Chapter 5:Master Chef and A Golden Opportunity

Erik's POV

As I sulked in my coffin, my stomach started to grumble. She smirked. "Well, it seems that all your fussing and whining has made you hungry. Now, what do you want to eat?"

I huffed. I never ate much, but I would be a bit ungrateful to let her starve after she seemingly saved me from the fires of hell.

"If you haven't noticed, mademoiselle, my kitchen has been completed destroyed and I have no food here. But seeing that you might need nourishment, I have over three million francs in a secret room behind a shattered mirror in the foyer. Once you find this room, you will find a safe. The combination is 1-8-5-4. Take as much as you need. Oh, and in that safe, you will also find a map of my lair and how to get out."

She nodded her head and left my bedroom. When she left, I began to start thinking.

This young woman has broken into my home, saved my life, and now has started to become my nurse even though I had insulted her. And on top of that, I just told her how to open my safe and take the map as if I knew her well enough to trust her! Hmph, what is she playing at? Why is she doing this?

I then began to notice her clothing. She had on strange black pants and a pink shirt. The shirt didn't bother me, but pants? On a woman?! How strange and very unorthodox. Why, if anyone noticed how she didn't wear a dress like other women, she would be either be labeled as a whore or a mad woman, probably the former. Then, I thought about her skin. It was indeed darker than anything I was used to. Nadir's skin paled against hers and he was the darkest Persian that I knew. Her skin was dark like the mahogany wood that my organ was made of.

Then there was her voice. There was the tiniest hint of a rasp when she spoke and her southern, American accent was thick when she said 'monsieur', just like some of the American southerners who would visit the Opera Populaire on business trips to Paris.

Hmm, I wonder if she can play. Or sing.

In my musings, I began to fall into a dreamless, music-filled sleep.

Evangeline's POV

I found it! I finally found the room that Erik was talking about. It took a good 15 minutes, but I'm going inside to get some change for some groceries. As I put in the combination, I saw that Erik wasn't joking when he said he had over 3 million francs. "Wow. That's a lot of cash." I say to myself.

I took 100 francs out of the safe and put them in the pocket of my jeans along with the map. Before I went to my extrusion, I checked the kitchen. It was just like Erik described. It was a hot mess! Broken china and glass littered the floor, the cutlery were bent and melted, and pots and pans seemed to be missing along with kitchen knives and other sharp-edged materials. I checked the pantry and saw that it was empty. No food at all. Not even a crumb. Hmm, I might need more than 100 francs to get all that I need. I went back to the safe and took out 900 francs. I hope this is enough. I'll put the change back in the safe when I come back.

With that in mind, I took a sack and followed the map to the outside world.

"Now, where would I find groceries?" I thought out loud.

"Hey! Are you lost?"

I turned to see a boy in front of me. He had golden hair and forest green eyes that sparkled. In one word, he looked gorgeous.

"Um, yeah actually. Do you know where I can buy items that I need? Specifically groceries and cooking supplies?"

The boy pointed to an outdoor market and said, "You just go straight to that marketplace and after you get your groceries, keep going straight onto Rué Scribe and the shop will be on the right."

I nodded my head, remembering the instructions and thanked him.

"Wait. I didn't catch your name." He called after me as I walked away.

"Oh, my name's Evangeline McKenna."

He smiled and kissed my hand.

"My name is Robert Baptisé. My family is visiting from America."

"Oh? Well, so am I."

He smiled. "I hope to see you again, mademoiselle." With that, he left.

*One Shopping Trip Later*

"Merci, monsieur." I smiled at the store clerk. I finally had all of my shopping done and now I have everything I needed. I got beans, greens, potatoes, tomatoes, lamb, hog maw, chicken, turkey, beef, you name it! I also got some dishes, cups, cutlery, and other items to replace the ones Erik lost. I soon found myself back at the Opera House and made my way down to the lair.

After rowing across the lake to the island Erik lived on, I put the change (which, to my surprise, was more than what I expected) back into Erik's safe and locked it back. As I took the sack and dishes into the kitchen, I passed Erik's room and saw him fast asleep, causing me to smile.

Aww! He's cute for someone who can kill me with a flick of his wrist.

I made my way to the kitchen and began to set things up to make chicken soup. I took a pot, filled it with water, and added pieces of chicken , onions, celery, red cabbage, potatoes, bell peppers, leeks, carrots, tomatoes, black pepper, red pepper, paprika, parsley, salt, thyme and basil. Then, I began to let it boil on the stove as I began to clean up around the lair.

Erik's POV

The music of my mind continued lulling me to sleep when I heard a voice sing. It didn't come from my mind. In fact, the music stopped as the voice started singing.

Green finch and linnet bird, nightingale, blackbird

How is it you sing?

How can you jubilate sitting in cages

Never taking wing?

Outside the sky waits

Beckoning, beckoning

Just beyond the bars

How can you remain staring at the rain

Hardened by the stars?

How is it you sing anything?

How is it you sing?

I opened my eyes and slowly began to out of the coffin, making my way to where the voice was. It has to be my Christine! My Angel of Music has come back to me! It sounds as if she needs to have extra lessons to bring her voice back to normal, but even now, her voice can still rival those of the angels of Heaven. No one can sound as heavenly as she can!

Green finch and linnet bird, nightingale, blackbird

How is it you sing?

Whence comes this melody constantly flowing

Is it rejoicing or merely aloaming?

Are you discussing or fussing

Or simply dreaming?

Are you crowing?

Are you screaming?

I got closer and closer as my excitement began to climb. My Christine was back! I was sure of it. But then, my eyes beheld something else. The voice wasn't coming from my beloved Christine. No, my Christine was still with that boy! But if Christine wasn't singing , then who was?

I turned my gaze to the only other person in my lair.

Evangeline.

That voice...that wonderful, beautiful- NO! I mustn't think that. I continued to listen to her. She does indeed have an exquisite voice, but it only needed training.

Ringdove and robinet is it for wages

Singing to be sold?

Have you decided it's safer in cages

Singing when you're told?

My cage has many rooms, damask and dark

Nothing there sings, not even my lark

Larks never will you know when they're captive

Teach me to be more adaptive

Ah, ah, ah, ah

Green finch and linnet bird, nightingale, blackbird

Teach me how to sing

If I cannot fly

Let me sing

Oh, the potential! NO! I do not to be betrayed again! But then again, it would be such a shame to let that voice go to waste. Besides, you can pay off the debt that you owe her by giving her free lessons. It's not much, but it's a start.

I then turned my attention to the room where she was. The girl was cleaning the rubble and trash from out of my lair and I smelled something cooking from the kitchen. As I continued to stare at her, Evangeline looked at me.

"Hey, you're awake! I don't think you should be walking aro-"

"This is my lair, and I will do what I please." I snapped.

"Alright, Erik, dang! You don't have to be rude about it. I'm just trying to make sure that you're okay."

I winced as she called me by my real name. I wasn't comfortable with total strangers knowing everything about me and I know nothing of them. But still, she was right. I shouldn't have snapped at her for no reason. As I pondered on how to apologize, the girl placed two bowls on the dining room table that were filled with a type of stew. Along with it was a loaf of bread.

"Tada! I made my mama's homemade chicken soup. Oh, by the way, your change from my trip to get groceries and supplies is in the safe." She chirped, a grin on her face. She led me to the table where she sat across from me.

The food looked and smelled tempting, but I did not move. To eat, I would have to take off my mask, but I didn't want the girl to see my face. Evangeline noticed that I wasn't eating anything.

"Oh, come on! My cooking ain't that bad." She joked. I continued to sit in silence as she realized what was wrong.

"Oh. You don't want anyone to see your face. Right." Then, she picked up her bowl of soup. Took a slice of bread, and left to eat in the kitchen. I didn't stop her. I was in awe. This girl had willingly cleaned my lair, replaced supplies, cooked food for me, and has now given me privacy to eat without my mask by leaving the room even after I had just snapped at her! Why?

I looked around the room to make sure she wasn't there, then I took off my mask. Taking the spoon, I cautiously dipped it into the steaming broth and brought it to my lips. It was delicious.

*After Dinner*

Evangeline's POV

I was washing my bowl when I heard someone clearing their throat. It was my masked host.

"Ahem. I wanted to say thank you for the meal."

"You're welcome." I replied, taking his bowl from the kitchen table to wash it. Awkward silence pursued for a minute or more until Erik spoke again.

"Where did you learn to sing?"

I stopped washing dishes in shock.

"How did you-?"

"Your singing woke me up."

My cheeks started to burn with embarrassment.

"I knew that I was too loud! I'm sorry that I woke you u-."

"Just answer my question."

I huffed at his attitude but complied.

"My parents. My mother was a music teacher and my father directed the church choir.When they had me, they automatically began to teach me how to sing."

He was silent, his eyes looking pensive. Finally, he spoke.

"Besides your parents, did you have any vocal training?"

"No," I replied as I started to get uncomfortable, "It was always my parents. I could get further vocal training, but I'm pretty much broke."

He remained silent for a few seconds, deep in thought. Then he said, "I just so happen to be a music teacher of sorts. Since you have succeeded in saving my life, I shall repay you by giving you voice lessons free of charge. So, do you accept?"

I kept calm, but inside I was squealing. This was a golden opportunity to be trained by the Opera Ghost himself. Oh if the other phangirls can see me now!

"You got yourself a deal, Monsieur Phantom." I smiled as I turned to wash more dishes.

"Good. Lessons begin tomorrow morning at 11 sharp. Tardiness is not an option."

A/N: Sorry for not updating as much. I have a lot on my plate, so consider this as an early Christmas present from me. Shoutout to everyone who voted and commented and I'll see you in the next chapter!

Merry Christmas everybody 🎄