A/N this is the next chapter I hope if there are any readers, they like it. But thank you to the people who actually have reviewed, I really appreciate it. And by the way my Erik is not going to have a wig. The gorgeous black locks are his own!
Hina, lol, I'm glad you still love me ;) and you are mean you were actually meant to read it. :'( and don't worry I'll have your autograph :D I never got to sleep round yours this summer :-( (if that doesn't scare you, then nothing will :( ) oh well we will in the half-term and we can go to London this time too :D Fanfiction will probably ban me for this :( but oh well. Aww your girlie skater is so cute! You should go out with him. Anyway, moving on.
PhantomGrl1870, I'm sorry if I got your name wrong this is on my computer in my room and I have the internet blah, blah downstairs so I can't check. Thank you for your review! I was really nervous I was so sure it would be somebody screaming at me for having such a bad idea etc. I'm glad you like this and I hope this chapter is to your taste. I can't wait to continue reading your story.
Disclaimer: I barely own the plot anymore for once so I'll change my disclaimer. I own only the diary. And his hair. Hmm… oh yeah, I am also the proud owner of the phantom of the opera DVD. I am happy I got it. Yay!
Anyway… enjoy.
Chapter 1: A new companion?
22:32 organ 30th October 1870
Dear Diary,
Today I have been touched by an angel. Quite literally. I found out that the artistic ballet rat is called Christine. Christine… oh what a lovely name for a lovely young woman. I have never felt this way before about anybody. My heart yearns for her – I am in love! But first, I will write of my day. Oh what a day!
It started as normal. I sat in the rafters watching the practice below. La Carlotta in Hannibal. Still, it was quite good. Without even my assistance Carlotta decided shortly after Lefevres retirement announcements, that she too would be leaving. Maybe they were lovers. . . Even though she is meant to be with that obese fool, Piangi. Unfortunately, my new managers, Messieurs Gilles Andre and Richard Firmin managed to persuade her, with the help of Monsieur Reyer, to stay. There is also a new patron, the Vicomte de Chegny; a foppish young man in dire need of a haircut.
But anyway, the bossy toad (hmm, maybe I could use that on her one day if she comes back) started singing – and killing - "Think of me". It sounded as though shewas being killed! I wonder if it is punishable to murder a song so brutally? I couldn't take anymore, nor could I wait to find out. I noticed that some others below me were wincing and a few elders had put cotton wool in their ears. (NOTE: buy some earplugs and USE THEM when you know Carlotta is going to sing) I loosened a backdrop that fell trapping her. Many ballet rats screamed and Antoinette's nosy daughter audibly said 'He's here, the phantom of the opera!' as I swirled my cape and disappeared through a hidden door, I smiled.
I heard vaguely, the accusations to that awful Bouquet man; 'Please monsieur, as God's my judge I wasn't at my post. Please monsieur, there's no one there. And if there is, well then, it must be a ghost. He laughed and I smiled. He may be stupid but he was right.
I dropped a letter that Madame Giry found and I went back down to my lair. (By the way, after the little "accident" Carlotta left! Madame Giry suggested Christine Daae sing. My Christine… I didn't here her though.)
I hurried around, making sure that everything in my lair was perfect. Tonight would be the night. I would show Miss Daae to my lair and she would agree to marry me. I made a dummy that looked like her so I could make a wedding dress that would fit and I could see whether or not it suited her. Upon finishing, I smiled for my work was pretty good. I put my masterpiece (yet another one) in a small cove and covered the entrance with a red drape. Jealous of what I was doing, Ayesha had gone out in a huff.
I still had a few hours left before the performance so I decided to play some music on my organ. I played and played slow melodies of love then I went to my "bedroom" and picked out an outfit for this evening. I chose a black suit with a deep purple cravat. I brushed by hair and put on my white mask.
Eventually it was time and I found out that that insolent little boy had taken it upon himself to sit in box five. Usually I would say something in the middle of a performance but I didn't want to risk upsetting Christine or ruining her chance at playing the lead. I went back down to my lair rather annoyed and paced the tunnel. I soon recognised the tune of think of me. And then, I heard the singing of an angel. It was her! My Christine. She sang so wonderfully that I stopped and just listened.
After her performance she went to the small chapel – the first room I ever came to upon entering the opera house – and lit a candle for her father. I waited a moment and then started praising her. Brava, Brava, Bravisma. Then that stupid Giry girl came and ruined things. Christine, Christine! Christine… Where in the world have you been hiding? Really you were perfect. I only wish I knew your secret. Who is your great tutor? And so on. But then – and I couldn't believe my ears – Christine was talking about an Angel helping her! She thought I was an angel of music! Then she sang about knowing I was there which I thought was odd. Father once spoke of an angel, I used to dream he'd appear. Now as I sing I can sense him, and I know he's here. Here in this room he calls me softly, somewhere inside hiding. Somehow I know he's always with me – he the unseen genius. Well there is no denying that. Then that Giry girl sang again. Then my angel. Angel of music, guide and guardian grant to me your glory. Angel of music, hide no longer, secret and strange angel. I would have stepped out of shadow and greeted her if that wretched blonde wasn't there.
I hurried back to her dressing room and behind the mirror. Soon she came in with Antoinette who told her she was very good and he was proud. Christine fingered the single red rose in black satin that I had left there for her. Madame Giry left and Christine sat at her dressing table. I opened my mouth to whisper her name but the door opened again and the fop was there talking about some "Little Lotte" Christine seemed to understand as she joined him, her eyes lit up. He told her to get ready for supper but she declined saying the angel of music was very strict. Maybe that was just an excuse. I don't know, heck this is confusing! He just laughed like the girl he is and walked out. I looked the door as I didn't want anybody else barging in and ruining my plan. Then I made the candles flicker out in the whole of the opera house. It looks pretty impressive – it took me ages to learn how to do that but it was worth it!
Anyway, I started singing something about the fop being an insolent boy basking in her glory. I nearly said insolent girl. Then I told her he was sharing in my triumph. She started singing about me being her angel again to which I rolled my eyes to the heavens (if there are any, which is not so as any god, has ever helped me. I mean for god's sake ((God being the operative word)) an angel? Me? that's about as likely as me and "Raoul" – the Vicomte – getting married!) and about hiding no longer. I couldn't wait any longer so I told her to look in the mirror. She did so and gradually saw me. I held my hand out for her, which she took. As soon as she did some dramatic organ music I made up an age ago started playing (or that might have been in my head… most probably).
As we walked down to my lair hand in hand she began singing about the Phantom of the Opera being there inside her mind. I wanted to tell her that I was real but I just went along with it and sang my bit. Then she had the cheek (ha, ha) to sing those who have seen your face, draw back in fear! I am the mask you wear so I sang it's me they hear. The song continued and then she started singing really high-pitched cadenza that sounded good. I encouraged her with sing my angel, sing for me, etc, etc, etc. When I got out of the boat she stayed put and I sang about how I brought her to the seat of sweet music's throne where everyone has to play homage to music.
Afterwards I started singing my music of the night song and I took her from the boat showing her around. Everything seemed to be going well and she seemed to be seduced by me. But when I showed her the dummy and wedding dress the stupid girl fainted. I hadn't even finished my song! I caught her and continued anyway, carrying her to my black swan bed. I laid her down in it and pulled the lace veil down. I went back to my organ slightly discouraged at her fainting business. That is when I started writing this. But now I can speak more about Christine, the love of my life. Although I have been writing for about two hours and my hand hurts! But she is worth it. She is so beautiful. Would you like to know what she looks like? That was a stupid question, of course you do! She has beautiful brown locks and the most beautiful deep brown eyes that you could just drown in! her skin is pale and perfect, and though she is quite tall, when she was standing in front of my I could rest my chin on the top of her head perfectly. She is perfect! And I love her.
Oh, I haven't even told her my name. But then again, she didn't ask. Is that because she isn't interested in me or because she was so much in love with me she forgot to ask? I want to wake her up to talk to her until late but I couldn't do that. It is late now. Past midnight. So I think I will bid you farewell for now. I shall right as soon as I wake up.
I guess I will have to sleep at this bench tonight as I do not have a spare bed and it would be so ill mannered to get into bed beside Christine. Once we are married we won't have this problem. I can't make her live down here though. She deserves a proper house with plenty of maids and servants. I could afford that. I have saved up the 20,000 a month I have been getting for ten years and now the two new managers have grudgingly agreed to give me 40,000 francs a month. And when we move out I could get a job as a musician or something in an expensive restaurant or somewhere that would pay well. Christine would have the rich, comfortable life she deserves. I know for a fact the beds like the one she sleeps on upstairs are not comfortable at all! I can see it now, all our little children running around the garden. They wouldn't look like me. We would have lots of mini Christine's. Many a beautiful child. And our wedding day! Oh it would be wonderful. Nobody who came would forget it in a hurry. I would of course invite Antoinette and Christine would have Meg to be her bridesmaid. Maybe I could get Ayesha to walk down the aisle with me and have our rings on her velvet collar. Maybe not… I know she would never do that, even if she does come back to me. She's like that, whenever we have an argument she will runaway for a few days then come crawling back. I would always take her back as she is my companion. But now I have a new companion. I still won't forget Ayesha though – I love her, just not in the same way. In our new house she can have her own room and she will have her own personal butler. Ok, now I am getting ahead of myself. Christine doesn't even know my name yet.
What am I doing? I said half an hour ago I would go to sleep. Ok, I will. Goodnight.
Yours truly, Erik
07:10 Organ 31st October 1970
Dear Diary,
Good morning. And happy Halloween. Nobody in the opera House celebrates or even mentions Halloween, which suits me just fine. It is a silly childish event. Oh I slept fine. That was sarcasm. I fell to sleep easily as I was very tired but my neck couldn't be in anymore pain! But I couldn't care less. Because soon I will speak with my precious angel. I will talk over yesterday with her and maybe apologise for scaring her with the dummy. I admit it would be rather freaky to see that but I needed it to be like that as I already explained to you yesterday.
As you can probably tell, nothing much has happened today since I have only just woken up. Well I checked on Christine first and she is still sleeping soundly. She looks so peaceful when asleep. I watched her for a while but soon left in case she awoke and thought I was some weird pervert who watched her sleeping all night. Which isn't true. I checked on her once before going to sleep because she might have woken and required something.
About that house thing. Would she want a massive house? It is what she deserves but maybe she would be happy in a small cottage or something. You could get that for about 20,000 francs. And we would have so much left over to spoil her and for other things. To be honest, I am doubting the work idea. I don't really want a 'what is behind the mask monsieur?' everyday for the rest of my life. And I would rather me and Christine stay in or go out together everyday. I don't want to leave her by herself – she might get lonely. I could get a part time job just to help us along a bit. I really haven't thought this through. Oh god I only want her to be happy but what if all I do only makes her upset? I will ask her what she would like so I can do my very best to make her as happy as she can be. I know she hasn't had a great life. She was orphaned at seven and she loved her father dearly. She was lonely here; the other girls didn't try there best to make her feel welcome. Her only friend really was Meg. I can change this, her young adult life wasn't great but adulthood will be wonderful. Oh god. Ok, I am frowning now. She is awake and singing about what she remembers. She will disrupt my writing for a bit but then I will write again about what happened. If she will indulge as such.
Yours truly, Erik
09:00 Organ
Dear Diary,
I am shy now. Christine is looking over my shoulder sometimes. I don't mind I am just self-conscience about my handwriting. She just laughed and said she loved my writing. So when she came over to me she started singing about who was that man in the mask blah, blah. She put her hands on my face and as I didn't know what she was going to do I didn't pull away. Well I suppose you can guess that was a big mistake. She pulled off my mask. In my rage, I pushed her other and came up with some odd names such as little viper, lying Delilah, prying Pandora and such as. Then as always I began to sing. Stranger than you dreamt it, can you even dare to look? Or bear to think of me? This loathsome gargoyle who burns in hell but secretly, yearns for heaven secretly, secretly, Christine… Fear can turn to love you'll learn to see to find the man behind the monster. This revolting carcass that seems a beast but secretly, dreams of beauty secretly, secretly.
She silently handed my mask back. My worst fears confirmed it seemed. But then she whispered, just audibly, 'I don't think you are a revolting carcass who seems a beast.' That made me kind of happy. But then she said 'Maybe you are just a little misunderstood,' Misunderstood? What a joke, nobody has ever come close enough to me so as even try to understand me. They are all prejudice. They believe and understand what they want to about me even though they know nothing! (By the way diary, I wrote that in a shouting sort of way.) Christine got up and walked over to my organ. She sat next to be on this bench/ makeshift bed that only wants to murder your neck (still hurts by the way!) and looked through my music sheets. She picked out some she liked the look of and asked me to play them. I obliged and for a while my home was filled with sweet music. Then I remembered my manners although nobody had ever really taught me them, and I offered Christine a drink and some breakfast. She accepted. We got to know each other a bit better. She really is just as nice as I thought she would be. After breakfast I found a dress I had made and gave it to her to put on as she still had a dress from Hannibal on. It fitted her perfectly of course and looked wonderful. I also apologised for scaring her with that dummy. I told her that I liked dressmaking and I needed to make a dummy to make it easier. I said that I thought she was so pretty it seemed only right to use hers as the head of the dummy. Also that her hair was beautiful so it would flatter any headdress I ever made. She smiled and blushed and apologised for fainting but she was just a bit shocked and she was like that. She said she was really flattered also.
She thinks it is adorable that I write a diary. I think it's adorable that she doesn't write a diary. She has an amazing laugh too. It's so lovely and perfect. Just like her… Oh I forgot she was beside me. She is blushing. I probably am too. She told me earlier that my music was so wonderful I should bring it together and write my own opera. I couldn't do that, could I? Maybe I should give it a go and then bring it to my managers so they can get everyone to perform it. Maybe I should! And Christine could be my main character. I will get straight to work on it. Tomorrow. 'The lead role? I don't think I could do that. I am not even a good soprano!' Bless, so modest. So I said 'don't be silly you have the most wonderful voice I have ever heard –' 'apart from your own,' she butted in. that definitely made me blush! That patronising girl just pinched my cheek! How dare she. Maybe I will cast Carlotta as the lead. Christine you may laugh now but you won't be when I only cast you as an extra! But still, I guarantee you will have the role of Countess in Il Muto tonight. Carlotta can be the pageboy – the silent role.
What is the time? 10.24! 'Christine I have to take you back now. Those two fools who run my theatre will be missing you.' 'But I don't want to go! I like it here. Can't I just stay for a small while longer.' 'No' 'but' 'no!' 'Fine' 'I hope you aren't to upset. You can come back soon just not now, they will think you have been kidnapped!' 'Ok than, if you promise.' 'I do' She came closer to me and then kissed me! Not just on the cheek, a proper kiss! My first. It was fantastic! It is ok; she has gone back to her bedroom for a moment to make sure she looks decent. When does she not? Oh gosh, it is amazing how much I love her! She must like me too. It is too soon to tell her how I feel though. After all, I don't want a repeat of last night. But now I must go and return Christine. I will write of the rest of my day tonight after Il Muto.
Yours truly, Erik
A/N Yay my first chapter. I hope it is long enough for you, nearly 4,000 words. And also, like I said this will be an EC pairing. If you have a problem with that, I suggest either you do not read this or you read it pretending Erik is Raoul or Andre etc – whoever you prefer or you can just read it anyway. :)
Well goodbye, until next we speak. I like being authoress. Don't forget to review and tell me what you think.