Between Mirrors and Roses (A Phantom of the Opera Fanfiction) ✓

22: Plots and Anticipation

Raoul had been standing outside the opera house, thinking about Christine, when he spotted her walking with a cloaked figure. They emerged from a side street near the entrance and walked together a few blocks before hailing a carriage. The man helped her inside, his hand lingering on hers, then followed in after her.

Raoul made a split second decision and ran to the opera house stables to grab his horse. He charged down the road then pulled to a stop, seeing a homeless man sitting near where the carriage had picked the couple up.

"The man in black and the woman," he demanded. "Did you hear where they were going?"

"Aye, sir," he replied. "The graveyard. Spare a coin?"

But Raoul was already gone, spurring his horse down the cobbled street.

He had to get to her in time. He hadn't even seen the man's face, but his whole demeanor implied danger. This was most certainly the man who'd attacked Raoul that night on the opera house roof; now Raoul would learn who he was and how he was manipulating Christine.

He deduced as soon as he arrived that the man was none other than Christine's so-called Angel of Music: the Phantom who had tormented the opera house for over a year. Well, Raoul would show him whose opera house it was and whose girl stood longingly before him.

Raoul tried to attack the Phantom, but Christine was still under his spell and held Raoul back. The Phantom slipped through Raoul's fingers and vanished.

Christine would say nothing useful, and Raoul was becoming increasingly frustrated with her. He was only trying to help her! Hadn't she seen the Phantom the night of the masquerade threatening everyone?

This man was getting too cocky for Raoul's liking. He had to be stopped.

After Christine left, Raoul headed straight for the managers' office and pounded on the door. It opened after only a few knocks.

M. Firmin was surprised to see the young Vicomte panting in front of him. "M. De Changy," he said. "Please come in. To what do we owe the pleasure?"

"Thank you," Raoul replied, shouldering his way into the room and startling Andre as well. "I have come to talk to you about the Phantom of the Opera."

The two managers exchanged worried glances. What had gotten into the young patron that he was suddenly so enraged?

"What else has he done?" Andre asked.

"No killings or anything of that sort," Raoul assured them, "but I now have definitive proof that he favors Mlle Daae. I saw him performing some sort of hypnosis on her."

They were shocked at this new piece of information. Firmin offered Raoul a seat, which he took, and the managers both came to stand before him.

Raoul continued. "Christine is a victim; she has no idea what she does. But we might be able to use this circumstance to rid ourselves of the Phantom once and for all."

"Yes, yes," Andre said. "Splendid idea. We will do anything to eliminate this nuisance."

"He has wielded his power here long enough!" agreed Firmin.

Raoul leaned toward them and described his plan. "We'll perform his opera as planned," he said. "Do everything to look like we're following his orders explicitly. Then, when Miss Daae sings, he will be sure to be watching her."

The managers' faces transformed from shock to greedy delight. "We will be sure the police are there!" Andre exclaimed.

"We will be sure they are armed," said Raoul. The Phantom's reign would come to a bloody end if he had anything to say about it.