Christine dans Deux Chapter 20: Fading, a phantom of the opera fanfic

Christine dans Deux

An Alternate Multiverse - A Phantom of the Opera Story

Nyasia A. Maire

DISCLAIMER: See Chapter One
Chapter Twenty – Fading

She is fading away from me. I can feel her slipping from my mind. Her essence contracting into an orb of foggy blackness. Soon she will not be able to shield her daughter and then the same will happen to Trystin. Unless. Her ancestry must be assured. Christine Daae gives birth to … whom?

I think of my beloved's family tree. Christine's father is easy to eliminate from my investigation. He is of Italian descent on both sides.

Christine's maternal lineage is another thing all together. It branches off in many directions. Her maternal grandfather's line originates in the principality of Luxemburg, which allows me to eliminate his line as well.

I turn my interest to her maternal great-grandparents. Both sides of the paternal strain originate in England; and the maternal … the maternal … yes, she is the unknown. Emma Smith! She is the broken link in the chain. I cannot find any record naming the parents of Christine's great-grandmother. Nothing. Emma seems to have sprung from no one. My Christine's great-grandmother seems to be the key. She must be the child whose birth is threatened. Born in 1885. Hmm. Christine Daae would be 31, a dangerous age to give birth in my world. I must borrow some of my beloved's books. I will need clothes and money. I will leave Madame here to watch over my ladies.

I call upon a god that in the past I have often cursed and pray. I beg him to help me find my way there and back again.

My preparations take very little time. I dress, gather the needed books, retrieve my money belt from the laundry bag and one of Christine's small metal boxes. Inside this box is a set of dueling pistols and bullets. Lastly, I return to Christine's room and cut a lock of her hair and then do the same to Trystin. I tie the locks together with the same black ribbon Christine had used to tie her missive of our first day together. These things will keep us bound together. These will help me find them again. I hope.

The tools of salvation lie in a small pile on the living room floor. I pick up one of the black bags and shake out its contents. Trystin and Christine's clothing fall to the floor. The bag is packed full now with books and the metal box. I strap on the money belt. Ready.

Madame walks into the room.

"So, did you intend on telling me that you are leaving us?"

"No. I was hopeful that things would be put right and I would return before you awoke. Not very hopeful, but I must hope. Christine will not awaken again unless we prevent whatever event is threatening her. She lies near death and Trystin will soon follow if the course of events is not set on the proper path once more."

Madame's eyes widen and tears well. "No, Erik! Both of them?"

"The daughter cannot exist without the mother and the mother cannot exist without Christine Daae. I believe Christine is her great-great-grandmother. The child upon whose birth their lives depend is Emma Smith. The identity of the father is unknown. I know not if the father is Raoul de Chagny or another. The only facts I have are the date of birth for Emma Smith, June 7, 1885 and the recorded place of her birth – the city of Vienna, in Fairfax County, in the state of Virginia in the United States of America."

"Erik, you do realize you need to find Christine Daae? She could be in France or she could be in America. How will you find her? Also, do you need to make certain she conceives or survives the birth? How can you know?"

"Madame, we are still one soul. She protects me now as well as her child. But, she is still one with me. I will use this to find my way. The answer lies within the memory of her blood. The blade calls to blood just as blood calls to blood. Madame, I will find my way because I must."

"Oh, Erik, I am so sorry. I will pray for you … all of you."

He walks to the woman he has thought of as older sister for most of his life and for the first time, he holds her in an embrace and then places a kiss upon her brow.

"Thank you. I cannot stay and wait for the end. I must go now. I must take action! I believe the best doorway is in the den. It is where I first appeared and where Christine first traveled to our world. I will begin my journey there. Please do not enter that room or allow anyone to enter that room once I close the door. It may not be important, but I would prefer that the room remain undisturbed as it may strengthen my link to this place. And anything that helps me return here, well …"

I shrug my shoulders.

"I will do as you wish, Erik. Godspeed!"

For a moment I struggle with the desire to return to Christine one more time, but instead I turn and walk to the den. The room is now as familiar to me as my own home. I enter the room and close the door behind me. I twist the lock on the door. I shoulder the bag and walk to the couch. I sit and place the bag on my lap. I reach into my coat pocket and remove Christine's engagement ring. I slide the ring onto the pinkie finger of my right hand. I allow the light from the Tiffany table lamp to sparkle and bounce off the ring. While I am well-versed in the ways of hypnotism, this is the first time I have attempted to hypnotize myself.

I focus on the glitter and sparkle bouncing within the center stone. An image of the last time I saw Christine forms in my mind. Her sweet, sad smile.

I whisper, "Help us, please!"

The familiar flash of light and clap of thunder resounds.

This time without the comfort of my beloved's eyes gazing into mine. The crossing burns our soul, but she is still with me and I take comfort in that.