The Phantom of the Opera: Phantom's Apprentice (Complete)

Chapter 4

Having had passed out after lying on her bed, Christia awoke to silence. The air in the home was still and she could plainly tell by this that she was alone.

"It usually is not this quiet," thinking to herself, rising from her bed and quickly walking towards the barrier. Looking around, she noticed that her master was gone and nowhere to be seen. It was not rare that he would leave around this hour, but also was not common. Walking towards the organ, Christia placed her fingers on the keys. "He has not played all day." She could usually tell when he played because the keys would be warm from his fingers pressing on the keys. This time they were cold and there was a very thin layer of dust that showed up on her finger. A piece of music was on the stand but it was written over and you could barely read it unless you squinted.

Looking down to the other side of the home, Christia spotted her master's desk. It was covered in papers. Going towards it, she knew that it would be wrong to go through her master's things, but one peek would not hurt. Once she approached the table, she saw that there were only letters and to Madam Giry or to other places where she would go and pick up supplies.

"I seriously thought there would be something a little more interesting here," Christia spoke with a sigh. In the corner of her eye, she spotted the bookshelf which held many music books and novels that she would read in her spare time. With great interest, she walked towards it. "I should practice a little with the organ." Without even one thought, she grabbed for the first music book she could get her hands on. With some struggle, she managed to get the book out but another thin book had fallen off the shelf in the process. "Oh dear, I had better straighten this up before my master returns." With great haste, she grabbed the fallen book, but then noticed something had fallen out of it. It looked like a small photo. Picking it up, Christia closely examined it. It was a picture of a woman on the stage. She was dressed in white and had long brown hair like hers. "She is lovely. Why would master hide this?" Picking up the small book, she opened it and placed the picture back into the bindings, but before closing it, she noticed that there was sheet music in it.

It was scribbled in a couple places but was well written as well. Christia puzzled over the music, flipping through each page. After a moment, she glanced at the title.

"Don Juan Triumphant", she read aloud to herself. The name was unique and the words to some of the songs she had flipped through were strange but fascinating to her. "I wonder." Without a moment of hesitation, she made her way to the organ. Opening the music to one of the songs, she previewed the first notes and placed her fingers onto the keys. "Remember Christia, wrists up," her master would always say when she would practice on the organ. Taking a deep breath, she began to play, creating a sound that could be heard down the passageway.

"Past the point of no return," she began to sing, with a voice that boomed through the home. She became lost in the song and the only thing she did hear was the song itself playing. Her heart raced as the music progressed. She was almost crying. Why would her master keep music this wonderful hidden? This is music that should be heard by everyone. "Our games of make believe are at an end." She continued to the end of the verse, where she soon had forgotten time and could only hear the music she made. "We've past the point of no return."

She ceased playing. Lifting her fingers from the keys, she sat in silence. The song had reached her soul. Each and every note she had played, tore her heart to pieces. Tears still streamed from her face, bit by bit.

"Christia!" A voice boomed from behind her. Turning around, she realized that she was so in tuned with the music that she did not hear her master return. He had the look of concern on his face. "What did I hear you singing?" This was tone that was rare to Christia's ears. If he had heard her singing, he would usually say what needed to be worked on, but this time was different. "Tell me!"

"I found it. I was only looking for some music to practice and a small book fell off the shelf and I got curious." Christia sputtered out; in fear her master would be disappointed in her. "I was going to put it back, but..."

"You should have left it!" Her master shouted angrily. Rushing to the organ, he grabbed the music and turned towards his apprentice with a face that could scare away a tiger. "How many times have I said about going through my private music?" Christia did not answer. She was so frightened, that she had fallen onto the piano seat. "I do so much for you and this is the thanks I get! I took you in when you were six and raised you! Took you as my own and you repay me by going through something that should never be looked at again!"

"I'm sorry master! I did not know!" Christia responded back, now almost crying. "Please forgive me!" She begged. Her master shook his head and walked to the shelf with the book and placed it up on the top shelf where he knew Christia would not be able to reach it. He stayed silent and sat at his desk.

Christia's tears began to fall even more as she stood back up and began to walk towards the barrier into her room. Her master sat in silence with his head in his hands. Breathing heavily, he soon started to shed a tear or two.

"Why did I do that?" He thought to himself. "I should not have yelled at her like that." Lifting his mask to rub a tear off his face, he again thought to himself, "She sounded just like her. Just like Christine. Like the night I never want to remember again." Thinking this thought, he turned around and saw that Christia was gone.