Chapter 3

Le Phantom

Christine and Elizabeth both woke up. Christine looked to her right and found that Elizabeth was sitting next to her. She looked at her befuddled, why was Elizabeth there? She couldn't remember her walking through the mirror with her. They both smiled at each other and hugged "Why are you here Elizabeth?"

"I had a feeling you were in trouble." The Phantom then walked up to them and stood in front of them. He was intimidating to Christine but to Elizabeth he was not. She could not explain it but there was something to him that was not scary. She stared into his eyes and lost her breath for a minute. Then she stood up in front of Christine as if daring to protect her. The Phantom then walked up to them and Elizabeth instantly felt a little afraid. But he took her hand and said

"You think to defend her small one?" Elizabeth instantly stood up a little straighter and stuck her chin out as if to say "I'll do what I have to do." The Phantom laughed and shook his head. To Elizabeth and Christine his laugh was intimidating. Then he growled "let's go." He turned and walked expecting them to follow.

Isabella was sitting at her dresser thinking about Christine and Elizabeth. She had tried to find them throughout the night but hadn't been able to. There was a knock on the door. She ignored it but then it pressed louder. She was startled out of her trance. She then placed her brush down in front of her and called out "who is it?" Then again it was the deep voice that took away her breath. "It's Raoul." She jumped up out of her chair and ran to the door he may not have known where Christine and Elizabeth were but he could comfort her. When she opened the door she ran into his arms. He wrapped his arms around her comfortingly. He could tell that there was something wrong. He didn't know what it was but there was something wrong. She looked at him with a frightened look upon her face. Raoul kissed her gently.

"Are you okay Isabella? What's wrong?" She looked at him with her brilliant green eyes and said her voice quavering a little bit; she was so close to tears.

"I can't find Elizabeth or Christine. After the performance last night they both disappeared on me." He wrapped his arm around her and kissed the top of her forehead. "I'm sure they will be back soon," he whispered in her ear. She looked up at him and smiled. But noticed there was something in his eyes that she could not explain.

"What is it Raoul?" He took her hands and took her to the couch and sat down facing her. He then reached in his pocket and pulled out a note. She looked at him frightened and he handed it to her. She opened it and read it. After she read it she looked at Raoul "the angel of music?" She said with a bemused expression, he shrugged.

"I don't know what it means either."

"Oh Raoul what if their in trouble. I must go and find this Angel of Music and make sure their okay." She bounded up off the couch and ran towards the door. Raoul stood up and took her hand gently.

"Isabella calm down don't you remember the rest of the note they will be returned unharmed." The door burst open. Isabella spun around and looked at the door and it was Elizabeth. She ran to her and threw her arms around her.

"You're safe! Are you okay?" Elizabeth hugged her friend.

"I'm fine I promise." They looked at each other and smiled they hugged again less enthusiastically. Then Isabella looked at Elizabeth.

"Where is Christine is she okay?"

"Yes she is I'll take you to…" She looked over Isabella's shoulder and noticed that she had company. It was Raoul, "never mind." Isabella looked at her and then looked at Raoul

"It's okay Elizabeth I must see if she is okay unless you can vouch for her that she is fine." Elizabeth looked at Raoul and he gave her a pleading look.

"I can vouch for her she is just fine and is recovering in her own room." Isabella smiled and then went back over to Raoul and sat down. He wrapped his arm around her and then kissed her cheek as if to say "see I told you everything would be okay." She smiled at Elizabeth.

"Thanks Elizabeth." Elizabeth turned around and walked out the door going to see her family with a smile on her face.

As soon as Elizabeth left her room Christine sat on her bed and closed her eyes. She didn't know what to do now that all of her friends were in trouble. She didn't want to have to deal with all of this going on around her. There was a knock on the door. She slowly got up and opened the door. Jacque stood in front of her. She smiled a small smile and looked at him

"Hello Jacque."

"May I come in?"

"Yes only for a minute." He stepped in the room and sat on the small loveseat. He looked so sad to her. "What is it?"

"Last night Raoul talked to me…"

"How do you know Raoul?"

"I work for him and we are close friends. But he told me that you had gone missing. Isabella was worried sick about you last night. Where were you?"

"I was resting here in my room."

"Don't lie to me."

"It wouldn't matter anyway if I was or not Jacque it is none of your business where I was last night I am no concern of yours."

"Yes you are. I am responsible for you now."

"What are you talking about?"

"Everyone here has received a letter including me. Raoul has put you under my protection. I am to be there at every practice and every performance standing in the wings making sure that no harm comes to you. I will be sitting here outside you're door every night while you sleep." Christine just shook her head.

"He will reach me anyway."

"Who."

"No one of your concern. This isn't fair to me. I have no life now. I hate this. I hate you for doing this," she stood up and walked to the door. "Now please get out." He slowly got up and walked to her he grabbed her shoulders to the point of pain.

"I am doing this for you Christine. I believe that I love you. You must listen to me when it comes to this I must protect you for my own sanity. I hate it that you were taken to where ever you were taken to. Please don't fight me on this." He pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her. He needed the contact. He wanted to be able to smell her fragrance. She grabbed onto him tightly. It had been a long time since anyone had said those words to her. She began to cry gently.

"I don't know why but I feel as if I love you too. We've only talked once. How can I feel this way about you Jacque?"

"I don't know considering that I feel the same way."

"Will you stay with me for a while?"

"Yes." She walked back towards the couch. "You look really tired why don't you go to sleep?"

"I can't I am afraid to."

"I'll stay here in the room and watch you sleep so that nothing harms you." She looked up at him.

"Thank you Jacque." She crawled up onto her bed and under the covers. She looked over at Jacque and waited for him to sit next to her. He pulled a chair over to the side of her bed and sat down. He gently grabbed her hand and held it. He sat there and watched her fall asleep.

Elizabeth slowly walked through the wings to her mother's room. She couldn't stop thinking about the Phantom. She wanted to know who he was and why half of his face was covered in a mask. The place was quiet and had and eerie feeling to it. The only sound that she heard was her footsteps. She started to hum a mysterious tune that she had heard somewhere but she couldn't quite place where she heard it from. After a few steps she heard someone else's steps. She turned and looked behind her. There was no one there. She continued to walk and heard the steps matching her own again. She stopped and looked around. She started to get scared.

"Is someone there?" She asked quietly. She didn't get an answer. "Please come out I can hear your steps." She felt a wind rush by her. "Hello?"

"How did you know that I was there?" Came the dark voice of the Phantom. She turned around and saw him.

"I could hear your footsteps. You weren't as quiet as me."

"You are so sure of yourself." He stepped close to her and she took a step back. "Afraid of me are you?"

"No why would I be afraid of you?" He grabbed her wrist and put his gloved hand on her pulse.

"Your pulse is jumping little one."

"Let go of me please Phantom." He raised his hand and she instantly flinched. When he saw her reaction he immediately put down his hand. For some unknown reason he could not do any harm to this woman.

"Do not call me by that hideous name."

"What should I call you by Monsieur?"

"I have no name."

"Why surely everyone has a name. Please give me yours."

"It is of no importance."

"I see. If you will excuse me I have to meet my mother…"

"Your mother lives here?"

"Yes she's Madame Giry." The phantom, almost reluctantly let go of her wrist.

"Go now Miss and tell no one of this meeting." He instantly disappeared. How could someone do that? Just disappear so quickly as if they were never there. She shook her head and began to walk towards her mother's room. The Phantom watched her walk to Madame Giry's room. She was a strange and beautiful creature. She was also the first that showed him that she was only a little scared of him. Everyone else seemed to be scared of him all the time. And they had a good reason to be.