Author's Note:
I want to thank those of you who have taken time out to read this. As always please read & review. While this follows most of the story as it was told in the movie, some of it as for his time with the gypsies follows the book. Well anyways, I'll let you guys get on with the reading.
PS: If you want to know what the entire outfit looks like search for the book cover 'Black Swan by Mercedes Lackey' in image search. Also this chapter is dedicated to Danish Fantasy Girl for the favorite and to RedDeathLvr(I love your s/n) for means the world to me to know that people are enjoying it. To RedDeathLvr thank you for the criticism, I will try to break it up a bit I tend to write how I talk which is a lot in a short time.
Chapter 9 – Heaven's Table
Heaven's Table – Garou
From the guy who stopped for the child on the street/To put a dollar in her hand for something to eat/To the mother who works every hour God made/To put the kids ―through school and get the loans repaid/She's some kind of hero/He's some kind of savior
Yeah maybe they're angels/Cause not all the angels/Not all the angels/Not all the angels sit at heaven's table/
There's a woman who listens on the all night phone/To another lost soul trying to get back home/I've seen a guy pull a stranger from a burning wreck/In the beat of a heart give his very last breath/That's some kind of hero/She's some kind of savior
Yeah some say they're heroes/And some call them saviors/But I think they're angels/Cause not all the angels/Not all the angels/Not all the angels sit at heaven's table
Heaven's Table
Three months had passed since she was beaten in these tunnels, and now she passed through them again, trying to not recall those events that lead her here. She didn't want to start shedding tears now she had to focus to stay quiet and follow the maze of tunnels so she could learn how to get out and above into the opera house. The dark figure in front of her stopped and looked around and she pressed herself against the wall praying she would not be seen as she held her breath. Soon the figure walked onwards and she let out the small breath she held and followed the figure through the tunnel passages. Soon she came to a two way mirror she could see into a large expensively furnished room, which she guessed must be one of the dressing rooms in the opera house.
She slid the mirror aside and hurriedly ran through the room once she saw she was alone. She stepped outside the room and looked at the name on the door it was Carlotta's dressing room but it must have been Christine's before that. Pink was everywhere and flowers covered almost every inch of space. She didn't have time to study the garish room. She slipped out careful to close the door silently, then she looked around for the figure and once she spotted him she hurried forward careful not to be seen. She needed to find the way out if her plan was to work.
There was a small brick that jutted out of the wall ever so slightly, that if she hadn't seen it she would have never guessed it was her ticket out. Once it was pressed a small doorway opened that led outside the opera house into the alleyway. This was the secret she was after. She went to the doorway after the figure past through it making sure to make a mental note of the brick to be pressed to open the door. After the doorway closed she quickly went to the window to watch the figure walk down the street. His was a figure hard to miss his cape billowing around him his agile body moved quickly through the streets blending into the darkness the evening had brought but soon he stopped and turned, she froze in place expecting him to turn back and see her looking through the window for if she was discovered, all was lost. Instead he turned to a small boy who she hadn't noticed and placed a couple francs into his hand. The boy who was obviously, a homeless orphan looked at the amount in his small hand and began to cry and thank the retreating figure. After she resumed breathing Alina could feel her heart skip a beat at such a compassionate display.
She turned around and headed back the way she came back into the tunnels. She had to work on her plan, which was much easier now they were no longer in the lower secret tunnels. For the past month Erik had set up booby traps all over the lair to see if in fact the mob and police had given up their search for him thinking he had escaped the country and was now long gone. She was glad they were now in his lair the secret tunnels were much darker and smaller and she also felt bad that she slept in the bed while he was forced to sleep in the chair despite her pleading that he take the bed instead after all it was his bed, but he refused. At least here there was a settee they he would nap on but she suspected he was getting used to sleeping in the chair.
She was also glad for a proper washroom she could not use the tub but she was glad for the toilet she was getting tired of using the chamber pot. She went into the lair and continued straightening up. When they had first came into the lair it was a complete mess, furniture was flipped over, his music scores were ripped, mirrors smashed, and a layer of dirty muddy footprints covered the floors. She cleaned the floor getting the last bit of mud off of it. The furniture and music sheets she left to him and she took care of dusting and cleaning up the broken shards of mirror.
She thought of her plan and hoped that it worked, but she was afraid it might not. She wanted to do something special for the Phantom, her Phantom. He had been so kind to her that she wanted to repay him for everything that he had done for her if only in a small way. She busied herself cleaning the place glad that she could finally walk without pain and soon without the cast and then she would be able to bathe fully, she saw that there was a small waterfall deep in the caverns just behind the lair, which is what fed into the lake. It was only about seven feet high but was perfect for bathing. She had learned to make do without shampoo at least she had soap. She could always make herself shampoo but knew she had no way of getting flowers, maybe when she went above she would find some jonquils if she was lucky. The one thing she did long for was a new chemise, her were getting raggedy and torn from so much use. She had no reason to wear her dress since it was warm and just the two of them. Besides, with all the cleaning it would've just ruined them.
She went to the small kitchen and made her self some willow bark tea she didn't want to have pain later she could already feel the soreness from cleaning. She was very glad of her plan she was getting tired of eating porridge for each meal and longed for meat and vegetables. She felt worn out and headed to the bed she loved this bed it looked just like a black swan she had seen once at a carnival as a child, there were all kinds of exotic animals but none more beautiful or more musical, which reminded her of the Phantom, her sweet Phantom.
She wanted to rest and then when she awoke she would practice her dancing she wanted to dance to the song she first heard him sing that fateful night. She had prepared a passionate seductive dance to match the dark seductive music. She lay down and thought of her plan to repay Erik for all he had done to help her recover from her injuries and for being a friend even if she knew he didn't fully trust her. She would show him how much she cared for him and how much she valued and appreciated him. So only had to rehearse her plan some more she wanted to make sure that the Phantom would not realize that she was gone before she was outside and ready with her purchases.
She found some belladonna in his medicine bag, and knew it would act as a mild sedative. She wished she could figure another way, but there was no other way to surprise him. She was sure no one had ever surprised him by doing something nice for him and she wanted to be the first. She knew it would not make up for the years he suffered and was alone but it might help. She soon fell asleep only to be awoken later by Erik.
"I am sorry to wake you but I wanted you to see what I purchased."
She rubbed her eyes and sat up wishing she had awoken earlier to work on her dancing but knew she must have worn herself with the cleaning. "It is okay I do not mind that you woke me. What have you purchased?" He handed her a large cream colored box which she opened happily there was mounds of tissue paper inside and under the tissue paper what she found touched her in it's thoughtfulness. It was two brand new chemises and underskirts. The gift touched her more than she thought it would and a tear rolled down her cheek. Erik wiped her tear away with his thumb.
"I hope you like them I do not know much about woman's fashion. You have seen the girl in the shop staring at me when I asked to buy these."
She giggled imagining this tall foreboding man in a lingerie shop purchasing chemises. "They are wonderful, thank you so much for these. I'm afraid these were getting a bit worn out."
"I wish we could have come up sooner but I wanted to make sure the mob and police were completely out of our lives."
She smiled at the way he said 'our lives' and held the chemise close to her heart. She noticed another box near by this one was a white color and had a pale blue bow tied around it.
He held the box in his hands but hesitated in giving it to her. "This one I want you to open now and see if it fits, I had to guess your size but if it does not fit then I will take it back to have it fixed in time."
"In time for what, may I ask?"
"In time for the masquerade ball of course, the opera house has been under construction for the past months to repair the damage from the fire, and to install a new chandelier." He said sheepishly. "The managers Monsieur Moncharmin and Monsieur Richard have been working the construction workers feverishly to get the opera house back in working order so they will suffer no more lost revenues. So in three months they will be done with the repairs and will hold a masquerade ball to celebrate the reopening of the opera house and as a way to attract more benefactors. They are pressing for Christine's triumphant return to the Opera Populaire but they worry she will not return. "
Alina felt a stab of jealousy at the mere mention of Christine's name. She had been worried for the past weeks what Christine's possible return would mean to the Phantom. Would he want to pursue her again? He had said he let her go because she had shown him compassion and she loved another but how would he view her returning to the opera house would he see it as a return to him? Where would that leave her? All alone again and without the man she had fallen in love with over these past months. The man who was her guardian angel on Earth her savior, her Phantom. She never thought she would find anyone she would love especially a non-gypsy if you had told her years ago she would have thought you mad. But here she was in love with a man who loved another. She felt her spirit soar when she was around him and she couldn't imagine what it would be like without him. She worried that Christine would take him away from her.
Erik saw sadness in her eyes and figured she must miss the interaction with people. Gypsies are a very social bunch who loved to be in big groups and as much as she said she was fine saying below with him he didn't believe her he knew she must want to be with others socializing so he hoped the ball would help make her happy and make it easier for her to stay. He didn't want to hold her prisoner like he had Christine, but he didn't want to see her leave either. He waited for the day that he awoke and she would be gone, disappeared as though she never was. She had become some kind of angel to him helping him to keep his sanity after all Christine had put him through. He had almost forgotten about the large box in his hand until he almost dropped it.
"Ah, yes, I want to see if it fits so it'll be ready in time for the ball. That is if you would like to accompany me?"
She looked up at him her eyes sparkling. "I would love to accompany you to the masquerade. I have heard much about masquerades but alas I have never been to one before."
"That is why I took the liberty of picking out a costume for you." She opened the box and the first thing she saw was a beautiful black velvet half face mask that was shaped like a swan's head with orange bill jutting out. Three large black feathers fanning out from the top and a small purple crown topped the mask. A long stick was attached so she could hold the mask to her face making her resemble a black swan queen. It looked so delicate she laid it on the bed gingerly.
She pulled out the dress next, it was so beautiful it nearly took her breath away. The bodice was similar to a corset in design but it was covered in dark green scroll work and fancy intricate purple glass beading along the waist that dropped down to a V shape ending in a large purple amethyst and three purple cabochons were inlaid into the middle of the bodice and the dresses straps. She was certain if they were real the cost would be exorbitant. The skirt had hoops so it flared out from the bodice and the skirt was covered in layers of black feathers. A bustle went around the dress that matched the scroll work of the bodice. She could imagine the cost of the details alone. Under the dress was a pair of black wings that had straps to go around her arms and could attach to the dress. There were sapphires, amethyst and quartz cabochons attached to the wings. She looked at him teary eyed, no one had ever given her a gift that was so costly or so wonderful and heartfelt before. She was quiet for a few moments before she spoke softly. "I can not accept this it is much too expensive."
"It was not so expensive the woman who had commissioned it no longer had the need for it so it was just sitting in the shop. No one wanted it because it was of a dark design however when I saw it I thought of you. It was as if it were waiting for you." He felt relieved he worried her silence was because she didn't like it.
She agreed with him. "It must have for I have loved black swans ever since I saw one as a child."
He recalled the look on her face when she saw the bed in the lair the one he had used for Christine, what was meant to be their wedding bed. Her voice interrupted his dark thoughts.
"They are beautiful regal creatures and most people do not know that they are also quite…."
"Musical" they both said in unison.
"They have fascinated me for the same reason." They both smiled at each other.
"Put it on, I want to know if it fits."
"Very well just let me bathe first I am quite dusty from the cleaning."
"Thank you the place looks wonderful."
She smiled at the compliment and took the box and one of the new chemise and underskirts with her to the waterfall so she could bathe before she put on such a fancy dress. She washed herself twice to make sure she had removed all the dust and grime from her hair and skin. Again she longed for proper shampoo the soap was beginning to dry out her hair. She pulled the gown on surprised by the weight of it, but managed to get it on the shoulder straps kept it in place. The bodice she would need help fastening but she could tell it would fit her if it were tightened. She wished she had pins to put up her hair but left it down for now and made a mental note to get some pins when she went out the next day and she placed the mask over her face. It took her a few minutes until she figured how the straps to the wings worked and put them on as well, thankfully they were lighter than they looked.
She walked out towards the lair and looked in the bed chamber but the Phantom was not there and soon she heard music floating from the main chamber and headed towards the music. He sat over the organ playing a beautifully powerful song one she had never heard him play. She could feel the music in her soul, in her body, her heart beat to the rhythm of the song. He sang with such emotion, she could the sadness in his voice. She closed her eyes feeling the music as he sang almost if he were singing to her. "Softly, deftly, music shall caress you/hear it, feel it, secretly possess you. Open up your mind/let your fantasies unwind/in this darkness that/ you know you cannot fight/the darkness of the music of the night. Let your mind start a journey/through a strange new world! Leave all thoughts/of the life/you knew before! Let your soul/take you where you/long to be!" His voice reverberated off the cave walls leaving her stunned by the range of his voice and the sheer power. Then he began again softly.
"Only then can you/ belong to me . . ." She let her mind wander to imagine what if he was singing to her and imagine what life could be like with him by her side. This amazing man she loved completely sharing a life together have a family together. She suddenly realized that the music had stopped and when she opened her eyes the Phantom was staring at her.
She felt the warmth rising up to her cheeks. "I am sorry I didn't mean to interrupt your singing, but it was so beautiful that I could not resist listening to it."
He smiled at her, "It's quite all right I haven't played in a long time the violin is a wonderful instrument but the organ is much more powerful." He walked down towards her but soon stopped in his tracks as he saw her in the costume. It fit her perfectly and caressed her curves. The neckline was lower than he anticipated and showed off a nice amount of decolletage, which he tried not to stare at, which shot pangs of desire to his loins. Her hair cascaded down her back just hitting her waist. The mask framed her eyes making them more intense, her face was flawless no traces of the bruising remained, her lips were full and wet from where she just licked them. He felt as if she was seeing her for the first time. She was so desirable; he stopped himself from rushing towards her. Christine to him was beautiful like an angel perfect and flawless but this woman was like a siren her beauty alluring and real, a fallen angel dark and mysterious and stirred up his passion and made his blood boil. He realized he was staring. 'Say something you fool before she thinks you daft.' "You look beautiful, absolutely amazing."
She closed her eyes and tilted her head down but he saw the color rise to her cheeks. He looked her over from head to toe and stopped when he saw her boots scuffed and worn. "I almost forgot something." He pulled her back to the bed chamber, and had her sit on the bed. He pulled out a shoebox and pulled out a pair of black leather boots similar in style to hers but she could see the quality was much better. He kneeled on the ground and pulled off her boots and she tried not to dwell on the amazing feeling of him touching her bare skin. He put the other boots on her and she felt like Cinderella finding her prince.
"How do they feel?"
"They are amazing the leather is so soft and supple."
"I am glad you like them I knew these would go along better with the costume."
"Yes they are definitely much better. I am going to take this off I do not wish to damage it before the ball."
"Very well I will leave you to change I will be in the main chamber making us something to eat." He just walked out the doorway when she stopped him.
"Phantom?" He turned to face her. "Thank you…for everything. I will repay you for all you have done."
"There's no need to do that."
"I know but I want to."
He smiled and left her to undress. They shared dinner together, conversed some more before going to bed. When they slept they could barely contain their happiness.
A/N: Did anyone worry she was trying to plan her escape at first? Cause that's what I was hoping for. Please review if I succeeded.
