I wanted to post this new chapter with the other one I just posted. Why? Cause I want to.
Preview:Awwww...I see some R/M coming into the story. Also Christine reads a letter from her father, and talks with Erik.
No warnings, at least I don't think so.
Unspoken Secrets
Raoul sat in the family parlor with other nobleman. They were discussing politics and money, the normal things a Comte would regularly discuss. Raoul slouched back into the leather chair and zoned in and out of the conversations. He kept thinking about going back to reading his father's journal. He knew it was wrong but he was very interested in the man he barely knew. The group of older men chatted while drinking brandy and smoking cigars, on the other hand Raoul was staring at the rug on the floor. He was almost literally bored out of his mind.
The hour past and the meeting was over. The current Comte De Chagny wished everyone a safe trip home.
"Raoul, darling, you were very quiet this evening." His mother stated.
"I'm tired I guess." He lied. "But I do believe I promised to visit the Opera House about financial business."
"That's my boy!" His father exclaimed and put an arm around his shoulder. Raoul gave a slight smile then dismissed himself.
The horse and buggy rode up to the front of the Opera House. Raoul walked up the stairs and into the building. He marveled at the design of the interior and the stage. The new chandelier was just installed and really made the Opera House complete. It looked nothing like the former one, but after all the money they spent to repair the Opera House it was the best they could do. Though it was an exquisite chandelier, it just didn't compare to the older one.
"Vicomte! To what do we owe the pleasure of your company?" Madame Giry greeted him. Meg was standing behind her with a handful of what looked like the ballet costumes.
"Ah, Madame Giry and Meg. I am here for a visit. But tell me, how are you two doing?" Raoul asked.
"We are doing quite well. The production and everything is going according to plan." Madame Giry answered.
"That's good." Raoul started, "How is Christine?"
"She's doing well." Meg answered.
"And how about…"
"Erik is doing fine too." Madame Giry cut him off. "We really appreciated your help, Thank you."
"You're Welcome." He replied.
Andre and Firmin passed by them in a hurry arguing about the new production of Romeo and Juliet.
"Good day monsieurs." Raoul caught them by surprise.
"Oh, Monsieur Le Vicomte. How are you?" Andre asked.
"Very well, thank you. I presume everything is good with you two?"
"Yes, but we got a visit from a gypsy man the other day." Firmin stated.
Madame Giry dropped her things and Meg gave a worried glance to both her mother and Raoul.
"Pray tell, what was this man's name?" The Vicomte questioned.
"Javert I do believe." Firmin answered.
"Merde!" Madame Giry cursed silently. After a moment she spoke up, "When did he come by?"
"Last night. Apparently he believes the Opera Ghost got away." Andre stared at Madame Giry accusingly. "If I remember correctly, you and Miss Daae decided to skip practice two days ago for no apparent reason. And you left the Opera House after questioning about an arrest."
"Something tells us that you may be behind this." Firmin finished Andre's argument.
"I know nothing of the Opera Ghost or where he is." Madame Giry said and quickly left. Meg stayed with the gentlemen to argue why her mother left in such a hurry.
"She gets angry when people accuse her of things she has no part in."
"Really? Well we have every right to suspect her." Firmin mocked.
"Firmin, we were supposed to meet with Monsieur Reyer about upcoming practices, remember?" Andre reminded his business partner.
"Right." He said and then turned his attention back to Meg and Raoul. "If either one of you sees the Phantom, please tell us."
"Will do." Raoul replied. Firmin and Andre nodded and then made their exits.
"I guess that gypsy fellow won't give up, will he?" Raoul said to Meg.
"Unfortunately, I don't think he will."
Raoul noticed Meg was carrying a lot of the costumes and looked like she had her hands full. "Here, allow me." Raoul offered. He took some of the costumes from her hands.
"Thanks." Meg said somewhat shyly. She noticed that she had butterflies whenever she was around him. Meg never really thought anything of it though. When he first came to the Opera House she was instantly attracted to him, but Christine told her about how they were childhood sweethearts. She forgot about whatever attractions she felt towards him right after that. But now that he was no longer courting Christine… 'No!' She thought. 'That's silly! He doesn't like me like that.'
"Where are these meant to go?" He asked.
"Oh, down this hall." Meg said and led him towards the props and costumes corridor. "Thank you again for helping me." She said after a couple of moments of silence.
"It's no problem." He replied while helping her put the clothes on their hangers. "I'm actually quite happy to be out of the house."
"Why's that?"
"Family stuff. I'm the heir to the Comte title."
Meg laughed lightly, "And the problem is?"
"It's not as great as it sounds." Raoul laughed with her. "I'm just not one for meeting with other nobles and talking for hours about the same thing everyday."
"Yeah, that sounds pretty boring."
"It is." Raoul replied. "I prefer being a Vicomte. Not as much things are expected of you."
"I'm sure it won't be that bad." Meg said trying to comfort him. Raoul smiled back which caused Meg to look down and blush slightly.
"Thank you for listening as usual."
"You're Welcome." Replied Meg.
Meg continued hanging the costume and Raoul just stared at her. He started to become mesmerized by her beauty. The lights from the room shined down on her soft blonde hair. He couldn't help but smile at her glowing like image. She seemed to be like a blonde headed angel.
Meg looked over and noticed he was staring. "What is it?" She asked nervously.
He laughed at his rudeness and apologized. "I'm sorry. I was just noticing that you look very pretty." As soon as the words came out of his mouth he became nervous. He didn't mean to say those words but they just came out that way. He saw Meg was blushing again but she was also smiling.
"Thank you." She finally managed to say.
Madame Giry wandered in. "Meg! There you are."
"Hi Maman, you were looking for me?"
"Yes. Will you please tell the girls that tomorrow's practice will be held an hour early"
"Ok Maman. Bye Raoul." Meg said.
"Bye." He replied and Meg walked out of the room. "I'll be leaving now too. Good day Madame Giry."
"Good day Le Vicomte."
Raoul walked out of the room to head back to the manor. Madame Giry hung up the rest of the clothing and smiled.
Erik returned from the lair with a couple of sheets of paper. He handed them to Christine and sat down afterwards. He sat in a corner of the room so she could read the letters by herself. She read through the letters realizing everything Erik said was true. The last letter really caught her eye.
"Dear Erik,
I'm sad to say that I fear the end is truly near. The doctors say that I am near the end of my life. Antoinette gave me the letter saying that you would be my little Christine's tutor. This means so much to me. Please take care of her Erik, and watch over her.
I dream that she will one day be the star she always wanted to be. And if she is in the hands of a terrific teacher like you then I know this will come true. I'll be looking down upon all of you from heaven.
Again Erik, thank you so much. I trust you and Antoinette with my Little Lotte. Soon I will tell her that I will be sending her the Angel of Music.
God Bless.
Your friend,
Gustave Daae"
Christine read over the letter 3 times and cried. Erik walked over to her and hugged her to give support. She wrapped her arms around him and cried. He offered comforting words to her.
They stayed like that for what seemed like hours. For once in a long time Erik looked upon Christine with love.
'No! It's a trick. She doesn't love you. She has already proved that!' His mind told him. Erik let go of Christine and backed away from her. 'Whatever happened to you being cold towards her? If you let her into your heart she's only going to break it again.'
Erik turned away from her and held back his tears. "You can keep them."
"Really? Thanks so much, my angel." She said.
"Don't call me that Christine." He said softly. Christine noticed uncertainty on his face.
"Why do you always run away from me?" She asked.
Erik ignored her question and put his back to her. Christine learnt one thing from the last few months, and that is silence can be a lot worse than words.
"Will you teach me again?"
The question shocked Erik. He turned around to face her again and noticed she was crying still. The look of sadness on her face reminded Erik that he made a promise to an old friend. And Erik was always true to his word.
"I guess." He said with no enthusiasm. 'You will be just a teacher to her, and nothing else.' His mind told him.
Christine's once sad face turned bright in a second. She let out a little squeal of excitement and happiness. "Thank you!"
Erik forced himself not to smile at her. But deep down trying to be so cold to her broke his heart.
"We can begin tonight if you like." He said with a serious tone.
"Ok." She replied. Disappointment filled her though. She thought that maybe he would cheer up a bit. But it seemed like he wasn't going to change anytime soon. Christine knew that was to be expected. He just recently revisited a part of his childhood he never wanted to go back to. Of course he would become distant from everyone again. Erik still held the sadness in his eyes. The same kind she saw 4 months ago. It seemed like such a long time ago, but yet it wasn't. The months without him seemed distant, and even empty. She had everything in the world a woman would want but she still felt unhappy.
Christine's nightmares didn't end so soon though. She still had them every night, even now when she was back home with her family, friends, and Angel again. Her dreams were still filled with horrors and sadness. She began to wonder if they would ever go away.
Erik left shortly after their conversation. Christine held her father's letters in her hands. She sat back down by the candles and lit one. Her prayers soon echoed through the chapel to the hallways. She prayed for her Angel, she thanked her father and asked forgiveness. She prayed for her friends and Madame Giry, Meg, and Raoul. And finally she prayed for a happier, brighter future.
After she was done, she re-read the letters while remembering her father.
