Chapter 9: An encounter
The next day at rehearsal, Raoul sat in the theater as he had promised. No one seemed to question this, for all seemed to know why he was there. It was common knowledge around the opera house about what had happened between the de Chagny family and the Phantom. The return of the Phantom had struck a fear in everyone at the opera house, and there was a tense feeling in the air. Raoul smiled over at Felix who was sitting beside him, paying a rapt attention to the rehearsal, which was strange for a fidgety ten year old boy. In fact, Raoul thought, Felix had been acting strangely all day. He had come to work with Raoul at the law office, constantly asking questions about the Phantom. This was after he had been interrogating Christine about the same topic all morning. It seemed that since the Phantom ahd returned, Felix had become incredibly curious about it. But Raoul's worry about this had increased when he had seen the letter on the dining room table this morning. It was clear that Felix had read it. Raoul had sincerely hoped that Felix would not have had to find out about the Phantom until he was much older. He didn't want his son to be frightened or hurt by any of Erik's actions. It also worried him that Felix might be so curious as to go looking for the Phantom. Felix was very intelligent, yes, but young boys tend to let their curiosity get the better of them. Raoul did not like the fact that Felix seemed to be quite worried about the situation. He put an arm around his son's shoulder.
"Are you alright my boy?" he asked, looking down at Felix's boyish face.
"I'm fine papa, I'm just a little scared of that letter I found on the doorstep last night, that's all." said Felix as leaned over to hug his father.
"I know." said Raoul, hugging his son tightly. "But I promise that it will be okay, just don't go walking about the opera alone, alright?"
"Alright." said Felix quietly, as father and son turned their attention to the stage.
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Up on the stage, Madame Giry, Reyer, and Moncharmin were working the cast to the bone. The ballet girls looked exhausted, the chorus like they never wanted to sing again, and the main characters like they were about to pass out. Moncharmin especially seemed anxious to get every note perfect down perfectly. The rehearsal had gone on for three hours and Marie Claire's throat was aching from singing. But she had to admit, the long rehearsal had allowed them to completely perfect th first two scenes of the opera. As the music started up once again, the most familiar notes soared through the air, and the dancing girls, Lizzie among them, fell into their now memorized steps. Though she was tired, Christine smiled as she sang, the notes spreading warmth through her body after the cold fear that the latest letter had brought this morning. But each time it came to her mind, she looked out at the theater at Raoul's face and she was reassured. Then the music ended and Madame Giry finally announced the end of rehearsal. Most of the cast hurried out, as though afraid that she would change her mind. Moncharmin made his way over to where Christine, Marie, and Arthur were standing.
"Bravo, that was an excellent rehearsal my friends." he said as he bowed to them, his cold gaze resting on their faces. "But I daresay that you are exhausted."
"I would say so." said Arthur, rubbing his throat. "That was quite a long rehearsal."
"It was," said Christine tiredly, as Raoul and Felix came up behind them. "But singing is always refreshing."
"Well I supposse you all should be on your way home now. I shall see you tommorow." said Moncharmin, turning to go.
"Thankyou for your excelent instruction." said Marie Claire sincerely as she took Arthur's hand.
He turned around. "You are most welcome Madame." he said,walking out rather quickly. He made his way through the lavish halls of the opera house, but then he stopped just outside the Mahogany doors, hiding himself conspicuously. He watched them as he removed his constraining disguise. It was interesting to watch the group interact with each other, and indeed how close thehy were to each other.
The group made thier way towards the grand doors, Raoul kissed his daughter on the cheek, clapped Arthur on the back, and then took Christine's hand in his. Christine smiled up at him, her eyes silently thanking him for sitting in during rehearsal. It was clear that all four of them were relieved that one more rehearsal had gone by without any interuption from the Phantom. They all smiled and talked as they walked through the ornately decorated halls. But before they could take their leave, they were stopped at the bottom of the marble stairs by Andre and Firmin. Felix, who could tell that this was going to be a long conversation, went and sat on the sunlit stone steps outside the opera house. Felix liked Andre and Firmin, they just tended to have incredibly long winded conversations with his parents, sister, and Arthur, and Felix just didn't feel like listening to adult talk today. He brushed his honey colored hair out of his face, smiling at the bustling city around him. One thing was for sure, not even a ten, almost eleven year old boy could get bored in Paris. Then his keen young eyes suddenly caught sight of swishing cloak, turning away from the opera house entrance. Felix felt cold all of a sudden, and he was quite sure he knew who was beneath the cloak. He turned to go inside the opera house and warn his family, but before he could, he felt an icy hand on his shoulder. He turned to see the face of the legendary masked man smirking before him.
"Bonjour young Monsieur de Changy. " said Erik slyly.
Felix's eyes widened slightly as he wriggled out of the man's grip. He backed slowly away, but Erik merely followed.
"So I see that you have become quite the curious one about me young Felix." said the Phantom, still smirking.
"Stay away ffffrom me." stammered Felix as he bravely put up his small fists in self defense.
Erik chuckled at this as he swished his cloak behind him. "I won't harm you Felix, I only thought to introduce myself." said Erik, taking Felix's chin in his hand and looking into his eyes.
"Let go." said Felix,trying to struggle Erik's ironlike grip, but his efforts were futile.
"You have your mother's eyes," said Erik slowly, " And your father's stubborness."
Then a deep voice was heard behind them. "Let my son go." it was Raoul, who had come out to look for Felix, for fear that something exactly like this would happen.
Erik whipped around instantly drawing his sword, as though out of instinct. It clanged against Raoul's, which was already drawn. It seemed as though there was going to be a duel, right there on the front steps of the opera house. But just then, Marie Claire's voice rang through the air behind them.
"Papa, Felix! What's going on!" she asked, picking up her skirts and running up to them and looking Erik straight in the eyes. " Erik, what are you doing, leave my brother and father alone!" she said stiffly, the anger clear in her voice.
"Ah, Madame Page," he said bitterly, as the two swords clanged together once more, "What a pleasure to see you."
Felix, at seeing Marie Claire, ran to her, and she scooped her brother up in her arms, her heart pulsating rapidly. This couldn't be happening, not again. Just then, a large group of people, including Meg, Lizzie, and Christine piled out of the opera house. Erik rested his gaze on Christine, and seeing the look of anger, fear, sadness, and pity on her face somehow made him realize that this was not the time for this, he would have to wait. He let out a slight growl. He swung at Raoul one last time purely out of spite.
"I shall see you again Vicomte." he spat.
Raoul looked Erik in the eye. "Stay away from my family." he said, sheathing his sword. "I will not see them hurt."
"Insolent fool." Erik said, shooting a fiery glance at Arthur and the other's who were standing there. He wrapped his cloak about him, and glancing one last time at Marie and Christine, he dissappeared.
Raoul immediatley turned to Felix, and hugged him tightly.
"Are you alright my son?" he asked, his blue eyes concerned.
Felix nodded. "It was just a little unnerving, that's all." he said shakily.
"I don't doubt that." said Arthur, his eyes wide as he hugged Felix. "Are you alright Raoul?"
Raoul nodded, removing his jacket in summer heat. "I'm alright, I was expecting something like this to happen." he turned to the stunned group before him. "Is everyone alright?"
They all nodded, but still looked quite shaken. Then Madame Giry stepped forward.
"We shall all have to be very careful over the next few weeks, but for now, I believe we should all go home." she said wisely.
They all nodded. As the group dispersed Christine came over to her son. "Felix are you alright darling?" she asked in a whisper as she hugged him.
Felix nodded as he buried his face into his mother's soft dress, taking in her comforting scent of fresh flowers.
"I think it would be best if you didn't wander alone again." she said seriously. "In fact, I think it best that none of us wander alone."
"I agree." said Raoul as Christine came over to him, and kissed him gently. He smiled, kissing her back. She always managed to make the dark situations seem better.
And then, after making sure that her family was alright, Marie kissed them all goodbye and she and Arthur waved, and began to walk down the sidewalk, as the sun began to set behind them. Lizzie and William followed them, as they were going dinner at Arthur's house. Then Christine, Raoul, Felix, Meg, her husband, and Madame Giry climbed into Raoul's carriage. Raoul started the white horses off towards the de Chagny estate, as each person's mind and heart were filled with questions and with worries, the letter about the gala night prominent among them.
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A/N: Hey everyone, sorry about the long delay. I came down with the stomach flu for a week and could barely move, so I didn't have the energy to sit at the computer. But anyway, I hope that you like this chapter. I thought that it was time for Felix to meet the Phantom face to face. So please read and review, I hope you like!
mrmistoflees- Thanks for reading. Oh, and he's not trying to warn Felix, Felix just happened to be the one to find the letter. And the Phantom left the letter so as to confuse them. He hopes that their attention will be so focused on the Phantom's antics, that anything that his alter ego Moncharmin does will unnoticed. It helps to further convince them that Moncharmin is not the Phantom. as for what will happen on the gala night, you will find out in then next chapter!
Eponine- Thankyou for your help, I can always use it. I really want to work to make this story original, so I hope that you like my next chapter better.
Guitarprincess- Thankyou so much! Yay RC!
I am the Angel of Music- Thanks for reviewing, and yes, I did take the name Moncharmin from Leroux, I think its an interesting name.
Samantha- Thankyou for reviewing, I try to update quickly just for you.
Asia 1st- Thanks!