Chapter 11: Angel of Music

2 months later

Erik sang gently to the young girl, whom he now knew as Christine. She was young, but he enjoyed teaching the young girl. She became very gifted in both ballet and music and Erik watched her grow. He also watched Antoinette train the young girl and become the assistant ballet instructor. Antoinette looked at her dear friend as he watched from the shadows, he was becoming a true angel as he watched over them.

By evening Meg and Christine were ready for bed and Antoinette tucked them in. Meg was now sleeping in the dormitories so Christine was not alone and she liked it there. Erik watched from the shadows as Antoinette tucked them in.

" Good night," she said

" Good night Madame," Christine said

" Good night Mama," Meg replied

Antoinette smiled and walked off and Meg fell asleep almost instantly, while Christine waited to hear her angel's sweet voice. Erik's voice came through the wall and Christine sat up.

" Angel of Music," she whispered

Erik continued to speak to her and Christine laid down and closed her eyes. She heard his sweet song and then fell asleep.

" Good night Christine," he whispered

Erik walked off and into the cellars where he worked on his piece that he wished to showcase. Erik wanted his star to grow up and then he would have this performed. Erik was becoming her tutor that he never thought he would be.

Antoinette tied back her hair and looked in the mirror. She looked at the picture of Meg and her husband and smiled, then went off to bed.

" It's been so long," she whispered, " watch over us Vincent."

Meg came in and hugged her mother good night and then went off. Antoinette smiled at her daughter as she walked out her room. Antoinette stood up and walked to her bed and sat down.

" Erik," she whispered

" I'm here," he whispered, " Good to sleep."

Antoinette laid down and drifted to sleep and Erik slipped through the shadows to watch over Christine. She was already asleep just like the others and he slipped through the shadows to her bed side. He rested his hand on her head to silence her nightmares and he sang to her. He looked over at Meg as the young Giry curled up tightly in her blankets. Erik leaned over and kissed her head, then fled without a sound.

7 years later

" Meg wake up," Christine's voice echoed

Meg rubbed her eyes and looked up at her friend

" What is it?" Meg moaned

" Meg, Christine you are late," Antoinette's voice interrupted Meg

Meg sat up and looked at her mother, then both girls quickly went off to get ready. Erik chuckled in silence and followed the girls as they went to rehearsal. Antoinette looked at the girls and got them lined up for warm ups.

" Move out of my way," Carlotta's voice was heard down the hall

Erik hissed at the sound of the soprano's voice and went off to make her life miserable. Carlotta's entourage followed behind her as they sprinkled rose petals on the ground.

" Let's begin, I am here now," she said

Antoinette looked around and saw Erik's white mask catch her eye every once and awhile. She pushed past Meg and Christine and stood center stage and Antoinette stood beside her girls.

" Monsieur Reyer," Carlotta said, " Begin with my part and skip the ballet."

" You can't do that," Meg growled

Carlotta turned around and looked Meg and snapped her fan at her.

" Little dancing girl, bite your tongue or there will be great trouble," Carlotta said

" Monsieur Reyer start from the ballet just as practice," Meg said

She stood beside Carlotta and gave the diva a look.

" The ballet comes before some spiteful little Prima Donna," Meg said

Carlotta narrowed her eyes and so the battle of wits was commenced. Antoinette pulled Meg away before trouble struck and Carlotta pulled the last string. Erik cut the rope on a piece of scenery and it cut off Carlotta before she could say anything else. Meg jumped back and her mother pulled her. Carlotta looked up and saw the white mask staring at her.

" The Phantom of the Opera," Meg said

" Meg are you alright?" Christine asked

" I'm fine," Meg said

Both girls looked around and Carlotta nearly in tears at the incident, screaming at the stagehands and then Monsieur Lefevre. Antoinette walked off and Erik put out his hand, which held a note.

" You nearly hit my daughter," she said

" That was not my attention, I only wish to cut off the diva's word supply," Erik said

Antoinette walked off and out onto stage.

" Monsieur, I have a note from the Opera Ghost," she said

Monsieur Reyer sighed with helplessness and dabbed his face. Monsieur Lefevre looked at the note with the deadly seal of the skull placed on it. He nodded and Antoinette opened the letter.

" He welcomes La Carlotta to his opera house, but wishes to state one fact that she will not be the star. She will begin packing her things and leaving for today unless she wishes to never sing again," Antoinette read, " He wishes for Mademoiselle Daaé to sing soon Monsieur Lefevre."

" That horrendous monster!" Carlotta shouted

" A monster am I, La Carlotta?" Erik's voice echoed

Everyone gasped and she looked around for the owner of that voice.

" You should pack," he said

Luggage began to fall around her and she covered her head and then some of her clothing drifted down.

" I have already helped you La Carlotta," Erik said

Meg and Christine looked around in complete shock and Antoinette looked at the diva.

" You are a coward, a psychopathic monster," Carlotta said

" Mademoiselle, please," Monsieur Lefevre pleaded

" Stupid ghost," she hissed

" Stupid am I Carlotta?" Erik hissed

Suddenly several things began to fall and a large wooden set piece came down, the ballerinas ran and the musicians ducked protecting their musical instruments. Monsieur Reyer dove down as well, while Antoinette stood where it would just go over her. She was becoming furious with Erik's childish actions. Carlotta had followed the 6 young chorus girls.

" Well, I never," Carlotta hissed

" Now you have," Erik replied, " I bid you good day."

Stagehands came out and lifted the large piece and Antoinette sighed. The girls came running to her and Meg looked at her mother.

" Mama," she cried, " why is he doing these things?"

" Shh, my darling everything will be alright," Antoinette said

Later, Antoinette walked down to the cellars and looked at Erik as he fixed his shirt.

" Are you mad Erik, you could have killed someone?" Antoinette scolded

Erik looked at her and only laughed a little as she picked up some things. She sighed and looked at him and Erik sat down waiting for her to tell him what was truly on her mind. She pulled some scissors and a brush from a drawer, then walked over to him. She removed his mask and wig and trimmed his lengthy hair as she did once a month.

" Won't you ever learn to cut your own hair?" she asked

Erik looked at her as she finished and he grabbed her hands into his own.

" Why should I, when I enjoy the company that does it for me?" Erik replied

She knelt down beside him and traced his disfigurement. Erik grabbed her hand and kissed it.

" You're such a rough person Erik," she said

Antoinette got up and got a towel and placed it over his shoulders. She used a brush and smeared the soapy water over Erik's chin. She took the knife he gave her and began to shave what little hair he had on both sides of his face. She cleaned him up and he looked at her as he ran his hand over the suave half of his face. She looked at him and kissed his head as he just tried to see past the monster in the mirror.

" Perhaps your trying to hard Erik," she said

" I can't help, but to feel that I'm not welcomed in this world," Erik whispered

" That's not true Erik, I didn't raise you to be a gentleman for nothing," she said

She hugged Erik as he held the mirror still. He looked at her seeing the beautiful woman that seemed to age with him each day, but yet her soul was still young. Erik kissed her hands and then rose from where he sat. Erik looked at the music box and Antoinette looked at him.

" What has your mind wondering?" she asked

" Mademoiselle Daaé ," Erik whispered, " she reminds me of someone I knew long ago…someone who took care of me even before I came to this opera house."

" Who?" Antoinette whispered

" My own angel," Erik whispered

Erik touched his face and looked at the piece that laid on his stand. The piece had not yet been finished, but was almost.

" She shall sing and I shall make her my angel," Erik whispered

Erik turned around and stood up straight and looked at Antoinette.

" It is near time that Monsieur Lefevre left us," Erik said, " I'm going to encourage him to retire."

Antoinette looked at Erik as he told her his plans and how he was to make Carlotta quit so Christine could take the stage and let the audience applaud her instead. Antoinette sighed and kissed Erik's cheek then went off, Erik's gentleman stature remain, but there was darkness to him.

3 years later

" Again," Erik's voice rang

" But Maestro I have sang everything so perfectly," Christine said

Erik's voice remained in the walls and Christine stood in the middle.

" Close your eyes Christine, to please me you will sing tonight as Elissa," Erik said

Christine felt her heart beat against her chest and she looked around.

" Allow me to guide you there," Erik said, " Your debut is tonight and you will sing as Elissa….so dear child sing for me."

Christine sighed and said, " Maestro, La Carlotta shows no sign of giving in…so how am I to sing?"

" You will leave La Carlotta to me and only me, so do as you're told and sing," Erik demanded

Antoinette looked at the diva as she shoved the note in Antoinette's face.

" Your ghost is getting on my nerves," Carlotta said, " So, spiteful of true talent, to think a silly little chorus girl can become a diva in one day."

" He's very pleased with you Mademoiselle, but he finds your voice is not right for Elissa's part. Do not take it personally," Antoinette said

" How much does he pay you to say these little white lies?" Carlotta questioned, " This Ghost will scare no one, but himself."

" I pay her nothing La Carlotta," Erik's voice entered the room

" You again," she hissed

" Yes, it is I," Erik replied, " Your Angel of Hell."

Carlotta spat in the direction of his voice and a glass vase fell at her feet.

" Shall we compromise?" Antoinette asked

" No," Carlotta said

Erik laughed and Carlotta looked about and walked off, but she was quick to trip on her own dress. Erik's shadow vanished and Antoinette sighed, then walked past the fallen diva.

Later, Carlotta was rehearsing and Erik watched Christine from the rafters. He looked at the hanging stagehand and gave a smirk.

" Let this be your warning," he whispered

As they prepared Monsieur Lefevre called their attention to announce his retirement. Christine and Meg looked at one another as they approached the front of the stage. The new mangers were happy to announce their patron, and Erik listened.

" The Vicomte de Chagny," Andre said

Erik narrowed his eyes slightly as the young man walked on stage.

" This Vicomte de Chagny, is related to the young Count de Chagny that she was married to. Though I have no grudge against the de Chagny family, this one just seems to prove me wrong," Erik thought

Erik watched Christine's expressions towards the young Vicomte and knew that he would be an obstacle. Erik fled and all hell broke lose as Carlotta complained about how she was not in the lime light, that the managers liked the young dancing girls. The mangers begged for her to sing a song.

" There's a remarkable part in Act three of Elissa, Signora please sing for us," they both said

Carlotta, a glutting for flattery told Monsieur Reyer to play the song. Erik saw an abandoned post and walked over to it. He undid the first rope and let it go and the scenery piece came lose and fell, knocking the diva down and others screamed.

" The Phantom of the Opera," Meg cried

" Buquet what's going on up there?" Lefevre called

Erik walked off and waited for Antoinette to walk back, when he saw her, the note was dropped. She looked up and saw Erik vanish and she started to read his demands. Meg and Christine listened and then turned away. Carlotta was gone and they were without a star…or were they?

" Christine Daaé can sing it," Antoinette said

" A chorus girl? Don't be silly," Andre said

Antoinette walked over to Christine and led her out.

" She's been taking lessons from a greet teacher," Antoinette said

" Who?" he asked

" I don't know his name Monsieur," Christine said

" Don't be shy step up," Andre said

Monsieur Reyer sighed and told her from the beginning and there heaven smiled down on the young singer.

That night all were settled and the opera began and as each Act was presented, Act three came and Christine's debut was a hit. Erik listened from down below and closed his eyes.

" Such an angel has been born, such angel of music has broke free," Erik whispered, " She is who I have searched for…she is the one I will take."

Erik fled from the cellars and listened to Christine after she performed. She prayed to her father and Erik heard foot steps.

" Young Meg has arrived," he thought, " I shall see her tonight."