"Erik! You must be out of your mind! Completely mad!" The Daroga scolded.
"To give my only companion a birthday gift was wrong?" Erik questioned sarcastically, writing down a note at the bottom of some Handel music he was editing.
"No, and you know that isn't exactly what I am referring to. Your gift was quite extravagant and you, quite obviously, are responsible for the plunder of their most recent diva."
"Me? However did you get that idea?"
"You despised the woman ever since she bothered Christine, and you never really enjoyed her singing voice either. Additionally, your Opera Ghost persona is infamous for trouble-making about the theatre."
Erik tsked, "Oh Daroga, you shouldn't listen to the gossip of ballet girls."
"I overheard the director saying he was anxious for the newer directors that will be taking over, as they will be missing a leading soprano."
"Missing a leading soprano? This man must be deaf as a doornail- my Christine is very prepared to take over such a position."
"My point with this discussion is to tell you, once more, to be careful with the girl. Allow her to live her own life, do not abduct her nor interfere beyond the girl's careers."
"Mindless chatter, Daroga, much too common in your company. I do not wish for my student to encounter the horror of my appearance, I highly doubt our story would end in the same way of La Belle et La Bete."
"I only ask you not to force her into remaining beside you if you ever do reveal yourself to her."
The Persian soon left Erik in his solitude, but this time resulted in the musician's mind wandering. What if he did allow Christine to see him? Surely she would respect the privacy of his mask, even through the intrigue of finally seeing her teacher after all of their lessons. He had desired to meet her- finally straighten her posture with his hands instead of a commanding voice, hold her hand, allow her to know that he wasn't an angel but a man. Oh how his heart longed to come out from the shadows and greet her properly. He would have to plan for the most opportune moment.
She was now nineteen and her voice was mature enough for the stage. Erik knew her time to capture the audience's attention was coming up quickly and he would hasten the process by completely ridding of La Carlotta, perhaps using his student's ideas. He also liked her and Meg's likening her to a toad, possibly being a way to cause the diva's humiliation.
Once she was gone, Christine would take over the stage and be the best soprano the Populaire had ever encountered. Erik would see his work put to use, giving the world something they didn't deserve after how he'd been treated all his life: the gift of Christine's angelic voice. Her perfect, though untamable, curly hair, forget-me-not eyes, kind heart, soft pink lips, joyous demeanor, smooth ivory skin, fluttering eyelashes, and charming smile would make her an unforgettable star. Erik would pride himself upon her.
And so, once a scene-shifter stepped away from his post, a massive scene from Romeo et Juliette was dropped onto the diva when she was attempting to show off her "skills" to the new directors. Erik's excellent perception also allowed him a glimpse at the vacant expressions of the two men expected to run his theatre from now on. From a quick assessment: the taller of them was obviously attempting to seem wealthy, clearly focused on monetary gain from the theatre, and quite interested in the almost scantily dressed corps du ballet girls while the shorter man was more faint-hearted, easily showing whatever emotions he felt. The latter would be much easier to frighten.
"That's it! I am really leaving this time!" The diva screamed once she was helped up.
The orchestra conductor sighed, placing a hand on his heaving chest.
"Oh signora, please understand this was a simple Buquet stepped away from his post and the rope must have slipped." The shorter man tried to appeal to the woman.
"Too many mistakes! It is almost every rehearsal that something happens to me and I am exhausted from it! Tutti mi odiano!" Carlotta shouted, marching to collect her things from the dressing room.
"But who shall sing in the performance tonight?! We can't refund a full audience!" The taller man stated, completely aghast at Carlotta's leaving.
Madame Giry, the ballet mistress, stepped away from her girls and chimed in: "Christine Daae could sing in her place, monsieur."
"A chorus girl?" He responded.
Christine looked surprised, she wasn't expecting such a thing to happen at all and, much more, today. Of course she knew the aria after hearing it every day at rehearsals as well as through practice at her lessons. This connection between the recent events and her teacher suggested he was the one behind it all. But La Carlotta seemed to have been sensitive to this provocation- it wasn't nearly as bad as Christine imagined.
"She has been well-taught. Only listen to her sing! If it doesn't satisfy you, she will still be in the ballet and you can continue your search." Madame Giry offered.
Having nothing but time to lose, the directors asked the conductor to lead the orchestra into the beginning of the arietta. Christine was pushed to the front of the stage and she nervously started the song, slowly gaining confidence with each word.
Ah!–
Je veux vivre
Dans le rêve qui m'enivre;
Ce jour encor,
Douce flamme,
Je te garde dans mon âme
Comme un trésor!
By the end of the piece, Christine heard nothing but a deafening silence shrouded over the whole cast gathered on the stage behind her. Erik couldn't resist but stay nearby and listen to the angelic voice he sculpted for his dear student, feeling shivers run down his spine with her vivacious tone at eachcrescendo'ed line.
The moment ended with the applause of everyone in the theatre echoing loudly in the vast space. Christine turned around, a doe-like expression over her delicate face and smiled gently at their generous reaction. Meg congratulated her dear friend, completely over-joyed. The directors announced that she would replace Carlotta as, a much more believable, Juliette in the show. The Opera's ghost knew his prudent pupil would shine in the spotlight and, practically fittingly, she would be playing an innocent young girl hopelessly in love.