Title: A Grand Illusion
Characters: Christine/Raoul, OCs
Chapters: 8/8 + epilogue
Rating: K+
Warnings: Twists and kidnapping
"Monsieur?"
"Yes, Burkett? What is it?"
The new stable hand scratched his head and stepped into Raoul's office. He cleared his throat and pulled a rucksack out from behind his back.
"I found this, Monsieur. It was in the stable, hidden at the bottom of the hayloft. I thought perhaps…"
He left it with the Vicomte and Raoul debated with himself for a while whether he should check it. It was most likely something of Leroux's. He might have just sent it straight on ahead to the young man but it turned out, he'd discovered some days before, that the youth wasn't at the address he had given them. So instead Raoul lifted the rucksack in his hands and tipped it on its side to look inside.
A small pile of oddities tumbled out. He spread them out on his desk.
There were bits and pieces of thread and rope, glass and some red balls. A little handheld mirror and a pile of papers sat at the side. Most of the papers were covered with sketches of horses, the stables and the members of the de Chagny family. Some were odd pictures of what looked like devices. And then there was… music?
Raoul picked up the sheet music and went pale. It was just notations. All hand written in the same writing as the letter of resignation he'd received. The Vicomte called for his wife and continued looking through the sack, more aggressively. There were various other little things, including the stick and paper his little girl had so eagerly showed him. And a map of the house and lands. A strangely knotted rope came out in his ghostly white hands as Christine stepped into the room.
"Raoul, what is…? What's all this?"
"Christine…You… You got to know Leroux, the stableboy, didn't you?"
"Yes. Why? Are these his?" she asked as she started to sort through the mess covering Raoul's desk. "Oh! That's his rope ladder. He showed me how me made it."
The Vicomte pulled it all the way out. The first end to be seen was covered in dried up, crusty, once-was-mud. At the other end a folded piece of parchment was tied with a familiar ribbon.
Neither of the de Chagny's could move to pick it up. And then, after a long moment, Christine screamed in wordless horror, rage and pain. Raoul opened the letter, tearing it a little in his anger. Tears fell down his cheeks as he read.
Madame Christine de Chagny
What do you think? My first grand illusion.
"Bastard! He told me! He rubbed it in my face! He said I'd seen his illusions…"
I will admit, I needed my father's assistance in the planning, but the execution was all mine. You know, I am still sorry I couldn't make your little Madeline reappear. I'm afraid this illusion will not have a prestige. None that you will get to enjoy, at least. But, Madame, do not cry. Madeline has her grandfather's violin, just as you wished.
"Papa's violin? He stole it! Raoul, he took our little girl!"
Together they wept.
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