Hello readers!
This chapter asked some work but I am happy with the final result. I got some help for the lyrics from my good...no...best friend Lorien Urbani. :) Thanks lady, I owe you one! ;) I hope you will enjoy this new rewritten chapter. :)
Kaya
Chapter 14
Once Catherine finally was far enough from La Rose Bleue, she slowed a bit, walking almost lazily down the streets, on the verge of tears. Singing in front of so many people had been a mistake and worst of all, she did so before the De Chagny. Yet, this moment would never be forgotten on her part, it had been the most wonderful experience she ever had and being applauded just amplified that feeling ten fold.
Though, now Catherine was confused, very much so. She walked for hours on ends and realized that her feet led her to the old Opera Populaire. It was dusk and tiredness overcame her. She was exhausted from all that happened that day and the long walk. To top it all, her still fragile leg was hurting badly. Her heart screamed at her to go to the secret passage of La Rue Scribe, but her mind told her to respect Erik's wish. She would not try to see him, he asked her not to…
With a deep, tired sigh, Catherine turned towards the main entrance of the once renowned Populaire. She had little choice, it was almost dark and she needed to rest a while if she wanted to have enough energy to go back to Raoul and Christine's home. Also, she did not want to return to the mansion just yet, she was too scared to face them…
She took a step towards the imposing door, her leg was very painful and only then did she realize that she was crying again. She was just so tired… Catherine entered the great hall of what used to be a beautiful, not to say magnificent, opera house. Now it was gray with ashes and dust.
-"Anybody home?" She asked out loud, not really expecting any answer but the echo of her own shaky voice
Walking through the dirty cold corridors, Catherine explored each room that was not too dark. The fifth door she opened led her to a sumptuous dressing room. The fire only burnt around the doorway, leaving the rest of the room miraculously intact. Cautiously, she entered, her eyes filled with wonder as they gazed about the place. It really was magnificent, though a bit dusty. It did not take her long to figure that this once was the Prima Donna's dressing room. At that moment, the young woman recalled some parts of Christine's story, mostly about the Angel of Music and the first time he drew her down into his lair.
-"The mirror…" Catherine whispered to herself as her eyes fell onto it
Heading towards her reflection, she touched the polished silver surface with the tip of her fingers. Her heart was beating quite fast as she stared at herself in the mirror. Quickly turning away, Catherine limped out of the dressing room as fast as her tired and painful body would let her. How she wished the famous angel would have appeared to her and take her back to the house of the lake.
Catherine kept walking into the quickly darkening corridors, willing her thoughts about Erik away, or at least she tried… Soon, she arrived in the theater and she gasped. It was so different from when her father had taken her there, it broke her heart. Making her way between the rows of ruined seats, tears came to her eyes as she reached the orchestra pit.
As she arrived in front of the stage, Catherine found she could not repress herself from climbing on it. It was quite a difficult and painful task, but she could not care less at that moment. When she finally was on the stage, the young woman walked to its middle front. As she always did whenever she was singing, Catherine placed her hands to her heart, closed her eyes and let her sweet voice come out. The theater was given Think of Me.
Deep down, in the fifth cellar to the Populaire, sitting at his pipe organ, the Phantom of the Opera was desperately trying to compose something new. Yet nothing came to his mind but the angelic features of his dear Catherine. Two months had already passed since that unexpected kiss she had given him.
More than once he saw her, keeping hidden so she would not know about his presence. Once or twice she sneaked out of her prison during the night to take long walks by the Seine River and every time he followed her in her dangerous hike. He was always behind her, making sure she would not get in trouble. If he could not be with her, he would at least be there to protect her should anything happen. Yet, seeing her walk so many hours had him worried, even more so as she limped on her way back. But what could he do…?
Finally giving up on the idea of composing, the Phantom found himself drawing Catherine's portrait for the hundredth time at least. Taking infinite care in what he was doing, Erik defined her every features to perfection, his heart breaking with each line he drew. Only when he was done did he decide to do something a little less heartbreaking.
Retrieving his new cloak from his bedchamber, he swiftly put it on. He did not like it as much as his old one, but somehow he found it comforting that it was Catherine who had it. Adjusting his mask, Erik then put his gloves on and made his way through his underground kingdom. Soon enough, he was at the bottom of the all too familiar staircase.
It was then that he thought he had finally lost reason for good, for he heard a voice. Frowning, thinking he was not that crazy yet, the Phantom listened carefully. The voice seemed to come from the auditorium and as he slowly made his way up the slippery steps, he recognized this voice as Catherine's. As soon as realization hit, Erik ran all the way up, his legs running as fast as his heart was beating until he reached box 5. From there he could hear better and see what was going on in the theater.
There she was, his Catherine, on the very stage he had cursed and though he was sad that she was finished with her song before he arrived, Erik was also filled with joy at seeing her and he certainly could not stop himself from smiling when he saw her bow to the empty rows of seats.
To his surprise, Catherine did not leave the stage after her fantasy was over. She sat and a moment later lay down on her side. He found it strange and he observed her for a while. It was not long before she fell asleep. The Phantom thought there would be no harm in taking a closer look, just to make sure she was alright…
Once on the stage wing, Erik could not help but smile once more. She was napping there, on the burnt stage as though it was the most normal thing to do. He forced himself to turn away, afraid he might not resist the urge to approach her, to talk to her, to…
-"AHHHhhh!"
Catherine screamed, efficiently pulling the Phantom from his rational thinking and having him running to her side with lightning speed. His heart raced but he chuckled when he saw what had woken her so abruptly. A rat was feasting on her right shoe.
When Catherine saw Erik appear seemingly out of nowhere, she thought she was still asleep and she prayed with all that was left of her meager strength that she would not wake up now.
When Erik saw the way her eyes widened at his sudden appearance, he was about sure she would scream again. Her color had changed with alarming speed, from a sweet, endearing pink complexion to a ghostly white.
-"Bonjour." She said softly, trying to get up which made the rat run away
Listening only to his gentleman manners, Erik leapt to her side, helping her getting up. It surprised and embarrassed them both and they blushed the same shade of red. Neither found the will to speak, the awkwardness of the moment keeping them effectively silent. Biting her lip, Catherine decided it was time for them to act like adults and she broke the heavy silence.
-"I see that the Phantom is still haunting his opera house." She smiled, now hoping her jest would not offend him
Erik was embarrassed and blushed once more, even though it was very unlike him. He was so like a little boy in her presence… He knew she was not making fun of him though, but merely trying to put some weight off their shoulders, to break the ice. He certainly did not expect that reaction from her… The Phantom gasped when she delicately, shyly took his gloved hand in hers, avoiding his eyes, looking at their now entwined fingers, leather mingled with skin.
-"Are you still angry at me?" She asked, tears falling freely on her flushed cheeks
-"Catherine, I was not… Why would you think such a thing?"
-"I thought you were angry…because of the kiss we shared…"
-"Things are much more complicated than that. You must know that…"
He interrupted himself when he heard the faint sound of footsteps coming their way and soon they both saw the light of a lantern across from the theater. Taking Catherine's hand, Erik quickly led her to the dressing rooms' corridor.
-"We must hide, or the opera house's keep will find us." He breathed, folding his arm around her shoulder to help her walk a bit faster
They entered the Prima Donna's dressing room and the Phantom pulled Catherine towards the great golden mirror across the room. He fingered the side of the carved frame unlocking the passageway, then slid the mirror to the right. The footsteps were approaching behind the closed door to the dressing room and Erik held his right hand out to Catherine who did not hesitate one moment in taking it. They stepped over the golden frame and into the dark passage, the Phantom quickly replacing the mirror into place. Turning to the young woman, he put a finger to his lips, hushing her. The opera house's keeper opened the door, too a glimpse inside the dressing room, lighting it with his small lantern, then left. Catherine sighed with relief.
-"Why is there someone guarding ruins?" She asked in a barely audible voice
-"There still are many props to steal and other valuable items, while some others are curious about…well…me."
Taking her hand, Erik slowly led Catherine down the dark corridor. She knew this was the same path Christine Daaé had taken when she and the Phantom of the Opera met for the first time. Music came naturally into her mind and unknown lyrics came out of her entranced mouth.
He sings me to sleep
In dreams he comes
His voice appeases me
Calling my name
Am I dreaming again
I hope I'm not
My Phantom of the Opera is there
Within my heart.
Erik's breath caught in his throat. This song was very different from the one Christine had sung, yet there was the same passion and not an ounce of fear. Smiling to himself, he answered to her song, wondering where this would lead them.
Sing this one song with me
Our first duet
Your power over me
Grows stronger yet
And yet you look at me
Not glance aside
I Phantom of the Opera am there
Within your heart
Erik helped Catherine sit into the new gondola he built and she gasped before the beauty of his underground kingdom. Though, she could not help but close her eyes, needing to feel every word of their strange song.
I gazed upon your face
No fear in me
I hate the mask you wear…
Erik sighed as he rowed forward, her words surprising him as he launched their duet.
…It's me I fear.
Our spirit and our voice
In one combined
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Within my/your heart.
Catherine smiled.
Is there my Phantom of the Opera…
It was Erik's turn to grin.
Sing my Angel of Music
The young woman's voice produced a series of high and complex vocalizes and the masked man thought her voice never was clearer, purer. It was much more powerful and assured than Christine's voice ever was, or ever would.
Sing…Sing my Angel!
Sing for me!
At this moment her voice climaxed to perfection the Phantom thought no one could ever reach, unless she was a real angel. He knew then that he had touched a piece of Heaven.
AN: I hope I won't have any problems since I changed the lyrics of the original Phantom of the Opera song... Well, I do not own any Phantom rights, I hope that does it! lol