Sing Sweetly, My Phantom
Chapter Two: The Fatal Meeting Beween Ariadne And The Phantom. Again, Please Read And Review!
As we entered the Opera Poplaurie, a crowd of gasps came from our mouths. There before us was a gold staircase with statues of men and women wrapped in red silk over their naked bodies, lit candles brighting the room and jaw-dropping paintings of lovers meeting in all sorts of ways. I couldn't believe my eyes, everything seemed like a dream and I was living it. I turned to see Robert and Hera studying their surroundings, her head resting on his shoulder. I heard music coming from the upper floors so I took each step slowly, letting it's sweet melody overtake me. I could hear my sister and her husband chatting to a another couple, they would be fine without me for the moment and anyway, I didn't want to be parted from the music.
I pushed the glass doors to gasp yet again, why was this place so beautiful to look at? Over a dozen people danced on the crystal floors, a chandlier stood above them and a stage where the musicans were a jolly crew. I laughed at myself, wandering inside more with my eyes touching everything around me. Different coloured and sized masks over their faces, adoring dresses that swished everytime they moved and oddly tuxados that either suited or not for the gentlemen. I noticed a quiet area where a few couples sat to rest or sip champane, I headed towards the empty table and sat to wait for Hera and Robert. But my eyes never left the dancing, my skin prickled with goosebumps over the lush music and my heart raced with each step they took. I longed for someone to take my hand and dance with me, the couples would see us and be in awe of how amazing we would fit. Suddenly the blinding pain came back to me, I groaned softly and shut my eyes tightly. Again, a blur of images rushed before me until it stopped to a dark figure with a white mask on it's face. A gloved hand came out of nowhere, it was waiting for someone to take it. Then to my horror, I reconised my hand placing it there and saw myself kiss the figure without a second's hesitation.
"Ariadane! Please wake up!" Hera's worried cries made me snap out of my shocking vision, the pain disappeared and everything was back to normal. My sister and Robert stood before me, frowned gazes on their handsome faces. "It's fine, I'm alright." I said, a little horsely. "No, you are not. Robert is taking you home, you don't look well." Hera replied, putting her hands on her hips. I shook my head while slowly getting up from my seat. "I assure you, I'm alright. If it happens again, I shall go home. Do not worry anymore, just enjoy the night." I said, with a weak smile. Hera sighed heavily, she knew that she couldn't win the battle between us. "Fine, one more bout of pain and Robert will take you home. No ifs or buts." She said, with determantion. I nodded my head and watched them go to the floor to dance.
I could understand Hera's concern about me, I did feel a little unwell and by looking at a sliver plate on the table, my face was paler than usual. But it was that shocking vision that I saw made me weak every second past, who was that figure and why did I kiss it? A shiver of fear ran down my spine, the surrounding of masks before me made everything worse. I had to put on a brave face, enjoy the night without anymore painful visions and see if anyone would dance with me.
But as the hours passed, not one person came to offer his hand. I sat alone at the table, sipping on my third glass of white wine. It tasted rough but it was enough to calm myself and not really drunk out of my head. Robert and Hera were having a time of their lives, constanly dancing with smiles on their faces. Though I was happy for them to be so in love, when was my chance of having it? Sure, I have seen many handsome gentlemen in balls we went too but not one ever came near me. It felt like I had the plauge or worse, I refused to go anymore after last June where I seriously embrassed myself for being too merry on Sherry. A drink I would never touch or taste again.
Suddenly, the music changed for a more softer tone in melody and harmony. I studied the musicans taking extra care in this piece of music, I always wanted to know how these kind of people could play something so beautiful without a fault. Then my eyes lay on someone that made everything just freeze around me, even my own heart stopped beating. He stood before the crowd, each step he took made my mouth water. A black mask covered his face with only his eyes and mouth shown, he was taller than most men around him and had a sexual presence that was a like animal in it's cage waiting to be set free. He was making his way to me, a rush of panic came as I turned away from his gaze. No, not now. Please not me, I'm ugly and you can pick someone so much better than me.
"Madam," Said a very masculine voice that gave me the shivers. I slowly turned my head to meet his eyes, it was then I was lost into those orbs. Grey-green that had a hint of blue, full lips that curved to a fragile smile and that scent of male filled my nose with exoitc delights. His gloved hand was before me, I didn't realise that I took it and he was leading me to the floor. I could feel other couples watching us, amazed of strangly how we fitted. Yes he was around six foot two compared to my five foot six, his outfit was risky especially his frilly shirt that showed a bit of hair in his chest. He was dangerous but I was falling, way too fast for anyone to catch me and bring me to my senses.
As we swayed to the music, Robert and Hera stopped dancing to watch me and this handsome stranger so close together. She was shocked at the sight, if I knew her she would try and pull away from him but Robert stopped her before she planned anything. If he let her go and she did take me, she would have a fight in her hands. I was taken, heart and soul by him, no other man on this world would ever replace him.
I leaned against his chin, taking in everything about him. His steady heartbeat was comforting, my hands wandered around his clothing to feel every part of this being. I smiled at myself, then I pulled away from his chest to stare into those eyes of his. I could see he was lost with me too, he didn't care about any other stares around us. It was just me, him and the power of music surrounding a bloosoming love that was blooming every second past. I didn't want this to end, all I wanted was to surrdener in his arms and be with him forever. I felt like I knew him for all my life and yet tonight was when we met, oh how can fate play such a beautiful game! I longed to kiss those lips that were full and tempting to touch, I wonder if he thought the same.
The music was nearing a cresendo, I knew our moment was coming to a end but even if we don't dance again and I would have to say goodbye until whenever we could see each other again, this night will never be forgotten in my thoughts. The echo of a long pitched strings as we stopped, I took my hands from his and wrapped them around his neck. I slowly tilted my head and gently kissed his lips, his hands rubbed against my dress towards my neck that made me gasp with delight in his mouth. I could hear hushed whispers of outrage but I didn't care, this first kiss was like fireworks in my mind and my heart lept in unknown joys.
As we pulled away at the rightful time when the music ended, we just stared at each other. I could see his lips wet and his eyes filled with wanton, I was very much the same because I could see a small smile on his face. "Meet me tomorrow here, we must talk about this. Thank you, my dear." He gave me a full red rose, a last kiss on my cheek and he walked away from me. Though I felt like I was flying into heaven, I could feel us parting damaging my heart already. I watched him go, one more glance my way and he disappeared.
Authour's Note: Hope you like this chapter, I did. Next Chapter: Ariadane goes to visit the Phantom but he refuses her love for him and leaves her devested, then a new gentleman arrives and is the rightful type for her. Here comes trouble! Please Read And Review!