Chapter 23
Robert was pacing around the large room as the stage was set up and the lighting having its final inspections. When he approached that young lady just yesterday he was certain he found the perfect addition to their show. Her voice was incredible. She sang with such passion and rang clearer and a bell. But now, as the time was ticking away, he began having second thoughts. He had been waiting all day yesterday for an answer but she never called. Now he would constantly check his phone every thirty seconds for a new call. Hell, he didn't even know her name! Yesterday when he announced he may have found a replacement singer he couldn't even give them her name. His palms were sweating and his mind was in overdrive as he constantly checked the clock in the far off corner. It was still morning but he almost felt like time was going to just spring forward to the concert's appointed time.
Just then, his phone began to vibrate as he saw an incoming call. He pressed the receive button and placed his ear piece in his ear.
"Hello?" He said trying to sound calm and business-like.
"Um, yes hello. Is this Robert?" He heard a young lady's voice on the other end. Could it be?
"This is he."
"Hey, this is Aisling. You know, the girl who randomly started singing in the hallway the other day." Robert felt like he could just die from relief at that moment.
"Hello Miss Aisling. Have you thought about my offer?" He asked once again containing his joy.
"Yes, I have. And I would be honored to perform in your concert this evening." He couldn't believe his good luck! She was agreeing! He quickly looked skyward and whispered a 'thank you' to whoever was up there.
"That's great. However, you still need to come in for an audition. Everyone else needs to be on board with you before we can make it official."
"Oh, that's fine. How soon do you need me?"
"I would suggest getting over here as soon as possible. The sooner we can hear you the easier it will be on the both of us." He could hear her chuckle a bit on the other end.
"You're right. Well, I actually just arrived at the shopping plaza so I can be there in about say… five minutes?"
"Perfect. We're in the Republic Ballroom. You know where that is?"
"I think so. And if not, I have a map of the Sheraton, so I'll find you. I hope you don't mind that I'm still wearing my Alice costume; the dress from yesterday. It's all I have to wear."
"Of course. I know you were initially here for the convention." Robert didn't mind this as long as she could sing.
"Also, my fiancé will be with me." Robert's eyebrows shot up at the word 'fiancé'.
"Your fiancé?" He asked slightly shocked.
"Yes. He wants to come along and make sure everything goes well." He could hear a man in the background and Aisling talking back to him in a joyful tone. "I'll be right there."
"Okay. We'll be ready to go when you get here." They both said their goodbyes and he hung up. "A fiancé huh? She seems so young though." He shrugged then removed his earpiece before addressing the group of people standing before the stage. "Everyone, I just received word from our little ingénue. She has agreed to audition and is on her way now." The group turned to him after hearing his statement.
"I hope you're right about this Robert." Said one of the women in the group. "This girl better be good."
"I promise you, she will be perfect."
Aisling hung up her phone then placed it back in her bag.
"So, do you know where we have to meet them?" Erik asked.
"Yeah." She said and whipped out her iPod and pulled up her Guidebook app. She scrolled through the maps until she found one for the Sheraton. "We just have to go through those doors-" She said pointing to the doors under the large 'Sheraton' sign towards the ceiling, "-then we have to go around here and it should be right there." She turned off her iPod but didn't put it away. "Let's go." She said taking Erik's hand in her free one. They weaved their way through the large crowds coming in and out of the hotel. Even with the map, they managed to make two wrong turns on their way to the concert stage. Finally, they found themselves outside the doors to the Republic Ballroom. Aisling peaked inside to see the stage and the multitudes of people working or talking about the show and began to feel nervous. She took a step back from the door second guessing her decision to perform. She felt someone squeeze her hand.
"You'll be fine." Erik said in her ear. Aisling took a deep breath.
"I'm scared." She said. She heard Erik chuckle a bit, melting at the sound of his voice, and he brought his other hand up placing it on the top of her head.
"You'll be wonderful." He said. She looked back at the door. She'd come this far, she knew if she turned away now she'd regret it later. She had to try. With a new resolve, she grasped the handle on the door and entered the room. As she stepped in, she could feel her fear coming back tenfold. There were more people in here than she anticipated and the stage seemed a little intimidating as well. She stopped just inside the door contemplating whether she could still change her mind.
"Ah, there you are!" She turned her head to see Robert moving towards her. Now it was really too late to turn back. "Aisling, glad you made it." He held out his hand and she took it.
"Glad I could find the place." She said with a nervous laugh. Robert looked to her side and noticed the tall intimidating man beside her. He didn't fail to notice the mask on his face or the sharp penetrating eyes.
"I take it this is your…" He couldn't manage finishing his sentence.
"Fiancé, yes." Erik finished. Robert released Aisling's hand then made to shake Erik's.
"You're a lucky man to have a young lady with such talent." He said reluctantly.
"You have no idea." He said and looked down at Aisling with a smile in his face. Robert noticed how he looked at her and could see a bottomless love in his eyes. He couldn't help but smile at this before retracting his hand and turning his attention back to his future star.
"Now, we're ready for your audition. Do you have a song ready to sing?" Aisling's face paled as he mentioned a song. Robert must have noticed. "I can buy you some time if you need to choose something." He said and walked back over to the group in front of the stage, presumably the people in charge of the concert.
"Crap! I didn't think of a song!" She cried. "What am I going to do?"
"Aisling, relax." Erik said taking her shoulders.
"I can't believe I forgot to have a song for the audition." She said.
"A lot happened yesterday. You couldn't have had a chance to think about it." Aisling began to think. She wanted her audition to be a good one. What could she sing to really make an impression? She pulled out her iPod and began scanning through her songs. Pushing through playlist after playlist of her favorite songs but still she didn't find what she was looking for. She decided to let fate decide. She went to the full song list and began quickly scrolling through the songs until they became just a blur of lines. Then she placed her finger on the screen causing it to stop. She looked and found what she would sing.
"I'll sing this one." She said. Erik looked over at the title.
"Are you sure?" He asked. Aisling thought for a moment then nodded her head. "Very well. We've agreed on a song, but you will need a moment to warm up her voice. I'll tell them you will be ready in fifteen minutes." He said and walked off toward the group. She saw the way they looked at him and knew what they were thinking. Though they think he's here for the convention, they still gave him queer looks. Aisling watched as he conversed with them as they looked over at her every so often. She began to feel sick and wished that she'd never made that phone call.
Aisling and Erik worked on her warm ups for the full fifteen minutes until Erik was satisfied that she was ready. Or as ready as they can me in such a short time. However, that didn't dampen his confidence in her. If only the same could be said for Aisling's frame of mind. As she peaked out past the curtains at the people outside, she began losing her nerve.
"I can't do this!" She cried.
"Yes you can." Erik said and embraced her. "It's no different than when you were in Paris. Just imagine you're back at the Palais Garnier. You'll do just fine." Aisling could feel herself relaxing a bit at his words. He gave her a kiss on her forehead then another on her cheek before looking back into her eyes. "Pretend it was the first day of the competition and you were going to sing your song. The day that I started giving you lessons." He then gave her one final kiss on her lips before releasing her. "Now, it's time." Aisling reluctantly nodded then climbed up the steps and onto the brightly lit stage.
"Ready when you are miss." She heard someone say. She took a few deep breaths then heard the music begin to play. She closed her eyes then imagined she was back in Paris. The crowd was silent and the lights were blinding. But she wasn't looking towards the crowd. She let her gaze fall on Box Five and could see the shadow of the Opera Ghost behind the curtain. Now that her mind was situated, she began to sing.
We've heard the tale since we were young
Heard the songs that have been sung
About an evil spell
Someone beautiful is cursed
We feel sad through every verse
Til a kiss and all is well
The message that no one can see
Is clearer to someone like me
She opened her eyes as the interlude began to play and could still see the theater of the Palais Garnier before her eyes. It almost felt like she had stepped back through the fabric of time and space back into that world. She looked to her side and could still see the familiar wings of the stage but there was no one there. No one but Erik. He gave her an encouraging smile and she smiled back and nodded before continuing her song with just as much power in her voice.
There is no curse or evil spell
That's worse than one we give ourselves
There is no sorcerer as cruel
As the proud angry fool
And yet we cry life isn't fair
Beneath our cries the truth is there
The power that will break the spell
We should know very well
Is locked within ourselves
Life has been unfair to them. This was one instance where she could claim how she'd been cheated. To lose Erik not once but twice, to lose her memory of their first meeting, and almost having to live with his memory alone for the rest of her life. It's painful. But now it hurts less, because she has hope again.
Yet we'd rather blame
And curse our fate than change
We run from everyone to hide for the pain
And all the shame
The story's old we know it well
About a wretched evil spell
The power that will break this curse
Oh I know all too well
Is locked within myself
She closed her eyes again as the last of the music began dying way. When she opened them again she was back in the ballroom and heard the sound of dozens of people clapping. She felt her cheeks grow warm and let a shy smile crack across her face.
"Miss, congratulations. You're on for tonight." Aisling let her shy smile spread even wider at hearing those words. She almost felt like bouncing up and down and screaming with joy, but she held herself back trying to stay mature for once.
"That you so much! I promise I'll do my best tonight." She said.
"We know you will." One of the others said. "Now, do you have something to wear for tonight?"
"Well, not really." She said. "I was originally here for the anime convention. So…" She shrugged.
"Well, we can take care of that. Robert can go with you to the shopping plaza and help you find a dress for this evening. We'll take care of doing your hair and makeup before show time." Aisling smiled and bowed to the group.
"That you once again." She said.
"My dear, the pleasure is all ours." Robert said.
"Now, the show starts at six. We would have you on at… about seven forty five. Sound fair to you?" Aisling nodded. "Great. Robert, care to go with Miss Aisling?"
"Of course." Robert said.
"Great. We'll see you tonight." Aisling bowed once again then made her way off the stage. After she was out of sight, she began squealing and jumped into Erik's arms.
"I did it!" She said ecstatically. "I'm in the show!"
"But you still have to choose what you'll be singing for tonight." He reminded her.
"I think I have an idea what I'm going to sing already." She said. Erik raised his visible eyebrow at her. "Listen to this." She pulled out her iPod and went through her playlist then stuck an ear bud in his ear when she reached the song she wanted. As he heard the music play, he couldn't help but agree with her choice.
"It's perfect." He said.
When they were back in the hallway, Robert was already going over everything Aisling needed to know for the concert. Erik looked back towards the entrance to the hotel and noticed Christine walking in. She was dressed in a completely different costume this time, but he knew it was her. He looked back to Aisling hand placed a hand on her shoulder causing her to look back to him.
"Are you okay?" She asked. Erik nodded and smiled.
"Aisling, there's something I need to do. Will you be alright without me for a few hours?" He said.
"I suppose so." She said sounding a bit worried. "What do you have to do?"
"Nothing to fret about mon ange." He said and kissed her forehead. "Just some unfinished business to attend to." Aisling gave him a reluctant nod. "I'll be back in time for the show. I promise." He said before disappearing into the throng of people.
"Your fiancé is a bit strange." Robert said.
"Yes, but I wouldn't have him any other way." Aisling said warmly.
Christine was beginning to worry about Erik. He just suddenly disappeared after the ball. She tried finding him afterwards but he wasn't anywhere to be found. He gave no indication that he found Aisling or not plus he's on his own in a world unlike his own. She and Darren spent a good chunk of time looking for him last night and she hoped that nothing happened to him.
But her fears finally dissolved when she saw him coming towards her. She noticed the look in his eye and realized that he must have found her little sister and everything was taken care of. But that wouldn't stop her from being furious with him.
"What the hell happened to you last night?!" She shouted causing a few people to stop and stare.
"My apologies if I made you worry." He said. "But some things happened and I had to leave early."
"What are you talking about?"
"I found her." He stated. "I went with her last night after the ball. I couldn't just leaver now that-"
"I understand." She said. She gave him a sly smile and he understood that she had an idea where he was. But he sobered once again and got down to business.
"Christine, I need your assistance for a little… errand."
"What kind of errand?" She asked. She noticed how his expression became sinister at that moment.
"It involves your father." Christine swallowed hard. "It's time for a long overdue visit from the Phantom of the Opera."
Gary sat at his computer as he was finishing looking up his airline travel plans. He wanted to do something special this summer with the family. He decided he was going to take his kids to Florida as, almost a celebratory trip since he had his eldest graduating college and his youngest graduating high school. Plus he wanted to show Christine and Aisling St Augustine. Aisling. She has been extremely distant over the past decade or more. She was no longer the smiling, giggling little daddy's girl she once was and had become very reclusive and doesn't even play with him anymore. She doesn't even talk to him about anything anymore. He examined his desk and found a picture of his three kids from when they were still little tykes. Where have the years gone? It seemed like only yesterday he was holding them in his arms and now they were all grown up and getting ready to face the world.
She's gone through so much. He still remembered when he joined that singing competition when she was fourteen. Traveling to a parallel world in the past and staying in that opera house. He was glad that after her memory was wiped she showed no signs of remembering. The one thing that made him nervous was when she started showing an extreme interest in The Phantom of the Opera story. She's seen the movie musical hundreds of times and even began watching other films. But so far this seems like just a silly childish obsession. As long as she doesn't remember him from that world he'll indulge her love for this story.
His phone began to vibrate and saw that his girlfriend, Susan, was calling him. He placed his earpiece in his ear and pressed the receive button.
"Hello?"
"Hey honey. Just thought I would check in with you. How are you?" He smiled.
"Well, Gary's at his mother's house right now and the girls are in Boston. So it's just me right now."
"Well, why don't I come over after work and we can have dinner together?" Gary was about to answer when he saw he had another incoming call.
"Sue, could you hold that thought for a moment. I have another call."
"Sure." He pressed another button and was connected to the next line.
"Hello?"
"Good day Monsieur." Gary felt his blood turn to ice at the velvety male voice on the other end. He hadn't heard this voice in over six years and he would never forget who it belonged to. "I take it by your silence that you remember me."
"How did you get here?" He questioned frantically. He heard the Phantom let out a cynical laugh on the other end.
"Monsieur, surely if you can travel to my world, it should be no trouble for me to do the same for yours." He said his voice dripping with venom. "But I think the real question is what am I here for?" Gary knew all too well what he was here for.
"Stay away from my daughter!" He shouted.
"You cannot stop me from taking back what is mine." He said.
"You may be powerful in your world sir, but here, you'd be playing by our rules." He said feeling a bit more confident. "Besides, I'm not afraid of you Mr. Opera Ghost." He pressed the disconnect button and made to reconnect to Sue. "If you don't even have the courage to face me man-to-man…" but his words faded hen he head the door to his room open and revealing the menacing Phantom himself holding the phone he was using.
"As you wish, Monsieur." He said placing the phone in his pocket. Gary was pressed against his computer chair staring wide eyed at the ma before him.
"No… no, it can't be!" He said shaking his head.
"'Not afraid of me you say?" Erik said in a mocking tone.
"Stay back! Stay back or I'll kill you!" Gary shouted.
"Insolent man! You honestly think you can keep her from me?" He said smirking.
"Aisling's my daughter. I've protected her from you all these years. You're nothing more than a monster!" Erik let out a bone chilling laugh.
"But did you forget monsieur; it was you who killed her back then in the first place." He said with all the anger in his otherwise calm voice. "You say you saved her back then, when you only caused her more suffering in the process."
"But she isn't dead." He retorted. "I still managed to save her from you."
"Of course you did." He said returning to his mocking tone. "But that was a long time ago monsieur."
"Look at you, masked regret, daughter grown, laughable…" He began to sing, "… shall we two make a bet? Devil take the hindmost."
"Look at you, fowl as sin, hideous, horrible. Call the stakes, deal me in. Devil take the hindmost." Gary said in a speak sing.
Aisling soon will choose tonight
Let her choose
Is she yours or mine?
Draw the line
If she sings, you lose tonight
I won't lose
She leaves with me
Fine!
You set her free
Fine!
And if she won't? If I win?
I leave her life and not return
Very well, let's begin
Devil take the hind most
Gary made to shake Erik's hand, sealing the deal then he pulled him close and got in his face.
Our old game You think you have the odds
It's been changed You think you're in control
Every throw You think you've fixed the dice
Riskier Well I will gladly roll
All the rules I'll be against the house
Rearranged I'll even double down
Fate has redesigned most
They pulled away from each other and Gary went over to his desk and looked back to his opponent.
Fortunes on my side
I won her long ago Cut the deck
I won her from you then Let us play
I wager even now You and I
I'll win her back again Once again
And when the game is done In the end
Either way!
Devil take the hindmost!
Aisling soon will choose at last
Is she yours or mine?
"She's my child, I know her best." He said feeling smug.
Are you sure?
What?
Are you so sure?
What do you mean?
Such a child, all alone
Different, musical
Who knows her best? You or me?
Which one do you find most?
"You lie!" Gary shouted. He couldn't believe his daughter would ever love such a man.
Deal the cards I call your bluff
Let them fall The game is on
Choose your hand And will see
Try your best Who wins out
He who wins Once and for all
Wins it all
Devil take the hindmost
Gary began approaching Erik once again feeling his anger grow with each step.
Deal the cards I call your bluff
Let them fall The game is on
Choose your hand And will see
Try your best Who wins out
He who wins Once and for all
Wins it all…
Erik now had Gary by the throat and was leaning him against the large bed.
Devil take the hindmost
Erik squeezed on the older man's throat a bit and made him look him in the eye.
"She walks, she leaves with you! I let her go and leave alone! She sings…" He let go of Gary and strode over to the door. But before closing it, he said, "…and she's mine." He closed the door. "Devil take the hindmost!"
Gary sat on the ground running his throat. He looked in the full sized mirror beside him and saw the large red marks left by the Phantom. Then, the full realization of the deal he made sank in.
"Oh God, what have I done?" He said to himself. "I practically gave my daughter to that monster." He jumped back to his feet and threw on some suitable clothes for the trip. "I need to get to Boston and stop her!" He reached for his phone and saw he left Sue on hold. He picked up the phone and answered.
"Gary, what happened? I thought I heard someone else with you." She said frantically.
"Sue, I don't think I can do dinner tonight." He said. "Something just came up." Before she could speak again he hung up and slipped the phone into his pocket. He needed to find Aisling before it was too late.
The Curse written by Kurt Bestor from Rigoletto and Devil Take the Hindmost (with altered lyrics) by ALW from Love Never Dies