Disclaimer: I do not own anything except my original characters and my little 'sub plot', though I wish I did, especially Erik cuz he's the coolest.
Summary: Basically, Christine isn't worthy of Erik so I've made my own character whom will be taking her place. Claire is a young woman void of the spotlight. All she wants to do is sing, but her father forbids it. Under chance circumstances she befriends a mysterious Phantom who frees the voice within her. As their friendship blooms, Claire finds herself caught in a sassy love triangle, a selfish plot, and a romance that will remembered by all who lived in its times…
Note: Hello everyone, this is Modesty. I hope you enjoy this story a lot because I'm putting a lot of effort into it. It's only my second fanfic, so…yeah. Please review- I love reviews…they make my day. Compliments and criticisms are welcome as long as they are constructive. If you review any of my work, I will try to read and review yours as well. Anyway…here's my story and enjoy!
PS: If you have the soundtrack, I recommend that you listen to it while you read, especially the parts with the actual songs (or my own versions of them).
The Mask and the Mirror
Chapter One: The Lost Voice
Her smile dawned of a trustable hope, as Claire Bonamy's gaze glided across the massive stage of the Opera Populaire. Her hazel eyes open wide; she couldn't believe the brilliance and gallantry of the theatre.
A woman stood on the stage, belting out beautiful music to a song Claire did not know; she was obviously rehearsing. The stage was cluttered with people, dressed in elaborate costumes, preparing to rehearse their own roles.
Carlotta, Claire thought, grinning. Of course, she recognized the famed Prima Dona, Carlotta.
Claire noticed her father, Monsieur Andre Bonamy tread his way onto the stage, just as Carlotta's singing came to an end. Claire turned her head, hearing two maids cleaning seats, snicker and mock the famed singer.
When they noticed Claire standing within earshot, they shut their mouths abruptly, returning to their work. Claire, however, did not scold. She had heard rumors of Carlotta's dramatics and her constant desire for attention.
The former theatre owner's voice trailed off in the distance as he formally, and with great relief, introduced Claire's father as the new theatre owner. She felt a strange sensation that she was being watched, but when she looked around, she found no one.
Claire quickly skipped off towards the stage, and as she climbed the side steps, her father announced, "And this is Claire- my lovely daughter."
Claire blushed, smiling at everyone on the stage. Almost all seemed to be happy to meet her; except a select few, including Carlotta who retained a face of utter disgust. She was holding a pompous white poodle in her arms.
"Pleasure to meet you," said one of the dancers, approaching Claire. She bowed, "I am Adeline. Welcome to the theatre."
"Thank you," Claire nodded with a smile.
Adeline seemed about Claire's age- in her early twenties, and she, just like Claire had dark brown hair. "Do you like the theatre?" Adeline asked, whisking Claire out of the spotlight, which she could tell Claire seemed shy of.
"Oh, I love the theatre," said Claire. "My family has been involved with several over the years; I've grown up around the stage."
"Do you ever perform?" asked another dancer, whose name was Emily.
Claire's bright smile faded. "No," she said, disappointed.
"Why?" asked the dancer, stunned. "You shouldn't be shy."
"Oh, it's not just that," Claire blushed. "My father…he-"
"Look!" someone shouted, interrupted her. "He has left a letter."
Claire turned to face her father as he picked up the letter from the stage floor; it had fallen there, from above.
"What is this?" he asked.
"The Phantom's first letter," said someone in the startled crowd. "He's here- watching."
Andre chuckled to himself, not hearing the comment. "Well, these orders are absurd! Who did this? Come on, now," he looked around, raising the letter up high so all could see. "Show yourself. I expect this is a prank for the theatre's new owner?" he looked around again, but all faces were cold and blank. "Who wrote this letter?"
"The Phantom," whispered the dance instructor, Madame Giry. "He bids you welcome."
"He says here," Andre pointed to a spot in the letter, "that he welcomes me to his theatre!" He seemed to be the only one amused. "Alright then, Phantom," Andre joked, not believing any of it for a moment. "I'll do as you ask- for now." He only thought it a simple and harmless joke; someone testing his will, no doubt.
There was an awkward silence for some time, which was suddenly interrupted by Carlotta's exasperated whining. "No, no, no, no," she repeated over, and over. "No more of this! No more ghost man! I must go now- goodbye," she strutted towards back stage.
"Please," Monsieur Bonamy followed after her. "Madame Carlotta, what can I do to convince you to stay?"
"Nothing!" Carlotta stopped and turned to him. "I am done with this theatre! Too many strange things happening- goodbye!" she waved him off, turning on her heels.
"Oh, not again," a stage hand cried.
Claire couldn't hide her small smile. So the rumors about Carlotta were true, she thought.
Carlotta stalked off, waiting for the new manager to beg her some more; but to her surprise, Andre did no such thing. In all his years working in the theatre, he had learned how to deal with these sorts long before.
"Stop her!" someone shouted. "We need her for the opera!"
"Let her go," Andre sighed. "Perhaps she will return."
Everyone on the stage, except Claire seemed surprised. "You do indeed have an understudy?" Andre asked a thin woman dressed in black.
"No, Monsieur," Madame Giry said.
"What? Very well then," Andre scratched his balding head for thought. "Well, how far along are we in the production?"
"We've done all rehearsing out of sequence," the stage manager, Audric, stated. "And we've been rehearsing for almost three weeks now."
"Well, with no understudy," Andre began. "We'll have to cast another Prima Dona. Who here can sing?" he looked around, but the faces of the performers were placid and blank.
"Father, I can," Claire stepped forward. "Let me sing- or at least audition for the role. Please!"
"No, Claire," her father began. "You will not be a part of this musical. Is there anyone else who can lend us a voice here?" he asked again, losing his patience. "There must be someone."
"Not with the lung capacity and talents of Carlotta," said one of the dancers.
"Father; please…" Claire begged; but before he could respond, Carlotta was back, followed by a handful of personal servants, one now holding her poodle.
"Let the girl sing!" she shouted. "Let's see how grand this Claire truly is if she thinks she can belittle me!" she raised her chin along with her voice.
"No," Andre began to say.
More people joined in the argument, the dance instructor trying to convince André to let his daughter at least audition. All the noise and commotion was almost unbearable to Claire.
"Stop!" she called, and when no one listened, she came to her last resort; she began to sing.
"No turning back now
Past the point of no return
Make your decision
Your love I have earned
A devotion so complete
Your face so discrete
The masquerade is over
I see the man in the beast
These games are over
The truth be told
I will live with you in darkness
Till I be feeble and old
No turning back now
I do not expect
To leave my past above me
As time rolls on
I know you will love me
And thinking of those
I know now and before
I know I can leave them
Where's the dark door?
I wish you could see more of day
I won't watch you grow and decay
I come only to help you to love and to learn
Past this point of no return"
The cast and crew on the stage were silent in amazement; not only for her miraculous voice, but her sudden outburst. Claire was amazed herself; she knew not where the words came from, for she'd never heard them once before. They just seem to appear in her mind, as well as the beautiful melody.
"Why not let the girl sing?" came a man's deep voice from somewhere off stage- though Claire could not see who had said it.
"Yes, Father, please! I can do this."
"I've already told you," Andre said to her. "You will not be performing- especially singing!"
Claire frowned; this wasn't the first occasion which she'd been denied by her own father. She knew why he asked her not to sing, but she thought the reason was cruel.
"I'll do it," said one of the dancers, stepping forward. "I have some experience with singing."
"All right then- do you know the parts?" asked Andre. The girl nodded, a little nervous. "Let's rehearse this from the top. Come now," he beckoned as those on stage scurried and scuttled to their places, on or off stage. "Let's see what we've got here."
"Come with me," said Adeline, dragging Claire off stage. "What an amazing voice you have," she complimented.
"Thank you," Claire still frowned, though she greatly enjoyed the compliment.
"Why won't your father let you sing?" Adeline whispered.
"Well, after my mother died…my mother was a singer and an actress, you see," Claire began. "And after she died, my father stayed away from the theatre. That's where he met her. He just doesn't like to see me doing what she loved to do. It reminds him too much of her, and he can't take it. He forbids me to sing, saying it hurt him too much- which I find ridiculous, really."
"Of course," Adeline agreed with a nod. Little did either girl realize, they were being watched from behind.
"Father even canceled meetings I had with my opera tutor," Claire sighed. "I miss her."
"Do you ever sing?" Adeline asked, curiously.
"Not n Father's presence," Claire said solemnly. "It's horrible; I'd compare it to not being able to breathe. Oh, how I wish I could sing again. But it's been so long since I've been in a performance," she lowered her head in embarrassment. "I don't know if I could bring myself to sing in front of a crowd- though I thought I might get a chance to prove myself tonight. I suppose I thought wrong."
"Someday your father will see, I'm sure," comforted Adeline, whom Claire was learning was a very friendly person.
Then Emily came over. "I'm Emily, by the way," she announced to Claire.
"SHH!" the dance teacher admonished. Emily flinched.
"Oh, time to go," she said. "That's our cue." She and Adeline suddenly left Claire alone on the wing of the stage.
Claire curiously peeked through the ruby red curtain to watch the rehearsal. The singing dancer was good, she thought, but she still wished she could be up on stage instead.
Again, Claire could sense something strange behind her. She suddenly turned, seeing nothing but pitch darkness.
I hope you all liked it. Please review. The next chapter should come in about a week or so. Remember to review please! Thanks