Disclaimer: As you all know I do not own Erik, or his story. I do own Ariel, the
Phantom's Lair Theater and all it's company members. I do not own
the songs used in the story, and if I do in the future you will be
notified.
Bows to the readers and smiles. Hopefully you enjoy this story. I am not a fan of Christine, though I am working on a piece of E/C fiction as I speak. Erik should still have the happiness he deserves, so this is one of the few other woman stories out there among the millions of E/C fluff authors detest but can't help writing. Shrugs. I also had to get Erik out of the Opera House, it was killing him inside. So here is my version of the happy ending and letting Erik write his own story the way we write his over and over again. Please review and comment on what you think is good or bad.
Italics are for songs
Chapter 1: End Of All Things
Erik felt the pain eat away at his soul. It had been two years since Christine had chosen the young Viconte over him and the pain was still fresh. Music no longer came to him the way it used to. Every note was sorrowful, almost so that it offended Erik's critical ears. It was the song of a weak and broken man. No matter how much he knew it was true, his pride wouldn't let him fully accept that these pleading works came from within himself. The same man, no...........the same monster who wrote the arrogant Don Juan Triumphant. So with a cry of defeat Erik had given up on music as well as love. For a year no sound came from the majestic organ, the opera halls were not haunted by his angelic voice.
The silence that emanated from the once boustrous phantom caused much unease among the managers and opera company. Meg Giry was often seen staring up at Box Five with something akin to guilt. It was well known, even now, that little Meg along with her mother had been confidants to the phantom. He never came up to see another opera after the tragic performance of his own. Meg and Madame Giry visited Erik once a week, always bearing a basket of food because he wouldn't go out to replenish his own stock. Erik had a suspicion that the Giry women half expected to find him dead each time they came.
It was on one of these visits that Erik had finally had enough of all his pain and heartache. And he hated being a burden to the only two people who cared if he still breathed.
" You and Meg shouldn't bother coming back here again Madame. I've decided it's time to end this melancholy existence. " Erik said from his throne, he hadn't moved since the two women had arrived hours ago.
" But monsieur.................." Erik stopped Madame Giry before she could continue, holding up his hand up as a symbol of silence. " Madame Giry. I have never been ungrateful for you and your daughters kindness. On the table is enough to keep you both very happy for the rest of your lives."
It was little Meg, no longer so little who picked up the package and looked uncertainly at her mother. "Mama?" Meg's voice was small and childish though she was now a grown woman who lead the entire company in Christine's place. The last decision Erik had forced upon the managers. He didn't feel right propelling Meg back into her timid ballerina days now.
Erik stood and beckoned Meg forward. She gracefully went to him readily, having gotten over her fear of him long ago. She wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in the white of his dress shirt. It was a suprise to Erik who until now had kept the women at bay when they tried to show such affection. But knowing it would very well be the last human touch he'd feel, Erik welcomed her embrace and held the young woman close for a while.
Meg knew he really meant to do it then. She began to cry, Erik was like a brother to her and she loved him as such. But she knew also that he needed a different kind of love to survive.
" Sweet sister don't cry." Erik whispered in Meg's ear, the cold porcelian of his mask against her warm cheek. She nodded like a child and wiped her tears away.
" Goodbye Erik, just know that you were loved." Meg said seriously. From those words Erik saw the woman Meg had become. And he was proud that he'd been able to help her grow into such a flower. " I know mamsielle, now go up to the light where you belong." Erik's heart broke a little more as he watched Madame Giry lead a weeping Meg to the upper Opera House floors.
The emptiness of the lair crept across the floor and into his feet. Even Erik shivered at this unnatural cold, instinctively pulling his dress coat tighter around his form. Something was wrong. Then he heard it....................a slow melody at first, filtering into the silent cellars. Soft notes on a piano filled his parched ears. Music! He was hearing music again. Erik closed his eyes to better savor this heaven sent gift. As he listened, the music slowly rose and filled out as a song flowed from nowhere.
" Tell me her name I want to know...........
The way she looks and where you go.
I need to see her face, I need to understand...........
Why you and I came to an end."
Erik's eyes opened and he gasped. That voice! A woman's voice broke through the slow tune, it was sad and mournful. How could such a sound penetrate this darkness? And those words.........so akin to how he felt that night he asked Christine why?
" Tell me again I want to hear..........
Who broke my faith in all these years.
Who lays with you at night when i'm here all alone.
Remembering when I was your own."
Where was she? This creature who echoed his soul with her angelic voice? He could hear the emotion, her voice was laced with tears.
" I let you go
I let you fly
Why do I keep on asking why?
I let you go now that i've found............
A way to keep somehow, more then a broken vow."
Erik felt his feet move of their own accord. Following the sound of this kindred soul. She was calling him. To help heal. To heal with her.
" Tell me the words I never said
Show me the tears you never shed.
Give me the touch, the one you promised to be mine.
Or has it vanished for all time?"
Erik searched the stage and backstage. Though he hadn't been up here for two years he still knew every nook and cranny better then any stagehand. But the song was faded, as if it were coming from.....................the roof. The one place Erik had stayed away from since that fateful night. But she called to him.
" I'll let you go
I'll let you fly
Why do I keep on asking why?
I'll let you go now that i've found
A way to keep somehow, more then a broken vow."
His steps were hurried now, his breathe in short gasps. Afraid any delay would result in losing the song with the angelic voice forever.
" I close my eyes
And dream of you and I and then I realize
Theres more to love then only bitterness and lies
I close my eyes..............."
He reached the roof and saw something unbelievable. A woman in a flowing blue gown of unusual cut. long red locks to her shoulders and emerald cats eyes. But the glow of light around her body made her appear a ghost. Then her vibrant eyes focused on Erik and she smiled.
" I'd give away my soul to hold you once again.
And never let this promise end."
She sang and held out her hand to Erik. Transfixed as Christine had once been by Erik before, he followed the woman as she beckoned him to her. He never noticed that she had backed out from the roofs edge and now stood perched upon thin air.
" I'll let you go
I'll let you fly
Now that I know, i'm asking why.
I'll let you go now that i've found
A way to keep somehow more then a broken vow.........."
Erik could see the tears i her eyes now, never seeing he was walking over the ledge until the woman's face held a horrified expression.
" Erik No!" The specter cried, but it was too late. Erik felt the air rush around him as he fell, knowing this ghost would be on the other side. No doubt the angel of death. He closed his eyes as the ground came to meet him.
Chapter 2: Phantom's Lair Theater
Something woke Erik up. He turned in his sleep and found himself lying on the floor. He didn't remember passing out. Memories flooded his mind, the music, the ghostly angel on the roof and finally when he fell.
Someone was humming. Erik sat up and saw he was on a stage, but not his familiar opera stage. It was fair size with thick, velvet curtains. Erik saw he was lying directly below a catwalk. Confused, Erik went to find out where he was. Keeping to the shadows, not wanting his presence known Erik felt his old awareness come alive again. Carefully this time, he followed the music to seek answers to a few unanswered questions. Like how he survived a fall from the opera house roof?
The humming led to the main stage that posed no competition to the opera populaire but could house a fairly large production. The stage hadn't seen a performance in months if appearances showed true. Sets laid about in different phases of construction, half painted scenes and folded scripts of the upcoming production were strung about along with unswept sawdust from the carpenters work. Hidden in the safety of the wings, Erik's attention fell on the figure seated in an ornate throne that resembled his own in the lair.
Erik was not half as suprised that he recognized the woman as he was by her attire. It was his heavenly ghost dressed as a man. Her red curls fell over one shoulder to expose the length of her graceful throat. With legs clad in jeans and a short sleeved shirt. Erik could plainly see her lithe figure as well. Her skin absent of a unearthly glow was a delicious creme color instead.
At the moment his very real angel was cradling a well used guitar with her eyes closed. Her fingers found the tune she was humming and sang.
" Child of the wilderness
Born into emptiness
Learn to be lonely
Learn to be your one companion.
Who will be there for you?
Comfort and care for you?
Learn to be lonely
Learn to find your way in darkness."
It was no doubt his angel and again she sang to his soul. The pity did not sting, the sympathy in her voice did not force him to shudder. For she sang from experience and mutual pain. Erik could hear it so clearly.
" Never dreamed out in the world
There were arms to hold you.
You've always known
Your heart was on it's own."
Erik felt his heart soar with her voice and closed his eyes to cherish it. Yet he would not let her voice sweep his reason away this time, wrapping a firm grip around the rigging ropes to stop himself from going to her in case it shatter the enchantment.
" So laugh in your loneliness
Child of the wilderness.
Learn to be lonely
Learn how to live life that is lived alone.
Learn to be lonely.
Life can be lived.
Life can be loved alone.................."
She visibly shuddered when her fingers stilled the guitar strings and tears strayed on her cheek. Erik used all his strength to keep back and not wipe away her tears with his hands and voice. A voice he hadn't used in years. The song had ended but her spell over him had not. And so he called to her in return.
" Bravi, bravi, bravisimi." Words he had once sung to Christine, he softly repeated now to this nameless woman.
She sat upright in the mock throne, wiping away the tears and placing on a mask of emotion. " Who is that?!" There was an obvious amusement in her voice no alarm or caution. She set the guitar down and started inspecting the stage. " Who's there?" She asked again, sounding as if she were playing at a child's game of hide and seek.
Erik was shocked to find himself answering. " A simple admirer mamsielle." The woman turned in his direction, but he was too well hidden for her to see yet. " Who are you?" Erik tried to find an answer for this sensitive question. But whatever he was going to say was cut off by an angels hand seizing his wrist and pulling him into the light.
The first song was by a woman named Lara Fabian though I don't know the name. And the second song was of course " Learn to be Lonely" sang by Minnie Driver for the new Phantom of the Opera movie soundtrack. The movie itself was beautiful and was worth waiting for by the way.
That is the first part of the story and I hope you like it. Review and there will be more I promise. Soon you'll meet the Phantom's Lair Theater company and my reincarnation of Carlotta and a gay man who plays Raoul. ( evil laughter) Review and i'll put up that fun chapter.