Story Title: Metamorphosis of the Phantom

Rating: T...Will be M

Pairing: Erik (The Phantom)/ OC (Beatrix Laroux)

Summary: When a girl has were life taken away from her, she wants nothing more than to return home. But when she learns she has the chance to change a man's life, whom she's idolized her whole life, she decides to take the chance of a lifetime.

Disclaimer: I own nothing! Just manipulating the characters and bending them to my will!

WARNING: THIS STORY CONTAINS SEXUAL CONTENT! Thank you! ~

My personal favorite!


Chapter 8

Everyone was in a hurry, scrambling to get everything ready for the play tonight. The audience were seated, expecting an epic performance, as always. However, tonight would be different. More than they could ever imagine. This was Don Juan Triumphant, a scene in the play Beatrix was far to familiar with. Madam Giry helped Beatrix into her costume, tightening the laces on her deep red corset.

Beatrix had her hands pressed against the wall as the corset began constricting her body. "You seem nervous," Giry said, pulling on the laces.

"Me?" Beatrix scoffed, trying to lighten her mood with sarcasm, "Why would I be nervous? Hundreds will be sitting there, watching me perform one of the Phantom's plays. One he will most likely attend, considering his previous appearance."

Beatrix knew of the Phantom's plan, but she couldn't let Giry know. This was going to be a difficult decision to make, considering how the story has ended every time she's watched the play. She needed to choose between removing the Phantom's mask, exposing him to the world and having him burn down the Opera Populaire, or accept his love, living with him for the rest of her life happy.

The Phantom made her happier than she could have ever imagined. However, her want to see her family made her contradict herself more than she would have liked. She knew the family she was raised with were all a part in the Gods master plan, and yet she couldn't let it go. She sighed, dropping her head. She spoke quietly enough no one heard her, except herself, "He did say he wanted a reason to burn this miserable place to the ground."

Giry finished lacing up the corset and made a need bow out of the black ribbon. "Come," Madam Giry said, touching her shoulder, signaling Beatrix to turn around. "Need to finish your hair and make-up."

She sat in the chair in front of the vanity while Giry began brushing her hair. Beatrix sighed and stared at her reflection in the mirror. The door to the dressing room opened and Meg entered the room. She came with a large bouquet of roses, so large, Beatrix had to turn and look at it, to make sure it was real. She raised from her chair, Giry releasing her to let her examine her gift.

Beatrix counted each rose twice, counting twenty-five total, each one with a thin black ribbon tied in bows on the stems. She took one from the bouquet and rolled it in her hands. Giry walked around her, looking at the rose in her hands. "You know who these are from, don't you?" she asked.

"Yes," Beatrix breathed, turning and walking towards the mirror. She tucked her hair behind her ear and snapped the stem off the rose, leaving half of stem intact. She made sure all the thorns were gone and tucked it on her ear and into her hair. Giry and Meg stood at her sides, looking at her through the mirror. "It's want he would want," Beatrix spoke as Giry smiled at her.

"He's a good man," Giry said as she reached for a box of make up.

"I never said he wasn't," Beatrix replied, sitting in the chair and facing her, closing eyes for make-up.

Giry began applying the make-up and continued, "He thinks highly of you."

"I know," Beatrix answered, "But I can't figure out what to do."

"Well," Giry replied, finishing up the make-up, "I would listen to my heart."

Beatrix looked down and a tear feel down her cheek, "That's just it. I don't know what my heart wants."

Giry knelt down, placing a hand on her cheek. She thumbed the tear away and said, "Only time will tell, Child. I only hope he understands."

"Me too," Beatrix answered, looking towards the roses.


Inside the top of the Opera Populaire, Erik was readying his backup plan, in case Beatrix rejected his advance. He was rigging the large, gas light chandelier, stretching a rope and tying it firmly to the wheel that secured the grand light. Hidden away on stage in plane view, a rope, ready to cut where if Beatrix denied him, he would take her forcefully and cutting the rope, giving him the perfect reason to burn the Opera House to the ground.

He checked his rope and chains, double checking that it would do what he commanded it to do. He ducked through his hiding spots, deep into his tunnels. As he traveled through the shadows, he came to the dressing room in which he stole Beatrix away from the Opera House. He watched through the mirror as Beatrix did some practice vocals.

As she sung in, what she suspected as, privacy, she let her tears fall. Erik knew she was still in pain, after all these years. He wanted to take away her pain by giving her a life of music and love, giving her whatever she asked of him. Even know, as he watched her try and sing the song he wrote and yet crying while doing so, he wanted to step through the mirror and comfort her. He shook his head and turned from the mirror, hurrying to his lair to finish dressing for his role.


The audience was in place, curtain ready to be drawn, and Beatrix's heart near exploding. She wasn't ready to make a choice yet. She needed more time. She hid in her spot off the stage, waiting for her cue. As she waited for the curtain to be pulled, she felt as if she was being watched. Her gaze traveled up and to the rafters, seeing dim lit blue eyes looking back at her. She gulped and lowered her head, running the scene over and over in her head.

He saved her life, confessed his love, taken life for her, and protected her and the only thing that she wanted to do was see her family again. Was it right? Was it wrong? She didn't know.

The curtains were quickly pulled back, music playing abruptly. It was loud and fierce, deadly and lustful. The dancers scattered around, taking their places and singing to their cue. It was a dark setting, just as she remembered. Deep reds and black everywhere, a center circle of paper flames. The audience were in awe and disgust, unable to comprehend the feeling of anger and lust, as well as the beauty and talent before them.

Beatrix cue came and walked out on stage, carrying her basket of roses, singing her line. She was so distraught that she couldn't even pay attention to herself. She stopped and fell to her knees, picking the thorns off the roses. She turned when she realized an actor was out of place. At the back of the stage, a small curtain opening, revealing a hidden Phantom. He began singing, his voice lost to her. She watched him approach her in horror, her mind unable to make sense of what she wanted.

Once he finished, he lowered the cape from his face, revealing a black mask that shielded the top half of his face a nose. Once he finished his lines, she brought herself from her mind and listened to him carry on with his voice, still able to take hold of her.

The music went silent as she rose to her feet and kept eye contact. As the music began to crescendo, he began singing, slowly walking towards her, with her full attention. "Past the point of no return, no backward glances. The games we played 'til now are at an end."

She, too, approached him, both beginning to circle the other, eye contact never breaking. "Past all thought of 'If' or 'When', no use resisting. Abandon thought and let the dream descend."

Their hands reached for each other, his lacing with hers. He twirled her around until her forced her back against his body, running his hands over hers. "What raging fire shall flood the soul? What rich desire unlocks its door?" He released her, one of their hands held, both watching as he began to distance himself. He looked her up and down, lust in his eyes. "What sweet seduction lies before us?"

He let her hand fall from his hand as they both backed away slowly. Firmly he sang, "Past the point of no return, the final threshold. What warm unspoken secrets will we learn?" His voice softened, almost inaudible, "Beyond the point of not return."

Beatrix finally broke her gaze from him, looking around the room as she began to sing her scripted reply. "You have brought me to that moment where words run dry. To that moment where speech disappears into silence. Silence." As the words exited her mouth, she couldn't help but have to fight tears. Erik's body trembled, wanting to wipe the tear away. She looked at him, seeing his need, and continued, "I have come here hardly knowing the reason why. In my mind I've already imagined out bodies entwining. Defenseless and silent and now I am here with you." Beatrix gave him a soft smile and a nod, "No second thoughts, I've decided, decided."

Erik fought a smile, desperately wanting to pull her into his arms and steal her away. Their eyes locked and together, they turned, working their ways to the spiral stairways he designed, to a bridge. Along the way she sang to him, "Past the point of no return, no going back no. Our passion play has now at last begun. Past all thought of right or wrong, one final question. How long should we two wait before we're one?"

Their eyes met once at the top of the stairs and on the bridge. As they slowly stepped towards each other she resumed, "When will the blood begin to race? The sleeping bud burst into bloom? When will the flames at last consume us?"

Together they sang, "Past the point of no return, the final threshold. The bridge is crossed, so stand and watch it burn." He pulled her body against her again, her back to his chest. He placed his hands atop hers and ran them up and down her curves and chest. "We've passed the point of no return," they sang, lowering their voices to silence.

They stayed still, giving into each others warmth. Quietly he sang to her, inhaling her scent from her hair. He poured all of his emotion, fighting joy and sadness at one time. "Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime. Lead me, save me from my solitude. Say you'll want me with you here beside you." Beatrix turned quickly, his hands cupping hers. A happy smile spread across her face, making his shine as well. She was so happy, and yet her confusion haunted her. This was the moment to chose, she had to.

The music increased quickly as he loudly sang, "Anywhere you go let me go too." Her name escaped his lips softly, then belting his final line. Her smile dropped and tears of pain rolled, but it was what was best. "That's all I ask of..."

Her hand forced itself to grab his mask, ripping it and his wig from his head. His eyes were filled with tears of sadness, having know this would come. Shrieks of fear and horror filled the Opera House as everyone witnessed the face of the Phantom. She couldn't stop herself from collapsing into tears. He sighed and pulled the sword from his hip. He pulled her to his body, holding tight, and cut the red rope, then kicked a lever, causing them to fall from the bridge and through the ring of fire on the stage.

The chandelier, having been connected to the red rope, plummeted downward, landing on many patrons and killing them. The gas lights exploded upon colliding with the ground, causing flames to begin engulfing the stage and seating. The audience tried to escape, the stagehands and dancers as well. Many people died that night, making Beatrix wonder if she really made the right choice.


SO MANY FEELS!

Please review! I hope you liked it! Just need a review/favorite/follow/PM/WHATEVER! And you will have the next installment of the story! Flames welcome!

Much loves! ~ Franky Toran