Erik and Christine: Loves Secret (A Phantom of the Opera Story)

Chapter 15

At the mansion, Christine is getting ready for the engagement party. After she finished touching up her dress, she leaves her bedroom and looks around the entire hallway. Noticing the beautiful decorations and flowers put up for the party. As she looks around, she begins to think for herself. "I guess that's everything. I have everything that will be perfect for the party." She turns and notices a bouquet of roses and sighs. "But my heart doesn't feel right. I'm still upset to what I said and did to Erik this afternoon. I mean I never would have ever thought to hurt him. He's my Angel of Music. He...," she thought as she touched the roses up. However, she stops when she thought about his name. "Wait a minute...his name. I've heard that name before."

She turns and looks down at the ground. Realizing that she has heard that name before. But not when he told her that afternoon. "Oh my God!" she said softly. She reflected the dream that she had of him.

"Erik, I love you."

Christine backs away quickly and breathes rapidly as she is shocked to remember that dream. "His name...it was in my dreams. Oh, I feel twice as stupid to have hurt him like that!" she thought to herself. She looks down the window and notices that no one has arrived. Christine quickly grabs her dress and heads towards the front door. A few seconds later, she makes it to the grand staircase and quickly goes down. "I have to find him and apologize to him right..." Christine thought to herself until suddenly Raoul pops up in front of her and stops her.

"Ah! There you are!" Raoul said happily. Christine stares at Raoul; nervous at what to say and do. "Ye...Ye...Yes." She stuttered. Raoul leans closer to her and takes his hand to touch her cheek lightly. "What's wrong? Are you nervous?" he asked.

"Just a little," Christine lied.

"Don't be. Everyone you and I know is coming. Your Uncle Gabriel and you cousin Charlotte along with her fiancé Alexander are going to be here. Madame Giry and Meg will be here too. And my father will love seeing you again and will love to call you his daughter-in-law," Raoul implied. Christine gives him a small smile. "I promise you're going to be fine. Ok?" he asked. Christine glances down the ground then back up to give him a bigger smile. "Ok," she said.

A few minutes later, guests arrive, and the party begins. Friends and family from far and wide enter the mansion. Some eat and drink, some dance or chat amongst themselves. In the hallway, Meg and Madame Giry walk around and are astounded by the decorations. "What a beautiful engagement party doesn't you think such a mother?" Meg asked.

"Indeed Meg," her mother replied.

At another side of the house, Christine's uncle, Charlotte, and Alexander are in the ballroom watching people dancing. "This is quite the party! Raoul sure does know how to throw a party," Gabriel said as he raises his glass and a big smile on his face. Alex and Charlotte smile and turn to each other as they giggle at her father. "Remember just a few weeks ago how big our party was?" Alex asked Charlotte as he takes a sip from his glass.

"Yes. I'm happy that you made it special. Just like this one will be," Charlotte replied as she leans over to kiss him on the cheek. Alex smiles but raises his arm as he notices something interesting on the ballroom floor. "Look! Everyone's dancing," he said with excitement.

Alex, Charlotte, and Gabriel walk towards a spot where they could stand and watch those who are dancing. As people are dancing, they are using their fans or masks to express how they feel. One minute later, the musicians stopped playing, and everyone applauded. Charlotte, Alex, and Gabriel smile at each other and applause as well. "They looked great," Charlotte implied.

"Yes, but I think we would be better," Alex insisted.

A servant walks forward and raises his hand to get everyone's attention. "Ladies and gentlemen. The ViCompt and Miss Daae," he shouted. He raised his arm higher and moved over so they could come out. "Here we go," Raoul said whispered. Christine glances away as she is slightly nervous but looks back again as they enter the room from the top of the stairs. Everyone applauds and cheers for the happy couple. Alex, Charlotte, Gabriel, Madame Giry, and Meg all smile and clap for Christine as they notice that she is happy. Christine and Raoul look at each other and smile. Raoul takes one step forward and raises his arm. Everyone silently stops clapping.

"Thank you. We're so happy that you could all attend here tonight. I would like to present to you my lovely fiance, Christine Daae," Raoul said with contempt. Christine smiles and nods her head slightly. Everyone applauds once more. Raoul and Christine take a wine glass from one of the servants. "A toast to the future...ViComptess De Changy," Raoul said as he raises his arm high. Christine glances down for a moment as she is slightly unsure what to think and doesn't know if she is ready to be his wife just yet. Alex, Gabriel, and Charlotte notice and are shocked, nervous, and are upset that something is bothering Christine.

"Uh-oh. That face doesn't look excited," Gabriel whispered to Charlotte and Gabriel. Raoul turns back to Christine, and she gives him a quick and fake smile. Charlotte turns to Alex and says softly, "Alex, something's wrong."

Gabriel sighs softly, as he realizes that Christine may not love Raoul after all. In his mind, he said, "Oh Christine." Raoul, Christine, and their guests drink their wine glasses as a toast. After the toast, Raoul and Christine put their wine glasses back on the tray. "Let the party continue," Raoul exclaimed. Everyone applauded once more. Christine takes Raoul's arm, and they walk down the stairs. As they walk down the music plays once more, and people begin to dance. Once Christine and Raoul make it down the stairs, Raoul takes Christine's hand, and her waist and they start to dance.

As they dance, this makes Charlotte confused and concerned about her cousin's well being. "Father, something's wrong," Charlotte said.

"I know, and I'm afraid that I might know what it is," Gabriel responded. Charlotte and Alex turn to him as they are confused to what he meant by that. Gabriel also realizes that his statement caught him right in the middle of a secret that he wasn't supposed to tell. "What?" Charlotte asked. Gabriel turns to Alex and Charlotte and sighs. "Father...Father, what's going on?" Charlotte asked once more.

The music grows, and everyone continues to dance.