
Andre` chuckled. "Well don't quarrel her up too much."
This reminded Raoul of something. "Say, I got a letter in the post, did you send it?"
"No, why?"
"It's eerie, speaks of Christine being all right with her Angel of Music."
"No, we didn't send anything of the sort."
Raoul was perplexed. "Then... Who did?"
Christine stepped from the boat, anxiously waiting for Erik to do so. The moment he did her hands went up into his jacket and her lips covered his, her joy undeniable. He laughed against her, she had not been able to keep her hands off of him, not when they awoke, not before and after they ate, not before they got into the boat and now not after.
He gently brought her back and looked into her eyes. "Christine, I suppose you're happy? No regrets?"
She smiled, slipping her arms up around his neck as he put his around here waist. "Not even the maddest person on Earth could regret such a wonderful beautiful perfect thing."
He smiled. "You'd better get up, they'll wonder about you if they hear you never went home."
"I'll see you after rehearsal?" She asked hopefully.
He kissed her softly. "Of course."
She sighed and slowly stepped back from him. "All right." She began to make her way up the path of the mirror, looking back and blowing him a kiss before making sure no one was in the room.
She emerged into the light, blinking, trying to get used to it. She quickly ran out to the auditorium where Reyer was preparing.
"A bit early, eh Mademoiselle?"
"Yes Monsieur, a bit." She began to hum and then sing, waltzing about the stage happily.
Reyer smugly smiled, he had never disliked her or her voice, rather just how Carlotta would have him fired if she sung in her place ever again. He also had an idea as to why she was so happy.
"Make a night of it did you Mademoiselle?" She froze at the incredibly rude question.
"Pardon me, Monsieur?"
"Nothing, nothing, I never should have asked." He responded, shaking his and.
"Well in the future remind yourself that my... Intimate life does not concern you!" Though he had waved it off she was deeply insulted that he would assume such a thing.
"Relax Mamselle, I know actresses are fallen women..."
She decided to play along. "Shamelessly, especially Signora Carlotta, so shamelessly fallen she is..."
Reyer grouchily returned to his work when Carlotta pranced in, warming up.
Christine rolled her eyes and continued to dance about, humming a note less tune.
"Look at dis Ubaldo! It is love stricken!" She laughed at Christine. "I suppose the Vicomte has pleased you?"
"No," Christine responded. "I am not interested in the Vicomte..."
'Mademoiselle Daae`'s personal life is of no concern to the lot of you, leave her be!' Erik's voice interrupted, obviously tired of the prying Italians and repetituer.
Christine sighed and sat down on the cold stage, awaiting the rest of the cast for the final rehearsal before tonight.
"Serifimo, away with this pretense," Carlotta ripped the skirt from Christine. "You cannot speak, but kiss me in my husband's absence."
The music and Carlotta droned on, Christine unable to concentrate until Carlotta resorted to kicking her several times.
Erik's voice changed it all, as he scolded Raoul for sitting in his box. She watched Raoul get up and a chorus girl said. "Whose was that voice?"
She smiled. "Le Fantome Del'Opera!" She replied.
"Your part is silent, little toad!"
'A toad Madame, perhaps it is you who are the toad!'
Carlotta tried uselessly to try and sing but emitted croaks instead, Christine ran back stage, hurrying to get ready when she heard voices.
"I asked you a question, Buquet, are you or are you not courting Mademoiselle Daae`?"
"And I told you Monsieur, no."
"How dare you take that tone with me!" Christine stared at the shadows in horror as Raoul threw a bit of scenery rope around his throat, and tugged. Buquet hung lifelessly and Raoul pushed the rope onto the stage, where the ballet was performing. Meg screamed and Christine hurriedly looked for Erik.
"Erik, where are you?"
"Shhh, here Christine, on the catwalk." She looked up to see just the white mask of her love in the shadows.
She quietly climbed the ladder and with his assistance got up onto the catwalk. "To the roof, we'll be safe there."
He nodded and she guided him to the stairs leading to the rooftop. Hurriedly they went to stand near Apollo's statue.
"Why here, Christine?"
"I cannot go back, raoul, he killed Buquet."
He raised an eyebrow suspiciously. "How do you know?"
She was shaking and he put an arm around her. "I saw Erik, they were arguing and he put the rope and tugged and pushed him out..."
"You saw this?"
"Yes in the shadows." She whispered. "Only the shadows."
"Maybe so, but shadows never lie, I've lived with them for years, darling. But why have you brought us here?"
"He's upset I won't see him, he thought Buquet was seeing me, he would kill me too."
"I would never let that happen, Christine." He told her fiercely, bringing her face to look at him. "Never!"
She snuggled against his shirt. "I love you, I never want to lose you, please, let's run away, we can go far away and get married and start anew, please my love..."
Raoul listened intently from behind the statue.
"I'm so frightened to stay here, please..."
Erik kissed her hand. "All right, after the new year. I promise you. But right now we must stay in seclusion here, you don't know me and I merely support you as a believer as they think I am."
Christine nodded. "I know you can protect me, so this is all right." She whispered. He smiled laying his face in her hair.
"Christine, I love you."
She smiled. "We can take Ce`sar, no one would know, we can ride together to the pier and get on whichever boat we choose. And perhaps get married on it by the captain and oh Erik it will be so wonderful then!"
Raoul angrily bit his lip, biting back a cry of rage at the same time. She was engaged to the Phantom? A madman whose idea of life is living under the Opera, writing music and encouraging young women?
He heard the two hurry off and he stood from his hiding place. "I will have you, Little Lotte, make no mistake of that." And with that he left the rooftop, knowing Christine would not give him away, but to think she had more than likely made love to the Phantom! He was sickened and he began to think horrible thoughts, Buquet was easy to kill, his fat neck snapped almost instantly, this man was tricky, he may be harder. But Raoul Vicomte De Chagny would find a way to kill the Phantom.