Caylin's P.O.V.
I saw Erik come out of his hiding place. He had a somber look on his face.
"You were so beautiful up there. You're performance was beyond sublime tonight" Erik told me.
"Thanks" I said to Erik with a smile, but then I let my face turn serious again, "But I don't think you wanted to just give me compliments Erik."
"You're still as sharp as ever" Erik muttered to himself before speaking normally, "Why did you speak like that to Christine? Like she was stupid?"
"Because what she asked had an obvious answer, but I think she asked me because wanted to confirm it for herself" I answered.
"You think I'm going to the Masquerade?" Erik asked me. I answered him back with a look saying "You're seriously asking me this?". Erik and turned to leave.
"Erik, what the do you think you're doing? You question me on what I did just now and you walk away? I know you're secretive, but you're acting more distant than usual. What's going?" I demanded getting tired of his games. Erik didn't answer me but went on his way as if he didn't hear me but I know he did.
"Ugh! You're unbelievable! Are you even my friend anymore? I thought you cared about me" I cried out in his direction knowing he can hear me. When I received no answer, I huffed in annoyance and left the church. I was also feeling hurt, but I would let Erik know that if he didn't care.
I went back to the studio. Everyone was inside, but from the looks of things, Sal was going to sing something before we all went to bed. Sal must've been insistent on it if he wanted to do it at this hour. I didn't mind though. I needed to get my mind off of Erik right now. I'll worry about him later. Jo looked especially ready for Sal to sing. She always swooned when it happened, except for when they perform on stage together because when that happens, they're both lost in their roles. The musicians play the first note and Sal began his song.
I can't take no more of this
This nightmare has to end
In this God forsaken place
Death would be a welcome friend
I could pay a crooked God to kill me
Yeah, that's it
Better that, than sixteen years dying
Slowly bit by bit
All I did
Was rob a few stores!
Justice here don't fit the crime
I've broken by the devil!
Justice here is a waste of time!
I won't get to Heaven
Why not raise a little hell?
You'll see me
But it's the last time!
That filthy scum has gotta go!
By tonight, it will be over
When I strike the fatal blow!
No way out, I gotta do this!
Him or me
Okay let's play!
Never killed
But now I have to!
Oh, time to make it cry to pay!
I won't get to Heaven
Why not raise a little hell?
No way I'll see Heaven
So let's raise a little hell!
We all applauded when Sal finished his song. He belted that last note perfectly and Jo went right up to him kissing him right on the mouth the second she got to him. I laughed a little when I saw that. Before they got together, Jo would've been too embarrassed of doing something like that, but now that she knows that he loves her and doesn't want anyone else to be with him, she's been expressing her feelings for him whenever she got the chance non-stop. I felt happy for them as I did for everyone else in Troupe that was a couple. But it was at times like this I got lonely, wishing I had someone in my life. But I don't think it's going to happen anytime soon.
I also know Sal chose to sing this song because of how bad things were getting around here. We all knew Erik was planning something. We were all trying to figure what to do when that happens, especially since we're leaving the Opera House a few months after the Masquerade. That was my biggest concern. I was slowly becoming scared that Erik would something to keep us from leaving, me in particular. As I changed into my nightgown behind a screen, there was a knock on the studio door. I heard Peter get the door. I didn't pay attention to wait was going on. I went to my bed and took of my locket and ring.
"Caylin" I heard Peter call. I looked at him.
"Yeah, what is it?" I asked getting out of bed walking to him.
"Madame Giry just gave me this note from Erik" Peter explained as he gave me the note. "Did something happen between you two?"
I sat down next to Peter at his bed. I told Peter what happened as I opened Erik's note.
Caylin,
I'm sorry I made you feel like that. I've been incredibly busy and what I had to do couldn't wait.
Erik
I gave Peter the note after I finished reading it.
"I don't know what's going on here, but I don't like it. Also, I don't want to do this, but if I still don't know his past by the Masquerade, I'm going to do what I said and get it from Madame Giry" I told Peter nervously feeling scared about not knowing or understand why it's happening.
"Why not get it from Madame Giry right now?" Peter asked.
"Because I want to hear it from Erik," I explained "But I will do it if he still refuses to talk. I'm a woman of my word."
"Yes you are" Peter responded pulling me into a hug. I hugged him back holding onto him tightly. I needed my father right now. I let myself become vulnerable now. I was in a safe environment with people I love and trust. I cried into Peter's shoulder as he stroked my hair like I was a child again. He didn't do this often, only when I got really upset or stressed out and this time was no different. Even I needed this kind of treatment on occasion because I'm still human and humans need comfort, love and support.
"Three months later. Night of the Masquerade"
My costume was ready. Yves and Isobel were the only ones not going to the Masquerade due to them still being kids. Molly was looking after them since she's not a party person. Peter is dressing up as the Raven from Edgar Allan Poe's poem, Tristan and Chloe are dressed up as Sarastro and the Queen of the Night from Mozart's Die Zauberfloute, Jo was dressed as a Vampire Bride, Sal was dressed as the Bear from Shakespeare's A Winter's Tale, Dave was dressed as a Wolf, Rob and Heather were dressed as Mark Antony and Cleopatra and Adam was dressed as a Goblin. My Siren costume was complete and I was wearing it with my mask. I'm wearing black fingerless arm gloves that go up to the end of my elbows, a long black and red flowing gown with no sleeves wrapped around my chest top part of my breasts showing ending in the middle top part of my chest, the back of dress ending at my shoulder blades, black starting at the top of gown becoming red the further it goes down and completely red ending at the bottom of the dress, and the dress ends at my ankles. The dress was on securely and I know won't fall off no matter how much movement or jumping I do (I had Jo's help for that thankfully). I'm wearing black dance shoes. My hair is out, not tied up in any way. My mask is sparkling black and red all in a Venetian style, the clasps on the ribbons of the mask are grasping onto my hair, making sure it doesn't fall off my face. The fabric of my costume was flowing satin, and when doing kind of movement, people can see the outlining of my legs. Some people would call this something a "lovely lady" would wear but I don't care what they think because to me, this shows who I am, a woman who refuses to be tamed by ANYONE as well as showing my free spirit and independence. Peter was holding onto my beloved locket and ring. I still believe Erik is going to show up, and until then, and only if he does something crazy again, I'm not putting on my locket and ring. First I want to see if I can figured out, not just by Erik, but by the others as well. Before leaving the studio for the Masquerade, we all worked out a selection of signals to send to everyone in case anything happened as well as what songs to sing if we decide to do any. Nobody outside the Troupe knew what we were wearing so we all couldn't wait to surprise everyone and see their reactions.
As I walked toward the front of the Opera House I heard Firmin and Andre say how wonderful it was that Erik couldn't be here.
"Can't be here? Yeah right. This is the perfect time of him to come out for him to do whatever he wants and after the party, people still won't be able to identify him" I thought feeling annoyed with Firmin and Andre's stupidity. I heard music being played and people were singing. The costumes looked amazing and everything was looking great. I didn't want to dance with anyone though and it didn't help that men were at me with lust in their eyes and on their faces. I stayed at the edge of the banister sitting there taking everything in and at the same time, keeping eye open for Erik and knowing where everyone in the Troupe is.
Masquerade!
Paper faces on parade . . .
Masquerade!
Hide your face,
So the world will
Never find you!
Masquerade!
Every face a different shade . . .
Masquerade!
Look around -
There's another
Mask behind you!
Flash of mauve . . .
Splash of puce . . .
Fool and king . . .
Ghoul and goose . . .
Green and black . . .
Queen and priest . . .
Trace of rouge . . .
Face of beast . . .
Faces . . .
Take your turn, take a ride
On the merry-go-round . . .
In an inhuman race . . .
Eye of gold . . .
Thigh of blue . . .
True is false . . .
Who is who . . .?
Curl of lip . . .
Swirl of gown . . .
Ace of hearts . . .
Face of clown . . .
Faces . . .
Drink it in, drink it up,
Till you've drowned
In the light . . .
In the sound . . .
But who can name the face . . .? I heard Raoul and Christine sing that little part in all of the excitement. Christine was wearing a pink princess costume and Raoul was dressed as prince. Typical. Everyone started singing again.
Masquerade!
Grinning yellows,
Spinning reds . . .
Masquerade!
Take your fill -
Let the spectacle
Astound you!
Masquerade!
Burning glances
Turning heads . . .
Masquerade!
Stop and stare
At the sea of smiles
Around you!
Masquerade!
Seething shadows
Breathing lies . . .
Masquerade!
You can fool
Any friend who
Ever knew you!
Masquerade!
Leering satyrs
Peering eyes . . .
Masquerade!
Run and hide -
But a face will
Still pursue you!
What a night I heard Madame Giry sing with them. She was wearing her usual attire with a mask added to it. Meg was dressed as white bird of some kind and Carlotta and her husband were dressed as a royal couple of some kind. Firmin and Andre were dressed as skeletons with opera capes. If they were trying to dress up as Erik, they were doing a bad job at it.
What a crowd! I heard Meg sing
Makes you glad! I heard Andre
Makes you proud!
All the crème
De la crème! Firmin's voice came after that
Watching us watching them! Carlotta sang not sounding too bad this time
And all our fears
Are in the past! I heard the Girys sing. So Meg knew pretty much what her mother knew
Six months... Andre came in
Of relief! Piangi sang sounding like he got over feeling sick
Of delight! His wife joined in
Of Elysian peace! The managers sang together
And we can breathe at last! The Girys sang, but I didn't agree with them
No more notes! Carlotta went. "Not yet" I thought
No more ghost! Her husband sang "He's still here" was my thought, but I didn't let go through my mouth
Here's a health! Madame Giry toasted
Here's a toast:
To a prosperous year! Andre continued the toast
To the new chandelier! Firmin added. Erik destroyed the first chandelier after the Il Muto incident
And may its
Splendour never fade! The married opera couple finished
Six months! Firmin sang happily
What a joy! Madame Giry sounded happy as well
What a change! Meg sounded the same as her mother
What a blessed release! The managers sang together
And what a masquerade! Andre sang by himself
Think of it!
A secret engagement!
Look - your future bride!
Just think of it! Christine whispered to Raoul. In that moment, it all clicked together. That was why she asked me if Erik was coming to the Masquerade. Trouble was literally right around the corner now.
But why is it secret?
What have we to hide? Raoul asked her not seeing anything wrong with expressing their love to everyone
Please, let's not fight . . . Christine asked not wanting to start anything
Christine, you're free! Raoul tried to persuade
Wait till the time is right . . . Christine tried to reason
When will that be?
It's an engagement
Not a crime!
Christine,
What are you
Afraid of? Raoul was trying to understand what was going in Christine's mind right now
Let's not argue . . . Christine said just wanting to have fun for one night
Let's not argue . . . Raoul agreed
Please pretend . . . Christine asked
I can only hope I'll . . . Raoul said
You will . . . Christine assured
. . . understand
In time . . . Both of them sang together. Christine danced with Raoul but she looked a little scared seeing how a lot of men dressed as what they imagined Erik would look like. Everyone began to sing together again as Christine and Raoul kissed passionately before joining in with them.
Masquerade!
Paper faces on parade!
Masquerade!
Hide your face,
So the world will
Never find you!
Masquerade!
Every face a different shade!
Masquerade!
Look around -
There's another
Mask behind you!
Masquerade!
Burning glances,
Turning heads . . .
Masquerade!
Stop and stare
At the sea of smiles
Around you!
Masquerade!
Grinning yellows
Spinning reds . . .
Masquerade!
Take your fill -
Let the spectacle
Astound you
As they finished that last part of their song, the music started to changed and we all turned our heads to top of the stairs and Erik was right there dressed as the Red Death from Edgar Allan Poe's story. The only difference here is that Erik will NOT be killing anyone tonight.
"I KNEW he was going to show up!" I thought triumphantly and at the same time, upset that nobody else could figure out the obvious clues that he never left. Erik slowly and stiffly walked down the stairs and he sang a song of his own.
Why so silent, good messieurs?
Did you think that I had left you for good?
Have you missed me, good messieurs?
I have written you an opera! Erik pulled out an opera script that had the music in it as well
Here I bring the finished score -
"Don Juan Triumphant"! And with that, he threw to Andre, not even bothering to be polite
I advise you
To comply -
My instructions
Should be clear -
Remember
There are worse things
Than a shattered chandelier . . . Erik noticed Christine. She started to walk toward him. I got off the banister and grabbed her upper arm.
"Don't be a fool!" I whispered harshly to her. She looked at me slowly and then turned back to Erik walking toward him. I got nervous now I found Peter on the side and signaled him to get the musicians ready. I had a song of my own to do. Erik found the engagement ring around Christine's neck and ripped it off.
Your chains are still mine –
You will sing for me!
"No she won't!" I bellowed, grabbing everyone's attention, "She doesn't belong to you either so forget it!" Erik was about to protest when I spoke up again. The first notes started playing and I removed my mask and gave it to Peter to hold onto. Peter put my mask in a pocket in his cloak.
"Miss. Daae, listen up because this is how it is for you right now whether you like it or not!" I called to her and I sang.
There's a moment you know
You're fucked
Not an inch more room
To self destruct
No more moves, oh, yeah
The dead end zone
Man, you just can't call
Your soul your own
But the thing that makes you really jump
Is that the weirdest shit is still to come
You can ask yourself
"Hey what have I done?"
You're just a fly, the little guys, they kill for fun
Man, you're fucked if you just freeze up
Can't do that thing, that keepin' still
But you're fucked if you speak your mind
And you know, uh huh, you will
Yeah, you're fucked all right and all for spite
You can kiss your sorry ass goodbye
Totally fucked, will they mess you up?
Well, you know they're gonna try
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
Disappear, yeah, well, you wanna try
Wanna bundle up into some big ass lie
Long enough for them to all just quit
Long enough for you to get out of it
Yeah, you're fucked all right and all for spite
You can kiss your sorry ass goodbye
Totally fucked, will they mess you up?
Well, you know they're gonna try
Yeah, you're fucked all right and all for spite
You can kiss your sorry ass goodbye
Totally fucked, will they mess you up?
Well, you know they're gonna try
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
Blah blah blah blah blah
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
Blah blah blah blah blah
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
Blah blah blah blah blah
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
Blah blah blah blah blah
Totally fucked!
I wasn't sure what I doing while I was dancing, but I do know I got my point across because Christine looked more scared because she knew I was right. Erik looked like he may have been willing to kill me at that point.
"You're no woman!" Carlotta yelled, "Dressed like whore and having the mouth of a man! You're a poor, no good, filthy, lowly Bohemian!"
I smirked at Carlotta as Peter came over giving me back my locket and ring. As I put them back on I spoke endearingly to Carlotta before Erik could say anything.
"I am a Bohemian. And you know what? I'm God damn PROUD OF IT!" I shouted in glee. The others in the Troupe came from where they were before and we all sang and danced together in front of everyone not caring what we looked like to them.
Woo, yeah!
To dance! We all sang
No way to make a living
Masochism, pain, perfection
Muscle spasms, chiropractors
Short careers, eating disorders! I sang alone
Press! Everyone sang together
Adventure, tedium, no family
Boring locations, dark rooms
Perfect faces, egos, money, photographs and sleaze! Rob sang
Music! We all sang together
Food of love, emotion
Mathematics, isolation
Rhythm, power, feeling, harmony
And heavy competition! Adam sang
Anarchy! We all sang together
Revolution, justice
Screaming for solutions
Forcing changes, risking danger
Making noise and making pleas! Sal and Jo sang together
To faggots, lezzies, dykes, cross-dressers too! We sang this part FAST to protect ourselves and so no one would hear what the words were
To me! Heather sang
To me! Tristan sang next
To me! Dave sang next, than we all sang together, Peter included
To you, and you, and you, you, and you!
To people living with, living with, living with
Not dying from disease! At that point we were all on the floor in circle palms down then we all got up and made our way to the stairs dancing together all over the place
Let he among us without sin be the first to condemn
La Vie Boheme!
La Vie Boheme! Rob took over the next part singing solo now
Anyone out of the mainstream, is anyone in the mainstream?
Anyone alive with a sex drive?
Tear down the wall, aren't we all?
The opposite of war isn't peace…it's creation! Now we all sang the last part together
Woo!
La Vie Boheme!
Viva La Vie Boheme!
Everyone outside the Troupe looked at us in shock, like they couldn't believe what they just saw, or that we were comfortable doing what we just did.
"Caylin" I turned around when I heard Erik call my name.
"Will you dance with me tonight?" he holding out his hand.
"No Erik" I answered him, "Before you start going about how you are, your costume and physical appearance is not why I refused you. My refusal is because you're too rigid in movement. When I dance, alone or with anyone, anyone I dance with has to be able to do it freely, not be stiff as a board." Even though Erik was wearing a mask, I could tell he was flustered by my refusal and the reason behind it. I'm guessing he didn't know how to react to it. Music began playing. It had a Renaissance style to it and after a couple of bars, I lost myself in the music and danced until the music stopped. When I turned to look at where Erik was, I saw he disappeared and I saw Raoul running. I found him right at Madame Giry's heels backstage. I heard Raoul calling for her.
"Monsieur, don't ask me - I know no more than anyone else" Madame Giry spoke up trying to get away.
"That's not true" I heard Raoul say but it was overlapped with my shouting "Liar!" at Madame Giry. They turned around and saw me.
"What are you doing here Miss. O'Malley?" Raoul asked not understanding what I was doing back here.
"Ask Madame Giry," I said pointing at her, "She knows why I'm here." Madame Giry looked down at the stage floor. "I'm a woman of my word Madame Giry. He refused to tell me anything, so now I'm getting the knowledge of his past from you."
"You've seen something, haven't you?" Raoul persisted backing me up. He wanted to know this as well.
"I don't know what I've seen . . . Please don't ask me, Monsieur . . ." Madame Giry tried to escape, but neither Raoul or I were going to let her do it.
"Madame, for all our sakes . . ." Raoul tried to coax her.
"You stayed silent to long Madame. Start talking" I said sternly with my arms folded against my chest. I had had it with the sneaking around and wanted to know what was being kept in the dark about Erik. Madame Giry debated inwardly, and looked in my direction knowing I was right. She sighed giving in and finally talked.
"Very well. It was years ago. There was a travelling fair in the city. Tumblers, conjurors, human
oddities . . ." she said.
"Go on . . ." Raoul encouraged as I held onto every word she said starting to get an idea of where she was going with this.
"And there was . . . I shall never forget him: a man . . locked in a cage . . ." Madame Giry continued as she went down memory lane.
"In a cage?" Raoul asked not understanding, but I knew where this was going.
"A prodigy, Monsieur! Scholar, architect, musician," Madame Giry continued.
"A composer" Raoul added putting the pieces together.
"And an inventor too Monsieur" Madame Giry continued to explain, "They boasted he had once built for the Shah of Persia, a maze of mirrors . . ."
"Persia?" I thought, " I got to find that Nadir Daroga guy and start talking to him. I hope I remembered where I put his card."
"Who was this man?" Raoul asked getting impatient even though it was clear the story fascinated him.
"A freak of nature " was Madame Giry's answer and in that moment, I wanted to kill her, "More monster than man."
"Deformed?" Raoul asked his question murmured.
"From birth, it seemed" was Madame Giry's answer.
"My God" Raoul said in shock.
"And then . . . he went missing. He escaped" Madame Giry continued.
"Go on" Raoul encouraged.
"They never found him it was said he had died" Madame Giry.
"But he didn't die, did he?" I asked her in a dark tone confirming what I knew from what I learned now and knew before. Madame Giry nodded.
"The world forgot him, but I never can. For in this darkness I have seen him again" Madame Giry replied.
"And so our Phantom's this man" Raoul confirmed now knowing how this started, or at least a part of how it started. I still needed more information, but I knew I got everything I could from Madame Giry.
"I have said too much, Monsieur, Miss. O'Malley" Madame Giry said trying to run away again. "And there have been too many accidents."
"Accidents?!" Raoul asked her with dark irony in his voice.
"I think the word you're looking for Madame is MURDERS!" I said in her face once I got close enough.
"Please Miss O'Malley, you must understand, he's a genius" Madame Giry said to me with her hands gripping my wrists begging me to "understand". I moved my wrists out of her grip.
"No Madame Giry," I told her firmly with an angry look on my face, "You're the one who doesn't understand. He may be deformed, but that doesn't mean he's a monster. You've done more harm than good in keeping silent. You pitied him, and look at where it got you and everyone else, especially HIM in this Opera House. You succeeded in hiding him, but you failed him GREATLY! You didn't teach him how to survive and in that you failed him. Or did you not do it because you pitied him or because you were too scared of him?!" I challenged her. She looked at me scared. I never lashed out at her like that until now. Without warning I slapped her across the face HARD.
"That is for calling Erik a freak of nature and a monster" I yelled at her.
"His name is Erik?" Raoul asked from behind me.
"Yes that's his name" I confirmed, "And now I know I was right to not pity him. Also, I've met monsters, so HOW DARE YOU call Erik a monster when you don't even know him as a person! Yes he's done horrible acts, but no one tried to stand up to him so in this case blame is on both sides." With that said and done, I left. Something bad was going to happen now and I can't help but feel that Erik will try to trap me in some way. I'm still going to help Erik, but I can't do it in this sort of situation. I'll look for Nadir Daroga tomorrow. I went back into the studio. I saw that Yves and Isobel were already asleep. I smiled with I saw they were asleep holding hands. I saw that Molly was still awake.
"Molly" I called quietly not wanting to wake the kids or Sparky who was asleep in her basket.
"Yes Caylin?" Molly asked.
"I need your help with something" I told her right as we sat down.
Erik's P.O.V.
I was now in my Lair lying in my bed, tossing and turning. I can't sleep! I heard everything that passed between Madame Giry, the Vicomte and Caylin. Why was Caylin so determined to know this about me? Madame will not be harmed for she is the only one who will follow my orders without question. I'll play with the Vicomte a little longer before I get rid of him. But Caylin, I can't get rid her matter what I do or try. Even when she sang tonight, I still fell under her spell. It's been happening more and more and I can't help it. Will I never be free from her? Do I even want to be free from her? She looked so beautiful. So alluring tonight. I wanted her and I still do. But I can't abandon my Angel. I looked at the ring, but my Siren's face appeared before me. It will never stop, but I don't want it too. Wrapped up in anguish, and all my other feelings, especially those for Caylin I sang.
I feel a wave of passion
Move through my heart with such pain
I have no time for reason
So I just let passion reign
I let go so easily
On a night as warm as sin
Midnight swimmer, midnight sea
I will not come back again
Your love will kill me
Your love will kill me
And you will bear my curse as long as my life will be
Your love will kill me
Your love will kill me
Your love will kill me
My sin and my obsession
Crazy desire you bring
I know there's no salvation
I see our bodies burning
Your gypsy dreams all haunt me
I live to see your dances
Please raise your eyes and want me
Please give me all the chances
Your love will kill me
Your love will kill me
And I saw it would be when I looked at you when you looked at me
Your love will kill me
Your love will kill me
Your love will kill me
You brought the springtime to fill
My heart in it's winter chill
I lost my strength and my will
And now my tears start to spill
I never knew such desire
Just looking into your eyes
And now the soul in me cries
And now the night is on fire
Your love will kill me
Your love will kill me
And you will bear my curse as long as my life will be
Your love will kill me
Your love will kill me
And I saw it would be when I looked at you when you looked at me
Your love will kill me
Your love will kill me
Your love will kill me
Your love will kill me
Your love will kill me
WOW! I FINALLY got this hard chapter finished and I'm feeling a bit worn here. I hope I can make the next chapter ready and posted as soon as I can.
This was a hard one to do. I need to relax a little bit before I can even start on the next one.
Raise A Little Hell belongs to Frank Wildhorn and Don Black.
Masquerade/Why So Silent? and Madame Giry's Tale belongs to ALW except for the changes I made. I did that to make it work with the story.
Totally Fucked belongs to Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater.
La Vie Boheme B belongs to Jonathan Larson except for the minor alterations. I did that to make it work with the story.
The music played at the Masquerade Caylin was dancing to was Kingdom Dance from Disney's Tangled. That music belongs to the people of Disney.
Your Love Will Kill Me belongs to Richard Cocciante, Luc Plamondon and Will Jennings. Once again I want to thank NIGHTANGEL21 for introducing me to this song.
PLEASE REVIEW! They mean A LOT to me!
Once again I own NOTHING but my OCs!