Chapter 19: The Phantom Returns

Erik's POV

I slunk around the secret passageways as I found my way towards Box Five. As expected, the new managers had given her the position without any problems and today will be her first rehearsal. Of course, I must confess that I might have interfered in some way, but she doesn't need to know that.

After all, she didn't know that I had watched her audition.

*Flashback*

I was watching the auditions from the newly fixed catwalks above the stage, careful to not be seen by any of the stagehands in the wings or by the girls on the stage below as I waited anxiously to see Evangeline.

Years before Firmin and André were hired to be managers, years before I had caused the fire that destroyed the Opera House in the first place, way before I had met my dear friend, I would dread watching the auditions that the managers would hold. Some of the women had no business to even consider auditioning for a part in the chorus, much less as a Prima Donna.

I was there when the Opera House first had these auditions more than fifteen years ago when the Opera Garnier had just been newly built and Charles Garnier was still alive. I had seen many Prima Donnas come and go. Each audition was the same to me. Decent and terrible girls would come up on the stage in hopes of getting the job and I ultimately made the final decision.

But this time, it would be different.

This time, there will be a woman worthy of the title.

Granted, Christine had more than enough talent and passion for becoming a Prima Donna and if things were different, she would have been the greatest Prima Donna that Paris would have ever seen.

'Enough!' I thought to myself. Now was not the time to be thinking about her. I had a new student now. A student whose voice is even better than Daée's. A student who has become a close friend who never judges me because of the masks I wear.

'Ah, but if she were to ever see your true face, then she would run away and you will never see her again. Just like Christine did!'

"Quiet! Go away!" I hissed at my thoughts, making sure that no one else heard me.

I watched as each girl sang their audition songs and be replaced by another, my poor ears being assaulted with the shameless caterwauling of some of the hopefuls.

'If Evangeline doesn't start singing soon, then I will surely become deaf from all of this painful shrieking.' I thought as I observed in absolute boredom. As the auditions lingered on and on, I kept on scanning the stage in hopes of seeing her.

"And lastly, number thirty!" I heard Jonathan Baptisté call out. There was a shuffle in the audience and I focused my gaze upon my familiar, chocolate-skinned friend as she walked down the aisle carrying a beige folder in her arms and handing it to the pianist. Finally, after waiting an eternity, I, and the rest of the present audience would finally hear what a real Prima Donna sounds like!

But instead of hearing the normal greetings that the other "singers" were given as they took the stage, I heard the older Baptisté give a scornful scoff. My blood started to boil as he berated her, calling her a "piccaninny" and a "negro" as he stated that she was only good for being a servant and that no one would want her to grace them with her voice since she was different. I still did not understand what "negro" or "piccaninny" meant, but I did know that it was a cruel insult to her and her race.

Luckily, his son intervened before I had to swoop down and put that fool in his place and resumed the audition, all the while whispering in his father's ear.

One Audition Later

Unsurprisingly, Evangeline had surpassed all of the other contestants. As she finished the last note of the final song, my heart began to swell with pride as she dipped into a small curtsy, gathered her belongings, and walked back to her seat as the audience applauded with much vigor.

'She has managed to make her voice sound even more heavenly now that she's onstage! 'I thought with much enthusiasm. When the applause died down, the younger Baptisté had instructed all the girls to go outside to the lobby to take a break and wait as they pick who they wanted. When all of the girls left, the man and the boy began a discussion.

"Now son, I don't know what you see in that negro girl, but there is no way that I'm letting that thing perform in here," Johnathan stated as he looked through his notes.

My enthusiasm suddenly disappeared as I started to think of how many ways I could silence that old fool without getting caught.

"But pa, she has the most beautiful voice out of all the contestants. You saw the standing ovation that she received. If her voice has been given that type of response in an audition, imagine how the public would react!"

'Finally,' I thought to myself, 'Someone with sense enough to see reason.'

"I don't care about how beautiful her voice is, I don't want that jungle bunny anywhere near my stage!"

" Pa, if we hire her, we would be receiving a larger income."

I watched as the old man's eyes light up in interest, but said nothing as his son continued.

"I know that back home, women of her race are only fit to be maids or whores, but here in France, they are deemed as exotic. Imagine the publicity that this place will have. The publicity that WE will have! If we give her the position, the public would hail us for becoming inclusive!"

The old geezer looked at his son, obviously debating with himself.

"And need I remind you of the letter we have received scarcely three months ago?"

"That threat, you mean?" Jonathan barked.

I couldn't help but smirk. That same evening when I first saw the two of them and knew that they would hinder Evangeline's progress, I had written them a note stating my demands and delivered it to their office at the dead of night.

I held back a snicker as I watched the boy pull out the three-month-old piece of paper and read it out loud.

"My Dear Managers,

I, the Phantom of the Opera, welcome you to the Opera Garnier.

As you must know, being the Opera House's managers means you will have to keep up with new rules and new responsibilities. For example, you must pay me my salary of 20,000 francs at the end of every month starting as of August of this year. When the time comes for you to pay me, you will place my salary in an envelope and drop it off in Box Five which will be left empty for my personal use. Also, you will be responsible for consulting me for the approval of absolutely everything before taking any further action, whether it is deciding which opera production will be shown or for the promotion or demotion of cast members as well as following my instructions on whatever I see fit. On that note, I have found the perfect woman to become Prima Donna. Her name is Evangeline McKenna and I have taken her on as my student. You will treat her with the utmost respect and give her the position. If these demands are ignored, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur.

I remain, Gentlemen, Your Obedient Servant,

O.G "

The older Baptisté scrunched up his face in a scowl as his son finished the letter.

"Who does this phantom think he is? Sending that monkey to this place and demanding us to hire her. And on top of that, whoever this person is, they have the audacity to demand the permanent reservation of the best seat in the house and 20,000 francs every month!"

His face had turned bright red in rage as he continued his rant.

" You know what, I think that negress had something to do with it. I mean, isn't it a little suspicious that three months ago we get this note and she pops up right when the auditions are being scheduled? That's gotta be it! I mean, what respectable white man would teach a colored woman anything besides how to be his mistress when the wife can't deliver?"

My anger returned tenfold as he dared suggest that my star pupil was the one behind my letter. And all because she was different than everyone else that showed up! I decided then and there to make my presence known before the man said anything else.

"I wouldn't say anything else against my friend if I were you," I stated, throwing my voice so that it seemed to be coming from right behind them.

The two managers looked around in surprise.

"Who said that? Show yourself!" The boy yelped as he looked around the room.

I gave them an ominous cackle as I threw my voice again, this time making my voice echo around the entire house.

"I, dear messieurs, am the owner of this Opera House and you are subject to my demands."

The two of them quickly stood still, the old man's face turning back to red while the young man's face automatically turning a ghostly white.

"I don't know who you think you are, but who are you to decide if that colored girl will perform here?!" The old man said in defiance.

I gave them a low growl.

"Who am I, you ask? Who am I?! I am the specter who haunts these halls day and night. I am the shadow that follows poor unfortunate souls near the end of their life. I am the Angel of Doom. I am the Phantom of the Opera!"

As I spoke these words, the two managers began to shake in horror.

Perfect.

"What do you want with us, Mr.Phantom?" the younger Baptisté asked, his voice quaking.

"Simple. All I want is what I had written in my note. I want you to give the Prima Donna position to my student, Evangeline, I want you to keep Box Five empty for my personal use, I want you to consult me for approval for absolutely everything, and I want my salary of 20,000 francs to be given to me by the end of each month."

"And if we refuse?" The older man challenged, his voice slightly wavering.

I said nothing else. Instead, I wrapped two punjab lassos around two stuffed dummies that I made to resemble the two new managers, tied the ends to one of the rails from the catwalk, and dropped them towards the stage below as the rope around their necks made them dangle a few inches off the ground.

I watched as the both of them grew pale, looks of horror frozen on their faces.

"I believe that we have come to an agreement?" I chuckled as the two men nodded in response and flopped down in their seats.

"Thank you so much for your cooperation. I look forward to working along with you for the benefit of this Opera House. Good day, my dear managers." With one final cackle, I snuck off the catwalk and into one of my secret exits while reveling in my triumph.

As I reminisced on what happened yesterday, my attention was drawn to the stage where Evangeline stood with the rest of the cast and certain crew members. Since my box had the most perfect view of the stage, I was able to locate where my friend stood, her hair once again in a bun as she wore a pink dress with flowers embroidered on the shirt, sleeves, and skirt (A/N: dress is above), surrounded by the young ballet rats while the older ones looked on.

I gave a soft chuckle as she had sat the girls down in a circle, possibly learning all of their names as the youngest tried to get her attention by tugging at her skirt.

Once everyone seemed to be here, the managers came in to start the rehearsal. But before they said a word, I decided to do it for them.

"Good morning everyone and welcome to your first rehearsal." I said as I threw my voice.

I watched as some of the casts, more specifically the managers and most of the returning members grow pale while others looked frantically around the stage. Even Evangeline seemed a tad bit startled as my voice seemingly came out of nowhere.

"Since many of you are new to this establishment, I shall set a few rules. Rule number one; you are all to stay away from Box Five unless I say otherwise. If I even see you place your little finger near the entrance without my permission, there will be dire consequences. Rule number two; you are to stay away from certain parts of the basement. The cellars bellow the main basement can be very dangerous. If you do decide to go down there, I cannot promise that you will make it back up alive. Rule number three; I demand perfection for every show. The orchestra has to be perfect, the actors and chorus members have to perfect, everything MUST be perfect. If even one member of a certain group messes up, then the whole department will be punished. Rule number four; as you all must have noticed, our new Prima Donna has brown skin as she is of a different race. If I find that someone has said or done anything to offend her, then that person will be dismissed immediately!"

Before I continued, I watched all of their expressions which varied from frightened to skeptical. The only person who had a stoic expression on their face was Evangeline, but I had a feeling that the two of us will be having a conversation as soon as rehearsal was over.

"As we are on the topic of operas, the opera that we will be performing will be Lucia di Lammermoor and it will be performed in the month of September. This month, however, we will be hosting a gala in celebration of the Opera Garnier's reopening and everyone is required to attend. If these demands are not met, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur."

With that, I caused one of the backdrops that were stationed behind them to fall, startling the cast and causing the young ballet rats to panic.

I couldn't help but cackle, even though I felt a twinge of guilt as I left Box Five to go back to the lair.

The Phantom has returned and he's here to stay.

A/N: Hello my Phantom Phans!

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It seems like Erik's back at it again with haunting the Opera Garnier.

Do you agree with some of the demands that he made?

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