An incessant banging on Christene's door the next morning roused her from dreams of a shadow man singing her songs of angels and demons. "Who's there and what do you want?" She grumped. "It's Alyssa". "Oh, come in. Alyssa do you have any caffeine?" Alyssa smiled and brought a large coke from behind her back. "Thought you'd might want this. Anyways you need to wake up. "Why?" She glanced at her alarm clock, forcing her eyes to focus. "It's not even ten yet." Alyssa sat down in front of Christene. "Christene they've cast the vicomte." "So?" "His name is Jordan." "Jordan…?" Alyssa lowered her eyes, "Jordan…de Changy." Out of all the reactions she expected Christene exhibited the one thing Alyssa couldn't expect. Calmness. "Is he now? Well Alyssa dear, I suppose I'd better get ready for the dear vicomte's arrival don't you think?"
Jordan arrived soaked to the bone. The weather had said sun all day and what should happen? It rains. Of course it would rain. To add to his black mood the cab driver had gotten lost no fewer than three times! It was strange how the man never removed his fedora and never let Jordan see him either.
The man in the fedora smiled malevontly. It had taken all of his will not to kill the young man. He however had watched Christene and could read her icy grin. She was going to make sure the young rat got what he deserved and the man rather enjoyed the idea of watching her handle the boy.
Jordan walked through the foyer and was greeted my Mr. Robere. "Ahh Jordan how are you?" "Soaked" Mr. Robere nodded solemly. "Yes it appears you are. Well I am sure you are eager to meet your co stars?" "Yes I am. Tell me Mr. Robere how did you find.." he took a breath "the girl who's playing Christene Daae?" Mr. Robere smiled, "It's quite amusing really, see me and my wife, you remember Lisa? Anyways we went out to see Forty Second Street and the girl playing Peggy won my heart. I just had to have her for the phantom. I offered her the part on the spot and well, the rest is history" Jordan refrained form yawning. All he asked for was an explanation. A simple, "I found her in a play" would have sufficed. "What room is this young woman occupying?"
"Suite 32 A" "and the man who plays the phantom?" "Jeffery? 42 D" Jordan bowed and left.
Christene smiled at her reflection. Stunning was the word. Yep definitely stunning. With the cowl neck crimson shirt, black capris, and those infamous black stiletto heeled sandals her figure was perfecto. On top of that her eyes sparkled with a touch of green on her eye-lids, her mouth was a pout of perfect honey, and her hair was swept up into a French braid that fell down her back. Yep she was stunning. Alyssa burst through the door. "Christene! He's on his way! He's- holy cow! You are..wow! he is going to die!" Christene smiled, "That, Alyssa, is the whole point."
Alyssa opened the door to leave and promptly ran into Jordan. " Are you the girl to play Christene Daae?" The way he said it it sounded like she would make the musical a complete flop. "No she's in there." Alyssa jerked her thumb at the door and brushed past Jordan knocking his arm as she went. "Bitch" he retorted.
He entered the room and was transported back to the eighteen hundreds except for the girl. The girl with the legs he amended, long luscious beautiful legs that ended at the perfect a-"Hello Monsieur" this thick French accent came tumbling his way. "uhh Bonjar, urm Bonjour miss." Jordan was more intrigued by the minute. She stuck out a slender hand behind her nails painted sharply crimson. "Enchante I am sure?" Jordan took the hand and kissed it gently. "Miss, what's your name? Turn around the suspense is killing me". "Of course Sir." The last word sent a shiver up his spine as the French accent was dropped. She turned and smiled, "hello Changy" "Daae!" "How nice to see you again Jordan what's it been five years, more?" He sputtered "but but but you are playing Christene!" She was almost giddy with the surprise on his face. "Yep so pucker up pretty boy." "I'm going to talk to Robere about this…you'll be gone by tomorrow!" "Jordan, I don't think so. Remember, you had to audition, I was specifically chosen. You can be replaced". Jordan left the room quickly. Tension was radiating off his body in waves. The door slammed and de Changy was gone.
Christene sank on the bed and cradled her face in her hands. She wasn't the mean type. It took all of her acting ability to be cruel to Jordan. She did hate his ancestor for what he had done; but, it wasn't in her nature to be cruel. She crumpled onto the pillow and wept in sorrow for what she had become for those few minutes. A monster.
The shadow behind the mirror laughed so hard he couldn't stand anymore when he saw the boy's face when he realized who he was talking to. The lust in his eyes died quicker than a victim of the Punjab lasso. "Daae!" The shadow laughed until tears were rolling down his face, then he heard a sound that quickly sobered him. Crying. Christene was crying. In that moment she was the Christene Daae of so many years ago. Why was she crying? What could he do to help her? He placed his fingers on the glass and wept for the pain she was feeling.
Alyssa bounced into Christene's room, it was their unofficial meeting place. "Chris, I don't know what you said to him but, Christene? Christene? She ran to the bed. Did he hurt you? If he did so help me god!" "No no he didn't hurt me Ali, no." Alyssa frowned, "then why are you crying?" "Oh Ali I acted like such a jerk! He, I, I'm not usually like that, with anyone. I hate that. I hate being cruel to someone." She collapsed in tears once more. " Oh Cris, it's ok I promise." Christene smiled and hugged her friend. "You are so good to me". Alyssa winked "Of course someone's gotta look after you." Christene laughed, her blue eyes shimmery and gorgeous. The shadow's heart ceased to beat. She was breathtaking. "Yeah cause everyone knows I'm a basket case". The shadow and Alyssa's voices mingled in laughter and Alyssa left. "Remember, you and the new phantom guy are meeting to rehearse singing in one hour" Christene mock saluted her new friend "Yes ma'am drill seargant ma'am. "Damn straight" They collapsed into a fit of giggles again as the shadow wandered off, with the first seeds of inspiration growing. The first inspiration he'd had in over a hundred years.