Here it is the sequel to my story, Little Lotte's Guardian of Music. For those of you who read it and enjoyed it will also enjoy this. Some small things I will make note of before I start; Joshua starts showing more of his father's character and I'm hoping this story follows as much of the plot as I can. Also Pierre and Lotte finally get a last name, because I had the hardest time coming up with one. When I edit Guardian I'll fix that as well.
Even though this is different from the sneak peek I know everyone will like it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Erik, Christine, the Opera Populaire, or any of the movie characters, but everyone else is copyright to me.
Surprised I posted it early huh?
All right let the story begin.
The True Phantom
Chapter 1: Closing Down
Erik's funeral had been one that drove everyone to tears. As stated in his will the Opera House was left to Lotte and Pierre with Joshua as a co-manager. All the money that he had saved over the years went to his family along with his belongings.
Lotte lingered after the funeral and stood there before the grave while Pierre stood back with the horse. Pulling out her white hair ribbon Lotte tied it to the long stem of the rose in her hand and kneeled before the grave. Carved into the stone was pictures of her parents in their youth and there dates of birth and death. But the one thing that stood out was a quote Erik had them add to the bottom; "Together they created the Music of the Night."
She laid the rose in front of the gravestone, tears falling from her eyes as she gazed at the two pictures. Her mother smiled sweetly back at her, a look of content in her eyes. Her father also returned the smile, but there was a look of fear deep within his eyes. Lotte studied the image when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Lotte let's head back home. I'm sure everyone else is waiting for us," Pierre said quietly.
"Yes, I'm sure they are," she said calmly standing up and straightening out her skirts. "I do miss them."
"We all do darling. But I won't be surprised if they're still here with us." Pierre said giving her a hug before helping her onto the back of the horse. They arrived back at the Opera House where things were slowly getting back to normal.
xxxxx
Along the course of the following week everyone was busy studying and practicing their part for Erik's latest piece. He had completed it the day he died as a tribute to the life Christine and he had shared.
Lotte had been given Christine's role and Joshua was to be Erik. Though as Lotte watched Joshua go over his role she began to notice how with each time he was becoming more and more like their father. Now and again his temper would rise if something didn't go right and when he got frustrated he would quickly leave the stage and go to his quarters demanding a bit of peace and quiet.
"Claire, is Joshua always that grumpy around you?" Lotte asked after another one of Joshua's quick departures.
Claire blinked her baby blue eyes at her. "Not always. He has a good heart, but I think that since Christine passed away he's been confused and lost. I try talking to him, but he usually says to let him be and I leave him alone. I don't want him to be mad at me."
"He's not mad at you Claire. Thank you for the information though. I'll have to talk with him myself later."
"Just don't be harsh with him."
"I won't. Even though he is my little brother I'll be nice to him."
Claire smiled before hurrying over to join the other ballet girls. Music started up from the orchestra pit and Lotte watched as the girls began to dance. How she longed to be dancing with them, but her part didn't call for much dancing.
Jacqueline was now sprinting through the backstage with a message in her hand. "Mother, there's an important telegram for you!" she cried.
"Calm down darling," Lotte said softly as Jacqueline came up to her and handed her the telegram. "What could this all be about?" As she read the telegram Lotte became scared. "An inspector is coming tomorrow to look over the Opera House, but why? We've been doing just fine."
"I don't know. Maybe it's just one of the yearly inspections they do. I remember them doing one last year, but grandfather took care of it. He usually took care of affairs like that and we always got good marks."
"I can't handle this. Why couldn't he live just a bit longer and take care of this for us? I'm not ready to deal with the theatre department instructors; what if we get closed down or something?"
"Mother, please calm down. They'll probably do a routine check-up, ask a few simple questions, and then go about their way. Once we get that out of the way we can get back to grandfather's opera."
"That's if I can get your uncle to cool his temper and participate. That will be a challenge all its own."
xxxxx
The next day even though the inspector was due to arrive rehearsals continued as normal, but Lotte was so nervous she had a hard time memorizing her lines, which caused Joshua to grow impatient.
"Lotte, will you please calm down. It's not helping the rest of us!"
Lotte looked up at her brother. With an extra mask that had belonged to their father on his face she swore he resembled their father. And in all honesty the look upon his face now frightened her. "Joshua I'm sorry. I just can't think anymore okay?" she asked putting her hand to her forehead.
Joshua opened his mouth to say something, but stopped. He looked around at everyone watching them and removed the mask from his face. He wrapped an arm around his sister's shoulders and ushered her towards the backstage and into an empty dressing room. "Okay, tell me what's wrong."
Lotte sat down in a chair and rested her arms across her knees. "Joshua I'm so nervous about this inspector coming today. I don't want the Opera House to close up or anything like that. I wouldn't want to lose it just days after Father passed it onto me."
"It's not going to be closed up Lotte. But I can tell that this isn't the only thing you're upset about is it?"
Lotte nodded. "It's your part in the performance. It's hard doing this when you look so much like Father. Didn't he once think about how hard this was for us?" she shouted.
Joshua patted her shoulder. "Lotte I understand what you mean. The fact that you look so much like Mother is hard on me too. But I'm sure we were on Father's mind when he wrote this piece. Do you think he would really forget about his children?"
"No, but when Jacqueline and I would take care of him he barely said anything except a few thanks and words for his opera now and again. I almost thought at one point that he would never acknowledge us again."
Joshua sighed and wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders again. "Everything will be all right Lotte. You should know that. You were in his care for over 30 years."
Lotte let out a chuckle and rested her head on her brother's shoulder. "Well there's no doubt in my mind that you're acting like Father the way you have a quick temper and the fact that you look just like him."
"Well I lived in his shadow for 20 years. There was no doubt I would become my Father's son. But you're right I am taking my role to seriously."
"You need to talk to Claire. She thinks all your outbursts are turned towards her. She'll try to talk to you, but you'll demand privacy and she'll leave you alone, so as not to anger you. She loves you Joshua."
"Thank you for letting me know. I'll go talk to her right away. Don't worry Lotte, when the inspector comes I'll be around to help you out."
Lotte hugged him. "Thank you Joshua. I don't know what I would do if you weren't my little brother."
"Probably screw up and lose the perfect foundation our Father died on."
Lotte gasped and upon regaining composure punched his arm. "Don't you dare make stupid jokes like that. I won't screw up as you said and this building won't be closed down."
"Mother; the inspectors here," Jacqueline called outside the door.
"Already; oh god I can't do this," Lotte stated as she began to panic.
"Yes, Lotte you can. Being negative will only bring you down. Think positive."
Lotte knew he was right and hugged him. Then she stood up and strode to the door where Jacqueline was waiting for her. Together the trio headed to the stage where the inspector was looking over the footlights and writing things down on his clipboard.
"Good day Monsieur," Lotte said calmly. "I hope we haven't kept you waiting."
"Only five minutes, but I can excuse it. Where is Monsieur Erik? I was hoping to speak with him."
A lump caught in Lotte's throat. "My father passed away earlier this week."
"I'm so sorry to hear that. But onto business as usual; who is the replacement manager?"
"My husband Pierre de Burin and I are the managers. Then there is my brother, Joshua, who is the co-manager."
"Well I wish to speak to either one of them. A woman running an Opera House is absurd."
Both Lotte and Jacqueline were shocked by the comment. Lotte was the first to object. "Well my good Monsieur you really have no say seeing as this building was left in my name in my father's will. We have the document if you require proof."
The inspector only looked over the edge of his glasses. "Please just get your husband Madame. I need to talk to both of you either way. From what I've seen already there are going to be a few things changed around this place."
"Jacqueline please go find your father. I think he's in the office."
Jacqueline nodded and took off. Joshua stepped forward and gave a visible snarl, but luckily the inspector was too busy looking over the side lights to notice. He shook his head and wrote down something else on his clipboard.
In no time Pierre and Jacqueline arrived and the inspector looked gratefully. "Ah, Monsieur de Burin it's a pleasure to meet you, yet, I hate to say it, but there are a lot of problems with your theatre."
Ignoring the number of gasps and murmurs coming from the employees Pierre pressed for the inspector to continue.
"Well from just my brief look over it's clear to me that you are not up with the times yet. I had taken this up with the manager last year and luckily there was no hurry for the updates, but because of certain incidences due to the continued use of fire and gas lamps as lights we at the Theatre Safety Agency have decided that all the theatre go to electrical lighting."
"But we've never had a problem with the use of fire in the footlights or the gas lamps before."
"Do you not remember the incident fifty years ago when this theatre went up in flames due to a crashing chandelier? Honestly I'm not the least bit surprised that this building sat empty all those years collecting dust until they finally decided to open it up again. Even then they continued to do things the old fashion way. But the thing is my job is to close down all the theatres and have electric lighting installed."
Jacqueline, Pierre, Lotte, and Joshua all looked at one another as the other employees began talking with one another in lowered whispers and murmurs.
"Do you not realize that by closing down all the theatre gives the people of Paris nothing to do?" Pierre asked as Jacqueline walked away and leaned against the door of her grandmother's old dressing room.
"Yes, we are well aware of what we're doing, but we are ahead of it. It's the off season for most theatres and they all closed with no problem in order to make the updates. I don't see how it should be difficult for you as well."
"Well Monsieur we're in the middle of a rehearsal for our next performance and as I said before there is nothing for the high society of Paris to do if you close down every theatre. How about we stay open until the others are finished with their renovations, then we'll close to do our renovations?" Pierre asked.
"No, I was given strict orders to shut down every theatre and that is what I will do. Plus there was also the threat to use if anyone like you was to backtalk. Out company buys your building and we kick every last one of you out into the street for being on private property."
Lotte gasped and grabbed Pierre's arm. "Oh please Monsieur you can't do that. This building is our home and everyone in this building is family."
"That's very touching Madame, but it won't save you. Now either close down and make the renovations like I told you too or start packing."
No one spoke and even Joshua was too afraid to say anything about this. Claire came over to him and hugged him. Finally Pierre spoke as he wrapped an arm around Lotte's shoulders. "Fine we'll close down and do the renovations. But if they're not done in a month's time, so help me…"
"Honestly will you stop it already. All the other managers gave me threats and I'm sure yours will be no different. Now your employees are allowed to continue living within the opera house, but they may be asked to move to different rooms from time to time to make room for workers. Also I need to know if you use the cellars for anything."
"No, we only use it for some storage that's all. The deepest cellars have been empty for years," Lotte said quickly.
The inspector raised his eyebrow. "Alright; I'll get back to my boss and he'll see how many workers we have left to start the job starting tomorrow. You made a very wise decision Monsieur de Burin."
With that the inspector left leaving everyone dazed at what had just happened. Pierre looked up and gave a hesitant sigh. "I'm sorry everyone. I guess we won't be putting on this opera. I'm not sure when they'll start, so when you have the time come talk to me and we can discuss arrangements need they be made. I'll be in the office."
Lotte watched sadly as her husband made his way into the house and out into the lobby. A tear slid down her cheek as she looked upon her employees. Jacqueline watched quietly from the dressing room her fists turning white as she tightened her grip on the wood of the door.
"That man had no right to speak to mother that way and with closing down the Opera House, if grandfather was still here he would probably have a few words to say about it," she said wiping her eyes with her sleeve.
"You're right I would have a few things to say about all this," a familiar voice said from behind her.
The hair on the back of Jacqueline's neck stood on end at the sound of the voice. She turned around and there in the mirror was her grandfather staring right back at her. He lifted his finger to his lips as if motioning for her to be silent. Jacqueline let out a blood curdling scream as the image disappeared.
"Jacqueline!" Lotte, Joshua, and Claire called in unison as they entered the room.
"What is it dear? Did someone hurt you?" Lotte asked as Jacqueline fell into her mother's arms.
Jacqueline was trying to regain composure and wanted so badly to tell her mother what had just happened, but she remembered how her grandfather had wanted her to remain silent. "It was nothing mother, just a rat that found it's way in here. You know how much I hate rats."
"Yes, I do. Well what would you say to visiting the cemetery with me? I need some advice from the family."
Jacqueline looked into Lotte's eyes. "Sure I'll come along. I could use a little fresh air."
Lotte smiled and led everyone out of the room. Jacqueline looked over her shoulder and once again her grandfather's image filled the mirror. It smiled at her and gestured once again to be silent.
xxxxx
Erik stood before a silver pond with his finger pressed to his lips. Then with the wave of his hand the water turned clear again and now he was looking back at his own reflection in the water. "Who would have thought my own granddaughter would react like that?" he asked himself.
"Erik, what are you doing?" Christine asked him quietly as she came over to him and took his arm.
"I was making a surprise visit."
Christine's eyes went wide. "Oh Erik, don't tell me you used the pond to go back."
"Okay I won't tell you I used the pond to go back."
Christine glared at him. "Don't you dare use reverse physiology on me Erik. But I'm curious to know who you managed to scare the living daylights out of."
"I saw Jacqueline and she was saying about if I was still around I would have something to say about the Opera House and that's the truth I would."
"What is happening at the Opera House? Did you find that out?"
"No, I didn't. It was hard trying to hear the voices outside the room."
"Let's check the event book. Anything new that comes up in the living world is written in there for all of us to read. That's how I knew it was your time to pass on."
Together they went over to the book, which was resting on a pedestal where a quill was quickly writing things down on the pages, but it was going slow enough, so that the words could be read. Erik scrolled his finger along the page and came to stop at an entry about halfway down the page:
"All Paris theatres have been closed in order to update to theatre standards for the 1900's and will remain closed till all renovations have been completed."
"They can't do this. They argued with me last year to do that as well, but I firmly told them that the Opera House was safe from danger of any kind. They finally agreed and I went back to work as usual."
"They must have hired someone new," Christine said scanning the page for any other important news.
"It doesn't matter if they hired someone new. What matters is my opera, my tribute to us, won't be able to open on its opening date. I can't allow this to happen. I have to do something."
"What are you talking about? How can you do anything Erik? You're dead like I am."
Erik reached out and embraced her. "Christine I have to do something or the one thing I put a lot of time and effort in will crumble. For the first time in my life I'm the true Phantom of the Opera."
Yes, we visited Erik and Christine in heaven and we'll do that a lot throughout this story, so don't be alarmed by that.
So let me know is it wonderful, awful or just the right amount of adventure for all of you, who loved my first story. I know I said this wouldn't come out till Fall, but seeing as there is no way I'm getting a job this summer thanks to the economic decline I decided to put my skills to work and entertain all of you once more. Now I have to plan the next chapter, so be patient. If I get a lot of reviews I'll type faster.