Another Angel: Chapter 7
Author note: Hey everyone! It's been a while, hasn't it? I know this chapter took FOREVER to get out, but life has been so busy. At least my midterm is over. :) Anyway, I have a couple of questions for all you readers that I'd like to ask because I'm curious about your opinions. So, #1. You may yet influence the plot. Should I be a Phantom traditionalist and have Reina be only a medium for Erik and Christine to get back together, or not? And #2, I've been careful to not reveal many physical characteristics about Reina. I've just said the fact that personality wise, she is similar to Christine. So, what do you all imagine her as? Age? Physical appearance? Christine look-a-like, or your own version? And that's it for your pop quiz. :) Responses can be emailed to azael. or left as a review if you don't mind everyone in the world seeing it. Thank you! Now, to the chapter. I wonder if anyone even reads these author notes. I guess I'll find out when/if I receive responses… —AzIce
Reina stared at Madame Giry in disbelief. "No way," she said. "There's no way he would have done all of that stuff. He's an angel."
Giry gave a sad, sympathetic smile. This girl believed everything that he told her—and she didn't even suspect him of being the Phantom that caused the destruction of the Garnier Opera House. "I'm afraid it's true," she said.
"No…" she repeated, refusing to believe it. "He's a good person. He wouldn't do all of those things."
"I must agree with you. He is a very well-intentioned person. He deserves a lot more than what he has. He gave Christine his soul, and she deserted him for the Vicomte, who loved her so much as well."
"You're lying. You're just making this up." Reina stood up from the chair she was sitting in. "I'm sorry. I don't think we're thinking of the same person. And I have a rehearsal to attend," she said, quickly coming up with an excuse to escape this mad woman and her absurd proposition. She walked away and opened the door to leave.
"You may not believe me," Giry said to her back as she left the room. "But go visit Christine Daae. She lives across town on the Chagny estate with the Vicomte. She will be the one who can tell you everything."
Reina didn't respond to Giry's last comment, but Giry knew that she had heard it.
Reina couldn't concentrate at all during the second rehearsal of the day. What Madame Giry had said constantly repeated itself in her mind, creating a shadow of doubt, albeit her continual, firm belief that her angel had nothing to do with the destruction of the Garnier Opera House.
La Sorelli's constant criticism of her didn't help either. Practice went half an hour later than usual because Reina wasn't paying much attention to rehearsal. But she finally made up her mind. She would go see Christine Daae. It seemed like she was the only person who could answer her questions. Her angel talked about her often, and Giry mentioned her. She must have had a big part in whatever story connected her angel, the Garnier Phantom, Madame Giry, and the destruction of the Opera House.
After rehearsal, she obtained permission from Madame Ellisa to leave. At first, Madame Ellisa had firmly refused her request, but later let her go without a second thought. Reina supposed that Madame Giry had talked to her and swayed her to allow Reina to go, but Giry's false story would not influence her. She changed into a simple, light green gown and put on a shawl before leaving the Opera House. It had been a while since she had actually left the opera house. They rarely left, as their entire lives were centered around the never-ending flow of operas that blew through their doors. After dressing, she walked over to the stables, handing the stable master a few coins.
"Where to, mademoiselle?"
"The Chagny Estate, please," she said as he helped her into the carriage. They left the stables and Reina headed for the truth behind everything—a truth that she began to fear as they came closer to the large, magnificent mansion across town. About midway through the trip, rain began to pour down from the dark gray clouds. She, however, hardly noticed as she was engrossed in her thoughts—reminiscing the long, yet enjoyable rehearsals at night; his powerful, smooth voice luring her to sleep and to a world she never imagined; and that first day they met. That would always be engraved into her mind, that one night that changed everything.
She felt the carriage stop and that jolted her from her thoughts. She looked out the carriage window to find herself looking at an enormous, magnificent mansion. The carriage driver came to open the door for her and he even held and umbrella out for her to shield her from the rain. (A/N: There's a better word for carriage driver. Someone tell me it. It's 11:30 and I just came back from school because I was working on a deadline. And umbrellas do exist in this time period. I researched it. Yes, a lot of thought goes into this). The driver banged the doorknocker and in a short while, a butler came to the door.
"And you are…?" he asked, waiting for an answer.
"I'm from the Paris Opera. I'm…I'm looking for Christine Daae. I was told that I could find her here," Reina said.
"Please, come in," the butler said, moving out of the doorway and gesturing to some armchairs. "I will get the master."
"Mademoiselle, shall I wait for you?" the driver asked as he turned to leave.
"No," she finally said with some thought. "This will take a while. Thank you though," she replied. "Please tell Madame Ellisa that I will return by 8 tonight."
The man nodded and left, while the butler left as well, supposedly getting Christine, leaving Reina in the foyer to wonder at the architecture and paintings on the wall; it really was a marvelous mansion. A few minutes later, a finely dressed man probably a couple years older than her came down the stairs. He started slightly seeing her there in the entryway.
"Who might you be?" he asked her, startling her from her thoughts.
She turned. "I'm Reina Merteuil, from the Paris Opera. I'm looking for Christine Daae. I was told that I could find her here."
"You certainly can," he said with a smile on his face. "I'm Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny. I'll tell someone to find her right away. Forgive me for not coming sooner. I had no idea that you were here. Pierre must have forgotten to tell me that someone had arrived."
She smiled. "It's all right. I haven't been here long."
Raoul left for a minute, then came back, offering her something to drink as well as engaging her in small conversation while they waited for Christine.
Christine stared out the window, watching the rain pour incessantly from dark clouds, clouds that only became darker as the sun finally sank beneath the horizon fading to night. Though she was happy with Raoul, she still thought about the Phantom often. She missed hearing his voice at night, lulling her to sleep and entering her dreams. Even though it only had been a few days, she sorely missed her opera days already. Raoul thought it would be best if she took a couple of months off from Opera, because it had caused her so much stress. It did cause her stress, but she knew that he was afraid that the Phantom would return. She knew, however, that he would uphold her decision, no matter how much he still loved her. He was an honorable person.
She hoped that he was okay. That last night at the Opera House must have been horrible for him. He his deformity was revealed to the public and she chose Raoul instead of him. She felt horrible for doing so, but she loved Raoul. How she wished that both of them could be happy, but it would never happen. Both loved her so much.
'That last night, when he sung, he was so passionate about his life's work,' she said, remembering the thrill she felt at his touch—even his voice gave her shivers that night.
The door behind her opened and she turned at the noise. There was a servant there. He bowed.
"Sorry for interrupting you, mademoiselle. But there is someone waiting for you in the foyer."
'Waiting for me?' she thought. 'Could it be him? Would he be that daring?'
She smiled. "Thank you." She left, heading down to the foyer.
Reina saw Christine, or who she supposed to be Christine, approach from behind Raoul. Raoul saw her eyes move and turned. He stood up and greeted Christine with a quick kiss. "Reina, this is Christine, my fiancée. Dear, this is Reina. She's from the Paris Opera."
Reina and Christine smiled to each other, meeting glances.
"I actually have a question for you, madame. (A/N: I need help again on word selection, please:) I don't want the word madame, but I couldn't think of anything else. "Madame" is for Mrs. in French. But Christine is not a Mrs. at least, not yet. And it makes her sound old. And if I use 'mademoiselle,' which means young lady, it implies that Christine is considerably younger than Reina, which isn't the connotation I want. I want a word that implies that Christine is skill-wise, more advanced than Reina. Sort of like a modest "You're better than me because you're a star in the Opera and I'm not" attitude, but being polite about it, and they're about the same age. Does that make sense? Any takers? I know it's super confusing. Sorry!) But it's a very private question. Forgive me, monsieur le Vicomte, but may I ask you to leave? Or can we be taken to another room where we can be alone?"
After some slight hesitation, he agreed and they were led to Christine's room, where Christine shut the door and locked it.
"So, what is this secret that is only to be between you and me?" Christine asked curiously. She had never seen this girl in her entire life.
"I know I may seem prying. But I must ask you what happened," Reina said. "Please. Tell me his story. Tell me about his relationship with you. Tell me about the Phantom of the Opera."
A/N: Muahahaha. The end. For now. Next chapter will come eventually…eventually. This is mostly filler. Stuff will happen next time. And Erik might make reappearance. Maybe they'll all DIE. Nah. I wouldn't do that. :) Anyway, a thanks to all the reviewers! Genius of Music—I'm sorry the wait was so long! Don't do anything to me! Kaji Q—I'm glad you like my writing. I hope you'll continue to read. :) And SpeedDemon315—Wow. You posted your review right as I was about to post this chapter. I logged on and ta-da, there was a new review. Haha. Anyway, you'll find the answer to your review in the next chapter. So, ta-ta for now, my readers. Send those replies back in so I know what to do next chapter. And you all know the drill. Any comments, criticisms, yada yada yada are always welcome! Until the next chapter. —AzIce