Authors Note: Sorry it took so long to get up Chapter 2. I have planned out the whole story now so it shouldn't take as long to get chapters up anymore. Just so you know, Emiliee was told a skewed version of the story of The Phantom of the Opera...I hope you enjoy….Oh and PLEASE REVIEW? Heh heh….merci beaucoup
Emiliee sat in the back of the carriage silently. No words were uttered from her lips; no soft acknowledgment to the bumpy course which the carriage was traveling. Her dark brown eyes stared out the window, but she didn't see anything in front of her. Her mind was buzzing.
She was free. For the first time in her life, her parent's weren't there; watching her every second of everyday. Her father wasn't there, lecturing her on how a de Chagny should act. What was so special about being a de Chagny? Emiliee sure as hell couldn't see it. They were supposed to be a family of wealth and nobility. But whenever she had been forced to dress up in the most expensive, elaborate clothing and parade around her stuck up relatives, she wanted to die. They showed no respect towards her. Almost as if she wasn't good enough to be a de Chagny. Her mother wasn't there. Her dear, dear mother. Her mother was just too protective for her own good. So protective that sometimes Emiliee felt she was going to suffocate.
Emiliee knew that her parents were just looking out for her, and in a way she respected that. But she couldn't understand why they were the way they were. But she had a sneaking suspicion that all of those lies that wound around her family was going to unravel.
The day was hot, a perfect summer day. But Emiliee hardly noticed it. She was headed to the Opera Populaire and that scared her on so many different levels. She had heard the story of the infamous Opera Ghost and the damage it had done to her mother. That poor, poor Meg. Christine had told her the story many times. The story of the mysterious, masked man that kidnapped her mother's best friend tried to get her to marry him and destroyed the entire building. It was a tale that was so hard to believe, so hard to comprehend. It was terrible, horrific, disturbing but yet…so intriguing. Her father had assured her many times the man was dead. This comforted her some.
Her thoughts were interrupted when the carriage lurched to a halt. Emiliee jumped and grabbed the sides of her seat. Stopping her from flying forward into the drivers' seat ahead of her. Emiliee tightened her grip around the suitcase, she wasn't really sure what to expect. Would she be accepted? Probably, as her mother and father were well-liked among the Opera people. But would they make false assumptions about her…her life…her character? Emiliee highly suspected it to be so. How could they not? They had never met her.
She slowly stepped out of the carriage and into the brightness of the day. She smiled to the driver and paid him the amount of money due, before walking up to the entrance of the Opera House. Emiliee paused in front of the doors. This began her life of independence. With a final intake of breath she slowly opened the large doors.
A cool, pleasant air surrounded her as she entered. The floors were sparkling in the sunlight that streamed through the windows. The architecture was immaculate. The beautiful statues flawlessly poised. Emiliee couldn't help but just stare at her surroundings.
She looked all around her. It was so big, so beautiful. She didn't know what to do, or where to go. When she finally noticed that she was all alone, with not the slightest idea of where she had to go. Who she had to find or what she had to do. An uneasiness rose through her body, numbing her. Was she just to stand there until someone found her?
Her head jerked towards the staircase as she heard to unknown, male voices traveling from them. There voices were light and cheerful. Discussing people and gossip that made so sense to Emiliee. But she couldn't detect that they were in fine moods. The two men finally reached the top of the staircase and spotted her standing there. Emiliee gave them a small smile.
What she noticed first was how different they looked. One was taller, clean shaven and stocky, while the other was shorter and plumper. They both however had on the same style of tasteful suit. They also both carried with them, an air of importance that was infectious.
"Well Andre, she does look like Christine doesn't she?" The tall one said, staring down at Emiliee.
"Of course she does. She's her daughter," the other said, looking bemused at the comment
Finally turning their actual intentions to interacting with her they spoke again.
"Hello. You must be Emiliee. You can call me M. Andre, and this here is M. Firmin. Welcome to the Opera Populaire" Andre swooped his arms around him, gesturing to the grand spectacle that surrounded them all.
Emiliee couldn't help but let out a breath of laughter. At least they were enthusiastic.
"Yes, welcome mademoiselle. We are very excited that you are here to stay with us. We have arranged that you take your mother's old dressing room. No one has used it since she left and quite honestly we have no where else to put you. I hope your mother and father are both doing well…." Firmin said smiling down at her.
Quietly wondering if he had spoke without taking a single breath Emiliee responded. "My mother's dressing room sounds…lovely. I'm sure that I will be perfectly happy there. My mother and father are both doing very well, thank you. They have just gone off for a little vacation. A distraction from their very busy lives…" Emiliee smiled back at him.
"Well that's nice to hear. Come, we shall introduce you to the rest of the company. Just leave your bags here. We'll get someone to move them for you…" Andre said
"Thank you. But if I may be too bold as to ask if I could wander the Opera House by myself? I'm sure you two have many things to attend to. I wouldn't want to get in the way…" Emiliee hoped they would let her explore alone. As kind as the two men were being to her she was finding them very annoying very quickly.
Andre raised his eyebrows and turned to Firmin. They had obviously not expected her to ask to venture around the Opera House unaccompanied. But he finally shrugged
"As you wish Mademoiselle." Andre turned to go
"If you need us, we'll be somewhere around here"
"Thanks…" Emiliee said sweetly. But slight sarcasm evident in her voice.
Emiliee sighed and began up the tall stairs. Andre and Firmin seemed like very nice people, and getting a whole dressing room to herself was also a plus. She didn't really like the idea of sharing a room with a dozen other girls. Emiliee walked into the auditorium of the theatre. Her eyes widened, here she thought the lobby of the Opera House was spectacular. The bright, red color immediately catching her attention, it's striking beauty baffling her. The stage was surrounded by ornate designs. The detail astounded her.
"It's really something isn't it…?" A voice came from directly behind her
Emiliee jumped and turned around rapidly. She had thought that she was alone. She saw a young man. He had Dark hair and prominent dark eyes. In his hand he held a broom-stick.
"God, you scared me." Emiliee said smiling at him. Her hand had somehow found its way to her head in her alarm
"I am sorry to have scared you," the man said, a Italian accent very evident in his voice
"It's alright. But you are accurate…this place is amazing." She turned her face back to the stage
"I'm Marcello Lancione. But you can call me Marc if you wish" He said slowly; Wondering if he really wanted to talk to him at all.
Emiliee turned to face him again.
"Pleased to meet you Marc. My name is Emiliee…I am visiting here for awhile." She sighed. Emiliee HAD wondered why her father didn't want her on the trip with them. She felt unloved, forgotten even. They had told her that they wanted to get away from the stresses of their complicated lives…was she one of the stresses?
"Emiliee, if you ever need any help or anything. You can just come to me. Some of the people here aren't as nice as the managers. Mainly Carlotta. Watch out for her." He stopped his tiring work of sweeping the ground and laid his head on the top of his broom.
"Thanks. I'll remember that." She said smiling.
In the shadows a figure stood above them. Watching silently, making no noise. The darkness consumed him, only a faint glimmer of his porcelain white mask would ever give him away. His eyes were fixed on the girl below him. He recognized her eyes, her hair, and her steady voice. But something was different. He felt his whole body freeze, his heart ached at the thought of her. It couldn't be her, she was too young. Besides she was dead to him now.
Christine smiled broadly. She couldn't help it. She had never felt so happy in a long time. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt totally content with her life. A small part of her was nagging away. Reminding her of where Emiliee was and what that place had done to her in the past. But Raoul had convinced her that no harm could possibly come to Emiliee. Christine was managing to ignore the little nagging demon until the point it practically did not exist.
Christine looked at herself in the mirror. She looked absolutely radiant. She didn't know why this getaway was doing this to her. But it was, and she liked it. She didn't look as sickly thin, or as ghostly pale as she usually did when she stood in front of her mirror. She looked confident and healthy. She felt like a whole other person.
She walked outside into the glaring sunlight. The birds were chirping happily, the sea was gently lapping away at the sand banks and Raoul was sitting with his head submerged in a book on a chair overlooking it all. Christine strolled over to him and stood behind his chair. Placing his arms lovingly around his neck.
Raoul stopped reading and looked up towards her. He had noticed her change in attitude and was glad to see his wife happy again. It hurt him to see her so full of sorrow. She deserved a life of happiness and he was determined to grant her that one luxury. That one right.
"How are you my love?" Raoul spoke softly and lovingly
"I am wonderful. I can't remember a time I was this relaxed…" She said staring off into the sunlight
Raoul stood up and turned to face her. He smiled softly and brushed her hair away from her face. They stood there motionless just staring into each other's eyes for what was like eternity. Christine smiled before moving into his slowly, Raoul moved in as well and wrapped his arms tenderly around her waist. Their lips met, and met again. Their tender and caring love the only thing in either of their minds. They stopped and smiled at each other once more. Words were not spoken, but a mutual understanding was established. They didn't have to say anything…they just wanted to soak in the feeling that they were both experiencing at that moment.
"Come Christine," Raoul spoke softly taking in every aspect of the moment "you must be famished. Let's have dinner."
Christine nodded and grabbed his hand. They walked into the villa together. It was pure bliss.
Little did they know that both their lives were about to shatter.
