Greetings loyal readers, thanks so much for all the constructive input. I really can't tell you how much it helps with the writing process. Hope you all enjoy the latest installment!
Disclaimer: I don't even own my soul anymore… (Points over to the devil) let alone anything else!
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The caves beneath the Opera Populaire were now as silent as ever…normally music could be heard quite frequently. Often (other than the echo of the owner's maddening nonsense) it was the only sound to be heard at all. But on this particular day very little was to be heard other than the wild movement of the infuriated gentlemen who was known at this time to be nothing more than a Phantom. This apparition tore at the walls violently in internal protest, killing the potential silence with his screams of fury. He took a fleeting glance at the mannequin that was to imitate his love and his demurer softened slightly…he collapsed on the remaining wall and slid down until he reached the floor…it was only a short amount of time before his head was in his hands and he was weeping out the name of his beloved.
His suffering was only the fault of a solitary dim-witted soul! Erik arose and tightened his fists cantankerously. Christine may never be able to forgive the fiend that he had become…but the Viscount would learn the true meaning of torment even if it meant it was the last thing he would ever do…
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"Little" Meg Giry was now grateful for her steady ballerina skills, for they now served her well as she tipped-toed through the Opera House's corridors and hallways. Remaining unseen and silent were her primary goals now as she assiduously traveled through the halls with a small basket of food and a bag of clothing in her arms.
When she reached her destination she knocked on the door slowly, with a certain pattern to notify the person inside of her arrival.
"Christine? Christine it's me open up." She whispered quickly. Upon her request the door opened and she entered without delay, dropping the contents she held and shutting it just as hurriedly. Inside her small dorm room Meg began hastily putting away a variety of objects, moving back and forth cleaning the small space as she went along.
"I'm sorry I took so long but you'd be surprised how hard it is to sneak into the kitchen and find a decent amount of food without getting caught! Although, I came close when that God awful wigmaker of Carlotta's came through intent on getting wine for his precious diva." Meg said mockingly. "And of course I got a small loaf of bread, some dried fruit, and I doubt they'll miss it but I also retrieved a few chocolates." A gleam of mischief glowed in her eyes as she said that. "Then I rushed down to your dressing room to retrieve some clothes…"
She stopped her haste then and felt her shoulders sink at the sight of her pitiful friend. Christine sat silently on the corner of the small bed, rolling her thumbs inside of each other. It was clear that she was in deep enough thought and that she hadn't heard a word Meg had said. Normally, the prima ballerina hopeful would have been slightly irked by the behavior but instead of lecturing her friend she simply sat down alongside her and wrapped a loving arm around her shoulder.
"You know, your welcome to 'hideout' here as long as you want. I guarantee not even my mother's diligent eyes will find you here…" She said in an effort to restore Christine's confidence.
Christine looked up and smiled wearily. "Thank you Meg, but I can't run away from my problems forever. Eventually I'll have to face the troupe, you're mother, Raoul-"
"And him?" Meg interrupted her curiosity getting the best of her. She stood up and shrugged guiltily. "Sorry, I suppose I just get ahead of myself sometimes."
Christine only smiled feebly in response and stood up to lean against the window where she wrapped her arms around herself and sighed quietly.
"Is there anything else you need? Anything I can get you?" Meg asked hurriedly in an endeavor to cheer up her friend.
"Actually," Christine began. "Could you order me a carriage?" When Meg turned to her with obvious confusion she continued.
"I wish to visit my father's grave." She replied despondently.
"Oh of course!" She exclaimed. "I'll just distract the stable boys so I can gather a driver…"
"And we all know how much you love to do that." Replied Christine with a playful tone in her voice. Meg reddened slightly but soon retorted by sticking her tongue out.
"I'll be right back." She whispered as she opened her door and disappeared once more into the darkness of the hall.
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Elise LaVerne had been a staff hand for the Chagny family for over twenty years. And through those years she had come to know the majority of the family reasonably well. She had studied them through observation and through bits and pieces of conversation she picked up here and there. Usually she found them to be benevolent and a generally pleasant family to work for, some households she had worked for were less than kind to their staff if not downright cruel. But the Changy family treated them well if not even respectable like.
This Saturday morning the outdoor atmosphere was lavished with a grayish sky and foggy air that promised rain in the neighboring future. Elise was eagerly directing the younger servants as to how to dust the dinning hall chandler when the sound of the front gates slamming open greeted her ears the wide doors released a brisk gust of wind into the front foyer and even some lifeless leaves from the previous season. She rushed to the area immediately and plastered a smooth smile upon her face as she greeted her employer.
"Why hello Monsuire Chagny! I am glad to see you are in good spirits! We were all quite concerned when you didn't return from the masquerade yesterday evening-"
"Not now Elise!" He snapped harshly as he stormed passed her and straight into his study. He didn't need to hear the phony woman's chatter at a time like this! The elderly lady shrugged it off however and continued with the work that lied about her.
Meanwhile a very discredited Viscount furiously threw open the large doors of his study before slamming them shut once more. He tossed his jacket from his body urgently before also removing his tie and boots. He paused a moment reliving the events of the previous moment in his mind before bellowing angrily to himself.
"That wretched Phantom will meet the tip of my sword! No one, especially some cynical freak defeats me!" With that he stormed around the room vengefully: knocking down several series of books, throwing globes off their spheres, and slamming desk frills from their place as well. He stopped only when he lacked the breath to go any further, and once he regained himself slightly he left the study and immediately went to the stables.
"Where you off to sir?" Asked a curious stable boy as he groomed an undersized stallion. The Viscount mounted a large Noric steed while some other outdoor assistants opened the access gates.
"The Opera Populaire." He declared rather coldly. "I have some considerably important business to attend to.
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"Meg dear, have you seen Christine?" Called Madam Giry after her daughter. Once the older woman caught up to her she continued her questioning.
"No one has seen her since last night…" She continued to eye her daughter suspiciously while the blond seemed to have a hard time looking her mother in the eye.
"No Madam, I thought that she was perhaps-," She said gesturing to the ground. "Well, you know…with him." She whispered.
"Now I know you know better than that young lady. Christine isn't senseless enough to visit her tutor after the fiasco that occurred last night."
Meg bit her lip nervously as her mother placed a firm hand on her hip and captured a stance that suggested she knew Meg wasn't saying everything she knew.
Although Meg was generally a sufficient liar, there was something in her mother's stature that could always make her lose her resolve when it came to the subject that she was hiding.
"I haven't seen her since last night either mother. Maybe she-"
"Meg Giry I will give you one more opportunity to tell me the truth before…"
"Ok! Ok…" She started before the threat could be stated. "She stayed in my dormitory last night. She was planning on staying with me until things calmed down a little more." She hung her head in shame as her mother groaned with certain exasperation.
"Have you girls any sense in your heads! The police have been looking for her Meg! For God's sakes they think she has disappeared again! And on top of that you knew I would be worried why didn't you tell me? Of all the careless, mindless, negligent things to do! You girls-"
"Mother I'm sorry but she was so desperate to get away from this madhouse! And she asked for my confidence, what was I suppose to do?"
The oldest Giry sighed and closed her eyes tightly taking a hand to her temple to rid herself of her oncoming headache.
"What in the world am I suppose to do with you girls…we will disuse this later." She stated as a group of stagehands walked passed. Meg nodded knowingly but remained silent. "Is Christine still in your room? I wish to speak with her as soon as possible."
Meg bit her lip harder and hesitated before answering. "Well…um… No. She wanted to visit her father's grave…I called a horse and carriage for her sometime ago-"
"Very well." She said cutting off her daughter. "When she returns let her know I am looking for her and wish to speak with her as soon as possible." Meg gave a slight curtsey as her mother walked off and it was only when she was sure her mother was out of earshot she let out a dramatic groan of aggravation and preceded to the costume room to be fitted for the latest production.
She had barely turned a corner towards the stage before a stern pair of arms grabbed her from the shadows. On instinct she struggled wildly but a hand placed itself on her mouth in order to stop the screams she attempted to omit. She continued to thrash about in an effort to attract the attention of the passing stagehands but she soon stopped when a rough voice whispered into her ear:
"It would be unwise of you Mademoiselle to call out in such an inauspicious situation…Now I have reason to believe that you know the whereabouts of Mademoiselle Daae…tell me where she is an I will have no reason to harm you. Understood?"
Meg nodded hurriedly despite herself.
"I will release you, only under the condition that you do not scream. Understood?"
She nodded once again, eager to agree to anything get away from the assailant.
The hands gradually released her but instead of keeping her word Meg turned around swiftly and randomly slapped the figure that stood behind her. The action was rapid and she took off immediately afterward, holding her skirts as she ran trying and calling out for anyone nearby who might hear her. Unfortunately the hands grabbed her once more and instead of simply hold her they shook her viciously and she opened her eyes as she faced her aggressor and felt them grow wide at the realization of who the provoker was.
"You blasted woman!" Shouted Raoul as he threw her to the ground. Meg attempted to defend herself but he overpowered her effortlessly and grabbed her arms roughly pulling her up to his eyelevel. It was only now that Meg noticed the small droplet of blood that was coming from his lip, something that she had no doubt invoked during her escape.
"Where is she!" He roared. "Where? Tell me where she is or I swear you'll earn a beating like nothing you've ever known before!"
"I don't know Monsieur!" She beseeched desperately.
"Hey what's going on down there?" Called a stagehand from above. The interruption distracted the Viscount long enough for Meg to swindle out of his grasp and run towards the stage itself where a rehearsal was taking place.
It seemed like an eternity had come and gone before she finally reached her destination… when she turned to look behind her to see if the Viscount was still there however, he was nowhere to be found…she only remained in the vicinity for a fleeting moment before retreating to find her mother and warn her friend of the danger that she was undoubtedly in.
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Hey everybody there you go! As requested Erik is finally going to…well lets just say cause the Viscount some discomfort! Hooray! As usual I impatiently await your reviews!