THE MASK AND THE ROSE
A/N: Hello, Everyone. This is my second published phan-phic, so I'm fairly new on I hope this sounds better than the summary depicts it. I'm horrible at summaries, and I really can't stand them. But I hope you consider reading this, even if it does sound stupid. There will be no Raoul bashing in this phic, no Christine bashing, and no Erik bashing. It is an Erik and Christine spin-off, though. Please leave a review after you read this. I accept all types of reviews (except the downright cruel ones.)
-phantomangel132
THE MASK AND THE ROSE:
Chapter One: The Little Boy
Gerard (the Butler's) P.O.V:
I muttered angrily to myself as I marched briskly down the vast corridor. He was so vile, so contrite, my master was; proud and stuffy, with his chest puffed out like some arrogant bystander's. It vexed me to think such a greedy, horrible man could create such a beautiful, innocent, and sweet girl with another beautiful, innocent, and sweet woman.
I opened the storage room door quickly and stormed inside, slamming the door behind me. Everything was dark, except for the small rays of light seeping through the heavily curtained window. I pulled open the drapes to let more of the comforting, morning sunshine into the room. It would also help to find that bloody coffee he so rudely asked for.
I peeked between the heavy sacks of flour and sugar seated carefully onto the wooden shelves, yet I found none of the grains of coffee. I searched throughout many other parts of the storage room, moving different cans or sacks filled with something or other. But still: nothing. I decided to move on to the other part of the storage room. It couldn't possibly be in there, but it was worth a try.
I opened the creaky, splintered door and gazed inside the dark room. I crossed over the threshold and blindly found my way to the gas lamp perched onto the opposite wall. Once the room was illuminated with dull, yellow light, I gasped sharply and stared around the room with shock, my mouth hanging open and my eyes wide.
I could have sworn the entire floor was covered with all sorts of food: brown sugar, powdered sugar, flour, dried pasta noodles, broken glass with a white liquid substance surrounding it, crumbs of crackers scattered all over the floor, half eaten bits of cheese here and there. And then, lying limply in the farthest corner of the room was a small, skeletal boy with bruises and blistered cuts all over his legs, shoulders, and chest. A dirty rag was tied around his face, concealing his identity.
I scrambled across the room to the unconscious boy and carefully picked up his head and shoulders, my eyes hastily examining him. I was no doctor. I knew nothing about health. I was only a common butler serving an aristocratic family in France. But I knew without a single doubt, this boy, even if he had trespassed, needed serious care.
Without another thought, I gently gathered his entire body into my arms and carried him from the room quickly. I left the storage room with the gas lights running and the door swinging open. Through long corridors and up spiral staircases, I bustled as fast as my little legs could carry me to my master's bedroom.
"Good morning, Monsieur Gerard," greeted Amelia, one of the servants at the Daae household, as she passed by. "Wait, what is that in your arms?"
"Not now Amelia," I mumbled hoarsely while heaving up the stairs "I'll explain everything later, I promise."
I left her standing at the foot of the stairs, her eyes fixed on me and the little creature nestled in my arms with a bewildered expression plastered to her pretty features. I burst into the master's room without knocking. Master, Mademoiselle Daae, and Christine all turned their attentions on me.
"Gerard, "Master barked, "what are you doing in here-without knocking? I thought I told you to look for that coffee you failed to bring me this morning…"
His words stopped dead, his dark, angry eyes widening underneath his thick heavy brows. His mouth moved in wordless mumbles before setting his jaw straight and rigid.
"I found him unconscious in the storage room, master," I panted heavily. "He needs medical help very badly, sir; his body is covered with bruises and cuts."
Finally, master found his voice.
"Where does he come from?" he asked sharply.
"I'm not sure," I replied. "But with him I found a rather large mess on the floor, also. Sir, he really is in need for our help."
"Then don't just stand there, you fool!" Master boomed. "Bring him over here and lay him on the bed. I will send for Doctor Lafayette immediately."
Master and Mademoiselle Daae hurriedly jumped off the immense, downy bed in the middle of the room. I carried the injured boy over and set him cautiously on the bed. Mademoiselle Daae stepped next to me, her hand placed over her mouth.
"Oh my goodness," she said, "what happened to him?"
"I don't know," I replied. "But I sure am glad I found him."
Christine leaned against the bed and stared wonderingly at the little boy. She reached out to touch the rag covering his face, but her mother's hand shot out like a striking viper and quickly caught her hand.
"No, Christine," she said deeply. "You don't know where that's been. Please, just go in your room until either father or I come to get you."
"But mama-"argued Christine.
"Please!" Mademoiselle Daae interrupted. "Just do as I say."
Christine's face drooped as she quietly sulked from the room. Master returned a few moments later.
"I sent James to fetch Doctor Lafayette," Master informed us as he entered the room. Then he took a long, hard stare at the small creature lying motionless on the bed and shook his head unbelievingly. "Is he breathing, Gerard?"
"Yes," I replied. "I checked before I came to you. Master, what should we do for him? Doctor Lafayette won't arrive here in maybe a half hour."
"We should, at least, try to clean him up a little," Master said. "Gerard, go fetch some wet cloths and hot water, now!"
Without replying, I shot out of the room and down the hall to the linens closet. I grabbed several white cloths and a porcelain bowl. I filled the bowl with cool water. I didn't even think about boiling it. It would take much too long.
"Master," I said as I reentered the bedroom, "I could only bring you cool water. It would take too much time to warm it."
Master snatched the cloths and bowl from me and set them on the bureau sitting next to the bed. He placed his large hand to the boy's and slightly drew back in shock.
"He's blistering hot!" he exclaimed.
"He must have a fever," Mademoiselle Daae said from behind. "Who knows how long he has been like this, and he doesn't look as if he's been taken care of at all."
Master nodded his head in agreement as he wetted a cloth and began gently wiping the dried blood from his body. "It is very fortunate you found him in time, Gerard. Who knows what state he would have been in any later?"
"It wouldn't have been a long time since anyone found him," I said. "He was in the second storage room. It's very rare that anyone would go in there, unless the food in the first food storage begins running out."
I grabbed a cloth and dipped it in the cool water. I soothingly scrubbed at the red blisters formed all over his thin legs and scuffed up feet. Hardened blood coated the bottoms of his feet. I rubbed at his feet smoothly until it began to break away. When it was almost completely gone, I noticed a small glint reflecting from his feet.
"Master," I said. "He has a piece of glass stuck in his foot!"
He quickly sped to my side and took his foot in his hand.
"Fortunately, it's stopped bleeding," he informed me as he examined the foot. "Although, it will again once Doctor Lafayette pulls this out."
"Wait, can't you do it?" I asked.
"No," he replied. "I know nothing of this sort, and I suppose you don't either, correct?"
I shook my head "no". Without a word, Master resumed cleaning the boy's chest and arms while I did his other foot. It seemed rather strange to me to not, at least, attempt to pull the piece of glass from his foot, but I would be very wise to not argue with Master.
I finished with the feet and legs.
"I'll start on his face," I said to Master.
Master nodded his head absently. I wonder why he wears a rag over his face, I thought.
It wasn't as if he needed one, either. His forehead was partially exposed, as well as his chin and mouth. I replaced the blood stained rag with another clean one and began wiping away crusty, dried up food from his chapped, shriveled lips. Master was right; he was blistering hot. I finished with his mouth and chin quickly.
I reached over and slipped my hands behind his head and found the knot to the rag. I began untying it rather slowly, for it was tied on quite tightly and was rather hard to get loose. Eventually, the ends of the cloth came apart. I yanked the rag from his face quickly. And as soon as I did, a high pitched scream reverberated around the room.
A/N: So, was it good? Mediocre? Bad? Horrible? Please tell me in a review. I really hoped you like this, although if anyone didn't, I can understand. Not everyone likes the same thing. I hope you're not disappointed about me making Christine's father a little mean. I didn't really want to, but I wouldn't have been able to write the story if I made him nice. His strict, bitter nature in this fits in with other things I'm going to have happen. I'm already working on chapter two, so it should be up very quickly, along with chapter three. So, please review and I'll be sure to reply to them. Thanks.
-phantomangel132