So I think yall will like this chapter, I know I'm proud of it. Also I'm sorry if this is getting annoying, but please, please, ppllleeeaaassseee review! I want to make my writing better so I apreaciate it more than you know if you reviw. Right not I only have six reviews :( half of them are from PhantomFan01 who I am really thankful for! She has been so sweet! She, and katjor are also following my story which is more than AMAZING and I'm so thankful. I also had some guests review: El guest, Hey, and another guest have been very kind with their reviews as well. So please review but most importantly enjoy, because if you're enjoying then my number one goal has been accomplished!
Christine POV
"Come on! We have to get you ready! You can't be late for your first dance rehearsal! Mother told me this morning that you didn't have to dance this performance since its tonight, you just need to get in the routine of getting dressed and she wants you to watch from the wings so you will know what's expected of you."
I just nodded shyly. Meg grabbed my hand and dragged me into the room through frantic girls getting their last touches to their makeup and outfits finished.
"Here, put this on!" She handed me a flowing gauzy skirt, and a beaded short top. Once I got it on she began to tie my hair up with lots of pins, and began to do makeup which consisted of lots of bold blues and reds. While she did this I began to carefully examine what I was wearing.
My stomach was bare and there was a leather neck line with many fake stones and beads on the top I was wearing.
My skirt was thin and sheer, I was thankful for the short tights I had covering some of my skin.
I felt very exposed and uncomfortable. I didn't want to be seen by any one! It was less modest than my chemise and pantaloons!
After I was finished Meg and I walked barefoot behind the other girls who had left a little before us. When we got to the stage I noticed the chorus singing and many props where put up.
"This is a full dress rehearsal. The show is tonight at eight. "Meg whispered in my ear, tingling my spine.
"Christine" a strict voice from behind me called my name.
I looked back and found Madam Giry waving for me to go see her. When I stopped in front of her, she looked me over carefully before she began to talk.
"I see you've gotten yourself ready like I asked. You will only need to watch with me since you don't know the dance. Pay close attention to what I expect of you."
She then dragged me to one of the stage's wings where we had a clear view of everything. The stage naturally got quieter when the chorus stopped singing and everyone began muttering to one another about their roles and costumes when, to my amazement a woman with a loud voice and huge red hair stomped out from the wings on the other side of the stage with the two managers following her. She yelled with so much intensity it made me want to hide in my Papa's arms.
"My dress! Some a-one took it! It's gone! I can't find it!"
"It appears Carlotta wishes to make a scene yet again," Madam Giry whispered almost to herself while exhaling a deep breath.
Oh God! That was La Carlotta! Didn't she know I had her dress? She asked me to keep it for her!
"I know where it is" the tall ballerina, Sorelli who I had talked to yesterday in our bedroom while Meg was getting me dresses spoke up.
"Tell me! Tell me now! Where is-a my dress!" Her thick Italian accent almost made it impossible to understand what she said.
"I saw it under Christine's bed. I suppose she stole it!"
My face went pale as all my blood dropped from my face. I felt dizzy. I stole it? No! It must have been a mistake!
"Chrrristine? Who is a this Chrrrrristine?" Her R's rolled strangely and her face was getting reder with every fast breath she took.
Sorelli and the two girls pointed at me with an evil smile stretching across their faces.
The two managers and Carlota rushed to my side and Monsieur Firmin grabbed me at the top of my arm softly and walked me swiftly to the bedroom.
He was walking so fast I could barely keep up. I was tripping on my own gauze skirt and I could hear Carlota complaining to Andre while walking behind us.
When we got to the doors of the room we stopped and he let go of my arm. All three of then crowded around me with mad eyes.
"Christine did you really steel the dress?" Firmin asked in a soft but serious tone.
"No monsieur! I would do no such thing! I- I was just told that Carlotta wanted me to take care of it for her" Carlotta rolled her eyes at the statement.
"Lies!" She screeched causing Andre and Firmin I scrunch up their faces.
"Christine we will take your word this one time since you're new. Next time we will have to come up with other arrangements though. Now go get the dress." Andre said in a rush almost as if he just wanted to be done with the whole situation as fast as possible.
I quickly went in the room and grabbed the poufy dress and brought it to Carlota. She snatched it from my hands and stormed off with the managers not far behind her.
I couldn't understand! Those girls set me up and created a fool out of me! What did I do to deserve that? Did I anger them?
I didn't want to go back to the rehearsal where judging eyes would look at me and believe I was a thief. Instead I decided to go to the chapel and visit my Papa.
Once I walked through the huge chapel doors I felt comfort. I walked across the floor that was stinging my bare feet with every cold step until I got to the Altar. I lit three candles and then sat in a ball on the floor in my skimpy ballet outfit.
"Oh father! They don't like me! The girls I thought where nice made me look like a thief in everyone's eyes! Please come save me Papa! Come back and take me back to our apartment where we can dream of angels and play sweet music!" Tears where pouring down my cheeks and drenching my face.
"Papa! I need you to give me help!"
I then heard what I thought was just my mind playing cruel tricks on me. It was a strange humming of a man's voice. It was more beautiful than any melody I had ever heard! It was the tune I had sung to my Papa this morning. It was so soft and gentle. It caused my every muscle to relax and tears to stop in their tracks Its sweet pitch soothed me.
I then realized such a thing couldn't be coming from my imagination. I looked all around the room and stood up. I slowly ran my hands across the stone walls of the chapel looking for the source. The music came to a smooth halt and I stopped in my place trying to be quiet so maybe I could hear it again.
"My dear, your Papa sends me with warm blessings." The words echoed across the stone walls causing my eyes to widen. Butterflies gathered in my stomach and my hands shook from disbelief.
"Angel?" I managed to get out more of a week whimper than a word.
"Do not be afraid, Christine; I am only here to help you take flight."
"My father sent you?" I already knew it to be true but that's all that managed to escape my lips as my brain froze.
"He loves you very much" My breathing stopped. And I forgot how to speak. I felt tears rise to my throat at that statement, but I couldn't cry, not in front if the Angel of Music. Oh but how I longed to hug my Papa. I never truly got to say goodbye.
"I love him too." I muttered while lowering my head with lack of confidence. As I looked down I noticed my wrists and and the bruises they carried. They must have got them from the man I saw back stage earlier. Tears finally made their release at that thought. I still didn't know why he did that. It seemed everyone here disliked me.
"You have my fullest sympathies mademoiselle."
The room was silent for a moment and my tears slowly ceased. It seemed as though during that silence all I could think of was one question that had me growing curiouser by each seconded that passed.
"Angel, could you please, maybe let me see you?" I felt so rude but I had to. I was so curious about what this angel looked like.
Erik's POV
I stood there a minute after the girl left. I was still stunned from the heavenly music that had poured from her soul. This girl was truly the most intriguing human I had ever seen and I had to get closer to her. I knew I had only been watching her for barley even two days but something pulled me to her. Something that I couldn't deny for forever. I developed an idea I thought was logical and would get me close to this girl without her questioning me.
Until then, I decided to go about my duties and watch the rehearsal from box five which is reserved at all times for the Phantom of the Opera himself. I had to make sure rehearsals went smoothly and keep my presence known if the people defy any of my commands.
The chorus was dreadfully out of tune and lacking emotion; I was also dreading having to hear Carlotta who I knew would begin to sing soon. That lady always squealed when she sang, more like a bratty old woman than a Prima Donna. Once the chorus stopped Carlotta practically ran out from one of the wings furious. The toad was looking for her dress and my eyes popped out of my skull when I saw one of the ballet rats point at the young girl. Christine they called her.
Anger filled me when I saw the expression on the taller rats face. She was entertained it appeared, while it looked as though Christine was filled with trepidation. It infuriated me to see Christine being blamed for such a thing. I thought about filling the theater with my harsh words but I quickly realized that it would ruin my plans for getting to come closer to Christine.
When I saw the managers and Carlotta pull Christine out of the theater my heart began to race. I just knew she didn't steal the dress, she wasn't that type. It was obvious she was too innocent. I wasn't about to let her go down for one of the ballet rats foolish tricks.
I raced down all my corridors until I could see them from a view up in the ceiling. They were stopped outside of Christine's bedchambers. I didn't do anything. The only one who was being cruel to her now was Carlotta, giving her blaming looks. I would later get her for that. In a torturous way that would be personalized especially for her.
Once she got the dress and the managers and Carlotta walked off, I followed Christine to the chapel. She needed comforting and I would give it to her. This time I would not just be watching. I decided to put my plan into action. Hopefully it would be good for both of us. I could give her a father figure she is lacking, and perhaps she could give me a purpose.
"Papa, I need you to give me help!" Christine continued to plead to her beloved Papa. That was my chance. I would make my grand entrance with something she could relate to. Something she connected with her papa and her Angel of Music.
I began to hum the tune she had sung earlier that morning. The song stung me with memories of my beautiful mother. To keep the right emotion in the song I looked Christine up and down, reminding myself of her bewitching features. I was humming only for her.
At first she looked confused, then, slowly her facial features changed to become more confident. She stood up and began to walk around the room along the walls, running her hands against the stone. She was looking for me. But I couldn't let her see me.
Once I stopped huming she stood in one place, more still than a statue itself. As if she was waiting for me to hum again, afraid that even blinking would cause so much noise hearing me would be impossible. Perhaps I should fill the silence before she decided I was no angel, but a ghost and run away. She was the last person I wanted fleeing from me. So I conjured up a statement I knew would capture her heart and lead her into believing me.
"My dear, your Papa sends me with warm blessings." I felt confident and was happy with myself when it came out that way.
"Angel?" Her voice was weak and made her seem so helpless.
"Do not be afraid, Christine; I am only here to help you take flight." How right this felt. Words could not describe what I was going through at that moment. Maybe a strange sense of joy? My stomach was tingling and the hairs on the back of my neck where standing on end.
"My father sent you?" Her eyes sparkled with relief and a hint of happiness.
"He loves you very much" I knew I had her trapped beneath my Angel wings once I said this. It was clear I had touched a part of her heart she had yet to explore. Her breathing stopped and she looked as if she longed for something. Her Papa, I concluded. If I kept down this path, she would fall at my feet with need. She missed her Papa and I would become the new guardian in her life.
"I love him too." She whispered while lowering her head to the floor. As she did that I noticed her wrists again. The bruises reminded me of why I had to protect this girl.
"You have my fullest sympathies mademoiselle." After I said that it was silent for a moment until Christine broke the silence.
"Angel, could you please, maybe let me see you?" This had stunned me for a seconded. I wasn't planning on her believing I was a visible presence.
"Perhaps, My child, another time." Why had I said that? I had a moment of weakness. Her face was so pitiful, full of wonder and longing to see. I just gave into those blue eyes of hers.
Her shoulders slumped and she blushed violently. These actions shook my emotions again and caused me to say something regrettable.
"I promise dear, soon I shall reveal myself to you."
I was angry at myself. So furious with my actions and I couldn't trust my self with the ability to speak at this moment.
I knew I would yet again say something I regreted so I found my escape.
"My child, tomorrow at six in the evening you shall begin singing lessons with me. All I ask is that you keep this secret and don't be late." At that I remained silent, holding my tongue from producing another word.
yay! Forth chapter is done! So I had a little trouble focusing today which is why it got uploaded kinda late at night. But anyways thanks for reading, your support means the world to me! Please review and keep reading! Things are gonna get exciting it the future, I can't wait to write what I place planed in my head!
Until next chapter! :)