Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any of the characters in it.
"I'm telling you, I didn't write it!" I shrieked, but when I saw the man who owned the opera's eye-brows narrow(I think his name was Austin), I knew he didn't believe me. He sent a glare towards Tyler, the man who was holding me by my hair, and with a sigh, Tyler dunked my head back inside of the water. I managed to hold my breath in time, knowing I would need every breath.
Austin believed I had wrote a note in an attempt to make myself famous and keep the job of singing, which was far from the truth. I told him how Edward had kidnapped me, but he hadn't believed a word of it. I cursed the opera's previous owner for selling it to Austin; he would of believed me. According to the stories, he had several encounters with the phantom when he had done something to piss him off.
It took a minute, but Tyler raised my head up from the water, allowing me to take deep, struggling breaths. The water dripped down from the top of my head, which was wet, onto my face, sending shivers racking through my small frame from the cold. I took deep breaths, preparing myself to hold it at the last minute in case Austin decided to dunk my head once more. He owned this opera with another man; some guy named Ben or something, but he wasn't here. I wished he would save me.
"Confess that you did it!" Austin roared, and I shook my head. If I confessed to writing a note I didn't even write, I could also be blamed for several murders. The phantom had no mercy. Besides, if I confessed to it, he'd just beat me and then kick my mother and I out. I couldn't do that to her, even if it'd get me away from the phantom. I shivered once more, remembering his threat if I left the opera. Austin smiled, obviously believing I was cold.
"I didn't! I swear!" That was all I got out before my head was dunked once more. This time it didn't last as long, and Tyler released me completely. This had been going on for the past half and hour, which meant I hadn't had much oxygen. My head spun and I stumbled backwards, falling onto my bottom. I took deep breaths, my throat sore and hoarse. Austin tossed the note he received at me, spitting on the ground next to me.
"You'll do your usual act tonight. You only sing if we have an emergency. Our singer is far more famous then you. Get use to it."
I wanted to hit this ungrateful man, but refrained from doing just that. The other opera owner, Ben, wasn't that bad. He was the one who had decided I would sing in replacement for the other lady, and he had been most kind about it. But now our opera singer, Katie, was back, and more bitchy then ever. I stood up, Tyler helping me, and grabbed the crumpled note, sticking it in my pocket. I didn't blame Tyler; he had been ordered to do it.
When Tyler left me, after he was sure I was fine, I took the note out, re-reading it once more. In the note, it stated that I would be singing tonight, and to save a certain seat for the phantom or face the consequences. They weren't listening to it, and I almost felt bad for Austin when I remembered those crimson eyes. If it terrified me, who he would not hurt, how badly would it terrify a man he had the intention of hurting?
I tossed the note onto the ground, stalking away from it. I muttered profanities under my breath, smashing straight into someone. I mumbled an apology before brushing past the person, only to have their arm reach out and grab mine.
"Hey there, Bella, where do you think you're going?" It was Jacob. I felt a smile find its way on my face, and I laughed, grabbing his hand. Perhaps it was bold of me, but I knew Jacob liked me, so it was just fine. I liked him as well, just not as deeply as he liked me. He said he loved me. I just simply liked him because he was handsome, kind, funny and my best friend. It doesn't get any better.
"I'm going to my room," I sniffled. "Austin didn't believe that I didn't write that note, and honestly, I didn't, Jake! You know what happened!"
"Bella, I know you didn't write that note." He placed his hands on my shoulders, holding my gaze firmly. "I know you didn't write it, Bella."
I smiled, abruptly glad for people like Jacob. "I'm so happy someone believes me! I don't know what to do about the phantom, Jake. I'm sure you've heard the story; rumors fly around here. I'm so afraid," I whispered, my voice cracking slightly. Jacob pulled me to him, letting me wrap my arms around his muscular frame. I sniffed again, holding back the tears that welled up in my eyes.
He didn't say anything, and that's when I realization hit me. I pulled back, clasping my hands together. "You do believe me about the phantom, don't you, Jake?" I whispered out. He reached forward to touch a strand of my hair, tucking it behind my ear. He touched my cheek lightly, stroking it softly. I felt my lower lip shake, the desperation of wanting him to believe me hitting me quickly.
"I believe that you believe that happened," he whispered. I gasped.
"You don't believe me!" I shrieked, the tears falling out of my eyes and down my cheeks in a rapid motion. "You don't believe me!"
"I believe you didn't write the note, too."
"Oh?" I snapped. "Then who wrote the note, if I was never kidnapped and I didn't write the note? Hmm?" Perhaps I was over-reacting, but knowing that the only person who believed me was my mother made everything seem so much worse.
"Someone decided to pull a prank and wrote that note, is all. And I think you might be ill, Bella, which is why you think of all this has happened. But don't worry," he started to stroke my cheek again, "I won't let anyone touch you." And with that I started to sob, throwing my arms around him. Even if he didn't believe me, I need somebody, anybody, to protect me from the phantom.
"P-please don't leave me! Please don't let him take me!" I sobbed out, burying my face into his chest. "Please!" He stroked my hair gently, letting me sob into his chest.
"Nobody is going to harm you, Bella. I would never let them." He kissed the top of my head. "It was just a dream."
"It wasn't a dream!" I shrieked, yanking away from him. Tears were still sliding down my face and he reached over, wiping them away. "It wasn't, Jake. I know it wasn't, and he will come back for me. I know it -- I don't just think it. I know it. Please, Jake, I'm scared. I don't want him to take me away. I want to stay here with you!" And once again, he had me in his arms, letting me cry my heart out.
It took me a few minutes, but eventually I calmed down.
"Thanks for letting me have a good cry," I thanked him, sniffling. He laughed, wiping at my tears with his thumb again.
"Anything for you, Bella. Now go get cleaned up, Bells, because the show is starting soon. I can't wait to see you up there. You will look beautiful, as always." He kissed my cheek, making me blush. I watched him as he walked away, a smile slipping onto my face. He may not believe me, but I knew despite that, he would always protect me. I desperately needed his protection.
I went back to my room, dressing as quietly as I could so as not to disturb my mother. She was resting in her room with a headache, and I just hoped it was nothing serious. My sweet, up beat mother was usually never ill, and simple things such as that worried me. I dressed in my white pants and shirt, the outfit I had to wear for tonights show. We were putting on a little act, and I was playing a man. A silent man who did not speak, of course.
I wondered if they thought they were funny.
I left my curly hair down, not bothering to do anything with it. I was not playing a important role, and I had no one I wanted to impress.
My mother and I left for the show soon after, both of us silent. She was lost in deep thought, and I had a gut feeling she was thinking about the phantom and the note he sent. I hoped he would not do anything brash, despite the fact I had been punished and ridiculed for something I didn't do. I didn't want anyone to have to deal with the phantom. He was terrifying. No one deserves to have to deal with him.
My mother never went out on stage, but she did instruct the girls who went out and danced. She taught them everything they needed to know, so she always went for 'moral support'. I had always been her favorite student, of course, something that the others girls so obviously resented. I grabbed my mothers hand in my own, tightening my grip on her. I didn't want to ever let go.
"Best of luck, Bella," my mother said once we reached back stage. She leaned forward and kissed my cheek. "Enjoy yourself, but most importantly, be safe!" She kissed my other cheek. "Let no harm fall upon you, Bella." And just like that she was gone, reminding other girls of certain dance steps. I was all by myself now and I shivered, tightening my cloak around myself. I glanced around for those red eyes, knowing I wouldn't see them but knowing they were there.
"Go away," I whispered, shivers wracking my small form. "I know you're there." There was no response, and nothing happened. No sense of relief, no whisper back, no feeling of dread -- I assumed he just hadn't taken me seriously. If someone had heard me, they would not doubt think I was insane or conceited for thinking there was a man stalking me. But no, I only wish it were so. I was not insane, I was not coneited, and there was a monster stalking me, not a man.
I stayed in the public area, not brave enough to go anywhere by myself.
I took my cloak off right before the show started like everyone else, hanging it up when everyone else hung it up. Always staying in a group of people. I remembered his words... no, his warning that he would be visiting me. I didn't want to see him ever again, and if I could ever find a room that had no windows, vents, or anything of that sort, then I would sit in there and make my plans to escape where he wouldn't be able to hear or see me. (Unless he went through the door, which I doubted he would.)
The curtain was opened, revealing me and the other girls. Katie started singing, putting on a little act as well. I sat there and did as I was taught; gasping at the appropriate times, walking where I was told to walk. A rather boring part, especially seeing as how I loved to sing. I didn't really mind that much, though, seeing as how this involved no effort, and I felt so numb.
Just then, Katie's voice squeaked. She brought her hand up, touching her throat, a horrified expression upon her voice. She tried to sing again and it just came out as a squeak. This time, her cheeks flushed beat red. I shivered at the color, his vivid eyes still in my mind. She tried once more, and once again only a squeak came out. She glanced back towards the curtain and tried once more, a horrified and humiliated expression upon her face. Austin ran out, grabbing me by the arm.
"Please excuse this slight delay!" he called out, his voice ringing through out the room. Everyone who had been whispering and muttering to themselves went silent, each and everyone of them focused on Austin. "But it appears our singer, Katie, must take a small break." There were groans through out the room, and he abruptly shushed them. "But in exchange, we'll be having the lovely," he thrust me forward, allowing everyone to examine me, "Isabella Swan performing in her place."
There were cheers through out the room, and I sent Austin a furious look but did nothing else.
"I thought I told you to save me a seat."
The velvet voice rang through out the room, making everyone go silent. They all shuffled in their seats, turning around to find out where it came from. I looked around, backing away. I backed straight into Austin, who had released my arm, and with a shriek, I ran behind him, hiding. Austin sent me a panicked look, glancing around the room, trying to find who spoke those words.
"And I thought I told you to have Isabella perform from the start."
I covered my ears, trying to block everything out. I backed up again, crashing straight into someone. I shrieked, turning around, just to see it was Ben. He grabbed me by the top of my arms and pulled me behind him, covering me. Everyone stayed still for a moment, no one saying anything before they all burst out into whispers. Austin turned and grabbed me, pushing me behind the curtain.
"But first!" Austin called. "We will have some dancers perform while our new singer dresses. Good day to all!" And he bowed, exiting to behind the curtain. "Get ready, and quick!" he hissed. "I don't know if you think this is funny, and I don't really care. You will be performing. Are you happy now? Hurry up and save this show!" He was pinching the bridge of his nose and I shook my head.
"Please, please, no! I don't want to perform!" I cried out. He ignored me, and Ben placed his hands on the top on my shoulders just like Jake had done.
"Calm down, Bella. I believe you when you say you didn't do this, but someone is pulling a nasty prank, and we don't want to scare the audience anymore, so please; go out there!" I just shook my head, crying. I didn't want to face him, and I just knew that was not the last of Edward's 'pranks'. Ben led me towards a group of ladies who were holding a fancy dress, prepared for me. I continued to cry but let them dress me, knowing I couldn't avoid this situation without getting my mother and I kicked out of the opera. We would starve.
They dressed me fairly quickly, one of them tugging at my hair. She pulled it up, letting some of my curls fall down around my face. They were all talking to each other, trying to dress me nicely at the last minute. I knew my crying annoyed them to the extreme, but no one said anything in fear I'd be like Katie and just stomp out of there. I heard screams from the audience and I froze, holding my breath. The girls doing my dress and hair froze as well.
"Wait here," one girl muttered, opening the curtain slightly to take a peak out of it. She screamed as well, and just like that all of the dancers were running back behind the curtains, their terrified screams piercing the air. I ran towards the curtain, opening it the tiniest bit to take a peak out. Hanging on the audience, a rope around its neck, was the body of Tyler. I screamed, backing away. So the phantom had seen what had happened earlier.
I could hear the nervous whispers of everyone else when they saw me but I ignored them, grabbing my cloak and throwing it on. Jacob burst into the room, his breath uneven from running.
"Bella!" he shouted, running towards me and throwing his arms around me. I hugged him back just as tightly before pulling away and grabbing his hand.
"We have to get out of him!" I shouted over the screams of the audience and those back stage. He nodded his head and I ran, tugging him along with me. I ran up an old staircase, the wood creaking beneath our pounding feet as we ran. It shook a little bit as well, but that was most likely due to Jacob's weight, not mine. I kept my grip on his hand tight and firm as we reached the door at the top of the staircase. Pushing it open, a burst of cold air greeted us.
This door led to the roof of the opera, somewhere that not many people went due to the danger of the stairs and the fear of being pushed off. Besides, it was freezing up here.
"He's coming for me, Jake," I whispered, the tears slipping down my cheeks again. Perhaps I was acting a bit like a baby, but I was rather scared.
"It's just a bad, terrible prank, Bella. Nobody is coming for you," he told me, holding my freezing body against his warm one.
"How can you say that?" I choked out. "After what you saw and heard tonight, how can you say that?"
I knew why he said those things. He was in denial, and I knew that unless I could give some serious proof, he would never believe me. I couldn't really blame him, seeing as how if it were Jake that was being stalked by some monster girl, I would not want to believe it, either. I would believe it, though, because I trusted Jake. I bit my lip, not sure of what to make of this situation.
"Bella, Bella, Bella," his whispered, tilting my chin up. "It's all going to be okay. I won't let anyone touch you."
I didn't meet his gaze, choosing to look down instead. "How can I be sure of that, Jake?" I whispered. "You don't even believe me when I tell you someone is stalking me and planning on marrying me." I shivered, remembering that portrait. "If you won't trust me, Jake, how can I trust you to protect me?" I could see my words had affected him. He reached one hand up to touch my cheek but I pulled away, keeping my gaze on the floor.
"Bella, what you're suggesting is the impossible. A man with red eyes that lives in the bottom of the opera. It's impossible, Bella. I love you more then you can even comprehend, but that does not change the facts." He reached for me once more, pulling me into his tight embrace. I wrapped my arms around him, realizing how insane I must seem. And yet here he stood, promising to protect me. "Wait, Bella." He pulled away from me, reaching into his pocket for something. He pulled out a beautiful diamond ring, holding it out towards me. I knew what he wanted, so I slowly raised my left hand. He placed the ring on my finger, the engagement ring shinning in the night.
"You intend to marry me, Jacob?" I whispered. I knew that he knew that I would never refuse him, which is why no questions had been asked.
"I will love, protect and cherish you for eternity. I love you, Bella Swan."
At those words, I felt a smile creep its way onto my face. My hair blew wildly in the air, the band holding it up having fallen out.
"I love you too, Jacob."
Edward watched from a distance, her smile genuine and directed towards Jacob Black. To have her smile at him like that, what would he not give? To have her get engaged to him, what would he not give? He would give anything, he knew. He would do anything for her -- anything but leave her be. If she wanted him to build her an empire, he would do it all by himself just to see her smile.
If she wanted the most beautiful dress made for just her, he would learn to make it just to see her smile. He would do whatever she wanted, and yet here she was, putting on the ring from another man. A man who would not even believe her when she spoke the truth. This man was not even worthy to look at her, and yet here she was with Jacob Black instead of him. When Bella becomes his, he would keep her with him at all times. No other man would even be able to think about her.
He crushed the rose he was holding in his hand, his anger getting the best of him. He had intended to give her the rose as a present, but it was crumpled and destroyed now. He saw Bella and Jacob embrace, the rain starting to fall down gently. The sky was dark and cloudy, the dark gray clouds hovering over the opera. He dropped the rose onto the wet floor, the rain hitting it in a gentle pattern.
He stared at their embrace, and he knew he wouldn't be able to give up Isabella Swan. He would never leave her and he would never let her leave him.
Jacob Black would die.
I dressed for the masquerade, placing the mask gently over my pale face. Jacob had bought me it, saying it was the least he could do, seeing as how I was his date for the evening. He would be picking me up to attend it any minute now, actually. My mother was doing last minute arrangements to my hair, and I noticed she kept sniffling slightly. I resisted the urge to laugh, knowing she was going to cry in happiness as soon as I left.
She had been more then thrilled with our engagement.
We were keeping quiet about it, however, and so my engagement ring hung around my neck on a chain that went underneath my dress so it was hidden from view. I recalled last night when I thought I had heard his musical voice singing me a tune, one that sent me asleep right away. Not only did I think he was there last night in my room as I slept, but I also dreamed about him.
In the dream, he was holding me in his arms, murmuring words into my ears. I couldn't hear what he was saying, but then abruptly I was in Jacob's arms. I started crying, so happy to be free of Edward, but as soon as I started crying, he came back once more. But instead of Jacob just dissapearing, he was on the ground, dead, and Edward was holding me. I started screaming and crying as the phantom bent down to kiss me...
And then I woke up.
"In sleep he sang to me," I sang out, "in dreams he came. That voice that called to me, and speaked my name. And do I dream again, for now I find--"
"Shush, Bella," my mother hissed, glancing around as if the phantom was going to pop out of no where. I stopped singing, realizing it probably wasn't smart to sing.
A knock came on the door, and I sprinted from my mothers unrelenting grasp, yanking the door open. There sat Jacob with his own mask on, looking as handsome as ever. He brightened up when he saw me, bending down to kiss my cheek lightly. "You look beautiful," he complimented. I blushed, taking the arm he held out for me. Hopefully, this night would not be ruined by Edward.
As we entered the ball room together, I saw that it was rather crowded, and most everyone was dancing already. I giggled, seeing the look on Jacob's face. He did not dance, but he would for me, that I knew. He took my hand to lead me out into the area where everyone was dancing, resting his other hand on my hip. We danced slowly, neither one of us saying anything. There was nothing we could say without it just looking like we wanted to make small talk.
I rested my head against Jacob's chest, reaching up to fondle my engagement ring threw my dress. It was hidden from site, minus the chain it hung on. I dropped my hand, my eyes roaming the room. I could see Jessica flirting with Mike, Lauren crying with her friends, most likely about Tyler. Apperantly, she had liked him a lot and had wanted to marry him when she was older.
Austin and Ben were greeting people who were attending the masquerade, both of them looking nervous. Abruptly the room went silent, nobody moving or saying a word. I raised my head from Jacob's chest, looking in the direction they were all looking. They were looking at the stairs, the expressions on everyone's faces ranging from terror to confusion. A couple of people were now whispering.
And that was when I saw him.
With his gleaming red eyes, the mask hiding a bit of his nose and the area around the eyes. It only made his eyes and exquisite beauty stand out more. People were now turning around, trying to find who his eyes were trained on. I cringed away from him, cowering into Jacob. I looked up at him, and seeing his wide eyes, open mouth and shocked expression, I knew he finally believed me. He went to wrap his arms around me but I pushed them away, not wanting to put him in danger.
I slowly stepped towards Edward, my expression most likely showing my fear. It did not take long before he reached me, standing right in front of me. His cold, pale hand reached up to touch my cheek before trailed down towards my neck. I felt a moment of fear that he was going to hurt me, but all he did was gently finger the metal chain where my engagement ring hung before he yanked it off of me. I cried out in pain, reaching up to touch my neck.
"What," he hissed out, dangling the engagement ring in front of me, "is this?"
Disclaimer: Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed. I'll put the next chapter out as soon as possible. Hmm... can I get twenty reviews this chapter? I'll update either way, because I love to write and I love to make people happy. But twenty reviews would be really, really great and I would update much quicker. Thanks for reading, and please review!
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