An Opera in Chaos

Chapter 3

     On the way down to where the Phantom resided, Christine couldn't help but study him a bit more. Under all the black he wore, he seemed to be in pretty good shape. He reminded her of the Spartan warriors in the days of Ancient Greece. Maybe he was of Grecian descent, his ancestors having marched to war to defend their beloved city.

He kept looking back at her, as if making sure she was still there. Every time he did, she would look at his features, or at least the ones not covered by the mask. He had beautiful golden eyes, she noticed. She could just drown herself in them.

Get a hold of yourself, Daae! She berated herself once more. She shook her head slightly and focused on the tunnel stretching for what seemed like miles. Once they reached the end, she noticed it came out into a great lake, a boat moored on the shore. The Phantom helped her inside the boat, then hopped in himself and started rowing.

They came upon a portcullis, blocking the way for them to continue along the lake. Once they slightly rammed into it, the Phantom went to the front of the boat and pulled a big key ring from his cape. There had to have been fifty keys on the key ring, and he tried each and every key on that portcullis. Finally, with the last key, the portcullis opened, revealing his lair.

He looked back at Christine, a look of embarrassment on his face. "I always forget which one it is." He explained.

When the portcullis finally opened, Christine instantly recognized that this man was a man of the arts...and weaponry, it seemed. Spears, swords, heavy-looking shields, among other dangerous-looking weapons hung in one half the lair, while the other half consisted of a pipe organ, scattered sheet music, and multiple miniature sculptures and drawings.

Drawings of her.

Drawings of her...as a warrior princess?

In her shock, she did not see that the Phantom had gotten out of the boat and secured it to the shore. "I have brought you down here for two reasons," he stated, shaking Christine out of her stupor. "The first reason is to formally apologize. I realize that I have been lying to you about my true identity, and for that, I would like to remedy. I, mon cherie, am the Phantom of the Opera. My real name, however is Erik. You may call me whatever you wish, as everyone else already does."

"But why would you lie to me about who you truly were?"

He sighed. "I was afraid that you would not accept my help. I knew that if I came to you as your Angel of Music, you wouldn't run away."

Christine got out of the boat and walked towards Erik while still holding a respectable distance between them. "Well, I thank you for your teaching and guidance throughout the years. For that, I am truly grateful. I accept your apology."

Erik let out a sigh of relief and bowed his head. "Thank you. Now, onto the second reason. I also brought you down here to-"

"Let me guess," Christine interrupted. "You're going to profess your undying love for me and ask me to marry you."

Erik's face adapted a strange look. "I was actually going to offer you a different type of lesson."

"Oh? And what would these lessons consist of?"

"Teaching you how to fight." was his simple answer.

Christine stumbled in her shock. "Pardon?"

Erik chuckled at her reaction. "I am proposing, yes, but not marriage. Living in an opera house does not prepare you for the real world of violence and cruelty, Christine. You need to learn how to defend yourself, your honor, like any warrior knows how. And who better to teach you than someone who has already been teaching you for years?"

She eyed her teacher. "Why bring this up now?"

"I saw how the Vicomte was looking at you and treating you. Forgive me for believing that you may need these skills in the near future."

Christine thought for a minute. Surely there would be no harm in me learning how to defend myself. "Alright, I accept your offer. When shall we start?"