Don't own the characters, just pulling the magical puppet strings orginally put in place by Gaston Leroux and some to ALW.
I wrote more so I'll post more. :)
Hugs to reviewers! You guys rock my socks!
roguekitsune/Neori: Yay! I've been heart-ed! (and no worries about the screenname thing) Jeeze, I'm so happy others are as excited about my story as I am. Was this soon enough to save any shreads of sanity? -:smirk:- Sorry for the cliffie but I will make no promises to stop them (especially since I have a doozy in mind a chapter or two down the road -:grins maliciously:-) Thank You!
AkashaVampireQueen: Interesting name, BTW. I've actually never seen all of "Interview with a Vampire." Would you recomend it? And I'm glad you like my story.:) Thank You!
tomluver123: Will make the effort to have longer chapters in the future but we'll see how it goes. I generally just try to pick where I think the most logical breaking point would be (and that's usually when I switch POV). Thank you!
And now, on to part the next. (Starting at the De Changy Estate)
Christine slept late into the morning and rapidly readied herself for another day. Plodding cheerfully down the marble steps of the De Chagny estate, she made her way to the main dining room and, as she done for several days now, sat down to breakfast alone. She'd seen very little of Raoul lately, he chose to spend his days in solitude.
Christine sighed; she knew very little of Philippe, business had kept him away from the manor frequently but what time she had spent with him left a lasting impression. She knew him to be a kind man with a strange sense of humor but the night after she'd found the announcement of Erik's death (Raoul had been out of town) he comforted his future sister in law while she bared her soul and cried her heart out.
She thought fondly of Philippe and was no stranger to mourning, but she was still concerned for Raoul's well-being. Delicately wiping her lips with her napkin, she started to clear her place before a servant gently tapped her shoulder. Blushing furiously, Christine apologized, still unaccustomed to servants after these months, and made her way to Raoul's study.
Sure enough, he sat behind the desk with dark shadows under his eyes, contrasting sharply with his pallid face. His strawberry-blond hair fell haphazardly as he reached to a nearby decanter to fill his glass again.
"Raoul?" she started tentatively. He jumped, sloshing brandy over his hand.
He responded in a gravelly voice, "Christine?"
"It's a lovely day, Raoul. Perhaps we could go for a walk about the grounds…"
"In the snow?"
"Yes, let's leave the house for a little while."
"I'm sorry, Christine. I'm just not in the mood."
"Are you sure, Raoul? You've scarcely left the room in three days."
"I know. Just go on ahead."
She bit her lip, caught in indecision, before softly closing the door behind her. Tears rose to her eyes when she thought of what her old playmate had been reduced to.
How could she save him when she couldn't save herself?
∞†∞
Erik woke to the familiar feel of his own sheets. It was only a dream. Opening his eyes and blinking heavily, he sat up and cradled his head in his hands, a migraine pounding in his skull. Trying to ease the throbbing best he could, he shakily made his way to what medicinal supplies he still carried.
"Just give it some time, it'll pass soon enough."
Erik froze. Philippe was there sprawled out on the chaise, not even bothering to lift his gaze from the book.
"It was real?"
"Very much so. I hope you don't mind that I brought you home. I was afraid you wouldn't regain consciousness before burning to a crisp once the sun rose. It would certainly not be an auspicious start."
Erik's mind was struggling to form any coherency from what he was hearing.
"Your body's still getting used to the change. Just give it some time."
Erik sat down on the chair next to the fireplace, willing his brain to focus. He massaged his temples to soothe the strain. Agonizingly slow, the headache managed to dissipate and Erik breathed a sigh of relief.
"Wait for it…"
"For what?" Erik had barely spoken the question when a fierce, sharp pain erupted in his mouth. With a cry, he ripped the mask from his face and he held his hands to his jaw, vainly attempting to vent the sudden surge. He shot a disbelieving, worried glance at Philippe before re-averting his gaze to the carpet. The pain was steadily growing. Erik crumpled to the ground, one hand across his mouth and the other balled into a fist on the floor. Tears formed at the corners of his eyes and each breath came ragged and harsh. Erik curled up on his side as the ache continued to intensify. He could feel his teeth rearranging.
Finally, the pain dwindled down as Erik panted slightly from the excursion, seeking to regain control of his breathing.
"I never claimed it would be painless, now did I?"
"No, you didn't," Erik growled. "Is there more?"
"No, that's the worst of it. I cried when mine came in. Go take a look, while you still can."
Erik's brows knotted in a puzzled look after Philippe's last statement as he replaced his mask. Curiosity soon got the better of him and he walked to the only whole mirror of his home, the one in Christine's room. Stealing away memories, he lifted the cover and examined his teeth; they were flawless but for the extra-long canines and the small spaces to accommodate them in his lower jaw.
Then Erik got a better look in the mirror as his eyes widened. "Philippe! My reflection, it's fading!" Sure enough, the once clear image had lightened, leaving only a specter of a reflection. Erik could still make out his form, his clothes had not disappeared, and the vague outline of his raven hair, mask, and eyes. Philippe joined him in the room.
"It won't completely disappear until you've had your first meal."
"My first…meal," Erik parroted hesitantly.
"Surely the Phantom of the Opera is not queasy?"
In response, Erik shot him a dirty look.
"Alright, alright. I get it. You're not used to my sense of humor or dare I say social interaction at all? Relax, loosen up a bit."
"I've never had to 'get used' to someone before, save Christine. And for her, I would do anything."
For once, Philippe stilled his tongue, understanding the subject not one to be joked about. Instead, he turned around and walked out of the room to where Madame Giry had placed provisions prior to their return.
"Want something to eat?"
"I thought you said you feed on blood."
"Well, yes, but it still tastes good. It's just nowhere near as satisfying nor as sweet."
Erik shrugged lightly, before joining Philippe.
"Any other little surprises I might want to be aware of?"
"No, nothing comes to mind at the moment. Croissant?" Erik took the offered croissant and ate cautiously, allowing himself to get used to the new configuration of his teeth.
With his mouth partly full, Erik asked, "So, won't someone know you're a vampire just by looking at your teeth?"
Philippe chuckled: "People have this habit of seeing what they want to see. Exploit it. It's your best weapon."
The corners of Erik's mouth quirked, he'd learned that particular lesson some time ago. "I still don't know anything about you."
"Yes, I'd like to keep it that way for the time being. A pupil shouldn't have means to blackmail his teacher, n'est-ce pas?" Philippe grinned but it faded quickly.
Though curious, Erik didn't press him any further. "So what are you going to teach?"
"The basics. I daresay you'll figure out most of the rest soon enough."
"What's first?" Erik's hunger for knowledge outweighed his annoyance of the man.
Philippe taunted, "Ah ah ah, you have to take your first taste, before you can do much anything. Have anyone in particular to seek revenge on?"
Erik's mind immediately flew to Raoul but he soon felt ashamed for the thought. The Fop was taking care of Christine and he would do nothing to cause her pain. Sighing heavily, Erik declined to choose a target.
"Alright, if you're sure. I'm certain there are plenty of construction workers who spend the night at the opera house, yes?"
Erik grinned evilly, "Yes there are. They never allow me any peace and are truly doing a shotty job, marring my opera."
"Sounds like a good choice then, convenient and vengeful."
They shook hands to seal the decision.
∞†∞
Authoress's side comments: Well, I think that's how chapters are going to work for a little while: a piece from one perspective and then one from Erik...unless of course that doesn't work and chapters will be wherever I stop them... Meh, I'm consistent in changing.
AND: I promise we will get some E/C interaction soon. (Interlude at De Chagny manor this time will lead into Christine's reason for going to town). I'll try to get there as soon as I can ('cause I really want to get there too!)
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