Before I go on with this next chapter, I just have to give thanks to my first reviewers.

N.H.S. – You were my very first reviewer ever and I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

Little Addy – Whatever gave you that idea? (Wink Wink)!

Anon- Glad you like it… You're story sounds quite fascinating.

Almost-Lost-Hope6 – I'll definitely continue and I'll also do my best to keep the intrigue factor going.

Allegratree- Your suggestions are great and very much appreciated. I was so exited to see that you reviewed! Thank you all for taking the time to read and review! (Everybody-Allegratree has written some good stuff so check it out!)

Now, on with the story!


Chapter 2: Quite the Childhood


The longer Orrie gazed at the ring the more her mind filled with all the memories of her lost Phantom. After the night that he returned her to her parents their friendship began to grow. Every time her Father would take her to the Opera House she would go searching for him. The Phantom found entertainment in watching her prance around the hallways while whispering for him to come to her. He never let her search long before he would reveal himself. As every visit passed they became closer and closer. He would teach her about music and show her different passageways within the Opera House. Even when they weren't together he would watch her intently. He especially enjoyed watching Orrie during her ballet lesson with Madame Giry. The grace she displayed on stage astounded him since she was so young. Orrie also enjoyed her ballet lessons. Her Father hoped that she would one day take the stage of the Opera House as a Prima Ballerina or even perhaps a Prima Donna. During her lesson Orrie would often look to box five in order to catch a glimpse of her Phantom in the shadows. There was never a lesson where there wasn't a beautiful red rose with a black silk ribbon waiting for her in the dressing room afterwards. Orrie never spoke of her masked friend, not only because he had asked her to keep their encounters quiet, but also because he was her Phantom and she didn't want to share him with anyone else. Her Father would often ask her what she had been up to all day and she would simply reply "Oh just exploring, Papa." But her Father knew where she had been. After the first few times the Phantom and Orrie had spent time together the Patron received a letter from the Phantom.

"Monsieur Binet" the letter read.

"Your daughter is a lovely girl and quite talented. I wish to teach her music so that she may one day excel within the ranks of the Opera House. Worry not. I will make sure she is safe while you attend to the matters of the Opera House. I remain, Monsieur, your obedient servant.

O.G."

Philippe spoke of the letter to Madame Giry and she assured him that the Phantom was very talented and that the fact that he chose to teach Orrie was quite a compliment. For those reasons Philippe never worried when his dear daughter came to him, rose in hand, telling him of her day of exploration.

After about a year and a half, Orrie's Mother became pregnant. Orrie's visits to the Opera House became fewer and fewer as her Mother became less suitable for travel. Once her mother finally went into labor a tragedy occurred, and Orrie's next visit to the Opera House would be her last. Once Orrie and her Father arrived, Orrie went straight to the chapel. As she stumbled into the chapel her eyes began to swell with sorrow. The tears began to stain her face as she lit two candles, one for her mother and one for her baby brother. She heard her Phantom call from behind her.

"Dear child, dry your tears," he said concerned and unsure of the sorrow that was seeping through Orrie's entire being.

"Oh Phantom," Orrie cried as she ran to him wrapping her arms around his waist. He bent down on his knees as he held Orrie's shoulders attempting to keep her from trembling.

"What is it dear Orrie?" he said searching her eyes for an answer. He couldn't bare to see her this way. She was always so cheerful and vibrant, and now she was full of despair.

"It's awful," she said trying to hold back her sobs. "Mama died while giving birth to the baby… and as I speak Papa is thanking the manager for 'allowing him to take part in the enhancement of the Opera House.'" Her sorrow became greater and she began hiccupping along with her tears and moans.

"Shhhhhhh…." the Phantom whispered trying to calm her. He held her close and began to hum the tune to one of his new compositions (what we know as Music of the Night). Orrie began to calm down more and more with every beautiful note. She absorbed the melody, engraving it into her memory for she knew this would be the last time she would hear or see her dear Phantom. "Now there," he whispered in a deep soothing voice. "Everything will be alright."

As her breathing calmed she turned to look at him. His embrace was so warm and safe, she wished for him to never let go. "Don't you understand, Phantom?" Orrie questioned softly, her eyes turning a deeper blue with each passing moment.

"Understand what my Orrie?" he said, happy to see her tears had subsided.

"This will be my last visit to the Opera House," she said feeling tears well back up in her throat.

"What?" he said with a look of pain on his face.

"We aren't returning… Papa said that he wants this to be his last and only memory of the Opera House without Mama." She looked into his eyes. She loved their emerald color and amber rim, and often found herself gazing into them. It pained her to see them so full of confusion and sorrow and although she was only seven, she loved him dearly. He had taught her so many things and she couldn't bare the thought of leaving her dearest friend and teacher. "I'm so sorry" she said as she began to cry once more. "I don't want to leave you… I will miss you so much… please don't be angry with me…" her pleas to him went on until he finally laid a finger to her mouth signaling her to hush.

"I could not be angry with you my dearest Orrie," he said sadly. Orrie managed to smile faintly as she threw her arms around his neck and squeezed as tight as she could. He returned her loving embrace. "I have something for you" he said as he reluctantly pulled away from her sincere affection. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a tiny gold ring. "This was supposed to be for your birthday," he said as he placed it on her finger. "But since this is our last meeting I'd rather give it to you now." He looked up at her endearingly.

She stared at the ring in aw. It was beautiful with tiny roses etched on the side and on the inside an inscription read "Oriel, My Angel of Destiny," for that was the true meaning of the name Oriel.

"Oh Phantom" Orrie said becoming lost in the beauty of the object on her finger.

"I made it myself," he said proudly. "Do you like it?" he asked, knowing very well from the look in her eye that she adored it.

"It is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," she said as she fingered the beautiful etching. "But I can only accept it on one condition."

"Oh really" he said smirking at her boldness. "And what condition might that be?"

"I wish to see your whole face and to know your true name," she said as she stared into his mask. He was surprised at her requests. They had gone on for two years speaking nothing of his face or name and all the sudden she wished to know of both. He searched her eyes for an explanation.

"I want to see the face of the man who has guided me and taught me so much," she said as her fingers danced across the surface of his mask.

"Little Orrie," he said wishing he had nothing to hide. "What is under this mask is far to frightening… and I can't have your last memory of me serving you as a nightmare."

"Then I can't accept your ring," Orrie said placing the ring in his hand. "If you can't trust me then I will not accept your gift."

'Trust,' he thought. 'What do I know of trust… the only one whom I have ever trusted is Madame Giry.' He looked at the ring in his hand and then again at Orrie's face, her eyes pleading with him to grant her request. He thought if he were to trust anyone else it would be Orrie. After all, she had always trusted him, no questions asked. He knew she cared about him dearly and she would always hold a special place in his heart. "Very well" he finally said. "You may remove my mask… but if you scream I will vanish from your site forever." Orrie nodded to him signaling that she understood. He squinted as her small hands slowly removed his mask. As she pulled the mask from his skin every scar, every mark of a lifetime of pain revealed itself. As she finished moving the mask away from his face her young sapphire eyes became wider and wider, not out of shock or horror, but out of wonder.

"Why Phantom…" she said in aw as her fingers traced the deformed skin. "You've been touched by God."

He slowly opened his eyes to see her smiling at him still running her fingers along his marred side. "Touched by God?" he asked becoming very confused at her comment.

"Yes," she said, her smile now beaming at him. "My Mama and I once met a man with a scarred face and when I asked Mama why his face was like that she said 'God marks his most special children in different ways. God has touched this man on his face. That means he is greatly blessed.' So don't you see dear Phantom, God has greatly blessed you, and I'm not surprised. You're so talented." After Orrie finished her story she wrapped her arms around his neck once again. "I'm so glad I know your true face," she said releasing his neck to look at him again. "You're rather handsome you know," she said sincerely.

The Phantom's eyes became filled with tears, this child was so pure and her compassion knew no bounds. He had never been met with such acceptance before. He held her hands to his face as tears dripped from his eyes.

"Why are you crying dear Phantom?" Orrie asked becoming concerned.

"Oh my precious Orrie" he replied. "It's just that you have filled me with such happiness."

Orrie was very pleased that she had brought her teacher such joy. The Phantom held the ring up as he dried his tears.

"Now will you accept my ring," he said smiling sweetly at his angel.

"You forgot!" she exclaimed, "I still need to know your real name" she said holding his mask up to her face. He laughed at her attempt to be a phantom.

"A beautiful girl like you should never hide her face," he said as he thought of her last request. "I'll make you a deal, dear Orrie," he said placing the ring back on her finger. "You have my word that if you return to me, I will tell you my name, but you must have the ring when you return for it is a symbol of our agreement."

Orrie searched his eyes for any indication that she could get his name out of him without having to wait to return. When she found none, she finally conceded. "Deal," she said being satisfied that he had given her his word. He kissed the hand that wore the ring showing that their deal was final. The Phantom then brought Orrie in for a last embrace before she was to leave him. "I will miss you so much," Orrie said, dreading the thought of letting him go.

"I will miss you dearly as well my angel. There will never be a day when I won't think of you, but promise me you will hold to our agreement and I promise to wait patiently until you return to me," the Phantom said releasing Orrie from his embrace.

"I promise," she said as she watched him disappear into the shadows.

"Then I promise as well," his voice echoed though the chapel.

As Orrie stepped up into the carriage she took one last look at the Opera House only to see her Phantom's cape blowing in the wind on the rooftop. 'I will return to you,' she thought as the carriage pulled away.

After her Mother's death, Orrie and her Father were inseparable. The only time they spent apart was when Orrie would be at her ballet lessons. Orrie's Father would often play her the piano and sing to her, and in return Orrie would dance gleefully and offer a melodic tune back to him. Orrie most enjoyed when her Father would read to her, she would sit safe in his arms and bask in his deep soothing voice. Although he tried relentlessly to hide his broken heart from his precious daughter, Orrie knew that every day he missed her Mother even more than the day before. About a year after her last appearance at the Opera House, Orrie's father became very ill. He always seemed feverish and soon after the illness had taken complete hold over him he became bed ridden. The person, who Orrie had always thought to be the strongest man in the world, now looked as delicate as a porcelain doll, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

"Orrie," her father said beckoning her to come to him. He looked so pale and fragile.

"Yes Papa?" she answered quickly making her way to his bedside. He raised his hand to caress her cheek. She gently placed her hand on his. "Oh Papa," she said sweetly, she got a slight shiver at the touch of his hand. "Your hands are so cold. I'll go fetch you another blanket." As she began to stand her father quickly grabbed her arm.

"No Orrie," he said imploringly. "I want you to be here when I…" he looked up to see his daughter's eyes quickly filling with tears. "…when I fall asleep." Orrie knew what he meant to say. She couldn't bare the thought of him leaving her. She was always a Daddy's girl, and she loved him so much.

"You look so much like your mother," he said as he caressed her auburn curls with his fingers. "Oh my precious little Angel, I have always loved you so dearly."

"I know Papa… I love you too," Orrie said, trying her best to suppress her sorrow. She closed her eyes, embedding the memory of her father's touch into her heart. His hand soon dropped from her hair to the bed. She knew he was gone. "Oh Papa," Orrie said, tears streaming down her face, as she leaned in to kiss her father on the forehead. "Good Bye Papa…tell Mama I love her."

Soon after her father's death, Orrie went to live with her Aunt Gertrude. She was a wealthy woman but very unknowledgeable on how to raise an eight year old. Luckily she allowed Orrie to pursue her love of music despite her belief that it wasn't like a "true lady" to prance around in such ways. Her aunt had even provided piano lessons for Orrie, which she was very grateful for. It was Orrie's promise to her Phantom that kept her hopeful for the future, but now he was gone. He hadn't kept his promise. Orrie's frustration quickly pulled her out of her memories and she began pacing the room.

"He said he would wait," she said to herself angrily. "Why would he break his promise to me?" Still pacing and twisting her gold ring, "I need to know what happened," she said with a glow of determination in her eyes. "And I know how to find out."


How will Orrie react when she finds out about her Phantom's recent past? Thanks for reading and I hope to get the next update up soon! Please review (in pleading voice) "That's all I ask of you.":) I remain, Viewers, your faithful Authoress. -Maggie