AN: My first Phantom of the Opera fan fic, I have reference of the story, and the characters will have pretty much the same fall.
Chapter 1: Opera House
Year 2004
The investors stood there and looked at the opera house. No one was allowed to go in, there was only one man who entered the opera house.
" He's been work for months now, the only people who enter the opera house is his brother and the old lady. He doesn't want to be disturbed by any outside people," a contractor said
" I guess we should respect the man's wishes," the investor said
" Papa!" a soft voice called
The investor turned around and saw his daughter getting out of a car. She waved to him,dressed inher knee length skirt and nice blouse.
" Ah, Michelle," he said, " Gentlemen my daughter Michelle Ecorce."
" Bonjour Mademoiselle," the men said
" Bonjour," she replied, " Papa, I'm off to my lessons, I'll be back in time for dinner."
" Very good my dear," he said
She kissed his cheek and went off and the investor smiled
" She will be the lead singer once this opera house is opened," he said
" December," the contractor said, " We'll be there to applaud her sir."
" I bet," he said
Inside the Opera house
The young man polished the wood surfaces and cleaned the windows. He made trap doors work and made them better. He breathed in the air around and then stopped, when water was brought to him.
" Forgive me in saying you are working yourself to death," the old woman said
" I am an architect, a musician and magicians, I never over work," he said
" Leon do you not see your hands, they are rough," she said
" Madame Cuivre, I do not rest," he replied
He turned around and stroked the half face mask that he wore and she sighed.
" I see and what will your brother say of this madness?" she asked
He smiled even under the half mask and said, " He's the one who left me to my own devices and here I have made a home in this opera house. They've even given me a name, based on an event that happened here. Stories of a ghost, they called this ghost the Phantom of the Opera. So I have taken the name literary. He was as I am today, disfigured and afraid of what people would say. My brother has done his half now it is my turn."
" You can not go around and making these fools think of you as a ghost," Madame Cuivre said, " It's ridiculous."
Leon smiled and tugged on the rope and pulled himself up and smoothed out the ledges of the windows. He replaced the candles with lights and looked at his brother.
" Is she done yet?" Leon called
" As good as new, I bought her at the market place, she's the original piece to this opera house," his brother called
" Good, then let's put her up," Leon said
Madame Cuivre looked at Leon's brother, his older twin, who was a local opera singer seeing a local diva to Paris.
" And I suppose you will be taking on students as well Leon, just as Erik did and let me guess a young Soprano too?" Madame Cuivre inquired
" Do you really think it is necessary to rewrite the history that he has made? The man was insane," Leon stated, " I myself come to the surface in perpetration to perform not scare just yet."
" That's why your pieces are of half formed people, a sicken love struck hunchback?" Madame Cuivre questioned
" Oh, Madame Cuivre, you speak so ill of my master pieces, I have composed a new piece on the battle of demons and good spirits. The teachings of the heavens and those who should be damned," Leon said
He jumped down and looked at his brother and nodded.
" I have it on this side, together brother pull," Leon said
" Alright," his brother replied
Together the twins pulled the final piece to the opera house and Leon wired it so that it lit the room around. He looked at his reconstruction and smiled and Madame Cuivre looked at her young disfigured student.
" Let the music of the night fill this place once again!" Leon shouted
2 Weeks later
Leon watched as people came in for auditions for his new opera, his brother presented himself as the representative for him. Leon turned into the shadows and climbed into the loft and stared down at the people. He vanished deep down into the darkness of the passage ways of the opera house. He made his way to his domain and looked around the dreary domain. He removed his coat and undid two buttons on his shirt. He sighed and lightly played haunting tunes on the old organ. Candles were lit as he became hypnotized by their light.
" What young woman have they chosen to be their diva?" Leon questioned
" None yet," Madame Cuivre replied then questioned, " Why are you doing this Leon? You are human and no one cares what you look like."
Leon stopped and looked at the flame and grabbed it with his gloved hand. He turned around and looked at the old woman.
" I am doing nothing," he said, " I am a monster now, the darkness can only keep my disfigured face hidden."
" Here, I have brought you something, don't forget to eat. Your nothing, but skin and bones," Madame Cuivre said
Leon nodded and went back to playing.
" Tell Philippe to sing well, I'm counting on him to sing for both of us," Leon said
" Yes, of course," Madame Cuivre said
Leon sighed and continued to play the organ, it was part of his life. He lit the candle and then turned to the covered mirror to his left. He sighed and touched his mask and closed his eyes.
" I don't know how to stare at myself in the mirror," he whispered
As the auditions went on Leon went out, he went through the passageways that didn't require a boat, and out the doors. He climbed up the stairs in the back of the opera house to get to the loft of the opera house. He peeked through the door and watched the young singers come on stage. He liked none of them and sighed and walked through the loft and knelt down to a trunk. He opened it and looked through it and as he did he discovered a book. He opened it and looked at the writings inside. He stuck the book in his black tailed coat and went off.
" Mademoiselle, your voice is beautiful, but I do think lessons would be a necessary aspect to your career," the manger said
" I know a teacher," Philippe said, " He doesn't ask for much, but what he does as for is worth it for his lessons."
" Then Monsieur I leave it to you to find this teacher," the manger said, " Mademoiselle Ecorce you are hired welcome."
" Thank you Monsieur Love," she said
Philippe looked up at the loft and saw Leon standing there. He smirked and Leon shook his head and vanished into the shadows.
" The Phantom of the Opera returns," Philippe whispered
Leon lifted his seal and stamped the envelope shut. He sat it to the side and looked at the shadows.
" Why did you do that brother?" Leon growled
" Because you owe me brother," Philippe replied
" I owe you nothing," Leon said
Philippe laughed and said, " Aren't we forgetting, who helped you escape that mob 12 years ago. Yes, they wanted the disfigured man."
Leon growled and balled up his fist and pushed back the chair he sat in.
" You saved me for your own selfish reasons, I was your only ticket to get out of that town. Aren't we forgetting how much talent you have gain since I began tutor you," Leon struck back
Philippe walked over to his brother and put his hands on his shoulders. He squeezed his brother's shoulders tightly until he hit a nerve.
" Remember brother, fame isn't everything especially to those who hide their talent," Philippe said
Leon growled and slapped his brother with his hand and narrowed his eyes.
" Curse the day you were born," Leon said, " You've caused me only pain."
Philippe laughed and walked into the shadows.
" Forgive me brother, but if I weren't born then you wouldn't either," Philippe said
He left and Leon fell to his knees and hit the ground. He came to his knees and traced the mask and closed his eyes.
Flash Back
Flames engulfed the estate and Leon ran back inside to collect his music. The ten year old was desperate to get as much as he could. His written music was worth more than what the house was worth. His 14 pieces were the ones that let his career grow.
" Leon!" his mother shouted
Leon collected as he went and ran, but then he was circled in flames.
" What do I do?" he thought
The smoke was becoming heavy and Leon jumped over the falling pillar that fell with the flames. His foot got caught and he fell into the flames that trailed with hot ash. Ash flew into his face and Leon screamed in pain. He was now blind and had burns on his face. He became lost. He was picked up by a firefighter and carried out. He covered his face with his music and slapped hands that touched his face.
" Let me go!" he shouted with tears in his eyes
" Shh, Leon, please their trying to help," his mother said
Leon had fallen unconscious after they gave him something to relax. It wasn't until later that he woke up, with bandages on half of his face. He peered out of one eye and felt the last seconds of feeling on the right side of his face. His vision was spared, but his right faced paid for the rest of the unharmed body. Leon ran out calling out and trying to figure out what happened. He felt his breaths become shallow and he past out seconds later.
End of Flashback
Leon breathed deep and opened his eyes, finding himself on the cold stone ground. He sat up and sighed, then sat down seeing some warm bread and cheese setting on the table. Wine was poured out for him and he ate what he wanted and drank the wine. He looked around and sighed, before he called it a night and vanished away into the shadows of his domain.
" Do give my regards to the man of mystery," the investor said, " It's wonderful Monsieur DeVan."
" I will be glad too, I assure you he will be at the opening in two weeks, he's written yet another piece," Philippe said
" Ah, I'm sure to love this piece," the investor said
Philippe shut the doors of the opera house and looked around. He walked towards the stage and opened the trap door. He jumped down inside and shut it, then walked down the dry passageway to Leon's domain. Leon looked at the shadows and turned around and looked at Philippe. Philippe tossed him the money and Leon looked at it.
" For your work," Philippe said
He walked over and poured a glass of wine and looked at his brother.
" You may leave now," Leon said
" Can't I visit my brother?" he asked
" No, now leave," he said, " I'm tiered."
" You know you don't sleep," he said
Leon looked at his brother and turned away and flipped the music as he played.
" Leave now," he said
" Or what?" Philippe questioned
Leon smirked and shook his head then got up.
" How about a drink outside the walls of the opera house?" Philippe questioned
Leon stopped and Philippe was about to say something, when Leon silenced him.
" It appears we have a guest," Leon said
He walked to the back and pulled the gate up and heard the sounds of someone stumbling in the water.
" Hello," a soft voice called
" Who is that? Who followed you here?" Leon questioned
" No one, I swear," Philippe said
Leon fled and Philippe narrowed his eyes at his brother.
" When our visitor is gone call me," Leon said
The shadow of a young woman vanished, thenshe walked out in the domain.
" Ah, Monsieur Philippe," the girl said
" What are you doing down here, it's much to dangerous?" Philippe questioned
" I just was exploring and I fell through a trapped door. I can't find my way out of here," She said
" Mademoiselle Ecorce, you must have taken a wrong turn, come with me," he said
Michelle looked and her eyes widen seeing what was behind him. She walked over and looked at the organ.
" This organ is how old?" she asked
" Centuries, it's been under this theater," Philippe answered, " Come Mademoiselle."
He turned around and looked at the girl and sighed. He walked over to her and grabbed her hand.
" You must be tiered and wish to rest, your lessons begin tomorrow," he said
" Oh, I can't possibly," she said, " In a brand new reconstructed opera house."
" Please, Mademoiselle, I wish to escort you, you wouldn't want the phantom to get you," Philippe said
" Phantom?" she asked, " I've heard of this phantom, but is he real? Does he take young women?"
" No, Mademoiselle, he only scares those who don't listen," Philippe said, " Come I will tell you everything."
They walked up the stairs and once he had told her some stories; he vanished in the shadows. Leon locked the gates and looked at his brother as he came out the shadows.
" She's trouble Leon, I don't like her," Philippe said
" It doesn't matter what you think," Leon said
" Don't blame me if she knows your identity," Philippe said
" I've been watching her since she was a young naive teenager," Leon stated
He poured a glass of wine and Philippe grabbed the glass away.
" Come brother there is no one upstairs, we will paint your face so you can see Paris brightly shinning. You need this," Philippe said.
Leon grabbed the glass and downed the wine and tossed the glass to the side.
" I don't need light," he said
Philippe nodded and patted his brother's cheek.
" Then sleep brother, the wine will easy your soul, tomorrow they will be finishing the auditions and I will be out with my dear Isabelle…do not call for me. Madame Cuivre will come to you, so good night brother. Don't let Mademoiselle Ecorce find you," Philippe said
He climbed up the stairs and Leon narrowed his eyes, he wrapped the black cape around him and vanished into another passage way.