Gabrielle was walking down the marble staircase, fastening her cloak around her shoulders when she felt a hand on her arm; she turned to see Monsieur Andre.
"Ah, Lady De Chagny…you aren't leaving, are you? You must come celebrate with us!" he said happily.
She smiled. "Thank you monsieur, but…" He cut her off by whisking her away to the backstage area where everyone was cheering and celebrating the success of the Gala.
"Nonsense…just one glass of champagne!" he insisted.
She smiled again.
"All right, thank you." Andre led her down the crowded corridors to where Monsieur Firmin was waiting with two filled champagne flutes. She accepted the glass, but didn't take a sip. She noticed her brother in the crowd and saw her chance to escape.
She handed the glass back to Andre, saying, "Thank you, but I see my brother and must go to him. If you'll excuse me…" She curtsied and hurried off.
Gabrielle caught up with her brother, taking his elbow.
"Raoul! Help!" she pleaded gesturing to the managers hovering behind them "I was trying to make a discreet exit when Msr Andre cornered me" she hissed at him while gesturing toward Andre and Firmin.
He laughed at her obvious irritation.
"Forgive me, Gabrielle." He took her elbow and maneuvered her around the two gentlemen that were clearly waiting for her. He escorted her back to the main foyer and pressed a kiss to her cheek "I will see you tomorrow" he said as he handed her over to one of his footmen, who he was sure would make sure his sister made it home unharmed.
A dark figure watched all this from the shadows of the flies. The young lady from earlier today he noticed. Of all the high born women he'd seen come through his theater this one by far had captured his interest for a reason he couldn't quite understand. There was just something about her.
He would have to find out more about this young lady...for tonight he wanted to revel in his ingenue's triumph and deal with the troublesome Vicomte.
The next morning Gabrielle was awakened by her housekeeper, Judith who looked quite put out and flustered.
"Begging your pardon, Mademoiselle. The Vicomte is here, and he's in an odd sorts right now…" she ended uncertainly. Gabrielle sat up in bed and rubbed the sleep from her eyes, watching the older woman's kind face for a moment.
"Very well Judith, make some tea and tell the Vicomte I will be down in a few minutes."
The elderly housekeeper hurried out of the room to do as she was instructed. Gabrielle dressed and braided her hair before she went downstairs to the drawing room to see what the fuss was about. She entered to see Raoul pacing irritably.
She entered. "Raoul…what in the world has you so worked up?" He glanced up and scowled before ripping a letter from his pocket and thrusting it at her. She took it, giving her brother an odd look as she opened the letter and scanned it.
Written in bold script on the parchment were the words, 'Do not fear for Miss Daae. The Angel of Music has her under his wing. Make no attempt to see her again.'
She examined the paper front and back, frowning. "There is no signature," she pointed out.
"I know! It must be those managers!" he said angrily.
"You don't know that Raoul. Try to keep an even head about this," she pleaded.
"Don't tell me what to do!" he said shortly, not realizing his sharp tone until the words had been said. His face softened as he said "I'm sorry Gabrielle. I didn't mean to take this out on you."
She relaxed slightly and placed a hand on his arm.
"I understand. Go see the manager's. I'm sure there is a reasonable explanation for all this."
He nodded.
"You're right, I'm sure it's all a misunderstanding. Thank you. I'll see you later?" She smiled as he kissed her cheek.
"You're welcome," she said softly to his retreating form.
She heard the front door open and close again, she sighed as she sank onto the sofa. Henri, the butler, came in with a tea tray, looking around for Raoul.
"He's already left, Henri. Thank you, though."
He bowed before leaving the room. She poured herself some tea, and sipped it for a few minutes before turning her attention to the post for the day and discussing household matters with the butler.
As Gabrielle was sitting down to her breakfast Judith entered and announced that her ladyship had a guest, Christine followed the housekeeper into the dining room looking a bit sheepish.
Gabrielle rose from her chair and embraced the young woman "Christine! What a welcome surprise. Please sit" she gestured to one of the chairs at the table "Would you like something to eat?" she asked, gesturing for Henri to set a place for her guest without being asked.
Once Christine had taken a few long sips of tea she felt much calmer.
"I'm sorry to drop in on you like this Gabrielle but…but I had to tell someone…" she stopped, dropping her eyes to her lap and taking a few deep breaths.
Gabrielle sat back with her tea cup to let Christine tell her tale.
"Last night after the performance the…the Phantom of the Opera took me to his lair" Christine finally blurted out quickly.
"The phantom of…" Gabrielle began as Christine finished "the Opera took me from my dressing room last night. Only he's not a ghost, but a man." Her brown eyes were filling with tears.
Gabrielle set her tea down and grasped Christine's hand "Oh…well…are you alright my dear? He didn't hurt you did he?"
"No…no…he frightened me. But he didn't hurt me. He's the one who has been coaching me. He deceived me into thinking he was an angel of music sent from my father"
Gabrielle shook her head, Christine had always been quite flighty and superstitious. She found it hard to believe anyone would actually believe that. "Christine, you should have known better. There is no such thing"
The young singer's face fell at her friend's hard tone even though she had been quite foolish to believe such a story. Gabrielle felt guilty for being so blunt, Christine was a dear girl and she cared for her very much but she'd forgotten that she had to tread lightly with her, she was very fragile.
"Christine, I don't mean to sound harsh" she patted the young girl's hand "I only meant you must be vigilant and cautious is all"
"Oh I know Gabrielle, I know!" Christine cried "But…I just wanted to believe so badly" she took a quick sip of tea and pushed her eggs around on her plate for a moment before continuing "I don't know what to do, I dare not tell Raoul. I fear he will do something brash and end up dead?"
"I fear Raoul might already be suspicious of strange goings on at the theater" Gabrielle admitted "Can you tell me anything else?"
Christine shook her head "I dare not, I fear I've already said too much"
"I doubt you have much to fear from this man, if he's taken the time to train your voice so you have a career on the stage he most likely won't hurt you"
Christine nodded again "I saw his face…he wears a mask on the right side of his face. I took it from him…he was very angry"
Something in Gabrielle's memory stirred "The right side of his face is deformed?" she repeated.
"Yes" Christine sat up straight "How did you know that?" she asked softly.
Gabrielle shook her head, waved her hand in dismissal "Oh nothing. Just…it's nothing I'm sure. I can imagine he would be very angry, that was very unwise Christine"
"I just wanted to see what was under the mask" Christine mumbled into her tea.
With a sigh of defeat Gabrielle took a sip of tea and picked her fork back up "Go on, finish your breakfast and I'll have my carriage return you to the opera house. Try not to worry, I'm sure everything will work itself out" Gabrielle said with more confidence then she felt.
Once Christine left Gabrielle retreated to her study to go over the account books, the fire crackled comfortingly in the background. After a few minutes she couldn't focus anymore, her thoughts were wandering back to her childhood and to a poor young boy locked in a cage.
She'd been 7 or 8 at the most, out with her friends to a gypsy fair that had come through. Feeling very brave and a little bit misbehaved they wound their way through the exhibits until they came to one that horrified and captivated them at the same time.
A young boy who was vaunted as the 'Living Corpse' who astounded the audience with his beautiful voice and his illusions; only to horrify with his deformed face.
Gabrielle felt her heart break for the poor boy, while her friends giggled at the spectacle she felt the tears well in her eyes as he looked right at her, the sadness seemed to envelope him. No one should ever be exploited like that.
The gypsies made camp for a few nights, one night Gabrielle slipped away from her home and snuck into the camp. She found the young boy locked in a cage, cowering in the corner with his head bowed to his knees. Looking around to make sure no one saw her she snuck over and handed him a bundle with some food in it.
The boy would not look at her but took the bundle and ate the food quickly. "What's your name?" she whispered to his back, when she spoke he froze as though not used to being addressed. At first he ignored her, but when she persisted he finally turned though he kept his head bowed so she would not see and said "Erik"
Even as a boy his voice had been beautiful, even if his face was not.
"I'm Gabrielle" she whispered, smiling that he'd finally answered her.
He handed her back the empty sack, keeping his body turned away from hers so she could see the scars of his whippings.
"Why did you come here?" he asked.
Gabrielle looked around again and settled against the bars of the cage "Because no human being should ever be used like this" she said after a moment.
"I'm no human" Erik responded harshly.
"Don't say that!" she rebutted instantly "Yes you are." She tried to reach out to touch his shoulder but he reacted as a wild animal, jumping away and growling at her.
Someone must have heard because she heard voices, she ran home as fast as she could. But she could not get the image of that poor boy out of her mind. Each night the fair was in town Gabrielle had snuck in to give Erik food.
The last night as Erik ate his food he turned to her and said "Thank you".
Gabrielle smiled girlishly as she leaned back against the bars "Where will you go now?" she asked softly.
"I don't know" he swallowed the last morsel of food and handed her the empty sack.
"I shall miss you Erik" she said shyly, not looking at him.
"There's nothing to miss Gabrielle. I'm but a living corpse"
Gabrielle reached in and grabbed his hand holding it despite his discomfort "No you're not! You're a boy and they should all be whipped for treating you this way" without thinking she reached into her hair and pulled the ribbon holding her hair back and handed it to him "Keep this…as proof that someone cares Erik." She pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, that she could reach through the bars and took off.
Gabrielle snapped out of her reverie, for so long she'd dreamed about that boy, stupid girlhood dreams. When she turned her attention back to the ledgers in front of her she caught a glimpse of white in the window, when she looked back there was nothing there.
Erik stalked back to his home under the Opera, when he'd seen Christine slipping out the back he'd followed her. He was surprised to see where she ended up, he lurked around the youngest De Chagney's home for a while after Christine departed. He watched Gabrielle in her study for some time before he was needed back at the Opera.