Chapter 23: The Sponsor

This is the part of the story in which a person watching a film would be silently whispering for a main character to 'Not go in there' or 'No, don't do it' because they knew that something sinister was lying in wait. This is exactly the situation that was ocurring as Claire made her way down the staircase to the main foyer that morning to find Darius standing with a stranger; Darius smiled brightly at the sight of her,

"Ah, Miss Claire. Allow me to introduce you to Phantasma's newest sponsor. Monsieur..." Darius began but the gentleman politely took Claire's hand and pressed a kiss to the surface,

"Please. Call me, Phillipe. I have heard great things of you from my friend, Darius here" Phillipe informed her causing Claire to smile gently but secretly felt the same sickly feeling she had felt upon first meeting Darius.

Phillipe looked around the concert hall foyer around him and smiled,

"So when do I get to meet, Mister Y?" he asked,

"Soon, I promise you" Darius assured causing Claire to frown at him,

"I'm sure he will see you if his work schedule allows him. Sometimes it prevents him from seeing anyone most days" she corrected and noticed the hint of a glare hidden within Darius' eyes but Phillipe chuckled,

"No matter. I know of how business can keep us men busy. It was the same for my brother before he passed away" he said with a sad smile and Claire frowned gently,

"I'm very sorry for your loss" she told him,

"That is very kind of you, Miss Claire" he replied before bidding her a good morning as she headed off to get some breakfast and Darius turned towards Phillipe with a confused expression,

"Why did you give her a false name?" he asked causing his friend to smirk,

"Because my real name would alert 'Mister Y' as to my presence here and we can't have that... Not yet. The girl... Is she a problem?" 'Phillipe' asked and Darius grumbled,

"The masked freak trusts her more than most ever since their 'most blessed reunion' that he told me about the other week... Do you wish me to dispose of her?" Darius mumbled and his partner gave a chuckle as he continued to smirk,

"No, not yet... I believe I have plans for the phantom's little songbird" he replied causing Darius to smirk as they both headed off to his private office to discuss more of their dastardly plan; This would be the part were audience members were quietly screaming of how 'Phillipe' was none other than Raoul De Changny whom had deliberately given Claire the name of his older brother whom was in fact dead as he had also told her but it was not from passing away... No, Phillipe De Changny had died from falling from the stage rafters during one of his tours of the Opera Populaire. Raoul knew that his elder brother had been murdered by the hands of the phantom whom he intended to take revenge upon. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth... A life for a life.

It is this part of the story where I would like to make the audience aware of a most tragic death within the next scene. A death that will most likely bring upon tears but it is also something you will not want to miss so I advice a box of tissues and possibly a comfort blanket and perhaps a teddy bear to make the next part a little bit easier.

IT'S RAOUL! AHHHHHH QUICKLY REVIEW FOR CHAPTER 24!
Kind Regards,

TheAuthor1996