O' Father Where Art Thou?
In a rundown part of a neighborhood on the outskirts of France.
In the sunny shine of the mid-afternoon sun, a young mother in her early thirties rose from her backbreaking work and turned towards the gentle cries of two excited toddlers toddling their way towards their mom.
"Mommy, Mommy! Look what Jean found!"
Christine smiled and gently took the red rose her beautiful sons held out for her.
"Oh my precious babes, how sweet of you to think of your mother!"
The boys giggled and turned running towards the small cottage Christine had recently purchased. It was more of a one-room shack than anything else, but on Christine's salary of odd jobs, the kids were lucky to live anywhere.
Half a year previous, Christine had left the Duboix household with a heavy heart and only small change to withhold herself and her young sons. She honestly loved Madame Duboix, as did her boys, but Christine could tell that her and her son's youthful presence was beginning to strain Hailey. So in the cover of darkness, Christine left with Caesar and boys in tow. She found herself fortunate as she acquired a job ten miles from Madame Duboix's home and eighty miles from Paris. Jean Paul and Gustave had adjusted well and despite his deformity, Gustave was happy. Both children held their father's genius; Jean Paul was already a skilled artist and drew whenever possible. Gustave was more musically inclined and at their local church, Christine nearly died of shock when he stepped up to the congregation's small piano and played Beethoven's Fur Elise without a single hitch. The priest, Father Leroux, asked Christine where he learned to play so well and all Christine could say was 'he wasn't taught.' Hardly anyone could believe her when she said that the fact of the matter was that before then, Gustave hadn't even seen a piano. Despite his phenomenal talent, Gustave preferred the violin and played upon his Grandfather's instrument for hours on end. Christine could hardly contain her tears of nostalgic happiness as she watched her son's talent blossom further as time passed.
Stepping into their home, Christine smiled at the sight of both boys hard at work. Jean was sketching furiously on the sketchbook she had presented him at his second birthday. Gustave was scribbling musical scores and grumbling under his breath in the same fashion as his father. Noticing her presence, both boys looked up and then glanced at each other. Christine could tell that a n entire universe of conversations were passing between the two and she laughed fondly as Gustave finally sighed seemingly having caved to his brother's mental assaults. Rising, the boy turned towards his mother and looked directly into her eyes.
"Mum, where's our Da?"
Completely thrown off, Christine could only stare for several moments before she finally gathered both babes into her arms.
"Oh my sweet, sweet children…your father…your father was a great man…beautiful, strong and incredibly smart. He was so similar to the two of you. His name was Erik, and he was the most incredible man I have ever met. We were going to marry…someday, but…things happened and I….I had to flee for my life. Erik…is…is no longer amongst us, but sometimes if I close my eyes I can feel him holding me…and it helps when I look at the two of you because I can see him inside your eyes…"
"Is that why you made my middle name Erik…?"
"Yes Gustave, even though you have my eyes…everything about your presence and your passion for music…oh honey it was just so fitting for you."
Continuing to hold them close, Christine sighed one last time before picking them up and placing them in their bed. As she tucked them in she gently began singing the lullaby she had sung to them every night since their birth.
"In sleep he sang to me in dreams he came…The Phantom of the Opera is there inside my mind…"
--Meanwhile…
Far away in Paris a man sat before a large fire twirling a large glass of brandy in his left hand. Suddenly, the man spoke. His voice was coarse with disdain and lust.
"I've finally found you Little Lotte…"
End Chapter 9
A/N: Okay! Another Chapter down! Some clarification to you my faithful readers,
Christine's age: 32
Gustave and Jean Paul's age: 3 (note, they ARE geniuses!)
Please review and hugs to anyone who can guess who the final speaker is! ;)
