Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who or Phantom of the Opera.
A/N: Hi everyone! I have risen! I'm so sorry for haven't updating in a very long time. Life got in the way and I honestly didn't have the time or inspiration to write. But that slump seems to have disappeared and I am back on a writing streak! I hope you all enjoy it!
Claire's Outfits: claires_outfit_chapter_28-29/set?id=131365823
claires_outfit_chapter_29/set?id=169147047
"Why did you make us the new owners?" I asked under my breath. The cast and crew were applauding the two of us after Monsieur Lefevre introduced us.
"Why not?" The Doctor shrugged and gave the crowd a gallant bow. Deciding to just go along with it, I bent in a quick curtsy and smiled politely.
"Monsieur, Mademoiselle, I'd like to introduce you to our leading soprano, Signora Carlotta Giudicelli." Monsieur Lefevre gestured to a heavy red headed woman decked in a green, red, and gold ball gown. A golden tiara was placed artfully into her beautifully styled flaming red hair. Her red painted lips pulled into a smug smirk as her charcoal rimmed green eyes trailed over me in a sort of disgust. Yeesh, what did I ever do to you lady? The Doctor noticed her sizing me up and was completely baffled when she held out a pudgy hand for him.
The Doctor glanced at it uncertainly before quickly pressing a half assed peck to her hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you Signora." He assured her quickly dropping her hand.
An even heavier man dressed in the same colored garments stepped up to Carlotta's side. "And Ublado Piangi, our leading male." Monsieur Lefevre introduced. Piangi nodded at us as a greeting before stepping away to get his makeup retouched.
The Doctor and I shared an equally disgusted glance. These people were rude and obviously full of themselves.
"And of course our new patron, the Vitcomte de Changy." A young man with shoulder length light brown hair and sparkling blue eyes came up to us.
"A pleasure to meet you Monsieur Doctor and Mademoiselle Claire." He shook hands with the Doctor and brought my hand to his lips in a sweet kiss. I felt the Doctor stir uncomfortably next to me. I quickly dropped my hand from the Vitcomte's and placed it in the Doctor's. I squeezed his hand in reassurance and immediately he relaxed. "My parents and I are deeply honored to support all of the arts, especially the world-renowned Opera Populaire. I'll be there tonight to share in your great triumph. If you'll excuse me, I have business to attend to." He then parted through the crowd and disappeared out the door.
"Perhaps the signora could make it a personal favor to oblige us with a private rendition. Unless, of course, if Monsieur Reyer objects?" Lefevre asked the mousy conductor.
"Of course!" Reyer spluttered quickly flipping through sheets of music.
"If my manager commands. Monsieur Reyer?" Carlotta asked.
"If my diva commands?"
"Yes, I do! Everybody very quiet!" she then began clearing her throat with strange vocal exercises.
"Monsieur, why exactly are you retiring?" The Doctor asked Lefevre.
"My health." He responded with a wince. I honestly couldn't blame him for not wanting to work with that awful woman.
The Doctor stared back at him knowingly. "I see."
"You as well!" Carlotta barked.
The Doctor quickly shut his mouth afraid the diva would snap at him again.
I had to fight the urge to cover my ears once she began singing or in other terms wailing.
"Think of me, think of me fondly when we've said gOOOOoooooOOdbyeeeee. Remember me once in a while please promise me yOOoooooOOOooou'll try. Then you'll find that once again you long to tAAAaaaake your heart ba-" She was thankfully cut off when a large banister fell from the catwalk. A shrill strangled cry rang throughout the room as the lights of the chandelier began flickering sporadically.
"He's here the Phantom of the Opera!" A brunette probably around my age cried out before running over to a mysterious woman with a black veil covering her face.
"Well then if you need me, I shall be in Australia." Lefevre announced before making a mad dash for the exit.
"Always the coward." The veiled woman spoke up. Recognition crossed my features as I made note of her proper British accent. I spoke to her over the phone. "Strax what on earth is going up there?"
"Forgive me Madame I was not at my post. The freak of nature got away from me yet again. Shall I annihilate him?" A small muscular man-thing that was eerily similar to a potato asked as he came into view. I was surprised the cast and crew weren't affected by his appearance they seemed to be used to it.
"No, Strax that won't be necessary." The veiled woman turned her attention to the people surrounding her. "Everyone go back to your rehearsals. As you all know these things do happen." She glanced at the Doctor and I, giving us a curt nod.
The Doctor tugged me over to the veiled woman just as Carlotta started to have a fit.
"For the past three years these things do happen but do you stop these things from happening? No!" She turned to the Doctor and I pointing an accusing finger at us. "And you two are as bad as him!" She cried gesturing to the rafters. "If you don't stop these things from happening, this will not happen!" She pointed at herself angrily before sharply turning around. "Ublado! Andiamo! Bring my doggy and my boxy!" Piangi and a footman carrying her dog and other goods followed her out of the room. "Bye-bye! Ciao! Now you see I am really leaving!" With that she was gone.
Everyone seemed to let out a breath of relief once she was out of the room. Except for Reyer, the poor man looked like he was about to have a heart attack.
"We'll need an understudy! There is no understudy for La Carlotta!" Reyer cried out in frustration. "What will we do?"
The cast and crew looked nervously between one another. I looked around waiting for them to ask Christine Daae to come out and sing, but she never showed up. No one even called her. Was there ever a Christine Daae? I leaned over to the Doctor. "Why aren't they calling Christine up?" I asked in confusion.
"I don't there ever was a Christine Daae." He exclaimed scanning the room as well. "Well, someone has to set things rolling." Before I could object the Doctor pushed me forward as if he was offering me to the gods. "Claire will sing it!"
I quickly turned on the Doctor. "I will not! I can't even sing!"
"Yes, you can! I've heard you sing in the shower plenty of times, you're quite good."
"Doctor those moments are private!" I gasped.
"What I like listening to you sing, now go!" He gave me another nudge before quickly backing away from my hand that swat out at him.
"Very well." Reyer exclaimed. "We'll give it a go."
The room suddenly filled with the sound of a soft piano. I gulped nervously and glared at the Doctor who gave me an encouraging grin. Oh how I wanted to slap him. Reluctantly I began to sing quietly, my small voice rang throughout the room as I sang the first verse.
Think of me
Think of me fondly when we've said goodbye.
Remember me
Once in a while please promise me you'll try.
When you find that once again you long
To take your heart back and be free.
If you ever find a moment
Spare a thought for me.
Everyone suddenly started clapping madly for me. I felt my face heat up immediately and ran to the Doctor in an effort to get out of the spotlight.
"You were brilliant!" He beamed, taking me into his arms and pressing a quick kiss to my lips. I blushed even deeper and pecked him on the cheek before pulling away.
Monsieur Reyer suddenly came up to me. "Please Mademoiselle, will you sing the opening tonight? It is a full house, we cannot refund it."
I stared back at him in shock "Oh I don't kno-"
"She'd be delighted to." The veiled woman said cutting me off.
"Excellent. Come back here in half an hour so we can rehearse, of course you'll need to be fitted and learn your lines. Go with Madam Vastra she'll take care of you!" Reyer then bustled back to leading the rest of the cast through the rehearsal.
"Doctor…" I groaned. "I don't want to sing in front of a huge crowd of people."
"Come on Claire you'll do great! Everyone already loves you." He gushed wrapping an arm around my waist and leading me back to the veiled woman.
"Doctor, I've been waiting most anxiously for your arrival." The woman said softly. "Please follow me so we may speak more privately."
We followed her backstage where huge sets and props for the show waited. She lead us through lines of costumes that hung in array of hundreds of different colors till we reached a door. The brunette who had screamed earlier opened the door and ushered us all inside. Sitting at the head of a large desk was the potato man.
"Strax how many times do I have to tell you to not sit in my chair?" The woman sighed in annoyance as she took off her long black veil.
I tried to hide my gasp as I stared at her in awe. Her skin was decorated in intricate scales in many different shades of green. Bigger scales shot out like fans behind her head. She was extremely beautiful to look at. I really wanted to draw her at some point.
"But Madame, this chair makes me feel so mighty and powerful, like I can take over the world and crush everyone to bits." Strax cried joyously.
"Strax its just a normal chair…" The brunette said with slight concern.
"But-"
"Honestly Strax, you are the loudest potato I've ever had the misfortune to know." The Doctor sighed in mild irritation before giving Strax a noogie.
"Sir, we Sontarans are the best warriors in the galaxy, you cannot refer to me as a common vegetable."
"Ok enough! Strax out of my chair!" Madame Vastra commanded. Strax reluctantly got out of her chair and moved to the door. She turned to the brunette. "Jenny dear, can you get us some tea?"
"Of course ma'm."
"Please won't you sit down?" Madame Vastra said pleasantly gesturing to the two seats in front of her desk.
The Doctor and I settled into our seats as Jenny put the kettle on.
"I'm afraid this Opera Ghost isn't going to be an easy task, Doctor. I've done what I can to try and locate him, but it's almost impossible. We've found some secret passageways, but they are filled with booby traps. The only way we're going to be able to get ahold of this 'ghost' is if it comes to us willingly. Luckily, I've just formed a plan that I think might work, but you're probably not going to like it." She said trailing off as her crystal blue eyes settled on me.
"Why?" The Doctor and I asked in unison.
"Well, we're going to have to bait him. He seems to make himself known the most when music is being played. Particularly singing. If we were to have Claire, for example sing tonight, he might make another appearance so we can investigate further."
"You want to use me as bait?" I asked not believing what I was hearing. I just met this woman and already she was offering me to some crazed ghost. "I am not doing that again. No way." I huffed crossing my arms in defense.
"She'll do it." The Doctor said suddenly.
I immediately turned on him. "Excuse me?" I glared at him. "I just said I didn't want to be used as bait again. Why are you offering me up like I'm chopped liver?"
"Because I don't really see this as dangerous. You'll be in front of hundreds of people, plus you'll have Madame Vastra, Jenny, and myself to protect you. I'll make sure that everyone is on the lookout." The Doctor reassured me placing a kiss to my forehead.
I closed my eyes and leaned into him. "Fine." I said with a heavy sigh.
"Excellent!" The Doctor and Madame Vastra said in unison.
"Now follow Jenny to the fitting room then you'll be off to rehearsals." Madame Vastra said pleasantly.
"This way ma'm." Jenny said in her proper British accent.
I reluctantly followed her out of the room. Why am I doing this?
Everyone backstage was quiet as we watched the show unfold before us. My scene was fast approaching making me more anxious by the second. My heart pounded loudly against my chest, I was surprised the whole audience couldn't hear it. My sweaty hands wrung nervously as I stared down at my costume. I was dressed in a gorgeous white ball gown that would honestly make a beautiful wedding dress. My curly hair was artfully styled in a loose braid decorated with white roses. Crystal earrings and a matching necklace completed this elegant look. I took in a deep breath in order to calm myself down. Within seconds the keys of the piano picked up announcing my queue. Nervously I walked out on stage. Why do I have to do this? Holy shit there is a lot of people! Err feeling lightheaded. No, no Claire, you promised you'd do this. Take a deep breath. I closed my eyes briefly, taking in a deep breath and slowly letting the air escape through my parted lips. My fluttered open and locked with a pair of grey-green ones up in box five. His eyes twinkled and an encouraging smile graced his lips as the Doctor held his thumb up. I blushed lightly and finally mustered up the courage to sing for the hundreds of people before me. My voice followed along with the music perfectly and from the reaction of the audience I must have been doing a good job. Knowing that this wasn't as bad as I feared it would be my confidence immediately sky rocketed and I allowed my self to sing to a potential I didn't even know I possessed. I hit the high notes effortlessly at the end of my performance. Different colored roses were launched at me as the crowd roared their approval. I felt elevated with confidence. I'd never felt so proud of myself.
The curtains closed and I was immediately surrounded by the cast and crew. Everyone wished me a job well done and kept asking if I would sing for the next performance as well. I could feel myself getting swallowed up in the crowd, but luckily Jenny came to my rescue and ushered me inside a dressing room. The door closed and I breathed a sigh of relief I didn't even know I was holding.
"You did excellent Ma'm!" She cried happily pulling me into a hug.
"Thank you!" I breathed suddenly glad it was all over. "Where's the Doctor?" I asked looking around the dressing room. I was surrounded by huge bouquets of flowers but the Doctor obviously wasn't here yet.
"He'll be here shortly, said he wanted to pick something up." Jenny answered as she handed me a glass of water.
I gratefully took it and downed most of it in one gulp. I walked over to a corner of the room admiring the flowers. My eyes traveled along the wall and suddenly landed on a floor length mirror. This was it. As if on instinct I looked to the floor and sure enough the famous red rose with a black ribbon tied around it laid before me. I gulped nervously and slowly bent to pick up the flower. It was thorn free and black ribbon was made of a smooth silk. I admired the petals just as the door suddenly burst open. I turned my attention to the door and an enormous bouquet of exotic flowers I've never seen before waltzed into the room. A small giggle escaped my lips as I stared down at the lanky legs that poked out from the bouquet.
"Doctor, you really didn't have to get those. I already have enough flowers than I know what to do with."
The Doctor placed the bouquet down on the floor and grinned up at me. "Yes, but none of these are from the Gardens of Ephai now are they? I thought not!" He was at my side in a heartbeat and pulled me into a warm embrace.
"You were brilliant!" He breathed in my ear, placing a soft kiss to my earlobe and gently trailing his lips down to my neck. A small gasp escaped my mouth at this new form of affection. My whole body warmed immediately and it felt like electricity was forming in my lower abdomen.
The Doctor pulled away and threw me a wink. The bastard knew exactly how that would affect me. He suddenly yanked the mysterious rose out of my hand and held it up in the air to examine it. "And so it begins!" He cried happily as he spin in a circle and danced up to the mirror. He trailed his fingers along the edge of the golden frame. A light suddenly appeared from behind the mirror. The Doctor turned to me with a grin. "Care to explore the catacombs of the Opera Populaire?"
I nodded my head fervently and quickly took his hand. With that the Doctor pushed away the side of the mirror to the side and the two of us disappeared deep beneath the Opera House.
A/N: Feel free to ask me any questions. I will try to answer them the best that I can. Thank you!
Alibird1: Thank you! The song was Anywhere by Evanescence.
SilverMarkings: Yes her dad is human. I haven't explained her drawing skills yet, that will be explained in later chapters. Thank you!