Hi everyone. Welcome to my first SP fic...

Let me introduce myself... I'm Maska and have only written a couple of Phantom fics before so this is pretty new. I'm a bit of a Chauvelin fan... is he not just the most amazingly cool bad guy ever?

Well basically the jist of this is that the events of SP take place but with a new character, who plays rather a crucial role in the events that unfold... the untold story one might say. Starting off, it was meant to be a combination of book, film and musical. In actual fact it's more like the musical plot than anything else but there are going to be elements from the others. And one more thing...yes I do know that Chauvelin's actual name is Armand but I've used the film name of Paul instead. Only for the simple reason that Armand St. Just will feature and I would rather not have two Armands. I don't know about you but it would confuse me so there we go.

Anyway, I've wittered too much so here we go... any comments would be appriciated.

Chapter 1

Lucie did not believe in love. She had good reason not to. She had been used and abused so many times in her life, she had come to hate men, often wishing that the plague that snaked through Paris would come for her.

It had all started several years ago when she was only sixteen. While many of her friends were married Lucie had no-one. Not because she was plain, in fact she was one of the prettiest girls in her neighbourhood and had many suitors, but simply because she was sensible and would not marry someone for convenience. She had believed in love then. Her heart had been claimed by one Gerrad Moral who had enticed her to his bed with declarations of love and promises of marriage. But he soon grew bored with her and left her alone and shunned by her family and friends for her loss of innocence. Starving and desperate for money, she was forced to sell her body and haunted the streets, victim to a bullying pimp and men who saw her a tool. The revolution had changed something though. Paris was still a diseased and infested hole but there were opportunities for her. She had managed to get a job as a dancer at the Comedie Francais, although not the best paid job, it was stable and it was from here that Lucie concentrated on getting a life back. However this night would change everything for Lucie. It was one night after a performance at the Comedie Francais when it would happen. When her life would never be the same again.

It was normal after the performance for the patrons to go backstage and mingle with the actors and dancers. Despite the new 'equal' post-revolution society, the more sophisticated the patron, the better the actress that entertained him. There were rumours that an English aristocrat often visited the star Marguerite St. Just almost every evening. However there were no aristocrats for Lucie and for that she was grateful. It most certainly would not look good for a revolutionary to start fraternising with aristocrats whatever nationality they may be. Unfortunately for her, she was hounded by a less than desirable man by the name of Lemark. Every night he would be backstage trying to tempt her to bed. Lucie had managed to escape from him once that evening but he had once again found her had had her cornered in a passage, far from anyone who could hear her.

'Come Lucie,' he said. 'Let's have no more games.'

As he spoke, he ran a finger down her cheek, making her flinch in disgust. It reminded her of the way in which her ex-clients would treat her.

'Please, I am flattered,' Lucie replied, trying not to make eye contact. 'But I must go.'

'Lucie my dear. You have to go every night. Not tonight,' Lemark said leaning forward to kiss her.

Suddenly Lucie caught sight of a man moving down a nearby corridor and an idea quickly formulated in her mind.

'I'm meeting my brother,' she said quickly, pulling back from Lemark.

Lemark looked amused

'You surely don't expect me to believe that-'

'Brother!' Lucie cried breaking out of Lemark's grip and ran towards the man and kissing his cheeks.

As she pulled away the man showed utter confusion. He was tall and handsome with dark hair and carried a large bouquet of flowers. Lucie looked into his eyes, silently begging for him to help her. His gaze left Lucie's face and saw Lemark approaching behind. He understood quickly.

'Sister!' he cried. 'Where have you been? And who is this man?'

'I am Citizen Lemark-'

'I don't care what your name is,' the man said. 'I simply request that you stay away from my sister.'

Lemark opened his mouth to protest but under the man's icy blue stare he thought better of it.

'Goodbye Lucie,' he said turning and striding down the passage.

As soon as he was gone, Lucie turned to her rescuer.

'Thank you Citizen,' she said. 'If you hadn't come when you did-'

'It was my pleasure,' the man replied. 'Do you often have trouble with him?'

'Yes, yes I do. Lucie Dubois,' she added after a pause, offering her hand.

The man took it and kissed it gently.

'I am honoured to have met you Madamoiselle Dubois,' he said.

Lucie's heart was pounding inside her. Not for years had she met a person who was so charming. A man that did not seem to think of sex when he laid eyes on her.

'If you are to ever need anything again, you will find me at 23 Rue de Planchet.'

'Thank-thank you,' Lucie stuttered

'Well goodbye,' he said, plucking a flower from his bouquet and handing it to her. 'A brave girl.'

He began to walk away.

'Wait!' Lucie cried after him. 'Who should I ask for?'

The man looked at her for a moment, his eyes searching her as if to study her integrity.

'Paul Chauvelin,' he said finally and continued to walk away.

'Paul Chauvelin,' Lucie whispered to herself. 'Paul Chauvelin.'