The Angel, the Songbird, and the Monster

Summary-

Madame Giry never got the chance to help Erik, but he never needed her help, for when the Gypsy Clan that held him captive came upon a small village in Sweden, Erik made his escape. As he was hiding in the woods, nursing his wounds, a small girl found him and helped him. The young girl, Christine, convinced her father to let Erik stay with them and Erik found himself drawn to the young girl. After helping the girl's father get a job at the Opera Populaire in France, the girl's father took ill, and as the man laid on his deathbed, Erik vowed to help his little songbird take flight. But when an old face comes to the Opera Populaire, will Erik be able to help his songbird stay a flight, or will his songbird be caged forever?

Chapter Three-

Erik stared at the letter in his hand. A few months ago he had made it to Paris and had made himself a home under the Opera Populaire after deciding that the Opera Populaire would be a good place for Gustave to find work, and had made his new reputation as the Opera House Ghost by accident. He had been sneaking around the hallways, trying to see if there was an opening for Gustave or if he would have to make one. As he had been listening in on the manager as he was having a meeting, he had been spotted, but before the person could stop him, Erik had run and disappeared into one of the hidden passageways he had found.

As the rumor of a ghost in the opera spread, he decided to use this for his own purposes. He began to 'haunt' the Populaire, and after discovering the manager's smuggling and tax evasion, he began to blackmail the manager into giving him twenty thousand francs a month. He also began to slowly take over the Opera Populaire, and allowing the rumors of him to spread fear into everyone's heart it didn't take long before he was practically running the Populaire.

And after firing one of the violinist for not being able to play, he had written a letter to Gustave that read:

'My dear friend,

I am writing you this letter to let you know that I am safe and that I am sorry for not writing sooner. I find myself living in the Opera Populaire in Paris now. I have come upon the news that the Opera Populaire is in need of a new violinist. If you wish to take the position, I shall inform the manager to expect you and Christine. I am sure that the chorus would love to have her voice.

I also wish to tell you and Christine both that I miss you both terribly. I miss the nights we shared together making music together and sharing old stories of the North. I do so hope you will consider taking the position as the new violinist. If you do, we would be able to once again live like a family again.

Sincerely,

Erik'

Erik had sent the letter a week ago, and had just gotten Gustave's reply.

'Erik,

You do not realized how great of a timing your letter had. For when I received it, I had just been told by the Ctomte that my services were no longer needed. I fear you had been correct in your assumption that Raoul would one day tire of the Violin. I would gladly take the position as the new violinist.

My dear friend, me and Christine have missed you terribly too. I regret to tell you that for a week after you left Christine refused to leave your room. She barely slept, the only time she did was when she cried herself to sleep. The only time she will eat is after I remind her of how you would hate it if you to found out she was starving herself when we met up again. I do believe that your leaving shocked the poor girl out of her crush for Raoul.

I do so hope to be in Paris within the month.

Sincerely,

Gustave.'

Erik reread the letter not knowing how to feel, he felt relieved that Christine no longer held feeling for the boy Raoul, but it pained him to know that she had suffered so from his leaving. He sat the letter down and made a silent vow that he would never cause his Angel to suffer like that again once she returned to him.

\\'~'/

Erik stood in the shadow of the Opera Populaire awaiting Gustave and Christine, it had been a month since he had received Gustave's letter. He had been waiting in the shadow of the Opera Populaire the whole day, he wanted to be the first person they met when they arrived at the Populaire, but it was late now, and Erik was beginning to fear something had happened to delay them. The sound of a carriage coming to a stop pulled Erik out of his thoughts, Erik pushed himself further into the shadow and watched as the carriage door opened and Gustave step out. Erik released the breath he had been holding as Gustave turned and helped Christine out of the carriage before going to help the driver unload their baggage. Erik's heart skipped a beat as he took this opportunity to stare at Christine.

Though it had only been just a few months since he had seen her, the moment Erik laid eyes on Christine it felt like it had been years. Christine hadn't grown very much in the few months, but Erik could tell that she had lost weight. "Papa, are you sure that it is alright to come here so late?" Christine asked.

"I am sure. Erik says he lives here, and I told him we would be here within a month, I'm sure he is expecting us." Gustave said as the carriage took off, leaving them. Erik took this time to move towards them.

"Are you sure Papa, maybe we should-Erik!" Christine cried when she spotted him and ran up to him beaming as her eyes teared up. Once she got to him, she threw her arms around his neck and he quickly wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her up while spinning her around. Christine laughed and after going months without hearing her laugh, it sounded like heaven to Erik and he couldn't help but laugh with her. "I've missed you so much, Erik." Christine said as he sat her down, she began to wiped away her tears, that Erik hoped were tears of joy.

"Missed you too, my little Angel." Erik told her honestly and noticed as her eyes flew to the left side of his face before back to his eyes.

"You've changed masks." She informed him. The moment Erik decided to take on the role of 'Phantom of the Opera' he got rid of his crude leather mask in exchange for his new pure white porcelain mask. He had also begun to dress in darker clothes and a black cape to help him blend into the shadows easier.

"That I did." Erik said before turning and, with his hand on Christine's lower back, he began to lead not only Christine but Gustave towards the Opera Populaire. He stopped before turning towards Gustave and took most of their belongings into his arms. "Allow me." He said before continuing to lead them. "You're rooms are prepared, and as you settle in I shall inform Madame Giry, the ballet instructor, that you are here. And tomorrow you will have a meeting with the Manager. I am positive that you will be given the job, Gustave, and even if the Manager feels that Christine is too young to be in the Chorus, he will allow her to stay with you." He told them as he silently lead them into the opera house and towards the rooms that he had made sure was prepared for them.

"How ever were you able to set this up?" Gustave asked as he marveled the rooms that Erik had showed to them. Erik wasn't surprised that they were shocked, these rooms had once belonged to the Prima Donna. It had taken most of the month, but after some...coaxing, she had finally relented and allowed him to have the rooms.

"Oh, I have my ways." Erik said as he sat down their belongings while hiding a dark smirk that had appeared on his face. "Well," Erik said straightening up, "Though I hate to leave you so soon, but I must go and inform Madame Giry of your arrival, plus I have some work I must finish." He said before turning and making his way to the door. But as soon as his hand touched the handle, he felt the small body of Christine collide with his as she wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her forehead against his back.

"Will I see you tomorrow?" She asked and Erik heard the fear in her voice, the fear that if he walked out of this room that she might not ever see him again. As quickly and as gently as he could, Erik spun in her arms and pulled her into a hug.

"Oh Christine," He whispered, "My dear, sweet, Christine. I swear to God, that for as long as you wish, I will never leave you again. And even if you never wish to see me again, I shall still be with you, only in the shadows." He said to her as he rested his cheek on her head and ran his hands lovingly through he hair.

"I shall never wish to not see you." Christine whispered which caused Erik to smile softly. With a sigh, he reluctantly pulled away from Christine, but not before kissing her forehead.

"I shall see you tomorrow, when ever I have free time, and then tomorrow evening, we shall dine together as family, like we used to." Erik announced and beamed when Gustave smiled and Christine gave a squeal and clapped her hands. It felt so good to have them back in his life.

\\'~'/

Erik smiled to himself as he walked out of the secret door connected to his secret tunnels once he was sure that no one would see him. He quickly walked towards the door to Gustave and Christine's rooms as he straightened his clothes. It had been almost two weeks since Gustave had been given the job as a violinist. His smile left his face once he entered the rooms and felt the tension in the rooms. He slowly walked over towards the table which Christine and Gustave were sitting at. He noticed that the table was clear of food, and that Christine was looking at her hands as she fiddle nervously with them and refused to meet his eyes. He looked over at Gustave and noticed that he too was refusing to meet his eyes. Confused and slightly concerned Erik slowly sat across from Gustave, away from him and Christine, even though he usually sat right across from Christine with Gustave in between them. From they way they were acting, he felt that they would not wish for him to sit closer to them.

"What is it? What is wrong?" Erik asked. Had that fool of a Manager fired Gustave? No, he was sure that Gustave had not been fired, he was too good of a violinist for the Manager to even think about firing him. Had something happened to Christine? Had one of the stagehands touched her? Had Buquet touched her? The thought of someone touching her made Erik see red before his rational thought began to whisper to him. If something had happened, Gustave and Christine would not be so calm.

"As you know, Erik, we have been here a little over a week." Gustave started bringing Erik out of his thoughts. "And there have been some stories, rumors, of an 'Opera Ghost'." He continued lifting his eyes to Erik's and Erik tensed. He knew this conversation would happen sooner or later, he knew that the stories of him would soon reach Gustave and his Christine's ears. Erik's eyes calmly moved over his Christine who was still staring at her hands.

"And I am to assume that you, too, have heard these stories?" Erik asked her calmly. He watched her tense up before forcing herself to relax.

"I heard them from Madame Giry's daughter, Meg, and some of the Ballet dancers." Christine said nervously, as if she were afraid she would get someone in trouble.

"At first, I didn't wish to believe them." Gustave said and Erik looked at him with a guarded look. "But then I heard his description, that he wore a porcelain mask on the right side of his face. And even then, I still didn't want to believe them, for there could be no way that you would do what they claim you have. I did not wish to believe that you were the one responsible to the fear in everyone here. But then I got to thinking, I have never actually seen you around the opera house unless in a dark corner where no one could see us." Gustave paused.

"And it got you thinking: 'How did Erik know about the job? What happened to the violinist you were replacing?'" Erik asked as if reading Gustave's thoughts.

"What did happen to him, Erik?" Christine asked tensely.

"I did not harm him." Erik told her and as her body seem to deflate with relief, "He was fired by the Manager, not because I forced him," Erik said seeing the question in Gustave's eyes, "But because the Manager believed he could not play. And I agreed with him. And as soon as a violinist spot opened, I instantly thought of you." Erik told Gustave, what he said was the truth. When he had first gotten here he heard the Manager debate rather to fire the violinist or keep him, eventually he decided to fire the man.

"You have not denied to be this 'Phantom'." Gustave stated after a few minutes silence.

"That is because I cannot." Erik said and heard Christine's intake of breath. "But I can assure you that I have not killed anyone or purposefully caused someone harm, nor have I seduced anyone into my bed as the stories claim I have." Erik reassured her and Gustave. "I do admit that I have threatened people pulled a few pranks, but never with any intention to harm, only scare. I even admit to blackmailing the Manager into paying me twenty thousand francs a month." He added and had to fight back a smirk at the shocked look on Gustave's face. "I have been using half the money on buying stuff for the operas that I believe have helped them and the other half on food and other necessities for me to live. But if my blackmailing the Manager makes you uncomfortable, I shall stop, but I will not stop my role as the 'Opera Ghost'." Erik told them before standing up.

"Are you leaving?" Christine asked finally looking up at him with a scared look in her eyes.

"I believe it would be best if I left for the night." Erik said before moving closer to her and tentatively ran his thumb down her cheek, "But, if you wish, I shall visit you tomorrow when I have free time."

"I would like that." Christine whispered. Erik gave her a small smile, happy that she still wished to see him, and kissed her forehead before bidding both of them goodnight and leaving.