Disclaimer: I don't own The Phantom of the Opera or any of its characters.
Months after Christine left with Raoul, the Phantom was heartbroken. In the depths of despair, he doesn't see the point in continuing this life. But that changes when a girl comes and enchants the Phantom with an angelic voice, and lovely face. Ignorant, rude and tough, she joins the group of performers. Kind, gentle and sweet she falls in love with the Phantom, looking past the mask.
P.S I wrote this in like... 20mins...
Chapter 1.
He smiled while he watched the performance in his usual box 5. He thought back to when Christine had sung a lead part in a performance for the first time. He felt happy, everybody continued life as normal, almost forgetting about the Phantom. No longer interested in thinking about the past, he returned to his cave which he homed himself in.
"Erik…" Came Madam Giry's voice.
"What do you want?" Erik turned to see the lady who had saved him so long ago. "I thought you weren't to come down here…"
"I would never dare, if I knew you were alright… Please, Erik… Forget Miss Daae… She is gone… I don't want you to suffer…" Giry began before the Phantom cut her off.
"You are a fool… Get out… You pester me so." The Phantom began. "Christine is gone… You want to make me happy? Try, you can try… You could get me another woman, more beautiful and more angelic than Christine!!" He said sarcastically. "And while you do that, why not close the theatre, and make everybody except me!! Can you do that?!" He yelled at her.
"Erik…" She took a step back.
"Leave! Leave now!!" He pointed at the entrance that Giry had come in by.
Unsure of what to say, Madam Giry left quietly.
Erik sat down, putting his head in his hands. What do I do? Someone tell me what to do…
"Go away, girl…" Said one of the officer's guarding the entrance to the theatre. "If you haven't paid, then leave. All the seats are full, there is no place for you here…"
"But sir… If I may be so bold…" Said the young girl, but was soon cut off by the second officer.
"You can leave…" He pushed out onto the snow-covered street.
The girl was wearing a long-sleeved shirt, like that of the men. It was white and rather torn. She wore pants like that of a man, which were ripped. Her shoulder-length black hair was wet and clinging to her face. She wiped her hair off her pale face and stood up just in time to move out of the way of the horse a carriage. "I want to join the opera…" She yelled.
"You, join the opera?" Laughed the first guard. "You can't even clothe yourself properly…"
"What makes you think you'd be able to join…? My dear, you must be able to sing…" Teased the second guard.
"What's going on?" Said Madam Giry as she approached the scene. "I waas on my way to the stage, but I see I am needed here…" She looked down at the girl. She reminds me of Christine. She possess a rare beauty. I am desperate, I want Erik to be happy. She will have to do…
"This trouble-maker is not leaving…" The second said arrogantly.
"She thinks she can join the opera group…" Laughed the first.
"I do not think it is funny… The girl is beautiful... She just needs to get cleaned up… And before you judge anything, you have got to listen to how well they can sing, you pompous fools!!" She went down to the girl and took her hand. "What is your name, my dear?"
"My name is Claudia…" The girl said as she followed Madam Giry. "I wish to sing…"
Madam Giry stopped and turned to her. "I am Madam Giry… Let me here your voice." She said as they stood in the ballroom area.
"Um… ok…" Claudia said shyly and opened her mouth and started to sing.
"Burning bright stands a star"
"Doing nothing from afar."
"Looking closer I can see"
"The star is dancing just for me."
"That is beautiful my dear…" Madam Giry began. "The Phantom will be pleased with you…" She smiled, taking her to get cleaned up.
Why did she let me in just like that? Surely there must be more than that… You can't possibly just look good and sound good to be let in… Wouldn't you need to audition, have a trial? Claudia had so many question floating around her head, she just flushed them all out, and the next thing she knew, she was to undress and bath in the hot water.
"Hurry, the dancers will be finished soon… I don't want you to be seen by them, yet…" Madam Giry waited for Claudia to get in the bath. She began to wash Claudia quickly.
"I am capable of doing it myself Madam…" Claudia rudely said, but Giry continued her rush to get her clean.
"What this? A new girl… She doesn't look very talented… For her sake, and Madam Giry's sake… She'd better have a nice voice…" The phantom said as he watched Giry and Claudia in the bath area. He walked back to his cave and sat down.
In sleep he sand to me
In dreams he came…
That voice which called to me,
Which spoke me name…
That song… It wouldn't leave him… Christine was gone, and he'd never see her again. Curse the song… That damn cursed song!! He thought. Why wont these memories leave me alone!! He stood up and started to toss the nearest objects around in rage.
"Erik? Is everything ok?" Meg said as she cautiously approached him.
"What are you doing here? I thought your mother was the only one that ever came down here… Curse her… Why did she lead that damned Raoul down to here… You're just as meddling as your mother…" He stopped throwing the objects and looked at Meg, taking deep breaths.
"Erik!! My mother was only helping you!!" She yelled, and suddenly regretted it, covering her mouth suddenly.
"You have a fast tongue, don't you…? Leave, now… You pester me just as much as your mother does…" He threatened her.
"Yes sir… I came down here though, to ask you to meet the new girl at the ball afterwards. My mother will be with her…" Meg said quickly and left.
"Fine…" He yelled after her.
"Here, put this on… You will meet the Phantom at the ball after the performance… You will then go with him, to somewhere private." Giry said as she handed Claudia a blue dress, beautifully decorated.
"I refuse to where a dress… Can I not wear what the men where?" Claudia said refusing to take it.
"If you wish to join our group of performers… You will need to be able to dance, sing and act… You are already beautiful, with an angelic voice. Please, wear it…" Giry put the dress in Claudia's arms.
"Fine…" She gave in, taking the dress and put it on. It fit her well and it suited her.
Just as Madam Giry said, when the performance was done, there was a ball. Claudia stayed with Madam Giry. A man walked over to the two and greeted them. He had a mask on half his face. The three went to a private room. Madam Giry left, closing the door after herself. It was just Claudia and The Phantom.
"You are Claudia I presume…"The Phantom started. "I am the Phantom of this opera house…"
"It is a pleasure to meet you… Er… Sir Phantom…" Claudia was ignorant at the time. Living on the streets does that to you.
"If you are to work here… You will need manners, for a start." He began.
"Do you want to hear me sing?" She asked dumbly.
"And patients… You will sing when I ask you…" Erik said angrily.
"Yes sir…" Claudia looked down innocently, sort of frightened.
"Now… You will be quiet when I speak to you…" He said, waiting for a reply, and smiled when she didn't answer. "You have a nice face… I will hear you sing now…" He signaled her to stand.
She stood up and began to sing. By the end, he was having second thoughts on thinking wrong of her. She had a beautiful voice, great talent. She was almost perfect, but she wasn't Christine. How could he love someone so ignorant though? He guessed it would pass over time, and it did…
"I was wrong about you. You have a lovely angelic voice… But your ignorance is more than your worth. You will become less ignorant, and you will have to learn how to dance…" He said and stood up. He took Claudia's hand and led her out to the ballroom and left her.
He was odd. But he had a charm to him… Claudia thought as she wondered through the crowd to find Madam Giry.
Erik sat down at his cave again and sighed. He thought about Claudia. He thought about how rude she was. He thought about her ignorance. He though about how much her voice reminded him of his beloved Christine. He thought about her beautiful pale face. She was… Rather nice though… Wait! What am I thinking? I can't like her? Can I?
The end!! I hope you enjoyed that!! I'll have the next chapter up soon!! If there is anything you don't like about the story, please tell me how to make it better. Although I highly doubt anyone would even consider clicking the link to this story… If you read this story and liked it, then… I LOVE YOU!!! You can come over to mah house and be mah friend!! Matter of fact… I'd be surprised if I even got a bad review, any review at all. Wow!! Matter of fact, if you read this and you didn't like it one bit… I LOVE YOU!!!! But you can't be mah friend, coz you didn't like... Anywayz!! REVIEW PLEASE!! T.T.F.N Melinda