Chapter 10: A fateful evening
A/N: Thankyou so much for your reviews, I hope you like this! You never know what night happen during a gala! Oh, and something I thought that I'd point out: I know Erik is very OOC as Moncharmin, but that is the entire point. He's trying to fool all of the other characters, and trying to hide his real identity as the Phantom. Just wanted to clear up any confusion. On with the story!
The weeks had passed with no further interruption from the Phantom, save a few strange but harmless incidents around the opera house. Moncharmin had continued to work his magic on the performers, and the singing in this production was turning out to be flawless. The tickets were completely sold out for the opening night, and the gala night was being approached with a tense excitement. And as Raoul de Chagny walked backstage to Christine's dressing room, he could feel it. He grinned through his worries though. He always found it amusing to watch the chaos ensue before a performance, as it always did. He rapped lightly on the oak door of his beloved wife's dressing room and waited for her answer.
"Who is it?" she answered.
" Your secret admirer." he teased.
" Oh well then please enter monsieur." she said, laughing.
Raoul entered the room, a bouquet of pink roses in his arms. He always picked out pink because he thought that they matched the lovely pink tint of Christine's cheeks. He handed her the flowers and her eyes lit up as she placed them in their special place on her dressing table.
"I would say that your admiration is not so secret." she said teasingly, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth as she kissed the familiar lips lovingly.
"Well that's alright, I'd rather let the whole world know how much I love you." he said, returning the kiss with equal the love and passion.
As Christine began to put the finishing touches to her stage makeup a dark thought clouded her mind.
"Raoul, do you think that Erik will follow through on his warning?" she asked, her smile faltering, and her voice slightly shaky.
"He's not a man to break his word," said Raoul gravely. " I don't know what he's planning, but I do know that I want you to be careful out there." he said, pulling her to him.
"Don't worry, I will." she said determindley, bravery in her voice, as her chocolate eyes looked up into his ocean blue ones.
He smiled as he kissed her soft lips once again. "Everything will be okay, I promise. Don't ever forget that I'm here to guard you and to guide you." he whispered.
"I won't." she said, smiling, feeling reassured at his words. He always seemed to have a calming effect on her.
"Well I had best go and bid good luck to my other prima donna, and then go and find my seat. I daresay that Felix, my parents, Phillipe, and Jacque(A/N: Meg's husband) are waiting for me." said Raoul, turning to go.
"Alright. I shall see you after the show, my love." said Christine, smiling at her husband as she turned to finish getting ready.
"Break a leg." said Raoul as he closed the door behind him. He turned to find himself face to face with Moncharmin.
"Well good evening Moniseur le Vicomte." said Moncharmin, bowing slightly.
"Good evening Moniseur Moncharmin," said Raoul cordially, a slight smile on his face. "Are you looking forward to the performance?"
"Yes, it should be quite breathtaking if all goes well. I love going to the opera, but it is especially exciting to be a part of it." he said as he adjusted the sleeve of his grey jacket. "Are you on your way to your seat?"
"Actually I was on my way to wish Marie Claire good luck." said Raoul, his eyes looking down the hallway to where his daughter's dressing room was.
"Ah, I was just on my way there as well," said Moncharmin, his dark brown hair covering the greater part of the bandage on his face. "Shall we?" he asked gesturing down the hall towards Marie's dressing room.
"Of course," said Raoul, beginning to walk towards the room. "I must say monsieur, that you have done an astounding job with this performance. I am looking quite forward to hearing all the performer's beautiful voices."
Erik couldn't help but let a half smile slip onto his face. He had to admit, this opera house had never heard such astonishing voices. At least the Vicomte had a taste for music. Erik had never known that before.
"Thankyou Vicomte. Music is after all, my love. And I am priviledged to have been able to work with such talented and experienced singers." he said as they reached Marie's door. " By the way Vicomte, have you heard anything from that Phantom fellow lately?" he asked slyly.
"We've recieved a few letters, but that's all. But we're keeping our eyes open, especially after that incident a few weeks ago, with my son outside the opera house." said Raoul, paling slightly, his voice clearly worried as he knocked on the door. "Marie sweetie, its papa, may I come in?"
"Of course." answered Marie eagerly.
Raoul opened the door, and Marie ran to him as she had since she was little, and Raoul swept her up into a hug. Her blue eyes sparkled at him as he handed her the signature bouquet of yellow roses. He had called her 'sunshine' when she was little, so now he always gave her yellow roses. She sat them next to a bouquet of white roses, which were presumably from Arthur. Erik took note that there were no red roses given in this family.
"Hello papa, Monsieur Moncharmin. What a pleasant surprise!" said Marie, smiling excitedly at them.
"I just came to wish you good luck darling." said Raoul, checking his watch. "I know that you will all do a fantastic job. And..." he whispered in her ear, "Like I told Mama and Arthur, be wary of what's going on around you."
"Don't worry papa, I will." she said seriously, "I love you."
"I love you to sunshine. I'd best get to my seat, break a leg." he said, grinning at his daughter as he closed the door behind him.
As Raoul left, Moncharmin bowed slightly to Marie Claire. "Madame Giry sent me to tell you to come out as soon as you are ready. It is twenty minutes until curtain call."
"Thankyou Monsieur." said Marie, standing up and taking one last look in the mirror. "Actually I'm ready now. So I'd best be going, before Madame Giry comes looking for me." she laughed.
"Ah, then I shall escort you. After all, you shouldn't be wandering about alone in this opera house. I believe that Arthur and Madmoiselle Elizabeth are waiting for you." he said as he opened the door.
Marie smiled and curtseyed politley after Moncharmin left her with Arthur and Lizzie, having no idea of his deception of everyone at the Opera Populaire.
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As the curtain rose for the opening scene, the audience held it's breath in excitement. For not only did this show star Marie and Arthur Page', but also Christine de Chagny, who had been missed very much during the last performance. As the opera began, Arthur stood in his posistion backstage, waiting to go on. He saw several guards placed at the doors and sighed exasperatedly. Andre and Firmin had insisted on placing them there for fear of the Phantom making an appearance. They had done this much to the chagrin and protest of everyone else involved. The two had apparently not learned their lesson on the night of Don Juan all those years ago. Yes, Arthur cared a great deal about Andre and Firmin, but it was true, they could sometimes be incredibly stubborn. But he shook his head free of those thoughts and focused on the task ahead. He watched his beloved Marie Claire on the stage, hardly believing that they had been married for almost three months now. His ears loved hearing the beautiful sounds of Marie and Christine singing together. The sound was as crystal clear as glass and and pure as a white rose. As he stood there he felt a light tap on his shoulder, and turned to see Lizzie smiling broadly at him.
"Are you feeling nervous Arthur?" she asked, her mint green eyes sparkling beneath her golden locks.
He smiled at his wife's loyal best friend. "Maybe a tad. But more so about anything, you know, out of the ordinary happening." he said warily.
Lizzie nodded, knowing that he was referring to the Phantom. "Just be careful out there, and take care of Marie."
"Don't worry I will." he said as he listened closer to the beautiful sound. "Lizzie, I've always wondered, do you like to sing?"
"Singing is fun, but dancing will always be my passion." she said, as she ushered him onto the stage.
Behind the curtain, as the magnificent dancing and singing continued, Moncharmin watched from his posistion among the others, savoring his succsess, as the audience stood to give a standing ovation. He forgot for a moment, his plans of revenge and deception, lost in the music. Lost in the voices that he had helped to create for this production. But then again, he could hardly believe his luck in pulling the wool over everyone's eyes. His plan, he was quite certain, would work out rather well. As he looked around at the people around him, he pondered his time as Moncharmin at the opera house. It had been both strange, difficult, yet still enjoyable at times. But there was one thing that stood out to him from his time here; the people held no grudge against him for his face, but looked past it to appreciate his musical talents. He wondered for a moment, if what Christine has said was really true; was it really his actions for which people hated and feared him, rather than his face? He shook his head. He would have time to ponder these thoughts after he accomplished the first stage of his plan. He turned to gaze at Marie Claire, who was coming off of stage for the intermission between acts one and two. She was his link. If he captured her, Christine, Raoul, Arthur, and god knew who else were sure to follow. Of course, he would do her no harm, but her capture would indeed lead them all past the point of no return. He could not be content staying Moncharmin and merely watching Christine and Marie from afar. He walked over towards Marie and caught her attention. His plan was moving.
"Madame, I think it would be wise if you let me check your voice. We don't want it to break after that cold that you had a few weeks ago." he said.
" Oh of course monsieur. We should go to my dressing room, so as not to disturb anyone during intermission." said Marie, walking towards her dressing room.
On the way however, they encountered Christine.
"Well hello there Marie darling, Monsieur Moncharmin." she said as she hugged her daughter. "You are doing wonderfully sweetie." she said to Marie, "How do you think it is going Monsieur?" she asked, turning to Moncharmin.
"I believe that it is going wonderfully, and I must say Madame that your voice is most amazing." he said, bending to kiss her hand.
"Thankyou Monsieur. Well I had best go, I have to change my costume before the second act. I shall see you two later." she said as she shot a discreet thumbs up at her daughter, then turned to go, her chocolate curls cascading down her back.
Once Marie and Erik reached her dressing room, Erik instructed her to sing her scales. They sounded perfect, as Erik had expected. She smiled as she finished, hoping for approval.
"Bravo Madame," he said, dropping his fake voice, and letting his natural baritone set in. "Bravo my Angel of Music."
Marie Claire jerked up at those words, her eyes wide. Never had anyone called her that, of course except the Phantom. And suddenly at that moment, she noticed something. His eyes. Those hazel grey eyes held the same look of desperation, anger, and pleading. "What did you say?" she asked, her voice stammering slightly.
"I said bravo Angel of Music." said Erik, taking her shoulder firmly but painlessly. " Now I think it would be in your best interests to follow me."
Marie stared. How could she not have noticed before? "Its you. You're not Pierre Moncharmin, you're Erik."
"Ah, you have found me out young Marie." chuckled Erik in a sarcastic tone, "Its funny how three small words can give away a man's diguise. Now come with me." he said, putting his hand over her mouth to stifle any sounds of protest. He could almost taste his victory as they reached the back of the opera house. The first part of his plan was intact, Christine and Marie would be his soon enough! Or at least that's what he thought for a fleeting moment, because suddenly he felt Marie Claire slip from his grasp, and before he knew what was happening, she was running towards the backstage area, no doubt to tell everyone of her revelation. And as she ran, her heart hammered and her blue eyes shook with tears. She wasn't going to be taken again, for both her loved ones sake and for the Phantom himself. She wouldn't let this happen, not after she was finally so happy again. She ran as fast as she could, hearing his footfalls behind her.
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A/N: Yay another chapter! I know, its a major cliffhanger, but I promise that the next chapter will be up as fast as lightning. I just couldn't put all I wanted to in one chapter. Anyway, I hope that you like it. Thankyou for all of your reviews, they are very much appreciated! After all, they are what encourage me to continue. So, please read and review! Yay for RC romance!
Asia 1st- I know, Felix must have been pretty scared, but I really wanted to involve him in this story more, so I thought that that was a good start. Oh, and I'm giving serious consideration to your idea. If it is used, which there is a very good chance of, look for it a ways down the road of the story. I love ideas, thanks!
Samantha- Yep, pretty much everyone had seen or had an encounter with the Phantom now! And again, I really want to thankyou for your continued support, you really encourage me!
mrmistofflees- By the end of the next chapter, everyone will know that the Phantom is Moncharmin. Christine, Raoul, Arthur, Meg, etc. Get ready for an exciting chapter! The secret had been revealed!