The Phantom's Daughter

13. Home Truths

Elise was frozen by the time her and Erik reached the theatre.
Not wanting them to be seen together, Erik abandoned the carriage shortly before they arrived at the courtyard. Meaning that Elise had to walk the rest of the way on foot, while he ran on ahead.
Madame Giry was waiting for Elise when she arrived, as per the phantom's instructions, and she immediately wrapped a blanket around Elise, who was shivering from the cold.

"My word, you're freezing" gasped Madame Giry.
"I guess that's what happens when you go outside at night in the beginning of January" shivered Elise.
"Yes, that wasn't exactly the wisest thing to do. We need to get you out of those damp clothes, they're wet with snow, and you'll catch your death if you stay in them" admitted Madame Giry.
"Well I didn't exactly plan to go outside like this, but I didn't have a choice. I had to go after Raoul, I had to stop him".

"No, you didn't really have time to change... I have spoken with Christine and Raoul, and both have agreed not to mention your involvement in the incident tonight. And I have dealt with the body of the coachman, and convinced everyone that he slipped and fell to his death, without anyone elses involvement" revealed Madame Giry, as they began to walk through the building.
"Raoul agreed to that?" Quizzed Elise.
"After besting the phantom in a sword fight and convincing Christine that he is not her fathers spirit, he was in a very agreeable mood. And Christine was in no hurry to tell anyone about what really happened tonight".

"Did Christine agree to keep my secret as well?" Asked Elise.
"Yes. She will not tell another soul, I made sure of it, not even Meg... She's waiting for you in her dressing room. She wants to talk to you" admitted Madame Giry.
"I don't know what to say to her. She's been afraid of the phantom for months, and I've known who is is all this time. She's not going to forgive me for that"
"Maybe not. But let's not discuss this out here in the open, wait until you are alone with her, and in a secure location".

Once she was dry and in new clothes, Elise made her way to Christine's room.
"There you are. I was beginning to think that you weren't coming" admitted Christine, when Elise entered the room.
"Well I had to walk some of the way on foot, and Madame Giry made me dry off before I came to see you" replied Elise.
"I'm sorry that Raoul just left you there. I wanted him to turn around, but he refused"
"That's O.K. We wouldn't have all fitted on the horse... And I had to stay behind, to make sure he was alright"
"I never wanted Raoul to hurt him, and I would've stopped them from fighting if you hadn't intervened for me. I don't want him dead, even he isn't the ghost of my father, like I once thought. He's not my father... But he is yours"
"I know".

"Why did you never tell me the truth?" Asked Christine.
"Because I didn't want to" admitted Elise truthfully.
"Didn't you trust me?" Questioned Christine.
"I did. I knew you wouldn't tell anyone, since you always kept his lessons with you a secret from everyone. But I just didn't want you to know. I didn't want things to change between us. You were my best friend, and I didn't want anything to ruin our friendship. And once you realised your angel was actually the phantom, I was more desperate than ever, to keep my truth from you. I didn't want you to hate me, because you hated him".

Christine approached Elise and wrapped her arms around her.
"I could never hate you. You didn't choose your parents, and blaming you for their bad behaviour, would be wrong" admitted Christine.
"I thought you wouldn't want anything to do with me, once you knew the truth" replied Elise, as she pushed Christine back.
"I was a little shocked, and surprised when I found out. But Madame Giry sat me down and talked me through what happened and how she came to raise you. We're very similar, you and I. My parents are dead, and I grew up here, at the opera house. Your mother is dead, and your father rejected you, so she raised you, like she raised me".

Elise felt like Madame Giry had twisted the truth slightly, to make her and Elise seem more innocent. Madame Giry had also lied about how close Elise and her father really were, and Elise was grateful  because she didn't want Christine to know that truth.
"I guess we are rather like kindred spirits" agreed Elise.
"Yes, we are... So aside from knowing that he's your father, what else do you know about him?" Quizzed Christine.
"Not much" lied Elise.
"So you don't know where he lives, or how he manages to do all those things that make him seem like a ghost?"
"Nope. I know he lives somewhere below the building, but I don't know where exactly. I've never been there. And I've no idea how he does all the spooky stuff".

"But you have known all along that he was my angel of music?" Questioned Christine.
"Not at first. But after a while I began to suspect that he was" replied Elise.
"I see. Even though he rejected you, he did buy you that dress for the masquerade, and he wrote you a part in his opera. Which means that he must watch you, and care about you a bit"
"He has occasionally left me gifts, but not very often. And he must have seen me rehearse at some point, while watching you, which is why he wrote me an aerial part. But my role is nowhere near as big as yours".

Christine's face fell, "Yes, I'm not looking forward to being a part of this opera. But I don't have a choice".
"None of us do, for bad things always happen when he doesn't get his way" agreed Elise.
"At least I don't have to sing to him anymore. I'm surprised he didn't make himself the lead, instead of allowing Piangi to take the part instead of him" replied Christine.
"I wouldn't say that he gave Piangi that part out of the goodness of his heart though. He's not a performer, so assigning himself a part, wouldn't have made him happy... But the one thing you have to know about my father, is that always has a trick up his sleeve".