Epilogue

Lisa stood dejectedly at the time machine’s control panel, contemplating her new friend. She was sure they’d meet again. Cesar would know the way to a Gate between Earth and Alnilam, her home planet. All animals that came into contact with her did. It would probably propel him to a time that she was there, knowing those Gates.

As she watched the slow rise and fall of the center column, her eyes trained upon the display for the last time departed.

“Hey,” she called, “is this right?”

Her friend looked. “Earth, France, 1861.”

“Not 1860?”

“Does it matter?”

“No, I guess not…”

Back in the Opera House, Erik sat in a chair beside his desk, very depressed. Several sketches of Lisa were gathered around him. He’d never forget her. Never. He’d been very tempted to go up to his horse and demand to be returned to her, as absurd as that sounded.

He stood up and started walking towards the gates to his home, but paused in mid-step when he heard a beautiful voice vocalizing up above. He shut his eyes, letting the chords envelop him. He snuck upstairs and hid, trying to find out whom that voice belonged to.

In the little chapel, he saw a beautiful young girl, no more than seven or eight, keeling in front of the candle stand, humming to herself. She lit one of the candles and shut her eyes in prayer.

The name on the candle was Daaé.

The End

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