.

xoxo

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Chapter Four: To The Arms Of Her Angel

Previously,

The Manager's Office, The Palais Garnier Opera House, Paris, France, June 1894

Antoinette held Meg's hand in reassurance.

...should you dare to…

...when you once again...

Light up the stage
With that age old
Rapport!
Sing, prima donna
Once more!

.

Erik had had enough. Christine glances at him, with remorse and slightly sniffs. "I'm sorry that they don't respect or listen to you mon amor. But I'm more than happy to be the pageboy."

Erik shook his head, cupping her face and wipes away her tears. "No you are the countess. I wrote this aria for you to be the countess, I purposely made the pageboy silent, so we and the rest of Paris doesn't have to hear that woman sing." Christine smiles as he gave a kiss on her cheek. His voice filled the catwalks and the labyrinths through to the manager's office.

"So, it is to be war between us! If these demands are not met, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur!"

.

The Phantom's Lair, Underneath The Palais Garnier Opera House Paris, France, June, 1894

Erik went to his organ and began playing it aggressively. Taking out all his anger and frustration he had for the managers who simply didn't follow his warnings.

"Angel."

He looked up from his organ, not stopping Christine took a breath and rose from the sofa, walked towards him, watching as beautiful hands worked the instrument, she placed her hand on his.

The music stopped.

"Angel." she whispered again, placing her other hand on his chest. Instantly calming him down. He pulls her into his arms, and she pulls off his mask, placing it down on his organ, he pushes his face into her neck, drinking in her scent. "Ambrosia." He whispered.

She smiled, running her fingers through his chestnut hair. "Mon ange, don't let them get to you. They're the ones that don't take their job and responsibilities seriously, I knew they would be this way the moment they set foot into the opera house."

"Oh ma belle it's not that. It's what they said about you, the phantom inside me is screaming for murder because of what they speak about you."

"But you aren't that man." She said him pulling him closer. "Hmmm, what kind of man am I now then ange?"

She blushed, "Du är mannen, jag älskar. Du är min trygga plats, min kärlek, min fantom."

Erik smiled, though still learning her language he understood every word. "I love that I can still do that." he whispered.

Christine glanced at him. "Do what?"

"Making you blush." he replied. Erik has discovered in the early years of their relationship, whenever Christine was nervous or embarrassed about something she would start talking in her language, as it was a way for her to vent out her problems without anyone understanding her.

He kissed her cheek, "Come," rising from his chair, placing her on her feet. "Let us begin." Pulling out the sheet of music, Christine moved to her stand and began.

Poor fool, he makes me laugh
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha
Time I tried to get a better, better half

.

Christine Daaé's Dressing Room, The Palais Garnier Opera House Paris, France, June, 1894

Erik watched from the mirror of Christine's dressing room, as she begin to clean up her dressing room table, then stopped as she fiddled with her locket. She was waiting for Raoul to visit her, as she began to pace back and forth, as her thoughts wandered.

"Do not fear, my love I've asked Madame to stand clear at your door. Remember If he asks you anything about me, just play the silly clueless dancer you've been playing so well."

"Oh, so you think I could be an actress?"

"Well, you certainly can dance, act and sing better than Carlotta."

She smiles at her angel's insults towards Carlotta. While she always believes "to treat others the way you should be treated." When it comes to Carlotta it can be difficult at times.

"Erik you really shouldn't insult her, I know she can be horrible sometimes, but it isn't nice to be insulted."

"I know mon amour, but like I said she really can't sing."

Christine giggles at the face he made. She kept her eyes closed then turned to her music box that sat on her dressing table. Opening it up, watching as the mask inside began to spin slowly as the music box's tune filled her room.

Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime
Say the word and I will follow you
Share each day with me
Each night, each morning

Christine turns to her mirror, knowing he's listening to her. "Say you love me."

He replies back to her through her mind. "You know I do."

Love me, that's all I ask of you.

"Christine…" Raoul's voice calls, Christine screams in fright and closes her music box. "Raoul! You frighten me." she placing her hand on her chest, he smiled.

"Forgive me," she slowly nods and gestures for him to sit.

"Christine, you disappeared last night." he said and she nods, "Yes, I told you, I had a lesson with my teacher."

"Your Angel of music?"

"Yes."

"Does your angel of music, happen to be sending these notes?" He asked, handing her the letters he collected from the managers this morning. "And what about the mask that was left with my rose last night?" He frowns looking over at her table finding only the rose.

Christine smiled remembering to act, "What mask Raoul?" He gave her a confused look, she shook her head reading the notes and slightly laughs. "Is this some sort of joke, Raoul?"

Raoul stands in front of her mirror, with his hands behind his back. "No, it's not I was only asking if your Angel of Music is this Opera Ghost or as your friend Meg, calls him; The Phantom Of The Opera?"

She stood from her chair. "I don't know what you are talking about Raoul. I thought you were here about the letter you sent me?"

"Ah yes, I was hoping to get to that." He resorted to taking her hands to his, Christine protested pulling her hand's away looking into his eyes.

"Christine, I-"

Antoinette barges into the room before he continued. "Christine Daaé, you should know better than to skip rehearsals. Oh excuse me Monsieur de Changy." Christine pulls her hands away from Raoul, as she took a silent breath of relief. "Forgive me madame, I thought I had enough time to speak to the vicomte before rehearsals."

"You should know better than it Christine. If you want to continue to have meetings you must have them chaperoned understand?" Antoinette said, with a slight twinkle in her eye. "Of course Madame, I'm sorry Raoul, I have to go." Christine said.

"Perhaps another time, then Mademoiselle Daaé?"

"I-"

"Well that all depends Monsieur. Christine Daaé is the Prima Donna now and her time is precious. and we must waste it, now if you'll excuse us monsieur. Come Christine."

"Oh, Madame is Christine there?" The ballet girls asked. "Yes, she is," Antoinette said, not turning away from Raoul's look of disproval. Christine didn't hesitate. Nor give Raoul any look of remorse. She grabbing her ballet slippers from Antoinette and left to follow her friends, Antoinette waited for them to be out of sight.

"Monsieur." She gestured for him to leave, and pulling the door closed she locked it with her keys. Erik walked through the mirror grabbing Christine's music box, knowing it cannot be seen here.

.

Madame Antoinette Giry's Office, The Palais Garnier Opera House, Paris, France, June, 1894

Christine waited patiently for Madame Giry to return, she turned to look back wall, and she tilted her head slightly. This is that another one of Erik's secret passages?

Even though she's courting The Phantom Of The Opera. She still can't remember all of Erik's secret passages were, she almost laughed to herself. She heard the sound of the door opening to Antoinette and Meg. Christine rush to embrace Meg then pulling back as they stand with their hands behind their back and their feet crossed. Antoinette smiles at them, appreciating their respect. But her eyes seemed to be telling a different story.

Holding her new costume, it wasn't the countess dress that she tried on moments before. It was the pageboy's costume. "My dear, I'm so sorry."

"We did try to warn them," Meg said taking the heels from her mother and offering them to Christine.

Christine sighed taking the heels from Meg. "I know you did my friend, we were watching." Meg looks at her mother and then her friend, "You were watching?"

"The angel sees, the angel knows." Christine sings to her.

Meg gasps, "Your phantom is a genius."

"I know." She grins.

.

xoxo

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Translations:

Du är mannen, jag älskar. Du är min trygga plats, min kärlek, min fantom = You are the man, I love. You are my safe place, my love, my phantom.

Songs:

Notes / Prima Donna: Andrew Lloyd Webber

All I Ask Of You: Andrew Lloyd Webber and Charles Hart