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xoxo
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Chapter Two: Whose Is That Voice?, Who Is That In There?
Previously,
Back Stage Of The Opera, The Palais Garnier Opera House, Paris, France, June, 1894
"Yes, my dear you did well. He will be pleased." Antoinette smiled walking towards Christine tipping her chin, causing Christine to smile.
The ballet girls murmured excitedly, Antoinette turned towards them and yelled. "And, you! You were a disgrace! Such ronds de jambes! Such temps de cuisse! Come! We rehearse. Now!"
The girls groaned silently and gracefully walked around Christine towards the ballet barre. Christine giggles to herself as she watches her friends rehearse. She walks towards her dressing room, stopping at the sound of her Angel's voice filling her ears.
Brava, Brava, Bravissima
Her eyes close at the sound of his beautiful voice. She looks up at the catwalks trying to catch a glimpse of him. "Christine, Christine." Meg calls out for her.
Christine… Erik's voice filled the catwalks of backstage, she finds Meg and they giggle and laugh as they enter her dressing room.
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Christine Daaé's Dressing Room, The Palais Garnier Opera House Paris, France, June, 1894
"Where in the world having you been hiding, really you were perfect." Meg said as she undid Christine's heavy skirt, and pulled her in for an embrace.
"Well I don't about perfect mon ami." Christine smiled, as she slipped on her white satin slippers, picking up her white dressing gown, tying it to her waist.
The sound of Antoinette staff hit the grown announcing herself looking at her daughter. "Meg Giry. Are you a dancer? Then go and practice."
Meg smiles at her mother and leaves the room.
"My dear, I was asked to give you this." Handing Christine a letter and gives her a kiss on her forehead. "I'm very proud of you Christine." Christine gave Madame Giry a smile as she left the room, leaving Christine alone.
She looks at the letter in her hands, frowning at the message. "A red scarf. The attic. Little Lotte. Who on earth would send such a riddle to me?" Shaking her head she continues to take out the pins that secured her Elissa tiara. She then heard voices outside her dressing room door choosing to ignore them, taking the tiara off and pulls out her photo of her mother and father, smiling at it. Oh, how I wished you both were here.
The door of the dressing room opens and a unfamiliar voice calls out to her. "Christine Daaé, where is your red scarf?"
"Monsieur?" She asked confused.
"Well, you can't have lost it. After all the trouble I took. I was just 14 and soaked to the skin…" the voice continues. Christine gasps in realisation, "Because you had run into the sea to fetch my scarf. Oh, Raoul. So it is you." She turns to see him for the first in 10 years. "Christine." He replies offering a single red rose,
"Little Lotte, let her mind wander."
"You remember that, too?" She laughs.
Little Lotte thought, am I fonder of dolls
Or of goblins, of shoes
Or of riddles, of frocks
"Those picnics in the attic, or of chocolates?"
"Father playing the violin." she smiles with her eyes closed, recalling that Summer long ago. "As we read to each other dark stories of the north." Raoul laughed. Christine turned to him."No, what I love best," Lotte said "Is when I'm asleep in my bed. And the Angel of Music sings songs in my head."
"The Angel of Music sings songs in my head"
"Father said, "When I'm in heaven, child, "I will send the Angel of Music to you." Well, Father is dead, Raoul, and I have been visited by the Angel of Music." she explains to him.
"No doubt of it. And now, we go to supper." he said.
"No, Raoul, the Angel of Music is very strict." she exclaimed.
"I shan't keep you up late," Raoul said.
"No…" she protests.
"You must change. I must get my hat. Two minutes... Little Lotte." He laughs as he leaves her room.
"Raoul!" She calls and sighs in defeat as he shut her door completely ignoring her. "Things have changed Raoul!" she yells out in frustration. Her dressing room begins to turn a familiar shade of blue, her frustration turned to satisfaction. she looks up and sees her Angel of Music had appeared in the mirror.
Insolent boy, the slave of fashion
Basking in your glory
Ignorant fool, this brave young suitor
Sharing in my triumph!
Christine smiled in response, rising from her seat and stood before the grand mirror. "Angel, I hear you, Speak, I listen."
Stay by my side, guide me.
Angel, my soul was weak, forgive me
Enter at last, master
Erik walks through the mirror stepping down towards his love, pulling her into his embrace, cupping her cheek leaning down to kiss her. "Hello mon bel ange." he whispered against her lips.
"Hello my love." she replied.
He gestures her to sit back down, while he stood behind her leaning down to press his lips on her cheek. Christine lets out a giggle watching their reflection in the mirror. His hands came up towards her neck holding out the golden necklace in front of her, wrapping the chain around before pressing a kiss to the back of her neck, as he clasped it together.
Christine watched the pendent dropped and hung between her breasts, puling it closer for her inspection. The pendent was a round shaped locket with a golden mask engraved on the front, reading the inscription at was at the bottom of the mask, that said. 'Say you'll share with me.' She smiled and opened it up, where the inside was also engraved, 'One Love, One Lifetime.' She closed it and turned it over on it's back had 'Christine that's all I ask of you'. Tears fell down her cheeks, as she turns to look at her angel, leaning up she wraps her arms around his neck kissing him soundly. "Oh Erik, it's so beautiful. Thank you so much."
Erik smiles, kissing her forehead, "Your welcome. Think of it as a celebration present my love, for your teacher is proud." She gently pulling back his mask to reveal his face. "My teacher who's my Angel of Music. Who I love so much." running her fingers gently over his scars, kissing his deformity. Erik's emerald eyes sparkle with mischief, he rises from her table and offers his hand to her, as he begins to sing.
I am your Angel of Music
Come to me, Angel of Music
I am your Angel of Music
Come to me, Angel of Music
Placing her hand into his, they walk up towards the mirror, pulling to lever to open it. Erik turns back to Christine who smiled at him, handing her his lantern to guide them to his home. He leans down to gather her legs under his arm, lifting her up. Stepping into the mirror making their way down towards his home. As the mirror closes Raoul re-enters the room, his grin disappears as he finds Christine's dressing room empty. He frowns picking up his rose and looking at the strange white mask.
He lets growl of disappointment "Christine!"
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The Phantom's Lair, Underneath The Palais Garnier Opera House Paris, France, June, 1894
Erik walked further away from the mirror with her in his arms, as she held the lantern guiding them through the dark labyrinths of his lair. Erik tightens his grip around her, hearing Raoul's growl calling for Christine. "He doesn't take no for an answer now does he?" Christine leans against his shoulder, "No, but I think it isn't something you should worry about." He turns his head slightly looking at her in question. "And why is that mon ange?" . "Because he isn't My Angel of Music nor is he the man that I fell in love with."
"Well, that is a relief isn't it?" he smiled. She giggled at him. "Ah was that a giggle I heard mademoiselle?" Christine smiled as Erik rosed an eyebrow. Wriggling her way out of his arms she giggled again as she hid behind the organ. "Where are you, Christine? If I find you your Angel won't be impressed." His voice filled the lair. "And my Angel doesn't find me?" She said peeping up from the organ and looking for him. She frowned as she couldn't see him in front of the fire.
"Then I'll decide what to do." He whispered into her ear, she gasped in excitement. Erik wrapped his arms around her knowing full well she was ready to pounce and hide again. Christine sighed as she felt his kisses and the back of her head. Turning in his arms, reaching up to cup his cheeks, stroking both the smooth and unevenness of his face, he leans down to meet his face with hers. Breathing in each other's embrace as silence filled the lair. "Come my love you must return to your dormitory."
"But ange I want to stay here with you."
"Darling you can't, Madame will have my head." Christine sighs in defeat and begins to play with the chain on Erik's waistcoat. Pulling her chin so her chocolate eyes met his emerald green. "Jag är ledsen, min ängel."
Christine's widen, "Was that Swedish my love?" Erik nodded and smiled nervously, "Surprise. Did I say it correctly?" she laughed and pulled into her arms, she nods her head muttering. "Mm? What was that my love, I couldn't understand that."
Christine pulls back and blushes, "I think I just fell in love with you all over again." Pulling her face to his chest.
"I love it when I make you blush." he whispers, kissing the top of her head. A voice called clear from across the lair, as the lovers turn to see Madame Giry and Meg who was hiding behind her mother's back.
Erik immediately turns away from Christine, putting his hand on his face. Christine takes a step towards him, wanting to go after him. "Christine." She turns towards her guardian and friend. Antoinette hands her Erik's mask giving her a reassuring look. Christine nod and turned to Meg who was in her nightgown and robe, hugging her close Christine whispers into her ear. "You mustn't fear him mon ami."
"I know." Meg replied.
"Erik my love come out."
He emerges from his room, covering his face she stepped towards him, handing him his mask. He placing it over his face, covering his flesh.
"I'm sorry monsieur," Meg whispered, Erik nods at her "It's alright Little Giry." Christine smiles at them and opens the letter Antoinette had given to her. Reading the letter, she lets out a sigh of frustration.
"I'm so sorry Christine." Antoinette said, "What is it, ange?" Erik asked as she handed the letter over to him.
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Dearest Christine,
You disappeared last night after I left. I wanted to take you out for dinner to discuss our childhood and what's happened in the years we've been separated. There are so many things I wanted to speak to you about and I was hoping to say this to you in person, but since that option seems impossible.
So I will tell you now in writing. I love you, Little Lottie.
I have loved you from the moment I first met you.
I beg you to wait for me after tomorrow night's performance in your dressing room.
Yours Raoul
"I don't love him, I told him that things have changed but he didn't listen!" Christine exclaimed.
"I know darling," Erik said rubbing his hands down her arms in comfort. "I know, you don't have to see him if you don't want to." christine leaned into his embrace, whispering, "I speak to him tomorrow." Erik pulls her close kissing her forehead.
"Antoinette, can I have a word? Before you return these lovely ladies to their beds. Christine, do you mind?"
"Of course, I need to change anyway. Come with me, Meg."
The two young girls enter Erik's room, Meg instantly felt like she was imposing.
There was a massive bed with emerald green velvet sheets, two bedside tables that held two candles on each side, a dressing table for Christine which Erik only recently add it as their relationship became more intimate. Meg walks towards the table and notices the picture of Gustave Daaé and Christine's mother on their wedding day. Sitting next to it was a jewellery box and another box holding endless amounts of pins for her friend's curly hair, as well as a hairbrush, and sitting next to her brush was a single red rose with a black wrapped around its stem.
Meg turns to see her friend coming out from her dressing screen wearing her dressing gown and nightie holding her Elissa corset. "What is it, Meg?"
"Have you and Erik, you know," she whispers gesturing towards the bed.
"Oh no, my dear friend of course not." Christine blushes walking over to the table and picking up her brush.
"I'm sorry Christine I just thought you might have had." Christine turned towards Meg. "Meg, Erik and I might have a different relationship to others but we haven't done anything improper." They giggle holding each other's hands as they leave Erik's room.
"What's this?" Erik asked causing Meg to blush.
"Nothing you need to worry about my love, girl talk." Christine said looking at Meg again.
"Meg, come we must return," Antoinette said holding out her hand. Christine frowns at Madame Giry. "Oh my dear haven't you heard that the Prima Dona gets to sleep in her dressing room. I'm sure the Master would be pleased to show you." Antoinette winks at Christine.
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Erik and Christine stood from the dock watching them leave. "Is that true Erik what Madame said. That I have to sleep in my dressing room?"
"Not tonight my love you'll be sleeping here with me."
"But you said it would be improper."
"Not if I have permission from Madame Giry it isn't." Christine screams in delight as she jumped into his arms, twirling her in a circle. "I'll take that as a yes?" Christine laughs, "Yes my love, yes my angel, yes my Phantom."
Erik laughs and shook his head carrying her to his room, he placed her down onto the soft plush rug. "Excuse me one moment my angel."
Christine walks towards his bed and pulls off her robe hanging in over her chair and pulls back the velvet sheets, and pulls them back up. Erik renters the room wearing black pants and his satin black robe, he grins at Christine's pink cheeks. He turns to remove his robe and places it on the chair near the door, he froze hearing her gasps.
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"Erik."
Damn the scars. I've frightened her now.
Christine rose from the bed and stood behind him. Placing her hand on his shoulder, while he tensed at her touch he turned to face her.
Chocolate met emerald.
"Oh, mon ange who did this to you?" Christine resorted, he sighed shaking his head, placing the small strands of hair behind her ear. Her eyes closed but then opened again, placing her hand on his chest "Erik please tell me." Cupping her face, "Christine I don't want you to have more of my darkness in your life."
Shaking her head and placed her hand onto his, "But ange we promised no secrets no lies, to be completely and openly with each other."
Erik cupped her cheeks, looking into her chocolate eyes. "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
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xoxo
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Translations:
Jag är ledsen, min ängel = I'm sorry, my angel
Songs:
Angel Of Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber