Think of Me
Antoinette told Erik that there were rumors going around that the current manager was going to be retiring soon. Erik was disappointed and annoyed that the man was leaving because he gave Erik what he wanted without much bother and having to convince whoever replaces him of his power will be a hassle. However, he could understand why he was retiring for he was getting on in his life and probably wanted to spend his last remaining years not having to deal with the drama that was opera. Erik also saw this as the opportunity he was looking for in regards towards having Christine make her debut. His protégé was ready enough to make her skills known, especially to outshine Carlotta.
Erik made up a letter to be presented to the manager's replacement when the time came and handed it over into the capable hands of Antoinette.
"When the time comes, I need you or Meg to be the one to suggest Christine take on the lead role." Erik instructed as he handed the sealed letter over to Antoinette.
"How will we know that the time is right?" she had asked as she took the letter.
Erik smirked. "Trust me. You will know."
He did not tell Christine of his plans but carried on their lessons like normal. He knew that she could get nervous if she has time to overthink something and this was something he wanted to make sure did not happen. He was positive that she would make him proud once the time came.
Which occurred sooner then he thought but he was more content with that than not.
It was after the Opera Populaire began preparing for the opera called Hannibal. If it had not been for Carlotta having the leading female role, Erik would have been eager to see its finished product. However, Carlotta was the lead and, as a result, Erik spent a lot of the rehearsals away from the stage. Unless he had planned a prank for the prima donna, those were always fun and made him feel better after having to listen to her dreadful singing.
Christine and Meg were casted as simple slave girls but Antoinette had told him that the dance numbers were complex in a lot of scenes. From what he had observed the few times he forced himself to sit through Carlotta's singing to watch the two girls perform, the Madame was correct. Erik was impressed by his niece and protégé, outshining the other dancers even during their synchronize numbers when all of them were doing the same thing.
It had been serval weeks after the production preparations had begun, the announcement was made during a rehearsal.
Erik had been watching from above the stage, that drunken employee Joseph Buquet was off drinking himself into a stupor, again. Erik did not know why he put up with the man for he was also perverse and would often try to flirt his way into the female dancer's quarters, but luckily Antoinette kept a watchful eye over the girls. Erik figured that he puts up with him because of the man's dreadful drinking habits, as a result, he was able to observe from above more often than not.
When the main baritone singer, Piangi—an Italian who Erik actually liked as a singer though his taste in women was questionable because he was with Carlotta, messed up his pronunciation of 'Rome,' and was being corrected did the current manager come on stage and interrupt the rehearsal. Erik straightened up at the arrival of two men following behind the manager, both looking all too pleased with themselves.
"Andre and Firmin." Erik whispered to himself as the old manager introduced the two who would be taking his place. He noted that the two manger's companions were in the form of a goat and rooster. Not the most elegant forms, but he will have to work with it.
"Think they will be easy to persuade over to our side like the other one?" Farren whispered next to him.
Erik shook his head as he observed one of the new managers flattering Carlotta which the prima donna was obviously enjoying. "We will have to see. Come, it is time our protégé gets the attention she deserves."
Erik stood up from his spot and climbed the ropes until he was in front of the wheel that had one of Hannibal's background rolled up above him, Farren flew up and landed on the wooden rail next to him. He cringed at the sound of Carlotta beginning to sing one of the songs from the opera that was a solo for the main female role. He glanced down to make sure that the position of the screen was right and timed it to not hit anyone except a specific soprano. He waited patiently for Carlotta to walk under the screen.
She did, and he untied the rope that held the wheel in place. Erik quickly backed away to not be seen and went into the shadows. He heard screaming, the loudest being Carlotta's screeches in anger.
Erik smirked and he and Farren made their way to another perch to watch his results.
Buquet had rushed back to his post and explained that it was not his fault, blaming the ghost instead.
Well, he was not wrong. Erik thought distastefully at the man whose seagull companion sat on his shoulder.
Buquet pulled the background back up but Erik got the result he wanted. Carlotta refused to perform until these things did not happen anymore, storming off the stage and Piangi, his skunk companion Dante, and Antonio going after her.
The two new managers were in a frenzy as towards what to do but, as Erik had expected of his Antoinette, the Madame brought everyone's attention to his letter.
Erik frowned at the reactions of Firmin and Andre then sighed.
"Looks like they are going to be stubborn ones." He mumbled to Farren who shrugged.
"I have faith in you. They will not last too long." The eagle whispered back to him.
But his irritation quickly changed when Antoinette again took control, like the amazing woman she was, and made the suggestion of having Christine Daae sing Carlotta's song tonight.
He knew that she would know the moment.
Erik smirked at the obviously shocked expression of his protégé. She backed away a couple steps when Andre called her forward. Meg gave her a push and Christine reluctantly walked forward. She looked from Antoinette to Meg, both of whom gave her encouraging nods.
Erik frowned as he leaned forward.
"She looks too nervous." Erik whispered.
He was proven correctly when Christine opened her mouth to sing.
Think of me,
Think of me fondly
When we've said goodbye.
Erik cringed at the voice crack and felt Farren shudder next to him. Christine made to run but Antoinette slammed her cane onto the stage, making her freeze. Antoinette made a gesture for her to come back but she did not move.
"Come on, Christine." Farren whispered hopefully.
Luckily, Christine turned back, glancing from side to side as if she was trapped. But she began again.
Remember me once in a while.
Please promise me you'll try.
Erik was starting to wonder whether he had thought his protégé was ready too soon. This was not the girl he had trained since she was a child to have a grand voice. He did not think that her nerves would hit her this quickly and this hard at once.
However, he was proven wrong in the next part. He straightened as Christine's voice suddenly became stronger and like how it is supposed to sound. Beautiful and divine.
The voice that Erik had taught it to become.
On that day, that not so distant day
When you are far away and free
If you ever find a moment,
Spare a thought for me!
Erik went away from his spot with a pleased smile.
The rest of the day, he knew that Christine was being prepared for her debut. He eagerly waited for the night and when it arrived he quickly went to his spot at box five.
There was a bit of a complication.
His box was occupied, making both he and Farren annoyed by the two new managers. But then he noticed who had taken it.
The Viscount was in the box, along with his brother, the count, and their guests.
Erik would have scared them out if it was not for the obvious discomfort in the Viscount's expression. He knew that box five was the Phantom's and was probably waiting for something bad to happen.
Erik slowly backed away from his entrance into the box.
"You are not going to do anything?" Farren asked puzzled.
Erik shook his head with a grin. "It will be funnier knowing that the Viscount had spent the whole evening waiting for my wrath and not receive any of it. I will let him know next we meet that the box is off limits, but why not let him 'enjoy' it just this once. Come, we will go somewhere else."
"You are so mean." Farren disapproved with a shake of her head, but flew to his shoulder for him to carry her away anyway.
As he had expected, Christine was a marvel on stage.
Erik and Farren watched her and took in the brilliance that they had known she had contained from the first time they heard her sing. Erik could even tell she was smiling as she sung, basking in the presence of hundreds of eyes focused solely on her for the few minutes of the night.
Christine finished and succeeded the final lyrics with perfection and, to Erik's lack of surprise, she received a standing ovation.
It was over all too soon for Erik but once the curtains closed, he quickly motioned for Farren to follow him. Together they went back down into the tunnels below the opera house and made their way back up through the walls until they had reached the chapel.
Erik was not surprised to find Christine already there, kneeling in front of the single candle. She took a match and lit it. While she waited she stroked Nada's head that was resting on her lap.
"Brava, brava." He admired from his spot in the walls, his voice echoing pleasantly. "Bravissime."
Christine smiled at the wall above her where his voice had come from.
"Christine? Christine." Erik heard Meg's voice coming down the stairs to the chapel.
"Christine…" Erik drawled out softly, making his protégé giggle.
"Where in the world have you been hiding?" Meg asked with Leala trailing behind her, she went and kneeled in front of Christine. "Really you were prefect!"
"We are so proud of you!" Leala gushed, her wings flapping a couple times to show her enthusiasm. "The Madame and Valere might not show it but they're proud too."
Nada lifted her head to look at the pelican. "What are you two doing here?"
"Looking for you!" Meg answered, then pointed at Christine accusingly, but her smile was playful. "You're lucky I know you so well. Erik are you here?"
"Yes." Erik answered simply, watching in amusement as the young blond shook her head.
"This is her first debut. She needs to see off her new admirers." Meg explained with a cheeky grin, nudging Christine in her side.
Christine let out a groan. "Do I have to? Can't you say I'm too tired after my performance?"
"Christine, this is the beginning of your singing career, you cannot act like a diva already." Erik scolded firmly.
Christine blushed and Meg's grinned got wider.
"You're right. I'm sorry." She apologized. Christine patted Nada and the two of them began to stand. Meg following her lead.
"Besides, I doubt a lot of people will believe that a girl who can perform a whole evening of dancing will be tired from singing one song, no matter how impressive it was." Leala added with a smirk in her tone.
Christine sent the pelican a glare, to which the bird laughed. Christine appeared unwilling to leave so Erik joined in.
"You will do fine, Christine. I will come to you tonight when everything is over." He promised.
Christine perked up at that and nodded. She left with Meg.
Yay! We are at the beginning of the musical! Happy moment! Hope you enjoyed it and I'm super excited about this! Hope you review to share it too!
Here are the companion explanations:
Boquet Seagull- Versatility, loud, easy-going nature, laziness, resourceful, opportunistic, freedom.
Armand Moncharmin Rooster- Persistence, honesty, strength, flamboyant, upward reaching, eager, cocky, watchful.
Firmin Richard Goat- Surefootedness, stubbornness, independence, diligence, in the moment, aloofness, virility, sturdiness.