The Phantom of the Opera

Chapter 1: Professor Valerius and Daddy Daaé

(Christine Daaé's POV)

The eyes of the rich and powerful stared fixedly at me, occasionally at my father, but mostly at me; they were judging, negligent.

I promptly made obeisance, wobbling on my weak, pale ankles, hoping to impress my cruel audience. The small clapping crowd was a raging thunderstorm to my ears. A flash of smile spread across my burning cheeks as the dark cloud of fear lifted from my shoulders.

Daddy ended his deep bow with a flourish as the audience wandered away to other tents to watch with glazed eyes at the performers. He praised me with one shining proud glance before twirling me in the air, my pink skirts flying. I giggled blissfully.

"You were wonderful, angel! What did I tell you, hm? Your nerves weren't a problem at all! They loved you! I'm very proud," he said with the pleasing smile he often showed me.

The whole crowd has dispersed except for one man. Daddy hadn't noticed him and began packing away his precious violin.

The man was aged. He had expensive dress clothes and a receding white hairline on his scalp which was hardly visible due to the hat covering it. His scruffy beard could not hide his naturally rosy cheeks underneath. I was instantly fascinated by his deep, hypnotizingly blue eyes.

The stranger stepped forward and bowed to me, taking my hand and kissing it. "M'lady," he said with a wink. I smiled, a small flutter of
laughter trapped in my throat.

Daddy turned around, violin case in hand. "Hello, sir. I did not know you were here. I thought everyone had departed," he said in his polite voice he adopted around strangers.

The man smiled. "Ah, but I wanted to meet the stars of the show!" he said, his voice coarse like the bark of an ancient tree. He sounded odd; I could easily tell he was not a native of Sweden.

"Excuse me, I did not introduce myself! I am Professor Pierre Valerius, just traveling in from Brittany on personal business, but I thought I would test myself to this fair while I have free time," Professor Valerius quickly said. Daddy smiled at this man's flustered enthusiasm.

"Yes, yes, of course. I am Herr Charles Daaé, or Monsieur as you would say, and this is my daughter Christine." He gestured to me when he spoke my name. I simpered coyly and thrust out my hand in a burst of confidence.

Professor Valerius crouched down to my shorter level and squeezed my hand gently. "You have the makings of a great artist, Christine. I am very impressed."

My cheeks flushed pink and I impulsively stared down at my small booted feet. Professor Valerius smiled kindly. "And how old are you?"

"Six," I uttered.

"Six?" He exclaimed.

"Six. It is her first performance, Monsieur," Daddy crooned with a flowing smile.

The professor jumped up, astonished. "You don't say! How long have you played the violin?"

"I have been playing for twenty years, since I was twelve. I moved here from a distant town five months ago."

Professor Valerius was intrigued and Daddy continued.

"I played at weddings and fairs there, but I only perform at fairs here in Uppsala. It's delightful, though. Limby Fair has a pleasant demeanor."

Daddy and Professor Valerius' conversation advanced. Within a few minutes, I lost interest. The tune we played reentered my mind and repeated over and over in my head; the tune Daddy created by setting my favorite Scandinavian story to music.

Angel of music,
Guid and guardian,
Grant to me your glory!
Angel of music,
Hide no longer!
Come to me, strange Angel!
Long you've been deep in the shadows,
Hiding from my loving gaze
I hear your voice in the darkness,
And my soul obeys!