Music of the Night: The Phantom of the Opera Returns (Guile & Melody)

[Guile]

The Phantom waited, as was promised, outside of box five. He shut the door behind him and leaned against the wall in the shadows. He was no longer hiding purposefully, he just preferred to be in the dark now that his eyes had become accustomed to pitch black. Well, minus a candle or two that he kept lit just enough to see his way around down below. He waited anxiously for the girl, wondering if she would actually be able to escape from Catherine. The Phantom couldn't help but smile a tiny bit at this: he remembered how well Catherine had been at sneaking away from her mother and Raoul.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

She hadn't thought of going back to box five and waited in the exact spot Catherine did so long ago. "I came, mister." She waited for an answer, but when none came, she decided to go to his box. "I thought you weren't gonna stay!" The girl was elated when she saw his box, but not him. "Boo!" She laughed as though in the midst of hide and seek. "Where are you?" She teased him.

 

[Guile]

The Phantom turned his head towards the girl, though she couldn't see him. He wanted to laugh at her excitement, but he hadn't the will or the spirit to do so. He spoke, his voice coming from all around the girl. "I changed my mind, I suppose." He stepped from the shadows and stood in front of her. "So, Miss. Why did you wish to speak to me?"

 

[Saiyan Princess]

She jumped out of her skin when he surprised her, wanting to cry, for she hated being surprised like that, but stopped herself. "I wanted to see you," she breathed deeply and slowly to calm down, "because I wanted to hear you sing. My mama says that you're the angel of music." She moved in to embrace him. "Ali- Alistair...," she put two and two together. "You look like my brother."

 

[Guile]

The Phantom found that he was beginning to have trouble breathing. As the girl went on about her mother he knew for sure that this was Christine's daughter. "W-well, child." He struggled to get the words out. "I...I'm actually not an angel. I'm just a man." With a monstrous side to me he wanted to add, but refrained from doing so. The mention of the girl's brother didn't strike the Phantom as odd until he realized what a resemblance between them meant. Her brother, Alistair...he looked like him. That means...he must be my...my son...The thought of a son brought tears to his eyes that he desperately tried not to let the girl see. "You and your brother are close in age, yes?" He hadn't seen Alistair up close and could not tell his age. If Alistair was his, then this girl must be Raoul's. Unless, of course, Christine had given birth to twins. That's impossible... He thought, but he wasn't so sure.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

She tilted her head. "I think you look like an angel, sir." She smiled at him and then addressed his question. "Yes, sir. Ali is my twin. We're super close in age." She giggled. "But, he is older." She rolled her eyes. "He likes to point that out a lot." Crossing her arms over her chest, she stared up at him. "My mama used to sing here with my papa, until she got scared and left." She didn't take her eyes off of him. "You're very quiet."

 

[Guile]

"Well, thank you, child but I doubt you'd say that if you really saw me." He didn't capitalize on that point though. His mind whirled as the girl told him that Alistair was her twin. Then...this girl is my daughter. I...I have three children? The thought made him feel lightheaded, but he stayed on his feet and tried to keep himself under control. "Yes...yes, I know your mother well, child." He stared down at her, allowing himself to get a good look - she looked so much like Christine and yet, there was something that was out of place. She wasn't entirely Christine, unlike Catherine. This child seemed to have a mix of his traits as well. He was dazed by this discovery and didn't come back to reality until the girl spoke again. "Yes, I know. I'm just...thinking on past times." He confessed, his voice drifting off at the end of his sentences.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

The curious seven year old tilted her head still. "Thinking about past times?" She pondered this for a moment of time. She glanced over her shoulder to where Alistair now stood, having snuck up on his sister as she talked to this stranger. "You shouldn't talk to people you don't know." Alistair began to pull her away, but she wasn't budging. Caught in his web, Lillith clung to the adult's leg. "He's no stranger. I can't explain it." She added at the look on Alistair's face. "I've seen him before.

 

[Guile]

The Phantom looked down at Alistair - his son - that now stood nearby. His breath caught in his throat at the sight of the boy . He looks....almost exactly like me! His heart was overwhelmed by the idea of having a son. He wanted his children to not be afraid of him, but he found that he didn't want to tell them he was their father. What would they think of me? They may hate me - assume that I left their mother, or hurt her intentionally. Instead, he just tried to be a friend. "It's alright, son." He smiled at Alistair as he placed his hand on the girl's back reassuringly. "Neither of you are in danger, I promise you that. I won't hurt you. I know your mother." He added.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Alistair held his twin to him, still wary of this man. "You know my mother?" He eyed his father questioningly. "How do you know her? She doesn't really come around here for more than a few minutes. "Pere!" Catherine had seen her father at last. She called out to him in her second language, French. "You're still here!" She wept into his clothing.

 

[Guile]

The Phantom did not get to answer Alistair's question, for Catherine showed up. Upon seeing her emerge from the darkness, the Phantom felt warm tears streaming down his cheeks. "Catherine!" He wrapped his arms around his first-born child in a tight embrace. "My child! My God, how I've missed you, my sweet." He stroked her hair, letting her weep on his clothes. "Of course I'm still here, darling. I will always be here for you." He whispered.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"I've missed you!" She clung to him like a leech. Alistair and Lillith were confused. "You called him Pere." The girl said. "You're mad! You know that Raoul De Chagney is Pere, not some stranger!" She grabbed the dress of her sister and tugged out of fear. "Quick, you must get to a doctor!" She feared that Catherine had lost her mind.

 

[Guile]

The Phantom held tight to his daughter and only pulled back so that he could look into her eyes. He placed his thumb on her chin and index finger under her chin and tilted her head up so that he could look at her. "Let me look at you, my sweet. " He looked at his daughter's features - they were the same, of course, but she was older. He couldn't believe how much she had grown. "You've grown from a beautiful girl into a beautiful woman, darling." He hugged her again, then noticed the little ones - particularly Lillith - becoming frightened. He looked at Catherine again, unsure of what to say to the children. "Catherine...I know about these two." He got close and whispered in her ear. "I know that...they're mine. But, I'm concerned. Should I...should I tell them? I wouldn't normally," he assured her, "but they're frightened of me, I believe, and quite confused."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Automatically, Catherine's heart stopped beating for a second when he held her head like that. Her immediate thought was that he was going to kiss her, like William would do when he held her chin the same way. "Pere, I believe that you should do what you want, but you know what they must see first. May I show them?" She whispered and kissed the cheek of his mask. "Please?"

 

[Guile]

The Phantom looked from Catherine, down to the children, then back to her. His heart raced with anxiety. He knew he had to show them, but he didn't want his children to fear him. He had been lucky with Catherine - she had been understanding - but, Lillith and Alistair were so much younger than Catherine had been when she first saw his scar. He didn't want to frighten them, but they had to see it. Reluctantly, the Phantom agreed. "Yes, you may. Show them first, and then I will tell them the truth. I believe they deserve to know."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

She smiled at him as she turned around to her siblings. "My loves, I must show you something." She was quiet as she said this. "Do not fear this man. He will never harm you." She hugged them, one after the other. "He is more than just this Phantom." She removed her father's mask and Lillith tried to scream, but was stopped by Alistair, who slapped his hand over her mouth. "Don't scream!" He hissed in her ear, though he was frightened. "Like I said, he is more than what he looks and that's why Mother loves him."

 

[Guile]

The Phantom perked up at Catherine's last sentence. Could Christine really still love me? No...it isn't possible. Not after all these years. Not after what I almost did to Raoul after I promised her that I would not go back to my old ways. He looked down at his two youngest children, his mask still off, and felt more exposed than ever before. He knelt down to their level so that they may see him as less intimidating if he were around their height. "Children," he began, "I don't know how to tell you this. Perhaps you've already figured this out - you're much like your mother, very brilliant - but I must say it aloud anyway. Years ago, when your mother was still a ballet dancer and chorus girl here at the Opera House, I taught her how to sing - I gave her a voice so that she could succeed in this business. But, I...I quickly fell in love with her." He sighed, not sure he could continue to explain this story without more heartache, so he cut it short. "Well, children, it's a long story. I suppose I will cut it short for you: I am Catherine's biological father...as I am yours." He confessed and bowed his head slightly.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Alistair still held his hand over Lillian's mouth as he smiled, trying to be strong, though deep down he felt terribly like weeping as well. "Monsiuer, I...." he began. "I don't know what to say to that." His legs were shaking. Slapping her brother's hand away, Lillian gasped for breath. "Hello! I can't breathe!" She glared at him, then turned to the burned man. "No, Vicomte De Chagney is our father." She wanted to believe her own words. "No, my loves. Eric here is your father." This was the first time she had called him by name. "I mean, Papa."

 

[Guile]

Erik looked up at Catherine when she called him by his name. He had not heard his actual name in so many years that it almost came as a shock to him. He shook the unimportant thought away when she called him Papa again. That title made him smile. He turned to Lillith and Alistair once again and did his best to reassure them. "I am so sorry, children, for this sudden shock. I know how it must hurt - the truth rarely ever feels good. However, it is no lie - I would not lie to you." Maybe avoid the truth, like I wish I had now, but never lie. He thought angrily at himself.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Alistair's legs gave out from under him. He fell to his knees. "I-I've pondered why we- none of us- look like that man." Lillith couldn't be happier with this change of events. "I knew you were special!" She also clung to Eric like a leech. "You're my real Pere!" She didn't waver from her hold on him. "Wait till Mama comes back and sees you! We can be a big happy family again!" Catherine played with her hair. "Child, it isn't so easy."

 

[Guile]

Erik held onto Lillith with a smile on his face - grateful that she had accepted him. However, as Catherine told the girl vaguely, being a happy family again was not so simple. "I'm sorry, my child." He told her softly. "Your sister is right - your mother and I have a past, to say the least. I'm afraid that becoming one, big, happy family is nothing but a far-fetched dream at the moment." He noticed how hard Alistair was taking this news and detached Lillith gently from himself before going over to his son and placing a hand on his back. "Son?" He questioned, nervously. "Are you alright?" Up close, Erik could see how much his son really did look like him - the sight brought a bittersweet pain into his heart. "I know it's hard to accept. I'm sorry to have to hit you with such news..." He truly did feel guilty. The last thing he wanted was to hurt his children.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Catherine made to comfort her brother. "Alistair, speak to him." She held onto her sister, who was disappointed that she was the first to see Eric and yet he wanted to be around Alistair. "He's alright." Lillith remarked. "He's being stupid again." Alistair shot her a nasty look. "Shut up before I make you regret that." He held up his fist, which he normally did as a tease, but now he meant business. "Enough, both of you!" Catherine ordered.

 

[Guile]

Erik slowly pulled his hand off his son's back, feeling that he wasn't wanted near. He swallowed hard, and felt that sting of guilt pierce his heart - once again he was the cause of pain in the one's he loved. When the children started to fight Erik tried to intervene as Catherine had done. "Hush now, children." He placed his hand over Alistair's fist and pushed down lightly - a silent gesture that asked him to reconsider the fight he was about to start with his sister. "You shouldn't fight each other." He stood and went back over to Catherine. "I'm sorry...I should never have let on to them who I was, or that I was here..." He whispered. "It's too much for them I think." His thoughts went to Alistair - he knew, and was very glad, that Lillith was accepting of him, but his son was not.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Papa, no!" Lillith screamed and sat on his foot, her legs and arms wrapped around his own leg. "Don't leave us all alone, Papa!" Her face was immersed in his pant leg. "I-I love you and now y-you're leaving us? NO! You'll have to get me off before I ever allow you another step!" Catherine was shocked. "If he wants to go, you must let him. Believe me, child. When the Phantom of the Opera leaves, he never truly leaves." She tries to peel the screaming tot off, without much luck. "NO! It isn't fair! I haven't got to hear him sing!" She whined. "You're selfish!"

 

[Guile]

Erik reached his arm down and placed his hand on the top of Lillith's head. "Hush now darling, I'm not going anywhere. I'll be right here in this Opera House waiting for you to return, should you wish to. But, I just can't go with you - your mother would...not approve." He couldn't bare to see his children like this. "I love you - all of you - more than you could imagine. That will never change no matter how far away we are from each other. And I promise to sing for you, Lillith." He added with a smile.