Hello my readers and faithful follower! I know you are all curious as to what will happen next. Belle and her brothers have been rather happy at the Opera Garner, though Carlotta has a vendetta toward Belle. Now we get to see the phantom work is magical power of music over Belle, wooing and seducing her with, in my opinion, the most beautiful song Andrew Lloyd Webber or any other composer could ever write. As a general note, I do not own any of the original characters, (Erik, Madame, Meg, Carlotta and her posy) the only ones I lay claim to are my own characters. Please feel free to leave reviews, I could really use some feedback as to where I could improve the story. As a side note: I originally wrote this tale 4 years ago and it was purely from Belle's view, and just now have finally decided to publish it as a way to heal my troubled and hurting heart. I remain your obedient servant,

~The Southern Rose.

I wake from my sleep with a knock at my door. I sit up and stretch out my tired body. Moving sets was beginning to take its toile on my small body. I swing my legs around when the knocking becomes more rapid and intense, like they were trying to break down my door. I crack it slightly to see Madame Giry tapping her cane impatiently.
"Quickly dress and follow me. Your presence in required back stage." I cock my head to the side when I hear a shrill cry echo through the halls. OH SHIT! I didn't get a chance to fix Carlotta's dress…. Madame only gave a slight flinch at the diva's outburst. I nod my head and quickly change into my work clothes, running down the hall as I pull my thick hair up into a ballerina bun.
"YOU!" the diva screams, pointing a finger at me. "You is the 'ittle rat who disn't fix me dress!" The managers were giving me mixed looks. One was trying to stab me with his eyes, the other was pleading with me to quickly fix the issue before things got worse, if they really could get worse.
"My sincerest apologies Prima dona…" I curtied deeply. That earned me several swats with her primrose fan and more Spanish insults that I didn't want translated. She swatted me all the way to the costuming room, telling me EXACTLY what she wanted, then was whisked away by her posy of maids to rehears the opera. I made quick work of the dress, pricking my fingers several times and swearing under my breath. At least I was left to work alone, the absence of people relaxing. I could, however, sense a presence in the room watching me like an apparition. Once I finished the dress, I was very sure it weighed more than me, and hand enough pomp and circumstance and pink to woo the diva.
"Now Belle, follow Meg to be fitted for your costume." Madam Giry said as she entered the room. Whatever apparition was watching me was gone as soon as Madame graced me with her presence
"Wait! What do you mean costume?"
"We need another dancer for the performance. One of the ballerinas broke her ankle yesterday at rehearsal and from, a reliable source, you will fit nicely with the theme." I followed her out, and made sure to shoot a look at Lukas, who was not surprised one bit, an evil grin on his face. I looked down at Conner. He was both happy and surprised. If looks could kill, Lukas would have died several times over. I felt Meg's hand reach for mine. She pulled me to the ballerina dressing room and pulled out the girl's costume that I was to replace. She gave it to me and told me to try it on.
"Oh goodness, you are much shorter than I thought! The seamstress is going to have her work cut out for her trying to fix the costume. Here you can wear this while we rehearse. I hope it fits, Christine wore this several years ago, it's the only outfit I have that you might be able to wear." She handed me a dark colored ballerina's outfit. It fit me, but just barely, the fabric was loose in many places and I had to pin it to keep it from falling off. I wondered how ballerinas actually danced in something so awkward, then again, it was only awkward on me. For the rest of the afternoon, it was dancing, learning where not to be and adjusting to Carlotta's every move. She never really followed what the director said, more like he followed her. When it was all over, I went to see Lukas and Conner. Conner couldn't get over how different I looked in my ballerina outfit and Lukas was excited that, for once, I was doing something more 'lady like.' He always believed in the 'proper' way of society where women wore flowing dresses and played the piano and to his dismay, I only met one of those two qualities.
"Ich bin begeistert, dass Sie immer eine Dame." He told me.
"Ich wette Sie sind" I mocked. Conner tugged on my skirt, like usual asking what his older brother just said. I told him that Lukas was excited that I looked like a girl for once. Conner was smiling and he mouthed the word 'beautiful'. He tugged at my skirt again, holding the tulle in his hands and raising it up to me.
"Oh, little Conner, I can't silly goose; a dress will get caught on the props when I move them." He frowned. I raised his chin up, made a pouting face, slowly turning into a smile. He began to giggle and Lukas laughed. They walked me to my room, Conner running around with delight. I kissed them both on their cheeks, making them squirm and shut the door. I lit a lamp and found my bed to be made and a single rose laying on top of my favorite book. Tied at the bottom was a black ribbon and a note underneath it.

Mon cher,
You are quite the dancer, contrary to what you said the first time we met. I can't wait to see the final performance. I hope you find another costume to rehearse in. Seeing HER costume will not do well in MY opera house.

OG.

I wondered what OG stood for. I shrugged it off, changed into comfier clothes and pulled out my flute. I ran a few scales then pulled out some of my father's music and began to play. I flashed back to when I was younger living in Austria. Father was teaching me to play one of my mother's favorite songs. Lukas was sitting by mother with his brand new violin.
"Joseph my sweet, I have a wonderful surprise for you!" Mother waited until my awful playing was over. Lukas was 9 and I was 14 when Mother said she was pregnant again. Father rushed over to mother and kissed her, smiling from ear to ear. All I really knew was I was going to be a big sister, and for me that meant I was going to have a little sister, not another little brother. Soon after, we moved to London where Conner was born and Father was to play in Her Majesty's honored orchestra.

We were so happy, before that horrid drunkard took it all away from us. I opened my eyes and started to play it from memory. I could feel my long straight auburn hair getting caught on the chair. I reached for a ribbon but a voice stopped me.
"Please don't." It was the man from the cave.
"Don't do what?"
"Pull your hair up. It's very lovely you know" I looked around to find where the voice was coming from. Then I saw him standing in the mirror. "Not many French women have Irish in their blood."
"Forgive me Monsieur, but we can't keep meeting like this." I walked back to my case, set my flute down and grabbed my knife. I hid it in the secret pocket sewn into the back of my dress, shows how much I trust people. I turned to face the masked man in my mirror.
"You are right. My name is Erik, mon cher." He said bowing deeply, then he opened the mirror. "You can put that knife away Mademoiselle…"
"Belle. And my mother was Irish, my father Austrian" I backed away from him, the grip on my knife growing stronger.
"I wish you no harm mon cher, I come here as a musician and teacher." He motioned to the mirror.
"Come with me? I have something to show you and bring your flute." His hand pointed to the passageway behind my mirror. Curious, I packed up my flute and grabbed my cloak, tucking the knife away. Tying my hair up with the ribbon, I took his gloved hand and followed him down the passage. It was dimly lit and with small pieces of stone was everywhere. My hand tightened around his. As we walked, I wondered why he wore that mask, why he wore a cape everywhere he went, why was he living in a cave below the opera house?
"Mon Cher, your curiosity is screaming, would you kindly" One of the stones was larger than expected, sending me stumbling into his back and both of us tumbling down the stairs and into the water. I swam to the surface and noticed that Erik wasn't there; come to think of it, he wasn't anywhere. I felt something tug at the end of my cloak, it was him! His cape had tangled. I pulled the knife from my dress and dove under water. I worked to cut his cape off and at the last possible second, he was free. We scrambled to the surface and gasped for air once we made it. "Good…thinking…Ma…Cherie." He managed to say. I pulled him from the water, something was missing, my flute! I looked around to see it on the step closest to the water. The strap that I used to put it around my body was broken. I opened the case, thinking it was broken, but it wasn't. I let out a sigh of relief. Erik gently grabbed my hand and let me to his hideaway via the boat. It was lit with the same tens of candle from the night we first met. Once we docked he helped me out and led me to his piano forte. Next to his piano was a chair and stand with music set on it. Der Musik von der Nacht was printed in the same neat calligraphy as the note.
"I didn't know you spoke" I looked behind me, but he wasn't there. I walked to the piano bench, set my instrument down and began to explore his world. He had only one mirror, and it was covered with a sheet. To the left of the piano was a hallway, with what looked like rooms. I took a candle from the large candelabra, put it in a holder and walked down the hall. There were rooms here, empty rooms that had only a sheet as a door, except three. One was locked, and the other was cracked slightly and was glowing from a candle, it must be Erik's. I took a step closer when the door closed. Today my curiosity has gotten me in trouble. I turned around and headed back to the main area. I wondered around, wringing out my dress and looking at the piles of music when I tripped over something; a piece of fabric. When I tugged on it, I found it was attached to something. I pulled back the curtain to reveal a yellowed dress. The dress looked to be a wedding dress, but scorched by the fire of the opera house. The strings of the corset were singed; the lace yellowed from heat, and both sleeves were burnt completely off. At one point in time it was the most beautiful thing made, now, it's pretty, but in a different way.
"What are you doing?!" shouted Erik. I turned to see his face wide in shock and anger. He'd changed into a white sheer shirt, and black pants, a blanket in his hands. He marched over, shoved me to the floor and closed the curtain. "What do you think you were doing?!" his pale blue eyes engrossed in rage, the red of his face making his ghostly mask glow like the moon. "Some things down here are off limits!" His voice echoing off the walls, making him sound larger than what he is. I scrambled to my feet and ran to my flute and packed it in the case. I was about to leave when he grabbed my arm, making me flinch in fear and pain from our first night. "I'm sorry... It's just the memory of her is painful and I don't wanna bring it up again. I bought that for her, but she rejected me. I don't want it to happen to me, or anyone else." He let go and sank into a chair holding his face. I walked to where his music was and picked it up, reading it the powerful lyrics he had written.
Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation…
The piece was full of lust and seduction, darkness and enchantment gracing the phrases. Darkness stirs and wakes imagination. Though his handwriting through the score contradicted the penmanship on the cover, it seemed to fit the style of song beautifully. He loved her, or at least lusted after her. Who wouldn't? Her voice was so pure and beautiful, and her physical beauty matched. Brown soft curls that cascaded like a waterfall down her back, gracing her porcelain skin and large, innocent chocolate eyes. What I would give to have someone love me this much… I shook my head and tried to snap back into reality You are too poor for such love, to poor and to stubborn. I looked up from the score, his head still low.
"Play this? For me…?" My heart fluttered at my words. He looked up, our eyes meeting. A seductive and confident smile graced his lips as he rose from his chair and came to my side.
"Are you sure mon cher? Once the Phantom plays for you, you will never be able to resist me…" His hands somehow slide the score from mine and he placed the blanket on my shoulders. He sat down at his piano and began to play, beckoning me to his side. I turned slightly to find a comfortable spot on the bench. I'd never seen someone glide so smoothly over the keys, his arms defined, jaw set, eyes focused and intelligent looking. I'd never seen someone so dark, yet so nice, and so handsome. As the notes of the piece rang out, I could feel my heart fluttering uncontrollably. When it ended, my mind was transfixed on the beautiful melody, refusing to let go of it.
"Monsieur, the music…it's so…" I looked up at him, he already knowing the end of my sentence. The same dark, seductive grin crossed his lips as he leaned in closer.
"No one shall escape the spell of my music…" His breath on my cheek was hot, making me blush. "Not even a girl as cold as you…" he pulled away, his expression not changing. My heart was beating like the hooves of a race horse, my mind racing even faster. I couldn't tell whether to be enchanted by his music, or fearful of his body. He reached for my hand and kissed it softly. "Come my dear, you must return before you are missed." He guided me to the boat and back to my room. Before I entered my room I turned to ask him a question.
"Monsieur, why do you treat me so?"
"Treat you how my dear?"
"Like a lady, you hardly know me." His face never changed; he took a breath and replied.
"Whether you see it or not, you are indeed a lady, and in turn demand such respect. Now get some rest miss, you have long days ahead of you."