Welcome to Gaia! ::

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the origial Phantom of the Opera Characters they are the original conceptions of G.Leroux and A.L.Webber.

Rating: i am rating this story Mature because it does deal with violence and there is some language that may be inaproprate to younger readers.

Synopsis:
A modern twist of the Phantom Story. Gabriella is an opera sing who is help captive by her manager and made to sing against her will. She falls in love with a mysterious figure who vows to save her from her evil keeper.

Author Notes:
This story is my baby, i finished it nearly two years ago now and it was one of my first full stories. it is a bit long, i know that, but it was a labour of love for two years and i would love to know what people think. Each chapter is titled after a musical term or movement to play up to the musical background of the story and the plays and the Original characters are set in a more modern time period. I hope everyone enjoys it and i would love any reviews.

Angel.

The Exposition:

“Gabriella, you know better than to test me like this!” Monsieur Philippe Fauxvoix yelled, “First you cried bloody blasphemy to Handel’s Messiah, in London and now you carry out false allegations toward the beauty of Lully’s Armide! Now if you don’t become serious this instant...”

“You’ll take me out of this god forsake opera and finally send me home rather than treat me like a caged animal Monsieur?” Gabriella screamed as hot tears began to pour down her cheeks, “no, that would never happen, you are a monster greater than any the world has seen!”

“That is no way to talk to the man who, plucked you out of obscurity and flung you into the spotlight!” Fauxvoix laughed, “now sing my pet, from the top of Armide’s aria if you please.”

“Someone should write an opera about you, you wicked old man!”

“Now you listen to me you little rat,” Philippe said as he walked up onto the stage and violently grabbed her skinny arm as if it were a twig he was ready to break. He hushed his voice and twisted her arm until her tears of anger became tears of pain and horror, “your voice belongs to me. You will sing when I tell you, for as long as I tell you and you will put on a happy face for the public and press. Do you understand me, wretch?”

Gabrielle nodded fearfully.

“Good,” he paused, took a deep breath and turned away from her, “Maestro, Armide is ready,” He smiled and walked off stage with an air to him as if he had beaten an animal into submission.

Gabriella could hardly hold back her sobs as the music erupted from the orchestra. Monsieur Philippe glared from his seat next to the director and she knew she could do nothing but obey her captor.



Little Gabriella was one of the leading Opera Divas, although she despised the term. Her name was known globally and her pure bell like voice and stage presence was being credited for the return to popularity of the classical opera. Never was there an empty seat at a theatre that Mademoiselle Gabriella Angelique was the leading lady for a performance, though she never saw any of the money that she had allegedly made. All matters of finance went through her manager and she was continually being assured that her mother was well taken care of.

Gabriella had been touring Europe for nine years under a manager that should have been terminated eight years prior but whenever matters of management would come up M. Fauxvoix became angry and violent and on occasion he became so abusive to the little woman he had nearly silenced her for good, leaving only a private nurse, who also feared him more than anyone, to attend to the broken and battered woman. Gabriella’s biggest fear was not death itself but that she would live her life with this man who held her so tightly in everyway that she was simply a pet on a leash.

Her family was pour and non musical when at the tender age of six a hidden virtuosic talent was discovered in the only child of, the now deceased, Monsieur Ralph Angelique and his wife Melanie, a shimmer of hope was visible through the darkness of their poverty. Her mother had been left destitute when her husband died. He had gambled his life away only to be so in debt that he flung himself into the St. Laurence river and drowned when Gabriella was only four. Melanie could hardly keep providing food for her daughter let alone shelter when word of her work places foreclosure. Opera in Montreal had become nearly unseen, the music of the generation had taken over and the populous that did attend cultural entertainment was aging. The need for a full opera house was no more and therefore the building would not need to be cleaned. It would be demolished to make room for yet another paved paradise.

On an evening in late February, a young Gabriella joined her mother at work to escape the cold winter winds the were felt in Montreal. It was on this night that the angels had smiled and the little girl and her mother, for it was in this place that Gabriella’s voice was discovered. Her mother had spoken a lot of the almost certain closure of the theatre and the little girl could feel her mothers despair. Gabriella had decided to do the one thing that always brought hope to her mother, she knelt down at her side and took a wash cloth from a pail of cold soapy water and as she cleaned the floor alongside her one remaining parent she sang a soft hymn of praise and hope to comfort the heartache that they had this far escaped. The soft bell tones rang in the hall of the theatre as tears mixed with the dirty water on the floor. The man who believed his theatre to be a thing of the past was struck by the voice of an angel.

Gabriella, as well as her mother, were flung int a great commotion. The theatre owner, Monsieur Jean Soulin, had gather all his last resorts and through them into the theatre. He put all his faith in the young, unknown, virtuosic singer. The theatre was cleaned and prepared for a great gala, which should little Gabriella fail, would be turned over to the government for destruction and not only would Gabriella and her mother be put to the street so would pour M. Soulin. The success of this giant risk layed on the shoulders of a now seven year old unknown.

M. Soulin worked tirelessly with the little singer to ready her for her stage debut. Melanie and Gabriella had taken up residence in a small dressing room in the theatre. It wasn’t much but it was away from the cold winter and did give both of them all the time need to devote to the theatre.

As the time of the performance grew nearer the publicity from the small opera house was praising the little singer as ‘the first real child prodigy since Mozart’ and claiming that ‘the heavens had opened to smile on the stage once more’. But the opera house was not letting the child be seen till the night of the gala. The building anticipation brought in record breaking sales of tickets. Not a seat was left empty in the theatre by the night of the performance.

Finally, on the evening of the gala performance, the theatre shone with all the splendour of when it was first opened. This was to be a rebirth of the small opera house if the little girl could rise to the occasion. The evening saw the arrival of more of the wealthiest patrons and the cultured musical elite then Montreal had ever seen, filling the theatre to capacity. The theatre was filled with the anticipation of the guests and chatter of excitement was heard on and off stage. The brilliant blue velvet curtains locked in the excitement until the audience had reached a breaking point. The music erupted from the orchestra and the curtains parted for Montreal’s first glimpse at the little miracle.

The sky opened and smiled upon Gabriella that night and the little girl was granted her wings. She shone in a roll meant for a woman twenty years her superior and her voice filled and resounded in the theatre. For Gabriella it was like magic, nothing she had ever experienced before. The shear joy that surrounded her, she felt as though she could fly into the heavens carried by her own voice and before she knew it the two hour performance was over. She was met with great ovations and deafening applause. It was the greatest performance this opera house had seen in all its years of productions and little Gabriella felt as thought she had seen and felt heaven on earth.

The media storm to follow the little divas debut was astronomical. She was being hailed as the ‘theatre baby’ and in true media fashion the young girls poverty was set aside to tell a more mysterious and fictional story:

“A child was born of musical grace and majesty. Released from heaven, the angels voice took the stage at the Montreal Opera. This babe in swaddle, tiny as a star; became greater than life itself. Born to the world as a musical masterwork contrived of the genius mind of a heavenly composer with a flash of innocence, the purity of the whitest winter snow, she is a child of perfection.”

Gabriella was flung into a world of musical offers to attend the finest conservatories, to see the world in all its wonder and bring her voice to millions upon millions of unworthy listener. And all the while Gabriella stay devoted to her little theatre and the man that inspired and believed in her voice. M. Soulin would remain Gabriella’s primary teacher in the arts of the theatre and performance, however she did attend musical training for two hours a day at the conservatory, she was happiest in her little theatre. Her mother was promoted, with her daughter success to a management potion and was able to move the little girl out of the theatre dressing room and into a flat but Gabriella preferred to spend her time in her make believe kingdom where she was always the glorious and ever praised Princess de L’opra.

By the age of ten Gabriella had already performed in over forty operas, developed a great love for ballet, fencing and horse back riding and had produced her first professional recording of a hand full of her favourite opera arias. Her popularity only grew as she got older. Her mother finally had achieved financial stability and they lived a life, though fast pasted, that was very comfortable. Gabriella vowed that for the rest of her life she would be sharing her voice with all the world.

It wasn’t long after her eleventh birthday that little Gabriella was faced with one of the hardest decisions of her life. M. Soulin was becoming quite old and though the last year of his opera life had been very prosperous he was looking at selling the opera and eventually did. The opera was sold and, although it was greatly fought by the public, the building was demolished and Gabriella had to say goodbye to her palace. The opportunity arose very quickly for Gabriella to find a manager. One day M. Soulin was set to have tea with her mother and when he brought with him a cousin on his wives side who had done great things with singers in the past. It was the first time that Gabriella had met Monsieur Philippe Fauxvoix.

In the beginning M. Fauxvoix was very kind and encouraging to the little child. Her mother began to fancy the man and soon Gabriella’s mother had signed the child’s first contract with M. Fauxvoix. They vowed to take things slow for the little girl starting with smaller opera venues and privately done concerts but soon her reputation spread and she was being shipped off to the united states for concerts. The contract that was signed, though not fair in the least, enabled M. Fauxvoix to have full creative control over the young ladies career up until she was twenty one and able at last to make her own choices. Her mother, not having any experience with managing a musician was more than happy to allow Philippe to take control and all was well and kept safe in the mothers home. The money that the young girl was making kept a very comfortable life for her mother and a happy Gabriella believed her dreams of global popularity to be coming true. On her twentieth birthday Gabriella got word that she would be taking Europe by storm with her manager at her side. They left for Europe with a small entourage of keepers and fate seemed to be smiling on the pretty little singer.

It was in Europe that the chains on Gabriella became life threatening. She was not able to communicate with her mother back home, being told that if she did both her and her mother would be in great danger. Gabriella’s mother was also captured by the fear of the power hungry M. Fauxvoix who, upon arriving in Europe, set to the aging woman threatening messages of his power over the both of them and that, should she try and involve the police, he would send her back to the streets and kill her only means of life support, Gabriella. Both women fell into great desperation and guilt. Melanie feared for her daughter and believed that she would never see her again. Gabriella spent all her time in the presents of her manager, who if she disobeyed him would scold her and beat her. She was told that the money was keeping her mother alive and well, and that she needed nothing to do with it. She was locked away during the day time, when she was not free in the theatres for rehearsal. She had been signed to opera contracts at different theatres and worked non-stop for many, many months. Soon her twenty first birthday had come and gone and she had no way of proving that her contract was finished with a man who now told her that she was his. There were times when no amount of makeup could cover the bruises on the small woman body. She had never had to deal with this violence and although she had been trained in theatrical combat styles nothing could protect her against a man twice her size. All of the keepers and hired help were also deathly afraid of M. Fauxvoix and even though they all disagreed with what he was doing to Gabriella they would not dare to defy him.

Performances where the young woman only escape. While she was on stage singing M. Fauxvoix couldn’t touch her but once the opera was over and she was back in his possession he did what he pleased with her. She fell into great despair and believe she would never know the freedom that she once knew in the little Montreal Opera house. The one thing that she once dreamed about was slowly killing her and although she didn’t fear death she feared the amount of time she would have to live under the cast shadow of Philippe Fauxvoix.

The Prelude:

Gabriella waited two hours in her dressing room until it was nearing seven in the evening. She could hear the commotion of the stage crews in the halls and around the stage. She ate a little of what her attendant had brought to her but the excitement built within her to unexplainable proportions. She had dreamed about this theatre and all that encompasses it. She pulled a red Chanel shall out of a case that she brought with her everywhere and wrapped it over her head and arms to cover her bruises. She took a deep breath and quickly slipped bare foot out into the darkness of the hallways.

The music had stopped, not a single note from a violin or flute could be heard in the theatre. Stage workers bustled around her, bowing once in a while as they noticed her and continuing on with their working and preparations. Fresh smell of paint rose in the air as Gabriella neared the stage again. The theatre was dark, only a few workers lights were on, but Gabriella’s eyes had become accustom to the darkness and she moved about freely. She was captivated by the magic of the theatre, she could feel the thousands of lifeless eyes watching her every move and she felt the familiar gaze that only one who believes so deeply in the theatre superstitions would feel. She wandered for hours up and down stair cases. Up to the roof, though the floor boards creaked and at time you could see through to the level below, and down to the cellars, who’s floors were cold and damp and water could be heard all around. Her footsteps were the only sound in the darkness of this mysterious world and Gabriella wished with all her heard that she could simply disappear into it.

She believed, even more now, in the magnificent story that M. Soulin had once so passionately told her about the pour Erik and this massive theatre. It was hard not to believe when one is in the building and seeing everything. She was witness now to the underlying secrets of the theatre. Of the tunnels and the doors, the light and the darkness that was hidden within its depths. She began to walk slowly through the deep belly of the theatre listening to the water and the other sounds that, to most people, would be disturbing. She felt the cold wet floor, a mouse or rat ran over her foot and she longed to hide and stay in this darkness away from the deep, violence that she faced every day of her life.

“Mademoiselle, you shouldn’t be down here.” Gabriella head a low voice in the darkness and was suddenly struck with fear. Not the fear of evil but the fear that her secret freedom would be found out.

“Please Monsieur,” she whispered into the darkness, “if you would pardon me this once for intruding into the darkest depths of your theatre and not let a word of this come upon the ears of my keepers, I would forever be in your debt.”

“You speak to me as if you knew me Mlle.” the voice said from the shadows, “do you believe me to be the ghost of this theatre?”

“If you are please, I beg you, take me away from the captors that hold me now,” she pleaded her voice filled with hope and despair.

“Who do you fear so much that you would take up a life of eternal darkness?” the voice asked.

“This is not as dark as the life I lead. I would prefer this light over darkness.”

“Sadly Mademoiselle,” the voice said as a hand touched Gabriella’s shoulder and she spun around to see a face in the darkness, “I am not the Ghost that you look for. I am simply a partial owner of this establishment and you will have to return to your manager by morning.”

“Then please let morning come before you deny me this short and sweet bit of freedom,” Gabriella said as she took the mans hand.

“Alright, just for tonight,” the man said and turned to leave her.

“Wait!” she called out, “if you are the owner of this theatre, which you look and sound to young to be. Would you be so kind as to give me a grand tour?”

“What have you not seen?” he asked, “I have been watching you wander though this theatre that belongs to my family and you have seen a great deal of it.”

“But not all!” she said excitedly, “a great deal, but obviously not all.”

“What more could you want to see?”

“Well you seem to be the phantom of this opera, take me where no one else has gone!” she smiled.

“I can not do that its too dangerous.”

“Then take me where you know I have not been,” Gabriella said as she stretched out her hand to him.

“Alright, but you must be as quiet as the stars,” he said as he took her hand and slowly lead her to some of the most amazing and magical places of the theatre. They had journeyed so far down into the depths of the theatre that they came to a hall way that ran next to a bit of open water. They followed the path slowly until another stair case came into their path and they were sent up again through another passage and back to the lower levels of the stage.

“Monsieur,” Gabriella whispered as she passed though the chapel of the old dormitories, “does your family live in this theatre?”

“No,” he said shortly.

“Then why, may I ask are you here so late in the evening?”

“Why are you?”

“I am a captive of the theatre I cannot leave.”

“Why could you not leave, you have freedom enough to wander the theatre alone why would you not dare to set foot into the street?” he asked as they came to a stained glass window that let in the bright silver light of the moon and illuminated part of his shadowed face. He grabbed onto the bars of the window and pulled. The flung inward, “you could escape right now through this window and never return.”

Gabriella stepped into the light, removed the shall from her head and revealed the cuts and bruises on her face, “I am a captive of my own talent. I have nothing and know nothing of the world but that of the theatre. Even if I did leave I have no money, I would be found and if I said one word to anyone about who I am I would be brought back to this captivity.”

The man fell back into the shadows as he closed the bars again, “perhaps it is best if I leave you now. You will need to rest before your performance tomorrow evening Mademoiselle Angelique.”

“You know who I am?” she asked sadly.

The man turned back to the passage and quickly began to descend the steps.

“Wait, will I ever see you again?”

The man did not answer, he simply disappeared into the darkness. Gabriella felt tears swell up into her eyes. She pulled the shall back around her tortured face and fled back to her room. She did not sleep that evening and at seven in the morning, as promised, she heard the soft click of the lock and waited for the return of her manager.

The Aria:

Gabriella lay silently in the dark, letting her tears fall freely down her warm face. She spent most of her nights crying herself to sleep. She longed only for the dreams that she would have, should she have good dreams. But most nights were fill with nightmares of her manager.

“Mademoiselle Angelique, are you there?” a voice asked through the darkness.

Gabriella sat up in bed, recognising the voice, “Phantom is that you?” she whispered into the darkness.

“I am no phantom Mlle, nor am I a ghost but a man of flesh and blood. I apologies for coming to you like this but your door is locked,” the voice said as a candle was lit on the dressing table and Gabriella saw the same face as the night before.

“My nurse aloud me one evening of freedom last night,” Gabriella said as she wrapped herself in her blanket and remained seated on the bed.

“I know I saw them both leave. The man left with my parents to one of their favourite restaurant along the rue,” the man said.

“Your parents?” she asked.

“Yes, the Belville’s are my parents. I am their only child and I live in this theatre as to not have to follow the rules of their home all of the time,” he said.

“It is nice to meet you Monsieur Belville,” Gabriella smiled

“Please, call me Matthew,” he said.

Gabriella giggled a little, “so, how did you get into this room?”

“Come now,” he laughed, “I thought you knew all of the stories of this opera house. You are in the famous Christine Daae’s dressing room. Your mirror revolves.”

“So the stories are true,” Gabriella said excitedly, “the doors, the passages, the house on the lake is that true as well?”

“Yes, but it is still very well guarded. I know how most of the traps work so it is easy for me to come and go but not all of them.” Matthew explained.

“Do you live down there?” a child like air had come over Gabriella as the answers to some of her most wildly imagined stories came true.

“I do, but I would prefer that no one knew about it.”

“We all have our secrets Monsieur, some more dark than others.”

“You seem to carry darker secrets than even the phantom himself.” Matthew observed as Gabriella’s face turned white.

“You have no idea of the darkness I’ve seen,” she sighed.

“I can only imagine,” he said as he gently touched her face.

“No I don’t think you can,” she said as a tear rolled down her cheek.

“You told me last night of your predicament and the real reason I came to you tonight is to offer to you my help. I know this theatre better than anyone you know?” he smiled as he took a handkerchief out of his suit pocket and wiped away her tear.

“It was you in the ghosts box tonight that I saw,” Gabriella smiled, “and you left as he would have, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I noticed that you had seen me and it was time for me to leave. But I could not go the night without hearing you sing. You were fantastic.”

“Thank you,” Gabriella blushed.

“I can help you escape this evil man,” he said taking her hand.

“But what would I do if I was to leave. I do not know how to live outside of this world and even then, should I attempt to find help, anyone to know who I was would turn me back to this evil creature who holds my chains,” she said sadly.

“Perhaps its not really your escape we should be plotting but his demise,” Matthew stated.

“Demise sounds so bad, I just want what is mine, what I am in titled to and the chance to live a life. A real one and not the life of make believe I continue to hold in my mind.” she sighed and softly sang a song to herself that her mother had sung to her when she was little, “all I want is a room somewhere. Far away from the cold night air...”

“And you shall have it,” Matthew said with a smile, “he just needs to be taught a lesson, and what better place to play a few little tricks than in the masters theatre of magic and mystery.”

“Oh wouldn’t it be lovely,” Gabriella sang happily, “but how?” she asked with a small grin.

“I have a few ideas,” he smiled taking her hands again, “but let me plan them out a little better and make sure that all can, and will work out for us. Then I will tell you of my plan.”

“You promise, then that you will help me?” she asked.

“Of corse. An angel, such as yourself does not belong in hell but in heaven. I must free you.” he smiled and stood, “but for now I will leave you to rest. I will come back tomorrow in secret again. Tell your nurse to lock the door again and I will come back the same way.”

“I will miss you while you are gone,” Gabriella smiled as she too stood and followed him to the mirror.

“I will take you out of this room for a bit of freedom tomorrow night no one will ever know.” he smiled and disappeared into the mirror.

“Adieu Matthew, a demain!” she smiled and returned to her bed.

Gabriella slept peacefully that night, she dreamt only of the life she hoped would come true for her.

The Return:

That evening, after a flawless performance, M. Fauxvoix did not return to the young divas dressing room. Gabriella kept Maria late into the night at her side. The young woman was afraid to let the old woman leave and even more afraid that if she did leave that Fauxvoix would return. The old woman’s hand had began to swell beneath the cut and without proper medical attention, Gabriella feared, the injury could be worse than it seemed.

“You probably should see at least my physician for that Maria,” Gabriella said finally, “he’ll be able to help you and he knows of the temper of M. Fauxvoix. He wouldn’t say anything to anyone.”

“Gabriella, you don’t see the severity of M. Fauxvoix attacks and crazed behaviour. It’s not acceptable in today’s society and yet non of us will defy him,” Maria sighed, “if I went to Monsieur le doctor, Fauxvoix would punish me for sure. And I cannot leave his service or he would have me killed. Non of us can leave you for fear of our lives.”

“And if I escape?” Gabriella asked, “what would happen then?”

“He would probably hold us all as responsible for you getting away,” She sighed, “most of us pray that you would fly away, for your own sake, but I dare not imagine what he would do. What amount of lunacy is within him. M. Fauxvoix is mad. He’s absolutely crazy and yet he’s a wonderful actor. No one but the people closest to you can see it!”

“I know,” Gabriella sighed, “he is going to force me to marry him.”

“You can’t!” Maria exclaimed.

“Have I any choice?” the diva asked.

“Oh yes,” Maria said, “with all your soul and your being you have to deny him that.”

“How?” Gabriella sighed, “if I fight him he will only hurt you all more.”

“I would give my life to see you live,” Maria said with a determined tone, “I will leave you tonight with your freedom. You must leave this place and I will take the blame.”

“No Maria,” Gabriella said as she noticed the panic and excitement in the woman’s eyes, “I will not leave tonight, nor will I leave with you knowing. But I will leave one the phantom’s wings and no one will be able to blame you for anything. I promise you that I will be fine. Please don’t worry.”

“You must do it soon little one,” the old woman sighed, “Australia will seel your fate. Paris is your only hope for freedom.”

“I know,” Gabriella said with a smile as she hugged her nurse, “it will be soon but I am tired now.”

“I will leave you to rest,” she said as she walked to the door.

“Stay safe Maria and turn a blind eye whenever Fauxvoix comes calling. I don’t want you to fall subject to his anger again. That is for me to deal with.” Gabriella said, the door closed and the click of the lock was heard.

Gabriella walked slowly toward the mirror at the far end of the dressing room. Flowers from admirers had been placed about and filled the air with the sweet smell of spring. Gabriella pressed her hands and face against the cold mirror. Her heart beet in her throat, “my life and my hope rest in you Matthew,” she whispered to herself, “I pray that everything will work or I am to be wed to a mad man.” Gabriella jumped back as the mirror suddenly shook. She watched in awe as it began to move and into the room walked a man robed in black and masked in white. She ran and embraced the dark figure.

“Mademoiselle, we have only just met is it really wise to embrace me as you do?” he said with a smiled framed by the familiar mask.

“It may seem like a silly fairy tale but I feel like I have known you all my life,” she smiled, “how long have you been behind the mirror watching?”

“Long enough...” he said as he sat her down on the sofa, “... to know more about M. Fauxvoix than most people would see.”

“How much did you see?” She asked fearfully.

“Lets just say I wish I could have saved you from his grasp,” he said as he watched her eye fill with tears, “I will take you away from this soon enough.”

“It is not me I am worried about,” Gabriella sighed, “I am worried for the people who are so kind to me and who will have to face him when I am gone.”

“We will make it so none of them are suspected and you will leave unharmed and by the phantom’s hand,” he smiled as he finally removed his mask, “I have a plan that will sweep you away from this place.”

“How?” Gabriella asked feeling excited.

“Come with me, I will show you!” he smiled, placed the mask back on his face, as he reached out to her with a gloved hand and brought her through the mirror, into the darkness of the Phantom’s world.

Gabriella was filled with excitement as she held the young mans hand and walked again into the passage. He was a handsome young man, taller than she was with dark hair and brilliant green eyes. His hands and arms were strong and his voice was deep and lush. She felt light as a feather as she followed behind.

He took her up into the dark theatre. The light had all gone out and all of the workers had retired to the streets or there rooms. It was quiet and her footsteps echoed in the deep open space.

“Do you know where you are?” he asked as they stopped on the stage.

“How could I not?” she giggled, “I have been hear many times.”

“But do you really know?” he whispered into her ear, “you stand on the very spot where the great disappearance of Mlle. Daae happened.”

“Really?” she said as she spun around to look at him, “its not just a story how she disappeared?”

“It was a long time ago and people believe it to be a mere story now but Mademoiselle, it will be the greatest performance of our lives. To relive that night when she disappeared before everyone eyes,” he said as he pulled a candle from his pocket and lit it.

The golden glow from the candle only lit his white face and his green eyes. Gabriella felt the spirits of the past flow in all around her. She remembered the story, the chaos and the excitement.

“Monsieur I trust you will not be dropping the chandelier on innocent people?” she giggled.

“Oh no Mademoiselle, I should not have to. There is no other diva that I cannot sand to listen to, who is trying to take your place and well the management is my mother and father and I dare not anger them,” he said playfully.

“Oh yes,” she said in a worried tone, “your mother and father, wont they suspect you? They must know where to find you in all of this!”

“Oh no,”his smile was lit by the candle light, “my mother and father believe me to be in our country house. They know nothing of the house on the lake or of my tricks and still believe it to be the ghost of the phantom. Who, for the next month leading up to our great performance, is going to aid in your final curtain call.”

“But Monsieur there is one other problem,” she said with a playful sigh.

“And what is that?” he asked.

“We are not performing an opera by Faust,” she said matter of factly, “Christine Daae disappeared during a performance of and opera by Faust, this is Lully.”

“Minor detail,” he laughed, “besides you end up in the exact spot on the stage at the end of your last aria to disappear as Christine did and so it will work.”

“And after I disappear then what?” she asked playfully.

Matthew’s face lit up as he smiled behind the mask, “ down once more to the dungeon of my black despair...”he half sang half whispered as he took her hand and led her, by candle light, back stage and down several hidden flights of stairs. He then led her to the middle of what seem like a platform, framed on two sides by pieces of old sets and ropes and wires hung from around a hole in the ceiling.

“This is where you will end up when the trap door is opened. It is a tunnel that hasn’t been used in years. The trap runs from here to the stage and I know that you know how to use traps,” he smiled.

“Oh yes I have used them before in shows but, how will I be received? It is a long fall and there is nothing here to land on,” she said.

“There will be when it happens and it will be easily hidden when we are ready to leave because this will be the first place they will look.” he said, “but you need not worry about that, just trust me when I say I have it all planned out.”

“I do trust you,” she smiled, “where do we go from here?”

He took her hand once more and they were off to the other end of the long room. Into another hidden passage and down a spiral stair case this time. The stairs took them deep into the third cellar where they had once come before. Quickly he turned her in another direction, pushed a tangle of snake like hangings to one side and ducked into a very small doorway that was painted to look like the rocks of the wall itself. She followed quickly and silently as they scrambled hunched over down the narrow path. Gabriella could feel cold air coming at her face and soon she knew why. The tunnel ended at a gate, and through the gate were more stairs and down even farther she could hear running water.

“This isn’t talked about in the books,” she whispered.

“The Phantom’s home was well guarded and he could come and go as he please. There are a few other entrances that were never talked about and hardly ever used. I have found and used them all and I know that it is nearly impossible to find them from outside the house on the lake. And even then they are all blocked off by hidden doors in his home,” he smiled and pulled a small black key from his cloak, reached around the back side of the bars, there was a click and he pulled the gate toward them, “from here it gets tricky and I will only put you through that on the eve of your flight. The sun will be rising soon and you must return to your dressing room or we risk being discovered. I must take you back now. Tomorrow you will begin to hear talk of the phantoms ghost in the theatre because while you were on stage tonight I was putting the plan into motion.” he smiled, extinguished the candle and locked the gate again, “we best move quickly, the sun is rising. We will have to keep to the shadows the men will be returning.”

They arrived quickly through different passages to the mirror of her room. It opened and she stepped inside, Matthew stayed behind, “will you come back tonight?” she whispered to him.

“Only for a short visit, you’ll need your sleep tonight little lotte,” he whispered and the mirror closed.

“Au revoir, Erik,” she whispered to the mirror and crawled into bed just in time for the return of her nurse.

The Libretto:

My Dearest Phantom:

I have not seen or heard from you in a few days, but I have been hearing the rumours of your presents around the opera house and fear that this has turned you away from me. The actors and workers are frightened again. The story of the phantom of the opera has resurfaced and is becoming more and more elaborate as the days go on. M. Fauxvoix has started to search through the lower levels of the theatre, he is now aware of the workings of the story and has started his search where the former managers have left off. Monsieur and Madame Belville, on the other hand, has sworn not to take any part in the affair. They do not wish to upset the phantom in anyways and continually warn Fauxvoix to do the same, though he doesn’t heed their warnings in the least. They swear that he will make the phantom angry and should anything disastrous occur in this place they do not take any responsibility for it and have put all responsibility on Fauxvoix himself. The workers in the theatre have become very fearful of Fauxvoix as well, they do not stay long in the same places beneath the theatre, when he is around. They whisper of your lasso and how it shall soon enough find itself around his neck. You cannot move about the theatre without hearing someone’s voice from somewhere saying ‘keep you hands at the level of your eyes. But Fauxvoix doesn’t pay any attention to the warnings. The ballet dancers never travel alone around the theatre anymore. My nurse seems to be the only soul in this place that does not fear the phantom and yet she is the most verbal to Monsieur to take heed when he wanders in the domain of the phantom of the opera. And yet he still searches for you. I fear that he will find you and yet I believe that you are too well hidden to let him. Your mind and your knowledge of the workings of this theatre are beyond anyone else’s and I know that you are well guarded from the evil man that has vowed to hunt you out. I pray that you are still safe and that I might see you again soon.

I must be very careful as I write to you, should my letters be found I can only imagine the anger that will fill Monsieur and perhaps I will be swept away from this place at any opportunity he might find. He tries to follow me, now, where ever I venture in the theatre. He is sure that you have a hidden agenda for me and so I spend most of my days, if I am not in his presence, I am locked away in this small room. I am beginning to think that I will never be with you again and so I can only write to you.

My days and have been hard. My manager has again taken to handle me with force and is continually accusing me of what is going on in the theatre. I am the reason the phantom has resurfaced as the stage people have taken to calling me Christine. I do not mind the name but the anger that fills Monsieur is unbearable. I do not know how much longer my small frame can take his massive strikes against it. My fears grow greater as the days go by, to my departing France for Australia. That time is growing closer and the doomed marriage I am being forced into. My nights, however, are much calmer. I rest and sleep through the night. I feel safe in the darkness of the theatre and knowing that I am not near to Monsieur. At night, just before sleep comes to me, I can feel you near. I wish it were so and not only in my mind but it is a comforting thought and I fade into my dreams so happily, even with my bruises and the pain I feel. I hope, if you do come to me, that you would wake me from my sleep. To make them not dreams but realities.

My dreams of you seem so real sometimes. I dream that you are always near to me all the time. That you are always watching me but I never see you. I can only feel you. Then you sit silently in my room with me and protect me from all the dangers of the world, as a prince would protect his dear princess in her tower or like a knight to his fair maiden. Alas, when I wake you are not here but your voice fills my head and my heart. Dare I say that I have grown fond of you more that I ever dreamt I could. It is all in my dreams and yet it feels like my heart has held so many times with you. I feel as though I have known you all my life. That you have always been with me to help me and my voice and yet it can’t be possible can it? Only in my dreams I suppose, but they do keep me going and though I don’t want to wake from them they are my hope for the days to pass and the nights to come.

I cannot explain my gratefulness to you and the things that you have told me would happen. I am filled always with hope and desire to run, with you, away from this place and yet I fear what is to become of me. Should I myself become the phantom, to hide all my life in fear of this man who will, until his dying day, search for me. Who will be my companion once I have escaped this place, if that time every comes. What new darkness will I have to journey though and will it be on my own. Oh my dear Erik if you could only know the horrors of this man, for, should any woman compar your story to that of monsieur, they would see you not as you are but as the gentle beautiful creature of the night that I now see.

Please my dearest, do not stay away from me long. I wish to see you again soon and need to know that you are still with me and are still able to aid in my escape. I will continue to write you should I not see you again and I pray that my letters will not go unanswered.

I hope that I myself have not done something to keep you from me, as I continue to see your signature on the parcels that continue to arrive. As I write this yet more have arrived from you and though I fear that my manager may catch me writing, I am quick enough to hide my letters and my thoughts. I do love all of the wonders that you continue to send to me, but I am curious as to why you do such things. If our plan is to be realised then I will have to leave all these wonderful treasures behind. Though I love them dearly. I know I will have to leave many things behind that are dear to me and yet they all live in my memories. As bright and shining as the daimons that you send, my memories of the good that life once held and the good that I may someday see again are what I hold closest to me. I thank you for the wonderful good that you provide to my memories and my thoughts. Please my angel of music do not stay away from me much longer.

Your’s always Christine.

Gabriella folded her letter gently, the silky white paper made no sound as she folded it, and placed it in a simple pink envelope. She sealed it and walked slowly to her mirror, holding the letter close to her chest. She looked longingly into the mirror trying to see through her own reflection to the passage behind. The envelope fells gently from her hands and landed softly on her tiny, slippered foot.

Suddenly the door flew open, “Gabriella!” Fauxvoix yelled, “Who is this phantom!” he cried as she gently and slowly turned away from the mirror. As she turned she pushed the envelope under the mirror and out of sight. It slid silently under the frame and stoped at Matthew’s feet.

“The phantom of the opera?” Gabriella asked, “I don’t know who he is.”

“You must, you have to!” Fauxvoix yelled coming at her fiercely, pinning her against the mirror.

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” Gabriella cried, “I have never seen such a man. I don’t know who he is.”

“Then why does he love you so, you terrible wretch?” Fauxvoix screamed as he slapped her across the face.

Matthew gasped behind the mirror as he watch small specks of Gabriella’s blood hit the mirror surface. His hands shook with anger and yet he knew he could do nothing for her and risk the discovery of the plan. Or could he? He placed the pink envelope in a pocket inside his cloak and turned and ran back down the passage.

“I don’t know!” Gabriella cried, “I don’t know anything about anything!”

“You must, you have to!” Fauxvoix yelled, “what have you done to make him love you so! What have you done?”

“I have only done what you have told me to!” Gabriella sobbed, “I have done nothing but be obedient to you and your wishes!”

“You have not, you deceptive little beast,” he yelled at the top of his lungs, “you have seduced him!” he became crazed, grabbing and tearing and throwing things all over the small dressing room and Gabriella sank to the floor, her hands covering her face as she sobbed, “you will pay for this with your life you little rat!” he screamed.

“Please take my life now!” Gabriella sobbed, “let this be over! Oh god in heaven please take me from here and let me no longer be handled by this man.”

“What did you say!” Fauxvoix said angrily snatching her up from the ground and making her look him in the eyes, “what did you cry out, upon deaf ears?”

“Take my life! Take it way from me! Kill me now Fauxvoix or I will take my own life!” Gabriella screamed as she, with all her might, forced herself out of her captors hands and flung herself at there small vanity mirror. It shattered into hundreds of sharp small pieces, “damn me for all eternity if it means taking my own life and being way from you so be it!” she cried as she grabbed onto the biggest piece of the shattered mirror as she could. Her small hands bleed as the shard of glass cuts through her clutching hand.

Gabriella brought the sharp, blood stained, glass to her neck. Monsieur Fauxvoix stopped in his tracks, “NO!” he yelled as he eyes grew wide.

“My life means nothing to you,” Gabriella said quietly as tears rolled down her face, “I have done nothing in this life but obey you and you lay your hands on me. I have had enough, I will take my life into my own hands now and you can’t stop me!” she said crying harder.

“Gabriella no!” Maria yelled as she came into the small room, “oh god in heaven please no!”

“Listen to your nurse little girl!” Fauxvoix said slowly walking toward Gabriella and taking the glass. Gabriella collapsed in sobs as her nurse ran to her side, “clean her up Maria, then this room and tell no one about this!” he said throwing the glass on the ground, shattering it again.

“You need not tell anyone,” Maria said, looking angrily at Fauxvoix, “he knows what you have done and soon so will they all!”

“Who knows?” he asked as he stopped at the door.

“The opera ghost,” Maria said matter of factly, “he has left you a message.”

“What?” he asked.

“You’ll see,” Maria said as she turned back to Gabriella.

Fauxvoix stormed out of the room slamming the door behind himself.

Tragedy-lyrique:

Gabriella broke down in deep, painful sobs. She fell onto the glass strewn floor and cried till she was out of breath, her face red and blotched, her eyes nearly closed from crying. She looked years older than she was. The life seemed to be sucked right out of her small body. Maria stayed by her side a long time before she shot to her feet, a look of terror crossing her face and yet the look of absolute genius. She began frantically throwing boxes from a large chair in a corner and, with all her might, pushed and pulled the chair toward the door. Gabriella watched breathing deeply as her nurse struggled to fix the chair beneath the door handle.

“What good will that do?” Gabriella asked with a great sigh of exhaustion, “he’ll force his way back in. Just leave me here to die.”

“Don’t speak like that,” Maria scolded as she finally rested the chair in the perfect place. She fell into the chair and sighed, “I know it wont do much, and it would probably only slow him down a little but it gives you the chance to brace yourself. I am prepared to take the blame for this.”

“I can’t let you do that,” Gabriella said quietly as she forced herself off the floor and onto her small bed.

“But I can’t let you hurt yourself, my darling,” Maria said as she came slowly across the room and sat on the bed herself, “if you did, he would have won. That is not what is meant for you in this world.” she sighed, “we have to come up with a way to get you away from here.”

“Don’t worry kind lady that plan has already been set into motion,” a voice came into the room.

“Who is there? What is that?” Maria called out fearfully.

The colour and life came back into Gabriella’s face as the voice filled the small room, “Maria it is alright. It is the angel of music.” she said as she reached up and motioned for her nurse to be silent, “come to me angel,” she whispered.

Maria stared in amazement as she witness what she had only believed to be myth. The mirror at the far end of the room, that had been splashed with Gabriella’s blood began to move and soon a dark figure, masked in white entered. Gabriella sprang up from her seat on the bed and ran to the figure, collapsing into his arms. His black robe folded in around her, a look of absolute love came over his face.

“There, there little lotte, I’m here. I will never leave you,” the figure said again, as a bandaged hand emerged to wipe away her tears.

“Erik you are hurt,” Gabriella said fearfully as her bloody hand took his.

“Not as badly as you Christine, come let your nurse tend to you.” he said motioning for Maria to come to help the little woman, “I will help clean this mess up and the blood from the mirror, would you please madame focus your attention on my Christine and only when you are finished will I explain to you what has happened.” he said as he removed his cloak and placed it on the chair before the door.

He was dressed in an old suit, very reminiscent of that of the phantom in the stories. His hands were bandaged in white and blood stained the linens. His face was free of colour and nearly matched the white of the mask that covered most of his face. He was a handsome, strong man. Gabriella admired him in the light of her room. She had only seen him in the darkness of the theatre, but here in the light he seemed even more like the ghost in the stories. He worked silently in the room as did Maria at cleaning the cuts on Gabriella’s hand and feet. Gabriella jumped as there came a knock at the food.

“Gabriella, the show will go on as planned. Your curtain call is the same as any night. I will send for you then,” the voice of Fauxvoix came through the door and then was gone.

Tears grew again in her eyes, “how am I to go on stage like this?” she asked holding her hands to her nurse.

“You must,” Maria sighed, “we can hide the bandages with your costume.”

Gabriella sighed and sunk back into silence again.

When Maria had finished she walked to the door and began to push the chair out of the way. The dark figure walked up to her and helped move the chair but motioned for her to stay and to take a seat with Gabriella on a small sofa.

“Madame,” the man said addressing only Maria, “you must know that I intend no ill toward anyone in this building. I am only here to free this caged bird.” he said and motioned toward Gabriella, “for the time being I must ask you to only refer to me as Erik or the phantom, for if I tell you my name we risk the entire plan of escape.”

“I would not risk this plan for anything in the world, should I know your name or not. But Monsieur le Phantom I respect your wishes and should I be of any assistance to you let me play a role in you great opera,” Maria whisper.

“Ah, Madame, as noble and kind as my dear Christine, let your role be that of nurse and mother to the one you love so dearly,” he said and motioned to Gabriella, “should I need you in the plan, Madame, I will only address you as Madame Giry,” he smiled at the old woman

Maria nodded as she looked at Gabriella, “I told you that it was not gods plan for you to leave us today. This angel of music has done much for you.”

“I know,” Gabriella said as she smiled weakly.

Maria turned back to the phantom and looked deeply into his green eyes, “I must know,” she said, “if anyone was hurt by what you had done today in the theatre,” she said calmly to the man.

“No one,” he said finally, “the blood shed was my own and not that of any other innocent soul,” as he said this he stretched out his bandaged hands to the old woman, “this is my burden to bear and no one else.”

“But it should not be yours Monsieur,” Maria said taking his hand in hers, “why do you do such things knowing the danger that is involved?”

“The angel of music speaks loudly through her,” he said as he motioned to Gabriella, “and this theatre is our heaven. It has been for many years and as it has happened in the past to the phantom, I must say it has happened to me. I cannot let the darkness take over the voices of angels any longer. It is my duty and my curse as phantom of this opera to love but one for all my life,” he said and bowed his head.

Maria placed her hands around this mans masked face and kissed his forehead softly, “fly away from this place angel of night and take her with you to the darkness,” she whispered and turned to leave the room.

“Maria,” Gabriella called to her, “you will keep this secret wont you?”

“I will take it to the grave petite,” she smiled and slipped out the door into the darkness of the hallway.

Accelerando:

Matthew did not watch any of Gabriella’s performance that night, though he wanted to see her sing so desperately, he had to force himself to carry on with the plan. Once back in his house on the lake he went straight to work on a stack of letters that needed to be written. The letters would put most of the final preparations into action. The ordering of cars to come to a spot on the Rue to take cases to his country home, where he would, soon after the disappearance, whisk Gabriella away too. He was also in the motions of making it know that he himself was not the phantom and the plans of a meeting between himself and his parents and the manager of the singer would have to occur. He also finished a letter in reply to Gabriella that he planned to place on her pillow with a rose and black ribbon as the phantom had done before him. Once finished his letter he raced back through the theatre to place them strategically for the paranoid public to find. He had only enough time to place the letters in Gabriella’s dressing room and disappear again before Gabriella was thrown into her room by her manager, who was followed in by the nurse and another aid.

“So where was your phantom tonight?” Fauxvoix asked as Matthew watched from behind the mirror.

“I did not see a phantom tonight,” Gabriella said as she sat down at her dressing table and her nurse began to take the pins out of her hair.

“He thinks a little joke will stop me from what it to happen around here. He obviously doesn’t know what is the value I place on you,” Fauxvoix laughed, “you have made me a very rich man you know.”

Gabriella didn’t answer as tears began to roll down her face again.

“Oh it has been a fantastic day for us wouldn’t you say Maria?” Fauxvoix asked.

“I beg you pardon sir?” Maria asked as she struggled with a flowered clip that had become tangled in Gabriella’s hair, “I was not paying attention.”

“It has been a prosperous night for us!” Fauxvoix said happily.

“How so?” Maria asked.

“Ah it was a full house tonight,” he beamed.

“As it is every night,” Maria stated.

“Yes and there have been no signed of the phantom of the opera,” he said.

“That is a relief,” Maria answered.

“Gabriella’s voice has landed her another wonderfully expensive gig in Germany after Australia to sing the solo soprano role in Brahm’s Ein Deutsches Requiem,” he stated proudly.

“Ah I am sure you will have a wonderful time singing that Gabriella,” Maria said as she finally got all of the young Diva’s hair free and began to work at her bandages.

“Certainly,” Gabriella said trying to seem interested.

“The publicity for your being here has been amazing, this wonderful stunt of the phantom of the opera has provided us with even more public interest than would have hoped for,” Fauxvoix said excitedly.

“Even though some has been bad publicity?” Maria asked.

“Not bad publicity for Gabriella,” he laughed, “and I got wonderful news today from Canada my dear,” he said moving closer to Gabriella.

She turned toward him her eyes wide in hopes of news from her mother.

He smiled sweetly too her and whispered into her ear, “your mother has passed away peacefully in her sleep. Now there isn’t a living soul on this earth that stands in my way of owning you forever. Let you phantom friend threaten me all he likes, for when we leave Paris you will see the real extent of my anger!” he stood, smiled at Maria and walked to the door, “have a good evening ladies!” he said and walked out.

Gabriella was in absolute shock, she couldn’t stop her tears from falling and yet she couldn’t tell her poor nurse what had happened. She covered her face with her hands and sobbed and sobbed.

“Gabriella, please I beg of you, tell me what it wrong,” Maria pleaded with the young woman.

Finally, though the tears keeps falling, Gabriella motioned for the door to be locked. Maria did as she was told and was quickly back at her side. Gabriella looked deeply into her nurses eyes and collapsed into her arms, “my mother is dead. My only link to anything outside this hell is gone,” she sobbed and at these words the mirror was opened. Matthew ran to the woman’s side. She jumped as she felt his hands on her shoulders, “oh Erik what am I to do now?” she sobbed.

“I will still take you away from here, we will hide till things calm down and then we will find a way to prove what has happened,” he said as she shifted from Maria’s arms to his.

“There is no way,” she sobbed, “Fauxvoix has reign over everything in my life. I am certain that all aspects of my mothers life will now be controlled by him. I wont ever even know where she is layed to rest!”

Matthew could say nothing to the girl to comfort her. He had no idea as to what he could do or say to what she had just confessed to him. Maria finally broke the silence, “what she tells you Monsieur le Phantom is not entirely true,” she said and watched Gabriella look stunned at the old woman.

“What do you mean Maria, you know this is hopeless,” Gabriella said.

“No child, not completely,” Maria said as sifted through her small purse and pulled out an old envelope, “your mother and I had been in contact after the temper and chains of Fauxvoix had first fallen upon you. I stole the address from Fauxvoix one evening while cleaning in his chambers and wrote to you mother for any help that she might provide. She also believed it impossible to go against the power of this man but with much work she started to take action to save her belonging and the money that she had received, should you ever be free. There is a man in Montreal who has taken to the family estate. He is a kind and very trustworthy man, and so he will take care of all that is left in your mothers life,” she said showing Gabriella the old letter.

“How do you know he is trustworthy?” Matthew asked finally.

“He is my brother monsieur,” Maria stated, “here is his address, you are also a very trustworthy man and I am certain that it may be of use to you in your cause. Contact him as soon as you can and tell him of the dilemma. I will also write to him this evening and leave a letter with Gabriella that you may add to yours, telling him of how trustworthy and noble you are. Have him send you all that he can from the safe that is set aside for Gabriella, for if it goes to you it will never have to pass through the hands of Monsieur Fauxvoix as everything that is outgoing among us does.”

“How did you come into contact with my mother if everything was sent to you thought Fauxvoix?” Gabriella asked.

“The first letter I managed to slip into a box unseen in an airport. In that letter I told your mother how to get a letter back to me. They were addressed to me from my brother and as Monsieur Fauxvoix knows nothing of the relationship between your mother and my brother I was able to regain the letters without going through the process of having Monsieur read them.” she explained, “you can be sure monsieur that everything you will need to free Mademoiselle Gabriella from Monsieur Fauxvoix my brother will have access to, including the first contract signed and my testimony to your mother as to how you have been treated,” she said as she caressed Gabriella’s hair, “I only wish I could have done more for you petite.”

“Oh Maria,” Gabriella cried as she embraced her nurse again, “you have done more than you know for me. Not only have you provided me with the most wonderful news pertaining my freedom but you have put me at ease knowing my mother did not suffer the pain of not knowing what was happening. You are a true angel madame I am indebted to you!”

“Oh my dear,” Maria said as she too began to cry, “you know you mean more to me than the world I see you as my own child and it breaks my heart to see you as I have. This was the least I could do and I only wish I could have told you about all of this sooner.”

“Madame, truly this is wonderful insight into the plan,” Matthew finally said as the two women sat and cried together, “I thank you for allowing me to have such information.”

“Oh monsieur, I had already began to draft a letter to you this morning to tell you of all this to aid you in the easy flight of Gabriella. I knew that it would benefit your cause more than any others,” she said and, through her tears, smiled up at him.

“I should leave,” he said quickly, “but I will return in one hour with a draft of a letter to your brother.”

“I will return then as well with my letter,” Maria said as she let Gabriella sit alone on her bed, “Will you be alright by yourself for that time Gabriella?”

“Yes,” She said softly, “I would like a moment alone to morn and pray. I look forward to your return, both of you. You have both brought great peace to my mind in this my darkest hour.”