Kristina seems to be feeling very depressed as she finally arrives back in Paris. She has to lug her carpet bag through the streets to reach her apartment. In the morning she awakes thinking about Alberich not being in Paris and not knowing when he will return, and realizes that she doesn't need to leave for the theater so early.

Anneke is up early as well and Kristina has tea with her, and decides to tell Anneke about Alberich as well as the doctor who rode back to Paris with her. I think Kristina needed to get the conversation with the doctor off her chest, as well as to tell Anneke about Alberich. Anneke had already noticed the change in Kristina though, and doesn't seem too surprised to hear about Alberich.

On another note, after Kristina returns from practice, Amelie is holding two letters up for Kristina from both of the De Coucy men. She is both suspicious and jealous I would say, and Kristina takes them to her room to read in private. Both men wrote to Kristina without realizing the other had done so, and the Comte want to talk with Kristina privately at dinner, which she accepts. I have a bad feeling about the meeting and dinner, but Kristina seems to be able to handle herself. What a nice long chapter - thanks for updating. Wendy

LOL -- If older women imagine trouble coming from every direction, it´s a good bet that it´s on its way! There´s something to be said for experience, and I hope that Christina takes Anneke´s (and Amelie´s) misgivings into account.

Wonderful chapter, as ever. The new and improved ending to "Faust" was inspired, and a real hoot!

Sorry Real Life has gotten in your way. I´ve been missing this excellent yarn, and I´m so looking forward to more!

Sorry to hear that life has been "interesting" for you recently. I'm glad things seem to have settled down for now.

I'm always amazed by the superb quality of your writing. You come up with story ideas and ways of expressing yourself that just plain leave most other fanfic authors in the dust.

I'm SO glad you choose to write stories in my favorite fandom.

Barb

I've always enjoyed the moderate to slow pace of this story, how it immerses the reader in the details, letting us drink in the environment and the flow of everyday life.

I loved the joke of Marguerite going off with Faust instead of ascending to heaven, and what with the supernatural undertones of this story, I had to wonder about the true purpose of the pale little blonde, and if her threatening outburst might actually lead to later consequences for those involved with the supposedly sacreligious prank. Interesting food for thought.

I really like how this chapter takes a step back from the budding romance and instead focuses on life going on in the Eclectic Theatre, rapport and rivalry being independent of the strange goings-on at Ploumanac'h. There is so much more to this story than might meet the eye, so many plot twists waiting to come out of the woodwork at any moment. You keep us guessing on several points, particularly anything regarding the supernatural.

Hope to see more soon. I'm anxious for more Alberich/Kristina interaction (not necessarily of the romantic variety; I simply love reading their conversations), but am perfectly content to wait. :)

1. Is Camille a lesbian? You seem to be hinting at it but then the blonde girl's outburst is so strange...
2. I LOVED the changed ending to Faust. HAHA!
3. M, wonder what Etienne is up to?
4. I am glad that Kristina had told Anneke the truth. She needed to confide in someone.

I just want to talk a moment to say that I absolutely bless and adore you for using original character names as part of your world-building. Having recently read stories featuring Scottish Highlanders and Princes of Egypt named Erik, I realize just how important names are when creating a coherent world.

Thank you for putting the time and effort into creating a story that hangs together so elegantly.

Kristina returns to the Inn to Louvel there looking for her. As she feared, he interpreted her letter as an invitation to join her at her father's Mass, and then he is upset that she has been away all day. Kristina doesn't really care for Louvel now, and in her mind she takes us back to the time when she realized she didn't care much for him any longer. After finally ridding herself of the annoying Louvel she retires to her room, and decides she must get out of the Inn for a bit. So, instead of bothering anyone in the Inn, she climbs out her window and down a tree, when she hears the violin. She and Alberich say goodnight one last time and she returns to her room.

Later than evening (or early morning) she awakens to find Louvel pracically frozen. When the doctor comes they finally get his story out of him, and it seems that he decided to follow Alberich after seeing Kristina with him earlier that night. Kristina feels rather annoyed with him, especially when he starts talking about Alberich's face. Krisina leaves with the doctor, but as the doctor questions her about Alberich she becomes more and more uncomfortable and he leaves feeling very worried. Now what will she do, especially since she won't see Alberich for awhile? Wendy

Nice! This is shaping up to be an excellent Phic! It's taken me some time to get my brain around a Phantom who's so, well, working-class. But you've done extremely well to convince me! You've really managed to bring out the Erik in him! I have to admit, though, that I do miss the actual mask. And you've definitely succeeded in getting Christine's character right on too. Why, though, do I get the distinct feeling that your Raoul equivalent is going to be really annoying? Yikes! He's already such a presumptuous di'kut! I hope Christina finds the gumption to tell him straight that she's not interested, and I hope he gets it through his thick ego before anything too tragic can happen.

Oh! And I love the supernatural/Pagan/Faery/folk elements you've worked in! I hope there'll be more of that?

Anyway, keep up the great work, and in the mean time I'll have to finish Phantoms of the Past! But I really look forward to more of this one, so please do update again soon!

LOVED the talk with the doctor! Too frank even for Anneke, eh? (snicker)

I'd forgotten how closely you've been following Leroux, so it surprised me when we learned that Louvel spent the night unconscious at the churchyard(or whatever.) Too bad Kristina couldn't convince the innkeeper and his wife to strip naked and warm him up with their body heat. ;D

And what a shock (she says sarcastically), even Louvel can't remember that it's Kristina Sigurdsdotter. Tsk, tsk.

I really like this blue-collar Erik, with the callused hands and rough work clothes. He seems much better for Kristina - much more understanding and . . . I don't know, comfortable? - than prissy Louvel, with his distaste for everyone and everything not of French nobility.

I enjoyed the glimpse of Kristina's unhappiness with her journey into womanhood. So many restrictions, such physical discomfort and dismay. So bored with "courtship." LOL

Can't wait for your next chapter!

Barb

This is a wonderfully original retelling and if I saw it in a bookstore, I'd definitely buy it. You really have a wonderful way of evoking mood and character. I'm looking forward to reading more.

Wonderful chapter. The doctor was awesome. It didn't even occur to me that Kristina might think that his deformation could be due to disease, but of course it could, in a time w/o modern medicine. And, of course, I hate Louvel with a passion. I can see what's going to happen-Alberich is going to think that Kristina loves Louvel and leave. It will be awful and heartrending and I will love it.

M... did you write about that carpenter especially for me? He sounds just my type.. ;-)
Deep fried chicken sounds very American, though. Were you thinking of the golden statues with the big boobies from the ALW movie when you wrote about the caryatids? Poor Kristina, with them poking into her.

I’ve just read “Mystery of the Yellow Room” by Leroux and your story is such a refreshing contrast from all the cloak and dagger/smoke and mirrors and mysterious Mystery that Leroux piles on top of us. Have said it before and will say so again, Kristina is a breath of fresh air, it’s so nice to have a heroine who doesn’t squeak,squeal and swoon.

Well, and now that you’ve defused the mystery of the Opera Ghost, and what he looks like, where will you go next? Am looking forward to finding out...

Kristina is relieved to see that Alberich came to meet her at her father's gravesite after all, and brought his violin to play for her. When she mentioned that she didn't think he would come, he is puzzled and says "Why? I said I would." He is a man of his word and has different reasoning that most men. He has also brought along a picnic lunch, so he and Kristina wander down to the beach and have a picnic. It turns out to be a lovely day for them, and they grow closer spending the time together. Finally Alberich walks Kristina back to the Inn, and their magical day comes to and end. Kristina is reluctant to let Alberich leave as it seems she won't see him for awhile. As she heads into the Inn, daydreaming about her day with Alberich, she finds that another gentleman is waiting for her. What a complication, it's Louvel. Oh boy, what will she do now? Wonderful chapter - can't wait for more! Wendy

I love this earthy Erik and Christine! (Yes, yes, I know, Alberich and Kristina. :)) They're so different from the formal and proper Phantom and soprano in most stories. I love the informality of it all: beer instead of wine, sandwiches instead of restaurant meals, worn clothing instead of silks and opera finery. Plain talk rather than . . . well, whatever it is the elite talk about. Fashion and politics, I suppose.

One thing that's especially great is your adherence to period standards of . . . morality? Titillation? I'm speaking of Alberich looking at Kristina's ankles. :D So many authors neither know nor care about such things. It's nice when someone takes the time and effort to make their stories a little more realistic. Even if there ARE fantastical elements to your tale.

Speaking of fantasy, since it actually exists in this universe, I have no doubt Kristina DID see the magical woman/creature she believes she saw as a child. And that a brownie lived in her shed.

I find it interesting and amusing how closely you've been following Leroux's tale - and yet not. (I'm wondering if Louvel might end up as a frog?)

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. XD

Barb

This is unbelievably good. The development is so careful, the relationship so detailed and the increasing sexual tension so beautifully handled that it's exquisite. I'm sorry Louvel had to show up, but I expect you will give him the same fully rounded treatment and make him a real person, not merely an obstacle between Alberich and Kristina.

I can't wait for the next update; you are a gifted writer.

Zeeksmom

PS Why did Louvel call her "Christine"? Does he always do that? I didn't notice; I'll have to look again.