I don't have much to say in the way of an intro here, because I just put up the first chapter a minute ago. So, let's get right into it.
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Ravenwalked into the Opera in a bit of a daze. She wasn't exactly sure what to do now that she was here. She knew that she desperately wanted to meet Erik, but he was deep within the impenetrable cellars of the Opera...and she knew he...ah...wasn't inclined to have visitors. She knew she loved Erik, but it was another thing to presume he would love her right away.
Raven bumped into someone in front of her. "Excuse me," she muttered. He turned and bowed to her. "Oh, no, excuse me, mademoiselle." He smiled.
"Pray, monsieur, what is your name?" asked Raven. She wanted to get as good an idea of when in the novel the remote had dropped her. For all she knew, the story was over, and Erik was already...gone.
The man raised an eyebrow. "I'm M. Poligny," he replied. "You must be new here – we are retiring tonight. MM. Richard and Moncharmin will be taking over tonight."
Of course! It was the very beginning of the novel – the night when the two managers resigned and left the skeptical new ones in their place. The night Christine Daae had her immense triumph in Carlotta's place. The night Joseph Buquet was murdered.
New here...Poligny's words rang in Raven's mind. They gave her an idea. If she could get a job at the Opera, even a small one, she could be close to Erik at all times, and keep a close eye on the proceedings of the story. Since her voice had improved so much, she was sure to get even the tiniest role. She resolved to go to the new managers the next day.
.:The next day:.
Moncharmin looked at the girl sitting in his office. She looked rather plain. She had long, straight brown hair and skin that didn't know whether it wanted to be pale or not. But the most striking thing about her was her eyes – they were bright brown flecked with gold, and shined with an innate determination and darkness.
"I don't really understand what it is you want, mademoiselle," Moncharmin said.
"Oh, it's quite simple," repliedRaven cheerily. "It's long been my dream to sing at the Paris Opera. I wouldn't mind starting out as a chorus girl, others before me have worked their way up to sing leads, haven't they?" If they have help from the Angel of Music, thought Raven.
"I suppose you mean our little Christine Daae?" muttered Moncharmin. "Yes, she was quite brilliant last night, wasn't she?"
"Heavenly," agreed Raven.
"Well, no way in unless I can see what you can do," said Moncharmin. "Have you prepared a song?"
"Erm –" Truthfully, Raven hadn't thought about what to sing. She hadn't even thought about what to do if they rejected her. She just had to trust in her own ability to sing. She knew she was good, there was no denying it. The Angel had visited her too, after all...
What to sing...what to sing... She decided on the first thing that came into her mind. Rubbing her gold ring, she took a deep breath...
Think of me, think of me fondly when we've said goodbye...She sang like Sarah Brightman, altering the song slightly to omit the small part of Raoul – meaning no offense, there was just no Raoul there at the moment.
...Please promise me that sometimes, you will think...of...me!
Moncharmin looked surprised. Not that he hadn't ever heard such a voice, but this girl was quite young to sing like an opera star. "I think you'll make a lovely addition to our chorus," he said with a smile. He shook her hand, as her face split into a wide grin.
Upon leaving the office, her future set for the period of time she was in this world, she set out searching for her dressing room. Moncharmin had given her directions to hers, but as you all know, the Paris Opera House is a maze, and for all her Phantom studying, Raven was soon lost.
"And turn here, and make a left, and second corridor, and...dead end." She sighed. "How do I get out of here?" A fine job she was doing. How could she ever find the lake four cellars down if she couldn't make it to her own dressing room? Turning around sharply in her anger, she promptly collided with a tall young woman.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she gasped, as Raven rubbed her bruised nose. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah...yes, I think I'm fine." Raven looked up at her. Pretty, she thought. "Can you help me? I'm new here, and I...kinda got lost trying to find my dressing room."
"Oh, of course." The woman smiled, and led Raven back the way she had come.
"My name's Raven," she prompted. "I song in the chorus...At least, I'm going to. I just got in today."
"Good for you," replied her guide. "I'm Christine Daae."
Raven gasped. "Christine?"
Christine stopped and turned to look at her. "Yes... What's wrong?"
Raven quickly closed her mouth. "Oh – nothing. "I just...heard you sing last night. You were amazing."
Christine couldn't suppress a smile. "Thank you."
Raven smiled too, slyly. "It really was astounding. Who taught you to sing like that?" She knew very well who gave the singer lessons in her dressing room.
She hesitated. "I had some help from...an old friend."
"Right." They now found themselves in a hallway full of doors, spaced throughout the corridor. "Mine's the one on the end, and the only vacant one is right next to it, so that must be yours."
"Thanks. Hey, Christine," added Raven. Another little problem had just dawned on her. "Are we allowed to...sleep...in our dressing rooms...nightly?" Seeing as the remote hadn't equipped her with a French apartment, although her dress did come with a pocketful of francs for sufficient food.
Christine raised an eyebrow. "You have nowhere to go?"
"Oh, no, my home is just so far away, it beats waking up at three every morning to get here." She smiled weakly.
"Well...no one ever said anything against it. I suppose it's okay."
"Good. Anyway, thanks for the help, Christine...I may need more of it later."
"You only need ask." Raven closed her door, and listened to Christine's fading footsteps.
Well...she was in the Opera. Now she just had to find her way to the house on the lake...somehow...
Raven knew enough about Erik to try and get him to trust her. It wouldn't be easy, but she had to try. She wasn't leaving this book until she had a satisfactory little meeting with the Phantom of the Opera.
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Okay, I think it's doing a little better now. Read and review please! (Wow, two chapters in one night... And I typed straight through Inuyasha. You know I'm dedicated to the Phantom now.)
