Chapter 4: Opera & Opinions

It was still a few weeks until Auditions were scheduled to be held in order to find new company members for the next season and Erik was watching members whom were rehearsing their monologues, pieces or routines that they intended to perform at the audition in hopes of renewing their contracts or perhaps even receiving a higher role within the company... The phantom couldn't help but notice how Rose was sat in the box across the auditorium, to the bottom of his own... As the season was coming to an end. She had a lot more free time and he always saw her sneaking off to read one of her precious books that he had seen piled up within her attic room. Erik made sure to keep himself submerged within the shadows so that no one could see him.

Erik had given Christine a song that he believed would allow his student's voice to thrive when performing in front of the opera's directors and he watched anxiously from his seat in box five as Christine nervously made her way onto the stage,

"You may begin whenever you are ready" the director told her politely as he readied his clipboard on which he was writing pros and cons for each audition.

Erik watched as the conductor began instructing his orchestra to play... But the phantom frowned as Christine missed her queue and he saw how nervous she was,

"Courage, Christine... Sing... Sing" Erik whispered pleadingly and sighed defeated when the orchestra stopped playing when they grew confused that Christine had not began singing...,

"... I pray you'll be my eyes" a voice sang and Erik looked up stunned... But it was not Christine whom was singing... It was Rose whom was standing stage left, giving Christine a node of encouragement as well as a gentle smile,

"... And watch her where she goes" Rose carried on and Erik saw how Christine relaxed, turning to look at the directors and smiled brightly as she began to sing and Erik sighed, smiling in relief whereas Rose smiled proudly as she watched her stepsister continue with her audition.

Christine and Rose hugged each other tightly as they squealed in excitement,

"Thank you so much" Christine told her with a bright smile,

"Why are you thanking me? This success is yours and yours alone" Rose reminded her,

"I forgot the words and you helped me... I couldn't have done any of this without your help" Christine said gently, giving her stepsister another hug,

"Of course you could and besides it is the angel of music whom deserves your praise. Not me" Rose told her as they headed down to chapel,

"It was you who managed to get in contact with him on my behalf... I'm lucky to have you for a sister" Christine told her before striking a match and lit a candle above her father's photo and turned to find Rose looking down bashfully and Christine offered her the box of matches,

"You should light one for him too... The brighter this chapel is will make it easier for him to see us both more clearly from heaven" the young singer encouraged,

"I... I would but... I have a lot of costumes that need to be finished and anyway i'm sure Mr Daae only wants to see you right now. After all this is your moment" Rose reasoned with a timid smile before practically running from the chapel as Christine called after her in vain.

The truth was that Rose didn't have any costumes that she needed to finish; She returned to her attic room and sat on her bed with a sad sigh as she rested her face into her hands with a tired manner,

"I am certain that Mr Daae would have wanted to see both of his daughters" a voice spoke causing Rose to jump and stood quickly, looking around the room for whom the voice belonged to but found that she was alone,

"I... I'm not his daughter... I was just a girl whom he was kind enough to take in" Rose said timidly,

"You are just as much his daughter as Christine is... Why do you downgrade yourself?" the voice asked curiously,

"... Because... It was only a short time after he took me in that... He grew unwell..." Rose said with a sad expression, looking down in shame,

"You blame yourself for Gustave Daae's tragic end" the voice concluded,

"Trust me when I tell you Mademoiselle Nightingale that it was not your fault. Believe me, I know this to be true. You helped my student achieve her rightful place in the opera's company and for this I am both grateful and in your debt" the voice told her and Erik saw how Rose looked up in realisation,

"You're Christine's Angel Of Music... Thank you. Thank you for helping her" Rose said and Erik felt himself smile,

"My assistance is only possible because it was you whom reached out to me. Sometimes angels sing so loud that it is difficult to hear a mortal's plea... But I am glad that you requested the phantom's help in getting your request to me" the voice said and watched how Rose frowned for a moment as she thought silently to herself,

"Angel... The phantom... Why does he not reside in heaven with the other angels?" Rose finally asked timidly,

"... The phantom is not someone whom is welcome to bask in heaven's light, child... He is a monster outcast from our family and has in turn become the ghost that haunts this opera house" Erik answered hesitantly,

"That is an awful thing to say" Rose argued firmly causing Erik to become stunned,

"How could you call him a monster when his heart yearns to maintain the beauty of music that you represent?" she demanded,

"... You do not know the phantom's heart. For he has no heart" Erik growled firmly,

"You're wrong. Anyone whom has a love and passion for music such as him does indeed have a heart" Rose said firmly and Erik frowned but could not bring himself to say anymore and left Rose alone to think that the Angel Of Music had simply left due to her challenging his opinion.

Did Claire's words to the angel of music touch the phantom's heart?! Review for Chapter 5!

Kind Regards,

TheAuthor1996