Hi everybody here's chapter 17. Hope you all enjoy.
Disclaimer: I got nothing but my God awful grammar and spelling skills.
Mominator124- ha ha! Oh I'm not done with the misery yet (insert evil laugh here)
SnaggleTooth- ha ha thanks for the suggestion I'll take it into consideration.
Phantomluvr- Yeah I just had to throw Carlotta in there somewhere! Ha ha.
And I throw cookies to all my reviews!
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" Ladies and gentlemen? Ladies and gentlemen may I have your attention? " Shouted Firmin from his place of the stage.
All around them uproarious members of the theater committee laughed and wandered around the front auditorium due to the provoked success, which still lingered in the building from the previous evening. Many members had arrived early to prepare for the performance that was to occur that evening but stopped their tasks at the frantic sound of the manager's voice. Curious at the reason for the distress that was clearly on their employer's face they silenced themselves and stared intently at the staircase.
"I am afraid that I have some rather" He turned towards Andre unknowing of how to continue. "Unfortunate news to supply you all with this morning. "
Every ear was listening by then at the sound of a potential mishap. Many looked up whom had not been a moment ago and those closer to the back of the room strained their ears to hear the news.
"Yesterday evening a fire struck the Chagny estate. " Andre stated reluctantly.
At that time gasps and dramatic cries could be heard from everyone around and whispers and other verbal uprisings began.
"Sadly…our beloved patron Monsieur Raoul de Chagny did not survive this blaze and died late yesterday evening. " Firmin had to stop his words then for the sound of overemphasize cries could be heard from the overzealous chorus girl and their scream seemed to bounce off the walls. Others swore under their breath, while others merely rolled their eyes at what the managers thought to be "unfortunate"
"Obviously this misfortune has affected us all. But we must continue in the memory of our Patron! The show will continue in his honor! Therefore this evening's performance will be dedicated in his name…"
Meg Giry made an effort to look as shocked and horrified at the news of the deceased patron as her fellow ballerinas but found she faltered and hesitated slightly as the word spread.
"You know, " One girl said among the others "I bet this has something to do with the Opera Ghost! "
"Oh! I bet your right Claire! " Squealed the redhead to Meg's left. "The Viscount sat in box five once did he not? "
"Yes he did! And he was obviously never a fan of the Viscount, It's very possibly he set the Viscount's estate afire to prove a point! "
"I'm sure we shall find another letter sometime today saying that he claims responsibility for the incident! " Squealed another.
Meg immobilized herself at the sound of the gossip as it began to spread itself. Her mother had not mentioned how the fire had started in the first place. Did Christine's unusual tardiness have something to do with this?
Meg gasped at the realization of the situation and brought her hand to her mouth now feeling the shock for the first time that day.
"Meg are you all right? " Asked a petite girl by her side.
"Huh? "
"You just paled suddenly there…are you all right? "
"Yes. " She answered quickly. Perhaps too quickly for now the group stopped their chatter and turned to await her answer.
"I'm-I'm just frazzled at the thought of how the Viscount died," She whispered. "Will you excuse me? "
She did not wait for an answer before making a hardy exit from the auditorium and heading for her rooms but then to the place where she knew she would receive answers.
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As Erik awoke from his dreamless sleep a feeling of rapture gushed through him unlike anything he had ever known. He smiled even before his eyes opened as he recalled the events from the night before; for while they had been dreadful within themselves they had also been filled with a pleasure that had never been chartered before and frankly he was sure had been some sort of illusion that was sure to be unreal when he awoke.
With that thought he sat up straight in the swan bed he currently resided in. His eyes flew open in wild terror looking madly for Christine only to be relieved by the sight of her sleeping by his side peacefully. He sighed and smiled once more while brushing some of the curls from her face. As he lies back (with more careful nature this time as to not to disturb her) he wondered if this vision of beauty next to him was in fact some sort of delusion of grandeur. Was this really the love of his life that slept serenely beside him? Or was it just some cruel fantasy supplied by his mind…?
An overwhelming feeling of reassurance reached him as he reached downward to feel the soft skin of her hand and the warmth that generated from the flesh. He clutched her hand to his face gently for fear of waking her. He kissed the smooth palm softly and the small movement caused a shiver to pulse through her body that surprised him somewhat but made him smiles nevertheless.
He arose and moved from the bed instantly missing the warmth that her body generated next to his. His smile grew as he left her to her bliss and recalled how they had spent most of their evening enveloped in their music and had long last retired well after the sun had risen above the Opera Populaire. It was only with Christine's insistence that they slept in the same bed. She had bit her lip and asked coyly if he would stay with her. Something told Erik it was because she was still slightly unused to the surroundings of the lair yet she had blushed anyhow and he knew he could not refuse her.
Erik inaudibly walked through the underground home with the urge to compose rushing through him and yet as he sat at his organ and cracked his fingers in preparation he realized the thunderous noise would awake Christine and that was something he simply did not want to be responsible for. He chose instead to head to the library to find something to read and yet he could not force his mind to concentrate at the thought of that beautiful creature lying asleep just a few rooms from where he was now. These thoughts were interrupted however when the sound of a stiff squeal came from the outer reaches of the lake. He arose quickly from his chair and instantly his thoughts came back to Christine. He ran from his place and checked on her as she slept to find her soundly in her very own slumber. Knowing that she was safe and unharmed he quickly and quietly retreated to the shore of the lake where he ceased to blow away the candles that were nearby and proceeded to hide in the shadows and await for his intruder.
The beat of his heart pounded against his chest and he could have sworn the blood was bouncing through his ears at the thought of an upcoming conflict. Normally he was not afraid of death. In fact he would have welcomed his visitor with opened arms…and then killed then…or they would have killed him.
But that did not matter then. It was the fact that Christine was involved now. The thought of something happening to her brought a permissible rage on his soul and in the darkness he found himself clenching his fists with his fingernail so deep in his palm that it drew blood.
"Hello? " Called out a faint voice from the darkness.
Erik let out a sigh of both relief and annoyance as the young Meg Giry emerged from the gloom looking frightened as Erik began lighting several more candles. His sudden appearance forced her to jump nearly out of her skin with surprise, and Erik was slightly amused by this but it was unreadable by the look of stone emotion that rested on his face.
"You and your mother appear to have a nasty habit of barging in where you don't belong. " He stated without so much as looking up at her.
She faltered considerably and searched the premises with her eyes as though she were looking for something direly important.
"Is-Is Christine here? "
"Developed a stutter have we young Giry? " Erik's voice dripped with sarcasm but Meg tried to ignore it as best she could.
And when Erik observed that she would indeed not be going anywhere until her search was complete he rolled his eyes and glanced in the direction of the bedroom Christine was currently in and said no more to the girl as he walked away into the makeshift kitchen.
His abrupt leaving left Meg confused but all the same she jolted to the door that Erik had insinuated and opened it carefully. For she too knew of the tricks the Phantom liked to play.
"Christine? " She said walking into the dark room slowly. "Are you here Christine? "
"Meg? " Mumbled a figure from her left. The mention of her name forced Meg to jump and let out yet another shrill scream and it was with this that Christine rushed to the night table and turned on a small lantern.
Meg was beyond relief when she turned to see light and her friend Christine once more who looked wrestled by sleep.
"Meg what are you doing here? What-" The brunette was shortly cut off as Meg rushed to hug her, her emotions getting the better of her.
"Oh Christine! " She said at last once they pulled away. "We have to talk. "
"What is it Meg? Is something wrong with your mother? Did-"
"No, No, No it's nothing like that, " She said with a dismissive of her hand. "But I think you and Erik may be in serious trouble. "
"Meg I do not understand. What is going on? "
Meg sighed sadly and proceeded to sit on the edge of the bed and twirled with her thumbs almost as though she were afraid to say something.
"Christine did you and Erik have something to do with the Viscount's demise? "
Christine turned away from her friend then as tears quickly formed in her eyes. With all the happiness she felt as she and Erik had declared their love for one another she had nearly forgotten all about the untimely death of her childhood friend and instantly a surge of guilt and regret ran though her unlike anything she had ever felt before. But it seemed also that a bottomless sadness filled her soul as well. Perhaps she could have said something to Raoul that would have saved him? Maybe if she had not taken him to the rooftop that night none of this would have ever happened...many thoughts consumed her mind but eventually she moved and joined her friend at the edge of the bed.
"I am afraid so Meg. Raoul came and took me to his home last night against my will...Erik came to save me and well- I suppose they fought the next thing I knew the home was ablaze and Erik told me later that he had been crushed by some rubble. "
"Oh Christine. " Was all Meg could manage to say?
"Christine? I know he cares for you but he has killed before and- well you have to consider the possibility that-"
"That what Meg? " She asked defensively.
"Well Christine come on, you did not see how Raoul died...now I realize you feel obligated to protect him and that you care for him but-"
"I more than just care for him Meg, I love him! "
The declaration shocked Meg into silence, and she simply rose from her seat and paced the room nervously before turning to face her friend as though she had come to a conclusion of her own.
"Are you sure? " She asked childishly.
"I've never been more sure about anything in my life
Another moment passed before Meg sat by her friend once more and embraced her in a genuine hug. "Well if you have faith in him than so shall I!" She said with false enthusiasm.
Christine smiled fondly and wiped some of the falling tears from her eyes. A moment of comfortable silence passed between the girls before Meg spoke up once more.
"Christine? There is something else we need to discuss."
"Yes Meg?"
"Christine, after Firmin and Andre formally announced Raoul's death rumors began to spread about you and "The Phantom" like wildfire. (No pun intended) This is not anything uncommon of course but this time people are starting to say...well I don't know how to say this but the talk is that you and he are responsible for the Viscount's death. They are conducting a formal investigation-"
"What? Is this investigation serious" Christine asked with obvious disbelief.
"I am afraid so...it appears that Raoul and the Police Commissioner where friends so-"
"Oh Lord." Christine whispered under her breath once again sitting down before the bed. "What am I to do Meg? I don't think I can stand the thought of him being prosecuted."
Meg stared on in disbelief at her friend's reaction to the news before continuing.
"Christine please I beg of you to be realistic about this and think of yourself!" Meg knelt in front of her with desperate eyes in an attempt to persuade her to compliment a different point of view. "While the Opera Ghost is merely a ghost in the eyes of most people, a legend and nothing more; you are flesh and blood Christine! Firmin and Andre have suspended you from participating in any further performances, the media are outside and has surrounded this place is like the plague, but worst of all they believe you responsible for his death-"
Meg stopped in mid sentence then and looked towards her tearstained friend whose eyes were now tightly closed as though the harsh information hung over her as if threatening to crush her soul.
"Christine." She said in a softer tone. "This fiasco is not something that the Phantom, your angel, or anybody else can fix! You need-"
"Are you so sure about that Mademoiselle Giry?" Asked a harsh voice from the doorway. Christine looked up instantly and ran into his arms while Meg arose from her place but sunk back into the corner of the room as though she were afraid of something.
"Erik!" Christine exclaimed with a sob as she fell into his arms. "Do you hear what they are saying? They-They do not know what happened!"
"Shhhh." he said softly into her ear. "Do not worry yourself so darling. I will handle this." With that he released her and focused his eyes on the ballet rat in the corner. "Are you sure of what you heard young Giry?" His asked with obvious skepticism. Meg only swallowed hard and nodded as she then proceeded to hand him something out of her pocket, which appeared to be an important document.
"It was published this morning Monsieur." She whispered to the ground.
Erik looked back at Christine before opening the folded piece of paper and reading out loud for all to hear.
"A Lover's Quarrel Turned to Horror?"
Foreword by: Delmar Florismart
Article published by: Le Courrier de Mantes
Yesterday evening a well-known Viscount de Chagny was killed in a fire that occurred in his home at the approximate time of ten p.m. At this phase the cause of the fire is unknown, and suspiciously enough the young soprano Mademoiselle Christine Daae (singer at the world renounce Opera Populaire) was declared a suspect in his death after investigators discovered her odd lateness for the opening performance for the House's newest Opera "Don Juan Triumphant" And a potential motivation that has yet to be released.
Even more so Mademoiselle Daae also went missing shortly following the performance's after party and has not been seen or heard from since. The investigators believe that Mademoiselle Daae and the Viscount had a relationship during their childhood but it is unknown as of their current affiliation upon the time of his death, for while some rumors suggest that Mademoiselle Daae and the Viscount were romantically involved such claim that no such thing would have ever occurred.
Another impending suspect is the Opera's infamous Ghost whom has been confirmed to dislike the Viscount severally and has threatened him on several occasions. The local Polices have announced that Mademoiselle Daae has no alibi for the time of the Viscount's death and while suspicion glares it's head at the Opera House once more this recent horror leads this reporter to believe that perhaps the Opera Populaire is haunted after all...
The last of Erik's words were cut off as Christine collapsed on the bed only to be soon joined by Meg who wiped the hair from her eyes and handed her a handkerchief. Even Meg though was soon pushed away when Erik ran to Christine side in a vain attempt to comfort her.
"Oh Erik what are we to do?" She asked in-between her sobs. He dabbed away at the tears on her cheeks and kissed her forehead gently in an attempt to sooth her pained expression.
"I am not yet sure my love...but I promise you that we will figure out something."
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Hey everybody look I don't want to appear ungrateful for your reviews or anything but please if you're just going to review to inform me of how horrible the grammar and spelling is then just don't bother. My editor has disappeared off the face of the earth and I just really don't have that brain function to see anything wrong with my grammar and spelling (which is not something I'm proud of) So please just spare me ok? I am aware of how amateurish it is and I am trying to make an effort to fix it, ok? So if it really bothers you that much than I'd rather just have you not read my fic. at all…sorry but that's just the way I feel about it.
(end temper tantrum here)