Christine's Dressingroom

The door to Christine Daa�'s dressing room was flung open and a flustered young woman entered, throwing her music score onto her bed. Christine sank down onto her dressing stool and fought back the hot tears that seemed determined to streak her face.

"Oh, she is so cruel! That hateful...spiteful..!"

She stopped and shook her head angrily, covered her face in her hands and wept for a long moment. The loneliness and anger seemed to sweep over her, so much so it seemed she might drown in it. The words that La Carlotta had said to her seemed to echo in Christine's head, continuing to taunt and mock her even now.

"It can't be as she said! I don't sound like a limp sparrow or tremble like a leaf! And I didn't mean to step on her precious toes..."

She spat that words as if someone were actually listening to her.

It was only her first week at the Opera Populaire and things were going horribly wrong. It was nothing like Papa had said! The other girls snickered and giggled behind her back, Carlotta seemed to delight in directing all her evil remarks at the new chorus girl, and Christine seemed hopelessly lost in all the dance steps!

"Oh, Papa!" she cried, resting her head on her dressing table, the anger giving way to sorrow. "It's not at all like you promised! You promised me an Angel of Music! You told me I could sing, that I had talent!"

Christine had never before doubted her Papa. But now? Everything he had told her seemed to be a lie! The fact that she was doubting her beloved Papa crushed her spirit.

She had sung in the empty auditorium with only Meg for audience only a few days ago. Christine had sung with all the desperation the few days at the Opera had given her. Her song was half prayer, half pleading for Papa's unfulfilled promises to become true, for the Angel to come...

And now? There was nothing. Her prayers had gone unanswered and even though Meg had insisted that Christine had a nice voice, she had difficulty believing that at all now.

"Oh, Papa. You promised me! I hate it here! I wish I was with you...with the Angel in heaven!"

She bit her lip, stopping the loud sobs that longed to escape.

I had seen her, only a few days ago, singing late at night on the stage. A dare from little Giry.

**"Sing for the Ghost! Everyone does! Christine, do it!!"**

It was a night like any other, I was restless, simply looking through my Opera house, checking the hidden doorways, the traps. I nearly decided to leave and go out onto the streets when I heard Meg. I had yet to hear her dare anyone that actually COULD truly sing! But then? The world seemed to tilt on it's axis, everything changed and nothing would ever be the same for me again!

She sang!

The voice? How can I begin to describe the first time I heard Christine Daae'? Entrancing seems such a small word. It was beautiful and terrible at the same time. She had the range. Her voice was sweet, high, crystalline!

Yet? There was also a richness to it that told me she could learn to give more power to it. It was a voice I had imagined existed, yet only now did I know it truly did!

**What I could do with such a voice! If only I could teach her!**

But it was terrible! There was a sadness, a lack of life, as if she sang in chains or were near death. She did not care for singing. Or so it seemed.

**I cannot bear to hear such again!**

That was the only thought that drew me to the edge of Box five. I must see this girl so that I could avoid such horrible misuse of such a gift!

One sight left me a shaken man! For I knew her face! I drew away from it, shaking, barely able to stop myself from screaming. My hands became claws and I scratched at the button that would trigger the hidden door and lead me home!

A heart-shaped face, high cheekbones, deeply blue eyes, wide and innocent but framed with long sweeping soot-black lashes. Her lips were full and she held them slightly parted, a small pout to them..

**..an angel about to cry. **

That face was framed by long, wavy raven hair that I guessed would fall to her hips when it was all down. All I could do was draw my hand over my eyes and try to shut the sight away!

And it was all I had done for the last two days. I did not eat, I did not sleep. I barely moved from where I sat. I sat and shook and remembered her face, remembered her voice! For in just those few moments? I had fallen in love with her!

Now? All I wanted was to go and look on her!

**You shouldn't! You know it can only end badly!**

But I could! And I could not stop myself! It took nothing to find out what room was hers. It took only prank from me to rid the room I wanted Christine in emptied and have her placed in the "haunted" room.

The opening of the door brought me out of my thoughts. Christine!

"Oh, she is so cruel! That hateful...spiteful..!"

The "she" could only be Carlotta! Truly a diva that even I could despise!

Her talent? She was loud and knew how to tell the managers what they wanted to here.

Christine cried for what seemed forever. I could do nothing but watch. Never had I been so helpless. Finally, she looked up, tears drying in tracks down her cheeks.

"It can't be as she said! I don't sound like a limp sparrow or tremble like a leaf! And I didn't mean to step on her precious toes..."

She stepped on her toes? I wish I had seen that! I might have to begin going to rehearsals again.

She lay her head on her dressing table.

"Oh, Papa! It's not at all like you promised! You promised me an Angel of Music! You told me I could sing, that I had talent!"

**She does have talent! Does she truly not know?**

"Oh, Papa. You promised me! I hate it here! I wish I was with you...with the Angel in heaven!"

**She hates it? She wishes she were dead? What if she leaves? **

One thought came to me: I can't let her leave! Quickly it was followed by another thought: I can teach her!

**But how?**

I have been many things in my life; magician, healer, architect, assassin...perhaps I could add Angel of Music to that? I knew I could teach her. Maybe if I taught her, maybe she would learn to see me and not simply what she might behold with her eyes? If I could be near her, have her care for me, it would be enough!

No other thought entered my mind as I let my voice rise slowly and move through the mirror. A softly wild Gypsy melody came from my lips. The air trembled with the touch of my voice, as if it were a lover that I caressed!

It seemed as if even the glass shimmered with the touch of my voice! The song enveloped Christine, wrapped her within it...

Christine wept for what seemed like hours! Her hot tears streaked her face, falling to the wood of her dresser on which her head lay. What pained her perhaps the most of all was that no one seemed to hear her weepings. Surely not Papa, for he would have made good on his promise by now. Not the Angel, for she was still without his guidance...

Just when she had nearly exhausted herself from weeping, a new sound rose to her ears. She quieted her sobs, sniffed back the tears as she tried to listen. It was singing...soft, gentle. She thought then of the ghost, of which she had heard many tales of in her few day at the opera. No ghost could sing like this, though! It was...beautiful! It was quite usual to hear singing in an Opera house, of course. But this...this was not coming from any other room! It seemed to be...where?

Christine raised her head, looked around her room. It seemed to be every where and no where at the same time! As if it were enfolding her, filling her mind with its heavenly melody! It was surely the most beautiful voice she had ever heard; the air seemed to tremble with it! No human could possibly sing like that!

Christine gasped at what her mind finally realized then. Of course! It had to be, Papa had finally heard her prayers!

Christine rose then, her tears of sorrow replaced now with tears of joy and disbelief! She knelt reverantly in the middle of her room, still not knowing where the voice came from. She let the music wash over her, would wait for his command, his first word of greeting.

Her small heart seemed to hardly know how to contain its joy!

My song filled the room, wrapped about her and seemed as if it would fill even more of the Opera! Until I finished it and looked at her. She was kneeling in the center of her room..

"Child, I am here."

Those words seemed so simple, yet? I had not truly known to say to her.

She seemed to look at me, to follow my voice until she found the great mirror upon her wall.

*She has no idea of what this mirror is.*

"Yes, I am here. I sing to you from behind the mirror. Did your Papa not promise you the Angel of Music? I am here to keep his promise. "

She must think it odd, for me to be here now.

"You believed I would appear the day he died? You must know I could not do so. I had to see if you truly believed."

I stepped closer to the edge of the glass. So very little separated us now.

"I see that you remember your Papa's promise. That you do, truly, honestly believe. "

Still, I let my voice fold her within it. Let it wrap her about and soothe her. I let my eyes move to hers behind the glass.

"I am your Angel of Music. Your Papa never lied to you. We have.. much work ahead of us, Christine Daae'."

And even saying her name felt good!

"You do still wish to stay here?"

I let the question hang in the stillness.

Could it really be the Angel? Perhaps she had imagined him; dreamed him up out of desperation and tears! But then he spoke!

"Child, I am here."

The voice seemed to resound within her chest, filling her with certainty and awe. Her eyes roamed the room, wondering where to rest, what to adore and focus on. The mirror...the large mirror against the wall by her dressing table. His very presence seemed to eminate from it! How strange!

"Yes, I am here. I sing to you from behind the mirror. Did your Papa not promise you the Angel of Music? I am here to keep his promise. "

More tears of joy streaked Christine's face as the words graced her ears. She had not dreamed it up, afterall! The promise had at last been fulfilled. She bowed her head in disbelief and graditude.

His voice was beautiful! It truly could only come from heaven!

"I see that you remember your Papa's promise. That you do, truly, honestly believe. "

Christine nodded, her eyes closed in a silent prayer of thanksgiving. Yes, she believed. Yet, she had come so close to giving up that last thread of hope...to thinking that there was no Angel!

"I am your Angel of Music. Your Papa never lied to you. We have.. much work ahead of us, Christine Daae'."

Christine looked up with shining eyes. It was true! How her heart throbbed with thankfullness and joy! And he had said her name and she thought it the most lovely thing she had ever heard.

"You do still wish to stay here?"

He wanted her to speak. Her heart froze for a moment. What does one say to an Angel? Could she find the words amidst her surprise and utter joy?

"I do wish to stay, Angel. Now that you are here."

He must have heard her weeping earlier, her wish for death. Now, she felt renewed, alive!

"I thank you for coming to me," she said humbly. "I will do whatever is asked of me."

Should she say more? No, perhaps it was best to let him speak!

Her head nodded at my words, soft waves danced and brushed her face. It seemed amazing, yet? She truly did believe that I was this Angel of Music!

More? She wept, but not the sad tears of despair that I had seen earlier. No, these seemed tears of joy! I cannot remember the last time any wept tears of joy at meeting me. Usually? There were tears and begging for their wretched and pathetic lives! Yet? I found myself oddly moved to see such, a feeling of protectiveness and tenderness that I had never known swept through me.

No words could ever explain how she made me feel. And with just the sight and sound of her!

**Poor child! Would you weep so joyously if you knew what your angel truly is?**

"You do still wish to stay here?"

I had to ask her. I feared she would leave, do herself harm. There would be no reason for me to wish to exist if she did not.

**How many times have I heard others express such thoughts? And laughed at their idiocy? To merely have met and feel so....and we have not, not truly, even met. You are a fool, Erik!**

"I do wish to stay, Angel. Now that you are here. I thank you for coming to me, I will do whatever is asked of me." I drew closer, became a dark shadow within the depths of the mirror.

"Wish no more for my brother Azrael. He is quite busy enough as it is. And you have much to give before you meet him. "

I paused.

**Was that angelic and yet fatherly enough?**

"I was sent to teach you. Your Papa says you will study and practice hard. He spoke highly of you. You seemed most deserving in his words. Now child, it will be you that gives his words truth or lies. "

Even tearful, even pink and flushed, her face was still the loveliest I have ever beheld. The Khan had never had a more beautiful bride or concubine. He had never beheld such a wonder as what stood before me. Such innocence in her eyes! Such sweetness in her voice! I could easily span her waist with my two hands together, so delicately was she made...

"Tonight? You are upset. I can see that. Worry no more of Carlotta. I will see to her. Rest. Sleep as if your Papa were here. Clean your face and lie down. I will sing you into a dream. And you will wake with no worries. Tomorrow night, after rehearsal, when all have gone? We will begin."

With that? I stood still, waiting for her to do as I had said.

"Wish no more for my brother Azrael. He is quite busy enough as it is. And you have much to give before you meet him. "

Christine nodded and found that she even smiled a bit. Perhaps things wouldn't be as bad now! No, surely not! The Angel was here to guide her. Things would change!

Christine felt the tears again prick at her eyes. Her Papa had sent the Angel and spoke to him of her. It was almost like hearing her father's voice again.

"Papa...you spoke with Papa..." she could hardly believe it. "My Papa does not lie. I will make him proud and study hard under your guidence."

She could not let her Papa down. And would not miss this opportunity after she had been so close to giving up...

Christine stood at last, moving to obey the Angel. She half wished they could start tonight, but he was right. She was exhausted and upset, and likely far too flustered to sing properly.

"Thank you, Angel. I will be here."

With that, she quickly moved to a basin and washed the tears from her face. Then, she lay down on her small bed, faced the mirror. It had been so very long since she had had a good sleep. That had been before Papa died. Could the Angel truly sing her to one now? She certainly hoped so. She was tired of crying herself to sleep...

"Thank you, Angel. Thank you so much for coming to me..."

She smiled wearily yet gratefully at the mirror.

"I am ready."

Ready for her first restful night's sleep. Ready for whatever lay ahead for her now.

"Papa...you spoke with Papa..." she could hardly believe it. "My Papa does not lie. I will make him proud and study hard under your guidance."

She did seem quite impressed with that part of my words. I did not know all of her tale, but I was sure that I would hear more of it. Besides, I could ask Mame Giry for what else

I needed to know.

I spoke further to her, telling her to rest tonight, that we could begin tomorrow night. Surely an Angel should show fatherly concern for his new pupil?

**This is new to me too. But she believes me. If I can just be near her? It will be enough.**

"Thank you, Angel. I will be here."

I watched her wash her tears away, saw her lie down on the small bed within the room. Then?

She smiled at the mirror, at the voice within the mirror, at me. I could learn to enjoy her smile quite easily.

**You are making a mistake to reveal yourself. Surely you know that? Mame Giry has been your friend, ever since you helped her when her husband died. **

It had been hard on her, a former dancer with an injury that had ended her dreams. The man she loved? Dead and with a small daughter dependent on her? I had seen to it that those managers had hired her and offered her a small flat as part of her job. There had been other managers since them, but? Mame Giry did her job well and Meg was promising as a dancer.

"I am ready."

My mind wandered back to the present. If I made a mistake? Well, it was my mistake to make!

With that thought, I looked at the calm, sleepy woman that smiled toward me and I began to sing softly.

Nothing overwhelming, a very simple, very soothing Gypsy lullaby. I let it waft out and wove into it images of days of play, of laughter and warm green fields. And she was safe, as safe as if I were truly an angel and held her folded to me!

It was a gift I had, that I could weave a song so well that you might well imagine yourself to be where I sent you. My songs

Carried feeling within them and for tonight? I let her fall asleep after a long day, sent her asleep against her Papa on a pile of newly mown hay, still warm and sweet.

"Papa...you spoke with Papa..." she could hardly believe it. "My Papa does not lie. I will make him proud and study hard under your guidance."

She did seem quite impressed with that part of my words. I did not know all of her tale, but I was sure that I would hear more of it. Besides, I could ask Mame Giry for what else I needed to know.

I spoke further to her, telling her to rest tonight, that we could begin tomorrow night. Surely an Angel should show fatherly concern for his new pupil?

**This is new to me too. But she believes me. If I can just be near her? It will be enough.**

"Thank you, Angel. I will be here."

I watched her wash her tears away, saw her lie down on the small bed within the room. Then?

She smiled at the mirror, at the voice within the mirror, at me. I could learn to enjoy her smile quite easily.

**You are making a mistake to reveal yourself. Surely you know that? Mame Giry has been your friend, ever since you helped her when her husband died. **

"I am ready."

My mind wandered back to the present. If I made a mistake? Well, it was my mistake to make!

With that thought, I looked at the calm, sleepy woman that smiled toward me and I began to sing softly.

It was a gift I had, that I could weave a song so well that you might well imagine yourself to be where I sent you. My songs Carried feeling within them and for tonight? I let her fall asleep after a long day, sent her asleep against her Papa on a pile of newly mown hay, still warm and sweet.