The Phantom of the Opera: A Beauty and a Beast (Guile and Melody)

[Guile]

Erik softened immediately at Madame Giry's hug and the soft tone of her voice. Now this was his dear friend that he cared so much about. Still, Erik didn't blame her for the things she had said to him, he felt that he deserved every last word. "You're right, Christine needs me." He broke their hug, but looked into his friend's eyes, his own looking quite apologetic. "Thank you, my friend." Erik wanted to say more to her, but he didn't know what to say just now and there was no time to figure it out. "I must go." Without another word, he got into his boat and rowed to the other side. Once he hit land, Erik didn't stop running until he was once again behind Christine's mirror. Oh, it was torture to see his beautiful Christine being held down as she screamed for him. For a moment, Erik paused at the mirror and the fear in his grew. Christine needed him - she needed her angel of music beside her, not behind a mirror. True, he was frightened of being seen, but that did not stop him from stepping through the mirror anyway.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine hadn't seen her angel yet. Still flailing, she kicked, or, at least attempted to. Raoul was far too strong for her to keep this up much longer. "My friend! Help me! Come to your angel of music!" Christine couldn't help but cry as she moved around. "Meg, just hold her down! The doctor said only to use the medicine if things get out of hand!" Raoul shouted over Christine's yells, as Meg held a small needle. When she heard Raoul, however, she put it back down. Christine felt another presence in the room at last. Saw the Phantom's shadow, and immediately froze on the spot. "What happened?" Raoul asked, before he turned around and saw his love rival. "Who are you?"

 

[Guile]

Erik had entered the room and watched the scene take place before him in shock. He didn't pull out of this horrified daze until Raoul spoke to him, but by then, Erik was focused on Christine and did not answer him. Instead, he went to the bedside and took Christine's hands in his. The only thing he said to Meg and Raoul was, "she has calmed...you need not hold her down like some wild animal anymore." Erik's eyes were locked on Christine's now. "I am here, Christine." He whispered to her as if she were wounded.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine's heart slowed immediately as Erik took her hands. "My friends, please leave me alone for a short time." She gave Raoul a reassuring smile as she inclined her head to the door, then the ring around her neck. Now, her head hung in shame. "You have hurt yourself because of me." She whispered as she watched Raoul's coat disappear behind the door. "I can't believe that you are alive after what I did to you. What I told Raoul was a lie. The child belongs to us." She swore to him. "I would never lie about loving people. I love you, Erik." She smiled and kissed his hand. "But, I just got so confused and upset when.I sensed you at the restaurant today." She moved toward him, her body aching. "Tell me, am showing to you?" She indicated her belly with her head.

 

[Guile]

Erik had to hold in a sigh of relief when Raoul and Meg left without complaint. "I know the child is ours." He whispered, for Christine's sake, just in case either of them were listening on the other side of the door. Plus, he felt he should keep his voice soft - it had frightened him terribly to see Christine so upset and he wanted to make sure she stayed calm. "Of course I am alive." Erik said those words calmly, as if he hadn't just wanted to kill himself, and smiled weakly at her. "I made you a promise that I intend to keep." If nothing else, it was the feeling of Christine's soft lips upon his hand just then that made Erik glad that he had not taken his life. That, and those sweet words that she had spoken. "I love you, Christine. It is why I followed you today. Forgive me for what I did, I never intended to do any harm. However, I will not lie to you and say I wasn't...spying, so to speak." Erik's face went red and he lowered his gaze in shame, that is, until she moved toward him and asked if she were showing. The question confused Erik enough to make him look up at her and, when he did, he understood that she was talking about her belly. Erik allowed his eyes to wander down to Christine's middle and he smiled at the sight of the tiniest bump. "I...I believe you are, my dear Christine." Suddenly, Erik was entranced by the idea that their child was growing within her and his eyes continued to be locked on her stomach. It was then that Erik reached out his hand ever so slowly, as if afraid, and placed it over the bump. His hand didn't stay there for three seconds before he quickly pulled it back. "I-I am sorry, Christine. Forgive me, I should not do such things without consent." Once again, Erik's face had reddened.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine's eyes softened further. "My love, you will be such a fantastic father." She whispered when she felt Erik's hand on her belly. Smiling, Christine placed her hand on his, entwining their fingers together. "I only wish that there were something that I could do or say that would stop the future torment that will accompany our little Gustav everywhere he goes." She looked out the window and sighed. "You will keep your promise for our son and his namesake. I would never forgive you if you died because of me. I wouldn't forgive myself either." She added. Miss Daae took her hand away, feeling the baby again. "I know you meant no harm, just as I did not when I saw your face." She touched his face with the back of one hand. Christine was shocked when Erik suddenly yanked his hand away. She brought it back to her. "No, don't. Don't be afraid, Erik."

 

[Guile]

Christine's words surprised Erik, at the same time they made his heart soar. You will be a fantastic father...does she really think so? "You...you really believe I will be a good father?" He asked Christine sheepishly. "Oh, I do hope I can be. I promise you now, Christine, that I will do everything in my power to make you and our child happy." Suddenly, he was caught off guard by this name. Erik smiled widely as the name 'Gustav' circled his mind. "Gustav?" He asked her, his heart warming at saying their child's name - or, at least the name Christine had chosen if they had a son. "It's a beautiful name, Christine." Erik assured her of his approval. "I refuse to die now, my dear. I will not leave you and our son alone." Even if they do have Raoul. "Your Erik will always be here to watch over you." He was shocked when Christine pulled his hand back to her, after he had yanked it away out of fear. Erik hesitantly placed it back over her belly and let it remain resting there, ever so gently. He was frozen in this position out of fear, still, until Christine's words reassured him. It was then that he began absentmindedly moving his thumb over the soft fabric of her dress. Erik smiled and let out a breath of astonishment - it was as if he could sense his child there, so close and yet so far away. "Christine..." He finally said, when he had finally gotten the words to come out. "I do believe you will be the most wonderful mother the world has ever known. Someone so loving and nurturing as you could not possibly fail at parenting a child. Our Gustav is lucky to have you." Then, he added a little more remorsefully, "perhaps that will even make up for having a father such as me."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine nodded, excited, as she watched his hand move back and forth over and over again. "I truly believe in your ability as a father. After all, I recall a certain child that needed help in this world." She stopped his hand and looked directly in his eyes. "This shall be no different than that little girl from so long ago. Our son needs you." She laughed softly. "Forgive me. I should have spoken with the father before naming the child." Christine looked down and rubbed her own belly. "I just see such a likeness between the two in the future that I could not deny him." She breathed deeply. "He's lucky to have the both of you, scars and all." She felt the baby. Grinning, she spoke to him. "I know. I know, Daddy's here with us."

 

[Guile]

Erik was lost in the actions of his hand, as well as his thoughts on being a father, when Christine suddenly stopped his hand. It was then that he looked up into her eyes and truly soaked in what she was saying. She really does believe in me...perhaps I really can be a good father. I certainly know that I am going to do the best I can. "And I need you and our son." He assured her with a smile. "You two are the greatest things that have ever happened to me, and our child is not even born yet." Erik chuckled softly as Christine laughed. Oh, it was a beautiful laugh too. "There is no need to be forgiven, Christine. I love the name Gustav - our child will be named after one of the greatest musicians of all time." He could not describe the joy he felt as he watched Christine talking to their child. However, the warm sensation that filled his body and his heart made Erik resume the action with his hand and begin speaking to the child as well. "Yes, little Gustav, I am here. Daddy's here." Oh, that was such a beautiful phrase. He would never tire of saying that. "I can't wait to see you...Mommy and Daddy cannot wait to hold you..." It was so simple, this moment that Erik was experiencing. And yet, it was so beautiful, so rare for him, that it brought tears to his eyes.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"True, but it's not very far off, my dear." Christine spoke softly. "He'll be here soon. He whispers to me everyday to let him come to us, but I deny it." She laughed again. "Oh, he is beautiful, indeed." She rubbed her belly again. "My sweet little Gustav, no, our sweet Gustav." Her nails lightly scraped her dress as Raoul returned. "Christine, your medication, dear." He smiled at her, until he spotted Erik. "What are you doing to my fiance? Get out." He made a move toward him, but was stopped when Christine spoke. "I asked him to be here for me, Raoul. Please, be civil." Raoul scoffed. "I won't have another man around my wife and child."

 

[Guile]

Erik laughed softly with Christine and that was a wonderful thing for him to experience as well. It was not often that Erik laughed, let alone with someone. He was busy being lost in Christine's eyes and the thought of their son when Raoul walked in. As soon as he realized the Vicomte was there, Erik pulled his hand away from Christine's belly. Despite the obvious threat, which he saw in the way Raoul came towards him, Erik did not move from where he was. "Perhaps you should let your wife decide what is best for her and her child. The last time I checked, my friend, she was not a possession that you could control nor is she your wife." He glared at the Vicomte, but his tone was calm. "Besides, I am doing them no harm. If there is one thing that you can trust, it is that I would never harm Christine or the child."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Look at her neck should you not believe that we are to be married." He spoke calmly. "We have a son. We are one because of that baby." He pointed at Christine's belly. She didn't have the heart to tell him about the baby. "Please, Raoul. He wasn't hurting me at all. I just wanted to talk to the man." Christine's features were pained. Raoul moved toward her and took her hand. "Christine, please. Don't listen to him. Love me, Lotte." Christine pressed her hand against his. "Raoul, now isn't the time.""What are you talking about?" He shot his attention toward Erik. "Why are you still here?"

 

[Guile]

Erik's anger grew with each word that Raoul spoke...and each sentence that Christine did not deny being true. Still, he could not bring himself to speak the truth. Christine would never forgive him. So, he played along, even though his heart began to break as soon as he began to do so. "I did not say that I didn't believe you were to be married." Erik spoke through gritted teeth and purposefully avoided looking at the engagement ring that was still around her neck - it pained him too much. "If you are one, as you claim to be Vicomte, surely you wouldn't need to come in here and beg your fiancé to love you." He kept his voice calm and still didn't move when Raoul turned on him again. "I believe the young lady agreed that I was doing her no harm. You have no right to order me from this room - only she does. I will leave when she wishes me to leave. I do not take orders from you, Vicomte."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine spoke softly again. "Erik, please return home. I promise that I will return to you soon." She planned to leave later that night, after one last performance for the man that blessed her with a voice. "I swear that I will come back to sing for you. You will hear me sing again." She sighed, taking Raoul by the hand and leaving with him. "Do you mean that, Lotte?" He stopped her when they were far enough away for Erik not to hear their plans to leave for America.

 

[Guile]

Erik turned back to Christine, and looked into her eyes. All the anger faded from him as he searched her eyes looking for a reason, other than to prevent a fight between him and Raoul, that she might send him away. Erik found none and nodded. "Alright, Christine. As you wish." Then he added a soft, "thank you", when she promised to sing for him again. After her and Raoul left, Erik slipped back through his mirror and went home. The only thing that crossed his mind was how irritated and hurt he had felt when Christine had taken Raoul's hand and left with him.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"I will sing once more for my teacher." Christine swore. "You will meet me in the front of this building and it is there that we will leave on the very first ship to America." She tried to think of a proper location, when Raoul thought of it instead. "Hammerstein will want me to continue business with him on Coney Island. We shall raise our son there, safe from that...beast." he kissed her hand. "Go get dressed, I will be watching from my usual spot. Christine watched him leave before she did as she.was.told.

 

[Guile]

When at last Erik had gotten home, he took his time dressing into something nicer. He had hoped that his anger would subside, but it still lingered there at the back of his mind. Deciding that he had time, Erik played one last song on his piano before going up to watch the show. It was soft, melancholy almost - sounding as if he were trying to drain his sorrows through the music and bleed them out that way, rather than with a knife. Music was a wonderful release, but sometimes even that didn't help Erik. In this case, even as he was making his way up the stairs to the world above, he was still feeling that pang of sadness in his heart as images of the way Christine had looked so lovingly at Raoul flashed through his mind.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine took to the stage one last time. One last time would she ever be under the spell of her Opera Ghost. The song started out just like all others, ended just like all others. Christine just sang, as though everything were normal. She was certain that they weren't leaving right then. They would wait until things were in order at least with their Parisian homeland. Once Christine left the stage, she never returned, and instead fled to her fiance's home, where she remained for years.

 

[Guile]

Erik had gone to the show as he always had when Christine preformed. Her beautiful voice and appearance had brought a smile back to his lips and, for a few hours, he had been able to forget about the pain he had felt earlier. Erik had intended to give her the rose that he had in his coat later that night - as always, as a congratulations on such a wonderful performance and now, also as a loving gesture - but he did not see her that night. It was in the morning that Erik realized Christine was no longer at the Opera House. She had left, something she had never done before, and Erik knew then why she had wanted him to leave her room the night before - why she had gone out of the room with Raoul in such a way. He knew she was never going to come back and it destroyed his heart.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Location: The de Chagney manor, Paris, France.


Christine was readying herself for the wedding of a lifetime. "You look beautiful, Lady Daae." A young woman told her as she fixed Christine's wedding dress. "Thank you so much, dear." Christine returned the affection. As the hours passed, Christine Daae became Christine de Chagney.


Across town


Madame Giry tried her very hardest to console Erik. "Perhaps a change in scenery will do you good, just to get away from all of this." She pat his hand kindly. "We can leave and you won't have to hide in the shadows." Standing, she led him and Meg away from their home. "Come. I have our tickets ready."

 

[Guile]

Erik sat in the place that had been his home for so long and listened to Madame Giry without ever looking up at the newspaper he was staring at. He felt his friend touch his hand, but it did nothing to sooth him. Erik's heart had gone cold when he read the news that everyone was talking about. The Vicomte de Chagney was to wed Christine Daae today. For weeks Erik's world had been dark without Christine here, but now that she was to wed another - now that he knew he would surely never see her again and that there seemed to be no room left in her heart for her angel of music - Erik's world was meaningless. He felt numb to the world, and his face was emotionless. Obediently, Erik stood and with one final look at his home, he left with Madame Giry - a pang of remorse entering his heart as his eyes spotted the wilted rose he had intended to give to Christine. As his friend pulled him and Meg away from their home, Erik mentally left everything in the Opera House - his hopes, his dreams. As for his heart and his child, he left them with Christine and tried not to think about what a loss that was. "Our tickets. Where are we going?" The poor man sounded as distant from the world as he felt, but he did not try to resist Madame Giry. Wherever she was going, Erik would follow.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

As soon as they stepped out into the sun, Giry gave Erik a hooded cape to throw over himself. "Just put this on and I will explain as soon as we board our ship to Coney Island." She begged, helping him with this new scrap of clothing. "Please, do as I say and stay silent until the ship leaves." Meg flagged down a trolley. "Pier Three, sir." She handed over a few coins. "Here's what I have planned. I shall address you as my son until we reach the island." Madame Giry continued. "I don't want you found."

 

[Guile]

Erik reluctantly did as he was told and put on this cape, pulling up the hood so to hide his mask from the world. Despite the emotionless daze he was in, the numbness he felt, he understood the danger they were all in. With this vaguely in mind, he kept his mouth shut as they got into the trolley. All Erik did was simply nod in agreement to Madame Giry's request, and think. Coney Island...that would be in America. Lovely, He thought sarcastically, perhaps I will find a whole new breed of people that despise me for my face. Oh well...anything is better than staying here so closer to her and knowing that I'll never be able to be with her. Perhaps living in America will keep unwanted reminders of what could have been at bay.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Feeling a similar hurt that Erik felt, Meg reached for his hand and smiled. "Don't worry, Erik. Everything will be just fine once we reach our new home." It was such a reassuring, loving smile that she had on her face. The horses went on for a good hour, passing the countryside until finally stopping at the pier. "Come, we must go now, dear." Meg squeezed his hand gently, stepping down at the same time. "Mother has the tickets." As she said this, the old woman passed them on to the porter, taking Erik's other hand afterward and leading him to safety.

 

[Guile]

As soon as he felt the touch of Meg's hand on his, Erik looked down at them as it to affirm that she had actually just touched him. He didn't want to appear ungrateful, for he knew the young woman was just trying to console him, but he couldn't help feeling rather cold at her touch. Still, he said nothing and closed his eyes, listening to the pounding of the horses hooves on solid ground as he tried not to think of Christine. It was when Erik felt Meg squeeze his hand that he opened his eyes and stepped down with her, making sure she did not fall, as was the gentlemanly thing to do. He allowed Madame Giry to take his other hand after that and lead him off. Even if Erik could speak, he would not want to. His entire life was being ripped from him with each step he took and there were no words for such a time. Everything was meaningless to him now as he let himself be dragged on, helpless to control the way his life was heading.