A Phantom Christmas Carol - *Phantom of the Opera*

Chapter Thirteen

A/N: One more chapter to go after this! :) - Not sure I'll be able to post next weekend, due to Thanksgiving holidays. Will be pretty busy with family- however I'll get the last chapter up first week in December. :) Also, since there is only one video story clip left, so as not to give anything major away (though the endings to written and video are different - lol) this time, for the video, I'm only posting my trailer to the story for this chapter - I couldn't do that with Chapter one, because then it would have been completely off and not matched at all to written - so this is a good time to do it. :) for video: clips from - Phantom of the Opera (2004) & Scrooge (1951 & 1970 versions) song: Ebla- E.S.Posthumus  ... and now...

We Can't Go Back There

XIII

The opening night of Il Muto arrived amid the usual fanfare. More than once, the Phantom felt tempted to intervene, unable to bear the mental image of La Carlotta baying in the role that should be Christine's to perform with her inborn grace and finesse. And it would become her role if his new strategy succeeded. However, to ensure its outcome, he must keep his wits about him, heeding the managers' proviso not to interfere. As much as it galled him weeks before, he now thanked Providence that he dwelled far enough below the theater so as not to subject himself to hear the soon-to-be retired diva murder all arias of the production.

It proved to be a long night, and the following morning could not break soon enough.

The Phantom arrived early in Box 5, a quarter hour before the scheduled meeting, and retreated to his shadowed corner, to be heard but unseen. The managers, once they arrived, seemed uneasy in his presence.  Andre fidgeted and continually cleared his throat. Firmin's eyes drifted often to the white half mask, which surely must appear to float in the dark alcove. He could almost take pity on the two buffoons, though not to the degree to step out from the shadows and absolve the mysterious persona he'd worked so hard to construct.

As the meeting progressed, both men seemed to forget they consorted with the fearsome Opera Ghost and relaxed, warming to his opus. They expressed delight in snippets from compositions he performed on his violin, overall deeming his fanciful tale as masterful, in the same caste as Liszt and Mozart.

Once he snared their avid interest, he spent the remainder of the time lauding Christine and stipulating that he'd written his operas with her in mind as the lead, also speaking of future plans with regard to her. He stressed that he had rigorously trained her for three years and had never known such rare talent, her voice, one of pure flawlessness eclipsing perfection. He assured them that only she could perform his work with any degree of excellence for the production not only to succeed but to surpass anything the Opera Populaire had performed. He reminded them of her youth, of her charm and beauty, praising her success in Hannibal, also recounting to them the explosive audience reaction to the up and coming diva-starlet. The managers eagerly agreed, and the Phantom received their promise of fulfillment for his every aspiration concerning Christine's profession.

He terminated the meeting and stood. The two managers followed suit, instinctively offering their hands toward the shadows to seal the pact of truce. To Erik, a strange new formality that unsettled him almost as much as it did the managers, whose evident return to anxiety manifested in their hesitation to take hold of his black glove he thrust their way. Eventually they did clasp it in trembling, swift handshakes and hastily departed. He could not help but sense their apprehension to linger with the infamous O.G. now that business had concluded, and preferred it that way. Once he felt assured he was again alone and would not be spotted, he swept from the box. To his irritation, Madame Giry stepped from a nearby alcove.

"I am pleased all went as you desired it, Maestro, and they received your operas with enthusiasm." Her features remained rigid, disapproving, at complete odds with her praise. "However, I failed to realize your intent regarding the continuation of Christine's vocal training. Have you considered the matter, and how she will feel once she hears -"