Chapter 7: Putting A Mask To The Voice
The opera managers were rushing around and had all the cleaners making sure that the opera house was perfect as they were expecting the new patron; Vicomte Raoul De Changny.
Erik himself was always happy for a new patron to offer funding that would benefit his opera house... It was only when he saw the young, handsome Vicomte enter and he saw how he and Christine looked at each other stunned before smiling brightly as the rushed towards one another and embraced,
"Oh Raoul! Can this be true?!... Look at you!" Christine said in excitement as they hugged each other and Raoul chuckled,
"Christine, It is so good to see you... You look stunning" Raoul told her and Erik's fist tightened when he saw how Christine blushed at the Vicomte's compliment and he turned away, storming off to his lake side lair; Where he began to play angry and frustration filled music.
Christine and Raoul spent the whole day together that was formed up by the young singer showing the handsome Vicomte around the opera house,
"It is truly wonderful to see you again after all this time, Raoul" Christine said gently,
"It is good to see you too, Little Lotte and I can't believe that this day not only allows me to reunite with you but it also allows me to see you perform on the stage where I always knew you belonged" Raoul told her,
"My business associates tried to advice me against funding this place due to some Phantom spirit that was always causing trouble but now that I am here; I am truly happy that I did not listen" Raoul explained and Christine couldn't help but giggle,
"Me too... And yes, the phantom is something to be concerned about. The only person who isn't afraid of him is the one whom I unfortunately have to call Step sister, Rose" Christine explained with a roll of her eyes as the continued on with the tour... Christine hadn't realized that Joseph Bouquet; The drunken stage hand had overheard her conversation and he smirked, coming up with what he deemed a very clever idea that would have little miss Rose screaming in fright before fleeing into the comfort of his arms.
It was that night that found Rose making repairs to the ballet school's costumes when a dark cloaked figure wearing a black cloak and a skull mask; jumped at her whilst screaming like a drunken mad man but Rose simply looked at the figure with an unimpressed expression and raised her eyebrow,
"... It you damage that costume then I'm not repairing it" she said simply causing the disguised stage hand to slump his shoulders,
"Urrrrr... JOSEPH! I THOUGHT YOU SAID THIS WOULD SCARE HER!" the boy yelled after removing his mask and Joseph growled in frustration as he emerged from his hiding place,
"It didn't work because you obviously did something wrong" he growled as Rose finished off her work before packing her things away,
"Anyway, perhaps you might join me for a drink tonight, Miss Nightingale... If you're lucky it might turn into a nightcap" Joseph whispered to her seductively and rather sickeningly,
"I would rather die then have a nightcap with you" Rose told him firmly and the drunken stagehand felt his blood boil at her rejection,
"I'll teach you to treat me with some respect you little bitch" he growled and Rose found herself begin to panic as Joseph advanced on her,
"Joseph I am warning you" she told him firmly but saw the terrifying smirk that developed on his face and it didn't take long for Rose to run for it despite the other stagehand's calling for Joseph to leave her alone when he had began chasing her.
Joseph wasn't about to give up so easily as he chased Rose through the corridors and Rose found herself growing tired but was suddenly pulled into a room and a warm figure held her in a comforting embrace as she caught her breath... She looked up slightly to realize that she was standing in one of the opera boxes,
"... Are you alright?... Did he hurt you?" the figure asked and Rose looked up at the man whom was holding her and she saw the porcelain half mask that sat upon his face... But it was his piercing blue eyes as well as the voice that she knew all too well that earned her attention,
"... Erik... You saved me" she whispered and watched how he smiled down at her gently,
"Well I wasn't about to let him hurt my only friend now was I?" he told her gently and was stunned when she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, burying her face within his shoulder,
"... It's alright, Rose... You're safe now" Erik whispered in assurance before hugging her back slowly and resting his smooth cheek against the crown of her head.
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TheAuthor1996