Little Opera Ghost

Mending Families

Madeline P.O.V
It took me a few days to locate the nearest church near my grandmother's given address. When I did find it I was astonished by the beauty of my surroundings, not only that but the organ and the choir were singing beautifully, it was so... Peaceful. A priest walked past me and I quickly decided this was the best time to ask someone,
"Excuse me? Father?"
I stuttered, I had never talked to a priest before, my Father had forbid it.
"Yes child? How may I help you?"
He seemed so calm, and his vioce was soft and light, "Do you know where I might find Father Mansart?" I asked shyly. The old man smiled at me, "My dear child, I believe you are already speaking with him," I gasped and Father Mansart laughed, so this was the man who named my father, this was the man who created helped Father's curiosity spiral. "Father Mansart, what a pleasure it is to meet you Monsieur," he took my hand and kissed it, "The pleasure is mine, mademoiselle....." My name! He still didn't know who I was!
"Madeline, Madeline Destler."
Father Mansart smile vanished, he looked at me with interest and confusion, "Madeline, I trust you have no relation to Erik Destler, do you?" I smiled, "My Father Monsieur, Erik is my Father."
Father Mansart did not movie, he just stared at me, as if he were trying to see my Father in me, "No!" he gasped when he at last saw what he was looking for! "This cannot be! So Erik found love after all!! Oh my child you do not know how much of a miracle you truly are." He said touching my face as if I were an adorable child being coddled by an aunt. 'Miracle?' I thought, I wasn't starting to like this man anymore, "Monsieur please, I am looking for Mademoiselle Perrault, do you know where she resides now?" he looked at me for a moment, as if he was trying to remember that name, then his eyes brightened, "Ah Marie! Yes my child I know where she stays, I will direct you to her if you wish," I nodded and expressed my thanks, he directed me to a house, telling me it was my Grandmother's house. "Thank you Monsieur, I am forever in your debt" I said to him kindly, he bowed his head in response and left me staring at the house. It was almost like I could see my Father as a child running around, or playing tricks. Taking a deep breath I walked to the door and knocked. I waited a moment before a woman came out, she was a plump, short woman, with chubby cheeks and a button nose, her white hair was pulled into a tight bun that reminded me of Madame Giry, She had not nearly as many wrinkles as I had imagined her to have. Mademoiselle Perrault had aged quite well, "Hello child, I'm sorry dear but I don't have any sweets for you," she said in a sweet voice, Marie started to shut the door but I put my foot in it, "Please Mademoiselle, My name is Madeline Destler, you used to help take care of my father Erik." Marie stood very still, "What did you say?" she asked barely above a whisper, "My father, I believe you knew him, he has told me many wonderful things about you," Marie took a deep shaky breath and looked confused, "Erik is your father? The Erik with the..." she pointed to her face and I nodded. Marie suddenly squealed making me jump out of my skin, "Oh I knew it I knew it!!! He was bound to find love some day! And now! Oh a child is too much to bear!!" Marie embraced me in a tight hug, which I gladly accepted. "Mademoiselle," I started but Marie cut me off, "Please Maddy dear call me Marie," Maddy? No one had ever called me that before, perhaps that is what she called my grandmother. "Marie," I started again, "I was wondering if my Grandmother told you anything about my Father, I'm trying to prove to him that not all people are horrible, I'm sure he just doesn't see the way others see," Marie ushered me in, "yes Maddy dear come along I have much to tell you," she led me into what looked like the living room and I sat down on a very comfortable chair, "now Maddy dear, what do you want to know?"
"Everything" I said immediately and so she began, she told me of my fathers childhood and how his Mother never showed him more affection then she needed to, some of the stories were heart breaking and made me want to hug my Father and tell him how much I loved him, though I knew that is not what would happen when we saw eachother again. Marie was in the middle of a quite amusing story of one of my Father's mistakes when she stopped abruptly. "Maddy dear, does your Father know your here?" My face fell, "Not exactly, he knows what I'm doing, but I told him after I already left," I said smiling sheepishly. Marie waggled her plump finger at me, "You naughty girl, I ought to put you over my knee for bringing me into this," I laughed nervously, not knowing if she would actually go through with that threat, "Marie," I asked changing the subject, "Did Grandmother ever love my Father," Marie's eyes turned sad, "Yes dear, she did. One night your Father was stabbed by the villiagers, he was twelve at the time. Your grandmother brought him to bed to take care of his wounds and that night she told me that she was going to burn the masks the very next day. I was thrilled, she had finally accepted him as a son and was willing to love him, but." She stopped for a moment and I leaned in, hanging onto every word, "That night he ran away, she woke the next morning to tell him the news but found his bed empty, he had ran away. He came a long while ago, only a few days after your grandmother died and when I told him that she would only speak of him, he asked me not to lie to him.. He didn't believe me." I looked down, drats, how would I bring him to believe me now, "is.. Is there anyway I could convince him? Did Grandmother ever write anything down?" Marie's face lit up! "Oh yes! I didn't even think of it! What a smart girl you are, just like your Father!" I blushed at the complement, for it was quite a great one, and Marie ran out of the room, I waited a moment looking around, before she ran back holding a little book. "Here you are Maddy dear, be sure not to read it, only let your Father read it," She handed me the book, it was brown with the initials MD carved into it with a beautiful font, "What is it?"
"It's your Grandmother's journal dear, she wrote everything in that book, be sure to give that to your Father now." I nodded smiling like a mad woman. "Thank you!" I exclaimed overjoyed, "Thank you very much!" Marie smiled we talked for a little while longer before I decided I had intruded long enough, "Thank you again Marie I do not know how to repay you," Marie gave me another hug, "Pay no mind dear, come back anytime, now off you go, don't forget to give that book to your Father!" Marie shut the door and I walked out of the gate, I had stopped on the sidewalk admiring the book when I heard an all too familiar voice behind me, "Didn't your Father tell you not to talk to strangers?" I jumped and turned around, Nadir was towering over me glaring, "What are you doing here?" I asked between clenched teeth. "Erik has sent me, I have come to take you home," he grabbed my arm but I pulled away, "No! Nadir Im not finished yet!! I still have to find señor Giovanni!" Nadir looked at me incredulously, "You do know that he is Italian, meaning he lives in Italy right?" I took a deeo breath and nodded. "Madeline your Father is already extremely displeased with you, do you really want him to come after you?" I gulped at the thought, but then I thought of those nights, when my Father thought I was asleep, he would sing songs of anguish, I could not bear him to be upset anymore, "Let him come," I said with a new foolish courage, "I am going to Italy Nadir and you can't stop me." Nadir's eyes turned dangerous and he stepped toward me, no doubt trying to drag me home, but
                  *SMACK*
I smacked my book against his face, suprising him and making him cry out in pain, while he wasn't occupied with his face I ran and hid until I knew he was gone, I took a deep breath, there was no going back.